Economics Experiment - Take 6

Kitchen Conversations 

So many ways to save.

Me: So, guys, it's 4th Quarter.  What kind of experiment should we do with our time and money?

Everyone had something to say.  

Don:  Pay off student loans.

KC:  That is depressing that you graduated like, a long time ago, and you are still paying student loans.

Me: Yep, it's a cautionary tale about what you do to get through school.  Anyway, it's a great goal, but we can't accomplish it in this quarter.  I wonder if there is something smaller we can aim for that will still make a difference.

KC:  How about no fast food.

Caleb: Or soda.

Hannah: Yeah, how about no fast food or soda.  But do we have to do it for three months, or can we just do it for one month.

No Fast Food or Soda in the house?  Good idea.  Too easy for us.

I consider their offer.  It is good, except for the fact that now that we are in our house, major renovations are completed and boxes are unpacked to a livable point, we haven't been eating much fast food.  Don did buy a bunch of pop while I was out of town, but it's been gone for a few days. This challenge seems a little whimpy as it stands.

Me:  okay, no fast food, and how 'bout we say we won't have pop in the house.

I have to leave a loop hole for an occasional diet coke.

Me: Still, now it seems like we're aiming too low.  It's not much of a stretch.  We don't get fast food that often and soda is something you guys have wanted to quit for a while.

Caleb:  Would it include casual dining, like Jimmy John's, too?

Ever since Bren has been working at the sandwich joint, it seams like most of our out-to-eat dollars go there.  Healthier than burgers or pizza, but still more than we should pay for a sandwich.

Me: Sure.  But not Cafe Rio.  Okay, think beyond fast food, guys.  What else could we do.

Hannah:  what if us kids all made dinner one night a week and you didn't.  I mean all of us together, not each of us separately.

With an older brother leaving home soon, Hannah thrive spending sibling time together.

Me: That is a good idea.  I like the idea of kids in the kitchen.  What else?

KC: You must have something in mind, Mom.  Help us out.

Me:  KC, think back to about your challenge today, what if we did something like that every week.

Don: What was today's challenge.

KC: Mom said, 'I'll give you $20 for groceries.  If you can plan tonight's meal, pick up groceries, and make the meal you can keep whatever you have left.'

Note: $20 is a lot more than I would normally spend on a meal for the six of us, at least double.  But, I have next to no groceries, and I wanted to see how her creativity might kick in.

Me: Then, KC said, "If I can figure out something to make from home, that doesn't require going to the store, can I keep the $20?"

KC:  And we really are out of lots of stuff.  No milk or butter, most of the veggies are gone.  It was a pretty empty fridge.

Me: Yep.  But, I did set some rules like, 1) You can't do pancakes or something because Dad is the provider of the feast and breakfast for dinner doesn't really fly with him.  And, 2) it has to be well rounded with plenty of fresh color, and a non-meat protein.

KC:  So, I said fried Ramen.  And Mom said, "okay, if you do fried rice, too. And stir fry lots of veggies."  And, we had everything I needed here at home.  Mom helped me make it, she put quinoa in the rice to give it a little extra protein, and I think it is really good.  And, I'm going to use the $20 to pay for my headshot tomorrow so I can submit my résumé for an acting gig I want to audition for. 

Note: that is my favorite part.  She is using the money to pay for something that I might have ended up paying for anyway.  This is a big win.  She is learning to  plan ahead, problem solve and take responsibility for her own stuff.  That wasn't lost on Don.

Don:  Pretty good deal.  Sounds great.

KC's $20 Headshot

Me:  So, what if everyone takes their turn, plans their meal and makes it, pockets the rest of the money and I figure out what else we are going to do.

Hannah:  I already know what I want to do.  Tomato bisque, bread and salad.  We have everything we need except fresh basil and bread.  So, I should have lots of money left over.

Me: alright.  We can pick up the basil and bread, pay for it with a twenty, and you can keep what is left.  If I do that 8 times in the month, you will each have the chance to make dinner twice and it will cost me $160.  I'll get the rest of our groceries as food storage stock-up, Bountiful Baskets for produce, and go to the store once in the week for bread and dairy.  

I like the idea of stocking up for a month while the kids are doing their $20 meal plans, and then spending the next month living on what we bought.  Here is a rough outline of my budget and plan.  Also, with kids pocketing the money they don't spend on food, I save money I would normally use to pay for elective kid stuff, like KC's head shot, Hannah's I-wannan-make-a-fancy-fondant-cake-for-my-cousin project, and Caleb's script fees for his school's production of Oklahoma.

Monthly food budget for 7 people $600

Kid meal planning - $160

Bountiful baskets produce - $100

Dairy, eggs, bread, herbs - $50

Pantry Prep - $290

November Plan Possibility - $175

Living from the pantry - $0

Bountiful baskets - $100

Dairy, eggs, bread, herbs, turkey - $75

December -

One grocery day Dec 1 - $100 no more grocery shopping until after Christmas

Bountiful Baskets - $100

Online grocery allowance - $150

Somethings other ideas that inspire me:

Not going to the store at all

Seeing how many days I can go without spending ANY $

Discovering how many meals can my kids plan and prep without my help

Vegetarian fare

What experiments around home economics, specifically the idea of saving time and money in your home, inspire you?  I love ideas to add to my list of possibilities.

KC's Fried Rice: 2 Meals

Ingredients

3 Tbs vegetable oil

2 Tbs sesame oil

1 lbs carrots, thinly sliced

1 lbs broccoli, finely chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

10 oz cooked crumbled bacon, optional

10 cups of cooked rice

3 Tbs soy sauce

4 tsp of granulated bouillon or 4 ramen flavor packets

1 Tbs garlic powder

1 tsp ginger powder

1 tsp salt

1 Tbs pepper

Instructions

In a large sauce pan or wok sauté carrots, onion and broccoli over medium-high heat till tender.  Add bacon and sauté for another minute or two until the bacon has a nice crisp to it..  Turn heat down to medium, add rice, soy sauce, seasoning, salt and pepper.  Taste, taste, taste.  Does it need more garlic or soy sauce, sesame oil or pepper.  Season to taste.  Stir thoroughly till all rice is well coated with seasoning and light brown in color. Serve or cool and measure into gallon size freezer bags.  To serve, reheat in the freezer bag.

Iron Chefs America - Volunteers

I wrote this experience a few weeks ago.   It's actually four posts in one. Time to post it.

Iron Chef Challenge

When we got home from school today we had our own little Iron Chef Challenge:  One hour to make enough food to feed 40 people at the homeless youth shelter in Salt Lake City.  On the menu - tikka masala curry rice (a one dish wonder) and cupcakes. With the clock ticking I cut  potatoes, Bren started sautéing garlic, KC chopped carrots and onions, Caleb made cupcake batter and Hannah put muffin cups in the muffin tins.  

Over the course of one hour we boiled veggies, made sauce, got  60 cupcakes prepped and into the oven, and made three batches of rice.  We also cleaned our stations down to the flat surfaces.  Everything was put away and all dished were in the sink.  Hannah swept the floor and KC wiped down counter-tops   the only mess left was a little batter on the table.  We did get held up by 10 minutes as rice finished cooking and cupcakes finished baking.  It was an amazing feat.

As we sat in the car, ready to pull out of the drive, I said, "will someone pray that we'll be on time and have enough food.  Like loaves and fishes.  And, that the last batch of rice will be okay, cause it did not seem okay when I tried it a minute ago."  

"I'll pray," Caleb said, and he remembered all of the things I asked him to.  The faith if a child is incredible, we made it down town in less than thirty minutes with plenty of time to set up and get oriented.

Loaves and Fishes

"Can we help you get stuff out of your car?" Some guys asked us when we first got there.  One was an employee of the center, one was a client.

"Sure," I said, thinking how kind it was of them to offer to help.

"I'll take the cupcakes," Caleb said.

"Me, too," said Hannah.  There were five dozen, so it was good to have two helpers on that.  

I handed the rice maker to one guy and a big bowl full of rice to the other.

"I'll carry the curry," Bren offered.

KC carried a bag of icing and serving utensils.  I locked up the car and in we all went.

 As the room was filling with 20-30 grown adults, I started feeling nervous thinking about how I'd planned to feed younger teens.  The kids had the same concerns.

"So, here's how it goes," nick, the employee said.  "We start serving at 4:15.  Everybody gets served what you think you are able to provide in one serving each for about 30 people."  He looked around at what we had brought and added, "if you feel like you have to go easy, it's okay.  They're used to eating light when they need to."

"Well, I'm pretty sure we have plenty for firsts, but we will have enough for firsts, but we don't want anyone to go away hungry." I said.  I thought, but didn't add, "and sending people away who are not full from our food violates one of our most important core values."

"Seconds get served at 4:30.  If you don't have enough for seconds," he looks at our offerings again, "then you can scrounge around to see what we have on the shelves, or, they can just go with food bank food that's been donated, but they can't eat that here."

I frantically started scanning the shelves as he was talking.  "So, if we can make something else with what you have here, can they eat that before they go?" I asked.

"Yes, but the key is it has to be enough for everyone," said charley, another employee.   "It has to be the same or it is pandemonium.  You can not believe what happens if you start offering different stuff from the main meal and there is not enough.  CHA-OS!  I mean, you don't even want to see that.

I'm feeling more anxious every minute.  

"So, anyway, thanks for coming.  We sure appreciate your help," he says and leaves us alone in the kitchen.

"It's okay, mom," Caleb says in a reassuring tone, before I can even state my concern, "I see more rice on their shelf.  We can make so me if we need to." 

Bren and KC didn't remark about the situation, but got to work straightening up and doing dishes so we could serve our meal.

Caleb and kc frosted cupcakes while Bren and i served the meal.  Hannah stood by me most of the time, smiling at the people as we served them, and occasionally hanging cupcakes over the counter to waiting clients.  

We portioned each person according to how much they wanted, a little for some, a lot for others.   Generous with potatoes here, heavier on the sauce there.  After we finished with the first round we were only half way through our rice and a third of the way through the curry.

Call for seconds came and many people lined up again.  We gave them each a new bowl, and again filled it to their desired level.  Three stragglers came just as everyone was starting to clear out.  They wanted theirs in to-go containers.

"Can I get....." He mumbled and I didn't catch what he said.

"Sorry, what can we do for you?  I didn't hear you.

"He didn't say Nothing," his girlfriend said, "he's just being selfish."

"No, there's plenty," I assured them.  "What can we get you?"

"Is said I want a lot," he repeated.  "I'm hungry and I haven't eaten all day."

"No problem.  We'll load you up with whatever you need."  And with that, Caleb piled several huge scoops of rice into the container, I ladled curry over the top, KC got him a few cupcakes and he was on his way.

When he left we started feeding all the employees.  Then Bren, Caleb and Hannah ate their fill.  The rice bowl had long been empty and the rice cooker only had a few sticky grains remaining clinging to the sides.  I covered it with the lid and put the serving spoon back in the bag.  KC put the lid on the curry and we got ready to leave.

 We were all but packed out when a timid girl approached the counter.  i hadn't seen her earlier. 

 "Are you all finished then?" she asked in a despondent tone. 

"No!" KC said as she removed the lid to the pot of curry one final time. "There's still plenty."  

I cracked the lid to the rice cooker and saw the scanty remains.  With her bowl in hand I scraped the sides to get as much rice as I could.  Miraculously there was one generous serving left.  KC put as much curry, heavy on the potatoes and carrots, as the bowl would contain and Caleb served it to the girl along with a cupcake.  The look of relief on her face was worth the whole day.

When we got home we had curry enough for at least two more meals and 14 cupcakes besides.  KC said, "that's like our twelve baskets of stuff left over, plus some."  

All in a Name

As we served dinner at the homeless youth center tonight we met lots of interesting young guys; Silence,  Chatter, and Opie who now goes by Jason to name a few.  There were also young mothers, Leena with a baby boy on her hip, and Kim who wanted plain butter on her rice.

"I always ate rice like this when I had my first baby," she said, her belly obviously full of another little one.  "Just rice, and butter.  Mmm.  Maybe a little parsley and garlic salt.  Sometimes scrambled eggs on the side if I had them.  So good."

As we served each person, we asked their names and told them ours, and talked to them for a minute if they seemed open to it.   I introduced Bren as The Curry-master, because he was the head chef on the tikka masala curry we made.

"Thank you, Curry-master," someone said, "this is awesome curry."

"Hey, curry-master, you did good," another client offered.  Bren smiled and thanked them both.

"Hi," a girl leaned over the counter and cupped her hands around her mouth in a secretive way, "i hear your curry is really good.  Can I get three containers to go?"  she asked.  "My ride is over-age," she whispered, "so, they can't come in.  But, I want to feed them too."  

"Sure.   What is over-age?" KC asked.

"24.  I'm 21 and I've been coming here since I was 15.  I've got a couple of more years to go." 

On the streets or not able to provide her own meals for 6 years.  We were grateful to get to be the meal today.  Wow!

In the car, on the ride home, Hannah said, "there was a guy there named Chatter, Dad, and he didn't say much more than 'thank you.'  But, then, there was a guy named Silence who wasn't quiet at all."

"and there was a guy, what was his name? Jitters?" I asked the kids.

"Twitch, mom.  His name was twitch." Bren said.

"Okay, Jitters, Twitch, whatever.  His name fit him, poor guys was pretty shaky."  I know, shameful remark.  Not very compassionate, but sadly true of more than just that one guy.

Answers to Spicy Prayers

This next conversation took place after seconds were served and a young man, named Mark, was eager to talk to us - 

Me - hey there, I'm Mariah, what's your name?

Mark - mark

 Me - would you like seconds, mark?

Mark - yes, please, but no curry this time.

Me - was it too spicy for you?  

Mark - no, believe it or not, we already had curry today.  Somebody brought It in for lunch.

Me - oh, no.  We had no idea.  We thought we were being creative.

Mark - you were.  We never have curry and today we got it twice in a row.  Your curry was so good, but you can only eat so much curry in a day.

Me - yeah.  Darn.  So, what do you guys get a lot of around here?

Mark - spaghetti, lasagna, enchiladas on Tuesday.  or is it Thursday?  

Me - how about chili, sloppy joes or soup?

Mark - yeah, we see that stuff pretty often, too.

Me - what would you love to have, if you could chose?

Mark - well, it doesn't really matter, because beggars can't be chooses, I say.

Caleb - yeah, but if you could?

Mark - well, I'd say it'd be great to have some sort of down home cooking.  

KC - like what?

Mark - I don't know.  I'll bet you guys could come up with more ideas than I can. There are enough of you.  You look like you've got tons of happy brain power.

KC - we do.  Tons.

Mark - look, whatever you guys bring, we're grateful.  We're excited for youth come back.  Now, I hate to run off, but I've got a bowl of rice to devour and then  I'm out of here.

When Mark told us he'd had curry twice today I felt bad and commiserated with KC about it.   Bren said, "I don't feel bad.  I think curry is a great meal to have twice in one day.  Besides, I'm sure ours is different that the earlier one.  People even said it was."  

Then I had a clear impression, which was this:  The duplicate in today's menu options was a direct answer to someone's prayer.

I pondered that as i continued to serve seconds of the second curry of the day.  I imagine the prayer went something like this:

"Lord, I hope you're there, listening.  I don't know if you are, but if you are, and if you care, I can't take any more spaghetti or pastas.    Please, please show me your love by providing something spicy and exotic.  Please let there be curry, then I'll know I am not beneath your notice or care....."

And, so, curry was served, in copious amounts, twice today.  Once at lunch and once at dinner, just to confirm the answer, in case anyone was wondering, that God is listening and we are all worth His notice and care.

Windows of Heaven

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

 (Old Testament, Malachi 3:10)

So, we've been talking about how this scripture applies to our time.  The following is a conversation with my husband.  It turned out differently than i thought it would, but it  is honest and blunt, and gets to the crux of the question.  See what you think.

Me:  So, I've been thinking about our fourth quarter experiment for the year and this is what I've sort of come up with, what if we tithe our time.

Him: What do you mean?

Me:  I mean, look at the older kids.  They spend almost 4 hours of a fourth hour school/work week sharing their time with little kids tutoring in reading and Chinese.  I know those hours are part of  the service they need to do for a school project, but still, they provide a great service and they love that time.  What if we all looked at what we could do, or maybe what we are already doing, and see what we can offer more?

Him:  Well, if you include what we are already doing, I say great.  Here's the thing.  I get up every day and go to work.  I work all day and come home.  Then I spend all evening doing dinner, homework, kid stuff and other things with the family.  I almost never run or play my guitar.  I feel like my time is all tithed out in the support of my family.  Then, I look at what the kids are doing.  They are great kids, but have you seen their bedrooms?  Have they even had stewardship over anything but their own stuff since we moved?  It's frustrating to feel like we work so hard, and they don't even take care of the smallest things beyond going to school.

I was taken back by his strong reaction.  But I forged on.

Me:  You are absolutely right.  They need to get back in the habit of cleaning their rooms and having an area of stewardship in the house.  And, I just had an epiphany that maybe you're right.  Maybe you already tithe AND offer all of your time out in the service of your family.  So, maybe what we need is a miracle.  Just like we have seen miracles financially when we live this law with money, maybe we could see miracles of time if we really put it to the test in how we give of ourselves.

Him:  I think it's great what the kids are doing.  But i really want them to get back to the basics.  Seems like the law of tithes and offerings has two parts, obviously.  The first part is tithing.  That is what we are required to give.  The second part is offering, that part does not have a mandated amount.  So, what if we look at our time, or their time, in those ways.  I want to be sure we are meeting the tithing part first - taking care of our responsibilities and stewardships in order to establish a foundation.  And, then, move forward with the offering part - looking at what we can do above and beyond what is required of us.

Me:  I think that sounds great.  The only thing is, I wonder if we can't do them simultaneously.  Take care of the needful as we try to go the extra mile.  I really need the windows of heaven to open up for my time, and I know you do to.  It's just an experiment, but do you believe it could actually work?

Him: Of course, I just don't think we (here, I think he really means the kids and me) should neglect the most important things at home as they are out doing their service in the world.

Me:  True. Let's talk to them about reestablishing our tradition of taking care of our stuff and stewardships.

Him:  I could go for that.

After this conversation I realized.  The miracle I most hope for all of us, especially my husband, is for more time to develop our talents and pursue the things we love to do.    But, when the windows of Heaven open, you usually get way more than you bargain for.  

More to come.

Tithe Your Time

"Yeah. I know we can't do everything to solve all of the problems of the world, but it does seem like we can do something more..."

This was the end of a long conversation I had with one of my children about the weight of the world and how to make a difference in it. It came at an opportune moment as we stand at the crossroads of our next fourth quarter experiment.

Photo Credit

Each previous experiment brought life altering perspective and semi-lasting change to the way we view the world around us. I say semi-lasting because with each experiment we had things that carried over into the rest of our lives and routines, and we had areas where our commitment faltered and requires a recommit. Here's a rough recap.

1. No More Grocery Shopping - October 2008
Experiment Parameters: During this experiment we were at the height of our financial ladder and decided it would be good to start preparing for a rainy day. We went almost six weeks without going to the grocery store and saved $1000 in our budget just by not going to the store, eating out, spending gas and time away, etc.

Carryovers: a)my aversion to going to the grocery store, b) my delight at finding local producers that don't really sell in grocery stores, i.e. bountiful baskets and farmers markets, and c) our use of a pretty substantial basement food storage. 

Recommittals: AVOID the grocery store. More to come on what this will look like this time around.

2.Buy Nothing New - October 2009
Experiment Parameters:This experiment came during our year of un/self/under-employment. This was the year we bought NOTHING new for christmas. We shopped everything second hand, home made gifts and got creative and avoided the whole holiday rat-race altogether. As stressful as that year was, the holiday season was so peaceful. We got to Christmas and Gordon was working for a classy outfit that didn't believe in paying their executives over the holiday season. Thankfully, we had chosen this experiment before we realized we wouldn't get a pay check until January.

Carryovers: We always have home made things for the holidays.

Recommittals: Buy less stuff in general, especially during the holidays. Get more creative about second hand and repurposed items.

One of my best, "nothing new" finds - a bunch of Bionicles in a bag at a thrift store,

 enough to build at least dozen guys, all for $3

 

3. October 2010 - We sort of took the year off. I think I was tired.

4. Live On What You Give - October 2011
Experiment Parameters: This was our best experiment yet. We all learned a lot about giving to those in need and living on less than we think we need. We cut our grocery budget in HALF. We went from spending over $600/month on groceries to about $300, helped people around us, connected with what it is to live on less-than-food stamps at our dinner table, and witnessed 10 major and minor miracles. We had enough and to spare. We received A LOT more than we gave.

Carryovers: We kept our level of giving where it was during the experiment for another several months beyond and increased it again when we got a better job.

Recommittals: We need to LIVE on what we give again. While we are living within our means, we could really do better, especially on discretionary funds that get spent on food.

Hoping for more of the same from this year's experiment,  I went to bed that night pondering the points made in the conversation, particularly the end, and prayed for inspiration on what to do next. I woke with these words in my mind.

"Tithe your time."

What do you think of when you hear those words?