Tell me I can do this

[happygirl]

No flames from me! I admire people who speak their minds !

I think it's fascinating how some posters are so c

 

[krismanda]

Well, you do have quite a bit of meat which is usually the most expensive thing to buy.

Even still, it seems like more than a little bit of a stretch. I could spend that just in gas and I have a little car. I don't think I could make it through a week with that grocery budget, but I'm not known for being particularly thrifty. It will be interesting to see how long you can make it work!

You should do a blog on the different meals you make with what you have. lol

 

[reginaastralis]

I'm not trying to be mean, but I just don't know how you could make it happen. We've been diligently tracking our spending the past couple of weeks, and we spend way over $60/month just on milk and bread for three people. Do you eat most of your meals at home? We eat breakfast, lunch and dinners at home, and we spend at least $150/week. I try to coupon and shop sales, but $150 really isn't bad for 21 meals and snacks a week.

I didn't go through the whole thread, but some of the tips I have is to cook at home, and from scratch. We cook everything from scratch, except for bread (I'm awful at it, it's my goal for the summer). But, I know I could easily spend $60 just on veggies in a month.

 

[topolino]

Using the income from the father/husband's paycheck to buy groceries is now a bailout?? Just what does he do with the money if buying groceries with it for the kids is off limits?

I swear to God, threads like this one are just made up to mess with people, right? I honestly can't believe there are people like this. $88 bucks to feed a family of five and keep gas in the car for a whole month? And the income will be going to who knows what but not that? Are you kidding me??

 

[npcougar]

So if you have money above the amount you mentioned, where does nutrition come into the story? I don't understand how you are so stuck on a budget when you have money you could use.

 

[erinmomof2]

Well, I suppose if all I had was $60 I could make it work. My biggest tip would be to make your kids snacks yourself. If you don't already have flour, sugar, baking powder, ect on hand work that into your $60. Today I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies. The recipe makes 4 dozen. I baked about 20 cookies and then spooned dough balls onto a baking sheet covered in parchment paper, put it in the freezer, and after they were frozen placed them into a gallon ziplock bag. Now next week when the cookies are gone I can just grab some of the dough balls and bake them. Very easy and much better and cheaper than store bought cookies. I also make homemade granola bars. I can make a big pan of gluten free (we have 2 with allergies) granola bars for far less than I can buy in the store and that is with buying gluten free oats, regular oats would be even cheaper. One pan makes 16 bars.

I think you could do this if you get creative and take the time to cook from scratch. I know for me I usually pick a day and make a few things. I'll make cookies, granola bars, muffins, ect for the week in a few hours. Like I said we have 2 with gluten allergies so for me I find it tastier, healthier, and more affordable to make many of our snacks ourselves. It really doesn't take that much time and it can be a HUGE moneysaver.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

This woman can barely feed her kids but a vacation is okay. What universe did I just fall into?

The Twilight Zone!! Seriously though I cannot imagine feeding my family of 4 on 60 for a month even with the stuff she has in the freezer. I spend that or more a month on the ingredients for our daily low sugar high protein smoothies.

 

[sissy_ib]

So what does you husband pay for if not food for his children?

 

[DisMN]

This isn't her first thread that seems "off" though. And having been through the wringer here before (and, as I recall, more than once), she should know what she was stepping in. Which sort of says she either has a pretty flat learning curve, or enjoys this.

Ah I see. Thanks for explaining. I don't always search back to see what someone has posted before to see if there's a pattern. Suppose I should do more homework next time huh? LOL

Still, to the OP if you are needing to I think you can make it work with what you have on hand. It will no doubt be tight but true starvation rarely happens now days what with all the help that's out there.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'm all for going to a church or food pantry when you really need to BUT to do so in order to not touch your vacation money is a bit disingenuous don't you think?

LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE

 

[iheartmickey1111]

you certainly have enough in the freezer...just milk and salad is prolly all you need to buy. My kids would PREFER chips and cookies but if fruit is all you offer them, after a while, they will try the fruit, too. And, honestly, do they really NEED snacks? Shouldn't we teach our children to eat their three meals?

Make a menu plan and stick to it. It takes a little planning but worth it moneywise.

Enough of the soapbox.

Perhaps you can divide your spending money byweek and give it to your mom to hold until that week comes around. Desperate times and all, yanno?

It's actually important from a nutritional standpoint for children to have snacks because their stomachs are too small to eat enough nutrient dense food in their meals. The snacks help fill the gaps, as long as they are getting healthy options.

 

[leighe]

That's exactly what I did today. Spent about $60 on some things for dinner and other items I need until I do the big grocery run this week. And on that grocery run, I'll spend about $100-$150 which will not last the rest of the month.

I cannot fathom trying to get through a month on just $60 bucks for my growing children and one tank of gas.

I am always astounded at the lengths people will go to to take their trip to Disney.

Don't be ridiculous! Don't you know a trip to Disney should have been #11 on the Bill of Rights and the ONLY place that family memories can be made? Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Finally08]

Using the income from the father/husband's paycheck to buy groceries is now a bailout?? Just what does he do with the money if buying groceries with it for the kids is off limits?

I swear to God, threads like this one are just made up to mess with people, right? I honestly can't believe there are people like this. $88 bucks to feed a family of five and keep gas in the car for a whole month? And the income will be going to who knows what but not that? Are you kidding me??

I can understand her situation....dh and I have been together for 10 years and our money has always been separate...and groceries have always been my responsibility. So yes, if I had a really crappy month at work and had no money for groceries, it would feel like a bailout to have dh step in and help.

 

[sookie]

You can't do it. At least - not the way you have described.
I would re-prioritize.

 

[IUTBAM]

We're a one income family (always have been), so it's really hard for me to understand how you'd have to ask your DH to bail you out. What my DH makes is our money...in fact, I know a lot more about our finances than he does. We have a great arrangement...he makes the money, and I figure out how to spend it. I feel sad for the OP. $60 on groceries would last me a couple of very small trips to Walmart.

 

[sissy_ib]

I can understand her situation....dh and I have been together for 10 years and our money has always been separate...and groceries have always been my responsibility. So yes, if I had a really crappy month at work and had no money for groceries, it would feel like a bailout to have dh step in and help.

But she said her husband was the only one with a real income. I don't know what her income is.

 

[Finally08]

But she said her husband was the only one with a real income. I don't know what her income is.

I didn't have an income for a while either and I still had my own bills and no access to dh's money. After my daughter was born I had to live off my savings (my retirement that I withdrew when I quit my job) and that only lasted about 6 months....I started working when that was gone.
Maybe he just gives her a general budget/allowance to do the groceries and gas on.

 

[sissy_ib]

I didn't have an income for a while either and I still had my own bills and no access to dh's money. After my daughter was born I had to live off my savings (my retirement that I withdrew when I quit my job) and that only lasted about 6 months....I started working when that was gone.
Maybe he just gives her a general budget/allowance to do the groceries and gas on.

Are you kidding me right now? So your DH wouldn't buy food for your child. You said you are in charge of the groceries. You had no job and a new baby and her father would not provide for you and made you use up your retirement fund? What are you going to do when you are retirement age and what ever you have saved is gone?
That man would not be my husband for long.

 

[Hannathy]

Are you kidding me right now? So your DH wouldn't buy food for your child. You said you are in charge of the groceries. You had no job and a new baby and her father would not provide for you and made you use up your retirement fund? What are you going to do when you are retirement age and what ever you have saved is gone?
That man would not be my husband for long.

nor the father of my child

 

[Finally08]

Are you kidding me right now? So your DH wouldn't buy food for your child. You said you are in charge of the groceries. You had no job and a new baby and her father would not provide for you and made you use up your retirement fund? What are you going to do when you are retirement age and what ever you have saved is gone?
That man would not be my husband for long.

Like I said...we have our own bills and our own bank accounts. One of the things that was my responsibility (and still is) was groceries. He doesn't make enough money on his own to pay for everything so as half the couple I have financial responsibilities too. How would it be any different if he ran short and came to me to help out with the house note, or electric bill?
And my retirement fund was useless unless I returned to my job, which I didn't plan to. I worked for the state, so when you quit you either withdraw it, or leave it there for when you return. Me drawing it out and using it allowed me to stay home with my daughter for her first 6 months without needing a job. Not everyone has a husband that can afford to make them a SAHM.