We started watching this wonderful documentary and it has already changed our lives. Well, we have made alterations in the way we think and live. We tend to think in a certain direction that we are taught. I have found that when I change the direction of my thinking and become open minded I learn better ways to care for myself.
My parents always taught me how to be self sufficient. I don't think they meant it in the way that I am striving to live for they are very dependent on the system that I wish to break free from. One of these is health care. Most of my life I have not had insurance. Even when I did 1/2 of that time I couldn't afford to use it. What this movie brings to light is that we already have to tools to be healthy. We just are not using them.
I am also a license massage therapist in the state of Texas. I found in my practice that the majority of the people who came to me just wanted me to fix them. I had people who came to me every week with the same problems because they were not doing what they needed to be doing for themselves to be better. I found that they didn't want to be responsible for their own health.
Most of us reading blogs and homesteading are looking for a different life. A life where we can nourish ourselves, and our families. The solution or at least the base foundation of the solution is the food we eat. What we eat.
I could go on and on but instead I implore you to take the time, not for me but for yourself. To watch this movie. I promise if you truly care about your life as well as your loved ones, it will change the way you think and possibly the way you eat. I know it has mine.
The past week we have been doing what I like to call "Conscious Shopping". The drought pretty much killed our garden early on this year even with us watering therefore we were unable to put away as we had hoped to. As a result we have gotten creative and are finding ways of storing up even if it is not our own fresh food.
Conscious Shopping to me is looking at the sales paper and purchasing items when they are on sale. Fortunately we have the money to purchase in bulk so we can stock up when the prices are right. I know many that would benefit from this however since they live pay check to pay check they are unable to buy in bulk.
Sunday, October 30th we went to a local Mexican store where we like to purchase our meat and produce. We like the quality of there meat and they tend to have a better selection and quality of produce than the American stores. Not to mention at better prices.
We purchased the following in bulk that were on sale:
We vacuum sealed the fish in 1 1/2 lb bags to preserve longer.
Next Shopping Trip was Wednesday, November 2nd where we once again purchased on sale items without coupons.
Brookshires we found marked down meat which we vacuum sealed.
Full Price Total: $48.54 Marked Down Total: $23.06 Savings: $25.48
We also purchased Bacon and Evaporated Milk that was on sale in which we saved $9.16 on In Store Savings. Super One - We purchase right at 25 lbs of bone in chicken breast for $0.77 a pound.
Save Alot - We purchased 10lbs of real butter for $1.99 a pound. We use real butter instead of margarine since margarine is a carcinogenic. Not to mention the flavor is so much better.
Our payload came from Kroger where they were having one of their big sales. I just love it when they do that. We were able to purchase cases of food for next to nothing. Vegetables, sugar, coffee, almond milk (dairy makes us a bit snotty), mac & cheese to name a few items. I was afraid we were going to have to get another basket before we were done. Our cart was full when we got to the check out.
Store Total: $216.64 In Store Savings: $102.13 Total Payout: $114.51
Harriet has also been researching couponing. People either love it or hate it. She has found a website that helps make it easy or at least easier: Coupon Mom.com. Yesterday was the first time we actually went out with a stack of coupons in hand. I felt pretty worthless standing around. She had to evaluate the product and price compare to the generic to insure that it was really worth using the coupon for the name brand. There were several coupons that just were not worth using that she just gave away to other shoppers that were buying the products. I will say that at Walmart where we did the most shopping we saved $24.22.
Total: $65.72 After Coupons: $41.50 Savings: $24.22
It was good to see the total reduce. Our hard work payed off.
Last week were were able to purchase Scotts Toilet paper for about $4.50 a 12 pack at CVS;
Scotts Toilet Paper was on sale: $8.00 each regularly $10.99 We had a $4.00 off coupon. Then since we purchased over $30.00 worth of certain listed product then we got a $10.00 gift card in which we were able to get American Express to use at other stores not just CVS.
These savings are important to us since we have been unemployed (homestead employed) for 2 1/2 years now. Thank God we had savings in which we are primarily living off of. We have been blessed indeed. Our freezer is now full and we have a stock of other food items too. Conscious shopping and coupon shopping is working for us. It make be a lot of work but you don't get anything for nothing these days. It is worth the extra effort.
