Okay

Alrighty, panic session over.  I can relax and be okay with the sitiation today.  (yes, I said sitiation)  Bills are paid, nothing was skipped, bills can be paid in the future, this has never been the problem.  TV has to go for now, it's the most expensive not needed item we have that we could agree upon and we can really watch all the tv we want on the Internet anyway.  Other things may go as needed.  The biggest problem is kind of selfish and self satisfying, entertainment.  Well, and a few items that are needed but not immediately.  Bills are paid and food is bought, but then all the money is spent.  No movies.  No eating out.  No going out with friends unless we do something that's free.  No spontaneous purchases.  Nothing extra for the next 3-4 weeks, and even then it will have to be kept to a minimum.

We are trying a new experiment that may or may not work, but may help us eat healthier and save some money.  For the next eleven days we will be going to the grocery store more often but buying things just for the meals we will be making for the next day or two.  The challenge is to make a meal for four people with $13 that is tasty and fairly easy to make.  We spent $40 at the store tonight and bought enough items for two dinners with left overs, a lunch or two, and two or three breakfasts along with a gallon of milk, a pound of butter, a case of water, and a few sodas.  It can be done if you really put your mind to the task and think reasonably about your purchases and take serious stock of what you already have on hand.  We usually don't.

One problem we have right now is clothes.  It's not an immediate need, but it is a constantly apparent need.  Neither one of us have enough pants to get us through the week, I don't have enough bras and what I have are worn and old, and neither of us have enough shirts that we truly like or are truly comfortable.  We were going to buy clothes on our free check last month, but were stupid and over spent.  We were going to do a lot of things on that check that were needed, but we did what we wanted and regret it but can't change it.

We had a really good, long talk about things last night after I calmed down and have a new plan for things and our future.  It will take time and be stressful, but I think we can pull it off.  I really wish we had stayed in an apartment or been smarter about our house purchase (we purchased at the edge of our budget limit) but again, it can't be changed and we just have to look forward and figure things out from here.

Just thinking out loud again.