Strongerthanb4

I've found that planning ahead is my friend. I make a weekly menu and we follow that. It takes the worry out of my more difficult days. Here are a couple of things I've started doing:

I buy in bulk. I will brown 2 lbs of ground beef then freeze in single meal servings. It allows for a quick taco meat/ nacho night and my son loves meat sauce with his spaghetti.

I make a ground beef stroganoff that is easy and cheap!

      brown 1 lb ground beef, mushrooms and a 1/2 tsp minced garlic. Drain.

      add 1 can of cream of mushroom soup. simmer for 5 minutes.

      stir in 8 oz of sour cream. Serve over egg noodles.

I make a batch of enchiladas and freeze in $$ store aluminum containers.

Ham steaks are my friend - super quick to thaw and easy to cook.

AND - I make lots of soups. I use the crockpot several times a week.

It was about 5 months for me too. I understand how you feel. It was important to me that I focus on becoming my own person. I'm not part of a team anymore. I figure if I need it, I can put it back on, but not seeing it every day makes it easier to let other things change. We are the hardest on ourselves, but I thought I needed to justify my decision to my in laws.

DS lost his dad 6 months ago and had a severe injury 2 months ago. First it was his sport, now scouts. Do I let him take time off and hope he wants to come back, or do I force him to do what he doesn't want to do? He is 12. I feel like I should let him walk away but so many people are telling me that I shouldn't. Any of you have kids that went through something similar?

I keep thinking it is hard for me, but it must be torture for my MIL. Her oldest child is laid to rest next to her husband.

Just when I thought I could look forward to the summer. I am a mess because "decorating" my husband's grave totally fucking sucks.

When I have to make decisions like this for my son and me, I often think of the emergency instructions on a plane. In the event you have put the oxygen mask on, you are supposed to put yours on first, then your child?s.

I love this. I have been similar issues. Stay where I am, earn far less and have no where to go, or find that dream job - which would mean a move leaving our support system. In my case, putting on the oxygen mask might just keep me where I am. Maybe I just need to be ok with that - for the time being.

Vinegar! Really? I'll give it a try. I've been running without a rinse aid for about a month. lol

My frugal tip: At the beginning of every month I withdraw a budget friendly about of cash. I pay cash for everything (except gas - it's easier to swipe that). Once that cash is gone I can't get any more. It has kept me on track with staying in my budget - especially in the grocery store and for eating out. I just have to check my wallet to know if I can be lazy or if I have to cook something. 

I should also add that if I want something I buy it. Bills are for next month.

My kid brushes his teeth about 3 times a week. The fight is exhausting.

I hate being around "normal" people. Am I the only one who notices how conversations are no longer about spouses when I'm in the room.

I have used the "oh, I'm just so overwhelmed" excuse to explain why I don't clean my house. I'm not overwhelmed. I'm under supervised. I don't clean my house because I'd rather play candy crush.