The Sweet Life On A Budget

  Last year's word was balance, which fit the year 2023 very well.   First, our family had an intensive schedule between working, school/training, sports, and church.   It was difficult to accept not being able to complete everything on my to-do list.     However, it forced me to give myself grace.         This year I am claiming my phrase of the year is “The Sweet Life” (la dolce vita). La Dolce Vita, The Sweet Life, is a phrase I grew up with because of my extended Italian family.   Living the sweet life does not mean having excessive money or things but it is living your best life.  This means focusing on family, friends, faith, and enjoying the simple things of life.    Last year felt like we were juggling all of our obligations to make it through the week, but we didn’t focus on living.     While thinking about what I wanted from this year, I decided that having a joyous life was v...

  With grocery prices climbing higher and higher, it is getting more challenging to feed your family healthy food on a budget.    According to the USDA for my family of 2 adults and 1 child (age 14), our budget per month would be $169.30 per week, if we adhere to the thrifty plan.    (November 2021 chart) This budget is solely for food and does not include any paper products, cleaners, or personal care items.    Research has shown that lower processed, whole, fresh fruits and vegetables are an essential part of eating healthy.   In addition, eating protein (meat or meat substitute) and dairy products are equally important.     However, with inflation on the rise, it is getting harder to feed your family healthy nutritious food and maintain your standard of living.     Although the USDA has increased their estimations on how much you should be spending on food each week, our salaries have not kept up with inflation.  ...

  National Donut Day is June 4th.  National Donut Day started in 1938 by the Salvation Army as a way to thank the “donut lassies”.  A “donut lassie” was a female volunteer who would give treats to the soilers on the front lines during World War I as a morale booster.  The Salvation Army still participates in National Donut Day, but now requests donations which go towards providing the following programs:  food pantries, meals on wheels, senior citizen feeding programs and childcare nutrition programs. From my experience, on National Donut Day, you can score free donuts at various locations using their deals.   I have gotten donuts from Meijers, Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts over the years.  We always take a group and are prepared to wait in a long line to pick up our donut.    The wait is also part of the fun: waiting, giggling, talking and watching the donuts being made.      National Donut Day is Jun 4th.   Kr...

This past New Years I decided to do something a little different because I was tired of making resolutions and then forgetting about them by the end of the month.   This year I gave myself small goals for each month which should make positive changes overall in my life.  If you set clear goals, write them down and break each goal down into short term goals.  Each month I will focus on a specific short term goal and track my progress. In addition, I practice positive affirmations to improve my probability of being successful with my goals and gain support from friends/family.    Finally, I reward myself for achieving each short and/or long term goal.   Let’s see how I did:  For February, I committed to eating 6 portions of fruits and  vegetables daily. Well--- My plan was a good one, but I was inconsistent with it.   However, I did increase my fruits and vegetable intake, so that is a win. It seem...

This past New Years I decided to do something a little different because I was tired of making resolutions and then forgetting about them by the end of the month.   This year I gave myself small goals for each month which should make positive changes overall in my life.  If you set clear goals, write them down and break each goal down into short term goals.  Each month I will focus on a specific short term goal and track my progress. In addition, I practice positive affirmations to improve my probability of being successful with my goals and gain support from friends/family.    Finally, I reward myself for achieving each short and/or long term goal.   Let’s see how I did:  For January, I committed to stretching each morning.   Overall I did a great job, but I have to admit that several days I didn’t stretch this month.    My body would tell me that I was missing this important part of my routine...