the "B" word

Now that I got your attention, you are likely wondering, "What is the 'B' word"? That would be budget! I'm not going to talk about all the different areas of financial planning, but I do want to take a little time to talk about the food budget. First of all, I am no expert when it comes to saving money on food. There are a number of great blogs that focus on sales, coupons, and getting the most for your money, that have far better tips and insights into saving money on food. Please feel free to share your favorite websites and tips below!

One thing that I always tell my students (Yes, I teach a foods class at a local high school), is that purchasing food is always a balance between money, time & energy! In general I don't purchase a lot of prepackaged convenience foods because I enjoy cooking and controlling the food that I am preparing. Here is a great example of how I saved money and made my own convenience food.

  Last week I purchased a 10 pound bag of potatoes. They were on sale for less than $3 a bag! So, last Saturday I peeled a majority of the potatoes, cooked them up, mashed them, and froze four containers for another time. I saved a lot of money compared to purchasing a small container of frozen pre-made potatoes, but I also spent a lot of time in the process. However, I would also have to note that my family likes the taste of the homemade mashed potatoes better than the instant ones from the store, and that makes the time & energy worth it for me.



So, my questions for you:
     1. What is your favorite blog for learning great tips on how to save money?
     2. What has been your experiences when it comes to balancing money, time and energy?

     3. What would you do with a 10 pound bag of potatoes?

Running is Dangerous to your Health

I'm finally at a point where I can write this entry. First of all, I'm not a runner. Yes, I have run a couple of 5K races and I have logged in a few miles in my shoes, but after knee surgery and some "extra" pounds, my mileage has come from walking.

Now, on the other hand, my husband is a different story. He started running and caught the bug. However, on February 23 his running came to a screeching halt. He went our for an early morning training run around 5:15 AM and around 5:50 AM I got a phone call from a complete stranger telling me that my husband had fallen, and that his arm was likely broken. This is not my normal wake up call. So, after seven hours in the emergency room, I was on my way back home with a husband and his broken humerus bone. I'm very thankful that he only had a broken arm, especially when we think about all the other "what ifs" that could have happened on an early morning icy run.

We have made some changes to our plans, like staying in the West Michigan area for Spring Break, and walking the pavement, rather than pounding it. But overall, we are enjoying this chance to slow down. I'm also learning a lot about "nursing" and realizing I'm very thankful that God did not have me go into the medical field.

I will be back soon with more from the "home front" of domestic living!