Sharon Simpson Thumann

I have a cast iron frying pan and grill pan, a harden andondized set sauce/frying pans from Guy Fierri and a few enameled lodge pieces.

My husband and I talked about our spending and which meals we preferred over others. We narrowed it down to our 3-4 favorite meals. Chuck roast, meatloaf, pork chops and roast chicken. Every week I make a meatloaf, chuck roast and roasted chicken. I make a "shepherds pie" from the left over chuck roast, lettuce wraps from left over meatloaf and chicken soup from the left over chicken. Six meals from three meats..seventh meal is pork chops. Doing it this way I can afford the better quality meats from Whole Foods and stay within a reasonable budget. Right now we are spending about $100 a week, which I think is pretty good considering what it used to be.. about $600 a month. I no longer feel stressed about the budget and now that our garden is coming along pretty good, I hope that for the next 4-5 months I can save even more by not having to buy much if any produce from the grocer/farmers market.. except for sweet potatoes. I know our meal choices sound boring but I just switch up the spices for a different taste weekly.

Coconut oil from Costco is actually a decent price and I like it. It lasts my family of two for awhile because I use other fats to cook with as well.

I usually eat salads for breakfast with tuna, my hubby prefers eggs so I make him egg muffins with veggies.

Hey Jahx! I am in Naples woot woot hey neighbor! I totally agree with you though on all of it, at first I obsessed about buying the best of the best and it made the Whole30 miserable. I buy most of my good from Costco and a little from Publix. I do the best I can and I really looked deep into our budget and there is just not room, at least not right now.. We are saving to buy a new car and I want to either have a huge down payment or enough to buy it outright. No car= no work=no money for food. Priorities! So please, new people, don't feel bullied or pressured by others to always buy the absolute best, buy what you can afford and keep an eye out for sales. Some people here can afford the best of the best, but some of us can not, I figure I am doing good just getting off the processed merry go round, so please be careful with your words because it can be a turn off and drive some people away, it almost drove me away..

I don't think I will be giving up a/c in Florida and much as it pains me, we will eventually have to buy a new car. Our is 15 yrs old, we've taken good care of it and have had to spend $3500 fixing it in the past two years, plus crappy gas mileage.. it's time for a new car.

I just print these sheets off and use weekly. I make my husband get involved too, after all he eats too and we do the shopping together. http://www.freshandorganized.com/2013/01/a-weekly-meal-planner.html

You can grow anything in containers! Right now I have tomatoes, zuchinni, broccoli, watermelon, bell peppers, cantaloupe, various herbs and onions growing in pots. Also, yeah you can grow bananas at home. I see several people here in Naples, FL advertising on Craigslist for free bananas from their trees. Check Craigslist for free stuff, here people are always giving away fruits because they have too many, like mangos. You might even find eggs, I did. I live in an apartment so container gardening is the only way for me. I bought a few of these bags. I will try to grow almost everything I need veggies and fruit wise. http://www.amazon.co...=A1SV1BYDTUK2Z5 Edited to add: I also use a meal planner. On Friday evenings I make a menu for the whole week, then figure out what veggies I need to buy and that is all I buy. Until my container veggies start growing good I still have to buy at the grocery store. Sundays shopping trip I spent $40 at the grocery store, this week I am going to the farmers market and see how much I can get with the $40 there.. an experiment of sorts! I've also been thinking about going to a local organic farm because they have U-pick.. and U-pick is usually cheaper. I just found out about them a couple days ago, sounds interesting so maybe that's where I will take my $40 this week. I only buy for two people.

Just remember to buy what you can afford. You can do this eating all conventional or even just a mix of conventional and organic.

I try not to look at that page because it makes me angry every damn time.

Hoorah! Great post, I am still learning, as we all are, it's a day by day experience.

Would it be okay to drink V8 with meals as a replacement for water on occasion? I personally do not care for tea or coffee and normally drink water but have used V8 when I wanted something besides water. I haven't started Whole30 yet, my husband and I decided we have way too many events and family reunions to attend between now and labor day, we have chosen to start on Sept 10th and we're already prepping our pantry and freezer with compliant foods, especially when we find quality meats on sale. We can't wait to start our new life! Thanks!