Tell me I can do this

[la79al]

I am one of those people that sort of has a budget but then by the end of the month, I am taking from next months money to make it through the last week or so. Well as a result, I have $88 to last the rest of June. I am responsible for gas for the minivan (has almost 3/4 tank now) and groceries. We have a good bit of stuff in the freezer, just not much that is quick and easy to make. The challenge is that the little girls are snackers and the littlest is allergic to dairy and dislikes fruits and most veggies. Tell me that I can use $20 for gas (I do have a $50 gas gift card if I get really desperate) and can make it through the rest of the month with only $60 for groceries. Just looking for encouragement here .

 

[Marionnette]

I am one of those people that sort of has a budget but then by the end of the month, I am taking from next months money to make it through the last week or so. Well as a result, I have $88 to last the rest of June. I am responsible for gas for the minivan (has almost 3/4 tank now) and groceries. We have a good bit of stuff in the freezer, just not much that is quick and easy to make. The challenge is that the little girls are snackers and the littlest is allergic to dairy and dislikes fruits and most veggies. Tell me that I can use $20 for gas (I do have a $50 gas gift card if I get really desperate) and can make it through the rest of the month with only $60 for groceries. Just looking for encouragement here .

Just checked my calendar again because I thought for sure I must have slept a week or two away. Yep! Today is only June 2nd.

IMO, the answer is NO. There is too much month and not enough money. Perhaps it's time to drop Disney vacation plans if you're coming up this short at the beginning of the month.

 

[marmalade]

We would barely survive spending $60 a week on groceries let alone for the entire month. I would never stretch myself that thin, that is only $15 a week.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

If you have an Aldi nearby, try it. It might help you make it

 

[Hannathy]

Yeah if you eat ramen noodles and bowls of rice for the month. You are talking $2 a day for all of you. You could splurge on a loaf of bread and generic peanut butter.

If I absolutely had to do it or starve to death then yes I could, but seriously you are planning a trip and only have 60 dollars for a month of food? I guess you have no emergency money let alone 3-6 months expenses in the bank? and you are planning a trip?

My answer would be no unless I absolutely had no and I mean NO choice and going on a trip means you have a choice IMO

 

[la79al]

Just inventoried a bit. We have about 10 pounds of ground beef, 2 pounds of meatballs, 5 pounds of popcorn chicken, 2 gallon bags full of fish, enough fish fillets for 2 meals, 1 chicken, enough pork chops for 2 meals, 3 jars of spaghetti sauce, a big box of Bisquick, enough chicken nuggets for 2 meals, 10 pounds of potatoes, a full loaf of bread, random frozen veggies. I'm really thinking that I can make this happen. I know we need milk and toilet paper right now so I am going to try to come up with a menu and see how that goes before we head to the store.

And I forgot to add, we aren't feeding the 11 or 15 year old this month (except about 4 days) and my mom is paying for the 90% of our Disney trip that is not covered by my Disney gift cards.

 

[grafxgirl]

If you have an Aldi nearby, try it. It might help you make it

I'm going to say buy the essentials and use up what you have in your house, even if it means coming up with meal ideas that do take some time to prepare. My husband and I do this quite a bit just because we commute during the week, have 2 kids (both with dairy allergies), and not enough time on our hands to really do much shopping. Our last big shopping trip was at the end of January. We finally did a big one last weekend. If you don't have time to make meals that are time consuming, do it on the weekends, then freeze them if at all possible. We do this often. I even make up several batches of homemade pancakes or waffles and toss them in the freezer in ziplock bags, then take a few out each morning to reheat.

 

[bpesch]

Good luck, with today only being the 2nd of June, it is going to be a long haul.

 

[bearloch]

Well if your really creative and instead of buy fresh milk get powdered and add it to the fresh milk to strech it! But to be honest its gonna be tough!! and I pray that u dont have any medical issues come up that require meds thatwill eat you right up! start rolling them coins! and i would use the gas card now to save more cash for food!



go to aldi too!

good luck!

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

Just inventoried a bit. We have about 10 pounds of ground beef, 2 pounds of meatballs, 5 pounds of popcorn chicken, 2 gallon bags full of fish, enough fish fillets for 2 meals, 1 chicken, enough pork chops for 2 meals, 3 jars of spaghetti sauce, a big box of Bisquick, enough chicken nuggets for 2 meals, 10 pounds of potatoes, a full loaf of bread, random frozen veggies. I'm really thinking that I can make this happen. I know we need milk and toilet paper right now so I am going to try to come up with a menu and see how that goes before we head to the store.

And I forgot to add, we aren't feeding the 11 or 15 year old this month (except about 4 days) and my mom is paying for the 90% of our Disney trip that is not covered by my Disney gift cards.

I think it is worth a try. I would also go to Aldi if one if near. I would pick up noodles and make my own hamburger helper with a lb of hamburger, noodles, spaghetti sauce and add a veggie. I think if you sit down and plan your meals ahead. Looking forward to see how you do.

 

[sissy_ib]

If you are this strapped for cash every month you need to start cutting things out. If you have cable it needs to go, cut down your cell phone plan if you can and get rid of internet for a few month until you get back on your feet. You say your mom is paying for 90% of what is not covered by your gift cards. Well first, how did you pay for all those gift cards? Second maybe you should tell your mom instead of a vacation your kids need food in the house.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Just inventoried a bit. We have about 10 pounds of ground beef, 2 pounds of meatballs, 5 pounds of popcorn chicken, 2 gallon bags full of fish, enough fish fillets for 2 meals, 1 chicken, enough pork chops for 2 meals, 3 jars of spaghetti sauce, a big box of Bisquick, enough chicken nuggets for 2 meals, 10 pounds of potatoes, a full loaf of bread, random frozen veggies. I'm really thinking that I can make this happen. I know we need milk and toilet paper right now so I am going to try to come up with a menu and see how that goes before we head to the store.

And I forgot to add, we aren't feeding the 11 or 15 year old this month (except about 4 days) and my mom is paying for the 90% of our Disney trip that is not covered by my Disney gift cards.

I think you could make it! Looking at your inventory, I see alot of meals there. Plus you are feeding just the younger two children. Good luck, come back in July and let me know how you did!

 

[Marionnette]

Just inventoried a bit. We have about 10 pounds of ground beef, 2 pounds of meatballs, 5 pounds of popcorn chicken, 2 gallon bags full of fish, enough fish fillets for 2 meals, 1 chicken, enough pork chops for 2 meals, 3 jars of spaghetti sauce, a big box of Bisquick, enough chicken nuggets for 2 meals, 10 pounds of potatoes, a full loaf of bread, random frozen veggies. I'm really thinking that I can make this happen. I know we need milk and toilet paper right now so I am going to try to come up with a menu and see how that goes before we head to the store.

And I forgot to add, we aren't feeding the 11 or 15 year old this month (except about 4 days) and my mom is paying for the 90% of our Disney trip that is not covered by my Disney gift cards.

Sounds like a very long month of sparse meals. Perhaps you should ask your mom to help feed the kids instead of paying for Disney trips. Just buying fresh milk is going to eat up half of your proposed grocery budget. PA has state minimum milk prices. You just can't buy it on sale here.

 

[dizluvah]

maybe have a yard sale or try to sell some items on craigslist or elsewhere online for some extra money? I want to be supportive and say yes but I really think that is not enough money - do you only drive once every couple of weeks? Gas is so expensive - it is $60 to fill our car with a tank of gas and I thought we were doing pretty well only filling up once every 12-14 days.

 

[veraletta]

Make stuff like soups, stews and spaghetti which will last a few days. At the end of 4 days you can make hash with left overs. You have some meats, but if you have to buy more meats it will kill your saving plans..Do you have any can's soups like tomato? as I can think of a few meals you can make with your hamburger with tomato soup there is hobo stew: which is green beans, pototoes, tomato soup (do not add water to soup) and hamburger. Then goush:
macaroni with hamburger then add tomato soup to hamburger (again don't add water). With chicken you could make a big pot of chicken soup with dumplings as you said you have Bisquick. You could make tuna casserole. I think if you look on the internet you could find way to try to make it to your goal, it will be hard but I can't say if you can make it or not... first off I don't know how many you are feeding, plus I don't have any ideal how much you eat.. lol..Good luck... Hope it goes well for you...

 

[beansmom]

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?

 

[marmalade]

Just inventoried a bit. We have about 10 pounds of ground beef, 2 pounds of meatballs, 5 pounds of popcorn chicken, 2 gallon bags full of fish, enough fish fillets for 2 meals, 1 chicken, enough pork chops for 2 meals, 3 jars of spaghetti sauce, a big box of Bisquick, enough chicken nuggets for 2 meals, 10 pounds of potatoes, a full loaf of bread, random frozen veggies. I'm really thinking that I can make this happen. I know we need milk and toilet paper right now so I am going to try to come up with a menu and see how that goes before we head to the store.

And I forgot to add, we aren't feeding the 11 or 15 year old this month (except about 4 days) and my mom is paying for the 90% of our Disney trip that is not covered by my Disney gift cards.

You seem to have meat covered for the month, which will take care of dinner. But what about breakfast and lunch? You said you have bisquick, but everyone will get sick of pancakes well before the end of the month. If you have a stock pile of flour, you could make your own bread for the month, or pizza dough for pizza nights.

Do you have access to any additional money in case you can't make it the entire month?

 

[Sadie22]

Just inventoried a bit. We have about 10 pounds of ground beef, 2 pounds of meatballs, 5 pounds of popcorn chicken, 2 gallon bags full of fish, enough fish fillets for 2 meals, 1 chicken, enough pork chops for 2 meals, 3 jars of spaghetti sauce, a big box of Bisquick, enough chicken nuggets for 2 meals, 10 pounds of potatoes, a full loaf of bread, random frozen veggies. I'm really thinking that I can make this happen. I know we need milk and toilet paper right now so I am going to try to come up with a menu and see how that goes before we head to the store.

And I forgot to add, we aren't feeding the 11 or 15 year old this month (except about 4 days) and my mom is paying for the 90% of our Disney trip that is not covered by my Disney gift cards.

You can do it. Definitely plan menus based on what you have. Find the ads for the stores near you to see what else you can buy on sale to round out the menus. Make a list and shop from the list. Consolidate shopping trips to save on gasoline.

 

[SaraJayne]

Is no one getting a paycheck for the entire month of June?

How can you only have $88 for the entire month??

 

[jcemom]

Just inventoried a bit. We have about 10 pounds of ground beef, 2 pounds of meatballs, 5 pounds of popcorn chicken, 2 gallon bags full of fish, enough fish fillets for 2 meals, 1 chicken, enough pork chops for 2 meals, 3 jars of spaghetti sauce, a big box of Bisquick, enough chicken nuggets for 2 meals, 10 pounds of potatoes, a full loaf of bread, random frozen veggies. I'm really thinking that I can make this happen. I know we need milk and toilet paper right now so I am going to try to come up with a menu and see how that goes before we head to the store.

And I forgot to add, we aren't feeding the 11 or 15 year old this month (except about 4 days) and my mom is paying for the 90% of our Disney trip that is not covered by my Disney gift cards.

So...you need about 28 days' worth of food -- 4 days for 6 people, and 24 days for 4 people. Do you need to get three meals per day out of that? It's going to be really tough.

I would try to think of inexpensive ways to stretch what you have. Think casseroles and pasta dishes. Noodles and pasta are filling and very inexpensive. Do not make meat a main dish of any meal, unless it's going on bread to make a sandwich. Plan, Plan, Plan. Sit down and write everything down on paper, so you can see exactly what you need to combine with what you have. The ground meat, fish and chicken that you have will go a LONG way, I think.

You have 25-30lbs of meat. That means you can ration about one pound per day.