I love your attitude around this! I relate to this:
except of course for me the “seasonal joy” was related to Halloween and not Xmas!
I’m mostly just whining, honestly. I know what I need to do.
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holiday purchases continue - $45 to make curried cashews for family and a few select friends
I think I’m out of large glass containers to put them into. People might be getting ziplocs, and not even the holiday themed ziplocs. We shall see.
($60 already spent on the gift exchange presents for our swap partners, purchased from the best indie comic book store in the city)
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Look for nice glass containers at thrift stores.
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I could save so much money if I didn’t like food so much. 
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Lots of toy stores have big sales on, so I’m buying multiples of things to get us through the next year and also to use for birthday presents for other kids over the next year.
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You’re a genius. Thanks for the idea.
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Right? I got the idea off HaH, I think. I buy art supplies or books because every parent I know thinks their kid doesn’t need more stuff but also hates running out of art supplies, and appreciates a good book they can read over and over that’s been checked by another parent.
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Awww, I miss her. I hope she and her family are doing well.
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They’re traveling ok. I need to make plans to catch up with her soon, we’re still in touch!
I am very proud of myself. Put in an ask on Buy Nothing for a 3/4 size acoustic guitar. If nobody has one, I’ll buy one, but other people tend to grow out of them! I may have my own guitar by Christmas!
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I just used my credit card points to buy new bath sponges, reusable dishwasher safe ziplocks (trying to switch from disposable), a soap dish, and moisturizer! I’m interested in doing more things to earn gift cards, does anyone here do that kind of thing?
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I went to my favourite and most affordable grocery store and stocked up today. Good news is that I’m right about it being the most affordable choice (partly because it has less extras, but also a bit cheaper than Walmart for most things). Unfortunately I’ve also been really looking at my energy budget and I think that’s it for me grocery shopping in person until the week before Christmas.
We have some simplified meal plans in the works
Keto breakfasts - egg casseroles/boiled eggs
Keto lunches- meal prep salads plus proteins: hb egg, lunch meat, canned fish. Deliver upstairs so he eats greens and balances food through the day
1 sushi lunch
Keto dinners
Baked chicken with asparagus or salads or stirfry
Chicken noodle soup
Noodles Alfredo
Kid meals
Toast
Oatmeal
Chicken, rice, veggies
Noodles in sauce + hemp seeds
Chicken noodle soup
Chili and rice
Dhal and rice
Cut fruit
Veggie nausea ish meals
Toast
Hummus and toast
Hummus and rice and spinach and seeds
Dhal and rice
Chili and rice
Baked tofu plus corn and rice
Cooking:
Monday
3 egg bakes
3 salads
Chili
Chicken noodle soup or pasta and jarred sauce
Tuesday
Roast chicken and tofu, rice
Wednesday nope
Thursday - sushi? Or salad
Boil eggs if needed
Leftovers or noodles for dinner
Friday
Egg bake
Dhal and rice
Evaluate produce options
Possibly feed keto human
Plan Christmas shopping
Outfit gifts - one store, maybe H&M for niecr and nephew clothes
Ten tree- leggings and sweaters for adults
Parent gifts???
Finish adult gift baskets (currently Ikea cookies+ IKEA candles)
Etsy shopping - finger puppets, art, distant gifts, husboo gift???
Denmark gifts- Etsy or clothes?
Plan Christmas menu and start shopping. Approximately 25 people expected. Subject to whims and legislation
All of this with nausea, work, and saying goodbye to a loved one. So obviously I won’t do it all but the list should keep me semi focused. I think that even though it costs more doing it online, if I stay mindful and skip impulses I should be okay
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This reminded me I meant to make hommus and daal today. Thanks. That makes some easy meals for the low energy moments this week. Sounds like you have a good plan for expected energy levels.
Sorry to hear you’re saying goodbye to a loved one. 
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We have a LOT of food in the house right now.
I think I’m going to make it a goal to not food shop again until… hm. Is December realistic? Certainly waiting until after Thanksgiving weekend is realistic.
Exemption for anything that’s a staple or a true need. Like, we’re a little low on oil. I’ll probably need another carton of almond milk by then. But that should be IT! At least for me.
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I think the nice thing about financial planning when you are not in the danger zone (i.e. poverty/paycheck to paycheck) is that it doesn’t have to be rigid or intense. It’s a long game, after all. I’m trying to stay flexible about future housing too so I’m even thinking of our house savings as being for if we want to buy when our lease is up. I am pretty certain we will move when the lease is up either way, but I like how we aren’t locked into anything. I think that’s a benefit of not having kids too, not that you can’t change plans with kids but I think there’s a lot more to consider if you have them. Two adults and no kids? Easy mode and cruise control! Haha.
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I earn gift cards from playing silly cell phone games. I use rewarded play app. You get points for downloading games and then playing them for 4 minutes everyday, plus other points for hitting specific goals. It’s not a huge money maker, but it gives me rewards for games I would likely play anyway.
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Woah! I’ve never heard of that before, thank you! 
I’m going to make it! Boyfriend wanted to keep the Monday Imperfect Foods order, so I am adding just a couple things for myself (avocados, kale, a cheap log of goat cheese). I’m curious how long I can make it without a full grocery run for myself!
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I also want to extend time between shopping trips if I can. I really don’t feel like going on Sunday for some reason. Brainstorming things I can make today with what I have:
Risotto w/ dried mushrooms OR Arancini filled with pork
Tofu Pad Thai (w/chicken for more filling?) OR Carrot and Tofu Sushi?
Freezer beef chili (already cooked-- could save for weekly lunch and make bread to extend)
Big Squash Soup (def happening, squash in oven now) – could bake bread/make hush puppies to extend/make more filling.
Seitan (could stir fry with canned jack fruit or bamboo? could also serve with pad thai
noodles if I do sushi, could use frozen garden peppers too)
Chicken and rice (any type of sauce, I have coconut milk but also ghee, could do dry rub too. Could also do a chicken soup with barley instead?)
Polenta + Pork meatballs, dried mushrooms, parmesan (no tomato sauce tho, idk)
Any type of pasta + chicken casserole (recommendations welcome! maybe something with canned pumpkin?)
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Oh, I could use a good meal brainstorm! Stuff I can make with stuff we have on hand:
- Cream of tomato soup
- Thai pumpkin coconut soup. I ran across this online, am intrigued but fear it might be gross. Hm.
- Either green curry lentils or red curry lentils.
- White bean chili
- Black bean chocolate chili
- Pasta with ratatouille, or pasta with freezer pesto
- Coconut curry veggies and tofu
- Something with the TJ’s vegan meatballs.
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Isn’t it wild how much you can make when you really stop and think? I always start out thinking maybe I can make one or two meals and then end up with a nice big list!
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