Initiation Time

Well, I've already discovered that an advantage to establishing goals that are so varied in size, difficulty, commitment level, and duration is that some of these I am working on without even thinking about it. On the other hand, I am also learning that this list of 37 could dangerously propagate itself into an infinite number of steps for each of the numbered points. Restraint is needed so that in an attempt to break something into steps, I don't increase the level of complexity beyond all recognition. So, with great difficulty, I am trying to avoid creating lists of procedures to accomplish my list of goals.

(as a side note: I am faced with the idea that creating a goal to record and chronicle my progress on goals inherently requires some degree of documentation. Without getting philosophical...chicken...egg...chicken...arg!, I need to stay on task here and record results, not process. To force myself back on track, I will use the code word "elephant" anytime I have strayed. The only reason I selected this particular word is because it seems to have little if any relation to the list and any of the goals contained herein. So be forewarned, don't expect any clever segues after seeing the word elephant. Or even any correlation to the subject at all)

This week, I am going to address goal #5: Eat from the pantry for one week each month.

Over the summer, due to a diagnostic medical procedure, I managed to accumulate a bit of medical debt. Fortunately, the results of the procedure were fairly positive, but everyone involved from the surgeon down is expecting their cut. While it is not an insurmountable amount, the total dollars are more than I can recoup from skipping a daily Starbucks and brown-bagging my lunch an extra day each week...oh wait... I think that's because I don't do daily Starbucks and bringing my lunch to work is the rule rather than the exception.

(Confession: I did sign up for Starbuck's email list and received a free beverage coupon for my birthday. I also happened to use that coupon today. I figured it would soften the blow of forcing pantry cooking creativity. You know, baby steps...disclaimer...I am not a Ramseyite)

Elephant---Using this week to "eat from the pantry" I hope to save a little moolah to throw at the bills.

In the interest of coming clean, I want to mention a few things. I probably have started this goal out with an advantage. Even when I am not practicing my greatest frugality, I tend to stock up when I see a good deal. My pantry could probably feed a family of four for at least a month. There would be some really weird meals in that month, but doable. And also, I'd like to clarify that by "pantry", I mean food in my cupboard, fridge, and freezer. Second, since this is the week after my birthday, I started out the week with the Starbucks coupon and leftovers from the birthday dinner to which my parents graciously treated me last weekend. Also, because I did not intend to set myself up for failure, I did purchase some very basic items from the grocery store last Saturday. Totaling less than $10, I bought sliced turkey, bread, chips and gum. And fourthly, on Monday morning, I ate breakfast at my parent's house. I will not make it a regular practice to seek out the "free lunch" when "eating from the pantry", but if it is less convenient to avoid the opportunity than go with the flow, I'm eating outside/free to me food. I could set up a rule limiting the number of times allowing this per each "eat from the pantry" week, but Elephant!