Empty The Freezer challenge {Day 13}

Welcome To Day 13 Of The Empty The Freezer Challenge!

[Read Day 11 & 12 Of The Empty The Freezer Challenge Here]

Before we get into day 13, if you’re new to the challenge, I’m taking a little break from my regular postings in December to do a Challenge designed to help save money, simplify, and prepare for the new year:

The “Empty The Freezer Challenge”

What is it? The Empty The Freezer Challenge is my way of encouraging you to not only slow down this season, but save money and get creative! I would guess that most of you are like us: you have tons of food in your freezer which may or may not be edible, that you’ve either forgotten or aren’t super motivated to eat.

They  may require some creative meal preparation or presentation, but they’re still good to eat!

Starting December 1st, I’ll by on a mission to use up everything in my freezer – that is still safe to eat.  I don’t want to buy anything from the grocery store except for milk.  We get eggs from friends who have chickens, so don’t think we’re avoiding using eggs – we’re not.

We may or may not get through all of the food in our THREE freezers, but we’re going to try! Then, on December 25th when we have family over I’ll finally be able to cook with new food from the grocery store!

What Will The Challenge Accomplish?

The Empty The Freezer Challenge have several purposes:

• It will encourage you to spend very little/no money on groceries during most of the month of December – a no-spend month of sorts, but without calling it that.
• It will get tons of food our of your freezer!
• And it will give you a blank slate for the new year – at least as far as your fridge/freezer are concerned
• As a bonus, your family will probably complain a lot less in 2016 when you make a creative or inexpensive meal!

Like most weeks after a weekend of traveling, Monday was kind of a mess.

We didn’t eat out, or even buy groceries, but we did eat very simply….maybe too simply:

Breakfast – Eggs, Protein…same old, same old

Lunch – Leftover brisket, cole slaw and mac & cheese

Dinner – A very quickly thrown together soup made of hamburger, broth, carrots, and celery.  We were all feeling a bit under the weather!

We have been great about not eating out this month – at least until these last 4 days of travel rolled around – but we’re making the food we buy at restaurants last as long as possible by only eating what we’re hungry for.

I’m sure we’ve all been known to “eat until we hate ourselves” rather than eating until we’re satisfied.  Lately, since we’ve not only been eating healthier but eating smaller portions, we’ve noticed a huge decrease in our appetities, and as a result, we’ve been able to ask for half our meal to be boxed up to go before the plates even reach our table.

Some would see that as rude, but in all reality your server is going to box up your leftovers at some point.  For most people, it’s probably after the meal, but what does it matter if you ask for half your meal to be boxed up at the beginning rather than the end?

I was a server for 7 years, and I can tell you that I never minded :-)

I’ll leave you with this thought:

Always be on the lookout for ways to stretch your dollar even further.

Don’t starve yourself, obviously, but simple actions can go along way to stretching your budget!

Gretchen

*This post may contain affiliate links.  See my disclosures for more information.

You May Also Like:

Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 11 & 12} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 7} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 10} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 8} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 2} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 4} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Days 5 & 6} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 1} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 3} Empty The Freezer Challenge {Day 9}