Do you ever just feel....

[Rawadventures]

SOOOO discouraged?!?!? Okay, that is rather a rhetorical question, I know. I have been lurking off and on since my last post and just felt the need to post. I am sure that there are those on the board who get SO tired of the off again-on again nature of some people. I don't want to be one of those people, but due to some horrible life situations right now, I find myself being one of them. I don't know how many times in the past year I have posted my "I'm baaack" post, only to got "off" again.

I am trying (and WANTING) to get back on raw, but my dh has been out of work for a month. The past 17 months have held many health issues for him, including three (long term) hospitalizations. Last June he was in the hospital with herpetic meningitis and almost died. This last one was a surgery that has held him up for a month and he is not even being released by his doctor until 7/10. Our checking account has spent more time overdrawn the past few months than not.

I am not trying to whine, but seriously, what the heck do you do when you HONESTLY have NO money to be "healthy". I have eaten beans and brown rice until I FEEL like a bean - just trying to find the "healthiest" thing that I can eat that I have on hand!! I had $10 to spend in the store the other day that was given to us. I priced fruit and cannot TOUCH it... SOOO expensive! I was able to get $3.00 today and was able to get 5 tomatoes and 2 onions at the farmers market. Those tomatos were SO good!!

I have been SO discouraged lately. My original goal with raw food was my health because I was tested positive for cancer cells (female related) and knew this was the answer.

I don't know what else to do right now. I am just praying for the day that I can actually go to the store and get VEGGIES and eat a truly healthy, living meal!!!

Hmmm... now I am wondering the purpose of this post even, but maybe I just needed to remind myself that THIS is the WAY OF LIFE I want and desire and PRAY that I can be back at 100% soon.

I hope nobody minds that I did post, since I am TRYING to get back on raw, but due to these circumstances am not "there" yet.... trust me... I miss the energy feeling that eating right gave me... this "blah" feeling is for the birds!

[Revvell]

Sometimes, ya just gotta vent and get it out. Hoping doing so helped you feel a little better?

I'm sure you'll have plenty of company here. I can't help you other than to say ~ stay focused on what you do want ~ prosperity, health for the both of you and continued love with your husband. Sometimes when things are seemingly all in the red we forget what it is we do have to be thankful for and think things will never turn around. They will. What goes down has two ways to go ~ sideways and up. Maybe it's time they go up. :)

Revvell

[spicyfull]

Do you have a mailing address????????????Help is on the way.

[Lay-Lay]

Teri,

I am so sorry to here about all your ordeals. I know what difficult times are all about. Revvell gave said alot in her post. Sometimes we just got think about what we want and work the best we can towards it. I know it sound like you were all beaned out, but maybe if you could get your hands on some seeds and plant some greens and tomatoes and a few things like that. A few packs of seeds could feed you for months. Also buying sunflower seeds to sprout and mund beans and buck eyes that are full of health and you can eat eat the sprouts. They are pretty cheap too.

[chilove]

Hello there,

Believe me I have been there before. I know how hard it is. You can surivive for a LOOOONG time on nothing but bananas if you had to. Bananas are a very nutritionaly complete food. Add in some occasional greens and you will be fine. Go to every grocery and produce store in your area and ask for the produce manager and ask them to put aside the fruit that is nearly over ripe or bruised that they usually throw away every day. Tell them about your financial situation. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Many of them will either give you the produce for free or only charge you a very small amount. I have several store in my area that do this for me. I get bananas for 10 cents per lb. Many produce managers are happy to help people eat more fruits and veggies. I could never afford to be raw if I had to pay grocery store prices. I'd be happy to send you a small donation (I'm a full time student but I am working now) to help out a little if you post your address or if you have a paypal account. :-)

You can do this!!!

Take care,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[ShelShel]

I am so sorry for your current conditions. :( That is just so sad. I can understand your struggles up and down with raw. Raw (((HUGS))) I really hope things turn around in your life soon. I will keep you in both in my prayers. You may always vent...and call on us for support...that is what this forum is all about!

[Pailani]

I don't think many of us get tired of on-off members - so many of us are on-off ourselves! It takes some of us more than once to get it right and stay there, even without extra stuff going on in our lives.


seriously, what the heck do you do when you HONESTLY have NO money to be "healthy".

I know it must be frustrating - how many times have I seen someone explain a situation why they don't have money for organic produce, only to hear "but just think of how much money you'll save on doctor's visits" (which are usually paid for by insurance, while healthy food is not) or "isn't your health worth it?" Sometimes it really isn't a choice between spending the money on one of two options, the money simply isn't there. (Sorry, my own little vent . . . and I'm not even in the situation of having no money for produce!)

iloverawfoods had some great ideas, I just read on another thread about sprouts. They don't taste great, but they are a cheap raw food source. Bananas are usually cheap, too. And maybe you could grow lettuce (or tomatoes, which are easy to grow?) When life is so stressful, it's easy to want to find solace in comfort foods (which are often cheap, too) but the better you eat, the better you'll be able to handle life.

Good luck - we're always here, even if you just need people to understand when you slip up.

[rawpriestess]

Sell stuff on ebay, it is very inexpensive and you can make alot of money
have a garage sale,
volunteer at your church to feed the hungry, and they will give you a free meal
you can go to most churches and they will feed you, one day a week
try the food bank
call the Utility company, they usually have alot of phone numbers for people who can help you if you are in need
wash cars
walk dogs
water the gardens of neighbors
mow lawns
clean houses
take in laundry
be a shopper for others who work, or are invalids
go to the park, and offer to watch people's stuff, while they are swimming, and ask for $1.00 to do this, or whatever
go to the park on bar-b-que days, and ask if you can have some (I know this isn't fun to beg, but if you are starving, then why not?)
pan handle
wild forage for greens and fruits,
go around your neighborhood and ask people if you can pick off their trees
offer to help people with their gardens, and ask for the produce as payment
volunteer at the local food bank, church, co=op, etc, for food
work for food
sell your stuff

ask neighbors, friends, relatives for food or money
especially now, you can go berry picking, and make money and eat at the same time.

there are thousands of ways to make money and get free food, I know you can think of some if you really want to.

If you lived near us, (Washington state) I'd be happy to feed you in exchange for work here at our home/gardens, so I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.

[Green Life]

Hi teri!

You can buy wheat berries at .29 cents a pound. Soak them and sprout for a day. Dehydrate them till crispy and then blend them into flour. I make these all the time, and they are about as cheap as you can get! If you don't have a dehydrator, skip that step and just process the soaked and sprouted berries as is. It just seems that dehydrating them yields a roastier taste or something. Please don't say you dont have a processor, LOL!!

Just do a search for Unlevened bread. It just has the flour water and salt and oil. The oil and salt you can do without. I also added some sweetener, but that is optional, too. These are raw, and they do fill me up. I spread them with dijon mustard and then layer some sweet onion slices on top of the mustard. Also, avacado is good, but the onions are cheaper because they add alot of flavor with just a slice or two.

Flax seeds are also inexpensive.This make delicious crackers and they add the Omega fat you need.

Banannas. Call round and find the cheapest place to purchase a box of over ripe banannas,You can usually luck out. Usually, $10.00 per 40 lbs. You can ask if they will save the overripe banannas for you, and then just buy what you need. Banannas are high in potassium which in this summer heat would be really good to have.

Avacado is filling. Just one spread on crackers is a nice, cheap meal, expecially if you can find the 'cados at 2/1.00.

Also, I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but sprouting all kinds of seeds into greens is very inexpensive.

Maybe this makes you feel a little better!

Green :D Life

[JEN]

Im so sorry that you are having such tough times. I have been there. I love the idea of checking with the stores for produce that might be cheap and seeds for sprouting too. Great ideas! Please post your address or paypay if you have one. I dont have alot but I will gladly share some of my abundance with you . Keep your chin up and know that help is here.

Big Hugs
jeannie

[Lunar*Fey]

I am so sorry. and please don't feel you are just whining. I know it is hard to have no money, even though I am only 15. We were never in a horrible situation but my mom was a single mother at the age of 26 and was going to college. We had a lot of cream of wheat with cinnamon and raisin dinners...but we had a great childhood. Any way, I send energy of love and light and prosperity your way. Also, if the shipping would not be too much and you can start a garden...I may be able to send you some seeds. I wish I could have a fund raiser for you somehow. *thinks*.
oh and do you have any way you could work for food at a local farm that has fruit trees/vegetable garden?
Also the idea of sprouting is very good.
You can usually find cheap bulk seeds and grains at your local health food store. For instance wheat berries around here are like .99 cents a pount and when you soak and sprout it ends up being more. You can blend this up with whatever is on hand and it makes a yummy raw porridge type thing. or you can make crackers, etc. Also, flax seeds are about .99 cents a pound and go a long way. Same with sunflower seeds. Buckwheat is like 1.32 lb here. Your options depend on the store, but the prices probably wont be much different than beans and rice. and then fruits and veggies and greens you can try and get from sources others listed. At BJ's bananas are .33 cents a pound at their regular price, same with Costco's although we don't have one avery close. So if there are any stores like that near you, you can try that. I hope everything works out for you and please keep us posted and let me know about those seeds :)

Love,
Lunar*Fey

[Coriander74]

Hugs to you hon, I hope you are able to find what you need, ... I used to work at a grocery store and we'd often have people come in asking for overripe produce, etc.
I can't afford much either but would be happy to send on what I can, if you email me an address or paypal thingie.

Be well...

[Dimond]

It's so wonderful to see such support! :) With all of this positive energy, Rawadventures, your situation should take a turn for the better.

[Rawadventures]

sweet.

I do NOT want to sound like I am whining or ungrateful. I hope and pray that I am NOT coming across that way. Just having the support of people who understand is awesome. I can honestly say that as "upbeat" as I try to be (especially for my dh) that sometimes it is hard not to get discouraged. I know that I am truly blessed though and that there are always others who have it harder than we do. I try to stay positive for our 13 yr old too... I know that us moms set the mood for our home more than we realize!

A huge blessing tonight is that I had a friend drop off a WATERMELON!!! My first watermelon all year! It is soo sweet and juicy too. I am so grateful for my watermelon!!! :)

I have done a few things that have really helped. We let our church know how "bad" our situation had gotten. They did pay our electric bill for us... HUGE blessing!!! We were given some groceries - pretty much stuff for dh and ds, but still a huge help!!! I have been watching my friend's kids and taking care of her great grandmother...pays a little. I am actually looking for some full-time work right now (at night) and have several applications in.

Everyone's suggestions are awesome and I feel so much support! Thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart!

At the request of several of you I am posting my address. Teri Humphreys, 1618 Jarrard Way, Jacksonville, FL 32221. I am not sure how paypal works - I have an account that I have used in the past to pay bills with...beyond that I don't know how it works, but the email address associated with it is pbear1955@bellsouth.net I am not posting this information because I am expecting anything from anyone... your support, ideas, friendship, and caring is SO awesome. I am posting this because it was asked for.

We are praying that my dh is able to go back to work on 7/10, but we are also applying for disability for him because of his chronic illnesses (he has an immune system dysfunction where his body does not make the IGg antibody portion of the immune system).

Anyway... thanks again to EVERYONE.

I can also be emailed at pbear1955@bellsouth.net.

[lavendarJ]

Blessings to you Terri

This site is so amazingly positive that it leaves a powerful impact on all who read it. It really lifted my spirits when I read the posts and I can honestly feel the warmth and willing kindness that this offered in the words. Group Hug :D

Seriously, Terri I owe you thanks for your willingness to share your story. I am not married and I cannot say that I can relate to your personal story but I can definitely relate to your question, "Do you ever feel so discouraged?". I have been feeling that way for quite some time now for several different reasons (the lack of money being a contributing factor). I didn't even want to workout but I made myself walk the trails for an hour and I just came back in and logged on and then I read your post. It gave me the connection I needed. I spend so much of my day feeling segregated from friends and loved ones because it has been hard to find support there. I logged on and I found this post. That gave me the connection I needed this evening. Thank you.

[Rawadventures]

Lavendarj,

You are sweet. Yes, it amazes me sometimes that when I read someone's story it lifts me up because I can relate. Thank you for your sweet words! I pray that you will too be uplifted during your discouraging times.

My sweet dh and I have only been married for 3 years, so the past 17 months of illness have been quite hard, but I love him SO much and would not change a thing... sickness and all. These trials have served to bring us closer and for that one thing I am truly grateful.

[Conscious Midwife]

I noticed from your profile you are a SAHM and you are homeschooling.

Got my mind to thinking...

Start a swap
child care in exchange for grocery gift cards or fresh meals
do laundry or clean homes while hubby is home with little ones

Can you apply for WIC thru your local health department?

Keep you spirits up and things fun for the kiddos this summer, check out free days at the zoo and museum, story time at the library
check the website of your local state universities, look for their agriculture extension programs, their are usually affordable coops associatedwith these

work a booth at farmers market swap for foods and a little cash for gas

visualize a favorable outcome for your journey

Sending light and love your way!

[Rawadventures]

I was just sitting here lurking and going over some of my old posts. I was feeling grateful of how everyone was so kind when I was feeling exceptionally down about things here recently. Just a quick update!

My dh went back to work today. It will be another two weeks before he gets his first check, but I am grateful that he is alive and able (so far) to be at work. We are hoping that he can handle his work load, at least until I can get a steady income.

I have done some housecleaning and "swapping" and brought in a little bit of cash, which dh said really must go for bills....I fully understand. I am still applying for jobs and praying for a good outcome!

I was able to be raw at 95-100% for a tad bit over an entire week due to someone's grace and kindness - FELT SOOO GOOD. (Well, except the detoxing headach). I am now trying to just do my best... I know every effort will pay off. After all, we were given a small sack of oranges today and I had two of them for breakfast.... YUM.

Keeping my chin up that things will improve and not regress and that my raw journey will be a positive one.

Thanks for the thoughts and well wishes!

[rawnpawgirl]

Hey, one of the places you may consider applying to is a Whole Foods, health food, or grocery store. The employess get a significant discount on food!

I wish you the best and I will hold you in my prayers!

[Gosia]

You are not alone. I sometimes wonder why I am doing this, when managing money gets hard. :( (In fact I posted a thread about it on another forum just moments ago.) I think I can learn a lot from others in this area. Thanks for the tips.

Gosia

PS By the way, Audrey, I love your new website.

[chilove]

Hi Teri,

Check your email! :-)

Thanks Gosia!!!!


Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Rawadventures]

Big hugs to everyone.... Chilove, I will be emailing you back shortly... ;)

As if I thought things could not get "worse", my dh just walked in the door and informed me that he most likely did not have a job anymore. UGH... after being out for so long with illness, now he going to have to start over completely! Due to his health issues, he gets a medicine via IV every 2 weeks and its $4,000... Without this he can die. He was SO stressed and upset about everything at his job (HORRID job politics and false accusations) that he WALKED home from work... took him two hours!!!!

Okay, just stressing right now... I know that God and wonderful people have helped us out SO much, but I am officially scared right now... at least when he was sick and recovering from surgery I knew that he would be going back to work and income would start back up.

I am off to put more applications in and do some serious praying.

Keep those positive thoughts going round!

[beelzebubble]

have you applied for food stamps? welfare (i know this is a hot topic, and i'm not sure how one qualifies, but it might be worth a shot)?

there are programs to help you, you just have to find them. you said that your husband has been in and out of the hospital?? you could see if your hospital has, or is affiliated with, a social worker. the social worker should be able to help you find these programs, or at least suggest a course of action for you.

my thoughts are with you.
take care,
bubble

[codajess]

Hey, one of the places you may consider applying to is a Whole Foods, health food, or grocery store. The employess get a significant discount on food!

I wish you the best and I will hold you in my prayers!


I agree with this. I also read an article on how Whole Foods is one of the best places to work. Their lowest paid employees are paid $13-something an hour.

You gotta do what you gotta do. If you gotta get a job, then you gotta get a job. :( I know since you're a SAHM, that's probably not ideal; but you have to do what's best for you and your family. Good luck!!