[Sorry this is late this week friends. Technical difficulties…:/ ]
Operation : Clear. It. Out. is a series of guests posts by my friend Katie. Be sure to check out the entire series here.
My turn. So. Sick. Of “leftovers.” I want to eat something fresh, not frozen. Whose idea was this?
The low point will come. Push through it. It’s all mental. We want what we can’t have. We get sick of repetition. We feel like we’re making a substantial sacrifice when we can’t have things the way we are used to having them.
Coincidentally it was during this time when we began preparing for the season of Lent. Give yourself some tough love, take the struggle to the cross and look at the big picture.
I know you make sacrifices every day. I know you do your best to juggle work, children, marriage, financial stress and so many obstacles that you are in NOW. And I know you deserve the little things – like treating yourself to a good cup of coffee or a night out with your love. Find the balance. Pray. Push. You are capable of more than you think you are. And yes, we are talking about more than Operation : Clear. It. Out.
All struggles – big and small – are a test of strength. We cannot do them alone. This little thing, such a tiny challenge in comparison to so many others, is still an obstacle. We all need a break from time to time and – for our family – mealtime was turning into a vacuum of spending when I didn’t feel like planning, budgeting, using or cleaning. But sometimes it takes a wake-up call (stop-you-short-hit-you-over-the-head-style) to get yourself back on track and those who are unable to live within their means – ideally below – are dealing with deeper issues than surface spending.
Dave [Ramsey – The Total Money Makeover] suggests that if we want to live like no else later we must live like no one else NOW. We need to change our thinking. That was the turning point for our family. We were accustomed to believing that everyone graduates from college with a mountain of debt and continues their lives paying back. Student loans. Mortgages. Cars. Medical bills. Credit cards. It can accumulate faster than you can blink and we honestly thought that was normal. And we were right. The trick is to do what isn’t normal. And that can be a lonely, uphill battle.
Week 3
Day 15 : Chili with cornbread. We needed quite a bit to throw this together. Spend = $17.20
Day 16 : Chicken Fajitas. Freezer meal kit. Made with fresh, homemade salsa.
Day 17 : Pork chops with veggies.
Day 18 : Ash Wednesday = Fasting and meatless. Spaghetti.
Day 19 : Tacos.
Day 20 : Meatless Friday. Homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese.
Day 21 : Chicken & Noodles. Frozen chicken pot pie filling over egg noodles from the cupboard.
Fifth and final store trip = $33.42
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