Ramen, anyone?

With all of this house talk, Kevin and I have been trying to save money anywhere we can. Before, we'd just spend money without really thinking. Accepting the fact that we earned the right to spend our own money on entertainment. Now that other people are going to be analyzing our expenses, we took a second look and realized just how much entertainment had been costing us. But, not anymore! There are no more movie nights. No more happy hour with friends. No more restaurants or shopping. We have vowed to live like we're broke.

About a week ago we used a visa giftcard that we had lying around to buy our groceries and used the remaining balance on a Safeway giftcard and a gas giftcard. Now, those groceries are dwindling and the gas giftcard is long gone. We are trying to make that $25 Safeway giftcard last all month for the little things you need here-and-there like canned green beans and a head of lettuce. Seems impossible, right? Well, let's just say - we've been eating a LOT of top ramen, breakfast for dinner and pb-and-j sandwiches lately. $1.25 box of spaghetti noodles and a .99 can of sauce, hello! A .99 cent loaf of wheat bread that doesn't mold in like 3 weeks? Yes, please! We have even been frantically searching for old, half-used giftcards - ran across a couple old Chevron gas cards and instantly rushed over to the gas station to see if any funds were available. Nope, so we sped away with red cheeks!

Geez, this is almost like we're back in college. Only this time, it's worth it because we are trying to get ahead. The funny thing is, we're not broke - actually, far from it. But if you live like you are broke, funds grow at a rapid rate so we're going with that theory. Plus, a month or two of scrounging here and there never hurt anybody! So what if we have to turn in our soda cans to pay for our ground turkey for our taco salad? So what if we have to dig out our silver change from our change jar every time we go to the store? So what if I have to scour ads for coupons to save a little change? So what if you see us on the news for being the two crazies in Safeway, denting cans, to get a discount! So what if I can't buy Dove soap because the Ivory is half the price and you get one extra bar. So what if we can't find any more gas giftcards and I have to bum a ride from a coworker or push my car to work - free exercise, right? :) So what if we live in the dark to keep our electricity bill lower and can only read by candlelight? Romance, right? :) It'll all be worth it in the end. However, I think I reached an all-time low yesterday when I went shopping in my mom's guest bathroom for a bottle of conditioner. Thankfully, she didn't mind - she just smiled and said "come back for more when that bottle runs out!" Ahh, moms! What would you do without them? So, just know that if you are kind enough to invite us out for a night on the town, we'll have to humbly decline. Invite us for a night in? Be prepared to hear "what time!?!"

Anyway, I got to sign off. My top ramen is overflowing on the stove :)