-
Recent Posts
Tags
apples bike black friday breakfast budget camping capital car chickens chromebook compost computer data dinner eggs farmer's markets food food-miles food stamps food waste garden groceries ice cream income inventory kamiak butte kitchen local maps menu Montana repair retail school shopping spending steel-cut oats technology thanksgiving thrift time tomatoes travel wal-mart workCategories
Category Archives: Budget
Test Case, Part 1
After -what has it been now, two weeks? Close to three?- of trying to use a Lenovo K1 tablet like a laptop computer and a ten-year-old Dell Latitude laptop as a “desk” or home machine, I am both encouraged and … Continue reading
Posted in Budget, technology
Tagged computer, diy, lenovo k1, logic board, macbook pro, technology
3 Comments
Thrift-tech: The DIY Version
Meanwhile, as I fume and rant about our shallow, materialistic society, I have to both address my family’s need for suitable technology and confront my own desire for shiny things. The latter is arguably more mutable, whereas there is only so … Continue reading
Posted in Budget, Project, technology, thrift
Tagged Android, budget, computers, diy, linux, mac, technology
2 Comments
Summertime, and the living’s dicey
I thought it time for an update on our food budget/shopping situation, especially after some of the changes that have happened with our income and such. It all began in the spring, after I started working again. I can remember … Continue reading
ROAD TRIP!!!
In previous posts I have hinted at the idea of our family taking a long road trip this summer; that was one of the reasons why we wanted to replace our aged minivan with a slightly less aged Suburban. Now … Continue reading
Crash and burn
One of the side-effects of the recent spate of busy-ness has been a loss of control over the budget. Since I hadn’t really gotten an effective system in place, there wasn’t one to fall back on when things got hectic. … Continue reading
“We’re doing pretty well, for poor people”
In a recent post, I began addressing the question of affordability, noting the high rate of food insecurity in the United States and wondering where our family fit compared to the rest of the nation. We have not been food-insecure … Continue reading
Still Waiting…
Well, Tuesday came and went with no replenishment of our grocery account, which then held $2.67. So did Wednesday. I called The Agency and was told, in a less-than-compassionate tone, that since my review form was received late, things would … Continue reading
Failure Update
I’ve realized something over the past few weeks of trying to do too much with too little: the phrase “my plate is full” doesn’t account for the size of the plate, nor for its strength. A foot-wide stoneware platter can … Continue reading
“I’m sorry, but we can’t afford that.”
I imagine that most parents have said that to their children at one time or another, maybe when asked about a shiny new toy or a fun vacation. But how many have to say it when grocery shopping? 15 percent … Continue reading
I Forgot to Mention…
…that when I started the job, our family’s food benefit went from $640 to $506 per month. The difference between the two is roughly equal to one week’s pay. Good times.
