After financial flabbiness and a tight summer, it’s time for John and I to get a grip on our spending and be wiser with our money. During the school year, I work as a TA and get a stipend. It helps supplement our income since I’m not working full time. Unfortunately, I don’t TA during the summer so no stipend. We knew the summer would be tight, but really it didn’t hit us until August, which I’m thankful for but it’s hard to remember to be thankful when you’re trying to figure out how to make your money do magic tricks so the bills can be paid.

Back in July, we had the opportunity to buy tickets to a St. Louis Cardinals/Chicago Cubs game for September 13 in St. Louis. I have yet to go to a Cardinals game this summer, and I always try to get to at least one, especially while I live so close. I have never ever been to a Cardinals/Cubs game. The tickets were great seats at only $35 so we bought them with our awesome neighbors who only have one flaw: the husband is a Cubs fan and his wife a Royals fan. We’re really really excited even though both teams aren’t so hot right now.

All that was to say that last week, in order to save some money, John and I have challenged ourselves that for three weeks, we will not eat out. Until we go to the Cardinals/Cubs game we will not purchase any food or beverage outside of the grocery store. That’s our deadline/reward.

We’ve made it through a week. It wasn’t too bad. Sunday after church was hard because I’ve been conditioned since I was a little girl that after church you go out to lunch. The hardest thing for me, however, has been simple things that would be easy to justify like morning coffee or afternoon pick-me-ups. I want to get an iced latte or soda from a drive-thru so badly, and it would so easy to just swipe that debit card, but I can’t. I have to stay strong.

I’m excited though. I’m excited to see what this will do to our bank account and even our health and relationship as we eat at home more and fix our own meals. I’m excited to be more intentional about our food. Last week’s menu included: potato soup, grilled pork chops, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled corn, grilled asparagus (we like to grill), Asian shrimp pasta (gross but we made grilled cheese instead of going to Culver’s), spaghetti with homemade sauce, cheddar chicken (yummeh).

This week’s menu includes:

  • Meatloaf and roasted potatoes
  • Tacos
  • Chili
  • Pot roast
  • Roasted chicken

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