Week Three

It's weird to me how fast money can just disappear. I somehow convinced myself that this challenge was no big deal and that we'd reach the end of the month with like $100 to spare or something. I think it is my innocence when it comes to purchasing gas. It costs a lot to go anywhere, and that's been the big lesson to me. The transportation for J to get to work, even if on the bus, is like just another tax to his income, it amazes me. This week as of the 23rd (I'm late writing this up) we spent $63.95, the cars needed some gas and the kitties needed food, that was a big one, almost half the expense. Granted it will last them through the next month an a half, but still.
I feel like food has been the easiest thing to alter/scale back on. And I have had a lot of fun getting a bit more creative in the kitchen. We always cook from scratch anyway, but I wonder why we haven't been doing some of this stuff before now. I have come to realize that I always have something soaking, and the crock pot is an indispensable tool. I've been experimenting with sprouting things (this is going to take more practice - I'm not good about changing water/rinsing), have continued to make granola, bread, and lots of other goodies. But the most fun one is making our own yogurt. We've done keifer before, with a starter, but the yogurt is a new one, and it's fun. No, I'm not eating it so I have no clue how it actually tastes, but J says it's good and since he goes through a lot of the stuff it's a huge savings to do it ourselves vs buying it. Next month we try making miso and experiment with other fermenting things... I just have to buy something to put it in.