Sequestration

In February, we learned what effect 'sequestration' was going to have on Navy civilian employees.  After reviewing the budget cuts, it was decided that everyone would have 22 furlough days.  This meant that from April to October, Jim would work four 8 hour days a week, equaling a 20% pay cut.  We sat down and took a hard look at our finances to see how we would be able to make this work.  One of the changes we needed to make was to cut our eating out and do better at meal planning and cooking at home.  We started doing this right away to get a head start on staying within our budget.

So I now bake a huge double batch of cookies every two weeks and freeze them for lunches.  I also have been baking, individually wrapping and freezing granola bars for lunches.  I have been trying some new recipes and shopping a bit more frugally.  We actually have been doing really well at staying within our budget and it shows that eating out truly is an expense we can't afford.

Homemade beef and broccoli! (A hit!)

 Chopped up a $5 rotisserie chicken from Costco and got 6cups of delicious chicken for recipes.

 Our super delicious granola bars.  Aunt Pam introduced us to them at family reunion this last summer and everyone loves them!!!

 Tried my hand at salmon cakes... not bad, if I say so myself!

 Eating a cookie before it fully defrosted resulted in a wiggly tooth finally coming out!

 Making four different sandwiches every night for lunches the next day: plain strawberry jelly, PB&J-strawberry, PB&J-raspberry, and turkey with cheese and lettuce!
 

****Towards the end of April, we learned that upon further review, only 14 furlough days will be needed to meet the budget requirements.  We expect them to start at the end of June or so.  However, since we have already made some personal financial changes, we will be in a better position get through it.