It seems strange to me that in this uncertain time, unemployment has bacome somewhat of a blessing. During the last 6-7 years, my husband has been working ever increasing hours and our expenses and spending has gone right up with it. Now that we are living on unemployment at a mere $455 a week, we are learning a great deal about our life.
We have learned that we can live on a lot less. We have been spending money on stupid stuff at the grocery store, eating out, driving to the city just for something to do, and buying small trinkets online. Now that we have been forced to live on less, these 'extra' things don't matter much. We certainly haven't been goin hungry, but we seem to be spending half as much at the grocery store as we used to. Maybe because we don't need all the fancy/easy lunch stuff for my hubby to take. Maybe because we eat what is in the house first, instead of running to the store 3 times a week before cooking dinner. Maybe we have just cut out the extras at the grocery, any way you slice it, we are spending less and loving it.
We have been spending more time at home. Red box is a buck and my daughter has plenty of friends to entertain her. We don't need to take a drive for no reason. That has been a nice change for me. Sometime I get sick of getting all dolled up on the weekend to drive 2 hours and go to McDonalds. Next time we go to the city, I want firm plans of fun (inexpensive) things to do, not just time killers.
I have also learned that I love my husband. The first couple weeks he was unemployed were very scarey. I think we both were in a state of panic. We are 7 weeks in, I think, and my husband is turning back into his old self. He is lighter! When we met he was the guy that would sing and do a little jig and be the funny guy. Over time that funny guy has been replaced with a tense, controlled guy. It is nice to see he is easing up a bit. I honestly didn't realize that all that work was taking such a tole on him emotionally. I think he got all wrapped up in providing for his family and being a 'rock' that he forgot that our family needs a fun, light hearted hero too.
Shopping for junk has become non existent. No more trips to DI or the Dollar Store for me and my daughter to waste money. We just use what we have and make the best of it. I do have to say, that is might be a good thing we spent money on things like craft supplies, because now we have all we will ever need.
I have finally been able to go to work. After searching for a year, the very day my husband lost his job I got hired. I work for very little money, but it is just enough for that extra padding we need. Besiides I like working. I like having somewhere to go and some reason to get out of bed and fix myself up. I like having a few dollars that I have earned. I like that I have something else to think about besides obsessing about my kid and hubby. I feel better when I work and I am thankful for the opportunity to work. I will be glad next week when I work 26 hours instead of the 36 I am working this week. Although, Donny has picked up the slack at home, I still feel I need to do more. Yesterday, he did laundry so Kristin could have clean clothes for picture day, I still had to fold and put away, but I was grateful he was willing to do that. This weekend I am planning on getting the laundry caught up and cleaning both bathrooms and dust.
Life is on ongoing stream of small adjustments. When these big things come along, it is a reminder that life is change and I need to be more flexible and more grateful!!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Monday, September 2, 2013
what I wish I had in my food storage
We are three weeks into unemployment. My husband found a new job, but the commute is too far, we can't afford the gas so he is going to have to quit. We are trying to be hopeful about a new job, or at least unemployment kicking in...it is still all unknown.
We have some food storage and I try to keep an extra of most things on deck, but I am not to vigilant. We have been able to spend $50 a week on groceries, but week 3 we had to spend $100. I have been creating a list in my head of what we should have and what is just taking up space. Here goes:
I wish I had junkfood in food storage. Wd are s family of emotional eaters so I try not to keep much junk on hand, in this case we could really use it. I think some cake/cookie box mixes would go far for us. I know it isn't healthy, but it is comforting. Sometimes comfort food makes all the difference.
I wish I had more easy food. Pasta mixes, spaghetti sauce and other seasoning packets. I have some, obviously not a whole months worth... I wish I had more frozen foods. I need a deep freezer to make that one happen. I wish I had cereal. It is a good go to food. I will never pass up another $1 box clearance deal again. I wish I had catfood in my foodstorage. I have single serving of cat food in the 72 hour kits , but nothing in food storage. We love our pets, and I am a little ashamed I didn't think of them. I also wish I had more personal care items. I generally buy a new supersize bottle of shampoo when the current one gets low, now I know to have some (more than 1 backup). One is not enough for the girls in this house! I wish I had extra of my $7 floor cleaner that I love. Overall, I just wish I had more of everything because what I thought was a months worth, wasn't. I wish I had movie/bowling/swimming tickets in food storage. I think it would make life seem more normal. Selfish maybe, but comfort means alot when you are in chaos.
What I have in food storage that I don't need:
we foolishly bought food storage for the zombie apocalypse instead of unemployment. Stupid mistake. Unfortunately, we have several cans of spam and off brand ravioli. We can live on it, but only as a last resort, I guess we aren't there yet!! A little change in perspective and we can rebuild the right way next time.
I am grateful for cases of greenbeans, corn, and ramen. I am grateful for syrup and ketchup and salad dressing (is wish I had more than one of each of these). I am grateful for tomato sauce and boxes of mac n chez.
I am grateful for a husband that works hard and accepts that I am scared to death. I am grateful for supportive family who listens when I need to cry. I am grateful for my daughter and pray that she makes it through this unscathed.
We have some food storage and I try to keep an extra of most things on deck, but I am not to vigilant. We have been able to spend $50 a week on groceries, but week 3 we had to spend $100. I have been creating a list in my head of what we should have and what is just taking up space. Here goes:
I wish I had junkfood in food storage. Wd are s family of emotional eaters so I try not to keep much junk on hand, in this case we could really use it. I think some cake/cookie box mixes would go far for us. I know it isn't healthy, but it is comforting. Sometimes comfort food makes all the difference.
I wish I had more easy food. Pasta mixes, spaghetti sauce and other seasoning packets. I have some, obviously not a whole months worth... I wish I had more frozen foods. I need a deep freezer to make that one happen. I wish I had cereal. It is a good go to food. I will never pass up another $1 box clearance deal again. I wish I had catfood in my foodstorage. I have single serving of cat food in the 72 hour kits , but nothing in food storage. We love our pets, and I am a little ashamed I didn't think of them. I also wish I had more personal care items. I generally buy a new supersize bottle of shampoo when the current one gets low, now I know to have some (more than 1 backup). One is not enough for the girls in this house! I wish I had extra of my $7 floor cleaner that I love. Overall, I just wish I had more of everything because what I thought was a months worth, wasn't. I wish I had movie/bowling/swimming tickets in food storage. I think it would make life seem more normal. Selfish maybe, but comfort means alot when you are in chaos.
What I have in food storage that I don't need:
we foolishly bought food storage for the zombie apocalypse instead of unemployment. Stupid mistake. Unfortunately, we have several cans of spam and off brand ravioli. We can live on it, but only as a last resort, I guess we aren't there yet!! A little change in perspective and we can rebuild the right way next time.
I am grateful for cases of greenbeans, corn, and ramen. I am grateful for syrup and ketchup and salad dressing (is wish I had more than one of each of these). I am grateful for tomato sauce and boxes of mac n chez.
I am grateful for a husband that works hard and accepts that I am scared to death. I am grateful for supportive family who listens when I need to cry. I am grateful for my daughter and pray that she makes it through this unscathed.
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