Today was day 25 of the June Food Stamp Challenge and I’m I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m excited. Not just for the challenge to end, but to finally get to write about, (and think about) something different.
I had wanted to write a piece about the difficulties of entertaining on a limited food budget, complete with tips like “throw a potluck” and “make it a brunch, so you don’t have to serve alcohol.” (I know, I know, bloody Mary’s and mimosas often get served.) Instead, the only entertaining I’ll be doing between now and the end of the month is a kid get together for my 12-year-old son.
My son just had a birthday party last month, but he really wanted to have some friends over to celebrate summer. And I could think of no reason to say no, so I agreed.
We’ll be serving:
- Hot dogs
- Watermelon
- Watered down lemonade from concentrate
- Tortilla chips
- Rice Krispie treats, (Remember all those almost free Rice Krispies that I bought at the beginning of the month?)
- Otter Pops
There will be no expense beyond the food, (which was $23) and I think we’ll send the kids over to the grade school playground/ basketball court when they start to hype up.
Hardly the sophisticated soiree I had hoped to host, but it’s entirely stress free and I’ll even take down the laundry line for the occasion. Par-tay!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
They still make OTTER POPs??! I loved those when I was a kid. I think pink is the best flavor 🙂 If you have those, you don’t even need the other food, lol.
My son’s birthday is coming in July and for years we’ve been throwing these big family gatherings with a big cookout and lots of food. I’ve been trying to convince the husband—who doesn’t like to have the gatherings at all oddly enough—that we don’t need to have this bloated menu we always serve. I think we just get into certain habits, like always serving the same things regardless of the expense. This year I want to open our minds a bit.
I can understand that you would be glad to see the end of the month. (especially after being so sick, never good, and you have my total sympathy and lots of hugs) But think of those of us on limited means who hate the end of the month – the pantry’s getting pretty bare, but you eat what there is, because it’s what you have, and you have no more money to get anything else. There is no light, just an endless tunnel.
I don’t qualify for food stamps, because my unemployment gives me about $20 per year (yes, I said year) too much money, according to the local Social Services office. Yes, yes, get a job – the local job market currently has about 6 applicants for every job opening, and unfortunately, employers prefer to hire the younger folks, rather than the fifty-something lady who’s guaranteed to have more health problems and wants retirement benefits and health insurance. I was laid off along with about 450 other people when my employer closed our facility and moved business to El Paso.
I don’t spend $101 on groceries per month – it isn’t in my budget. I get by, because I’m frugal and I have a small garden starting to produce, and I have generous friends and neighbors. Medical expenses are a nightmare, but sometimes you just have to do it.
Julia’s blog is truly inspirational, and I’m so glad she’s spreading the word that FS people are just that – people! Everyone needs to eat, and your method of payment shouldn’t have anything to do with it.
Thanks for the challenge. I hope a great many people have a better idea of what their neighbors deal with.