Still Picking up the Pennies

Well it has been a few days,so I will update. On 4-26 we had to run our eldest son, age 9 to the walkin clinic 68 miles away, he had strep throat but feeling better. We stopped at taco bell, for a total of $5.98 for four people, over budget but not by much. On Monday we had left overs of the chicken enchiladas(which were shit food btw!) for a total of $3+ Tuesday, my life changed a bit, my DH lost his job, downsized and his position was terminated. There was NO notice at all, we honestly thought we would never be in this position again, no income, no future legacy to pass on to our children. I hope and pray that we will be ok. He will get a severance package and unemployment but as a single income family, I am in complete panic mode!! and for the pantry challenge, now it looks REALLY important! We had hot dogs 88cents, buns $1.02 and baked beans $.92 for a total of $2.82. but NOT the most nutrious meal ever! but good comfort food.

During the month of May I am going to do a pantry challenge. With another additional feature, I am going to try to keep the cost of each dinner meal to $5 or under. I picked up my SHARE order today and I can NOT fit anymore food in the freezers, all three of them. I am going to start my challenge a week early, TODAY! Tonight we are going to have Stouffer's Chicken Enchiladas with cheese sauce and rice, with cauliflower. My calucalations for the cost of this meal is $7 for the Stoffer's dinner and 78 cents for the cauliflower BUT it will serve us TWO Meals so $7.78 divided by two is $3.89 for a dinner for 4 :woot not bad for the first day of my challenge.

Our weekly menu looks like this Saturday-HM lasanga and garlic bread Sunday fresh lake trout or chicken and rice Monday Pork chops Tuesday soup and quesillas Wednesday meat loaf Thursday chilli or hot dogs Friday HM pizza Saturday steaks

Today I spent a few hours in the kitchen making up a boat load of waffles, pancakes and muffins for the freezer. I cook them all up and layer on a cookie sheet, with wax paper(recycled cereal bags) in between the layers then freeze for about an hour. Then I package them all in a recycled bread bag. When the kids want a snack(or Momma is having a lazy morning) for breakfast, I take 2 out and pop them in the toaster, and serve with syrup.

I am not why, but it seems like such an unbelievable feat. Me turning 40. I am kind of depressed about it, but I should be proud of what I have accomplished. I decided that I am going to be depressed about it and proud later ;P Just wanted to post about my mixed feelings.

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WOOT! I love cheese and if it is free it is for me. I have never had Ile de France Cheese but I totally can't wait to try it. My oldest son and I could live on cheese and nothing else, but maybe something to put it on, like crackers or bread ;) check it out here: iledefrancecheese.com