FreedomFromWant's Personal Finance Blog

I had mentioned how DH and I sat at the table and worked out what is coming through August and September. I'm happy to say that one of my credit card companies called me today about making a payment, and I was able to get the papers and inform him of the date and amount of the next payment. It felt so great to be able to have a fixed amount and a date instead of "I'm not sure" and "I don't know when". So much less stress and anxiety!

I'm happy to say that the grocery shopping is done and I triumphed by saving $38.00 total on everything! I had a list for what was on sale, and found out I had last week's date. Tragedy! It took a few minutes to recover, skulking in the paper goods aisle, but after a little rearranging, I was able to replace those sale items with equal ones. All told, I would have spent $110 but ended up spending $78 and got some pantry stock.

I had done my first ever stock-up on dry goods and canned goods way back in April and was very excited about it. I'm usually too anxious to invest the initial money and so I always pay shelf price every week for the same items over and over again. So this was a big step for me. Then, after I broke my ankle, I was unable to shop again and I realized how useful all the extra items were. We lived off those for two months! It was wonderful to have everything there.

When the stock began to be depleted, I initially thought, "Well, that's over." and I was unhappy about having to go back to buying them per week, not on sale, etc. But I finally decided I didn't want to live like that anymore, and determined to take a little money and put it to replenishing the stock. This was a huge thing for me, not only doing it the first time, but persevering and not letting myself get pushed back to where I don't want to be. I put my household first for once and I'm very proud about it! Yay!

Hopefully, at some point I can take that $38 and tuck it into savings but I'm not there yet. That disappeared into prescription copays. However, I have hope that at some point I'll be able to. I'm going to go gloat over my paper towel stock now!

It has never failed to suprise and delight me how often complete strangers have taken it upon themselves to help me, often at times when I needed it the most. Unsolicited and anonymous, with no reward possible or expected.
Recently I had to take my mother to an event. She is half-blind and infirm and I am in an ankle cast. We were waiting on the curb with heavy traffic, when the cab pulled up. As she stepped off the curb before I could grab her, and headed for the cab door, a waiter came out of the restaurant behind us, stopped her, got her in the front seat, put me in the back, closed the doors, sent us on our way, and went back into the restaurant. I thanked him profusely and he just smiled and left. People can be so good.

Ever since I broke my ankle, which was a horrible two months ago, DH has been cooking, cleaning, shopping, washing, etc., since I am confined to the couch and forbidden to weight-bear. Well, enough is enough! I am going to make the attempt to accompany him grocery-shopping tomorrow. Why, you may ask?
It's really not because I am stuck in the house, although at this point I would go to a auto-parts store opening just to get out somewhere! It's because guys just don't shop like we do. Okay, that's a huge generalization and I admit it. But when I make a list and ask for 6 oz. of tomato paste, ketchup doesn't cut it. 3 lbs. of chuck chop doesn't translate to 2 lbs. of top round in my recipe book. And I noticed that the list was unfolded and unread...So tomorrow I will be dragging myself down the aisles and restocking my depleted pantry.
I can't complain though. I have clean clothes, washed dishes, good meals and did you know, when someone breaks your ankle, they give you presents!? Whoo-hoo!

DH and I spent two hours sitting at the kitchen table and "doing the money". We listed everything outstanding, the dates they are due, and then used the calendar. We started at the end of the month and worked our way backwards to August 3rd. Actually, this is how we planned our wedding; we set the dates and worked backwards with the calendar to find out what had to be done when. I don't know why, but it seems to work better for us. Maybe because the date/decision is already set and then we have to make it work?
It was pretty dismal, and we were in the kitchen because it required endless cups of tea, not to mention Advil. However, we did it, instead of putting it off, and now we have a fair picture of what's coming.
It looks as if we might make it through August and with a little manipulation, be up-to-date on the bills by the middle of September.

I just adapted a wonderful chicken recipe from an extremely funny and informative book, "Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise" by Ruth Reichl, that I was able to make while having a broken ankle and couldn't reach the oven, only my convection oven.

Adapted from "Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise" by Ruth Reichl.

Boneless chicken breasts, about 2 lbs.
A bag of small round potatoes (the little ones about the size of hash browns).Don't peel them, but cut them in half if too big. If you can't find these, use regular potatoes, peel and quarter them to size.
Medium-sized onion.
Orange marmalade.
Lemon juice.
Wash and pat dry the potatoes and chicken.
Chop the onion into quarters.
Take a shallow roasting pan and pour some oil in the bottom, enough to coat. Add the potatoes and onions to the pan and sprinkle garlic over the top.Toss to coat.
Lay a rack over the potatoes. Take the chicken breasts and rub well with butter.
Pour some Lemon juice over chicken.
Take orange marmalade and with a butter knife, spread thickly over the chicken.
Put the chicken on the rack.
Salt and pepper the whole tray.
Cook at 350 for 50-60 minutes in a convection oven, and an hour in a regular oven.
Potatoes will come out crispy and brown.
Enjoy!