Loving Life
Heart Reflections: Stretching Towards the Sun
Our family has recently planted a garden. Since it had been getting cool at night we started the seedlings inside. Every day I have watched and nurtured those little plants. Some of the seeds popped up quickly while others never came up. As I watched the plants growing each one stretched out their leaves towards the light. Once they were big enough we transplanted them outside in our garden. Shortly after planting them we had a night of heavy wind, rain, and even hail followed by a frost on the ground a few days later. Even though it was “safe” for us to plant the garden outside there are still risks and dangers. Many of the seedlings survived the tough few weeks of new growth, however, some did not make it. Although, our hope was that every plant would thrive we know that nature will do some natural pruning especially in the weaker plants. For whatever reason some plants didn’t make it (something caused the undesirable side effect…maybe the roots were too shallow or wet / dry or too much shade / sunny or bugs or a number of other factors) . On the other hand some plants thrived despite all the challenges they faced.While I was thinking about the plants it occurred to me that the analogy can be applied in some ways to our own lives. We should be looking towards the Son at all times, the one who created us. We all grow at our own pace, some of us may have sprouted quickly while others are delayed but have a more solid root structure. Even though life may not be perfect and we may experience seasons of drought, hail, or disease we still have a choice of where to focus our attention. Once we decide where we will focus our energy we will experience a variety of ripple effects (sometimes the effects are positive and other times they can can be less desirable). When we are in stressful situations do we continue to grow or do we wither under the pressure of life? We all want to continue growing, thriving and producing a beautiful fruit. The big step is making sure our root structure is strong and secure. We do this through continually cultivating a relationship with our Savior. Yes, this will take our time, energy and nurturing, but in the end it is worth it. We all want to feel loved, appreciated and valued yet so often we look towards our earthly relationships to provide that fulfillment whether it is through our spouse, children, serving at church or whatever fills that void. Instead we should look to our creator who made us, never fails, and loves us unconditionally. As we notice flowers and plants stretching towards the sun, let that remind us of the importance of reaching towards the Son in our own lives as well.
“Heart Reflections” is a series of thoughts and encouragement that come directly from my heart. Life has a way of throwing us extra challenges and when our focus is pulled away from what is truly important we tend to feel the pressure of stress in our lives. This series is created to remind us that we are part of something so much bigger than ourselves. We don’t have to face the pressure of life on our own. We can trust that our prayers are being heard. He alone knows what’s best for us and gives us the appropriate strength to get through each day as it is set before us.
Photo by Stig Nygaard
Heart Reflections: It’s Not About Us
As Moms, wives, and friends we get involved in so many activities. It is easy for our lives and schedules to quickly fill up to the point of bursting. When our lives, hearts, and schedules get packed full we don’t have the flexibility to spontaneously help and encourage others.A month ago I had the blessing of taking a quick road trip with friends. It was encouraging to spend time with a friend, another Mom. We have been richly blessed with amazing people in our lives. Also, we have a lot to be grateful for yet we often get too busy and don’t take enough time to focus about what’s really important. We forget that other Mom’s are going through many of the same struggles that we go through. We are not alone.
As Moms we want to allow our children the freedom to grow while at the same time protect them from danger and harm. There are many mistakes we make as Moms which can often lead to the feeling of guilt. Even though we make many mistakes in our lives and as parents God is much bigger than us. The focus really isn’t on or about us at all. Not only that but we are not called to raise “perfect” kids, the goal is to raise godly kids with the help of our spouse, extended family, church leaders, friends, and most importantly Christ. No one is perfect and to expecting our children to be that way is setting everyone up for disappointment.
- The first step is reflecting his love, grace and mercy through our lives in our words and actions starting first in our homes. We will continue to make a mess of some situations, but He forgives and helps point us back to what really is important. God has the power to work in our lives and family despite our failures. He is not surprised by those bumps in the road nor do they slow Him down. When we are relying on him for strength we will have more energy to focus on helping our children each step of the way.
Having the opportunity to raise and watch my girls grow has been a truly amazing adventure. As Moms we need to pray for our children, families and those our lives touch. We don’t know the path before us so we need to trust in His faithfulness and promises for today. While I was on bedrest for weeks the phrase that I repeated continually was “Day by Day”. Getting through the tasks and plans that are to be accomplish today, not tomorrow or yesterday, just today!
- Therefore the second step is praying for our kids. One of my prayers for our girls is that they will grow up to know Him and have a soft heart willing to soak in His teachings as well as listen to His guidance. I hope that my girls will be able to see past their Moms shortcomings and have a direct relationship with a heavenly Father who loves them even more than their Mom and Dad. No person or family is perfect. I am thankful for a husband who plays an active role in the lives of our children and for a God who loves, heals, and protects our family. It’s okay to loosen my grip a little regarding my children because I know I can hand my concerns about my children and their lives over to Him knowing He has their best interest at heart.
We often get wrap up in what we need to get done that we miss some of the beautiful moments we have with our children. Our girls are growing up quickly and I have to constantly remind myself that it’s not about us. Our calling is so much bigger and better than just our schedule and agenda. We have to continually remind ourselves of what truly matters and to purposely take the extra few minutes each day this week to really spend quality time with our families.
“Heart Reflections” is a series of thoughts and encouragement that come directly from my heart. Life has a way of throwing us extra challenges and when our focus is pulled away from what is truly important we tend to feel the pressure of stress in our lives. This series is created to remind us that we are part of something so much bigger than ourselves. We don’t have to face the pressure of life on our own. We can trust that our prayers are being heard. He alone knows what’s best for us and gives us the appropriate strength to get through each day as it is set before us.
Photo by Seattle Municipal Archives
Song: “God With Us” by MercyMe
I have heard this song multiple times but two weeks ago I a phrase in this song jumped out at me and has been stuck in my mind. Great song! The phrase that has stood out to me is “Such a tiny offering, compared to Calvary” The time I take to have quiet time, taking a meal to a friend in need, eating healthier, and other activities are such a tiny offering when you look at what He did for me. Yet there are days I complain about the busy schedule and curve balls life throws my direction when those are merely speed bumps to get my attention. Hope you enjoy this song as much as I did.
Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4
It was my fourth full week of doing my new cash budget system – Groceries $40 for 4. This week I was able to get quite a few items with my $40 budget thanks to clearance items and coupons! Although it has been a learning process the last few weeks this one went pretty well. It is always a learning and growing progress for our family. We are continuing to utilize the food we already have in our pantry and freezer. Below are my grocery shopping adventures for the week!
RiteAid Groceries Grcoeries from RiteAid:
- $2.16 at RiteAid for Cake Mix (25 cents), Hamburger Dinner (25 cents), Onion Spices, Ground Cinnamon, 2 Tomato Juices (25 cents each), Individual peanut packs, Combos, and two free Easter Candies. Plus I used an UP Reward towards the purchase.
FREE Mushrooms at Walgreens! Groceries from Walgreens:
- $0.00 (FREE) at Walgreens for 4 cans of Geisha Mushrooms (used the Walgreens Coupon Insert and Register Reward to pay for the mushrooms! Can’t beat free!
Groceries from Bi-Lo Groceries from Bi-Lo:
- $36.52 at Bi-Lo for 4 gallons of milk (froze 2 gallons), 1 pack of Cheese Crackers, 2 Slow Cooker Packs, 2 Applesauce Packs, 1 Loaf of Bread, 1 box of Uncle Bens Rice (on closeout), 4 bags of Individually Wrapped Chocolate Covered Raisins (on clearance for 75 cents each), 1 bag of Chickpeas, 2 packs of Pasta, 2 packs of Cheese Sauce Mix, 1 jar Raspberry BBQ Sauce (on closeout), 4 bags shredded cheese, 2 bags sliced cheese, 1 package of fresh Chicken (99 cents / pound). I used several store and manufacturer’s coupons plus I had a coupon from Bi-Lo for $5 off the entire purchase which helped bring the amount down below $40.
It was our fourth week of the challenge – Groceries $40 for 4 and we spent $38.68 thankfully we did better this week . I was able to stock up on some great dairy items this week – Milk (even froze 2 gallons), Cheese (which freezes well too), Chicken (enough for 2 to 3 meals for our family) and snacks for after school! I am still trying to work out all the details of how to make the budget most effective for our family and I think some weeks have been easier than others. I used some coupons, bought clearance items, and utilized weekly ad discounts to help save us a little extra on our grocery budget. I hope to do better next week! We’ll see how I do!
It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks! As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me. I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too. The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.
Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances. Life doesn’t always go as planned. We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given. Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life. A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others. There is so much more to life than having all the stuff. We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.
Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (March Update)
Last month I began a monthly challenge called Creative Cash. Creative Cash is finding ways to come up with extra cash to share with others as well as work on our current goal. I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is important to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses and to share with others. The extra amount I bring in on top of the work is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already. I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself to make my life more simplified. I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year. Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much. We believe it is important to be accountable with our finances and give to others.Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors. As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split. It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others. At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.
March was a great month and I was able to go over my goal of $100 (although not quite as good as my February Creative Cash since I didn’t have a bunch of coupons saved up). I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:
- $85.92 – Items sold on Ebay: The majority of items sold were coupons (I did sell a small office supply that I received free after rebate for about $8 of the amount sold). I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, in your stockpile, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.
- $30.00 – Items sold on Craigslist: I sold lawn care items/tools that we were no longer using. We had really good luck on Craigslist again this month, it can be hit and miss on Craigslist depending on the week and what people are looking for on the site.
- $6.40 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned (a rebate, return, cash back, extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.
March’s “Creative Cash” total was $122.32 which means $61.16 extra that goes towards our current goal, paying down debt and $61.16 goes towards charity. It was exciting to go above the $100 goal again and to know it helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way. I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in April so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others. Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in March. I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.
I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us. I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well. Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it! Do you know of another way to earn creative cash? I would love to hear your idea!
Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances. Life doesn’t always go as planned. We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given. Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life. A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others. There is so much more to life than having all the stuff. We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.
Photo by StopNLook
Fresh & Healthy: Community Supported Farms
The past few weeks I have been reading about ways to eat healthier and along the way I discovered CSA’s (which stands for Community Supported Farms). Although I have heard a little about them a couple times this was the first time I seriously considered joining one. As I was researching more about the local farmers and various programs I decided to contact a couple in our area and find out more information. It was interesting because some farms I never heard a word back from and others I have had several emails back and forth. After much thought and research we decided as a family to try a CSA program this year and see how it goes. I am VERY excited to participate and learn even more. The girls are thrilled they get to go spend some time on a local farm and eat fresh veggies. I am still growing some veggies in our garden at home, but I am really looking forward to getting fresh local produce from an area farm.What is a CSA? It stands for Community Supported Agriculture and has been around for about 20 years. CSA allows consumers to buy local, seasonal and fresh produce directly from the farmer. The farmer gives “shares” to the public (ie box, bag, or basket of vegetables, fruit, eggs, and a variety of other farm products). Consumers prepays for shares or a partial shares for that years crops. The consumers then receive a box of seasonal produce weekly throughout the season (usually around 20 weeks for the summer and 10 weeks for the winter season in our area).
Why is it beneficial?
- Fresh locally grown produce for your family
- An adventure in trying new produce and recipes
- The seasonal produce you receive will be fresh and ripe
- The opportunity to visit the farm where you produce is grown
- Fresh and healthy produce for your family to enjoy
- Organic farming (if this is important to you please confirm with the farm you chose before committing, each farm is different)
- Educational for the kids to see the produce being grown
- Direct connection with a local farmer
- More variety of produce on the menu and at the family table
- Farmers can market and sell their crops before production
- Increases the cash flow for the farm during planting season
- Some farms include eggs, bread, meat, cheese, flowers, local honey, and more.
- Most farms allow you the opportunity to pick what size of share you want (Whole Share, Half Share, Quarter Share, etc…)
- Many farms have multiple drop off locations and times as well.
- And more great benefits!
The benefits really are mutual between the farmer and the consumer. I hope to share more of the benefits of being involved in a CSA as we have the opportunity to experience more. Right now our farm has several items planted and we are just waiting for them to grow so we can enjoy the delicious food! One of the reasons we made the decision to join a CSA is we looked over a budget and realized that some weeks we were spending more than half of our grocery money on fruits and vegetables since we are trying to eat healthier. When we spread the cost of a CSA over a season we would actually be saving money as a family. This is our first year so we haven’t discovered exactly how everything works but we hope to share our experience with you!
Are there any risks? It wouldn’t be fair to share the benefits without warning you of the risks as well.
- Shared Risk – you are investing in a crop prior to the farmer raising it so there is a possibility that they could have drought, flood, hailstorm, or insect issues during the season, however, most farms plant a variety of crops so you’ll most likely just get more of another produce, but there is no “guarantees” At the same time they could have a bountiful production year!
- The farm will probably not raise every produce your family eats (ie. if your family likes mushrooms but the farm doesn’t grow mushrooms you’ll still have to purchase those items in the store)
- Most farms are family run so if there is something unexpected in the family it could affect you as well.
- Some of the produce may be “unique” or unlike the items you buy in the grocery store. If you like trying new items this is a benefit but if you only like 5 different kinds of veggies or are really picky it may not be the best fit for you
- When you get different types of produce you’ll have the opportunity to try out new recipes, this could be a huge benefit for some people but if you are not comfortable cooking or trying new recipes make sure to consider that as well.
If you are interested in joining or learning more about a CSA in your areas you can learn more about it at Local Harvest and click on the CSA tab. Under the map on the right side of the page you can enter your zip code and find local farms in your area. Another wonderful feature that was beneficial for us in deciding which farm to consider was the reviews on the local farms participating. It is always good to know that other customers have been satisfied before spending your money.
We are excited about the local farm we picked to join. If you are in Upstate, South Carolina area and are wanting to do this as well let me know which farm you chose in a comment below or send me an email and we may be able to coordinate pick up from week to week to save each other a little extra on gas. Have you ever been part of a CSA program? What did you like / dislike about the program?
Photo by Nick Saltmarsh
Heart Reflections: Road Blocks
A tree across the road on my way to the girls school! As I was zipping along on the way to the girls school recently I came to a quick halt! There laying across the entire road was a huge tree. Thankfully I noticed it in time to stop. My first thought was this is strange…..glad I wasn’t driving by when it decided to fall since we take that road every day for school. My next thought was…….did someone cut it down but there literally was no one in sight and the tree roots were uprooted. The dilemma was I had to deliver goodies to the girls class in a matter of minutes, however, I had a road block. How was I going to get to their school (my options):
- Move it out of the road (I didn’t have a chainsaw or strength to do it by myself)
- There were no driveways behind me so I would have to back up the windy road about 1/2 mile, plus risk someone else coming down the road and us crashing
- Turn around in the road with narrow shoulders and risk someone coming around the bend and hitting me.
- Go around it (It had rained the day before and the tree covered the whole road, which doesn’t have a shoulder either)
What did I do? Surveyed the probability of going around the tree since the ditch wasn’t too deep or wet in that spot and braved it. I made it through, thankfully, otherwise Jake would have gotten another “help” call from me! The car on the other side of the tree had the same dilemma as I did but they decided to back up and turn around instead. I made it almost to the end of the road when I noticed a cop car heading the direction towards the tree I rolled down my window and waved to get his attention but he just flew on by me without hesitation. I figured he would realize why I was waving in matter of minutes. When I arrived at school I was able to let them know and they immediately called the bus barn to have them redirect the bus routes so they could get the kids home.
This event happened a couple weeks ago but has stuck in my head for several reasons. We often face road blocks in life. Even though the situation may catch you off guard or seem impossible to get past we all have to make a decision about what we are going to do about the various road blocks that appear. Are there areas in your life with road blocks? Here are some areas I have had road blocks pop up in my life (thankfully they haven’t come at once but sometimes I have to work on multiple ones at the same time):
- Health
- Financial
- Family
- Work
- Spiritual
- And More
I think the reason why this road block has stuck in my mind is I have come to the realization that there are several areas in my life and heart that I need to change. Taking time to change any area of my life takes time, energy and consistency. I want God to work in my life from the inside out. If I have walls put up around my heart how am I going to be an effective testimony for Him? If I don’t take the time to spend with Him how is He going to work in my life and in the lives of those people I touch. The choices I make today have a ripple effect on the people around me (family, friend, acquaintances, etc…) One other area that has come to my attention is my health. Growing up I didn’t have a routine exercise schedule because I got plenty on the farm and I never had to go on any diets but recently with my energy dropping I realized that I need to eat better and move more. The lack of energy is blocking me from doing more of the things I enjoy in my life. Another area I have been working on is making our family budget a priority. Thankfully my husband has always been very supportive because it really works better if both spouses are on board with it.
What will you do about the road blocks in your life? Will you allow yourself to discover ways to eat healthier and exercise? Will you get together with your spouse and work out a budget? Will you allow God to reveal your true heart so you can serve Him better? There are many areas in our lives that need cultivated. Every person is different. Examine your life and the areas you need to step up and go to bat for. Every day we have the opportunity to make choices in each area of our lives. Some days I do better than others while other days I seem to encounter one road block after another. The important part is that you pick yourself back up, dust off, refocus, and remember that you can get past this little bump in the road.
How will you react to a friends warning? Sometimes it takes another person tapping you on the shoulder you to get your attention. You could be the like the cop in the story above that just flew on by and ignored me as I tried to wave him down to warn him about the danger ahead. OR You could be like the secretary at the girls school who immediately called the bus barn to alert them of the road block in their routes so they can correct their route before hitting a road block. It is important to have close family and friends in your life that are kind enough to speak graciously with you if they see an area in your life where you are struggling. Those same people can also provide a lot of accountability, prayer, and encouragement as you journey through that road block.
It is amazing how much that tree across the road captivated my attention! Even though it was an inconvenience at the time I am thankful for a very visual representation of a road block because it has stuck in my mind. Take the time this week to identify and start removing the road blocks in your life so you can focus more on those areas that really are important to you.
“Heart Reflections” is a series of thoughts and encouragement that come directly from my heart. Life has a way of throwing us extra challenges and when our focus is pulled away from what is truly important we tend to feel the pressure of stress in our lives. This series is created to remind us that we are part of something so much bigger than ourselves. We don’t have to face the pressure of life on our own. We can trust that our prayers are being heard. He alone knows what’s best for us and gives us the appropriate strength to get through each day as it is set before us.
A Little Purple Flower
Those who know me have heard this story many times. The other day as I was reflecting on my life and the many blessings in it my thoughts drifted back to this moment several years ago that so deeply stirred my heart. I want to share this story with you to provide encouragement for those tough days.
When I was in college I had an experience that left a lasting imprint on my heart and life. Sometimes God uses the “tiniest” blessings to uplift and encourage us. It had been a rough week at college with a lot of projects, tests, work, and activities. I was a little more stressed than normal and homesick. I had just checked my mailbox and once again it was empty. As I quietly walked back to my dorm room I noticed a group of preschool children from the daycare nearby coming my direction walking in a single file line with their teachers. The kids were talking, laughing and full of life. Right as I was walking past them one little boy yelled “STOP!” The whole line of kids, teachers, and myself stopped as he bent over at the edge of the sidewalk, looked at the ground, then started jumping up and down while yelling excitedly “LOOK I FOUND A PURPLE FLOWER!” What he had found was the tiniest little purple flower attached to a weed on the edge of the sidewalk.
Everyday that week I had walked by those purple flowers but yet I was so focused on my own life, problems, and thoughts that I had failed to stop and notice the little purple flowers in my life. Those purple flowers represent a multitude of blessings God sends my way to remind me (even in the tough times) that He loves me. Often he uses the beauty of His creation to capture my attention but it could be many other blessings in my life that I didn’t stop to appreciate. I never walked down that sidewalk again without looking for a purple flower and this moment has been etched in my mind as a reminder for me to continue looking for those purple flowers.
There have been seasons in my life since that time when I had to look closely at the weeds (metaphorically speaking) to find a beautiful purple flower in the midst of the trial. It was a simple illustration of God’s love shining through that little boy to remind me how truly blessed I am. This moment made a priceless impact on my life and even though life isn’t always easy I know God cares enough to send even a tiny purple flower across my path.
I want to encourage you if you are going through a rough season. It’s okay to have tough days, God still loves you, cares about you, and is reaching out to show you blessings (no matter how big or tiny) everyday. Although, you may have to look harder for those little purple flowers on the side of the walkway in the middle of the weeds you can rejoice in those little miracles of encouragement. Take a moment today to reflect on the purple flowers in your life.
Photo by donjd2
Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4
Now that I completed 9 weeks of my No Grocery Shopping challenge I want to share what is next on my agenda as far as grocery shopping is concerned. I would LOVE to live off my pantry and freezer for the entire year, however, it is getting lower and I need to start shopping for some additional items. I learned a lot from the recent challenge and want to keep my family fed while staying within our budget.Explanation: For the first time ever I am going on a strictly cash system for our groceries. It is my desire to spend no more than $40 per week for my family of 4. I am sticking to just grocery and food related items at this time since I have a separate budget for household, health & beauty. If I find that I still have extra consistently I may decide to roll the other items into this as well. As an additional bonus if I have more than a half of week of “extra” money remaining at the end of the month I want to contribute that money towards my Creative Cash. Although I know I will have days and weeks with hiccups like with any challenge it is my desire to be more accountable with what I have been given. I perceive this budget change to have many benefits over the past systems I have used for example it will allow me the opportunity to buy items on sale but not over do it plus makes me more responsible with the money we have been given, and helps control the spontaneous purchases. Only time will tell how well it works for our family.
Every family is different so you need to decide what is best for your specific family and situation. I am starting this endeavor after several months of thought and prayer regarding our family finances. On a side note I do want to let you know that just because the title says Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4 that does not mean we will never host guests in our home or take a meal to someone in need. Our guests and meal deliveries throughout the month are also included in this budget so the actual number will vary from month to month regarding how many people we feed but for simplicity sake it is Groceries $40 for 4 due to our family size and budgeting.
I hope to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks! As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me. I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too. I hope by taking the extra time to watch my grocery spending it will allow us to feed our family, enjoy life, and yet stay on track with our budget.
Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances. Life doesn’t always go as planned. We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given. Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life. A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others. There is so much more to life than having all the stuff. We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.
Photo by MoneyBlogNewz
Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping (Recipes)
I am now wrapping up week number 5 in my No Grocery Shopping challenge! It has been a fun adventure for our family as we continue to find ways to make the food in our fridge and pantry stretch! Some of the recipes over the last few weeks have been a huge hit in our family for years while others were different. We are always looking for ways to create healthy meals that everyone enjoys without wasting the food we have in our home.For those who have been emailing me about what we’ve been eating here are a few of our low budget main dish recipes:
Macaroni & Cheese Casserole
I came up with this recipe a couple years ago when I was trying to use up some leftovers in the fridge. It has since become a favorite at our house. The neat part about this recipe is that it can be easily altered based on the ingredients you have in your refrigerator. We usually have a stock pile of Wacky Mac because we use double coupons at Ingles, Bi-Lo, or Publix plus we get extra money back from Upromise eCoupons which makes most of our purchases of Wacky Mac free plus some overage. Dairy products are regular staples in our house so it makes this recipe fairly easy to make anytime.
Macaroni & Cheese Casserole
The neat part about this recipe is that it can be easily altered based on the ingredients you have in your refrigerator. It is a simple recipe that is almost impossible to mess up.Servings: 8Equipment
- 9x7 Pyrex Casserole dish
Ingredients
- 12 oz Wacky Mac Veggie Noodles (Any shape pasta can be used, but the girls love the mixed shapes and colors of Wacky Mac)
- 1-2 cups Milk (depending on how rich you want it, powder milk works too or add a touch of sour cream to increase the richness)
- 1 cup Velveeta Cheese (cubed)
- 1 tbsp Butter or Margarine
- 1 cup Shredded Cheese (I use up the partial bags in our fridge so it is usually Cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Colby, etc..)
- 2-3 cups Water (You want 4 cups liquid, if you add more milk, reduce the water)
- dash Salt, Pepper, and Garlic to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add all the ingredients above except the water to a casserole dish.
- The water will be different based on what you add to your casserole. Add enough water to cover the noodles and stir everything together.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees. After 15 minutes of baking stir the casserole than continue baking for an additional 45 minutes. The top of the casserole will be crunchy (everyone’s favorite part) but should not burn.
Notes
I have also been known to cut of cheese slices or put in a couple spoons of cottage cheese. It really is a “use up the leftovers” type of Marconi & Cheese Casserole! If you want you can add a cup of fresh or canned tomatoes that tastes great too.Chicken Pot Pie
After several days of cooking we will often use the meat and vegetable leftovers in the fridge to make a Pot Pie. Our favorite is the Chicken Pot Pie, but we have made several variations of Beef and Ham Pot Pies as well. You can often get Store Brand Pie Crusts on sale or clearance for a great price if you them on hand use those otherwise the recipe below includes how to make your own pie crust with a few basic ingredients.
Chicken Pot Pie
A family favorite, chicken pot pie is a simple way to use up the remaining chicken that doesn't taste like a "leftovers" meal.Servings: 8Equipment
- 9 inch pie pan
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 2 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 3/4 cups Crisco Shortening
- 1 tssp Salt
- 5 tbsp Water (cold)
Filling
- 1 to 2 cups Cooked Chicken (use leftover or canned Chicken)
- 1 to 2 cups Cooked Vegetables (use leftover or canned Veggies)
- 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix together the ingredients for the crust until the dough is formed, split the dough in half.
- Roll out half of the pie crust (add more flour if necessary). Place half of the pie crust in the bottom of a 8 or 9 inch pie pan.
- Stir together the Chicken Pot Pie filling ingredients. Add the filling to the pie pan.
- Top with remaining pie crust. Roll the edges of the bottom and top crust together. Cut a few slices in the top of the pot pie, (I usually will do a smile face or Christmas Tree or heart just for fun. The girls are always looking to see the design on the the top prior to eating it.)
- Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Check halfway through and if the crust is getting too dark put a piece of foil over the top to keep it from burning.
Pasta Night
We will often have a “Pasta” night which is a quick and easy meal that our family enjoys. It is one of our “meatless” meals. Many times Pasta nights consists of cooking:
Poor Man's Pasta
Don't let the name fool you. This is a simple staple that is quick and easy to make, yet still a comforting favorite.Servings: 4Cost: $3Ingredients
- 4 cups Elbow Noodles
- 1/2 tbsp Butter or Margarine
- Grated Parmesan Cheese (aka. "Shaky Cheese")
Instructions
- Cook the noodles, drain and add the butter. Sprinkle Shaky Cheese over your noodles and enjoy.
Notes
I add veggies and fruit to round out the meal. It is quick, simple, and inexpensive.Spinach Chicken Casserole
This is another one of those quick recipes I threw together to use up some extra chicken we had in the fridge that was a hit with the family.
Spinach Chicken Casserole
This is a quick "throw together" meal that tastes great and feels like it should have taken more time.Servings: 6Ingredients
- 2 to 3 cups Cubed Chicken (or you can use 2 to 3 frozen whole Chicken Breasts)
- 1 can Spinach
- 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 4 oz Sliced Mushrooms (Optional: Canned works best)
- 2 slices Provolone or Mozzarella Cheese
- 2 cups Rice (uncooked)
- 2 to 4 tbsp Water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour the 2 cups of uncooked rice and water if necessary into a casserole dish. Add the Chicken on top of the rice.
- Mix together the Spinach and Cream of Mushroom then add it on top of the Chicken.
- Spread the sliced mushrooms over the spinach mixture.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
- Add the cheese on top 10 to 15 minutes before the casserole is done.
Veggie Beef Soup is another one we put together with items we have on hand.
Along with the main meals we have a fruit and vegetable. We still have chicken and beef weekly as well as fish every couple of weeks to make sure everyone is getting the nutritional meals they need.
I will continue to share with you the challenges and successes so you can keep me accountable or even go through the journey with me by participating and sharing your story. As I extend this goal into at least the first part of February I hope to have the opportunity to share more about what we are doing to make it stretch! Let’s see if we can finish yet another week of the No Grocery Shopping challenge!
Life Simplified is a series on getting rid of the extras in our life while learning how to enjoy what God has given us so we can continue to be a blessing to others. Our homes can quickly start are bursting with “stuff” and if you are like us we just have too much. I am doing a series on ways we are learning to simplifying our food, homes, and lives. When our hearts, lives, and homes get too cluttered we may start missing out on opportunities to serve and bless the people around us.
