Hambone, Hambone, Where Ya' Been?

I've been forced to re-examine my financial situation and tighten down a bit. Ok, a lot. Sadly this will reflect my food budget, but luckily I know how to stretch the almighty hambone. I've been making soup stock like a madwoman for the past month. I am a stock making machine. But my greatest accomplishment was this past weekend because I really saved some dollars. First I roasted a chicken which gave me two days of meals before leaving for the holidays. I freezed the carcass. Upon my return, while my neighbors I am catsitting for were out of town, I stole the hambone from their leftover honey-baked ham out of the fridge. (Don't worry, I put the leftover ham in their freezer for them to enjoy after they get back.) Two hours later i had some heavenly chicken and ham stock. I spent exactly $1.67 on some winter melon and baby bok choy at the asian market down the street and added some cellophane noodles I already had in my pantry for soup that is fit for even my former, more financially secure self.