Charmed Life

There have been plenty of times I have opened my adorable mouth and out popped something that I totally regretted. Like, "But you're my Watermelon Man" or "Yes, I would like another margarita" or "Sure, that Zipper ride does look like fun". Lessons learned: no one likes to have confirmation that their tummy resembles in both size and sound a watermelon, never have more than one drink in a night when you haven't had any in a month, and rides that spin in two different ways at one time will become what makes you shudder every time you pass by an amusement park.

My latest faux pas was "You'd have to do it for than a month before you would start to see what it's really like". Two months would have been more like it, but thankfully I did not say that. My innocent statement has signed us up for a month of eating like we're on food stamps. Almost. And really, not at all. But it will be different.

Karl had read on the internet that the Governor of Arizona was going to eat on $27 for one week to see what it was like to be on food stamps in his state. Arizona gives the least amount of food assistance than any other state. He lost four pounds. In the beginning our budget was $54, thinking that we would just double what that guy was doing. Then I looked up what Texas gives, $367 maximum for two people, to it's residence. I liked that number better.

Something else that is giving much relief is that I do not have to take into account what is already in the house. That's the main way that will be much different in our food stamp experience. I'm actually okay with this because I do have quite a bit hoarded away that should be used up. Sales of favorite items can lead to a cluttered closet. I think stocking up on food may be to me what shoes are to other women. Right now I have 8 jars of jam in the pantry, and 8 pairs of shoes in the bedroom closet; 3 pairs that I always wear, 5 that I hardly ever do but will never give up.
I love all of the jams.

Tomorrow will be our first day. What I like least about this experiment is that I am losing my lunches out. On most days I put together a small breakfast for us, lunch for Karl to take to work, a midday snack for me and, on most nights, a dinner. Our small dishwasher is always ready to run or unload and the counters always need wiping down. For my lunch I looove not eating my own cooking or having to clean up after myself. Huge luxury, one that I am not ready to give up. This is the second reason that I am happy to not have to count the food already in the house. It still allows for the possibility of a taco or a springroll, and possibilities make everything better.

When I started my meal planing, the first thing I decided was that I was not going to sacrifice some of my personal food policies. All meat and milk brought into the house will still be organic, grassfed or free range. I know, the end result is that the animal is still be used for food in some way, but I like to buy from people that I at least think are treating them more humanly before they end up on our table. I'm also going to keep buying certain organic foods. Potatoes that don't sprout kind of creep me out.

All of this has mostly just reminded me how lucky we are. We're not about to put a pool in the backyard, but my weekly grocery budget is more than $91 and we still get to eat out. Karl wants to see if it can be done, and with a little adjustment and much complaining on my part, it can. My greatest hope would be... that we get to buy a swimming pool.