Tuesday, February 23, 2016

February $100 Grocery Budget Challenge Update 2/23/16

Homemade cookies


Well folks, I'm over budget by $11.56. :(  In all fairness though, I came across a great deal on HUGE family sized pizzas marked down to $3.49 each in the Walmart deli and I got 4 of them to stock the freezer.  Those 4 pizzas cost me $13.96 but will save me big in long run.  One pizza alone from the take and bake place, after discount coupon, would cost me at least what all 4 of the pizzas together from the Walmart deli cost.  We love having our freezer stocked with pizzas for when the grandkids come over or for last minute family get togethers.  I still had 2 pizzas that I had purchased earlier that we will use on Saturday when Chris and the grandboys and our Rachel come over.  Heather and her mom are having a girl's day and Jaysn has to work, so the rest of the gang is coming here.  They all asked to come over...makes my Momma's heart just fill to overflowing. :)  Oh, the pizza purchases that put me over budget will not be eaten until next month or after that...they were a stock up item.

If I had resisted the pizzas, we would still be under budget by a few dollars, but this was one of those times when it is cheaper to buy now and save big time later.  I really do not feel bad about it at all and even if I did technically go over budget, I don't consider this month's challenge a failure at all.

8 comments:

  1. I just found your blog from Down to Earth. I'm writing now because I have also been diagnosed with Chronic fatigue. I was wondering if you had and blog posts related to what has helped you with it. I've been sick since June 2011 and was only recently diagnosed. Any help you could give would be appreciated. SJ in Vancouver BC

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    1. Dear SJ, I am so sorry that you have also been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. ((((HUGS)))) Since Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can have multiple root causes and everyone's body chemistry is different, it is hard to find what works for each individual. I don't think I have any blog posts dedicated the what has helped me with it, but rather how it feels to have an invisible illness. I searched for years to find what worked for me since my body responds differently to certain meds like the antifungal meds that are meant to clear up yeast infections that make mine "bloom" instead. I finally found that a combination of taking potassium citrate, lots of vitamin C, glucosamine, probiotics and using homeopathic treatments for those awful "down south" yeast infections was what at least helps with it. I do have to try to avoid stress because it causes huge flare ups and "crashes". I also have learned to take advantage of the days when I have energy to get as much done as I can because I also know that I will have a crash day soon to follow where I will have very little energy. I'm sure you have already found this out but yeast thrives on sugar, so you might want to change your diet and reduce your sugar intake. I can tell after I have had too much sugar because I feel sluggish, achy, headaches, and my yeast infections explode. I am glad you finally got a diagnosis. I remember when I first was diagnosed after years of trying to figure out what was wrong with me (I thought I was dying because I was so tired and ached so much and had horrible yeast infections that would not respond to medications). At that time, there were those that did not believe it was a real disease and health insurance companies would drop you if it appeared on your medical records so my primary care physician and my gynecologist both were hesitant to officially put it in my medical records. Not much was known about it and how to treat it. My doctors were stumped since I had adverse reactions to the meds so I had to research and find out as much as I could for myself. It has been trial and error for me to get to this point where I have more good days than bad. I have learned to listen to my body and rest when I need to. I've tried to rebuild my immune system with a healthier diet and with supplements. You might want to see if there is a naturopath in your area that specializes in helping people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. I wish we had one here when I was first diagnosed. I wish I could help more and give you the magic formula to make it all go away. Like I said, everyone is different with their root causes and their body chemistry. It is only by trial and error that you find what works for you. I do hope though that I have given you a few places to start. I'm here to support you though. I do know how frustrating and depressing this illness can be.

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  2. YAY!!!! You did great!!! What a deal on the pizza.

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    1. Thank you Chrissy! I hope you have a Walmart near you that does this too. :)

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  3. Thanks for the reply. It's so helpful to find others who get it. People see me and think I look healthy, so what's the problem. But if they're seeing me,I'm having a good to great day energy wise. They don't see the crash.
    I,too, have been managing by eating better, avoiding stress, and writing in a daily journal. The latter was suggested by my doctor. I was prone to 'activity creep' for lack of a better description. I would start doing more and then crash a few days later. And by more, I mean going out for an hour to grocery shop or something else I would not have even registered as an 'activity' before I got sick.
    Others have suggested homeopathic remedies. I just don't have a lot of extra money to try something new. Or the energy. Will close here. Love your blog. Cheers, SJ in Vancouver BC

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    1. ((((HUGS)))) SJ, yes, I do understand exactly where you are coming from. I was (and still am) severely criticized by a extended family member who still, after all these years, does not understand my illness and how it limits me and thinks that I am just being "lazy". They have been one of the major "stress points" in our lives for years. Please do try to surround yourself with people who understand and support you and for those that don't, well they probably never will. That is their issue though, not your's so please, try not to let it bother you...harder to do than say I know. It can be a long journey with this illness but when you find the right thing that works for you, some of your energy will come back. I went from being in bed most of the time to being able to spend the day out shopping or getting things done around the house. I was also able to substitute teach for 3 weeks straight (but I did crash the minute I got home each afternoon and the weekends were spent in bed for the most part) in an emergency situation. I realized after doing that that I needed to limit myself to just a few days a week. I am now home full time and am able to pace myself better and try to deal with some other health issues. Be blessed!

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  4. You did such an amazing job on this challenge! I'd love to try it....soon!!

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    1. Thanks, I appreciate it. I can't wait to see how creative you get with this challenge. I love reading your blog and how you can transform something "ordinary" into something extraordinary!

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