i have been that person in the grocery store who carelessly throws whatever into the cart, hoping something might make a meal for the week. at the register, i am disappointed by the cost. at home, i am even more disappointed that i forgot at least five different ingredients. back to the grocery store i would go.
i am a big believer in meal planning. i believe we can all better manage our money when we plan our meals for the week. to learn how i meal plan, all of my thoughts/ideas/tips are on this post, meal planning 101.
today i thought i would share with you last week’s meal plan. i spent under $50 for two adults. of course, your cost will adjust depending on the size of your family & the price of food at your grocery store. your total cost of food for the week will also depend on your choice to purchase organic or not (we do not buy strictly organic, but we do make a priority with dairy & fresh foods) & if you have a garden or not.
our meal plan
– monday: pepperoni, tomato & basil frittata with salad & a side of cauliflower
(made with homegrown basil, tomato, eggs, salad greens & cauliflower)
*tip- frittatas are excellent for using what you already have to make something delicious from very little. add whatever veggies are left at the beginning of the week before using your fresh food.
– tuesday: taco salad with canned refried beans & local beef
(made with local beef free from the farm & homegrown lettuce)
– wednesday: curry lentil stew with salad & bread
(made with homegrown salad greens)
*tip- this lentil stew is delicious! also, lentils are very inexpensive & a great purchase when finances are tight.
– thursday: surprise date night out to pizza!
*tip- this expense is included in our “date night” budget so we don’t spend all of our weekly food money on quality time out together. we allow $40/month for eating out & dates
– friday: dinner party with friends! we brought the side salad & beer
(made with homegrown salad greens)
*tip- dinners with other families help save money. switch who hosts & provides the main course.
– saturday: homemade veggie pizza night with this homemade crust recipe
(made with homegrown basil)
(made with homegrown lettuce & kale)
*tip- sundays are great for leftovers or using what’s left in the fridge for a big salad or stir fry!
happy meal planning!
love,
natalie
in june 2013, i will:
– simplify
– soak up summer
– continue running
——-
may was so much better than i could have ever expected. although i worked much more than i ever have in my entire life, it is so satisfying to look back on everything i accomplished & know i did it well. june will be even better! i can already feel a more relaxed pace in our home & at work. it’s so nice.
this june, i hope to simplify! i want to clean out our closets, clear away the clutter in my studio & sell those items we do not need. i also want to soak up this beautiful season. we have moved every single summer for the last six or so years. throughout those six years, i have looked forward rather than soaking up the now. regardless of how many to-do lists might be lingering in my thoughts as we prepare to move to the farm, i hope to savor this warm weather by going on at least one picnic with luke & inviting friends over to simply relax. finally, i want to keep running. i have been consistently running for almost a month now & i want to continue. i have never been a runner, but i am going to become one!
what are your june goals? please share!
love,
natalie
there is so much to be done before we transition to our home on the farm. all of the packing, cleaning, paperwork, utility switching, uhaul trucks & the list goes on.
there is also so much to be done when we arrive. that little list of what i hope to do to our home before we settle in continues to grow into a several pages & pinterest board list. we need to scrape the popcorn ceilings, paint the kitchen cabinets, pull up the carpet in the bonus room… the list goes on.
simply put- i am guilty. i am guilty of discontentment. this especially rears it’s ugly face in regards to our home. i have talked about this topic several times in this space, but i am still noticing a lack of change in heart & mind as we move into our first home. because it is ours – well mostly the bank’s but that’s another topic for another day– i feel this need to make it “ours” instantly regardless of our financial status.
it will be an initial financial stretch for us when we move onto the farm. as first time home buyers, we should be more concerned about saving for any unforeseen costs. instead, i am more concerned about the small cosmetic changes because i am worried it might just seem like an average house.
the culture that we have created through our pinterest boards, fancy blogs & magazines tells us that each room should reflect our own unique selves while also buying into the idea that our homes must also be updated with each new trend. friends, i do all of the above & more because parts of me believe it will make me happier.
nesting does make me happy. decorating on pennies makes me happy, too. thrifting & going to yard sales makes me really happy. once i start to realize how much time i invest & ultimately idolize this certain part of myself, i am not so happy.
as we make this transition into our new home, i want to be thoughtful with our money. we can wait, we can be wise, we can be thankful for what we do have.
we have so much right now…
love,
natalie