For me, it's my eating. Lately, I've been going through this cycle over and over again: I buy about $50 worth of groceries, I eat them all until it's gone, I get sick of eating the same four or five meals over and over (50 bucks doesn't stretch too far), I can't afford more groceries until the next paycheck comes—who knows when that will be—so I grab a slice of pizza for dinner more times in a week than a I should. Why? Because it's cheap. And somewhat satisfying. I get sick of Subway sandwiches because I'm eating them for lunch and dinner (Hello, $5 Footlong!) I don't know how Jared does it. By now I'm tired of everything, nothing tastes good, so I "cheat." With money I should be spending on eggs, milk, cereal and metro cards. Skim lattes, trips to Tasti-D-Lite, Pop Chips, PB & chocolate chips from the Puppy Chow I made last week, more pizza, more, more, more anything that tastes good. Even if it only makes me happy for a second. Crash, burn, I'm depressed, why can't I be healthy? Why? Why? WHY?!
I genuinely like eating and learning about healthy foods, but because of my money sitch, it's hard for me to really stay on track with it and make it a lifestyle. Last week I bought a roasted chicken to see how many meals I could make with it. I made a sandwich, rice and beans, a stir fry, more rice, more beans, veggies, ick I'm sick of chicken!
I'm probably just making excuses for myself. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who cook great meals and really know how to make their groceries last. Maybe I'm just a lazy asshole. I get so envious of food/health bloggers though. Their reality is whole wheat pancakes, oatmeal with five different toppings, homemade soups and smoothies, blue corn tacos filled with black beans and yumminess, pumpkin muffins, huge salads, organic cereals, and the list goes on. It's not to say that I can't afford to make ANY of these things, but I'd only be able to afford the ingredients for one or two of them in a week. I refuse to believe that any of these bloggers spend less than $80 a WEEK on food. I could be wrong. I hope I am.
Anyway, I need to stop focusing on what other people have. Obviously, it's not helping, and jealousy is not a good look for me. It is hard though not being bitter and blaming everything on money, but the only way I will ever find a solution is to keep moving forward and think positively.
So tell me: What suffers the most when your cash flow is low? And does anyone have tips for me on how to eat healthfully on a budget? Without eating the same things over and over?
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