We are having a cash flow problem. I tried last year to stop spending so much, but we failed. So now, we are in a bit of a bind. We only carry one credit card. Hubby’s car is in the shop. To get it out, when it is repaired, is going to come super close to maxing our one card. So, we are not going to be able to fall back on that anymore. We are going to be forced to live on the paycheck and nothing else. I know we can do this. We are just lazy and excessive. We are spoiled.
Hubby’s car needs a new engine. And new brake stuff. the total is a LOT. But still less than half as much as a reliable used car to replace it. The worst part od his car being broken is that it is completely user error. He has neglected getting oil changes. His light for brake attention came on ages ago and he never took it in for a check. The mechanic said the oil was super-duper low and sludgy. Which is what happens when you never change it. So, it has damaged the engine.
In the meantime, we are down to one vehicle. He is driving my van to work. So, I am stuck at home. In the house. All day long. It is almost enough to drive me to housework. I am reading my cookbooks and planning mealtimes instead. If we aren’t going to be able to use the credit card, then I need to be able to throw a meal together even when I don’t feel like it and we have next to nothing to choose from.
Today is the 5th day of not eating junk foods and sweets. I have had a can of coke everyday. But today, I had two cups of coffee with some sugar and creamer, so I am going to forgo the coke in exchange. I need to decide what constitutes junk besides snacks in a sack. I had white rice with dinner two nights ago. And I had egg noodles on the 1st. I think, if I keep from eating those processed foods very often, maybe I can not count them as junk. Every other day, or less, and I will not worry about it. Every day and I will start to panic.
Today, I put a pork loin in the crockpot with some seasonings and a can of cranberry sauce. It is a “recipe” from a crockpot website. We like pork loin and we like cranberry. Pork lends itself well to fruity accompaniments. If it turns out well, as in: not dry and yucky, then I can add this to my slim rotation of dinners. I usually only cook dry beans in the crockpot. Once in a while we do bbq pork and shred it. That is always yummy. A lot of work though. I think cooking in the crockpot is meant to be less expensive. Uses less energy and you can cook cheaper cuts of meat. I don’t own any cheap cuts of meat, but I might buy some if this pork thing comes out tasty.
So, less eating out, more cooking in. Stopping using the credit card entirely. We own a bunch of movies, so we don’t need to go out for entertainment. Hopefully all this means less spending this year. Keep me reminded whenever you think of it. I am always open to a comment that says, ” Did you use the credit card this week?” or some such.
I am currently trying to blog every-other-day. So far, so good. But I am not sure 5 days makes a pattern yet. You can poke me in the comments about blogging regularly, too!
I’ve done pork in the crockpot and it was great! Very tender and tasty! Also, I think Rachel Rays recipes are all 30 minutes to make or less…that might be helpful.
Good luck and sorry about the car.
I love you
Rachel has everythig already thawed and organized. Usually chopped and washed, too. Part of my problem, especilly with meat, is it needs to be thawed to cook quickly. I want to get into a routine of thawing it in the fridge overnight. But I have to remember to actually get it out of the freezer!
I’m not a big fan of pork roasts (or chops or….most pork really), so I haven’t tried it. I don’t use my crockpot a whole lot. The roast recipe I used to use just doesn’t taste good to me any more, so I really need a new one. 😦
Feel free to borrow any movies or tv you want from me. I have the first 3 discs of Merlin season 2 if you want it.
I think the junk food thing is just figuring out what you’re currently doing and try to do better, little by little. So, if you were eating a lot of candy, try cutting that stuff out and not worrying about the white rice and such. Then, when you’ve conquered candy, move on. Figure out what the biggest problem is and work on it first. But, then, what do I know? I’m good at giving advice, but not so much with the applying it for myself. 😛
You could do a recipe blog post. Post your recipes and ask your readers to give you some suggestions. I can try and send you a few of mine. My boring stuff could be all new to you and vice versa. XD
Hmm that sounds good. In a few days, I’ll post what we’ve had for dinner for the week or whatever. And I can say whether it went over well or bombed. And then anybody can mention what they have had or offer suggestions.
I would LOVE to borrow Merlin, but I watched season one with hubby. I know he would want to watch season two as well. So if I watched it during the day, he’d be bitchy.
Do you think you have any chick flicks or girly kind of stuff that I might not have? I taped Mansfield Park and Pride & Prejudice last year (2008?) when the new ones were on PBS. I could rewatch those. Billie Piper was adorable in Mansfield Park!
I certainly do. You’re welcome to come see what I’ve got. I think I’ve got a copy of at least one of all the Austen movies, plus I’ve got some more modern stuff.
Oh, and you can still borrow the first three Merlin discs to watch with the husband. I’ve seen them.
I’ll try to come up tomorrow. I am too lazy today, I think. Maybe though. If I did, I would call first.
The Pork was AWESOME tonight!!
And yes, I was a moron with my car. 😦
And yes, yes – I want to watch Merlin too!!
Here’s a SUPER easy recipe. Buy chicken breasts (boneless skinless). This is not the cheapest cut of meat, but it is not expensive compared to buying prepared food for five! Buy medium sized jar of salsa of favorite flavor. (I like ones with a little fruitiness to them for this recipe, i.e. mango chipoltle or something.) Take crockpot, insert chicken. Dump can of salsa on top. Cook all day on low setting, or in a pinch for about 4 hours on high setting. Chicken will FALL APART and be nicely spiced, and for the bigger folks you can use the cooked salsa and juices as a sauce. Great over brown rice (healthier than white and JUST AS EASY to cook) or couscous or even noodles. Also very good as the topping to a “Taco Salad” of lettuce, a little shredded cheese, and guac and/or sour cream. So yummy! So EASY! And you can vary it by getting different types of salsa and have it once a week without it really tasting the same if you vary the salsa type and what it goes with/on.
Sorry about the car 😦 That sucketh.
I will try and post you another recipe next time you blog. 🙂