Can I really do this???

My life as of late has been very difficult. Between my husband not working for the last year, employment insurance running out in August, getting a bit of support from Second Career to help support our family. There are many seasons of life and I do not intend to stay in this season for a long time. I have hope in the future of what is to come. But can I really do this???

As we are trying to navigate the system of assistance to a degree and have door after door shut in our face it really does get a bit overwhelming in many ways. But still I hold on to the hope, the hope for change. The hope that things will get better. All in God's time things will get better. Resting and trusting in him is what I have to lean on every day.

There are times when the tears do flow and I have a pity party for myself as I am only human but for the most part I am grateful for another day to be the woman God wants me to be. To support my husband and stand by the decisions that he makes for our family. To not wavier and stand firm by his side.

As long as God is by my side I can do this and I will do this. One step at a time.

How do you save money on food:

I thought I would do a post on how I save money with food so that you can all comment and share how you save money on food.

1. Cooking from scratch - I find it actually saves us money and it tastes a whole lot better. The initial start up with cooking from scratch is costly but in the end it is a great savings.
2. Buying in bulk - I try to buy all our grains, beans, peas and such from a local bulk food store.
   
3. Look for sales and mark downs on products you use - the key is on products you use if you don't normally use the item it really isn't a deal no matter how low it is priced. I find meat is marked down at most grocery stores local to me first thing in the morning and I tend to get some really good deals by heading out first thing and picking up some of the deals.
   
4. Eating at home - this keeps our budget just for groceries and not eating out.
5. Menu planning - knowing what we are eating during the week always helps keep us on track.
6. We eat our leftovers the next day at lunch.
   
7. Last but not least is coupons - I find ones for the products we use and combine them with sales to get them at the lowest possible price.
   

Brownies

These brownies are so yummy for your tummy!

* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 2 tablespoons water
* 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch square pan.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and water. Cook over medium heat until boiling. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies set up. Do not overbake! Cool in pan and cut into squares.

Cinnamon Butternut Squash Muffins

These muffins are beyond delightful!!! So so so yummy not just for breakfast but any time of the day if you ask me.

1 banana, mashed
1 cup cooked butternut squash
4 eggs
1/3 cup applesauce
1/3 cup white sugar
6 Tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups flour

Optional Topping:
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions
1. In stand mixer or mixing bowl, mix banana, butternut squash, eggs, applesauce, sugar, and oil, until well blended.
2. In separate mixing bowl, combine salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and flour.
3. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until batter forms.
4. Pour into greased baking cups or muffin tins, and sprinkle with brown sugar-cinnamon topping. Makes 24 regular size muffins. (mine made 20 muffins)
5. Bake at 350. Regular size muffins for 16-18 minutes.

Real Canadian Superstore Deals today....

Last Friday at RCSS I went to purchase Robin Hood Flour for 9.00 so the sign said but I also noticed a sign for 12.98. I had a 2.00 off coupon so for 7.00 for 10kg of flour that was pretty good. Well you guessed it ... it rang up 12.98 so the took that off my bill and put it back in at 9.00 and then credited me the 9.00 but they had already taken off the 2.00 coupon which I didn't realize until I got home... I got paid 2.00 to bring it home. I might add on my next trip in I went to the customer service desk to explain what happened and she said don't worry about it... we will get our 2.00 from the coupon anyway! By the way I didn't have to ask for the SCOP at RCSS that day either... it all happened at the cash register.

Now on for today's deals....


Total paid for everything after $10 rebate... $12.50.

Stockpiling .... that is how I save money...

What is stockpiling? It is getting items at rock bottom prices and coupons to go along with it and stocking up on them so you do not have to pay regular prices. I stockpile many items when I have coupons and they come on sale. Sometimes getting the items for FREE.

The key is to know what your family uses or will use. I don't stockpile items that we do not normally use unless it is for gifts or I am getting them for FREE. Decide how much of the item you family goes through in say a month or six months... how ever long you want to try to stock pile for. Watch for the items you use to go on sale and watch for coupons for the items you like to purchase. I find coupons in many different places from the coupon center at the Real Canadian Super Store, to the smart shopper flyer that comes in the Elgin County Market, Brandsaver coupon flyer that comes out periodically as well as save.ca, and coupons I find while just walking down the aisles at WalMart, Zellers, Shoppers Drug Mart, Metro and such. I pick up the coupon if it something we use and if it is not on sale I just keep it until I find it onsale. I don't have to purchase at the store that I picked up the coupon unless it is a store coupon. All manufacturers coupons can be used pretty much anywhere from walmart, zellers, canadian tire, shoppers to rcss, no frills you name it. It is wonderful.

You can get multiple copies of coupons from friends, neighbors and family. My inlaws collect all the coupon flyers that come in for me. My mom also keeps the ones that she finds for me. They all know I use coupons like crazy in this house.

Certain items go on sale at certain times or on a cycle. Learn the cycles. So that you can pick up enough to not have to pay full price for that item until it goes on sale again.

There are also certain items I refuse to pay full price for... there is always sales and coupons and no need to pay full price. I will get the list together and post it in the next few days here.

Child's sleep priority one at our house!

After being out last night at a church event and asking if we would be attending the prayer meeting at 6pm afterwards... I dutifully said no very quickly. Then explained that our daughters sleep time routine is not something that we can mess with. There is only a certain window of opportunity if you will to get her to bed every night and if you are not within that window trust me things are not nice.

I also should mention that my daughter has special needs and routine is vitally important to her well being and then in turn to our well being since we have to live with the after math. So this means we say no to some things no matter how much we would love to attend these things we have to say no because of the time that they take place.

My husband and I have agreed that maintaining a bed time routine is very important to our daughters happiness and therefore our happiness. It isn't worth the price we pay to keep her up late out of routine.

Mind you her early bed time allow my husband and I some alone time and even some time that we can actually get out just the two of us. (for those visiting my blog the first time I do have three older children in my house - 19,18 and 15 and therefore my 5 year old would not be alone)