I think today is going to be the hardest spending day over the next two weeks. I need to go to the store in preparation for company. I want to make wise choices without going over board. It's my sister, brother in law and my parents. If we need something, or decide we want something I don't have, we'll just swing by the store. I tend to buy extra snacks, just in case, someone is hungry. I'm going to try not to do that.
My sister is coming primarily to run a 1/2 marathon. Her tradition is pasta the evening before, so that's cheap. A jar sauce and pasta. I may add ground beef to my list for my brother in law, my parents are vegan so they won't eat it. I should look at the grocery ads to see if anyone has a deal on that. I need a vegetable, too. Roasted asparagus sounds really good, but it is a bit expensive.
Sandwiches for lunch. So a loaf of bread, and one kind of lunch meat. I may pick up cheese as well. My daughter will eat the leftovers for her lunch next week. I will put out some carrots, and apple slices, too.
Clearly I'm back wards planning here, because breakfast is actually the first thing I will feed them. They arrive late this evening. The easiest thing to make is an egg casserole, but I usually add sausage, which increases the price. I could just do scrambled eggs, or steel cut oatmeal in the crockpot. I'm starting to lean towards the latter option since I have the ingredients.
I'll let you know the results of my grocery shopping and meal plan once it is complete. Before I even get to that I've got some bathrooms to clean and laundry to start.
I'm still open to inexpensive ideas for Mother's Day. What are you getting your Mom? Or do you get to skip giving a gift? I'm sure I could if needed.
Today Will Be the Hardest
May 3rd, 2013 at 04:49 pm
May 3rd, 2013 at 05:17 pm 1367601466
For Mother's Day, one thing you could do so you don't have to spend *now* is a raincheck; a handmade certificate for a special dinner out the next time you're in town together. Or, if you just want to save money overall, a handmade gift is always sweet. I seem to remember you've sewed cute things before? Or a photo calendar or card, either somewhere like FedEx Office or made on your computer.
I'm probably going the bouquet route this year, since my spending money's in pretty good shape. Either flowers or "Edible Arrangements." My mom lives far away so whatever I do needs to be delivered.
May 3rd, 2013 at 07:09 pm 1367608151
Groceries are always a big budget item for us. We ended up spending $20 over our budget this month, because ground beef was 50% off, and we stocked up.
Meal planning really does help keep the budget down though - good job on that one.
May 3rd, 2013 at 07:52 pm 1367610730
This year, my sisters and I are planting my mom a surprise herb garden. My sister has a lot of the supplies we need besides the plants themselves. We are just going to split the cost between the 3 of us. Should be reasonable.
May 3rd, 2013 at 08:16 pm 1367612166
May 3rd, 2013 at 09:30 pm 1367616625
May 4th, 2013 at 12:04 am 1367625886