My mother is crazy and MY sanity is waining...

[YellowRubberDuckie]

I won't go into what happened much, except to say that my mom is still an alcoholic and is a complete hag. I'm getting emotionally abused, basically, and I've had enough. So Skip said enough.
So we're looking for a place Skip can afford on his income alone, until I can find something. Any hints on how to live on 72.50(After Bills) for a week for extras and groceries? Anyone else had to do this?
Duckie

[cleofus1]

1. find the local food bank

sounds bad, but more than one of us has had to live on Ramen and or fried potatos for awhile...check outthe local food banks and church charities...

food banks can help a lot if you are willing to stand in line...

[tridim]

4. Eggs and potatoes

For some reason eggs and potatoes are still dirt cheap. I've upped my egg consumption since I can't afford beef any longer. It's good ol' fashioned protein.

[Quakerfriend]

2. Here's to things working out for you. I bet you

can do it on Ramen Noodles and other things that you can find in the dollar store.

Also, if you use a dryer to dry your clothing. Stop and use a good old fashioned clothesline. This can save you quite a lot per month.

Best of luck to you.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. We can go over to Skip's parent's on sundays to do laundry...

So that's not a concern. Thanks for the tip though. A clothesline really doesn't work though...we'll be living on the 13th floor.

Duckie

[ret5hd]

5. they got those clotheslines that string across your bathtub...

and (if you want some "southern" tips) brown beans (with a little scrap ham thrown in), cornbread and rice can make some REALLY good meals...for literally pennies.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

7. I was force fed that as a child, and now I vomit everytime I look at them.

But that's so much for the tip!
Duckie

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. My mom is insane too

She was always a little off and now she is senile and really crazy. She hits us and she rarely spanked us when we were young. It is really hard and it's been sad too.

So I feel for you. Get away now before she gets old and senile. Have a few years of peace if you can arrange it.

[ellie]

8. Make meals that you can eat all week.

I have had to do this several times during my life. Good meals to rotate: chili all week, tuna casserole, lasagna, bean soup (although you don't like it). Anything that you can make a lot of. Do you have a Gordon Foods near you? You can buy a big bag of chicken breasts for $10 to $15. Or go to a local meat market and spend money on a "meat" package. The deals are usually pretty good and you can freeze it. It is an expensive initial investment but you can eat meat all month!

Peanut butter, bread, eggs. Go to farmer's markets for cheap produce or better yet, grow your own vegetables in containers on windowsills. Or grow sprouts, they are cheap, quick, and nutritious.

You can do it!

[Merlot]

9. It's possible. Eat healthy and save money

I like the eggs for protein hint. And you can add all kinds of things to eggs to make them interesting. Spices, cheese, veggies. I like omletts for dinner sometimes with salsa and those little salad shrimp cooked in.

Rice, especially brown, wild, or jasmine is also really good and versatile. Think spices, sauces, and vegitables. You'll be suprised how cheap veggies are. Tuna's another good source of cheap protein. Buy tea in bulk loose leaves if you're a tea drinker.

I'd stay away from the ramin if you can - it's got so much sodium.

Dollar stores, thrift shops, library. You can find good deals at small neighborhood stores. Bigger stores tempt you to buy more and make you think you're paying less, but they're always going to win that game. Avoid them.

good luck!

[Ariana Celeste]

10. That's what the SO and I live off of.

An average of 60-80 dollars a week for groceries and etc. It really isn't that bad. Make sure to always be on the lookout for sales at the store. Cancel cable if you haven't already. It's cheaper make meals with rice and noodles. Sauces and gravies are fairly cheap.

Always make sure to buy canned foods and dried foods when you see them on sale, for those weeks where you cant stand it and *have* to buy some extras. That ways, you'll have something to eat, too.

Ramen doesn't have to be just Ramen! When you are done boiling the noodles, drain the water, and add some egg, and some chicken, and cook it a little bit until the egg and chicken are done. tastes a lot better than it sounds, lol. You can do all sorts of things with Ramen. Hamburger Helper and Tuna Helper are absolutely awesome, and not too pricy.

All in all.... it's honestly not too bad if you learn to keep your eye out for sales at all times. You won't have to live like that forever, just remember that. And it is WELL worth getting away from abuse, I promise.

[shesemsmom]

11. Have you tried the welfare office

They should be able to help your Mom some.. maybe even some sort of placement.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

12. I need to have her committed...LOL

But it wouldn't work I don't think. Funny thought, but probably not going to happen. I wish I was friends with a judge.
Duckie