I used to be of the mind that anyone could afford good, high quality, pure food. In fact, I even wrote several posts on it from my high and mighty stallion where I looked down on all the little people who had Hamburger Helper and Cheese Doodles in their grocery cart. (See Keeping Costs Down in a Real Food Kitchen)
Something you should know about being on a high and mighty stallion. When you fall off, it hurts REALLY BAD.
Let me preface this by saying I do think everyone should have a food budget (budgets in general) and I do think that MOST PEOPLE have the ability to purchase good food…
But MOST PEOPLE isn’t everyone.
I think I was at Sam’s Club in the check-out line when it finally hit me. I had a very few things in my buggy: cheese, fresh produce, nuts, meat….you know, only the things a good and holy person buys (insert sarcasm font). When she told me the total, I was disgusted because I knew it was over half of my budget for the month.
Half.
I pulled my cart over to the side to put everything back in my pocketbook (because I’m OCD like that) and the lady behind me pulled up to check out. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. Her buggy was full – double mine. And her total ended up being a lot less. But she had purchased some things that I hadn’t – a few processed foods and some fun stuff like doughnuts and snack mix. And I distinctly remember thinking, “I wish I could buy that stuff instead.” Let me tell you something.
Food is expensive.
It just IS. Many bloggers (myself included who eats crow on a regular basis) write these posts about how to eat super healthy foods – heaven forbid it’s anything NOT organic or free-range – on a budget…and they make it seem possible for everyone. But let me tell you, sometimes it’s just NOT.
Food costs a lot and some people just don’t have that wiggle room in the budget. When the choice comes for free range eggs or “regular ole eggs” and the difference is $3-4/dozen and the budget is tight….buying the “regular ole eggs” makes sense – or “cents.”
Your budget dictates what food you buy.
If you have a large budget because God has blessed you abundantly, that’s GREAT! I pray that happens to everyone. 🙂 But sometimes we’re in valleys…and our budget is low. And if the budget says “regular ole eggs,” that’s what you buy. Because it doesn’t make sense to sacrifice electricity or housing for free-range eggs.
I am so sorry for those times when I looked in someone else’s cart (I’m a cart peeker) and thought “Man, they shouldn’t be buying that! Look at my holy grocery cart full of good-for-you food! *Beats self on chest like Tarzan.*” The truth is, I don’t know their budget. I don’t know your budget. But I do know this – we are all just doing the best that we can with the budget that we’re given.
Let’s get nitty gritty here, guys… we have a $400/month food budget…for all five of us.
That means that I don’t buy organic beef and chicken. Or produce. In fact, I don’t buy organic much of anything (I’m convinced most of that is propaganda anyway, but’s another post for another day). If I tried to buy “all the right foods” it would drain my budget super fast…and I know that $400 is more than a lot of other people have…but way less than some others.
Buy what your budget dictates.
So, for us and at this point in our life, we buy the Cheese Doodles for a treat. I buy conventional produce and I’m not sorry. You can see our nightly meals, which I often post on Instagram. Food is expensive. No matter what someone else tells you. And it’s okay and RIGHT to purchase the food that’s dictated by your budget.
Are you at a high or low point in your food budget cycle?
And that is part of the reason we ask a blessing on our food…
And trust GOD for the rest!
Well said 🙂 Thanks Althea!
Julie, Humorous Homemaking Team
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Trying to figure this out Tammy! Thanks for letting us know 🙂
Julie, Humorous Homemaking Team
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I know several people who buy all organic and only eat healthy foods. Their families are always sick. We eat the best we can and I give my kids vitamins. We are also not germaphobes. My kids rarely get sick or stay down for long. I think they have built up their immune systems. I also give thanks to God for their health.
Interesting! But yes, ultimately we can thank God for our health and the health of our families. Thanks for commenting, Anita!
Julie, Humorous Homemaking Team
This post is the reason I love reading your blog. Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you too!
Oh Stacey, thanks for being a breath of fresh air in this sometimes stuffy internet world…?
I know of a family who eats totally organic and I mean totally. She is so proud of this fact but guess what? This family has NO INSURANCE. She thinks eating organic will keep them healthy but she still had a minor heart attack. Did I mention that they have no insurance? This was about five years ago before Obamacare came on the scene.
No insurance is super scary to me.
Thanks for this post. Things are very tight for us right now and when you go to the grocery store and it is $5.49 for a small head of cauliflower, you can’t help but beat yourself up that you can’t afford that for your children let alone an organic one that is $8. Some times a package food is all you can afford to make sure your kids have food.
Low… our meal tonight was green beans and boiled potatoes with cornbread. (Which we love anyway!) We’ve had some unexpected expenses come our way plus my husband’s pay schedule has changed, so we had to adapt and make changes in some areas. I grew up with a huge spread of food every day of the week which always included meat. (Somehow I was skinnier then, too! How does that work?!) I realize I’ve had that same vision of what “supper” as we called it should look like, and have put the pressure on myself and budget to do the same in our home. I know now that supper can be much simpler than that, and that it’s OK to not have meat every night etc. I’m sure many southern gals can relate! The south is known for it’s food, and lots of it! Topped off with plenty of sweet tea of course!
We have many meatless meals! This evening we had Greek Yogurt Alfredo over noodles with broccoli on the side. Didn’t miss the meat at all – and I loooooooooove meat. 🙂
Amen, Sistah!
I admit to being frustrated with blog posts on how you can eat healthier, yet cheaper. Sometimes what’s in the piggy bank is what’s in the piggy bank. Period. If one more person says to me “Pay now or pay the medical bills later,” I will give them my wad of cash and send them to the store and see how well they feed this family of 9 with a Crohnsie. I’m guessing their ideal standards will feed us for a couple days as opposed to the week we need that money to stretch. We eat fresh fruits and veggies and cook our own meals and don’t buy “boxes” of food, but it isn’t grassfed beef. I’m dying happy with chocolate in my teeth.
And I’ll be right beside ya. 🙂
I really enjoyed this post! (Love your blog.) I have always thought organic was overrated, and then recently I did a three week sugar detox which inspired me to eat healthier. Lately I have bought more organic (not everything). Been thinking I need to price shop and research and weigh the pros and cons of which items to buy organic and which to buy regular. I love the focus on God’s provision. We are working on getting out of debt (Just went through FPU recently. Love Dave!), and I don’t need to get caught up in the organic craze. I need to do what is best for our budget and our family. Thanks for the encouragement! Thank you for sharing your dollar amount.
Yay! We love Dave too! 🙂
I love this post. I just love everything about it.
Well thank you. 🙂
You’re a cart-peeker? Oh, Stacy, I hardly know ye!I am a cart looker, too, mostly because I wonder what other people have found that I might be missing out on. I guess the motive is the thing. Would you judge my cart? Today Stacy wouldn’t, obviously (and btw, I’m glad your baby has food, whatever kind it is!), but I’ll bet last year’s Stacy would give me at least 2 nose-wrinkles out of a possible 4. “Organic” is a racket, and I do not have time to make my own bread all the time, just to name a couple of the many ways I have given crunchy moms the vapors when they steal their furtive glances at my buggy. 😉
As for my budget, I really don’t like where it has gone lately. Food is one of those costs where a bad economy really starts to chip away at your wallet. I can buy shoes less often, but I have to feed these people every day, no matter what. As I’ve adjusted my buying to account for smaller packages at the same price and “improved” products that are actually just made more cheaply, again to be sold at the same price, my food budget has gone up by 30% in the last few years. There’s not a lot to do about it but eat even less meat or low-quality meat and start a garden. One of these I haven’t yet done, lacking arable land of my own at the moment. The other…well, I have become reacquainted with the poor-man’s steak, aka fried bologna, and we eat a lot of beans. Always have, but even more now. But it’s ok. Is not the body more than raiment, and life more than food? I do pity those whose god is their bellies (and I consider the pride of “right” eating to be as bad as outright gluttony at times) right about now, because it’s getting very painful to feed that kind of appetite.
You said “vapors.” And that, my dear, is why I love you.
Oh how I wish I had the choice to eat junk at times ?. After I had my fourth babe my body went to pot and I’ve been working for awhile to try to get it healed. I want other mamas to know my choices in my cart are never a judgement, they are a necessity. Every time I test the waters and try to “enjoy some treats” I almost can’t function the next day. I definitely let my kids have treats but I can’t keep a lot in the house because it’s too tempting. when I do succumb to temptation I am a beast to be around….and guess who pays? My kids…talk about some mama guilt ?. I share this just to give a perspective from a mama who is not following any hype, but has learned from many trials and errors that I just can’t eat junk. Man, I could really kill a cupcake right now ?
That’s great that you know your body! 🙂
We have one who HAS to be on a healing diet as well, so we totally understand this. We often feel like others think we are prideful when we say that she can’t eat such-and-such. We even had one relative mutter, “Bring your own food,” which we do, but it really hurt to be treated as though we were haughty instead of the victims of a terrible disease. Big hugs to you, Mama!
I make chocolate cake with canned beans and coconut oil. I use stevia to sweeten. (Or use honey) Google for recipe ideas.
I also freeze bananas in chunks and blend them with cocoa, coconut milk or cow’s milk and stevia in a blender. Pour into popscicle molds I purchased on Amazon for healthy fudgescicles [sp?]. I’m way older than most gals here so I’m a genius, lol… (Legend in my own mind, apparently…) 🙂
Peanut Butter cookies: peanut butter, honey or stevia and an egg…
Hope these ideas help you gals out!
I’m so glad you posted this. I have to admit there have been times I’ve read your blog and felt guilty that my kids still like cheese doodles and fudge bars and we were living on such a tight budget I didn’t care if they ate them. I also couldn’t breastfeed my 2nd child cause of my own thyroid health problems. I remember feeling guilty about it and being slammed by people for not trying hard enough. My son was starving and I had no choice.
Seriously?! I had no idea I was making people feel that way! Ugh. #fail
Thanks again for your honesty and encouragement!! 🙂 After her first 6 months of screaming, crying for over 16 hours a day and wimpering in pain the rest of the time, only sleeping in 15-30 minute increments, and going through 3 pediatricians, we found out that my daughter had colic, milk protein allergy, and silent reflux. She was on the super crazy expensive (and stinky!!!) formula also. I’m so sorry your insurance won’t cover it, after paying for a few months (OUCH!!) we asked the pedi to write a prescription for the formula, and then I had the fun job of calling every medical supplier on our insurance’s list, but I finally found one that carried infant formula and we got it covered!! $400 worth of formula delivered to our front door every month was such a blessing. Thank you for another great post!
Yes – what a blessing! 🙂 I’m still trying on the insurance front…but our insurance isn’t stellar.
My first baby didn’t nurse well and soon she was called failure to thrive 🙂 Just what a first time mama wants to hear. I pumped for three months but I hated pumping so bad that I didn’t stick with it. I still have guilt sometimes and she is almost 20. I think it goes along with the job. I still remember telling everyone my story and hoping to hear some sympathy and encouragement but often was told what I should have tried. Their words were cruel(unintentionally)and they weren’t the ones being faced with hospitalization and testing if their baby didn’t gain weight in the next 5 days. Boy, I learned to be careful with my words, though. And then baby #2 was born and was eternally attached until I weaned him at 4-ish. Motherhood—What a ride!!!
LOL You got that right.
We are, at this point in time, at a bit of a low spot in our budgeting. I quit my job last November to stay home with the son we adopted. (I’m so thankful to be a stay-at-home mom, by the way!) And now, we have found out that my husband’s job may be in jeopardy. We cut our budget way back when I quit working, and God has provided for all of our needs – and even some of our wants. But now, I’m thinking we need to keep every little bit extra available in case he is out of work soon, so I’m looking at not buying the higher quality brands that I usually buy, too. As you said, Stacy, when it comes to keeping a roof over our heads or buying the organic brands that I usually buy, it’s gonna be stepping down to “normal” foods for awhile!
And don’t let anyone judge you on what you do to provide for your son’s special needs! Our adopted son is deaf, and he just had cochlear implant surgery a little over a week ago, so I’ve learned a bit about providing “unconventional” care for your kids! Just stick to what’s best for Eli, and God will do the rest!
Best wishes!!
Sara
http://www.ladyhawksnest.weebly.com
What a blessing for you to have a new little guy! 🙂 I just love babies. Give me all the babies.
I love this! I wrote something very similar on my blog I have to had time to get to much. Thank you for your honesty!
http://crownofbeautyforashes.com/why-organic-is-adding-more-guilt-into-our-lives/
You’re welcome!
Amen, Sister!
I have ead post after post about “Your Olive Oil is Fake!” written by people selling “real” olive oil – at $39 a bottle plus shipping, no less! And it makes me angry! I am not getting a second mortgage on my house to buy olive oil! I buy what’s at Sav-A-Lot because that’s what I can afford. And if that offends someone, well, they are free to send me a case of “their” olive oil as a gift! >Smile<
-Lillian
#weacceptallfooddonations lol
Oh, I TOTALLY understand this. The feeling of frustration for not being able to buy organic, and at the same time feeling high-and-mighty for not having much (or any) processed food in my cart. Wishing I had a bigger grocery budget. Feeling relieved when a few processed things help me make that budget stretch. And also the times of relief and gratitude when our budget did allow for more healthful food, more meat and produce, and less or no processed items.
I actually wrote a post on this topic a while ago: http://jaimieramsey.com/2014/03/pride-and-humility-at-the-grocery-store/ It garnered some rather interesting comments on Facebook. 🙂
I’m scared of FB so I don’t want to read them. LOL
I agree that everyone is just trying to do their best with what they have to work with. I don’t agree however that organic is just propaganda as I have an immediate reaction to many fruits and vegetables that are not organic. At one point my doctor was sure I had MS because I was so sick, then I did an elimination diet and for years I thought I was just allergic to all those fruits and vegetables that caused reactions and didn’t eat them. But then I discovered that I can eat them if I eat the organic ones. Turns out I am just sensitive to pesticides and no amount of washing can remove all that has leached into the food itself. So I caution you not to make a blanket statement about organics, because just like looking down your nose at those that don’t, people should not look down their nose at those that must eat organic. And I can testify there is a genuine difference.
Actually, I said “most of that is propaganda.” Most isn’t all. 🙂
Please don’t take my comment as critical – I only meant it to be educational. In the comments that people made about your statement, they are commenting that they agree it’s a “hoax” so I think while it may have been unintentional, it was interpreted that way. I am looking forward to the post you hinted at where you are going to elaborate. I just want people to know that it is not a “hoax” – there is a genuine difference and also it is a serious concern for those that can’t eat foods with pesticides on them – whether you choose to eat or not eat foods with pesticides as a preference is another topic all together. My husband can eat anything with no ill effects and has been known to eat fruits without even washing them first! Horrors! 🙂 And as someone who stood in line with 4 kids for government cheese back in the day, I certainly understand that you have to do what you have to do at times.
I still stand behind my statement that I think most “organic” labels are propaganda. Not all of them – but a lot of them are. Especially based on all that I’ve ready about “organic pesticides” because organic farmers do still use pesticides.
But, we can agree to disagree. 🙂
One of our baby daughters cried constantly unless she was
either nursing or lying on top of me. And she would not take a bottle at all
even from her father. And she spit up after every feeding. There was always a
puddle on the floor beside my chair. The doctor said she would outgrow it. He
was right. She is now 45 years old and she does not spit up! That is not a
funny joke when you are living with someone you love who cannot get comfortable.
She had an uneasy relationship with food all her life, but managed to live a
pretty happy life once we got through the first year and a half. But then one
of her babies was born with similar (even worse) problems. Through much
research and trying things over the years of his childhood, he has finally come
to a place of health. It changed his personality from frowning, angry, hard to
get along with—to cheerful, friendly, people loving (and they love him). I
notice that the formula mentioned in your post includes a probiotic. Digestion
improvement is one of the things that has helped our grandson (and yes, it changed their household budget!). He is now a highschool graduate and is valued where he works.
God made all the foods for us to enjoy, but things changed
in the Garden and we no longer live in a perfect world and we no longer have
perfect bodies that can always process the foods the way God intended. And we
are all “terminal”. Sometimes we find answers to our physical needs. I’m so
glad you did.
I looked one Sunday at the choir as they sang (about 30 of them) and since I knew them all, I could notice that they each have or have had a major difficulty in life. We do smile at each other at church, but we also realize that we each have sorrows and hard things. We support each other and are glad to fellowship together in the Lord through these things.
Yes, I know the feeling when they say “they’ll outgrow it.” But you don’t want to wait. You want it NOW. lol
I so agree with you about the organic thing being a big hoax. Great post!
Thanks, Patti!
My most favorite thing, truly, is that you put a number on your budget. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My budget is very similar for 6 of us. 3 are adults , but one eats here very part time. And 3 children 8 and under. Every time I try to get a handle on budgets I wonder if my budget is way off base, but I’ve not seen an actual amount. ever. So I wanted to take a minute to say that was the biggest help and encouragement. Thanks.
🙂 You’re welcome. I’ve never been super quiet about our budget, but I’m not big on numbers either. I’m glad it was helpful.
I love this article! I would’ve been one of “those moms” who looked down at others with a negative tone and thought “How could she give that to her family? Doesn’t she know what ingredients are in that product (insert bad ingredients: carageenan, disodium phospahtes, whatever is supposed to be bad for you!)”
I used to have a grocery budget that was $1200 a month that included all toiletry items. Plus we had a budget that allowed us to eat out at least twice a week. So of course I could afford organic everything and it was good. Then the unthinkable happened, my husband lost his job and we were living on medicaid and foodstamps. I was so upset thinking that everything I learned about all these products and bad ingredients was all for not. I could no longer protect my family from sickness eating those unorganic things. Putting my trust in myself, my knowledge, and my food.
God taught me so much during that time! How to eat healthy, without the guilt, anxiety, and depression, you know the stuff the body can’t handle and which leads to sickness on its own! We didn’t get sick, I learned that not everything needs to be organic, and I trust God to protect our family and our bodies. Now, I do not feel guilty about getting dill pickles (yes, I was a Nazi), chicken and beef that isn’t organic or , GASP, grass fed, I make a lot of things homemade, but I don’t feel guilty for not making chicken and beef stock, or something else. I am a busy mama who does a lot and I will not sacrifice time with my children, our schooling, my housework, or anything else to be the “perfect woman”, cause guess what, there is no “perfect woman”. But I will be the perfect creation God created me to be and that means my imperfections and all.
After being unemployed for a year my husband got a job, making the same amount of money! We did accrue some debt during that time, but I am diligently searching for ways to lighten our spending. I have cut our grocery budget in half for our family of eight, now we are expecting our 7th child at the end of January. We will have one credit card paid off in July. We have a lot further to go yet, but we are celebrating the little steps! I am diligently seeking to bring in some money, but to little help to our finances. Prayers for that would be greatly appreciated!
Thank-you so much for your post. God has used it to lighten my “guilt” as I read things from people and try not to feel guilty when they are doing something I am not. Also, who is to say that they can afford what they are getting, what else are they sacrificing (like paying off debt) to get those things that are “must”. As God helped me to think, just because someone has a nicer house or car or both doesn’t mean they have more money necessarily, it just means they have (most of the time) more debt 😉
Julie
Julie, thank you SO SO much for sharing your story here for everyone to find encouragement in! What a blessing!! 🙂
We have the same budget for the three of us, soon to ne four. 🙂 I buy our meat and and a few grocery staples from whole foods and am able to save some money buy buying organic pasta and such from Walmart. I liked your post about buying local so we get local milk delivered weekly. Ended up being cheaper than the store. It’s not certified organic but they don’t use hormones. However we are killing our eating out budget because I can’t find any unprocessed foods for lunch that I like; so what do I do? Go eat fast food. Lol It’s ridiculous. What do you do for lunch?
We mostly eat leftovers….but I make a LOT of bread (I know, shocking) so we also eat sandwiches for lunch a lot.
Stacy,
Could you point me to your bread recipe?
Thanks so much!!
I make a few different ones and I have a video coming soon, but try this one and see what you think. We love it.
http://www.stacymakescents.com/honey-oat-bread
A lot of what you had to say rolls right down my alley. Food is expensive and sometimes you just do what you have to do. My husband has been blessed with a great job that helps us out a lot, but that still doesn’t mean we can’t and aren’t good stewards. It is a blessing from the Lord, and for that we are truly thankful. As for the nursing thing. So many people want to sit on their stallion and judge you for your decisions, but what’s more important? Feeding your baby what he needs and how? Or doing what they perceive as the right thing and making him more sick along the way? Good for you for doing the right thing for you and your family. Keep up the good work. And I am so glad that you are back online with your e-mails. I missed them.
Thank you, Cindy! 🙂 I appreciate the encouragement more than you know.
Aaaaaaamen, Sister! Lotta good stuff here! Food is THE current god in this day, whether it be organic for your family, or breastfeeding for your baby. It’s kind of ridiculous! I’m forever grateful to the friend who pointed out that verse about “it not being what goes into the belly, but what comes out of the heart” that matters.
I like Hebrews 13:9 too. “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.”
Stacy, It’s so good to hear you say these things. I try to eat/buy organic but sometimes it just doesn’t make sense financially. Yes, I think it’s the best way to eat and yes I believe GMO’s are not as nutritious as their non-modified counterparts. I also think God equipped our bodies to filter out some of these harmful toxins. We just all need to do the best that we can and make the best decissions we can at the time. Regarding your son, no body should judge you for doing what is best for little Eli. For Eli, it sounds like mothers milk is not the best option, that’s OK and not your fault. My son, Henry, has allergies and it’s not fun to watch him suffer. Last Christmas he was rushed to the hostpital from school because he ingested something he shouldn’t have. As a mom, I would do just about anything to prevent that from happening again. You are doing a good job protecting your kids the best you know how. Keep it up!! And thanks for being real with us.
Yes, I know the fierceness you feel – that you need to protect your children from anything that might happen to them. How I wish we could protect them from it all.
I so agree with this post! Can I take a moment of your time and share my story? I had an emergency C-section with my middle son and further complications arose with pneumonia and double mastitis So I couldn’t breast feed him. He was allergic-to the point of almost reaching death-of nearly everything. The doctors did not believe he had any allergies because he didn’t have hives, just vomiting and terrible diarrhea and constant crying. They said he had anorexia at 6 months old! He stopped growing and lost his hair and looked like the children you see in starving countries like Somalia. We tried affording the brand you are buying and we just couldn’t every week and he still threw up anyway. The only other formula cost over $300.00 a can and this was 30 years ago. One thing we could get down him was boiled vegetable water. Finally when we went for a walk one day, a old woman looked at him and said, “What’s wrong with that child?” I told her. She said “Ain’t nothing wrong what goats milk can’t fix!” I was so weary, I told myself how much worse can goats milk be. It was certainly much cheaper. So I bought a jug of it and a can of dehydrated stuff at the grocery store that day. I came home and gave it to my husband to give to our son and went to bed. I woke up three hours later in a panic. There was no crying, just absolute silence. I ran downstairs and everyone was sleeping. I honestly thought he was dead. In fear, I woke my husband and asked, “What did you do?” He said he gave him a whole bottle! I was sobbing and went to shake my son–he could never even get a half a bottle down of formula. He just woke up with a smile and I nearly died. To make a long story short, have you tried goats milk? Maybe you have and it didn’t work. Most children can tolerate that even if they can’t cows milk or soybean formula. Your pediatrician will tell you what to supplement it with until he is old enough to eat other foods. Anyway, I went with what I thought was wrong and did an elimination diet. He ate only five different foods and goats milk until he was 2 years old. There was an immediate change but his immune system was so broken he got the measles from his measles shot and pneumonia. No more shots till he was 5. Today he is healthy and 6’8″ tall and plays basketball and is very active and healthy. Don’t know if this is old news about goats milk but thought I might add this to your possibilities. Good luck! By the way, it’s time to stop beating yourself over the head, you are doing just fine! How else do we learn humility except from our challenges? Good luck to you and yours!
Thanks for your story, Debbie! I love it when you guys share.
I discussed goat’s milk with our pediatrician and due to some other circumstances with him, we determined it wasn’t an option. But man, it sure would be nice if it was! Maybe when he’s a bit older. We’re still trying to find the root of the issue.
Oh my goodness. We *need* a $400 budget, but it’s impossible here in Nova Scotia. It’s funny because a news article came out that ranked Halifax LAST for Canadian major city food affordability. We’re spending about $1000. I tried to do $600, but it just won’t work. And that’s just our family of four.
I never buy cheese, milk or butter. Only once a month I’ll buy one brick of cheese. But it’s hard because my husband won’t pay attention to the budget and loves snacking. Ugh. I buy Crystal margarine from Costco, and Almond milk (daughter can’t have milk) from Costco as well. It’s about the same price as normal milk.
I buy the cheapest frozen fruit from Costco (strawberries), and only ever buy apples and bananas because they’re the cheapest fruit.
Then there’s the gluten free bread (husband and daughter have Celiac Disease and I’m gluten intolerant). Thank goodness we can get those tiny loafs for $3.99 at a local meat market!
Then I buy eggs at Shoppers Drug Mart because they’re $1.99-$2.49 and compared to $3.50 (for the cheapie eggs) at the grocery store, that’s CHEAP! We go through 7 eggs every breakfast. Sorry, but cereal sucks. And gluten free cereal is expensive!
I’m hoping to get chickens when my kids are older (to help). And a decent sized garden and maybe a goat. We’ll have to produce our own food and preserve it if we want to keep living on one income.
But we’ll need to buy a house first, and the market is so inflated I don’t know if we’ll ever find anything. 🙁
My friend, Kate, lives in Canada so I know prices are a LOT higher there. 🙁 It sounds like you’re doing great with the budget that you have. You’re being resourceful and that’s fantastic. Good job, mama!
We have/had chickens and they are a blessing for sure.
Thank you so much for your candid honesty! We have our highs and lows with budgeting in general and when you’re surrounded by those touting “free range” and “organic” – do or die – it can be hard to shop within your own means. However, as I’ve gotten older I just don’t get hung up on it as much anymore. My husband continually reminds me that when we pray for God’s providence or His help when we’re struggling, we can’t mock or be ashamed of how He provides. I’m fairly certain that St. Peter won’t be questioning my choice of conventional or organic produce at the pearly gates!!
And what we eat there will be perfect anyway. 🙂 🙂
Stacy. Thanks again for an excellent article. I am totally with you on the whole organic propaganda thing. If the organic produce comes from China, and our inspectors aren’t allowed in to inspect , well, we can trust them to do the right thing…… Right? Lol.
Sorry to hear about your son. Just a bunch based on a previous fb post, but are you dealing with eczema?? My 3 year old has a severe case, and it is such a mentally difficult thing to handle. I breast fed 3 kids all for over a year until him. I was so ready to quit at 4 months. I was so concerned that it was something I was eating that was making him sick, and I also needed the help at night. I was just exhausted. On the advice of my dr’s, I didn’t quit. I nursed him until he was over 2 (he needed the comfort and refused to wean). By far, the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Turns out, he only has environmental triggers and allergies. All those foods I gave up didn’t help a thing. I tormented myself for years about it, all to no avail.
There are a couple of fb support groups that have helped me find treatment answers that I couldn’t get from the 5 specialists we have seen. Perhaps they might be of encouragement to you as well.
Whatever the issues–eczema or not–prayers for you and yours! Rejena
Yes, we do have eczema issues. I’ve got it under control now with a daily antihistamine. Would you mind to email me? stacy AT stacymakescents DOT com
I am 80 now and looking back I think I was always too hard on myself. You probably are, too.
I probably am…I just don’t know how to quit. LOL 🙂
Perfectly said, Stacy! We’ve all been in the high and mighty place over one thing or another. The main thing is to love each other and be kind. 🙂
I’ve learned that when I’m in my high and mighty place…I’m shortly going to be feeling the pain of falling.
This is a great word for all the real people out there who buy regular stuff and we’re still alive (more sarcasm). I heard it said best by Dani Johnson at one of her seminars….”If you were homeless and needed food, would you by organic or what you could afford, to avoid starving?” The point being that your body needs food. God gave you a certain amount of money. Spend it wisely, feed your family and don’t feel guilty 🙂 Then go have some cheese doodles and enjoy life 🙂
My only complaint with Cheese Doodles is the aftermath of toddler fingers. LOL 🙂
What it all comes down to is that we need to give each other grace (and ourselves, too!). I raised six kids and often the money ran out long before the next paycheck was due. There were times when we ate pancakes for a week because they were cheap and filling. It is just plain hard to feed a family on a limited budget! Now I am retired and live alone, so it has been easy for me to jump on all the different bandwagons, trying to lose about 30 pounds and get healthier. Nothing seems to make much of a difference in the long run, and I finally realized that my whole life was revolving around food – planning meals, scrambling to find the money to buy organic, GMO-free, researching the latest science, talking about it . . . on and on. I finally decided to back off and give myself some grace. I still meal plan a week at a time, because I find it is less stressful for me than trying to decide what to fix everyday, and it also helps me save money by using up leftovers. I don’t use much processed food and seldom eat out, simply because in all my obsessive food journeys, I developed a taste for real food prepared at home. The point of all this is to say that it has taken me years to get where I am and the journey is what has shaped me. I am now at peace with my food choices and also with my body (I could still stand to lose some weight). My best advice for someone starting out is to just do the best you can with what you have.
Amen to that!
Always do what is best for your family….NEVER feel like a failure for that. Thank you for sharing something even though it was hard. I love your posts because they are always honest, and seem to hit home often. 😉
Thanks, Christina. 🙂 I appreciate that.
Slow. Clap. Right on, girl. We’ve been in this place too. It’s always tough to swallow your pride.
Unrelated: I’ve been trying to follow you on Instagram and I can’t! Sad face. I’m “homelifeandme” over there.
It’s because I switched back and forth a few times on private and public. It screwed stuff up – I’m not tech savvy like you. 🙂 But, I think I fixed it if you want to try again.
About 3 yrs ago, after paying all the bills, keeping money out for parking & gas, all I would have for groceries to last for 2 weeks for me & 2 kids & 2 dogs was $20. That went on for about 6 months. The only way it really did work was the fact that my kids got free breakfast and lunch at school, and on Fridays each one came home with a big bag of healthy snacks from the school. The daycare also during that time started feeding the kids picked up after 4pm a dinner. I felt like a total failure that we were at such a low point. But, I soon realized how God was helping us make it through. As soon as I realized His graciousness and started thanking Him for it, it started easing up. Now, for the most part, we can buy whatever we need and even most of our wants. I am actually grateful for having to go through that difficult time.
Oh, why didn’t’t I seek help? I did, but I made $42 too much a month to qualify for aid. The only aid I was offered, was a list of food banks that were not in my area. I did not go to any of them. I would have had to miss work (and pay) and I needed every penny I could scrape up at the time. Losing a days pay, and spending more money on the gas for 1 bag of groceries ofwas not an option.
I have an Aldi’s only 8 blocks from my house, I love it. It’s small and easy to get in and out. If they don’ t have what I need, I go to a Mexican grocery store.
My kids help pick out our menu, and help shop for bargains. At 9 & 10 now, they are experienced bargain hunters and I’m actually proud of that.
What a great story, Angie! I appreciate you sharing it here. 🙂 I wish we had a closer Aldi, but I like to go when I can.
Great article Stacy! I so appreciate your transparency and candid honesty! I pray it will go far and wide into the blogosphere and DO GOOD! : )
As a mom who is not as youthful as I once was, I feel there is a GREAT chasm in the world of moms that prevents the wonderful fellowship we should be having as mothers. We get so much advice as young moms…and are eager to take it because we all want the best for our families. It is easy to look down on folks who don’t take the latest advice, or don’t make as much effort (in our eyes) as we do. It is easy to look down on older moms who didn’t raise their child the way we are. Problem is, the advice changes constantly! In fact, it even contradicts itself from one year to the next!
There’s so much pseudoscience when it comes to food, you really can’t trust a lot of what you read online, in blogs or in books. It seems like some people learn a little science, make it palatable, come up with a catchy blog name, and suddenly they are blog famous, writing a book, and changing people’s diets with no responsibility for what happens at all! I could name names here but that seems too mean-spirited.
I am less tempted to jump on any bandwagons now because I’ve seen too many food claims that just don’t live up to their promises. Food is not the end all, be all. We are mortals with bodies that will fail us. Yes, let’s eat healthful food, but keep it in perspective. There will always be someone taking it to the extreme either way…all Cheetos, all the time, or all Kale chips, all the time. it’s kind of hard to keep a super-healthful diet eating plan going for too long without some leniency, anyway. Find a happy place and be content. Personally, as a one income household that I hope will stay that way a little longer, I don’t want to put the extra pressure on my hard-working husband so that I can get all organic, non-GMO super food! Food IS expensive,….organic or not! I GET why my mom and dad had a bountiful garden, but also served us Kool-Aid! It was cheaper! Maybe we could make some compromises that won’t hurt us health-wise but will ease the budget.
One other note…I have a mom friend who chooses not to eat organic because her goal is to pay off her house as soon as possible. This is a GREAT reason to save money on food. Why is eating organic some kind of holy grail but having debt is perfectly okay? Sometimes there are choices to be made that aren’t as popular but are maybe better!
One day our children are going to make own choices regarding food. A balanced attitude toward food will go along way to show them how to make good choices, and not be held hostage by the latest food fad.
I have really enjoyed Nurse Loves Farmer as well!
Again, well done on the article!
Thanks, Donna! 🙂 🙂 I’m super excited that you commented.
Way to go to your friend who is paying off her debt! What a great goal!!!
This is a great article. I consider myself poorganic. I buy some items organic and the rest just regular produce. I can’t afford all organic as we too are trying to pay off debt. My doctor seems to be concerned more with processed foods.
I have a fairly lenient budget but am still try to be conservative. I am always looking at price per edible pound and pointing out how inexpensive some foods are for their weight/ nutritious value compared to others. Sometimes wish I was a vegetarian! Beef Jerky is an absolute rip off at usually $16/lb and so are those bags of junk that are mostly air. You have excellent points, and I appreciate your candor.!
Yeah – the prices of beef jerky kinda makes me want to fall down in the aisle and foam at the mouth.
I love this post. Your honesty has helped me feel better about our low budget and not always having the best options. I also know the pain of not being able to breast feed. It isn’t your fault. You did all that you could. Your child will be fine. And you are allowed to grieve.
I comfort myself with the fact that he’s a million times better right now than he was when I was feeding him. <3
Most studies on Breastfeeding show that the maximum benefit is in the first few weeks and any breastfeeding is better than none. That being said, most of us survived just fine on formula.
I fed him for 5 months. 🙂 I miss it, but I love how he’s so much better now.
Have I mentioned before that I just love you?! 🙂
I budget $400 a month for food but one of the blessings of living with my inlaws is that my mother in law buys some groceries too. I try to buy as healthy as possible but…yeah anyway.
And about Eli, I was one of those people that (quietly) turned my nose up at people who didn’t breastfeed. I nursed my first four exclusively for at least 6 months and up until 18 months then came number five. I had been in the hospital on bed rest for 10 weeks then had a c section. I tried and tried to nurse him. I pumped and nursed and gave him a bottle then it’d be time to start over. Being at home with all five boys that were at the time 6 and below, that just wasn’t working. I had to stop nursing. Needless to say, I view bottlefeeding in a different way now. I guess kind of how you don’t want to be a buggy peeker…cause I’d never judge what someone else was buying at the store! Hahahahaha. 😉
Now when I buggy peek I just think, “Man, I wonder if that’s on sale?!”
This actually makes me cry reading, thank you so much! Because I often feel like a horrible person grocery shopping. Our “budget” is $300-$400/month – but that includes any household supplies as well and usually our gas budget too. I really struggle with those “anyone can do it” posts because I read them, and I’m like I DO ALL THAT to cut our budget, but we can’t live off 1 head of organic lettuce a month (exaggerated….lol).
And really, who wants to live on lettuce? A rabbit? I’m not a rabbit. LOL
Not breastfeeding shouldn’t make you feel like a failure at all. I was determined with my firstborn, he was early and would not latch on. After 3 days I got really scared that I was starving him, called the nurses station and asked for a bottle and haven’t regretted it at all. I didn’t even try with my daughter when she came along. Now I have happy, healthy, intelligent, tall for their age 15 and 12 year olds. And no one knows breast or bottle, in the long run I don’t know that it really matters. Don’t worry, Eli will be perfect just like his siblings 🙂
You are exactly right. I know the way I felt made no sense. But every day I look at him thriving and I know it was the right choice. Thanks, Susan. 🙂
We used to be like you… all high and mighty about our “HOLY CART!” Then some things changed in our income and it was time to reheat that crow and make the best of our leftovers. I used to avoid Aldi and the local grocery store like they sold pure poison! (dumb! dumb! dumb!) But now we buy as much as we can cross off of our list at Aldi and the other grocer, then finish up at Whole Foods for bulk foods and things we just like from there. We have reduced our grocery budget dramatically by doing this. And I feel ZERO guilt, but it took time to get there. As far as breastfeeding goes, oh that “mom guilt!” Isn’t it awful??? My now 27 year old son was a very (VERY) hungry baby and my milk production just couldn’t keep up. It killed me to give him formula, but you do what you have to do! As long as we’re feeding them, loving them, keeping them clean and safe and teaching them about the Lord… they will be fine! 🙂
Excellent points – it’s not my “job” to feed them organic. It’s my “job” to train them in the Word.
Preach it, Sister! I buy conventional too, except the rare time when organic is the better buy. We are feeding 8 on $500 a month and sometimes the last week of the month things are really sparse. I’ve had kids hug and kiss the milk jug when we could finally replenish the fridge. It breeds gratefulness :). When you break it down I get $.67 per serving per meal for 3 meals a day (but we snack too.) I do trade homemade Kombucha for eggs and beef and the times that wasn’t an option, we really felt the scrunch. (Interesting that we would qualify for more than $800 a month in food stamps if we were in that position. It would feel like a lot of money.)
You are my hero. Seriously.
Our family of 4’s budget is $400/mo and sometimes that’s REALLY hard to accomplish because my 8 year old has decided he needs to eat like he’s 16 and it’s pretty much impossible to keep him full.
Yes . . . you need to do what is best for your son, always–no matter what “people” say. “People” don’t know your family and your story. I love your transparency and I appreciate you!
You need to get a mill and stuff that boy full of fresh grains. LOL 🙂
He definitely needs something!! If his blood sugar gets low he’s EXTREMELY irritable (think 2 year old tantrum, but he’s almost 9) so we’re all about “fruit sugar” and protein around here 😀 If I had room to store grains (no basement) and I didn’t hate to bake I would probably get a mill 🙂 Reason #512 I need to live near you—I’m sure we could figure out something to barter for your yummy bread 😀
You don’t have to store them in the basement. 😉
I don’t have any other place to store bulk foods 🙁 Our house has ZERO storage. As it is, I use a linen closet in the laundry room as my “pantry” and basically only have things like spices in the kitchen because of space 🙁
I have heard some people store them under beds – but yeah if you’re that stretched for space I wouldn’t worry with bulk foods much.
I’m sorry that little Eli has been having trouble. We do what we have to do for our family, and if that means a baby needs formula, then so be it. Please don’t feel like a failure, ok.
My mindset has changed…if one week I can afford organic, then that is what I buy, but if there is no wiggle room in the budget, I buy regular produce and eggs and meat. I’m actually thinking of trying Zaycon for meat next month…supposedly has no additives or artificial ingredients.
Do what works for your family!
I’ve heard of them! But I haven’t found a close local drop-off so far.
Grace for us mamas. It has become my mantra and I share it with other mamas often. I learned it from a smart lady blogger I follow who is awesome at keepin’ it real, ’cause that’s how she rolls. 🙂
Thank you for another honest post that reminds us to just keep doing the best we can with what we have while staying true to ourselves and our family. You rock, seriously, for being willing to put yourself out there and encouraging us all to keep holding each other up. Wish we could be neighbors. 🙂
I think this might be one of those cases where someone tells me what I once said bc I needed to hear my own words. LOL
Although I thought kids were supposed to do that to me. 😉
Love you, guys!
Thank you for posting this! I was a follower when you were heavily into your real food and I remember feeling a bit down because it wasn’t completely feasible for us. I felt a little less than, if that makes any sense. I made as many changes as our budget allowed and I was pretty happy with it. My husband just switched jobs and we have another little one on the way, so I’ve had to adjust our food budget again- no more organic milk, just the $1.99 Fry’s gallon, etc. And at this point, I’m just thankful that it is something that we can adjust as we need to! Everyone is still alive, well, and fed!
I’m so sorry that I made you feel that way! 🙁
I had also started following foodbabe and 100 days of real food, so I was a little overwhelmed! I think you’re amazing and I appreciate your honesty!
Oh dear – yeah…Food Babe, well. Okay, I won’t go there.
I totally understand what you mean on the formula front. I’ve recently had to semi-wean (we’re only nursing at midnight each day now) because I simply wasn’t keeping up. Due to stress stemming from health issues mine has (he’s about a month or two younger than your Eli), my milk was slowly declining each day, and that was even after getting on a prescription galactagogue for two months. So, to help his health issues and my stress level, we’re now on formula. We’re lucky in that we don’t have to buy the hypoallergenic, but due to time constraints, I’m also buying more of *those* foods I normal wouldn’t want to and instead would want to make myself (ie premade, frozen chicken nuggets instead of my yummy homemade ez-pz ones). You are NOT a failure, honey. You are a MOM. You are doing what’s best for Eli, and that’s ALL that matters. Period. (Ps. Look up #worldsokayestmom )
Well, I would be lying if I said that there weren’t chicken nuggets and corn dogs in my freezer right now. LOL
Yes! We don’t buy all the organic and what not because of price! If we did it would double our grocery bill and we spend about $500 already. We try to eat healthy but I agree about some of it is propaganda. I read some other bloggers who spend the same as me or less they eat all organic I think how?? Where do they live organic eggs are $6 here we eat a lot of eggs so that is not on option. Keep doing what is right for your family. I watch a little girl and she uses that formula too it is sooo expensive 🙁
I’d like to know too – $500/month or all organic? That seems pie-in-the-sky.
We eat tons of eggs too. Good protein option!
I know what you are talking about with not being able to breast feed Eli. I had to have a c-section with my 6th baby and I didn’t talk about it for a LONG time. It’s one of those things where you swear it will never happen to you, you’ll die first! Look at all those people who don’t need to bottle feed, have a c-section, eat cheese doodles, etc. That’s when we fall off our Stallion. It’s classic pride goes before a fall. Then suddenly you’re choosing to do these things because from the ground where you are, it just makes sense. The light suddenly goes on and you realize it’s not your job to have an opinion on how anyone else choose to live in these areas, either. You walk away form the experience judging a little less. You walk a way being a little more like Jesus. Then the scar on your belly, or the 250.00 a month in formula, or the orange stained fingers, seem worth it.
You are so right – thank you.
I’m sorry to hear that your son’s formula is so expensive. We have to do what we feel is best for our babies and sometimes that means formula. It won’t be too much longer before his tummy is mature enough to wean him off formula and onto big people food. Just be patient. Then your budget will have more wiggle room again.
I don’t buy much organic. I try to focus on whole foods and cook from scratch for most everything. Organic junk food is still junk food.
Yes – he will be old soon enough – and most assuredly before I am ready.
I LOVE that “Organic junk food is still junk food” 😀 We’re the same way–not much organic, but I do my best to make sure most of what we eat is whole foods and stuff I cook from scratch. There are days, if you saw me in the grocery aisle, you’d pray for my kids and the “junk” I’m feeding them because there are days Mama (or Daddy) just want chips 😀
Oh, I love that comment, “organic junk food is still junk food!” I may have to borrow that from you 🙂
Spot on! Food is expensive. I want to nearly cry every time I’m in the check out line and they tell me the total! MEAT (ergg) is so expensive it makes a person want to become a vegetarian haha I hate buying meat, but my husband would starve if I didn’t. I would love to hear more about organic not being all it’s cracked up to be because I feel so guilty if I purchase something off the dirty dozen that’s not organic like someone’s screaming “AH! Your going to die of cancer from all those pesticides!” haha
There are many times in parenting I’ve learned that sometimes we have to come down from our “natural” high horse and do what’s best for our children. It’s a real kick in the pants for sure, but I know that feeling of relief when you know you’ve done the right thing for them.
Yes – the relief is so amazing that you wonder why you held out for so long.
You might want to check out Nurse Loves Farmer – she’s the blogging wife of a farmer. And I learned a lot about organic stuff from her. 🙂
Stacy this is an excellent post. I only wish more bloggers could be like you, so honest and straight forward with what they share.
I have two breast fed babies, and one bottle fed(#2), for his tummy issues also.
I do get to skip the expense of meat at the grocery store as my husband lives to hunt, so our meat is all wild harvest. I do have people sit at my table that refuse to eat it because it is game meat
. I have a veggie garden and I trade for eggs. Make ends meet where possible.
I am not proud, I come home from friends and families homes with a bag with chicken carcasses or ham bones for broth or a pot of ham and beans!
I do want to know where Andrea is getting milk for $1.99 a gallon! $2.50 minimum here in MT.
I’ve not seen it $1.99 here in a looooooooooooooong time.
I used to feel that way too. Totally guilty. And then one day, after stressing and stressing out about it, I finally decided to stop reading/researching/caring about what “they” say. A weight was lifted from my shoulders. When I have a little extra cash, I might make a few swaps. But right here, right now, this is the budget The Lord has given me and I will rejoice and be glad in it. I will feed my family with pride and not worry about the Food Police. We are all doing fine ;0)
Your right Angela! I need to stop researching so much especially on the internet because you don’t know what’s really the truth or not. The guilt we mothers have put on our own selves is ridiculous and I need to learn and pray to be set free from that!