This!!

This, this, THIS is the cookbook that I have been looking for in our life!

I remember my aunt showing this to me years ago and I read through it but must not have been in the mindset to let things sink in. I was smart enough to put this book on my wanted list at:

That was over three years ago and I finally became #1 on the list (out of 800 people waiting for it!) and received it in the mail today. I have been reading it all day and know that this is going to help change our diet and eating habits! Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon is "The cookbook that challenges politically correct nutrition and the diet dictocrats". I wanted to put it out there because so far this is by far the most interesting cookbook that I have run across and has the neatest information on what to eat, how to prepare it, and why we should eat it. Just a heads up for those of you who may want to purchase the book yourself and follow along with me, as I plan to highlight many of the recipes in the upcoming months. This is a cookbook that you have to have!

Artfully Done

Art: their favorite subject in school.

Feeding a Family of 5 for $75 Weekly

Yesterday's post asked you to leave any questions about my budget or your own. I'm answering one today and will continue to answer the others throughout the month of September, so feel free to continue to add your own questions to the list.

Anonymous said:

How on earth do you only spend $300 a month on groceries for a family of 5? I'm impressed!

My grocery budget is roughly $75 a week. Sometimes I go over and sometimes I go under, which means that it does average out to about $300 a month. While the price of groceries does depend on the area where you live, the type of food that you eat, and the meals that your family likes - it is the best area in your budget to save some money. Just cutting your food budget by $25 weekly will save you $100 a month!

First and foremost: make a menu and a detailed shopping list. You have to know what you are buying before you walk into the store in order to stick to your budget.

Stock up on great sale prices. When something is a loss leader, on clearance, or just a spectacular sale which you know you won't see for quite some time, stock up! These are the weeks that I spend a bit more on groceries but it evens out in the long run when I can pull these items out in later weeks to use for meals. One recent example is Hebrew National hot dogs. I'm not a huge fan of hot dogs but since my kids like them I compromise and buy the "higher quality" hot dogs. Super Target one day had the 24 packs of Hebrew National hot dogs on sale for $4.99, typically $9.99. I stocked up on a couple packages and stuck them in the freezer. If it's something you typically buy and it's at a price you've never seen it at before...buy as much as you think you will use before the expiration date.

Use coupons. I've fallen off the coupon wagon as I no longer purchase a newspaper so have no source for coupon inserts. Yet, company Facebook promotions are everywhere and it is so simple to sign up for free coupons. I keep track of where to sign up at Hip2Save and get many free food and beauty coupons or samples this way.

For an example of my shopping, I am giving you a picture of this week's grocery trip and my menu. Be aware that my menu is paired down to my easy and quick meals this week as I am preparing for a garage sale at the end of the week and therefore chose things that would be quick to prepare once home from the long sale day, or something that my husband can cook. I only plan out our suppers. Breakfast is always something simple such as cereal, toast, oatmeal, pancakes, cocoa wheats, or even just a yogurt parfait. Lunches are leftovers, sandwiches, pasta, cheese and crackers, and other easy and simple foods. I don't feel the need to plan these and fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to breakfast and lunch. Lately it's been a lot of tomato sandwiches, sliced peppers, sliced cucumbers, and mixed fruit.

Menu for the week:

Roast chicken, potatoes, and vegetable

Hot dogs, potato salad

Pepperoni rolls, salad

hamburgers, corn, baked beans

Tuna on toast, vegetables

Beef Stroganoff, homemade rolls

spaghetti, garlic bread, vegetable

The vegetables listed are frozen, canned, or most recently - fresh from our garden. Fresh or canned fruit is added to our meals, along with a glass of milk. We often have popcorn later in the evening for a snack.

With this menu in mind, I went to the store and bought:

(The orange juice, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, and Dannon drinkable yogurt was all free with coupons.) I spent $64.45. This includes ingredients to make several desserts, kitty litter, and dishwasher detergent. That leaves me with $10 left for the week to buy milk, which I get at a different store in town which sells non-homogenized milk.

That is how I feed a family of five for $75 a week. Any questions?

Cutting Back

This year I haven't had much time to think about saving money. My grocery store trips haven't always been well planned, laziness (or is it tiredness?) has made me more apt to use the dryer, get take out, or buy something new rather than wait and look for it used. I knew it was more imperative to my own mental sanity to let some things go and not focus on frugality as I had much more important things to focus on. Besides, I wasn't going into debt because of these new habits so it wasn't hurting us.

Just this month our phone bill went up, I've noticed prices at the grocery stores continuing to rise, and even clothing prices have been steadily increasing. Then Ben got word from work that due to cut backs he will not be on call every other weekend any longer. That was an extra $100 each month for us, and while that may not sound like a lot, it equals out to $1,200 yearly, or roughly 4 months worth of groceries for us. Yes, that $100 a month will be felt. With rising prices of everything around us, and a lowering of income, things will need to be changed.

It won't be the end of the world but it will be a necessity that I cut back that $100 from the budget. It's true that we are already down to somewhat of the bare minimum...no cable, pre-paid cellphones with no contract, no cable, no car loans, no credit cards but there is always room to improve.

Which means my Frugal Friday posts will be back with some more helpful hints and I'm thinking of bringing back my Budget Challenge. And I'll gladly answer any questions about my budget, or ways for you to cut your budget, if you want to leave your question in the comment section or e-mail it to me. Because with the economy in trouble and the country in enormous debt, the only thing we can take control of is our own financial issues. And that time to start is now!

Happy Day

We had a long day of tests, doctor appointments, and lots of waiting. Grandma and Grandpa watched Joe and Becca so Ben was able to go along with Jacob and I; moral support is HUGE when waiting for test results.

The test results show a clear scan!!! Praise the Lord - Jacob has reached the end of his treatment with scans coming back clean. We are thrilled!!!!! We spoke with a surgeon and he will be getting his port out within the next couple weeks.

I'll be honest, while it's the end of the treatment, it's not the end of the worry. Jacob will have scans every three months for the first two years and then every six months up to the five year mark. Thinking positive is the only way to go though and Jacob is so strong that I just know he beat this cancer. Cancer should fear us!

God has been so good to use throughout this trial and truly has shown us that when we aren't able to walk He will carry us. Our faith has strengthened because of this ordeal and while I can say that cancer is a curse, within it can be found blessings. No matter what, always look for the blessings which God bestows upon you! This is a happy day!

Family Fun

While I share photos of the fun
we had at a church festival
this past weekend,
I just wanted to ask again
for you to keep Jacob (and us) in your prayers
today as he goes for his end of treatment scans and tests.

I'll update later!

Don't Forget!

If you are a homeschooling family with grades in K-6th, don't forget to sign up for the Pizza Hut Book-It program! You have until September 1st to do so.

While my kids enjoy reading and don't need an incentive...it is nice to have a little reward once in awhile. It also means a meal that mommy doesn't have to cook! :)