Interesting thread for me to read. Went from living in a 2 person household to a 5 person, over the course of a divorce, and a re marriage. Does make a huge difference. I won't include animal feed cocts, since around our house, they are all "babies," and pets. I know they eat a lot. If they teach the kids some responsibility, than it is worth it.
Times are tougher. Wages have gone down, and prices have gone up. There is no way, or need to sugar coat it. I am the bargain hunter in the house. We do not coupon, as we never see any for things we would use. We have worked hard to get the pantry to a point where we can wait for things to go on sale. The wife used to manage a grocery store, so she knows their game. Was looking at the local store ad today. Their case lot sale starts next week. Wait a week, save some bucks. I don't feel like you have to coupon, so to say, as much as you need to pay attention. These sales run in cycles. Use them to your advantage. To build up a
"stockpile'" so to speak, buy 1 or 2 extras of what you normally use. It is truely amazing how fast it will stack up. You don't have to break the bank to do it either. The simple method of "store what you eat, eat what you store" is a real, honest lifes lesson. That is what works.
Living in a new place should produce a bigger, better garden. Hoping for the "6 million dollar garden." More good food for us, and hopefully sell some excess, at a fair price to others. Self suffiency is a lifestyle, and it takes work, more for some, than others. It does require some sacrifice, but it is well worth it in the end.
