Budgeting

12/15/2011

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Picture
Creating a budget isn't so bad, sticking to it is the hardest part for me. At least it was the first 6 months. Now I almost can't function without looking at the budget and making sure everything is accounted for. If you only knew how I used to operate you would understand what a long way I have come!

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Menu Planning

12/1/2011

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Step #1 - Menu Planning
Decide on a set of meals for one week - 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners. Because I want to cook with my Sun Oven we decided the "big meal" will be lunch and dinner will be sandwiches so that we have time to cook bread and the big meal in the midday. Here is what we planned:
Sunday
  • Oatmeal
  • Spaghetti
  • Tuna Sandwiches
Monday
  • Wheat Muffins
  • Shepherd's Pie
  • Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
Tuesday

  • Oatmeal
  • BBQ Beans
  • Tuna Sandwiches
Wednesday
  • Wheat Muffins
  • Chicken and Rice Dinner
  • Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
Thursday

  • Oatmeal
  • Posse Stew or Vegetable Soup (Alternate)
  • Tuna Sandwiches
Friday

  • Wheat Muffins
  • Chicken Dinner
  • Peanut Butter & Jelly
Saturday

  • Oatmeal
  • Creamy Chicken on Rice
  • Tuna Sandwiches
Not a ton of variety, but it will keep us fairly healthy and from starving. I wrote out each recipe and put them in a little index card book (see pictures). I have the menu for each week separated by Breakfasts, Lunches, and Dinners, with an additional section of substitutes for eggs, how to cook wheat for extending meat, and other food storage tips including alternatives for shampoo and other hygiene needs.Each recipe has instructions for how to cook it using various methods - stove top, sun oven, crock pot, etc. That way we can use whichever method we have available.

I keep these recipes separate from my other recipes. I feel that in times of crisis I don't want to be searching around for what to make. Also, this has given my children peace of mind because they know that they can pull this out and have food to eat for 3 months. I had planned to then do a "week 2" set of recipes and enlarge our food supply to 6 months, but I never got that far. :-)
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