Coupons - BRILLIANT!!

Okay, so I've actually been off my food stamps since the summer, but I'm still just barely scraping by so I'm gonna keep this blog up. I'm not going to change the name to "Broke Foodies' Anonymous"... though it is a catchy name, no? Haha!

I'm in a really good mood today because I've discovered that so many times in our lives we feel pressured to spend money on things when, in fact, the better alternative is FREE!

I can get down with free.

Example: Any of y'all out there use coupons? A lot of times, I just kind of dismiss them because I don't have time or patience to clip... but I made a friend over the summer and HOLY MOSES! The girl knows how to get a deal. Like, just imagine for a second, cutting your grocery bill (whether you're on SNAP or just a tight budget) from over $100 to like... $30. Didn't the thought of that just give you chills? Wouldn't that help those of you with kids stretch your budget/stamps so much? You could buy 3 TIMES the amount of groceries with the same amount of money. Awesome.

I'm not a pro yet, but man... I'm practicing every chance I get. Along with coupons, you kind of get a little more in tune with ways you can save a little here and there. I mean, I went out to Brown's Taproom last night with a friend, and - wonder of wonders - their brown ale (exactly my second choice... but they were out of my first... *sniffle*) was the beer of the day. That meant it was only $3 a pint or something awesome like that.

Free apps are another thing. I could've spent over $30 on a financial calculator which would be useful for all of one exam in one class at Staples... but since I thought to check the Android app market, I got a WAY EASIER TO USE, FREE APP for my phone. Super fabulous.

Anyways, I would love to read about some awesome deals y'all out there have gotten recently!

Ciao ;-)

Omygoodness, a new post!!

I know kids, it's been way too long. I'm sorry. Life just has a way of... happening. You know?

Anyways, the reason I'm writing is that I've been inspired. Last night I was fortunate enough to obtain a free ticket to Michael Pollan at HVCC.

WHAT?? You haven't heard of Michael Pollan? If this is the case, just check out these links... once you do, it'll be easy for you to figure out why I admire him so much.

http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Food-Eaters-Manifesto/dp/0143114964/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319635266&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Meals/dp/0143038583/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319635208&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/RULES-Pollan-Michael-Author-Rules/dp/B0046WN2BW/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319637506&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Food-Inc-Participant-Industrial-Poorer-/dp/1586486942/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319637617&sr=1-5

Yeah... basically, it's all about the food. <3

Everything this man says about food - particularly the history of the relationship between food and the human race, and especially how our eating patterns in modern America are so dramatically different from anything we've ever done before - hits home with me because it's what I try to teach people I come into contact with, and what I started out wanting to teach all of you who read this... unfortunately, however, being in the field of study I am, it is very easy to fall prey to the lure of Nutritionism.

Ah, Nutritionism... it's like sex - not so much that it's great, but moreso in that it SELLS. Ohhh boy, does it sell!

Think about it... how informed do you feel, buying a box of Reese's Puffs or Cookie Crisp for your kid because it's "whole grain" and is "a good [or EXCELLENT] source of 27 vitamins and minerals", and therefore it must be good for them?

The cereal is modeled after CANDY, folks!! We are, in essence, setting up our children to believe that eating sweets and all sorts of other junk food for the most important meal of the day is FINE!! What is wrong with us???

Yes... I am quite passionate about this stuff.

Anyways,  I could go on, but I really should be doing my homeworks. I do apologize again for the long silence... and I want to let you all know that I'm baaack! With a VENGEANCE. ;-)