Times are Tough...

Sometimes life gives you lemons and you have to make a souffle {lemonade would be way too easy}.  I have never actually attempted to make a souffle.  To be honest, I heard they are pretty tricky and I've never really had the guts to give it a try.  These next few months we may be doing lots of things that we haven't had to try in a while, so it could get a little interesting around here.  It seems our little family has hit that point in our lives again when we are forced to learn and grow.  The past few months have been grand and truth be told, it was nice for a while to not actually NEED to use coupons.  Sometimes in life, when we get comfortable or complacent, that's when the Lord decides it's time for us to grow some more.   This is one of those times for us, and I am looking for more ways to squeeze every little bit of use our of our dollars.  Here are some things I will be doing to cut back that budget even more so than only on the groceries, since I already rock at that ;-).

• Meal Planning - I will be more diligent about planning meals around the items that are on sale that week.  I may just share what I come up with so you can follow along, or make suggestions.  
• Bake my own bread - I have the yummiest recipe for both white and wheat bread. The hardest part about this though, it it tends to get eaten rather quickly right out of the oven which doesn't leave much for sandwiches.  Joe says the white bread tastes like candy, so I think I will use this opportunity to teach my daughters how to do this as well. 
• Buy Dryer Balls - I ordered some dryer balls from Norwex at my party last week.  This way, I won't have to buy fabric softener or fabric sheets, and it will cut down on my energy usage if I don't run such a long dryer cycle.
• Crock Pot - By using my crock pot more often to cook meals, it will cut down on our utility bills instead of using the stove. 
• Re-use/Re-purpose - One of my goals this year is to actually DO some of the crafts that I have built up in my storage.  I have lots of ideas on how to reuse things like formula cans and baby food jars.  I will also be looking for some REALLY cheap ways to decorate the house, particularly for the holidays.  
• More Norwex - buy using their anti-bacterial cloths I can eliminate ALL the other household cleaners in my home.  No more pine sol, bleach, windex, toilet bowl cleaners, degreasers, stainless steel polish, and not to mention sponges and paper towels!  Super excited about this one!  The best part is, I got lots of product for free at my class.  Love to replace cheap products with FREE ones!!
• Date Night - while not ready to give this up due to financial difficulties, I will find some fun and cheap ways to spend time with my sweetheart.  "Love Will Keep Us Alive" {this is our song by the Eagles}

In a nutshell, getting back to the basics.  Family, Faith, and Love.  I embrace these times of hardship because without trials, we cannot be tested and we cannot learn and grow.  I can't wait to see what's in store for our little family, and while the wait may be tricky, like baking that proverbial souffle, I'm sure the reward will be grand. 

I would love to hear your ideas on what you and your family do to cut back... Leave a comment or email me at thegrocerygeeks@gmail.com and your ideas may get their very own post!