Tell me I can do this

[snarlingcoyote]

I haven't read through the entire thread, so pardon me if this link has already been posted, but definitely check out www.hillbillyhousewife.com She has emergency menus and great savings tips for those who have to reduce their grocery budget...either by need or by choice.

Good luck! I think you might be able to do it, but you will have to plan out every single meal and snack, and make everything (snacks included) from scratch.

I loved this link, except that my "sponsored ad" was for Lexus.

 

[denisenh]

to the op: i suggest careful meal planning, try a coupon website, maybe plan a few potlucks with family/ friends and good luck to you and yours!!!!!

 

[mjlewis23]

If your husband makes you feel bad for spending money on healthy groceries, I have a great solution.....start charging him for his meals. Heck, 27 more days in the month at even $10 a day (being conservative) would get you $270.

My husband is a SAHD, so I make all of the money in the household. We sit down together every week and make a meal plan and grocery list. I have never once made him feel like he needed to ask me for a "bail-out". He can take money out of our joint checking account as he pleases. I know this doesn't work for everyone, but it makes me shake my head when a SAHP is getting an "allowance". Does everyone *know* how much daycare costs???? It's alot! You are earning every penny that the working spouse is by staying at home.

I think your stockpile is ok to last you through the month, but you definitely need to throw some fresh veggies and fruit in there. That alone would run our family more than $88 for the month! (of course, we eat a lot of fresh foods though). Good luck!

 

[cm8]

a lot of posts here make me sad.....1st there's OP who doesn't have enough money EVERY MONTH to make her own budget,and is out of $$$ by the 2nd day already....and has a DH who feels that feeding his kids would be a 'bailout'.
There are pp's here whose spouses force them to feed the family,regardless of whether thay have an income or not.
What ever happened to partnerships,where both parents work together to pool their money,and feed the family?
What kind of world is this where a vacation could be planned,yet the budget is so low that it is continually a source of stress?Or where one parent feels like they have to ask for more 'allowance' so the kids don't go hungry? I don't get it.
****That said, OP, you have plenty of stockpiled food, and with the addition of some frozen spinach,broccoli,etc, you could make a month's worth of stirfries,soups,and sandwiches. Snacks can be homemade,and you need to go over you past few months spending,and see where your money has been going. Just don't drive anywhere.

No where does she say she doesn't have the money, she says she is on a budget. I don't know how or why all these posts have turned into that she has no money. I didn't get that out of her post at all.. I got that she is trying to stay on her budget amount of food money which she happens to go over each month and then she needs to get her husband to pail her out and give her more money. If I missed something then please show me where it says that.. I hate to say this but there are tons of people dealing with having a budget and trying to make it work. It doesn't mean they are broke.. Just that they are on a budget...

Well, some of the most irritating posters who did get that out of the original post are the ones suggesting food pantries and WIC ! It's obvious the OP doesn't "need" outside help, she just doesn't want to get help from her own husband/father of the kids she's trying to feed.

 

[*luv*disney]

If you're near a sharp shopper http://www.sharpshopper.net/index.html definately check them out. You would definately make your budget there. Good luck!

 

[ShortStuff]

Can it be done? Of course.

Should it be done? I think there are a few factors I've noticed which may be on help.

You stated you were traveling next month for two weeks and you would have no grocery expenses those two weeks. Why not ask your husband for 1 week worth of grocery budgeted money for July, add it to June's budget and you will have breathing room this month and still be ahead a week next month?

I have 2 grandsons who are extreemly picky eaters. It's hard! My younger grandson is allergic to oats, peas and peanuts. Very difficult to stay on a budget without using any oats. They are in many, many foods.

Nutrition at 1 will be a factor in your daughters life for the rest of her life. She needs protein, carbs and fruit and vegies. Soups with noodles, broth and some vegies thrown in is a great idea you had. Give her some fruit and a piece of cheese and that should serve her needs well.

What I have to do with my grandsons is give them a small meal, then give them fruit pops I make a couple hours later. After lunch they have a snack also. They also need a snack before bed, as they do not eat much at a meal. Their tummies are too small. To give them the nutrients they need, I've found breaking their needs into 6 small meals works much better.

As for your overall budget, I know I am spending about 1/2 again as much at the store as I was 2 years ago. When you go to the store next time, make a price diary. Write down the prices of what you buy on a routine basis. Some prices vary due to sales, but for the most part staples stay fairly consistent with regular increases fairly often right now.

Write out your menu with current prices for ingredients. If you see on paper that your budget for groceries is too low, you need to discuss it with your husband, showing him current prices. This may help with planning your budget.

Again, can you do it? Of course! Is their possibly a way to make this more realistic and easier on your children? Sounds like there could easily be!!

Best of luck, it is difficult to raise a family these days for sure!!

One more idea. A great way to stretch a food budget is to have a garden. It can be as small or large as you desire. It is also a way for you and your girls to have something to occupy some time, with rewards and education mixed in!! I live in TX and we have a really long warm season, like you!! Think berries, tomatoes and zuchinni for starters!!

 

[DianeW]

I loved this link, except that my "sponsored ad" was for Lexus.

Maybe if you eat enough rice and beans, you could buy one from what you've collected in your change jar.

 

[disny_luvr]

If you're near a sharp shopper http://www.sharpshopper.net/index.html definately check them out. You would definately make your budget there. Good luck!

The Sharp Shopper is the best store around. I don't go there often because I pass about six grocery stores between my house and there, but I am always amazed at how much money I save when I do go there. I am a good "couponer" but I can do so much better at the SS not using coupons than I can at my grocery store using a bonus card and coupons.

 

[AntePrincess]

For a month? Not likely, but you do it by eating vegetable soup with beans in it every single night. At least it's pretty healthy with a piece of fruit and some salads for variety (lol, not the storebought kind, the kind made from honest to goodness wild dandelion, sorrel, and lamb's quarters), maybe even a hardboiled egg or a sweet potato on the side. When that stops working, you add more starch and water to the soup. And more. And more. Until you admit you have a problem and get help, though in this case I suppose the help we're talking about is less soup kitchen and more why would anyone put birthday parties and Disney World before their children's nutrition?

 

[labst60]

I have been a SAHM for the past 7 years. DH ,pays all the bills and handles all the finance, so even though I have a financial backgroud (CPA), the money is HIS baby... I don't even have an ATM card (my own choice b/c I feel a stolen/misplaced ATM card is too big of a risk w/ the girls playing with my purse/wallet all the time).

That being said... I have NEVER ONCE felt the need to "ask" my husband for money. It goes on the cc (for points, paid off in full 2x per month so no interest) and he pays the bill. No question asked.

If we worked on a cash system (where I paid cash or wrote checks for things vs. the cc), I would have no problem asking him for more if OUR KIDS needed food.

OP- I'm less worried about you getting through ONE month tight than not feeling comfortable telling your husband you need more money to feed the family. If you are over budget every month on food despite efforts to stay in-budget - then perhaps there is a problem with your budgeted number. Maybe it was a number that WAS good - but prices went up, kids grew, etc and now you need anew number.

 

[sk!mom]

Check with your church, they may have a food pantry and you could use that, even "borrow" if you wanted to.

Good luck & God bless

I'm sorry but I don't think one should utilize a church food pantry while planning and taking trips to WDW. Seriously???

 

[jdcri]

You can totally do it - please my kids are 5 and 7 and they wany ramen everynight for dinner!! Green leafy veggies - bwahahaha try getting the 5 yr old to touch them!!!

I would buy some frozen veggies because they are cheap. That with pasta and rice you can totally stretch things. Roast the chicken for dinner one night with rice and frozen corn, make chicken and pasta the next and then boil the carcass for soup. You can make at least 2 dinners of the soup. bananas are super cheap - especially if you have an aldi. apples are good cheap snacks - crackers and stuff at aldi are a buck a box.

Your trip is being paid for by your inlaws - mine is too except for meals.. i would not cancel.

OP is not saying she cannot access the cash or her hubby will give her greif - she just wants to try to stay in the budget for once geesh!!

 

[crisi]

It may be interesting to read this http://onedollardietproject.wordpress.com/, but you have to start at the beginning. Two teachers decide to eat for $1 per day per person. They gave themselves some restrictions (i.e. no stocked pantry and they are vegetarians, they might even be vegans, I can't recall). They were successful, but they both were tired and lost weight. You have more people to feed, but a stocked pantry, and, I suspect, are less picky about the nutrition.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

OP is not saying she cannot access the cash or her hubby will give her greif - she just wants to try to stay in the budget for once geesh!!

I think the thing that many poster can't get over is the fact that the OP said she could ASK her DH for more money. Why should she have to even ask for money? When I was a SAHM (married about a year) my DH told me that it was our money and all I had to do was ask him whenever I needed something and he would give me the money. Yeah like that would ever happen. The next day we opened up a joint account...we've been married 13 years and I've never asked for a dime (not that I don't discuss money with him...I just won't ask for money for household items)

 

[lovemygoofy]

I'm not one to encourage bad behavior so I'm not going to tell the OP she has a great plan. Here's my problem with everything.

Where did the grocery money go? It was June 2nd when she posted this so where was the money spent? Did she spend it all in May or find something to splurge the grocery money on? This effectively impacts her children and her husband. I could imagine my husband would be more than a bit pissed if I was using grocery money on things that did not benefit the household.

So what happens when she cleans out the freezer and pantry? Next month or maybe the month after she will have an empty freezer and pantry. Where to fall back from that?

There is a big disconnect somewhere. Either not enough money total, not enough grocery budget or someone that doesn't have priority where to spend the money. The OP says this is an ongoing problem and not just a one time problem. Figure out what the problem is and fix it even if the problem is with the OP's spending for something she can't afford.

 

[jdcri]

I think the thing that many poster can't get over is the fact that the OP said she could ASK her DH for more money. Why should she have to even ask for money? When I was a SAHM (married about a year) my DH told me that it was our money and all I had to do was ask him whenever I needed something and he would give me the money. Yeah like that would ever happen. The next day we opened up a joint account...we've been married 13 years and I've never asked for a dime (not that I don't discuss money with him...I just won't ask for money for household items)

Yes but maybe OP is not the best at handling money (kind of clear on that LOL!!) so her husband gives her a budgeted amount and he handles the rest of the finances, so she needs to ask him for it?

I really do not care how other people handle their finances... my father has to ask my step mom for cash - not because he is not allowed it, but she does all the budgeting and planning so he gets the money from her - even though he earns an income too and a higher income than she earns!!

I earn a paycheck, I could never dream of asking for money, our finances are joint and we both pretty much do what we want with it and only discuss a purchase if it is a high price item. If I had less access to the bank account we would definitely be richer because my hubby is much more tight with the cash than I am. If I did not earn an income I would not have an issue with that but I will be damned if I need permission to spend what I earn! However if my husband was the sole breadwinner and gave me a certain amount for groceries and gas I woul try my best to stay within what we are supposed to spend - if I were coming up short I would def re-discuss the amount - but sometimes budgets are non-negotiable!!

What works in one family does not in another - my husband basically said he could never be married to someone who does not hold a job - he said he would resent me (we have a friend who is a SAHM and the situation is less than ideal for her husband - he still comes home from work and cooks dinner!) Do I care? Nope, i work full time and I go to school for nursing and I have 2 kids. I want a career - could that work for everyone? No and that is OK!!

 

[Marionnette]

I'm not one to encourage bad behavior so I'm not going to tell the OP she has a great plan. Here's my problem with everything.

Where did the grocery money go? It was June 2nd when she posted this so where did was the money spent? Did she spend it all in May or find something to splurge the grocery money on? This effectively impacts her children and her husband. I could imagine my husband would be more than a bit pissed if I was using grocery money on things that did not benefit the household.

So what happens when she cleans out the freezer and pantry? Next month or maybe the month after she will have an empty freezer and pantry. Where to fall back from that?

There is a big disconnect somewhere. Either not enough money total, not enough grocery budget or someone that doesn't have priority where to spend the money. The OP says this is an ongoing problem and not just a one time problem. Figure out what the problem is and fix it even if the problem is with the OP's spending for something she can't afford.

You were much more eloquent at stating what I have been trying to say. There is something that the OP is holding back as to why she will not tell her husband that the current budget is no longer supporting the household needs. Simply doing a month of meals featuring ground meat and pasta is not going to resolve the problem. The OP needs to look at why she consistently comes up short each month and what kind of spending brought her to the point where she is almost out of money with almost an entire month to go.

 

[PrincessTDQ]

Can you? Yes. Is it going to be pleasant? Probably not. I've done it. I wouldn't recommend doing it again to anyone. Time to take a budgeting class. Or start using a website that tracks where your money goes.

 

[angierae]

DH and I have been married for five years, living together for six. We both work, make roughly the same amount of money (he makes more than me, but not by tens of thousands of dollars) so what we do is that he pays the bills out of his checks, and I handle household expenses - groceries, cleaning products, whatever.

I get paid twice a month. Out of the first check, I write him a check for 1/4 of the monthly bills.

Out of the second check, which we do at the beginning of the next month, I add up everything I've spent on groceries/etc and subtract half of that out of the other 1/4 of the monthly bills. That way we're splitting everything. It works better, because I do the cooking so it's smarter for me to do the shopping, and he's better about getting bills paid on time, so he does that. We work to our strengths.

THAT SAID, if I ran out of money towards the end of the month for groceries for whatever reason (a large expense during the month, whatever, who knows), I wouldn't think twice about asking him to either go to the grocery store, or give me some cash (and we'd just total that up at the end of the month when we "balance out."

We both contribute to a joint savings account for household things (good thing, since we're getting a new hot water heater tomorrow, grrr.) plus I have a savings account for myself for "fun things" (I saved up all the money for the Disney trip my daughter and her friend and I just took in April), plus we both pay into our retirement accounts. At the end of all that, whatever's left in my bank account is free for me to spend, and I much prefer it to always wondering if I'm spending "too much" on stuff for me, or whatever.

This doesn't always work for everyone, but DH and I got married in our 30's and we were both pretty set in our ways, and this way money is NEVER an issue in our household. The bills get paid, food is on the table, and we can spend our time arguing about whose turn it is to do the laundry.

 

[knittykat]

OP--you can probably do it or come close. I think it's really weird that people are saying a meal of vegetable soup and meat is unhealthy for a child. It's actually the convenience foods with added salt, sugar, fats, and preservatives that are the really unhealthy things AND the expensive things.

Lots of folks say that children's snacks are a budget buster---but it depends on what you consider snacks. Are you buying individually packaged goldfish and peanut butter crackers and fruit snacks? My daughter snacks a lot; but she gets raw veggies, fruits, crackers, and sometimes dry cereal. "snacks" means different things to different people.

I also am laughing a bit at the pearl-clutching going on about the childrens' life long nutrition. It's ONE MONTH. I know plenty of people who got substandard diets for their ENTIRE CHILDHOOD and are perfectly healthy adults now. My grandparents were raised in the Great Depression and went hungry many nights but all lived very long lives. (Obviously this is anecdotal but I think some people are overreacting).

Do I think this OP has a bit of a problem with her budget? Sure. But I've been there myself. Would we have gone without food at all, no. But eating the same meal multiple times during a month is not going to hurt anybody. The children are not going to be perishing of scurvy because they ate too much vegetable soup and hamburger.

Do I think the "bailout" from the husband is odd? Sure. But it's not my business. That money will have to come from somewhere too--is it going to make another portion of the budget short?

****

A reason I think that many people have problems with budgets is because they start out seeking a budget because their money isn't stretching far enough. Often the problem is that people are living beyond their means in one way or another. Those months where you cut back to actually living within your means are TOUGH. I think they are the number one reason budgets fail--because everyone is cool sitting down with a piece of paper and making a spending plan, but most people are unwilling to cut back on things they have become accustomed to having, especially when those things are something society tells us are necessary.

It's also a matter of coming to terms with your personal limits. I have a friend who is in severe debt but who will never shop at a thrift shop for clothing for her family. She is willing to buy at Wal Mart rather than the mall, but she isn't willing to dress in "used" clothing. She is willing to cut back to basic cable but not cut it all together. She is willing to drive to a different grocery store but not willing to cut out chips, sodas, and meat at every meal. If she was willing to make those cutbacks, she would be much closer to living within her means.

It sounds like the OP is trying to live one of those tough "transition months" to try to get her budget on track. If that is the case, I applaud her.