Broke

Thank you guys so much! I LOVE Aldi and I try to get everything there that I can. I still live at home because I can't afford to keep myself up. I work at a theater. They are always cutting payroll. Sometimes I have no choice but my health this past week and a half has caused me to cut my own payroll. I work anywhere from 10 hours to MAYBE 30 something a week at $8.75 an hour. Gas is about $40 and if I really stretch it out I can make that last 2 weeks. But back to the living with the rents thing. My dad is the pickiest damn eater you will ever meet in your life!!! He swears up and down that he can tell when he is eating cheap ketchup and mayo. Little does he know we have been filling up the old jars with cheap things. I finally told my mom he can get over it. If we save a dollar just by buying the store brand ketchup the taste is worth it. I know that there really is some things out there that you can tell a difference. I personally find some store brand things better sometimes they are worse. But I can hardly get them to try anything different. My mom is all for it unless I say it is healthy or less fat or anything like that it is an automatic that is going to be gross. My dad just won't eat it. My whole life has been we eat this but I make this for dad. He is a hamburger, hot god, meatloaf, all american guy. I can say he is finally tired of sloppy joes. I am beyond tired of them. I try to make it with ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and onions and they couldn't stand it! I am trying my best to cut out breads because it is getting to be where I end up eating about 6 to 8 slices a day. I have tried for years to get them to go whole wheat. They don't like it. Because I can't afford my own food but once in a blue moon I have to eat what I get. My dad has always instilled in me that I eat what I get or I do without. I was a spoiled rotten brat and thought I didn't have to until I saw that I have no choice. I can't go without because for one it is not healthy but for 2 I get sick after so many hours. My mom thinks the cheaper the food is for a can of veggies is better than spending a little more for the fresh veggies where you get more out of it. The effort to cook apparently is hard on her because she works LONG hours a day. I understand it. I love to cook so I will cook if I need to. But it would be just for me. I am going to go back and read all of this and right things down. So hopefully I can start buying my own food if my tastefully simple business kicks up. About the spaghetti. MY FAVORITE FOOD! But mom wants tons of meat, sausage, and onions and peppers. It does taste good yes. The veggies are good yes. But I want to slow down on my meat intake too. In a pinch she can do with out. The sauce can matter. There are some sauces that taste bad. I do want to learn how to make my own sauce. I hate to put blame on my parents but sometimes I do feel like they are to blame. I am the one putting the food in my mouth yes. It is my fault too. But if I was brought up differently I feel like I would be in a different situation. They know I am trying to lose weight and eat healthy. I have spent my entire life telling my mom I hate hot dogs they make me sick and she still doesn't get it. But she has finally gotten that I am trying to cut back on food and learn to eat better. We went to the store and she bought butter mashed potatoes. I asked her to get regular mashed potatoes because I don't want butter. She got both since mine was a small pack for 50 cents. She came to me and said dinner is done and I left the potatoes plain so you can add your own butter. I feel like that is a start! About the beans and rice. I will eat brown rice. Mom will if it comes with red beans. We both will eat beans. She has to have cornbread and onions. I admit that is so gooooood. But it is bread. Also, we would have to make something else for dad. Thank you guys so much for all the helpful advice!

I went back through and wrote EVERYTHING down and saved the recipes to my computer. A few things I want to say though.

Food stamps: Even though I file as my own house and still live with my parents. Because of that I would have to put their income down too. They make too much money but can't afford food. I hate to say this and please don't think I am racist. But if we were black or mexican we would get the help. This really is true. I have both as neighbors and many as friends and I know a lot of them who make MORE money than all of us put together and still gets the help. Also, I am not pregnant.

Roommates: We can not afford those nor do we have the room.

Food banks: Anyone who goes in one of these will be able to get food. But because it is lacking and needs donations to stay open I would prefer it go to the homeless and families in more of a need then me.

Price of eggs: This is actually pretty good. We get 2 1/2 dozen for about $2.50 and that alone could last me almost a month but with my mom eating them too it can last 2 weeks.

Butter flavor sprays: I hate butter. Use to love it. Realized the calories. I don't want to touch it. I use olive oil when I need to use anything for frying or greasing a pan. I am a fan of pinterest and found a way to make a spray and will be doing this soon. Hated the taste at first but I am use to it now.

Growing my own food: I DO! I love to garden! It is so much fun and my passion. However, it in't working for me, Especially this year with 100 degree temps. Also, no room in the yard. But I am trying.

Farmers Market: LOVE THESE! We have one every friday that I haven't been able to check out but will be doing so soon. We also have one that stays open everyday. I am visiting him on friday.

I am going to check in on this plasma thing and CSA. I am also thinking about going to the food stamp place on my next 2 days off and trying again and just seeing if maybe I can get some help. It isn't fair that others can get help.


Also, when I say broke I mean BROKE. $40 to get food for 3 of us for 2 weeks kind of broke.