Husband doesn't understand the concept of a budget... *Rant*

[Bettacreek]

No income limits on it.

Bill Gates could order from them if he wanted to.

 

[debilorrah]

Really??? What a blessing!!! I wish I knew about that a few months ago before I ate so much ground beef I should be a cow.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Angel Food Ministries is open to ANYONE, no questions asked.

Bettacreek - I'm sorry to hear about the job loss.

Guys take these things seriously and he may be somewhat in denial about his current inability to support your family. It may be tough, but it might be a good idea to sit down and see what you can figure out together. With a little work and planning, and some outside help if possible, he may not have to give up some of those things that are important to him. But, it'll be a lot easier if it's a joint effort.

There are lots of ways to save money on food. Like the chili that was mentioned - make it from scratch and use dried beans, not canned. Use more beans than meat to stretch that pound into another meal. Freeze the leftovers. Does your family like split peas and lentils? If so, PM me and I'll be glad to give you a recipe that makes a TON and only costs a few dollars to make. I'd post it, but it's a copyrighted.

I realize it's not going to help you during this next month when you need it most, but put in a garden to grow some of those things he enjoys. It'll probably take you a little while to recover from this current loss of income.

And, when you can do so again, start shopping for your pantry, not for the week. It'll cost you far less to pay a couple bucks for flour when it's on sale and buy two, than to pay full price when you run out and need it now. I've been doing this for a while and if worse came to worse I could probably feed my family for months on what I've stored. Sure, they'd be sick of pasta and beans, but they'd be fed!

 

[English Chick]

Why not get him to plan a whole menu for a month his way...and you plan yours your way....then take him shopping with both lists and get him to mark the prices of his list (not buy them) and you shop for your list....then look at the difference....no doubt you will win and have been diplomatic in the process.....

Good luck

 

[pdsavage]

Here is a few of my fav sites that will help you streatch that 100 bucks....they all even have a budget shopping list with recipes...
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/index1.htm
http://www.budget101.com/
http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm

 

[MissPrissy]

You can do alot with beans and rice. Fairly cheap and goes a very long way.

Red beans and rice
15 bean soup
Black beans and rice
Hoppin John
baked beans
chilli

So many options.

I would buy beans and better than average rice, a few sausage/hotdogs/hamburger and prepare bean based dishes. Every couple days. Left overs can be much better than fresh cooked when it comes to seasoned beans and casserole style dishes.

You may have other issues after all the beans but by the end of 30 days your body will have become accustomed to it and those issues will go away.

 

[joebryant]

When Anne and I first got married, I paid the bills and had a nervous breakdown every two weeks. After about a year of this, she took over the budget and has had total control of it for the last forty-two years (is that all... seems like a thousand); anyway, I have to strain to remember how when/if I have to write a check.

The way I see it is it's all her problem to pay all the bills and pay for whatever I buy or charge and to keep my billfold full of $20 bills. If we're going bankrupt, I don't want to hear about it because it's her problem, not mine.

 

[HennysMom]

Okay I am the QUEEN at making dinners go a very long way - 1 chicken or just 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts will make 3 meals for my family of 4 so if I can do it..YOU can too!

if you dont want to use an entire chicken, you can use 4 large bonless skinless chicken breasts and boxed/canned chicken broth - but its cheaper to do it with a whole chicken.

Using a whole chicken (of decent size, like a roaster (Sams Club/Walmart you can get an Oven Stuffer Roaster for about $8.00 *Giant just had them on sale for .99 a lb for HUGE Oven stuffer roasters - and I could have gotten 2 birds for $8.00 each - 8 lb birds!) - if you cant get/afford a roaster, use 2 smaller chickens - 2 of these cost about the same) - you cut off the wings and legs (save the breasts - you'll use them for another meal - set aside) BOIL THEM and make a chicken stock. When done cooking - let the meat cool and pick it down. Use this meat to make chicken soup (you already have the stock as a starter) If you need more stock, add a can of chicken broth to it. Fresh veggies and a package of egg noodles - you have a huge pot of chicken soup. If you prefer you can use 1 entire chicken if using the smaller birds vs. a roaster - if using a roaster, just use the legs and wings.

With the breast(s) meat - roast it in the oven until fully cooked. Pick 2 apart (if using 2 smaller birds - 1 if using a roaster) and chop - put into spaghetti sauce (make your own or you can use 2 jars of Prego ($5.25 for 2 cans at Walmart) and add 2 larger cans of tomato puree (2 for $3.00) - makes a large pot of sauce. Add seasonings to your taste if not seasoned enough from Prego. Spaghetti noodles arent very expensive (3 for 1.00 most times). Presto! 1 more dinner from said chicken!

With remaining chicken breast (1 or 2 depending on what bird you use) - you can make a chicken and rice caserole - using Cream of Chicken soup (again, depending on what brand you get, 2 for 3.00 or less per can - Walmart brand is usually less than $1.00 per can) - Rice is about $2.00 for a large box. Add some Bisquick or make your own biscuits on top half way through cooking - and you have a complete dinner!

ALL FROM 1 or 2 birds!

Soup and spaghetti sauce you can freeze the leftovers as well - and all of 3 meals can be made for less than $25.00!

Miss Prissy is correct as well - rice and beans go a looonnng way.

 

[horsejody]

Maybe you should just give hubby the $100 and send him to the store. Just make sure that he understands that it's his responsibility to come back with 2 weeks worth of meals, not 1 days worth. Make it his problem, not yours.

 

[onthespot]

and make him cook the meals, see what HE can do with they bags of goodies he brings home. Tell him you will shovel snow, take out the trash and do whatever he does for a month, and he can shop, cook, pay bills. One month of that and he will WORSHIP you forever and beg to go back to "his" job list.