So.

Here is the situation.

I am no longer generating an income, so I don't have any money.

I mean I don't have any money that is just mine.

I can spend small amounts of money that M brings home, or I can ask or negotiate with him about big purchases, but I can't actually get money to save or build and spend on whatever I want. What I want is to have my own IRA- investing in socially responsible companies and have money to give to the charities of my choice.

I can't get a job because I am still finishing school.

So I have an idea.

We spend a lot of money on groceries. Way too much. We also spend a lot of money on babysitters so I can finish my degree.

If I write a check from M's account to my own bank account that equals the amount of money we have been spending on groceries and babysitters and then pay MUCH less for the groceries and babysitters I will be able to slowly start saving money.

So saving money will be my new job.

I want to combine this idea with my simple living lifestyle. First, I want to figure out what meals are the cheapest without sacrificing health. Next, I will slow down the amount of classes I am taking- to like 2 per year. This way I can spend more time with Piney and pay less to babysitters. It will put off my graduation date, but that isn't the worst thing in the world. I have waited this long, whats another year! It might be better for Piney too.

So now that, that is settled. I have to figure out the cheapest meals.

I think we will limit our meat to 2 x per week because meat is expensive and an environmental hazard. I plan on making things from scratch, buying bulk grains and fresh, raw veggies and giant blocks of cheese. I even looked into making my own cheese, but I will have to see if it is actually cheaper. Hopefully we will be able to get lettuce, tomatoes and peppers from our deck garden.

The meals I have thought of are here:

Breakfast/Lunch ideas:
Plain oatmeal, add small amount of wheat germ or flax or nuts and berries
Pancakes or waffles from scratch, homemade syrup

Lunch/Dinner ideas:
Rice, beans, raw veggies
Homemade cheese pizza/salad
Spaghetti/ veggies/ salad
Enchiladas with homemade tortillas and sauce
Homemade organic veggie soup
Annie's organic Mac and Cheese w/ leftover soup
Fish, homemade bread, raw veggies
Homemade English muffin cheese pizzas, homemade raw hummus, raw organic carrots
Homemade Lasagna, salad
Cheese Tacos with homemade tortillas and homemade raw salsa

Snacks: Homemade muffins, bars, bulk organic yogurt and fruit

Desserts: Homemade cookies, cakes, raw chocolate fondue with fruit, raw smoothies, bananas, pineapple

Drinks: Water only


I have some conflicts with buying organic or not. The price of 4 organic apples at the store here is almost $8. Regular apples would cost quite a bit less. Also, I can buy organic white flour, but there is no organic wheat flour available. So if I want the whole grains I can't get organic. Also, they offer organic canned beans, but the fresh ones are not organic. There are a lot of things like that. I can buy organic frozen strawberries, but the locally grown, fresh ones are not organic. I don't have a lot of choices here. You can not buy organic oatmeal or rice, etc. I think I am just going to have to go with the healthier, cheaper choice when there is a conflict. I can still buy the organic potatoes, and carrots, the organic mac and cheese and the local bread and the organic tomato sauces, etc. They are just a little bit more money and worth it I think.

Anyway, I need more ideas! Please help! Cheap, healthy good meals for families. Any suggestions?

image from: http://www.healtheries.co.nz

Labels: healthy cheap good family meals