The people in my life love me. It's clear.
They also may have been afraid for my health and safety. :)
To give you an idea, I'm going to run through a list of everything (I can remember) that came into my kitchen over the past few weeks.
I think I need to see this list more than you do, because I have a plan.
Groceries
Coconut Milk x2 (Natural)
Coconut Milk (Chocolate)
Whole wheat pasta (2 boxes)
Red kidney beans
Rice
Turkey burgers (an entire box)
Tea biscuits
Bread
Bagel
English Muffins (6)
Ground Beef
Avocado (8)
Grapefruit (3)
Clementines (6)
Grapes
Orange Juice
Bacon
Ready-to-crock frozen soup concoction
Butternut squash soup
Quinoa
Tomato
Home Made Food
Hamburger & potato wedges
Cupcakes
Beef barley soup
2 other kinds of home made soup (theMom when i was sick)
Actually I can't even remember all of the home made stuff I was sent with! If I still had all the containers I'd be able to tell you but I actually was really good about giving them all back!
As you can see, the generosity was RIDICULOUS.
So, the plan.
I will calculate an an approximate dollar value of the grocery items listed above, do a grocery shop that matches the dollar value, and donate it all to the local food bank. I have more than I need here in my little house, and so it's my turn to give back a little where I have been blessed to the max.
Families in need, right here in Haldimand county, will be able to get through a few more meals worry-free thanks to the generosity of each and every one of you who has supported, encouraged and fed me over the past 45 days!
Thanks, everyone. Much love. :)
3 April 2015
Another Day; Another Dollar - Day 45
I failed at weekly blogging. Whoops.
So it's Day 45. I was going to spend $40 in 40 days on feeding myself and, for the most part, I did it. I came in under budget (although I forgot to keep my last two receipts) by about a dollar.
Some notable points:
1. I didn't get around to making ketchup. I have enough left for some scrambled eggs and a second-day serving of KD. I'll probably still try to make the ketchup. I probably won't like it. So I'll probably then turn it into one of my famous batches of Ossum Soss (my go-to, everything-but-the-kitchen sink BBQ sauce for ribs and pulled pork)
2. I have not been buying food for the last 5 days. It's day 45 so I technically should be able to do so, but I did decide from the beginning that it would be "from Ash Wednesday until Easter". Besides, I did cash in on a couple of Sunday freebies.
3. I purchased food for other people. I walked out of my office having purchased nearly 6 dozen eggs from a coworker. All of those eggs were given to Reuben's family (because they go through eggs like crazy and because they feed me lunch every Sunday). I also bought a birthday dinner for a friend (Reuben graciously paid for mine)
4. A couple of times I bought food that I would (also) be consuming when the situation was socially appropriate. For example, my brother took a few days out of his life to fix my car for zero dollars and, since we never get a chance to spend time together, I offered spontaneously to buy him dinner before he went home. It would be awkward and a little high-and-mighty feeling for me to have sat there, watching him eat and refusing to buy anything for myself. Rest assured I did purchase the most inexpensive menu item: a $6 chicken shawarma.
5. Yesterday I purchased 2 kg of chicken breast for $20 via a private order that only happens once every 3 weeks or so. I don't plan to eat it until after Easter, so I am not counting it toward my $40. I'm also going grocery shopping tomorrow, but again will not be consuming or touching any of it until Lent is over. Because....No Frills cheese. One day only. Again. Lol. It's all about timing this time around.
6. I learned about price-matching. My shop tomorrow will likely save me $20 using the handy dandy Flipp app. Definitely going to use this in the future!
7. I spent $5 of my $40 on items for a small group snack this past week. It was the last of the money I had available.I also donated $2 to some charity one day, deciding that I can last on $38.
8. The Cabbage. Roll. Casserole. lives on! I have about 2-3 meals worth still in the freezer. Sour cream required.
After all the calculations are said and done, with a few small exceptions, I spent approximately $33 on food in 40 days. Which means, with the generosity of so many people in my life, it can be done. I can't say I learned anything about sacrifice, to be honest. The only thing I've gone without over the last 4 weeks is chicken and a decent coffee creamer. My tummy has always been full, and usually with delicious food that others have given me.
So what now?
Well, as previously mentioned, I am going grocery shopping tomorrow. I am, at this moment, only JUST out of cream(er), egg whites, and butter (three necessities in my home). I'm almost out of ketchup, as I've said all along, and have to decide if I'm first going to try making a batch. Maybe I'll buy some corn syrup to do it according to the recipe, and maybe I'll like it? I'm off on Monday, so let's give it a shot. As far as "nice to have"s are concerned, I am going to pick up a loaf of bread, honey, bacon and parm. All in all, having searched and clipped my entire shopping list in the Flipp app, tomorrow's "big" shop should cost about...$33!
And for all of the food that was given to me, I have a plan... :) Stay tuned!
So it's Day 45. I was going to spend $40 in 40 days on feeding myself and, for the most part, I did it. I came in under budget (although I forgot to keep my last two receipts) by about a dollar.
Some notable points:
1. I didn't get around to making ketchup. I have enough left for some scrambled eggs and a second-day serving of KD. I'll probably still try to make the ketchup. I probably won't like it. So I'll probably then turn it into one of my famous batches of Ossum Soss (my go-to, everything-but-the-kitchen sink BBQ sauce for ribs and pulled pork)
2. I have not been buying food for the last 5 days. It's day 45 so I technically should be able to do so, but I did decide from the beginning that it would be "from Ash Wednesday until Easter". Besides, I did cash in on a couple of Sunday freebies.
3. I purchased food for other people. I walked out of my office having purchased nearly 6 dozen eggs from a coworker. All of those eggs were given to Reuben's family (because they go through eggs like crazy and because they feed me lunch every Sunday). I also bought a birthday dinner for a friend (Reuben graciously paid for mine)
4. A couple of times I bought food that I would (also) be consuming when the situation was socially appropriate. For example, my brother took a few days out of his life to fix my car for zero dollars and, since we never get a chance to spend time together, I offered spontaneously to buy him dinner before he went home. It would be awkward and a little high-and-mighty feeling for me to have sat there, watching him eat and refusing to buy anything for myself. Rest assured I did purchase the most inexpensive menu item: a $6 chicken shawarma.
5. Yesterday I purchased 2 kg of chicken breast for $20 via a private order that only happens once every 3 weeks or so. I don't plan to eat it until after Easter, so I am not counting it toward my $40. I'm also going grocery shopping tomorrow, but again will not be consuming or touching any of it until Lent is over. Because....No Frills cheese. One day only. Again. Lol. It's all about timing this time around.
6. I learned about price-matching. My shop tomorrow will likely save me $20 using the handy dandy Flipp app. Definitely going to use this in the future!
7. I spent $5 of my $40 on items for a small group snack this past week. It was the last of the money I had available.I also donated $2 to some charity one day, deciding that I can last on $38.
8. The Cabbage. Roll. Casserole. lives on! I have about 2-3 meals worth still in the freezer. Sour cream required.
After all the calculations are said and done, with a few small exceptions, I spent approximately $33 on food in 40 days. Which means, with the generosity of so many people in my life, it can be done. I can't say I learned anything about sacrifice, to be honest. The only thing I've gone without over the last 4 weeks is chicken and a decent coffee creamer. My tummy has always been full, and usually with delicious food that others have given me.
So what now?
Well, as previously mentioned, I am going grocery shopping tomorrow. I am, at this moment, only JUST out of cream(er), egg whites, and butter (three necessities in my home). I'm almost out of ketchup, as I've said all along, and have to decide if I'm first going to try making a batch. Maybe I'll buy some corn syrup to do it according to the recipe, and maybe I'll like it? I'm off on Monday, so let's give it a shot. As far as "nice to have"s are concerned, I am going to pick up a loaf of bread, honey, bacon and parm. All in all, having searched and clipped my entire shopping list in the Flipp app, tomorrow's "big" shop should cost about...$33!
And for all of the food that was given to me, I have a plan... :) Stay tuned!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)