Like so many, I'm broke. That's okay with me. I know life will not always be this way. But planning and preparing meals for my family on my tight grocery budget is hella hard. Gone are the days where I can go to the grocery store and toss whatever I want into my cart. I never had to stop and think about it before. And I ate well. I ate very well. I loved reading food blogs and giving gourmet recipes a go. I loved putting my own spin on recipes and making food for my friends and taking treats to work. Life, at least the food part, was easy.
Let me back up. I married a wonderful man I met while we worked together at a big-box retailer. He was a department manager and I worked at customer service. I often like to joke that it was a match made in the cash office as we spent a lot of time closing the store together in the months prior to the official beginning of our relationship. We married in 2012 and welcomed Thing 1 and Thing 2 in 2013 and 2014. It's been a great few years despite the challenges of raising a family in a resort town.
So yeah...I'm broke. My husband has a good job and makes a good income, but his salary is based on the standard of living for where his company is headquartered and there is no cost-of-living considerations. Like I mentioned, we live in a resort town. Everything from food, to rent, to gasoline and beyond is more expensive. What would be a very comfortable living elsewhere is super tight here. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining. He has a full-time, year-round job. When so many of our city's businesses are dependent upon seasonal tourism, finding a traditional Monday thru Friday, nine-to-five isn't always easy. And me? I left my good full-time, year-round job when Thing 1 was born. That is a decision I have never regretted. I love being at home with my babies!
My darling Hubs has a big heart...and a big stomach. Keeping him fed isn't cheap. He loves to snack throughout the day and fill his belly at night. Hubs is not a little guy. It takes a lot of food to keep him nourished and happy. Planning and shopping for our weekly menu on a strict budget is a challenge, but I'm getting better at it every month. But I want to get better at making food I love to eat. Will you join me on my journey? Stay tuned...
Let me back up. I married a wonderful man I met while we worked together at a big-box retailer. He was a department manager and I worked at customer service. I often like to joke that it was a match made in the cash office as we spent a lot of time closing the store together in the months prior to the official beginning of our relationship. We married in 2012 and welcomed Thing 1 and Thing 2 in 2013 and 2014. It's been a great few years despite the challenges of raising a family in a resort town.
So yeah...I'm broke. My husband has a good job and makes a good income, but his salary is based on the standard of living for where his company is headquartered and there is no cost-of-living considerations. Like I mentioned, we live in a resort town. Everything from food, to rent, to gasoline and beyond is more expensive. What would be a very comfortable living elsewhere is super tight here. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining. He has a full-time, year-round job. When so many of our city's businesses are dependent upon seasonal tourism, finding a traditional Monday thru Friday, nine-to-five isn't always easy. And me? I left my good full-time, year-round job when Thing 1 was born. That is a decision I have never regretted. I love being at home with my babies!
My darling Hubs has a big heart...and a big stomach. Keeping him fed isn't cheap. He loves to snack throughout the day and fill his belly at night. Hubs is not a little guy. It takes a lot of food to keep him nourished and happy. Planning and shopping for our weekly menu on a strict budget is a challenge, but I'm getting better at it every month. But I want to get better at making food I love to eat. Will you join me on my journey? Stay tuned...
