2 weeks on $20: Day 3-9

Survived on eggplant spaghetti and leftover beef stew from the freezer for Days 3-6. I must say, poor is an excellent diet plan; I've lost weight this week. One of our clients at work is such a sweetheart, she gave all of us a $25 gift card to Starbucks for the holiday since she was leaving for Florida. That's super helpful! On Day 6, my friend Adam bought dinner at Sullivans (thank you!) they do a special on Thursdays, a $5 steak and $5 martinis, it's amazing! Day 7 we had a work meeting where they provided food, and so that was my main meal for the day, plus there were leftovers so I had 2 extra sandwiches (lunch Day 8-9) and a huge salad bowl that I'm still working through. Last night I splurged and for Dexter and pizza night I bought the pizza (with coupon $10). Five more days to get through and it's getting slim, I can't wait for Friday! Spent $2.50 yesterday at Christkindlmarket, but a cute German in the sweet castle gave me an extra marshmallow chocolate treat, probably from the flirting, and I got a Bounty bar (think better version of a Mounds) that will be my treat later today while I snack on leftover pizza and chips.

2 weeks on $20: Day 2

Sundays are an easy day, and my only day off. Toast for breakfast and a yummy lunch of eggplant spaghetti and I'm pretty full for the day, and it ended up making enough to fill 3 little containers that I can eat over the next few days.  (If you really want the breakdown of what exactly is in my pantry I can post it, I really did make a list.)

Eggplant spaghetti

olive oil in pan med heat
2 small white eggplants sliced into uniform bite-size bits
1 small onion
3 garlic cloves chopped
half jar of tomato basil sauce
salt & pepper
pinch of nutmeg
sprinkle of red pepper flakes
let simmer for 10min sprinkle some mozzarella over and let it melt
cooked spaghetti noodles

2 weeks on $20: Day 1

Luckily I have my other costs factored in already, so all I have to worry about on a daily basis for the next 2 weeks is just not starving too much. Although, I guess some crazy people do that anyway to be skinny etc... me, I like food too much, it's an important part of enjoying life, can't eat when you're dead. Luckily food doesn't control my life so I can skip a meal if I really need to and not be hurting and don't need to eat typical American portions. Day 1 was easy, especially since one of my favorite coworkers brought in her leftovers and extra food to hand out, great timing. Then a friend invited me over for dinner and a movie. Total cost for the day $0.00.

2 weeks on $20

I unfortunately have a champagne taste on a tap water budget. It's probably what put me in this mess, but dammit I'm smart and can get myself out of it; it is my own fault and I have the power to fix it. I get anxiety sometimes about money and things so my way of dealing with that stress is to take absolute control over the situation. So here is my plan:

2 weeks on $20


Step 1: Cut up credit cards and hide debit card.

Step 2: Withdraw $20.

Step 3: Take inventory of food items in pantry and fridge. ( I actually had more than I thought, thank you noodles)

Step 4: Plan out three meals each day exactly.

Step 5: $20/14=1.42 ....yikes

Step 6: $10 a week sounds better.

Step 7: Carry around an refill water bottle (being hydrating keeps you full and is overall healthier).

Step 8: Find free entertainment i.e. books (library), talking to friends, movie nights in, walking around the city, exercise, brokehipster.com, pretend it's 1400 (I don't know), etc...

Step 9: Don't say no to free food.

Step 10: DO NOT DEVIATE FROM PLAN