Eating On A Budget

Fighting all the time

2011-12-28T15:36:00.001-06:00

Guest post by Derick Craig

I try not to fight with my siblings, I really do, but they’re all just such know it alls sometimes I really feel like I can’t help it. My sister, for example, is really ridiculously controlling and she wants to have her hand in everything from my http://www.cannonsatellite.com/ channels to what I feed my kids to how late I stay out at night. I can only imagine families like the ones I see on TV that don’t argue with each other but you know, that’s just not my reality. I don’t know what it would be like to have a whole day go by without any aggravation with my relatives. I think it’s just because we’re just so close and that we’re Italian, too, so we’ve all got fiery tempers and a lot of issues to deal with outside of our dynamic. I love my family so much but at the end of the day I’m just tired of fighting – I wish we could all figure out how to get along with each other!

Wrap-Up

2007-04-16T08:19:00.000-05:00

The 90-day experiment was interesting. I thought it would be easier. However, my will power began to to wain after the first month. One thing this experiment proved is that it is possible to eat on $30 a month. Especially, if you are single and willing to limit your meals to cheaper foods that you have to fix from scratch. Especially as Dave Ramsey says, beans and rice, rice and beans. While I ate a a few more items then that, it became boring to eat the same thing over and over as time went on.
Now that, the experiment is over I am going to start cleaning out my pantry of cans of food rather then buying new food. Time to clear out the overstock. However, the time for this blog is over. I will leave the blog for those who come to read it during future visits. Maybe, by chance it will inspire someone else.
For any future posts about food that I make, it will be an occasional post on my regular budget blog. A blog that, I need to place my main focus on.
Thank you one and all that have read this blog through it's entirety. God bless each and everyone of you. May each and everyone of us become debt-free forever.

SPONSOR: Cheaper Than Hotels

2007-04-15T23:34:00.000-05:00

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to the United Kingdom? If you are like most people you have. The next thing to do is to book your flight, then it is time to find a hotel. I being pretty frugal, like to find the cheapest place I can, without giving up to much style. Another words, I don't want something like a Days Inn. No, I want something more like an Embassy Suites or a Bed and Breakfast. So where do I turn, when looking for hotels in the Great Britain? Well CheaperThanHotels.com of course.

The online place to book hotels in the British Isles. Whether it be my favorite British destination of Geurnsey and Sark. If so you will need to find hotels in Guernsey. If you have never heard of these two islands in the English Channel, you need to see the photos and articles on my travel blog, from the two trips I took there in 1997 and 2001. Very beautiful country and the area that the author Victor Hugo spent his days in exile from France.

In addition, you can find hotels in more popular destinations as well. Like the city I still want to see, London. So I look up hotels in London. Where I would like to see so many places like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

Or maybe, you want to visit Manchester, and if so you will need to find hotels in Manchester. No mater, where it is in the British Isles (even if it is the Isle of Man), they have hotels for you, myself and anyone else traveling on a budget. So if you are looking to travel to the U. K. (or maybe you already live there and are looking to travel on holiday or business to another city), take a look at Cheaper Then Hotls website.

End of March and Only a Week to Go

2007-04-01T00:27:00.000-05:00

It's time to make my weekly update, as I wind down this particular project. Yep, that's right only one more week to go on this project. It's hard to believe that it's actually been 3 months.

As I mentioned over at Debt-Free 4ever, today, I wasted $20. I took a vacation day today and promptly wasted $20 tonight. Well, OK so it wasn't all wasted. I spent $4.45 for some sale items at the store (TV dinners - limit 6 - 69 cents each) getting $20 back. Then went to Aldi's and picked some sausage biscuits and eggs spending $3.35 of that 20. I then went across the street to a store with milk on sale for $1.99 to pick up a gallon of 2%, spending another $2.14 of that $20.
Then it was time to go see the movie (Peaceful Warrior) with the free tickets I had printed off at the public library (as mine here at the house is out of ink). Along the way, I stopped and bought a Chicken sandwich at my favorite fast food joint, Chick-fil-a. There goes anther $3. Then I couldn't (or rather didn't) keep spending in check at the theater, buying a $4 (small) popcorn and a $4 (large) Coke. After the movie wasn't any better as I dropped the remaining $3 into an arcade game.
Not very smart of me I know, but that is why John Cummuta says not to ask for cash back at the register for any reason. You tend to forget where that extra $20 was actually spent.
---OK, so what did I eat this past week? ----
Fri (3/23) - ?? -- I honestly can't remember what I fixed this night.
Sat (3/24) - Cooked Potatoes/Carrots and Meat balls (made from hamburger in my freezer) in a crock pot. This made several meals. Yes I peeled and cut the potatoes and carrots myself.
Sun (3/25) - Potatoes/Carrots and Meat balls
Mon (3/26) - Someone told me that a little hole in the wall, called "The Prize Package," had the best hamburgers around. So they bought my meal there.
Tue (3/27) - Potatoes/Carrots and Meat balls
Wed (3/28) - Macaroni and Cheese
Thurs (3/29) - Tomato Soup
Fri (3/30) - 2 Fried Potatoes with 3 scrambled eggs - in addition I ate 3 fried eggs with cereal before going to bed this morning.
Sat (3/31) - Chick-fil-a Sandwich

------
One thing I would like to do is grow my own garden, but I need to get a spot tilled up first.

I know one new reader this week didn't like that I was eating red meat. I suspect, she thinks I should eat fish, but I hate fish, so that won't happen. I appreciate her comments anyway, even if she thinks sausage isn't meat but rather just a bunch of grease.

Ready For A Romantic Holiday in Spain?

2007-03-30T20:24:00.000-05:00

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Spain? Well Cheaper Than Hotels has deals for that romantic getaway in Europe's premier Latin country. Spain Hotels can be found as low as 18 Euros for a 1 star hotel and 69 Euros for a 5 star. Imagine yourself and your loved lounging in a romantic Latin paradise.

You can visit the Mallorca Islands and the Mallorca Hotels. Perhaps visit the beach while you are there. That is if you love birds can tear yourself away from your room.

Other possibilities include Lanzorote Hotels on Lanzarote Island or Menorca Hotels on th Island of Menorca.

Weekly Update

2007-03-22T21:44:00.000-05:00

Fri (3/16) - Fried Bologna and potatoes/candy bar at work
Sat (3/17) - Fried Bologna and potatoes/candy bar at work
Sun (3/18) - Fried Bologna and potatoes/no lunch at work
Mon (3/19) - Fried Bologna and potatoes
Tue (3/20) - Sauerkraut and boiled Potatoes with hotdogs/took same to work for lunch
Wed (3/21) - Ate at Chick-fil-a/Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich
Thu (3/22) - Sauerkraut and boiled Potatoes with hotdogs/taking same to work for lunch

What's The Best Wine

2007-03-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

Do you like an occasional glass of wine? Have you been confused what wine goes with what? What is the best wine?

Well, I found a website that allows you to compare. It will even tell you what wine best complements chicken or whatever you may be having. The best part is the site is easy to navigate. All you do is input what you want to know about and it will only give you those results. Say for example, you want to find information on a sweet merlot that goes with something sweet. Hit the find button, and boom you get the results of the wine that they suggest. While I think many of the suggested wines are a bit pricey for me ($20 wine is expensive to me), you can set the minimum and maximum price that you are willing to pay.

Check it for yourself, it looks like a fun tool.

Am I always frying????

2007-03-16T18:15:00.000-05:00

Last night, I fried up some potatoes and scrambled eggs before going to work. Once at work, I spent 93 cents to buy 1 banana and one tangelo for my lunch.
Before leaving work I spent another $5 to buy 1.5 pounds of grapes, 2 packages of Bologna, 1 package of hot dogs and a can of sauerkraut.

In the near future, I plan to fix some sauerkraut and hot dogs, but for tonight, I will eat something less gassy.
Tonight's dinner, will be fried bologna and fried potatoes. It seems like, I am always frying foods, doesn't it?

Soup Nights - A tasty Change

2007-03-15T09:52:00.000-05:00

Have you ever tried to fix a meal from scratch while short on time? That was me Tuesday night. I came home from a meeting and had an hour to fix my evening meal and get to work so I would not be late. I was able (though just barely) to fix a big batch of potato soup and eat a bowl and throw some more in a container to take to work with me.
Before I left work, Wednesday morning, I spent 42 cents for a can of whole kernel corn, which I dumped into the soup and last night I ate potato and corn soup (or my version of Corn & Potato soup). It was a delicious change from my standard potato soup. If I had the money I would have bought some ham to dice up some into this soup. Now that sounds really tasty.

Getting Caught Up

2007-03-13T01:20:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here in front of the computer tonight, trying to catch up on my postings. A task I intended to do this morning, but Westar Energy had other ideas. It is the third night that I am eating ham and beans from the crock pot I fired up on the 9TH before going to work that night, and man are they delicious.

Tonight

2007-03-09T21:21:00.000-06:00

I didn't have any meetings tonight, so I fixed 2 baked potatoes (one was packed into my lunch for tonight). In addition, I went ahead and opened the last can of cream corn in the pantry. I still don't know how much I paid for that thing way back when, put I ate cream corn over a slice of bread beside my baked potato (drowned with margerine).
I also drank a glass of orange juice.

My lunch will be the same thing minus the bread and is the rest of the can of corn.

BLT minus the T

2007-03-08T20:46:00.000-06:00

When the roommate came home tonight, he told me that he had bought stuff for BLT's, if I wanted any. After my meeting I had tonight, I looked in the refrigerator to find he bought a 3 lb package of bacon. So I decided to go ahead and make myself a BLT minus the tomato of course since I don't do that particular kind of fruit.
I used dry bread (split-top wheat), lettuce (vegetable and bacon. I did throw him a dollar to cover his expense and then enjoyed myself a delicious BLT.

What I ate Tonight

2007-03-08T03:09:00.000-06:00

As I head full force into the final month of this 90-day social experiment, I have come to realize that sticking to a $30 a month budget is not easy. It takes a lot of due dilegance and is easy to buy junk food and convience items if ou are not careful.

Tonight, I did not eat any vegetables, I ate 3 eggs and some corn flakes.

Where Are The Vegetables

2007-03-08T03:06:00.000-06:00

On a recent post, I had a visitor question me about where the vegetables were. The person said that except for beans, they have not seen me eat any vegetables.
How do I respond to that? I wonder if the person has read all my posts. In fact I wonder if they have read the post completely that they posted the comment to. It is true, that I haven't prepared nearly the variety of vegetables that I did before this experiment. If they had they would have seen I have eaten lots of potatoes (a vegetable) and I have also eaten corn (also a vegetable).
Fact is in about 30 days when this experiment is over, I am going to live off what is in my pantry in an effort to get rid of all the canned goods that I had bought previous to this experiment. Some of which are a couple of years old. Vegetables included in that list is corn, peas, beans (4 different kinds - green beans, baked beans, great northern and pork and beans). Unfortunately, I do not have my favorite vegetable in the pantry, a vegetable that is probably the most expensive in my taste buds. That being green Lima beans. I will have to look, but I might have one can of carrots as well. I do know that I have a can cranberry sauce and a can of pineapple as well. I should have enough canned fruit and vegetables for at least 30 meals.

Getting Caught Up on Updates

2007-03-07T09:09:00.000-06:00

So when I last posted I talked about how I ate several hamburgers. Since then, I have ate hamburger gravy (over toast) and last night I ate a omelet of 3 eggs and 2 small potatoes. For my lunch at work, I took a bowl of ham and beans, that I pulled out of my freezer.

Meat Fix

2007-03-04T19:58:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my last post I bought a big package of hamburger. I did get the bulk of it into the freezer, while I fried up 3 burgers making myself 3 meals. I have a little bit left in th refrigerator that I am going to make into gravy tomorrow.
Today, however, I am taking the last of the left over mashed potatoes and frying them up into patties for tonight's meal.
Oh and last night at work, we had flyer's in the store advertising that Sonic was now open till 3 am , offering a free sonic burger. So yep, I got myself a free burger for my lunch.

I couldn't stand it any longer!

2007-03-02T09:10:00.000-06:00

I couldn't stand it any longer! I had to have meat. Price Chopper was having a massive meat sale today and tomorrow. So I picked up a package of hamburger at $1.48/lb. The total on the family package was $6.62. However, I stayed under the $6 I had remaining for this month, because I had an associate coupon for $2 off. With the hamburger buns I picked up at Aldi's for 69 cents. All together I spent $5.31. Now, I just have to remember to freeze a portion of the hamburger so it doesn't go bad.

I fried up my 1st hamburger this morning before going to bed.

Day 54

2007-03-01T20:36:00.000-06:00

As I suggested in this mornings post, I fixed peanut butter sandwiches for dinner tonight, to celebrate National Peanut Butter Lovers Day. I ate one pbj and one peanut butter and honey. What a great way to celebrate Peanut Butter Day. Which begs the question, if they can have a National Peanut Butter Lovers Day Lovers Day, why not a National Foster Parents Day.

National Peanut Butter Lovers Day

2007-03-01T07:43:00.001-06:00

I didn't eat much yesterday, because I felt like crap with this cold. I have been downing a lot of zicam through out the day and a night time medicine when I go to bed. I feel a lot better this morning, and I ate a couple of scrambled eggs.
However, I see today is National Peanut Butter Lovers Day, so I guess I am going to have to eat some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches today. However, I just learned National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day isn't until April 2.

Today is a sticky day. National Peanut Butter Lover's Day salutes America's favorite sandwich spread. What kid didn't grow up loving a PB&J sandwich? It's a staple in our house.

Smooth Peanut Butter is by far the most popular. Crunchy peanut butter is also on the market, and is enjoyed by many. Peanut Butter is not limited to a Peanut Butter and Jelly (PB&J) sandwich. It's popular on crackers, celery and other "peanut butter" holders. It is also used in recipes for cookies and snacks. And, don't forget peanut butter candies, too!

Did you Know? Peanut Butter is 90% or more peanuts. While it has no artificial preservatives, an opened jar is stored on a shelf at room temperature.

Celebrate today with a little (or a lot) of Peanut Butter. If you can, make your own Peanut Butter. Its a fun project that the kids will enjoy doing with you

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/March/pbloversday.htm

Peanut Butter is America's favorite sandwich spread. What kid didn't grow up with PB&J sandwiches as a staple for lunch? There's a huge range of uses in recipes and snacks.

Its easy to make your own Peanut Butter. Here's how....

Ingredients:

2 cups roasted shelled, unsalted peanuts

1 tablespoon peanut oil

1/4 teaspoon salt (optional for low salt diets)

Preparation Directions:

Place peanuts, oil, and salt into a blender or food processor.

Blend well, until desired texture is reached.

Place peanut butter in airtight container.

For crunchy peanut butter, add 1/4 cup of peanuts and blend again, but, for just a short burst or two.

The oil can separate from the peanuts during storage. Simply stir and serve.

If you knew it was this easy, you'd probably have made you own Peanut Butter years ago.

Guilt-free rainy day

2007-02-28T07:44:00.000-06:00

This guest post from Lewis Beck

Finally, it is a rainy day. It has been so long since we had rain, I forgot how relaxing it is. The best part about the rain is that you can sit inside and not feel guilty about accomplishing absolutely nothing. So, that is my big plan today: accomplishing nothing. It seems silly to plan to do nothing, but sometimes you need a lazy day. I have big plans for my lack of accomplishment today. First off, I am going to read a chapter in my latest novel of interest. Then, I am going to visit www.direct.tv and see what movies are available. I hope to watch at least two movies. I have been so busy that the last movie I saw was 3 months ago. And my final plan for my “nothing” day is to take a nap. Rainy day naps are undoubtedly the best naps ever taken. The beat of the rain on the window, the slight chill in the air, and the guiltless enjoyment of sleeping in the middle of the day are only a few reasons why this is the best part of my entire day. It’s funny how excited I feel about a day of doing nothing, but I am so happy for the rain!

Potato Patties and Bread Pudding

2007-02-27T20:57:00.000-06:00

Today I ate an odd combination of foods. This morning when I finally ate something I fixed up a potato patty (from the left over mashed potatoes), an egg and some left over bread pudding.
Tonight as I am battling the beginning's of my first cold this winter, I again fixed another potato patty and heated up the last of the left over bread pudding.

Enjoying Your frugal Meal in Style

2007-02-26T09:25:00.000-06:00

After you have cooked that nice and frugal home cooked meal you need someplace to sit and enjoy it. Like your frugal meal you don't have to break into Fort Knox to be able have a comfortable place. You can dress up your old hard dinning room chairs with attractive yet affordable dining chair cushions.

The styles are endless. If your dinning room chairs need a pick me up. Or just need some help to be more comfortable I encourage you to take a look at these kitchen chair pads.

Now I know this blog is a frugal blog but that doesn't mean being style-less. You can look very fashionable and not break the budget. One of the things I always dreamed of was a chandelier over my dinning room table. We know that is possible with a plug in chandelier. So what are you waiting for? Check them out, make your budget and dress up your dinning room to fit your lifestyle and enjoy your frugal self.

potatoes & leftovers

2007-02-25T21:41:00.000-06:00

Last night before going to work I ate 2 baked potatoes (about 15 cents each) and some pork & beans. I then took the remainder of the pork & beans to work with me for my lunch.
Total estimated expense 70 cents

When I arrived home I ate a couple of eggs, and promptly fell asleep, missing church again.

Tonight, as I get ready for work, I fixed and ate mashed potatoes and leftover bread pudding.

Last Night and This Morning

2007-02-24T09:12:00.000-06:00

I guess, I didn't make my regular post before going to work last night, so I better get you all updated on this extremely frugal diet of mine. I reheated a bowl of potato soup for my meal before work. Took another bowl of it to work with me and am eating the last of it as I type, before turning in for the day. I will be up at 4 to get ready for another day.

total estimated cost of my 3 meals...99 cents

I am thinking baked potato and some other veggie tonight

Soup Night - Day 47

2007-02-22T20:02:00.000-06:00

Today I sent out emails to Foster Parenting groups regarding the resolution that was introduced in Congress on my behalf, letting them know. Tonight, after I woke up, I made up a bowl of potato soup.
One thing I am learning is how to use more water and less milk, when making my potato soup. A great way to make the dollars and the milk to stretch further.

Busy 24 hours

2007-02-22T07:13:00.000-06:00

It is time I get everyone updated on what I have eaten in the last 24 hours. I took leftover chiken and biscuits (chicken pot pie) from my deep freezer to work with me yesterday. When I came home I fried two potatoes and one egg. I then called a local a talk show regarding some federal legislation that I have fought for the past 17 years, before going to bed. Once I woke up I made and ate popcorn for my dinner.

Total spent yesterday was an estimated 45 cents

Free Food!

2007-02-20T20:38:00.000-06:00

For some reason the main aggregator of this personal finance related site, failed to aggregate the post I made yesterday. At any rate, I will continue to post about eating on a budget tonight and even after the current 90-day experiment is over. Today, I received a comment on last nights post telling me about free pancakes at I-Hop all day today. I found it hard to believe, so I called the local I-hop and confirmed it was in fact true. So tonight, I made my way out to that side of town to get my free pancakes with butter pecan syrup. More info on this promotion is below (copied from IHOP.com).

Join IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day (also known as Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday) on Tuesday, February 20, 2007. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., we’ll give you one free short stack (three) of our famous buttermilk pancakes. All we ask is that you consider making a donation to support local children’s hospitals through Children’s Miracle Network, or other local charities.

In 2006, you helped IHOP celebrate National Pancake Day by raising more than $340,000 for charity. In 2007, we hope that together we can top that by giving away enough free pancakes to raise $500,000 for Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities. To find an IHOP location near you, please click here.

There is a limit of one free short stack per guest. The offer is valid at participating restaurants for dine-in only while supplies last, and is not valid with any other offer, special, coupon or discount.

So it wasn't completely free, I left a 75 cent tip and dropped 50 cents in the donation box. I also left my card advertising the main blog, with a not to the waitress for her very excellent service. Maybe if she makes her way to this site, she well comment and say hi.

Stomach Growling

2007-02-20T03:36:00.000-06:00

My stomach is growling so fierce right now, but I don't know what to fix. I do know I don't want leftover bread pudding to be my main course again.
So off to the kitchen I go and after much scrouging around, I decided to heat up a bowl of ham and beans from the deep freeze. That should fill me up quite nicely, especially with a side of leftover bread pudding afterwards.

You Have to See this Recipe

2007-02-18T18:51:00.000-06:00

OK, So a number of you are probably wondering what I am eating tonight. Well, it's a frugal recipe and something I have been planning for months. Bread pudding.

What I do is, since the recipe calls for stale bred, and since no one seems to like those heels in the loaf of bread is I store the heels from each loaf in my freezer until I have enough bread to make my bread pudding.

Stale bread (about 4 cups)
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
3 1/4 - 4 c. milk
6 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
6 pats butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. raisins (opt.)

Break enough bread into small pieces to fill a 9"x13" baking dish (about 4 cups); sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over bread. In separate bowl mix milk, eggs, vanilla and salt. Sprinkle raisins over bread, then pour milk mixture over bread until they can be seen around bread. Place butter on top. Bake 1 hour at 375 degrees. Serves 12.

LEMON SAUCE:

1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
Dash of salt

Mix gradually and add 1 cup water. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thick and clear. Stir small amount hot mixture into 2 beaten egg yolks, return to hot mixture. Cook and stir 1 minute; remove from heat and add 2 teaspoons butter and 2 tablespoons lemon juice, pour over pudding.

Since I didn't have cornstarch, I used flour instead

Total Cost about $2 divided by 12 servings that breaks down to 17 cents per serving...pretty cheap meal...but full of sugar and carbohydrates.

Yesterday, Mis-Spending & Macaroni Nite

2007-02-18T18:20:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I did well sticking to my budget until I got to work. I ate a box of mac & cheese...total cost 29 cents. but then I got to, with the leftover macaroni and bought a bottle of Propel water (had coupon for free bottle), a candy bar and box of fresh cookies. ~~Spent~~ Wasted $2.72.

ham & beans

2007-02-16T20:59:00.000-06:00

Spent my evening at the lawn and garden show here in Topeka manning the Keep America Beautiful booth. I ran home real quick to pull a couple of containers of ham and beans out of the deep freeze. Heated one up for my "breakfast," and am taking the other to work for my lunch tonight.

Day 40 - Stuffing

2007-02-15T21:27:00.000-06:00

Today, I found a box stuffing in my cubard that was almost expired, so I mixed it up. Served it with left over Au Gratin potatoes. Total estimated cost 46 cents.

My lunch tonight will be left over potatoes, cream corn and corn bread stuffing. I will fill like I am eating like a king, when lunch time rolls around about 3 am.

Day 39 Wrap-up

2007-02-15T19:12:00.000-06:00

Morning. Last night for dinner I again ate Au Gratin Potatoes and cream corn. The estimated cost is 37 cents. I know yesterday I said 28, but I figured 4 meals, but I am only getting 3 meals out of what I prepared.

Your Opinion Is Being Sought

2007-02-15T07:38:00.000-06:00

OK, this isn't exactly a post on my eating or food spending, but DebtFree4ever.net is seeking your opinion on the new dollar coin. Click here to voice your opinion.

Morning Update - Day 39

2007-02-14T10:17:00.000-06:00

Came home this morning and fixed myself a peanut butter and honey sandwich along with a glass of kool-aid.
OK, I said that I would list my shopping for yesterday.
2 boxes of Macaroni & Cheese 29 cents each
2 boxes of Au Gratin Potatoes 79 cents each
5 lb Sugar 2.12
Snack crackers 1.29
------
Total 5.98

As I mentioned last night, I will be creating a side bar tool to keep track of my monthly expenses, some time today.

Au Gratin Potatoes

2007-02-13T20:48:00.000-06:00

OK, I am running behind tonight, so this will be really quick. I went grocery shopping and picked up a few items. Spent $5.98. More tomorrow. Look for a tally bar to show up in the sidebar tomorrow as well.
Tonight I ate
Au Gratin Potatoes
Cream corn over a slice of bread
estimated cost 28 cents

got to run.

taking egg salad sandwich to work for lunch tonight.

Hot Chocolate

2007-02-13T07:17:00.000-06:00

As fixed myself a cup of hot cocoa today, I started wondering if I could cut the expense of this delicious hot drink. I am one those people that find my cocoa, better tasting, if I make it with milk instead of water. So, in my efforts to make my food dollars stretch (and also my milk) further, I only filled my cup half full with milk and then added water.
The taste was noticeably less creamy, but I think I could get used to it, if I put my mind to it. Maybe in time, I could get myself to just drink it with water instead of milk.

Egg Salad Overload

2007-02-12T21:46:00.000-06:00

I am amazed how much egg salad you can get out of a few eggs and a little relish, mustard and salad dressing (store brand of Miracle Whip) makes. Once all mixed together, I filled a cottage cheese container. Looks like I will be eating egg salad most of the week.
I just finished one sandwich, and am going to eat another one here, when I finish this post.

It's egg time.

2007-02-12T07:24:00.000-06:00

Morning, I mentioned last night, in my post on eggs (How Many Ways to Cook An Egg) over at DebtFree4ever.net, that I was boiling eggs. I ate 2 of them before going to work. I need to try the birds nest. In my brown bag lunch I had 3 diner rolls (from the ones I got free the other day) and the last of granola bar from my trip to the dental clinic.
Then this morning, when I arrived home I made a small batch of egg salad and had me two (2) sandwiches.

Popcorn and Gravy

2007-02-11T07:03:00.000-06:00

Today, I ate popcorn and gravy. No, not together. Last night when I woke up, after sleeping in till 6 pm, I fixed popcorn for my "breakfast." I made to much popcorn really, but oh man it was so good. Homemade popcorn is so much tastier then that expensive stuff in the microwave bags.

Then this morning for my 6 am dinner, I made up some delicious biscuits and gravy. Using the sausage that I bought yesterday and a couple of slices for the biscuits. (Note to self, I am almost out of flour.) The fact I spent $2.53 on sausage and used it all to make a little bit of gravy with 2 sausage patties, means I easily went over budget today, but I am hopping that by the end of the month, it will average out.

total cost :
Popcorn 5 cents (approximately)
Sausage gravy $3.00

Bought Meat

2007-02-10T09:38:00.000-06:00

I broke down and spent $2.53 this morning on meat...sausage to be exact. Can you say sausage gravy, Got to be careful though, only 4 days into the 2ND month and already spent more then half the money for this month ending March 6.

Another $7 Spent

2007-02-09T20:16:00.000-06:00

The other day, I spent nearly $7 dollars to have the supplies to make my potato soup. $3.15 for a gallon of milk and $2.99 for 10-pounds of potatoes (plus tax).

I used 3 potatoes and this time used more water to help make the milk last longer.

The potatoes should last me most of the month, so that won't be duplicated. Unfortunately the milk won't last that long.

Finishing Up The Leftovers

2007-02-09T20:08:00.000-06:00

This morning when I got home from work, I added a little bit of water to the leftover potato soup in the refrigerator and ate a bowl of soup. Tonight, as I get ready to go back to work, I am warming up the last of the soup. If I remember correctly, that will mean I got six bowls of soup out of the three potatoes that I cut up.
While, I love potatoes and could eat some form of potatoes every day, I am glad to be finishing up the soup, so that I can move on to something else to fix and eat.
What, I will have tomorrow for day 35, is at this time still a mystery.

I Have Sinned

2007-02-09T09:24:00.000-06:00

I feel like I should pull a Jimmy Swaggart. Crocodile tears, streaming down my cheeks as I cry, "I have sinned." However, I can't cry on cue like that. So, I guess, plain old honesty will have to. Last night at work, I broke my budget, spending $5.67 for cookies from our in store bakery and a Mountain Dew.

What a waste of money. I really need to learn to resist temptation better.

Meeeeeat

2007-02-08T19:33:00.000-06:00

yes, meat. I am actually going to eat some meat tonight. Well, in the morning actually. I am still going to eat potato soup leftovers tonight. But, I received some lunch meet and bread from a friend of mine (and reader of this blog) who got a bunch of left over lunch meat from "treat day," at his work. So tonight, as I go to work I will take with me a couple of lunch meat sandwiches. I am going to feel like a king tonight.

Tuesday and Wednesday Meals - Day 32

2007-02-08T08:47:00.000-06:00

Good Morning. Well this is the second time, I have typed this up. Earlier this morning, blogger wasn't responding, then my computer locked up again. OK, so what have I been eating.
Sorry, about not yesterday, but I want my posts to be interesting as well as informative. I also worked Wednesday (yesterday), and posting on work days is harder, then these nights, (like today) that I am off.
Tuesday, I only ate one meal of 3 eggs and corn flakes.

Yesterday (Wednesday), I made up a batch of my potato soup and ate 2 bowls. That will be on the menu, when I wake up tonight as well.

Sponsor: Chocolate Covered Company

2007-02-08T03:07:00.000-06:00

Do you ~~like~~ love chocolate? Millions of Americans do. My favorite chocolate food has to be, those chocolate covered strawberries, that I can find at some of the banquets and conventions, I attend. Well, now I have found, a company that will deliver chocolate to your door. They are Chocolate Covered Company.
As I trolled through the Internet, and stumbled upon their website, I fell in love instantly. Right there on the front page, they were advertising Chocolate Covered Strawberries, for a Valentines Day special. With a great selling message of "because you can't eat roses." They also had the "wedding berries," which was you chocolate covered strawberries again, only they were dipped in white chocolate and a tiny bit of chocolate-chocolate, in such a way that the strawberries looked like they were wearing tuxedo's.
It's not just strawberries though, they also have chocolate fountains, chocolate covered blackberries and cherries. I bet, they could cover in fruit you want in chocolate.

So, what are you waiting for? Valentines Day is coming fast. Get to the website, and buy you loved one something sweet, before it's to late.

The weekend Wrap-Up

2007-02-06T06:52:00.000-06:00

Well, it is time to bring everyone up to date with how I have been doing on this extreme eating budget. Friday, I didn't feel like doing much of anything, once I finally got home from the dental clinic.
As I mentioned in my DebtFree4ever.net blog article (My Experience With Free Dental Care), they feed us breakfast and lunch free.
Breakfast consisted of biscuits and gravy while for lunch they served goulash, chips, applesauce and a chewy granola bar. By the time lunch rolled around, I was setting next to someone I knew and since I don't eat goulash and he couldn't eat chips, we exchanged my goulash for his chips and granola bar.
I ended Friday, being extremely tired (since I didn't get any sleep) as I headed to work. So tired that I used that as an excuse to break my budget and stooped at McDonald's for a cheap hamburger and large fry. I did drink water rather then a coke. In fact, I avoided soda pop all day Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday.
---
Saturday, both meals consisted of ham and beans from the deep freeze.
---
Sunday, was the Superbowl and the talk show host of one of the local talk shows that I listen to was cooking a feast on a big smoker, for his churches Superbowl party. He invited all of his listeners to come out and I, the good little frugalist I am, went for the free food. Not to mention, watching all those Superbowl commercials with a bunch of other people.
The snickers ad was hilarious. Oh, and I loved the frog eyes salad.
---
Finally, Monday I ate 3 fried eggs and some corn flakes.

Did I actually Gain Weight?

2007-02-06T02:53:00.000-06:00

Earlier in the month, I was concerned that I might lose weight on this extreme budget diet. However, when I weighed myself I was 3 pounds heavier then the scales at the doctors office read a couple years back.
Of course that could mean that in the last couple of years that I had gained weight, or that the 2 scales are giving slightly different results.
No mater it is obvious that I did not go below the 142 pounds, from my last doctors visit. For that I am happy, but I still have 59 days to go in this experiment. I could still shed a few pounds, even though that was not was intended by this experiment.

Day 26

2007-01-31T20:31:00.000-06:00

Well, I have reached Day 26 tonight and I ate rice again. Today, I thought I would let you see what my favorite way to fix rice, so it's not so bland.
1 cup of rice
2 cups of water
2 Tablespoons Sugar
Cinnamon

Bowl rice like normal, once rice is cooked add sugar and cinnamon and mix together until well mixed (white rice will turn cinnamon color).

Then enjoy. I ate my rice tonight with a helping of the yogurt that I bought earlier in the month.

Winding Down 1st 30 Days

2007-01-31T10:38:00.000-06:00

Good Morning, after 25 days I have been doing pretty well on my extreme budget. Sunday, after the convention I ate the last of the potato soup that I had leftover in refrigerator. Monday, I munched on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yesterday, I ate some scrambled eggs. In addition, I went to a wine tasting last night, and besides a few samples of wine, I ate some crackers.
Today, with snow flying, I ventured to the grocery store and picked up a few things. I used money from my next months budget. I still have some Rice and beans to get me through part of the next month. Below is my purchases from today.

Strawberry Preserves - 99 cents
Peanut Butter/Choc/Hazel Nut Spread - $1.69
Split Top Wheat Bread - 89 cents
2 Hot Cocoa Mix (89 cents ea) - $1.78
Corn Flakes - 99 cents
47 cents tax
-------------
Grand Total Spent 6.81 out the next 30 day budget.

Eating Well on $0

2007-01-28T12:09:00.000-06:00

As I stated previously, I was going to a state political convention this weekend (2 blocks from my house). I went from reception to reception drinking free soda, water and occasionally wine. Most rooms served cookies crackers, etc, which of course I partook of all that junk food. One room even had (plain) strawberries as well as chocolate dipped strawberries. (those were so awesome)

However, the Abates, a motorcycle advocacy group, served ham and roasted turkey, constantly warming in a crock pot. Let me tell you, I loaded up on that turkey. It was so delicious, and a nice change from the beans and rice that I have been eating so much of. (note: the Abates room is the only room open through out the entire 2 day event, even when other rooms are shut down for meetings or expensive banquets.)

The best deal though, was when I surprised by someone selling tickets to one of the banquets, who said that he wanted to give me a ticket to the luncheon on Saturday. So I went to the Veterans luncheon free and was able to hear former Topeka City Councilman and former Assistant-Secretary of Defense (currently employed at the American Trucking Association) Dan Stanley speak. Not to mention the meal that I was able eat.

However, the blessings did not stop there. As I was preparing to get ready to leave and walk the two blocks home, someone came into the ABATE reception where I was still milling about and asked if I wanted the extra ticket to the Kansas Day Banquet he had. The banquet is pretty much the end all banquet for the weekend and celebrates the birth of Kansas (Kansas will be 146 on January 29). I graciously accepted the gift and thanked him as I had my seat in the room, in front of my salad, that started the meal.

All in all, even though a lot of it was junk food, I ate very well this weekend and didn't go hungry. Not to mention, I spent nothing on food. One thing I learned though, was soda pop (especially my coca-cola) is beginning to taste to sweet to me. Maybe that's a good thing. Most certainly a great first step to weening myself from the sugary concoction.

Thank you For the Links This week

2007-01-27T05:23:00.000-06:00

I received 2 links from other blogs this past week, and I would like to thank both of them, for helping spread the word.
Hmmm....this guy got me thinking.....
-and-
Ok, Proof I am eating well

Looking Forward to This Weekend

2007-01-26T10:12:00.000-06:00

This morning, when I got home from work I was hungry, so I fried 2 eggs and 2 slices of toast and made myself an egg sandwich. Boy was that a delicious "midnight" snack.

I am off to bed now, but before I do, I wanted to let my readers know that I may not be posting tonight or tomorrow, because I am headed to the annual state convention (for my political party) tonight and tomorrow. I really don't think I will be eating at home instead I will be partaking in the free drinks, snacks, sandwiches and finger foods that will be served in the hospitality rooms. I won't say here which party it is, but I do know that at least one person who has formally announced his candidacy for President will be there. I will also say that I will be looking forward to talking to a man, who I have considered a friend for several years.
At any rate, I am not expecting to spend anything on meals tonight or tomorrow, thanks to the free food. Of course, most of the food will be junk food, but oh well.

Enjoy your weekend, look for the re-creation of an old blog this weekend. More details later.

Homemade Potato Soup - day 20

2007-01-25T20:59:00.000-06:00

Tonight I made homemade potato soup again (my recipe below). I was going to make corn-potato soup, but when I went to my pantry, I didn't have any cans of whole kernel corn. Dang it anyway.

So my recipe is very simple.
peel and cut your potato (usually 2-3)
boil in water until tender
add 2 cups of water and 3 cups of milk
butter
season All (or salt and pepper if you prefer)

cook until butter melts...that's it

some people like onions in their soup and that is fine if you like (or can eat) onions
. If I had-had the can of corn I would of replaced that for one of the cups of milk.

Over Budget in January

2007-01-24T19:59:00.000-06:00

Last night, I finished eating the burned rice. This 2ND day, was not nearly as bad as the day before. What I did was put some Vanilla Yogurt on the side and then mixed them together. The Yogurt hid the burnt taste, making the rice much more palatable.

Tonight, I am eating a grilled cheese sandwich. I bought a package of Velveeta ($3.99 for a 1 lb box) and now I am able to eat such a thing. The only problem is the cheese, yogurt and gallon of milk I bought, put me over budget for the month of January. Of course a lot of that was bad chooses that I made earlier in the month. I foresee February going much better. I am going to lock the checkbook up in the safety deposit box and only use cash, which I have already placed in the food envelope.

Burned Rice

2007-01-22T21:16:00.000-06:00

As I finish up day 17 of this 90-day experiment, I was again making rice. Today, though was different, because I accidentally let it cook to long. Allowing it to boil dry and burn. Since, I am on such a strict budget, like so many of the poor, I was forced to eat burned rice. It actually wasn't as bad I figured, but it definitely wasn't as good as it should have been.
Tonight, I am taking a bowl of ham and beans from the freezer with me to work. No forgetting my food tonight, like I have done so many times the past 2 and half weeks.

Soup All Weekend - Strong Meat Cravings

2007-01-21T20:49:00.000-06:00

As the snow blew into Kansas, I spent all weekend eating my tomato soup. It's good, but man have I been craving a hamburger, more specifically a breakfast burger. What is a breakfast burger? In my area a fast food place called Spangles has what they call the breakfast burger. It is a hamburger bun (sesame seed) with a beef Pattie, fried egg, bacon and hash browns. They serve cheese on it, but I don't eat cheese on my burgers. They are so good. Out on the west coast Carl Jr's has the same thing, so far, Hardee's the Carl Jr's sister restaurant, does not have the burger. I would fry one up myself, if the hamburger was in my budget.

oh well, I have to ignore that craving for now and stick to my experiment.

Homemade Tomato Soup - Day 13

2007-01-19T01:30:00.000-06:00

Tonight, when I woke up I decided to try something different. Making my own tomato soup. A 1-quart can of tomato juice is only 99 cents, so I could make a huge batch for not much more then $1. Which would translate into well less then $1/day once served up.

To make it in the microwave, I started with the "white sauce" (if making it by stove top, this portion is made separately and then stirred into the rest.

2 Tablespoons butter (or margarine)
2 Tablespoons Floor
dash of season all
1 cup milk

Melt butter (about 30-40 seconds in microwave), stir in floor until paste like. Slowly add milk stirring until well blended. Add Season all (or salt and pepper
if you prefer)

Then add

2 cups of tomato juice
1 cup of water.

Stir together then add sugar to taste.

Estimated cost: 52 cents with crackers (38 cents w/o).

Something to Consider

2007-01-18T07:54:00.000-06:00

Something I had not considered, even though it was something that Evan had talked about, is the possibility of weight loss. I spent many years (all of my high school years and then some) stuck at a constant 120 lbs. Wanting to gain wait, but seemingly, no matter how much I ate, I never gained weight. Then in 1995 (some 8 years after high school), I moved to Chicago, as I entered the ministry, and with-in one month I had gained 10 lbs. I never looked back from that, I ultimately got up to 142 lbs, which is where I have been sitting the last 7 or 8 years. However, I could actually lose some of that weight with this experiment. If I feel healthier, it could be a good thing, but I am not sure that I want to gain or lose any weight.
I don't own a bathroom scale, so I can't weigh myself, and going to see a doctor, that I can't afford would be a waste of money, especially just so I could get weighed. Maybe, I should consider going to target, and getting a bathroom scale. Then again maybe, I could find a good one on FreeCycle.org.
At any rate, the possibility for weight loss is there, and i should keep that in mind.

Temptation - Day 12

2007-01-17T19:50:00.000-06:00

Looking around the Internet, I found this chart showing how many people around the world live on less then $1 a day. Yet we Americans, think it's not possible. Friends of mine think I must be starving myself and I struggle to resist temptation when hunger pangs do knock, when I forget to take my lunch to work. Especially, when you work in a grocery store like I do. Like the other day, I left my lunch at home, and the hunger pains were beginning to kick in around 3 or 4 a.m. and it was all I could do to resist buying something to appease my apatite.
Something else this extreme budget has taught me is that I have been really spending more on snacks and groceries then I actually had budgeted. I am now forced by this commitment to actually cut the spend and eat better.

Tonight, I am eating Macaroni and Cheese.

Day 11 - Stocking The Freezer

2007-01-16T18:08:00.000-06:00

I finished cooking up my 3RD batch of beans in a week. After eating the 3 or 4 bowls of beans, I ended up with 15 meals worth in my deep freeze and 1 more that I plan to take to work with me tonight.

Day 10 - Beans Again

2007-01-15T20:34:00.000-06:00

I.m not sure how I can write another post about eating beans again. Except to say I ate 2 bowls this time with the corn bread I made yesterday. I Will have to think about it. As a result, I feel stuffed. Which is a different filling then I have felt since the holidays. The past 10-days there has been days that I actually had hunger pangs. Of course, I always have them, it has just been a couple more times each week then usual.
Doing this project, has reminded me of those who struggle with being able to buy food, more then I do. The people, who I left in Chicago (in 1996), to return to my home in Kansas to help here.

Day 9

2007-01-14T20:40:00.000-06:00

Tonight I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich , finishing off the last 2 slices of bread that I had in the house from before I started this experiment. (note to self buy more bread) I also consumed 4 cups of tea and a can of coke, not to mention the bowl of ham and beans that I took to work with me, last night. All together that means I spent a grand total of 79 cents. That is my cheapest day so far. This is actually becoming easier then I first figured it would.

On a side note, I bought 2 boxes of cornbread mix at 39 cents each and made a corn bread to go with my beans.

SPONSOR: Edible Wedding Favors

2007-01-14T10:50:00.000-06:00

I recently stumbled upon a website that I thought was a great idea. It had a fantastic idea for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, corporate events holidays, and bridal showers. What is this fantastic idea? Edible wedding favors. Of course, that isn't exactly new, but on this website they create candy bar wrappers to go around your candy bars.
These wrappers are specifically designed and printed for your event. The candy bars their self is 1.2 oz measuring 5"x2".
As I said, I think this is a great idea, if you have a special event coming up. So why not provide some unique wedding favors (or whatever event you have) to your guests.

Day 8 - made the budget for 2nd day

2007-01-13T19:53:00.000-06:00

It's been nearly 3 weeks since Christmas and I had barely touched the banana bread and pear honey that I had received for Christmas, until this past week. Now the loaf of banana bread is almost gone and I am working towards finishing off the 1ST (of 2) jar of pear honey. There is nothing like home cooked foods over store bought, though I can't say that I have ever seen pear honey in the store. These items while not really filling are great snacks and are so "oh so good," to borrow the phrase from Mr. Food.

Anyway, my report for today is that I consumed 1 slice of banana bread, 2 glasses of milk, a bowl of ham and beans, 1 can of coke and a cup of tea. Over all that would mean I spent about 86 cents for the day.

Day 8 - Various Thoughts

2007-01-13T09:51:00.000-06:00

Last night, as i mentioned in my previous post, I went to an art exhibit opening at the public library. They had fruit and veggie trays as well as a tray of brownies. It occurred to me, how strange it was that I had a plate full of healthy and delicious fruit and carrot sticks and this huge brownie.

I then went on to work . Before leaving the store this morning I spent $10.83 to purchase milk, beans, rice, eggs and a ham steak (most of which will b used to flavor the beans, which I put in the pot when I got home. All in all, I figure what I bought should last me about 3 weeks, except of course the milk d eggs. The eggs were on sale for 79 cents dozen and I picked up a rain check for another 2 dozen, which includes a 50 cents off on eggs or ice cream. I of course will opt for the cents off on eggs, which will make one of those dozen eggs only 29 cents. Not bad at all. I almost picked up a quart of yogurt. Something a friend of mine learned from an Indian (someone from India) roommate of his in college is having yogurt with your rice. However, as I was mentally figuring things up in my head I decided that, I should go ahead and skip that item this time. I figure for this first month, I can only spend another $10 on groceries and I forgot to buy cornbread mix to go with my beans. I do still have one more bowl of beans (w/cornbread) in the deep freeze.

Well, I am off to bed. Hope all of you have a great day. I will probably have an update tonight after I wake up and finish preparing that big pot of beans.

Day 7

2007-01-12T17:37:00.000-06:00

I am making tonight's post a little early, because I am going to the opening of new art exhibit at the public library, before I go to work. I am happy to report that I ate 2 meals today at a total cost of 85 cents.
What I ate is listed below.

In addition, though I don't usually get to take an actual lunch at work, I am taking some rice with me to eat on lunch.

2 cups of tea
corn flakes, 2 eggs and 2 slices of toast with 1 glass of milk
1 can of coke
rice with a cup of tea

Rolling Through Day 6

2007-01-11T21:55:00.000-06:00

Today was an interesting day. As soon as I left work, I had to run to a meeting with Congresswoman Nancy Boyda's office. For those outside of my area, she is the Kansas Congresswoman who was on ABC news last week,

During the televised exchange last Thursday, Boyda said she would vote to fund an increase in troops. Gibson responded that the recent election results indicated voters desired a change in direction of the war.

Boyda then said, "They should have thought about that before they voted for President Bush not once, but twice."

I then left there to try to catch up with State Rep. Melody McCray-Miller, before coming home and going to bed. Before I left work, the guys in the meat department had fried up some bacon that they were going to throw out, so I got to eat 4-5 slices of free bacon. Once I arrived at home, I ate the 3rd and last bowl of potato soup.
In addition, I actually avoided pop last night, and drank 2 bottles of water, that I took to work with me. When I woke up (tonight), I ran off to my Neighborhood Improvement Association meeting (drinking my 1 can of pop), then came home and ate a bowl of rice, 2 slices of homemade banana bread (Christmas gift from my mom) and 2 glasses of milk.
All in all, I spent $1.32. Looking over the list, it would appear that the 2 bottles of water put me over the top.

note: the rice has been in my cabinet for a year or better, so I do not know how much it costs. I do know this container was more expensive, because it's one that came in a sealed "jar." After it is used up, I will buy the store brand and store it in this same air tight container.

Ending Day 5

2007-01-10T20:31:00.000-06:00

Tonight, as I look back over the day, it seems I have done better. I am still not where I need to be, as I am still consuming way to much pre-packaged stuff and to many cokes. However, tonight, as I get ready to hope in the shower I ate 3 friend eggs and a little bit of corn flakes, along with a cup of tea. All in all tonight's meal cost a mere 39 cents.

That's a total of $1.09 for the day.

Hopefully tomorrow, I can do even better. I am going to work on limiting myself to one can of coke a day.

Morning of Day 5

2007-01-10T08:39:00.000-06:00

This morning as I head to bed, I would like to report that I drank 1 glass of milk, ate a 2ND bowl of potato soup and am currently on my 3rd cup of hot tea.
All together, I have consumed about 70 cents worth of food and drinks.

4 cents per cup of tea with 2 teaspoons of sugar each
40 cents (estimated) per bowl of Potato Soup
19 cents per glass of milk

Day 4 (part b)

2007-01-10T00:57:00.000-06:00

Since I had tonight off, I was up extremely later then normal attending meetings. I ran from a neighborhood meeting at 11 am to a Keep America Beautiful meeting at noon. During that time I drank 2 cans of coke (again from my stash at home). When I finally woke up around 10 pm, I fixed some homemade potato soup (I have had the potatoes and am not sure how much they cost and since I react to onions, I don't use those). Milk and crackers are about 38 cents per bowl, or so it appears at the moment. If I can squeeze a 3rd bowl out of what I made, then I can get that number down to 33 cents.
Since I don't know the exact cost of the potatoes, I will estimate for the time being that eating soup tonight cost me about 40 cents per bowl.
A total cost for the day was $2.48

I really need tio break the habbit of buying stuff at work and cutting back on drinking pop. Those 2 areas are realling killing my extreme budget.

Day 4

2007-01-09T09:15:00.000-06:00

As several have pointed out, I consume way to much convenience foods. A fact I am will aware of. As a single person, I have cooked this way for a long time, not every night of course, but probably even more since I started working these dag numb, over night hours.
I have started posting, the prices of the foods in my diet, in the side bar in an attempt to make my posts my reader friendly.
At work tonight, I blew my extreme budget by purchasing a pint of milk (at a cost $1.07 - 7 cents of which was tax). Then I also purchased 2 "cans" of yoplait yogurt, which were on sale for 29 cents each. All together at work I spent $1.64 which includes 19 cents for a bottled water.
Here at the house I am going to try to drink more water and less pop, so I bought a case of bottled water. I am going to make this work and start eating better as well.
Once I got off work, I took the gift certificate that I won from the News You Need 2 Know (http://news2know.blogspot.com) late last month, and had some biscuits and gravy with orange juice. (mm mm good)
More later on.

Day 3

2007-01-08T20:45:00.000-06:00

so far not so good sticking to my NEW extreme budget.

At work (overnight)

1 can of Coca-cola (from home) 22 cents
Yopliat Yogurt 31 cents
1 snickers 59 cents

9 am (at home)

1 corn Dog 34 cents each

Wake up (5 pm)

1 can of coke 22 cents

8 PM Breakfast

Ham & Beans (from Deep freeze)

____________________________
Total Cost = $1.68

day 2

2007-01-07T23:44:00.000-06:00

so far not so good sticking to my NEW extreme budget.

At work (overnight)

1 can of Coca-cola (from home) 22 cents
1 can of Energy Drink $1.84
1 candy bar 59 cents

9 am (at home)

coke 22 cents
muffin $1.07

Wake up (5 pm)

can of coca-cola 22 cents

10 PM Breakfast

Rice (unknown cost --had in cabinet for a while)

____________________________
Total Cost = $4.16

The 411 - 90-day Experiment

2007-01-07T00:57:00.000-06:00

After reading Hungry for a Month, I decided that I would embark on a 90-day social experiment. In which I only spend $30/month on food. The only exception will be things that are freely available to the average person (salt taken from restaurants, ketchup packets from McDonald's, potluck dinners, etc). Buying in advance is fine, but at the end of the month, it all has to add up to $30 or less.

I may continue this extreme budget, after the experiment is over. However, I will see how well I did and how much healthier I am come April 6, 2007, when this experiment officially ends.

NOTE: This blog is organized according to date, which means you’ll see the last day of this thing before the first. It might make more sense if you start from the beginning: January 6, 2007.

Starting It off

2007-01-06T19:58:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my regular blog, I thought I would try eating on $1 a day. So to track how well I do on that goal, I will post the efforts here.

Today I ate:

1 Muffin $1.07
2 corn dogs 24 cents each for a total of 68 cents
_____________
total $1.75