It’s not that I think I’ll run out of food by the end of the year… Because I know I won’t. The problem is more along the lines of how do I exhibit enough self-control to not SPEND too much money thus going over my $1, 200 a year grocery budget. There’s one thing I know for sure. I will need milk. That I know. I probably have about 2 cups of dry milk powder in the cupboard, of which no one wants to drink. So I think at this point I have 2 options. Barter or steal a cow (but then I’d have to milk it, feed it & HIDE IT IN THE BACKYARD so that’s probably not going to happen).
Anyway, to keep my mind off the milk situation, I decided to clean out the freezers in the garage.
I must say… I’m a little concerned about the berry stockpile. Ever since the HH brought home that stupid blender, we have been going thru frozen fruit like nobody’s business. I am down to 14 quarts of raspberries, 2 quarts of blueberries, 5 quarts of blackberries, 23 quarts of peaches, 1/2 gallon of pineapple (where the heck did that come from?) 6 frozen juice pops, 6 cans of pineapple juice, 2 cans of apple juice & 5 quarts of green peppers.
The other half of freezer #1 contained 6 boxes of frozen vegetables, 10 million and 52 tortillas, 3 packages of ground turkey & links, 15 loaves of zucchini bread, 4 packages of Rhodes rolls, 1 pound cake, 2 tubs of homemade refried beans, 1 dozen cupcakes, 1 tub of seasoned butter, 1 1/2 gallon of ice cream, 3 Reese’s frozen ice cream cups and about 13 lbs of bacon.
Freezer #2 was just as full. It contained 9 bags of shredded cheese, 6 bags of sweet potato fries, 3 french fries, 2 boxes of pretzels, 1 box of some sort of gross hot pocket hamburger like thing, 1 package of little smokies, 3 packages of Brauts, 6 frozen cardboard pizzas, 6 quarts of frozen corn (HEY! Where did all my corn go?) 10 million and 27 packages of hot dogs, a giant bag of corn tortillas that I swear is like 3 years old, 1 giant buffalo roast, 3 packages of ground buffalo, 5 packages of hamburger, 3 pork roasts, 16 crab cakes, 1 tube of chorizo (what the heck is that?) a bunch of free salmon & 1 package of halibut, 6 packages of pork chops, 2 steaks, 1 bag of shrimp, 5 lbs of ground pork, 1 package of ham steaks, 1 package of Lloyd’s ribs, 8 hamburger buns, 3 hamburger patties (how old are those?) 1 quart sized bag of leftover grilled chicken, 1 bag of frozen chicken, a couple of battered fish filets (from last year) and 2 boxes of seriously old veggie burgers.
So you see… it’s really a matter of willpower. If all I have to do is buy milk, and a few other things here are there… I’ll be fine. But the real questions is: Can I keep it together for another 74 days?
Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
You Can Call Me Jane says
You need a new replacement distraction. What could you start doing? Knitting? Directing traffic? Repainting your house? Full time primping- you know, getting your hair, finger nails, toe nails, etc. done? You could post 10 times a day. You could jog on out to my house and back. See? Your probably so distracted right now that you aren’t even thinking about shopping!
You’re welcome.
Peggy says
You can do it!
Melissa says
That’s really a lot of food. You can totally make your goal. As for the chorizo it is DELISH cooked up with some scrambled eggs and eaten in a tortilla.
Michelle says
You are almost there…don’t give up now!! It’s amazing what you’ve done…I think I’m doing good staying under $600 a month! (And really, I am…ahem)
But now my question is…is it a savings and worth the effort if at some point your freezer contains things nobody wants to eat..? Like weird hot pockets and cardboard pizza? You know what I mean? Although…stuff like that, if prepared and set down in the middle of teenagers, WILL get eaten. They’re like pirahnas!
Jules says
wow! You have a lot of food in your freezers! You can do it! You’ll probably have to get creative with meals, but that could be a new distraction – creating your own recipes.
Kari says
I see so many yummy meals in there! Put your pork roast in the crockpot with a tub of your beans, taco seasoning and diced green chiles (if you have them) and cook on low for 12 hours. Shred, and wrap in your tortillas with a bit of your shredded cheese. YUM! Also, slice hotdogs lengthwise, top with mashed potatoes (I know you have spuds in the garden) and cheese and cook under the broiler! I’m seeing taco soup, BBQ burgers and sweet potato fries, BBQ salmon, steak fajitas with your green peppers, etc. I know you can get creative! You have a ton of food, you will make it!!!!
Alexis says
Yup, definitely won’t starve! That’s an impressive hoard of freezer food. My question is, what are you going to do next year? Continue w/the same budget or adjust?
Alexis says
p.s. if I were you, I’d discipline myself like crazy for the next 6 weeks only buying milk and bare necessities, then save the remainder for the week of Thanksgiving and December, because then you have something to look forward to and won’t have to scrimp at the most indulgent time of year!! Man if I were you, come January 1st I’d go on a grocery shopping binge haha.
Desi says
I don’t know what is happening to my posts but I hope your can find it somehwere.
sodbusters says
I am so jealous of your freezer!(S)!!!!!!!! That is awesome!