Credit cards or food bank?

So this week is one of those weeks where living without consumer credit forces lifestyle changes.  I had a minor car repair, and had almost no pizza deliveries last week, so this week I totally ran out of cash.    I have just enough gas money to get to work, but like most people I had to take the money out of grocery budget.  Oh if only landlords and insurance companies were as elastic as our stomachs.

So today I went to a food bank, Men United for God on wyandotte.  I got some fresh peppers and tomatoes, bread, canned vegetables, juice and pasta.  I'm very thankful that our community has this kind of help.  During my time volunteering at a food bank I felt the joy of helping others, and today I felt the joy of being helped.

I know there is a culture of shame in our society about taking handouts, but for me the real shame is using credit cards to make ends meet.  I know so many people who month after month dig themselves a deeper debt grave.  Economic realities are so hard to see in this lifestyle, there are many blurred lines between wants, needs, what is affordable and what is not.  This week, I could not afford to drive to work and eat.  If i bought groceries on credit card, I still could not afford to eat, but would have the illusion that I did. 

If you do have credit cards, I encourage you to max them out and never pay it back.  Its best to take as much money as you can from the sharks, while you have the opportunity.  When you need financial help, turn to the community for true help, please do not turn to consumer credit to exchange help for financial slavery.

Qpaukl Kimmerly's Killer Koleslaw

Thanks for the recipe Qpaukl!

Ingredients:

Red Cabbage

Green Cabbage

A Carrot

Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Garlic, salt and pepper

plus a Cheese Grater

Step 1

Procure a variety of vegetables. I used a carrot, red cabbage and a green cabbage.  You can use other vegetables like onions, broccoli, cauliflower or whatever you have lying at the bottom of your fridge.

Step 2

Cut a third of the cabbages off.  Begin shredding you cabbage chunks into a bowl.

Step 3

Grate the entire carrot. I know it is a degrating job but we are talking about delicious homemade coleslaw here.  

Step 4

Your Killer Koleslaw is now prepared but you might like to add some dressing. I use some Balsamic Vinegar and Sunflower Oil. Plus I add in some garlic salt and pepper. You don't need a lot. Mix it thoroughly.

Step 5

This recipe would serve a family of 4 - 6 as a side dish. Now go and eat your Killer Koleslaw before the zombies show up and eat you. Remember this coleslaw didn't come in a bag. It was freshly made and you saw what ingredient were used to make it.

Money Saving Tip: Join a Food Cooperative

Look up a local food cooperative or CSA and buy in-season produce.  Other alternatives are roadside stands or farmers market, but that will be more expensive.

This summer I joined Locally Germinated CSA http://locallygerminated.wordpress.com/about/ it was $300 for the year.  That works out to $15 a week for enough produce for 2 people.  Here is what you get

• In June baskets will have – Lettuce, Snow Peas, Snap Peas, Radishes, Garlic Scapes, and more.
• In July – Beans, Garlic, Summer Squash, Broccoli, Cabbage, and more.
• In August – Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Basil, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Melons, and more.
• In September – Beans, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Kale, Onions, and more.
• In October – Cauliflower, Beets, Turnips, Brussel Sprouts, Sunchokes, Leeks, and more.

 

Money Saving Tip: How to Save Money on Groceries

When you have to go grocery shopping, don't go to one store.  Go to every store in the area.  Only buy things that are on sale.  Your usual fare not on sale this week?  Good time to try a new recipe.  Buying produce on sale means you have to use it quickly.  If you can't eat it all in time, peel it, chop it, freeze it.

When you find a good sale, stock up.  Certain grocery stores have 50% off stickers that go on after the usual sales, concentrate on these.  Organic items almost always go on sale sooner or later because it doesn't move as fast as the usual stuff (milk especially).

Following this strategy should save you at least 30-40% of your grocery bill.  You'll really notice the shrinking grocery bill once you're stocked up on for-sale items and you're no longer paying high prices for common items.