BUDGET IS BLOWN

I had a fun morning at my in-laws house for breakfast. I try and see my family and my husbands family at least once per week. It became clear today that it would be extremely hard/impossible to live where I do (in the bushes!) because the cost of transportation alone would be too high. I will take $2.50 out for gas money today and I guess I owe $2.50 for the ride I took yesterday. I think I will try parking my car at the Rec Centre tomorrow and walking to work. Would I be able to have my job if I didn't have access to a vehicle though? I can see how not having a vehicle would limit ones employment prospects. Just another obstacle to overcome.

Here is my budget:
$55.00 - $35.34(groceries) + $3.00(carts) - $5.00 (gas money) = $17.66

This amount gives me anxiety -its only the second day and I have pretty much blown my budget. I go over the foods I chose - could I have cut corners there? I could have - but should I have to? Or should I have sacrificed having a social life and connecting with friends and family? If we are looking and the link between poverty and health - I can see that this constant struggle would leave a person exhausted.

I am scheduled to curl tomorrow, at 6:00pm, in KEEWATIN! I looked at the bus schedule and there is one bus going to Keewatin leaving City Hall at 4:36. This is 6 minutes after I get off work - I will have to hustle to make it! I will also have to see what the drop in curling fee is... but I can see this cutting into my bottom line. The easiest thing to do would be to cancel, but I can't let down my team and it is usually the only time I get to see some friends throughout the week.

Today I ate oatmeal and a banana for breakfast, macaroni and cheese for lunch, an apple and cheese for a snack, and I made a shepherds-like pie for dinner (dirty mashed because I only peel on holidays). My challenge today was to feed two, so my husband and I ate this shepherdy-pie together for dinner. I had to cheat and borrow 1/2 cup of milk for the mash... again meal planning is not my strength! There is enough for my lunch and dinner tomorrow - because I won't have enough time to come home after work and before curling (6 minutes!). 

DAY TWO - FEED A FRIEND

Here is my second challenge - and this is one I can excel at!
I will plan to feed my husband tonight out of my food rations - I will post my meaplan later;)


For now I am heading out to have breakfast with family - and I will bring my oatmeal and banana! I will take $2.50 out of my budget for my bus fare.

SHOPPING CARTS, BABY SHOWERS and BONFIRES

This challenge was difficult for me. I felt very uncomfortable thinking about asking for money from people. I would be willing to work for money, or collect cans - just to feel as though I deserved what I collected and gave something in return. Asking for grocery cart money isn't like that. I waited by the cart area for about 5 mins feeling very awkward with no success, and I chickened out a couple of times. I tried to examine the feeling that I had at that time, and basically it was embarrassment which in turn made me ashamed. I moved locations and started to walk around the parking lot area - I was more comfortable moving and felt less awkward. I kept running into people that I knew, but I couldn't tell them I was participating in A Walk in Other's Shoes.  I was able to collect two dollars from people who knew me and I believe they assumed that I was just out of loonies and they were doing me a favour. I walked away for a length of time so that as they left, they wouldn't see that I was still looking for more money. This made me feel really sneaky just very low. After this I collected a cart that was far away and brought it back for the loonie. I was going to leave at this point but I reminded myself that this is an extra $4 for the week and I wasn't sure if there would be other opportunities for money. I waited another 20 minutes looking for cart opportunities - but nothing was really happening so I pulled the plug.


This was completely demeaning and for a relatively simple task was very hard for me to wrap my mind around.

I didn't have much time to reflect on my experience because I was late for a baby shower for baby Daisy - thankfully I was able to catch a ride with my sister in law and family. It was a lot of fun to see many friends, family and babies! This lightened my mood! I wasn't able to bring any food (normally I would have offered to) and I had already given a gift - but this made me reflect on the plain fact that on social assistance it would be unrealistic to think that you have excess to share. I get joy from giving gifts and finding something that would be useful and thoughtful for my friends and family. I think this whole social convention would be stressful for someone without resources. Again I felt a little shame because I reminded myself that gifts are not just monetary and there are many things you can give that don't cost money.


After the baby shower we had a bonfire at our house with a couple of friends - a low cost event that was a lot of fun!

READY TO GO...

Here are the groceries I purchased yesterday. 

I have to say I was nervous in the check out line  because I wasn't sure exactly how much money the bill would come to. I tried to add it up in my head as I went - but I was not very confident in my math skills. My strategy was to choose foods that are filling and not too expensive. I was able to get some meat and cheese - my two food groups. Currently I have about $20 left for the next five days...not much as all..

Here is my first challenge... Back to the grocery store I go;)