We spent around 3500 dollars when we travel several times a year. This would not be possible without careful management and side income. Our adult children didn't have the opportunity to travel the country the way their younger siblings do. I am mindful of there are not many families that are able to travel as much as we do.
We had a string of bad luck on this trip. The icing on the cake was my husband broke a crown. This will be an unplanned expense. We haven't thought how we will be dealing with until we meet with the dentist tomorrow.
We are traveling again for business purposes. We have to have a new tenant for the our rental property before the snow hits. There are very few leads. We have 3 people and one that doesn't speak English. It is imperative to get the hosue rented because it is a signifigant part of our income and we need it occupied for the winter. We need to save on the expenses. We will be staying at our rental, eating all meals on the property, and bringing the hotspot to avoid traveling 28 miles each way to use internet.
The grocery budget is one of the easiest and hardest ways to reduce your expenses. Yes, you read that right easy and hard. You need to have a pantry that is stocked so you can use loss leaders weekly. You need to adapt your diet to the seasons and your wallet. Children's needs can send your budget soaring. I spent a week with my granddaughter. Young children eat amny times a day, and waste a lot. We shared a lot of meals and I was able to feed 3 additional people for the same price as I feed my family of 4. I brought a lot of dried goods and canning with me.
I was able to make 6 dinners for 6 people for 75 dollars with wine and desserts
Sunday:
Homemade pumpkin ravoli with brown butter
salad
ice cream with cookies
Monday
big mac pizza, salad, fruit, and choclate cake
Tuesday
Lentil curry
jasmine rice
fresh pineapple
Wednesday
Beef and brocoli
sushi
eggrolls
vegetable dumplings
Thursday
Thanksgiving dinner
turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, green beans, squash , and cheese cake
Friday:
Turkey diane
salad
ambrosia for dessert
Saturday
Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, green beans. strawberry ice cream
Sunday:
Roast chicken
sweet potatoes roasted on sheet pan with beets, parsnips, and carrots
a big salad
pomogrante fruit salad
I also made several meals of cabbage rolls for my daughter's freezer.
I shopped carefully, used coupons, and shopped at the discount store. We had leftovers form all these meals for my daughter's freezer. I made a gallon of turkey soup and froze it into small containers for lunches.
Let's face it, it is the time of year where we all have higher expenses. I find that if I have a meal or two premade in the freezer for those days where I don't feel like cooking, it is more economical to grab out of the freezer than order out.
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