--- Kevin Tarr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> This will hardly be an easy thing to think of but I
> have to ask. How much 
> money would you need a week if you only had to pay
> for food and non-food 
> personal items like paper supplies, cleaners; the
> basic stuff. There are 
> many factors that would influence your number, but
> think of someone who 
> knows they have to stretch their money; they aren't
> going to be buying 
> filet mignon and lobster tails for every meal, but
> also not getting day old 
> bread and items from the dented/broken table.

Roughly $50/week for groceries and personal care
items, a little less if coupons/store specials are
used judiciously.  I've spread the cost of toiletries
like toothpaste and deodorant etc. out over a month+
b/c those items last for many weeks, and I used meat
more as a condiment than main course.  Also, I didn't
factor in for prepared foods other than bread, or
stuff like spices/herbs.  I'd guess closer to $70 if
you have meat entrees.

I make a lot of legume+grain+vegetable dishes, and you
get a lot more beans for the buck if you buy dried
ones that you cook yourself, rather than canned.  I
make a huge batch then portion-and-freeze most; you
can add more fresh herbs&veggies when you reheat it,
for flavor.  (Having a pot of fresh herbs for cooking
is great - basil, oregano and dill are my favorites,
and they're forgiving if you forget to water a day or
two.  As long as you have a sunny window, and bring
them away from the cold in winter, they'll grow for a
season at least - my current batch was planted last
fall, and I'm still harvesting.)

Debbi

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
_______________________________________________
http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l

Reply via email to