Pearsons Progress

Canning Beef Stew

After Christmas Anita and I went to Makro (the Spanish version of SAM’s Club or COSTCO) so she could buy

Day 17 My Grocery Savings Plan

Day 17
I spent today: 11,50€
1 dozen eggs- 1,50€ (village food cost more and I forgot to bring my eggs!)
2.5 kilos of pork- 10,00€
Total spent for the past 17days: 70,35€
Average per day: 4,13€
NOT great if we are eating all of that food but these are meats that I have canned. Today I canned 39 jars of [...]

Day 16 My Grocery Saving Plan

Day #16: We  traveled to the village today. We actually left a bit late, and got to the house at 8pm. We stopped in Coria to buy a few groceries. I plan on canning the hamburger for future meals.  No one calls, no meetings… just work and I have time to CAN! I love that.
Spent [...]

Day 15 My Grocery Spending Plan

Day 15:
Still my total for spending the last 15 days is: 19,50€
Spent today: $0
I’m still pretty weak and tired from having the flu this week but well enough to starting thinking about preparing food again. We’re finishing up with the last of the  casserole and other leftovers but am looking at making some macaroni & [...]

The American Frugal Housewife by Lydia M. Child

What an interesting little book this is:

Originally published in 1832, this extraordinary manual for the homemaker of modest means is far more than a mere “cookbook.”
Here is a quote:
“The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all the fragments, so that nothing be lost. I mean fragments of time, as [...]

The Greenhouse

Here’s the progress on my plants in the greenhouse. Mind you, I’m only interested at this time in growing vegetables. This my attempt to squeeze every penny (euro cent) to death! My goal is to grow 100% of the lettuce we eat (we’d like to eat 2 salads a day) and hopefully the rest of [...]

Taking advantage of seasonal food

Upon returning  home from Chicago, I found that there were several opportunities to buy fruit and vegetables at really good prices.

a 5 kilo bag of carrots @,45 “euro cents” a kilo
apples for ,69 cents a kilo
plums for ,69 cents a kilo

I also brought back 2 ½ pounds of fresh jalapeños from Chicago. [...]

Economy

Well, my 20 euros for 20 days was a COMPLETE success! I had money to spare! I then proceeded to spend all of my Decembers food allowance on my holiday menu. Now I’ll begin to “rebuild” my food budget surplus. Last month I ended up getting 5€ less than I had thought because our [...]

Dave Ramseys 7 Baby Steps

$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund

Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball

3 to 6 months of expenses in savings

Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement

College funding for children

Pay off home early

Build wealth and give!
Invest in mutual funds and real estate
Dave Ramsey.com

Our food budget and saving anyway I can!

My blessings for this week: I am so humbled by the Lords goodness and generosity in my life!
Between the high cost of European living, the bad exchange rate, the expenses of our ministry, and upcoming commitments I am looking for ways to make every cent count. I depend on the Lord to inspire me and [...]