I live in a very small condo association where there are renters and owners of one and two bedroom condos. I'v become friendly with the ladies that water the plants and walk their dogs. One lady is retired and does volunteer work for the Salvation Army and we've talked about the economy, the state of how alot of people are going through hard times. She has been bringing me coupons every few weeks and she seems to care about me & my son. She signed me up for food from the SA and when I got home last night, there were two, big, heavy boxes of food! Rice, beans, mac n cheese, even cheese and chicken quarters. It is enough to last at least a month. She was a memeber of the chamber of commerce for many years and knows alot of "stuff" and she is going to ask the owner of a one bedroom right next to me, if I could move into his apartment, as he keeps it for a tax write off and won't rent to anyone buy family. This apartment is $535 and would be such a blessing if I could move and not need to rent a truck or all sorts of man power. Anyway, the more I talk with her the more I realize there is hope for me and many people going through hard times. I'm even going to volunteer at the SA once a month or more, because I want to be a part of something that helps so many families. I feel that life is not a set path and there are people and circumstances that come our way and they change my perspective about my journey in this lifetime. People need to reach out and pull their neighbor up and offer the help because you never know how someone could be suffering.

Today I had $6.00 to put in my gas tank, that is 1/4 a tank. I have two more days until payday. My mom gave me $100 because she knows I have no money, no gas, and little food. I started out with my $100 and went to Sam's club, because I thought I could get a few items, and stock up for a few days. This is what I put into the cart:
Chicken Breasts: $14
Hamberger: $12
Two lunch meat packs: $12
One pack of (3) tortillas: $4
Cheese: $7
Broccoli: $4
Eggs: (2)pack of 18: $4
Gogurt: $7
Cereal: $9
That was almost $65.00, so I put back everything but, the eggs, Gogurt, tortillas, and cereal.
I spent $23.00.
I went to Wal-Mart and then picked up paper towels, toilet paper, lysol, napkins, cat food, dish soap, and I spent $33.00 there. Since I still needed at least $30 for gas, I couldn't get much. I managed to lose $30.00 from my stop at Sam's Club and Wal-mart.
So I got $6 in gas. I am so tired of always being out of money and necessities.
I then went home without chicken or hamberger, and made something a little creative, here's what I made:
Cooked SPAM in pan with a spicey/sweet sauce, rice in the rice cooker and added some milk, butter, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and curry, which gave it a different good flavor. I fried a few eggs and then boiled frozen peas and carrots. I served my concoction on iceberg lettuce. The best part, my son ate it! I guess I can be creative when necessary. So this week is basically eating odds & ends from the pantry, butter, milk, flour, a piece of bratwurst. Thank God I have spices!

I think the grocery store is a big way to spend alot of money (nothing new right?) I am stuck on making the meals that are balanced and have all the right food groups for my son and I. Well I have also thought of drastically reducing meat consumption, but find it hard to fill that "meat" part of my daily routine. 40 years eating meat and it's just natural to include it. Anyway, I have alot of food in the pantry, canned beans, veggies, rice, noodles, and a few other odds n ends. so my idea is to feed my son and I strickly from what we have and not buy any new food unless its something to enhance the bean, rice, noodle plates.