Can we afford to eat?

Posted by chrystibella on September 23, 2008

I used to have it dialed in. I could go to the grocery store and get what was needed and stay in my budget. Almost down to the penny! I had this inner sense.

Now days, I still have the same budget but the prices on the items we need every week have sky rocketed to the point that when I go through the check out line, I’m holding my breath. Aware that I may need to put something back. Which to me is the ultimate embarrassment. But, just because the prices have increased does not mean that my pocket book has and there is only so much money to go around. So, we have had to cut back drastically on our spending. There is absolutely no dining out or going out to the movies.

My husband was laid off from the job he had been at for 6 years due to the economy and it took him almost 8 months to find another job which pays less and is almost an hour’s drive from where we live. We’re happy that he has a job, period. It pays much more than unemployment does.

I was a real estate agent for the last 15 years or so. I wasn’t a top producer but I managed to bring in enough business to buy us the extras we needed and to make life more fun. Over the last two years, business has not been good. When we had our real estate boom everybody and their brother rushed out to get a real estate license and it became increasingly difficult to compete. Not many people have been able to stay afloat in the current market as it is extremely expensive to pay for mls and NAR and other necessary expense to remain in business. If you’re not selling homes, it’s not worth it. So, I am out of a job and looking for something that offers a steady income. Me and thousands of others.

This is the worst economy that I have ever endured. Lucky for my family that I know how to cook. I can take basic staples and whip up a fabulous meal. I’m good at stretching the food budget. I always have been. But in this economy I am finding it more difficult. When I am used to buying cooking oil for $3.99 (with a buy one get one free sales special) at the store and now I have to pay $5.99 for only one, it takes a big bite out of what I have to spend on food. I’m wondering now if eating is a luxury I cannot afford.

I do tend to stock up on meat when it’s on sale. London broil is a good cut and can be cooked all kinds of ways. Chicken breasts are another favorite and go on sale often. I have not been buying fresh fruits or vegetables unless they are on sale. I think it’s time I start visiting the farmers market on the weekends. I hear you can get some great prices and the produce is much better.

As the weather starts to get chilly and we go into the winter months, hearty soups and comfort foods like chicken and dumplings, beef stew and beans and cornbread will fill our tummys.

I’ve started baking cakes from scratch. If I have flour, sugar, eggs, milk, oil, vanilla, and hershey’s cocoa, I can make a much better cake than I can by buying mixes. I have found that if I buy things like cookies or anything that is at hand, it is gone within a day or so. It’s better to have the staples and make something every now and then.

In place of a smoothy or starbucks I can make one at home using milk, crushed ice, vanilla, sugar and blend it in my blender. It satisfies the craving and can have coffee or other flavors added. Even fresh, frozen or canned fruit like peaches or strawberries makes a yummy shake. Whatever you’ve got.

In the winter I love to sip hot cocoa in the evening. I use regular hershey’s cocoa in milk. I like mine without sugar. I add a little bit of vanilla to a cup of milk and put it in the microwave then add the cocoa when it’s heated and put a handful of miniture marshmellows on top. This is better than any mix you can buy at the store. I like to zap it in the microwave after I add the marshmellows (about 10 seconds) then I stir them in and it’s sweet enough.

When I was a kid, we were very poor and my mom would make a lot of yummy foods from simple ingredients. She always said, if you’ve got your basic staples, you’re set. I’m glad I paid attention. If we wanted cookies, we made them. Candy? We made that too. I can make a mean fudge in a few minutes.

Here is a list of what I always have on hand. Notice, I don’t have a well stocked kitchen but I have some simple, basic things that I use all the time and make a variety of dishes, desserts and snacks.

Bread
Butter
Eggs
Milk
Potatos
Rice
Pasta
Tomatoes & Sauce
Meat
Dry Beans (Assorted)
I usually keep frozen Peas, Corn and Green Beans because they are inexpensive and close to fresh.
All Purpose Flour
Sugar
Brown Sugar
Confectioners Sugar
Hershey’s Cocoa
Miniture Marshmellows
Vanilla Extract (I prefer the pure extract but you can get the imitation cheap and it works okay)
Cereal (I only buy what’s on sale and has nutritional value, while I LOVE Lucky Charms, I rarely buy stuff like that. If I did, it would get eaten up as a snack. My favorites are frosted mini wheats and Kellogs (not Post) Raison Bran.)
Oatmeal
Cream of Wheat
Malto Meal
Coffee (won’t live without it)
Broth (great for adding flavor to anything from soups to sauces) I buy something called “Better Than Broth” It’s in a jar and is kept in the refrigerator after opening. I buy chicken and beef flavor.
Cornmeal
Cornstarch
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Yeast
Garlic (always fresh)
Onions
Carrots
Celery
Peanut Butter
Strawberry Jam
Tea
Tuna
A block of Cheddar Cheese
Tortillas
Canola or Vegetable Oil
Extra Light Olive Oil
White Vinegar
Wine Vinegar
Balsamic Vinegar
Head of Lettuce
Tomatoes (When they are not too expensive or when I grow them.)

Of course, I include herbs and spices as well as condiments. Other than that, I have a pretty simple set of staples that can yield a lot of delicious dishes.

You’ll not find Hot Pockets, Toaster Strudels or any quick, instant foods at my house. We hardly ever order take out or go out to dinner anymore. For us, it’s a treat to be able to fill up the gas tank to “full”. If I cook a big meal, we eat the left overs the next night or I use them to create something else.

Sometimes I feel like those folks you see in movies who are deserted somewhere sitting around remembering their favorite food. We’re not that bad off but I do think about some of my favorite restaurants and I can’t wait till I can afford to visit them again. I miss going out to dinner…. But most of all I miss being able to afford to eat at home.

Related Articles:

San Francisco Food Bank Challange

The Hunger Challange: How to eat on $3 a day