Living on less

16 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by loveinthehome in Budgeting

This is really on our minds this year. We have been implementing little changes like only eating out with a purpose (Pizza Hut Book it program, family get-together or on a trip) not just because we’re tired and don’t want to cook. We’ve been drinking a whole lot more water even at restaurants and a LOT less soda. We’ve been paying attention to prices per unit and searching out the cheapest prices. Trying to buy in bulk whenever possible. We’ve been doing so well on our budget and feel such a sense of freedom. We have plans to attack the car loan, student loan and medical bills from my husband’s fight with cancer and be done with them this year. Leaving only the house next year and by the third year, we would be completely debt-free. Putting us in a position to give more generously and be free to follow God’s leading wherever He chooses to lead us.

The truth is that Americans live better than majority of the rest of the world. The rich overconsume. The middle class lives beyond their means. The poor have so many resources to keep them from having to starve like so many in Africa and other impoverished areas. Even the homeless and illegal alien in America has access to resources like Food Stamps, hot meals and shelters. And yet majority of us are holding out our hands for more. And this is just as much a rant against myself as anyone else. I have long taken for granted how blessed I am to live in this country. I have griped even if just to myself about not having what I want and failed in being thankful for what I have. By the grace of God, I intend to live differently and give my children a different model to follow.

A discussion was started on Facebook about how hard it was to live on a Food Stamps budget of $4.50 a day per person. At first glance, the effort by the Democrats to eat like a Food Stamps recipient sounds honorable. Then you do the math. I have a family of 5 with the 6th to arrive in less than a month. So $4.50 x 5 people x 7 days equals a budget of $157.50 a week. That is more than I spend on groceries, eating out, diapers, cleaning supplies, personal care products and paper goods combined!  To have that amount for just groceries would be like hitting the lottery! Then I read about this congressman trying to make it on this budget and reusing his tea bag for the third morning in a row. Ok, you’ve got to be kidding me!

I posted my opinion that I believe that this is an education problem more than a money problem. I know you can eat well on what is provided. Well, a couple of people became very defensive and downright irate with me. But that doesn’t change the facts. Too many people are on food stamps. My husband and I have seen the abuse over and over again working as cashiers and managers in the grocery business. Several years ago, I needed food stamps for a month and a half. I can’t remember exactly how much it was but I got a babysitter and made a list. I walked out with three buggy loads of groceries filled with cook-from-scratch supplies that lasted us months afterwards. And yet, I had seen people spend it all on a half buggy of meat or a buggy of convenience food that wouldn’t last near as long. What a difference a little education, planning and hard work would do for these individuals!

Now, before you write me a nasty comment, I am not judging every individual on this program. I am not for abolishing the program. But I know that it is being abused and/or not being used to it’s maximum potential for so many.

Education is the key. So I will be blogging as my effort to reiterate these tips in my brain and maybe help someone else in the process. I have a little bit of groceries in the pantry from a $0.49/can veggie sale and from buying some bulk items at Sam’s and my discount grocery store which include rice, oats, cornmeal, some spices, baking powder, baking soda, etc. I have a freezer with veggies and some meat as well as some freezer meals that I’ve put up in anticipation of our new arrival. I will be using what I have on hand but I will be coming in so way below budget that even buying those things will keep you below budget.

The next post will be tips on how to outsmart the grocery stores.

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