The Economy
March 20, 2009
Our latest Backtalk show went live yesterday in which we discuss the economy.
I am being taken to task by a couple of comments at BlogHer (and via private EMAIL!) for making fun of and/or questioning the integrity of the website $5 dinners.
What I actually said was that the contributors to the site obviously do not have teenage boys. I referenced a recipe that was up at the time we filmed for hamburgers and sweet potato fries.
Four hamburgers do not feed any four people in my house. Every one eats more than one burger, except maybe my 4 and 5 yr olds, though on any given day they might eat a second one or none at all. It is a crap shoot!
I was sort of joking about this, because obviously every family is different. I just didn’t want people to go over there and start sending me emails that the meals really are not five dollar meals. Prices of food vary by region and I suppose I have always lived in the land of expensive food, both CT and TX, because my food bill has not decreased.
Hell, my oldest son ate 4 hamburgers with buns for dinner all by himself last night. And two sausages in buns.
None of us questioned the integrity of the blogger.
I still maintain that for me the greater purpose of the site was to help you cook more economically and give you ideas for recipes to make your family. EVEN IF IT WILL COST YOU MORE THAN $5.
Oddly no one has yet defended the idea of making your own maxipads. And letting them soak in a bucket in your bathroom. And then using the bloody water to water your garden. Excuse me, I just threw up a little. Also if you do that I am never coming over to your house and eating vegetables. There are just some things I am not willing to do, even if it will save me $30 a year.
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It is funny what some people consider over-the-top, outsider behavior. I guess it all depends on where you were raised and what your values are. Most of the world would laugh at what we consider “frugality” in these “tough economic times”.
March 20th, 2009 at 1:32 pmFirst off: um, eeew. Second: I hear you on the teenage boy thing. Even with tons of veggies, the ever present potatoes, a snack beforehand, and the promise of dessert, Padawan Learner always eats at least 2 burgers if they’re on the menu - yet he’s still skinny as a rail.
March 20th, 2009 at 1:45 pmI couldn’t help but giggle over the whole $5 dinner hamburger thing because seriously, we have a teenager. Everyone in our family eats one hamburger. A pound of meat will easily make 5-6 burgers in this house, and last two meals. We supplement the burgers with potato fries and salad. In fact, at one time we had four teenage boys living with us, and at most they’d have two burgers each-but often they didn’t.
I’m not sure if this is because we are light eaters or what, but even when we visit the USA on vacation we are SHOCKED at the sheer size of the portions of food in restaurants. Sometimes it’s been so huge that one meal could have fed all three of us, easily.
Like you said, the whole portion thing is really subjective.
Um, and the maxipad thing is just disgusting. I don’t care how little money I have, that is one area that I would NOT do. EVER. EW.
March 20th, 2009 at 1:50 pmChris,
I think I missed everything you are talking about regarding the backlash, but as a person who is feeding a family of 7- 5 of which are kids that eat waaaay more than my Hubbins and I and they aren’t even teenagers yet (4 girls, youngest boy), I know where you are coming from. I don’t know why anyone would take issue with you pointing that out unless they have no clue.
Now the last part. THAT is just nasty. Ewww, I shudder at the mere thought of it. And that’s about all I can say probably without getting in trouble. LOL!
March 20th, 2009 at 2:09 pmI can’t even explain how gross that was…yet I giggled. :o)
March 20th, 2009 at 2:16 pmOkay, the maxipad thing? That is disgusting.
March 20th, 2009 at 2:31 pmI hear you Chris! Finding ways to cut down the costs are way more important to me than spending a certain amount on a meal. That meal wouldn’t satisfy my husband if he was only getting one burger and I know it would cost more than $5 here in Minneapolis. I’m a coupon girl, I make my list and pull coupons for what is on my list- I might save $15 A trip. Many times these coupons are for maxi pads, sometimes for plant food…
March 20th, 2009 at 2:52 pmTeenage boy?? Try my 25 year-old boyfriend! I can make a meal that I assume will feed us, with leftovers for a couple meals for me, and by times he’s done eating THERE IS NOTHING LEFT. We’re going to have a chat about portion size very soon…
Also? The last bit? EW. EW EW EW, not ok.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:18 pmIn our family there were three girls and one boy. When my brother became a teen-ager he shot up to 6′1″ and weighed approx 130-140. He could eat as much for supper as the three girls put together (after having had a huge snack after school). He was a cross-country runner, while training he could eat a pound of pasta 5 times a day. My brother now has two teen-aged sons himself, the oldest is 6′3″ and weighs 120-130, also a long distance runner - he looks like he’s starving but his mother assures me that he eats like an elephant.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:21 pmI am contributer to $5 dinner’s bargain meal of the week. I have 6 people in my family, my oldest son is 10 and is always hungry. Honestly I have struggled putting together the meal ideas for the bargain meal of the week, because I know that my family will eat so much of it that it won’t be under $5 anymore. I try to base it on a family of 4, because that does seem to be the typical family size. Initially I thought it would be so easy, but have quickly found out it isn’t as easy as I thought to feed my crew for under $5.
Gross about the maxi pads.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:27 pmFrom my reading/viewing it wasn’t so much the “4 hamburgers are not enough for my family” comment as it was, for example, the discussion on eggs. “Oh my! Here where *I* live there’s no *way* to buy eggs for $1/doz! I don’t know where *she* lives!” Not only you … the other moms chimed in on this two, esp. the California one. It just seemed a leetle like a snarky attitude. (And I live in California, so I was not offended for myself.)
But you still made you primary point, which was it is good to look at websites like the one referenced to get ideas for less expensive meals.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:29 pmBarf….eeew…yuck. Ok. I think it’s out of my system.
I read $5Dinners daily. I think some of the recipes sound good, but I don’t think that I could re-create them here in my area for the same price. Plus, hubs still eats like a teenage boy. I’d have to make 2 portions, ending up with $10Dinners. Hell, I’d settle for a $10Dinner any night!
March 20th, 2009 at 3:30 pmMy boys are 7 & 8. They already eat 2 burgers each. Dh & I do only eat 1 each- still 4 people/6 burgers! Hot dogs another whole story- 4 people= 7 hot dogs!
March 20th, 2009 at 3:31 pmMeant to also say that the thought of the teen years scare me!
March 20th, 2009 at 3:32 pmThank you for telling it the way it is.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:43 pmIt seems to me that a lot of people will misunderstand a program on TV/advise in a paper, or whatever - just to have a reason to come back and complain.
Sort of like the “tire-kickers” who will call on any and all ads about ‘cars for sale’ in the local newspaper, but won’t buy a thing.
Annoying as all get-out, but it’s the fools we have to put up with. Or ignore.
I’ve heard of the maxipad thing, but have you heard of the Diva Cup? Ew. Makes me so very thankful for my depo shot and the fact I don’t have to worry about such things anymore.
And about the food, do any of those $5 recipes work for anyone other than maybe single people? I have a 2yo that eats like a teenager. We had to start ordering him his own kids’ meal at 9 months. He eats a whole can of soup or package of ramen by himself for lunch. Probably why he’s now in size 4’s. And before I get slammed for contributing to he obesity epidemic, he’s in the 50th percentile for weight. The kid is 39″ tall at 2. And no, he’s not close to being 3 yet.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:54 pmHowdy Chris! I’ve read your blog for quite awhile and am just now getting around to making a comment. I have one child. A 16 year old, 5 foot 5 inch, 95 pound girl who never never eats less than 2 burgers. Most of the time it’s 3, including fries and a salad and whatever else is being served. Four hamburgers would not feed my little family of 3.
The maxi pad thing…gross, but I too giggled.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:57 pmMake your own Mazipads?!?! Seriously?
That is absolutely digusting to the nth degree! People invented disposables for a variety of reasons, all of which I LOVE.
And ummmm, spreading the water on your garden? No. Just no.
March 20th, 2009 at 4:25 pmHeck, I don’t think I can even feed myself for $5!
I make hamburgers for my family of 6 and it’s at least $7 for a 1 1/2 lbs. of meat. We’re two dollars over budget before add the potatoes and even more for the “real” veggie we want to make the meal well balanced! I know the people who plan the “budget meals” have great intentions, but it’s just not that realistic or healthy.
March 20th, 2009 at 4:58 pmPersonally, I don’t know how people do $5 meals. I have tried it and it just does not happen unless we eat hot dogs and mac and cheese (and even then one box of mac and cheese costs 2.50 because I have one son who is GFCF).
Some families just can’t do it. I tried my hardest this month to cut the grocery bill and I’m still at about 700.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:50 pmI love 5 dollar dinners site and I can see being able to feed myself and maybe a husband on it. Even a few little ones. But teenage boys eat way too much. My brothers would eat the entire families meal for a snack. They have always eaten like that though.
I know what you mean she has great meal ideas and if you can do it under $5 that is great.
I am single and really struggle with a $5 dinner!
March 20th, 2009 at 5:55 pmHoly Hell - that “water” is getting soaked into the ground.
There has to be some kind of neighborhood code against that!
March 20th, 2009 at 5:57 pmUm, wow. I’m a little surprised by the reaction to the maxipad thing. I’ll be the first to defend it. I chose cloth diapering both for economical and environmental reasons and found that reusable feminine hygiene products were the obvious next step. I use a Diva cup and cloth pads. What is the big deal, people? What do you think women did before all that disposable crap was invented?
March 20th, 2009 at 6:47 pmFirst,…ewwww!!
Second, my boys are still young (6,4,1) but my oldest eats more than I do on any given day. It makes me worry sometimes what I will have to do to feed them.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:26 pmMy household has 4 people, two being 19 year old and 16 year old boys. I would kill to have a $5 price tag for a dinner. Tap water and milk are the drinks of choice in our house, God, I buy 8 gallons of milk a week. There went my threshold for the $35 a week for dinners. I actually make dinner from scratch because I refuse to buy junk for everyone to eat. I am lucky though, my kids are healthy and fit, as my wallet can vouch for as it’s slim also.
Chris says: We only drink water and I don’t buy very much junk AT ALL either.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:39 pmBy the way, if they charged 100 bucks a box for personal sanitary stuff, I’d find a way to buy it. Thank God, we don’t live in a third world country where it’s not available.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:43 pmOkay, regarding the $5 dinner site.. she has stated many times that she is only feeding a family of 4, and her two boys are quite small. While $5 is an appropriate budget for her family, obviously those of us with more children or older children/husbands with larger appetites will need to increase that budget… but she also encourages people to think about portion control and what we should realistically be eating. I mean, if you look at the typical portions from the 1950’s (say an original McDonald’s single hamburger, fries, and an 8oz soda) compared to today (2 double-cheeseburgers, large fries, and a 32oz soda), you’ll see a correlation between the bigger meal size and the bigger people size! Bigger families may need to think about a $7 or $10 budget or however it fits their family.
And while I wouldn’t use soak water on my vegetables, I did see what a HUGE difference it made in one of my friend’s trees compared to her neighbors (identical trees planted at the same time). I used cloth pads for years while I was using cloth diapers, but it’s too much of a hassle now that my kids are no longer in that stage.
Chris says: I think people have misunderstood my point, which was that even if I just had one child, none of these $5 meals would feed us adequately. I never said that I expected the $5 dinners to feed my family of 9. Maybe we are a family of pigs, I don’t know. I do know that not one of us is overweight so we aren’t overeating.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:48 pmOK, I’ll defend the cloth pads, too. I use them some of the time, I don’t soak them, just throw in the wash. What is the problem? What do you think women did before disposables? There are plenty web sites that sell them and they’re comfortable. I used cloth diapers for my babies, as well.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:03 pmI’m a family of seven and when I make burgers, I make 10-12 at a time. I have two pre-teen boys and some days they are very good at cleaning out all the little bits of snacks left in the bottoms of the boxes and bags that no one really wants because it’s all crushed up. Both are super skinny.
Eggs? I go grocery shopping every two weeks and buy 54 eggs at a time. I do get them for $1.99 for 18. Oh, and my cholesterol is 132, just in case you think eating all those eggs is bad.
I make everything from scratch and mostly organic. I’ve gotten us down to $800 a month and I’m super happy with that. I keep trying to get it lower, but so far, it’s just not possible.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:10 pmI couldn’t feed myself for $5. Heck, I can’t walk INTO the grocery store without spending $50. My oldest is 12 1/2, 5 foot 7, 160 lbs and looks like a man. And eats like one.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:41 amYou all should check out the food budget over at http://www.moneysavingmom.com . Granted, her kids are toddlers, but she still spends so little on food it’s amazing. I agree that the meals over at $5 dinners are smaller, but I can make a lot of dinners under $5 for my family of 5, and my kids are older and eat more than I do. My grocery budget is between $300 and $400 a month without using coupons, and I do occasionally buy junk food or juice.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:49 amI’m kinda tickled at all of the “eww, gross! isn’t there a neighborhood code against that?!” comments the cloth maxi pads are generating.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:50 amI hate to point out the elephant in the room, but, if you throw it in the trash, it’s probably going into a landfill. Anything in that land fill will create runoff that flows into your ground water. You are already drinking that and much worse (think “disposable” diapers, household and industrial chemicals, paint, bleach, expired medications). And not to be too graphic in mixed company, but when you flush tampons, they don’t magically disappear either. Everything is treated and sent back to you in one form or another.
Using your soaking water as fertilizer is probably the least “gross” way that I can think of to add nutrients to your soil and therefore your food. Better that than all of the chemical fertilizers and the fun things that they bring to the table.
Our squeaky-clean, over-sanitized view of the world is only a thin veneer, people. No one is as “clean” as they think,lol!
Interesting discussion! I’m guessing the Diva Cup is something like a tampon that you insert and then, um, empty? And rinse and reuse? It’s a good idea, actually. Let’s face it - menstruation is sort of gross, no matter how you take care of it. That’s why I stayed pregnant as much as I could.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:04 amI use washable sanitary pads, they go through the wash with the cloth diapers. If you use and throw away paper sanitary wear the blood in it is washing into the ground water and getting into the system anyway, along with all the chemicals that were used to bleach them in the first place so they could be white and soak up the blood.
Vegetables are grown with animal blood and bone and animal manure, in some countries they also use ’sludge’ to grow them which is basically dried out human manure. If you put your own blood on your vegetables at least you know what you’re getting and where it came from…
As for the food issue, my boys are 20 months and 5 so they’re still not eating all that much yet, I’m not looking forward to trying to fuel them as teenagers!
March 21st, 2009 at 6:45 amI grew up with parents who implemented many depression era money saving ideas but the ones they firmly objected to were the making your own maxi’s and eating every piece of gristle and fat on meat.
My mom said her mother did the homemade maxi’s in the 20’s but didn’t make her do it as a teenager. She grew up with 8 brothers and sisters in the 50’s so things were tight but I guess everyone has their limits as to what constitutes a reasonable savings.
My dad used to save the bath water to water his flowers. We all complained that we didn’t want the garden to taste like bath water so he only watered his plants with it. At least he didn’t make us carry buckets of water after the bath, he did it himself.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:02 amI will say note to Anna - your approach sounds reasonable. I was thinking it’s gross due to the rags in a bucket approach. If you are throwing washable versions in with diapers I can see where this makes sense. Bravo for taking this approach.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:08 amI am also very suprised, and actually disappointed at the ewww and gross comments about the cloth pads. Grow up people, how old are you? Seriously, you need to do a bit more research about disposable pads(and diapers), and the chemicals that are in them, against your skin when you wear them. I know you would all be shocked to learn of how harsh these chemicals are. Not to mention just how much water, clean, drinking water, is wasted just to make one dispoable pad or diaper.
As others have said, where do you think they go?
Show some responsibility for the future generations. Get educated.
Maybe if more people considered what they were doing to the earth then it would not be as sick as it is.
I have been a long time reader, and admirer of your blog Chris, but am quite disapointed in this post.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:13 amI just can’t buy the fact that you drink only water *cough*cocktails*cough. Nor that you eat two hamburgers. Nuh-uh.
Chris says: Well, *I* drink cocktails, not the kids
And I can eat two hamburgers, not that I always do. But my sons eating three and four sort of cancels out my one, I think .
March 21st, 2009 at 9:49 amHmm… I read the $5 website.She’s located in Ohio and so am I so some of her recipes are helpful BUT I would have to double them as I have a 10 yr old twig daughter who will out eat the rest of us and complain when we run out of food at the table. She often has to have a PB sandwich after dinner to fill up. We have 5 in our family plus my husbands 2 other kids who visit everyother weekend. I have a hard time staying under $600 a month without buying any junk or processed foods. I make almost everything from scratch.
As for the reusable pads. I don’t use pads much but I bought one to try it out. I am going to buy a diva cup because really how much grosser can it be than removing a tampon? But I also cloth diaper and am suprised about the people that are grossed out by that. I find storing the disposables in the garbage for a week and then sending them to the dump to sit around for the next 500 yrs a bit more disgusting.
But that’s just me I guess.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:00 amCloth pads rule. I don’t use them, but I love the concept. You “eww” people have lost touch with reality. But that is SO not the point of this video! I don’t have kids, but I was excited to get introduced to some money saving sites I’d never heard of before, and it was cool that Y and Maggie made appearances at the end.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:26 amCripes,the remarks here about cloth pads. If you don’t fancy using them, don’t, but don’t judge something you’ve never tried yourself. They are no more “gross” than cloth diapers. And if you’re someone who can’t or doesn’t want to use tampons (personally, I can’t stand them), don’t knock cloth til you’ve tried it. I switched for financial reasons and stayed with them because of the *comfort*. As for the care of them, if you’ve got a cloth diapered kid, you just throw them in the diaper pail. If not, then you just throw them in a mini pail and wash hot as you would any dirty clothes/whites.
Oh, and if the idea of using the water for plants grosses you out, I don’t advise you learn what sorts of things really are in our store bought food and in the soil of our own back gardens.
People have this idea today that we can just throw “icky” things away and be done with it. Out of sight, out of mind. If only.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:33 pmWhat I thought was gross about the cloth pads, was that she dumped the soaking water in her garden.
March 21st, 2009 at 7:29 pmGAH on the sanitary product discussion. Chris, I think you MORE than did your part on keeping that stuff out of landfills by being pregnant 7 times.
March 21st, 2009 at 8:51 pmI almost did it!!! Almost.
I just wanted to see if I could do it. Could I make dinner for all 7 of us for $5.00? I came pretty close. Now I know the original concept was for a family of 4, not 7. I just wanted to see how close I could get.
The babies had pasta with beef and gravy. We had roast beef and gravy sandwiches. Everyone had sweet potato fries and cabbage. Water to drink.
Pasta, 1/2 box $.60
Organic beef broth, 1/2 box $1.00
Hillshire Farms Roast Beef, thin sliced, $1.66
Homemade bread, one loaf, $1.50
Sweet Potatoes, $1.47
Cabbage, $.43
Total….. $6.66 (oooo, that’s sort of creepy actually)
Now… I didn’t count the tax, condiments, or seasonings. Plus, it happened to be a night when the pre-teen boys weren’t that hungry and my dear husband was sick. I would have had to use another container of roast beef if everyone had their normal appetites.
Oh, and the only thing left over is the cabbage. Imagine that.
Chris says: That is great, Lori!
March 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pmAn old friend of mine used to use cloth maxi-pads and let them soak in a bucket in the bathroom. Unfortunately there was only one bathroom in her place. And, as much as I am in to respecting the mother earth and women and stuff… I, uh, don’t really want to see anyone else’s…. um…. ok I’m just going to stop typing now.
*shudder*
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:50 pmIn Canada, I can’t even buy maxi-pads for $5.
I watched the video before the hoopla began, and when you said that comment, I just figured it was cuz you have older kids, and yanno, more people in your family. I didn’t see it as questioning the integrity of the blogger. Everyone needs to chillax.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 pmWe are a family of 6 and I have to say that it’s entirely possible to feed your larger family for close to five dollars. I make a mac n cheese with bacon casserole and a pasta and meatballs dinner for around five dollars. I clip coupons and scour deals and although it’s very time consuming, it does save money. You’re not going to eat a prime rib dinner, but an inexpensive and healthy meal is possible.
**I live in CT and buy a dozen eggs for $1.59**
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:58 pmTMI TMI TMI TMI okay i am over the grossness i first had when reading this entry and comments. Thanks for making us think. I personally have never even thought of using something other then store bought products.
I also have been trying to cut our food bill. I have not read this blog about $5 meals but intend to try it.
My teen son may break the budget all by himself. We are a family of 4 now and still spend alot on food.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:16 pmDear Chris-
I’m with you on the make your own pads nightmare (also pads? really? pads? I know some people hate tampons, but I totally don’t get them.). You are likely not surprised.
Love,
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:52 pmStara
Jennifer says:
What I thought was gross about the cloth pads, was that she dumped the soaking water in her garden.
And this is more or less gross then the manure that goes on your vegetables? You do know about that don’t you? and how vegetables are grown?
Research, it is an amazing thing.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 pmOh for heaven’s sake, people. Cloth maxipads are not that crazy. You just toss them in the washing machine, like you would with cloth diapers. They’re comfortable, you never run out, and my period dropped from 7 days to 5 when I switched to cloth.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 pmI don’t think it’s the cloth pads that are grossing everyone out, so much as the thought of pouring the WATER directly into the GARDEN.
I say everyone do the back-to-back (no break in-between) Nuvaring like I do, and THAT will cut down a lot on the use of tampons and pads! Plus — big bonus — NO PERIODS.
My husband has a big thing about our kids not eating very much at meals. My 13-yr-old is lucky to have two burgers at one sitting, and he still expects him to order off the kids’ menu at restaurants. It’s a big pet peeve of mine. Not that I want him pigging out all day, but he eats like a BIRD compared to most boys his age. (And yet, he’s not that thin. He’s not heavy, but even with all the sports he plays, he could stand to lose 5 lbs. through the middle. I’m not judging–just baffled that he has any extra weight on him, what with his modest diet!)
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pmI can’t wait till all you girls head into perimenopause and your Diva Cups runneth over. Ha!
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:04 pmI must live in some sort of backwards hippy community or something because I know people who make their own maxi pads and use the blood for their gardens. And I read a few blogs where people do that too.
As long as I know when I need to bring my personal preference of toilet paper and hygiene products to a house, I’m totally cool with it. I sort of figure this falls along the whole boat and float metaphor.
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:47 pmI actually e-mailed the five dollar dinner lady about a month ago. That is when I found out her meals were for two adults and two small kids. My hubs eats several burgers and he is a normal sized male, my nine year old and almost 12 year old sons each eat 2 burgers. My five year old twins can eat a whole one. I think I would have to triple her recipes, or quadruple them to satisfy everyone over here. Not realistic at all.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:23 amMy two older boys both eat a HUGE snack when they get off of the bus too. Yesterday, my 9 year old had a plate of left over spaghetti with two slices of cheese on top, and STILL ate two helpings of supper two hours later.
To everyone gagging at the thought of using the soaking water from homemade pads on their veggie patches, go do a little research and find out what is going into your store-bought food–what the veggies and fruit are sprayed with, what the meat is fed before it goes to the slaughter house and just what exactly goes on in food preparation and packaging plants.
On second thought, don’t. You might find you can’t stomach it.
March 24th, 2009 at 3:55 pmWhere we are, food is expensive because we’re really isolated. I cut and pasted a blogger’s price breakdown above, and put our equivalent beside it in brackets.
Pasta, 1/2 box $.60 ($3 for a bag)
Organic beef broth, 1/2 box $1.00 ($3 for a carton)
Hillshire Farms Roast Beef, thin sliced, $1.66 (easily $6+)
Homemade bread, one loaf, $1.50 (bread: $3.20)
Sweet Potatoes, $1.47 ( here $2/pound)
Cabbage, $.43 (maybe around the same)
I know that we couldn’t do $5 meals. It’s virtually impossible with the prices where we live. We stretch it out as much as we can, but it just wouldn’t happen. We don’t even drink alcohol or soda, I make a lot of things from scratch, and we don’t buy junk food. It’s just hard sometimes to keep the food bill down when prices fluctuate so much and there’s so little selection.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:57 pm