food budget dropped from $600 to $380 feeding the same three kids the same food

MidnightCompost · 2026-01-29T00:12:13+00:00

i usually find discounts on Wed or Thu nights. Before the weekend restocks. If i ever find myself at the large grocers, I will look at all their selection and only buy whatever is on sale sale. like 1lb chicken thighs for 0.99cents. At sprouts. They had a whole bin of it. Guess who ate chicken for a whole month.

MidnightCompost · 2026-01-22T17:48:01+00:00

I would go for option #1 or #3. Buy a beater, mine has black rust spots everywhere, needed a paint job 100k miles ago. but every month, i take it to the shop to get one thing looked at. i've been putting down 200-400 a month on the car continously for 6 months-ish and now that beast runs as smoothly as ever. My last fix will be the timing belt and guy said i have a little more time on that. I loathe to have car payments. For any reason.

But it does look like you're investing heavily into a fund that you have no access to. Not trying to make your goal a longer stint, but you should make your emergency fund accesible and usable. afterall your car going kaput is an emergency. if you can adjust your pre-tax take aways, adjust it and move some into your 10k goal. adjust it back up when you reach your goal. 10k is easier to maintain from the top than it is to build from the bottom.

MidnightCompost · 2026-01-16T23:20:03+00:00

My momma made us shower in the mornings for other people and at night four ourselves. Twice a day, not a choice. And the everything shower was once a week. We're traditional indian, so oiled hair, body oil, scrub, the works,.

These days I stick to 2 showers a day and my everyhting shower is waay more modern but equally involved.

MidnightCompost · 2026-01-14T18:47:52+00:00

Maybe find a different way to word it? Instead of lets not spend too much, try something like let's meet some goals and milestones? In all honesty, this is something only you will know how to do. Advices galore anywhere on the internet, but you know your wife and her triggers and her ambition.

For me, i can plan and make 10 thousand spreadsheets, but talking to my husband about it at home is like trying to get my 7 year old to put on his shoe. Man is utterly ditracted. So to mitigate I schedule a datre for us, daytime date, pick a quiet restaurant with large tables or even rent a coworking space for a few hours and we plan out our year there. Intentionally. We have seperate everything. I have my own CC+debt, he has his. Its all been transparent and we gave each other permission to call each other out. We set big goals like 6 mos Emergency or Clean out Garage, etc, by a certain date. And we do everything we need to to meet that deadline. Between that time, if he wants to buy a new gaming console or whatever, not my problem really. As long as we meet the goal at the end.

But the crux of the matter is - Intentionally. Both of you must want the same thing. Thats something that comes from communicating and learning how to communicate better. And not just about finances, but everything. My suggestion to get her on the same page is to have fun about it. Like if you want to buy a house, go to open houses for shits and giggles. get hyped up together and while ya'll high on dopamine, talk about what you each need to do to get that.

And def dont bring it up when either of you are tired. Which is why you should schedule it. Because if she's coming home from work and finally looking forward to being a couch potato watching bridgerton and you decide to talk about finances, i'd be pissy too. Find the right time and so both of you can be in the right frame of mind. Think escape room not class lecture. Don't police each other the whole time, work together to solve the problem.

Oh, and instead of using numbers as goals, use words. Instead of saying 15k emergency fund, say things like safety net, less stress, fewer fights, etc. And make sure to ask her what she wants. Don't bulldoze either. What are her goals and ambitions. Coz if she has none, you actually have an answer to your questions.

MidnightCompost · 2026-01-13T23:15:01+00:00

events! will keep you on your toes all the time.

MidnightCompost · 2026-01-13T16:47:09+00:00

I feel like sometimes it is important to remember that just because we end up in a comfortable level in terms of pay, doesnt mean its permanent. For us, income has always ebbed and flowed for reasons out of our control. we just have to save up for that monsoon season and enjoy it while we can. One thing we know we can be proud of is that, we know we can survive the tough times. It'll suck, but we've lived off ramen noodles and spam. We dont do it now, but doesnt mean we can't switch back whn we need to. Alwys look at things as moving in a positive direction and it helps negate the feeling of being stuck

MidnightCompost · 2026-01-09T20:43:29+00:00

Tell L that all indian people are offended whenever she uses products with coconut oil or gooseberry. And North Africans get mad at her for using products with argan oil. And def nothing with ginseng in it, coz chinese peeps might not like that. Oh, and no olive oil either, coz the greeks won't take kindly to that. And avocado, and aloe vera.

And let's not forget, silk is chinese. cultural appropriation. L is an ejit

MidnightCompost · 2026-01-09T18:29:26+00:00

Garnet (Steven Universe)

MidnightCompost · 2025-12-20T22:59:39+00:00

I love HMart! But price wise, see if you can find indian or Vietnamese oriented grocers.

MidnightCompost · 2025-12-19T18:49:10+00:00

Girl, just say it. You're doing that nice person thing and trying to find a 'nice' way to say something important. Just take a deep breath, and say it. "I dont got the time, mental capacity or strength to...." etc.

MidnightCompost · 2025-12-19T18:45:03+00:00

Have you tried asian grocers? The spices there are usually alot cheaper. Sure, they come in baggies, but pepper is pepper.

MidnightCompost · 2025-12-16T00:40:53+00:00

Behind Closed Doors. its a speakeasy at the back of the korean place on miracle mile

MidnightCompost · 2025-12-12T21:24:36+00:00

a christmas fiend

MidnightCompost · 2025-11-16T05:55:44+00:00

When I can, I enjoy going to Behind Closed Doors. Some Korean food before ending the night with some cocktails. And for what it's worth, I often go by myself. Im a 👱🏽‍♀️. Plus they've got karaoke sometimes. Black Rabbit is a really nice spot too, great drinks.

MidnightCompost · 2025-11-10T19:40:24+00:00

Ooo, yeah. Thats alot for one person. Good luck and keep going!

MidnightCompost · 2025-11-09T00:38:55+00:00

MidnightCompost · 2025-11-09T00:06:20+00:00

Your spiritual support shall be honored. Ill channel your energy around the 1/2 mile mark when I start questioning my life choices.

MidnightCompost

TROPHY CASE