meal planning and budgeting with a Mechanics Schedule always changing 02/24/2023

We all know as a mechanics wife we try to do our best to make our lives and our mechanics life

as easy as possible, and in some form it works, for the things we struggle with we are always

looking for ideas to help improve our daily lives, well for the longest time I struggled meal prepping

and planning, so like anyone does I went looking on Pinterest for ideas, I found this chalkboard

calendar but I wasn't about to pay $60 for it. I went to Ollies and found this little chalkboard with the days of the week Sunday - Saturday  for $7

I thought that would be perfect for a Menu board no more waiting til the last minute to decide

what's for dinner, I ran home and immediately went through and organized my fridge,Freezer, and

pantry made a list, looked up whatever recipe Ingredients I needed and pulled whatever meat

we were having to thaw while I was away. I went to my husband’s shop, went to his toolbox and

tool cart  to see what drinks and snacks he needed, especially with him having Low Blood Sugars.

I make sure he has plenty of stuff at work at all times.

 I write whatever he needs on my list and off to the store I go,

yes I only go to one store and its first thing in the morning, I would rather shop in the morning

for many reasons, less customers, shelves are being stalked or already full, and If I need help

the workers are more likely to be found. And having my child with me there is less  likely to be a

massive scene in the store when he throws a tantrum. If my regular cashier is working I don’t

have to sort through the bags to find my husband's stuff for work. If she isn't then I even sort my

groceries in the parking lot so I can swing into the shop drop off whatever my husband needs then

head straight home.  

Another perk I found while shopping at the same store they automatically know to bag the groceries

the way I put them on the belt. Some stores don't do that and I end up with smashed bread or

busted eggs. Since having this menu board, our meals are planned better, my husband's dinner

could be waiting in the microwave for him to eat or a fresh plate could be made for him as

soon as he walks in the door. So when looking for ideas to help your busy family don't

hesitate to stop in at Ollie's you never know what you’ll find.