*Feed Your Family $10 A Day Challenge*(AT HOME)

[TNKBELL]

Well DH and I went grocery shopping yesterday. WE bought enough stuff and hopefully we will not have to shop until the first week of Aug. We spent 200. That includes laundry soap, tp tooth paste shampoo and deodorant for DH, and food for the cats. I have had so much food in my freezer so I really was able to plan what to buy. I used 3 coupons. I am hiding all the cookies and snacks on the kids (they will eat it all in one day if I let them). I HOPE that I will not have to shop until Aug. I know that in 2 weeks I will have to get milk and some salad. (Hopefully by then we will be happy to eat it again)


Fyi My micro office is in use again

Isn't that the truth!! The Dks would gladly snarf down any "treat" the moment we walk in the door from the store!! And they always want to sample anything new and different while we are still unloading!!

 

[dawn1967]

Breakfast

Left over chicken from dinner last night FREE
Orange Juice Neighbor gave it to me this morning Free

Snack Saved 1 breast from the chicken to mix with eggs i had boiled last night to make chicken salad .75 with mayo celery Tabasco and eggs
Store bought Pita's 1.59
Lettuce tomato .60


Dinner
Hamburgers 1.33 (.33@4)
lettuce onions tomato pickles .75
buns .59
ketcup mustard free
Fries .59
ranch for dip .50

Dessert today will be ice cream i bought a 1/2gal on sale

1.49



grand total 8.19

tomorrow is father's day we will not even calucate the food tomorrow I'm sure it will be half the food budget of the month it felt that way when the total was given to me. But he's been so good about giving up Steak and Roasts and and cookies.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Today We both worked so no breakfast or lunch at home. Dinner is..

Home Made Pizza

2-Kroger already make pizza crust 2.89
2 jars pizza sauce 1.19+1.19=2.38
pepperoni .99
cheese 2 packs 1.79+1.79=3.59
Pitcher of Tea .50 cents
Total 10.08

 

[sk!mom]

I'm still boggled by how little some spend and eat so I decided to try and figure out how much I am spending. We are a family of three adults and one child although many meals are just 2 adults and a child since DS eats whatever when he's at work, out, etc...

I’m going to figure out breakfast cost by adding up what breakfast foods we buy each week and dividing it by 7 days. We all eat some combination of cereal, toast or bagels, and milk. DD and DS also like waffles. We use 2 boxes of cereal, a box of waffles, one bag of bagels, a loaf of bread, and 2 gallons of milk every week at a cost of 18.58 / 7= 2.65 a day on average for breakfast. Some of the milk and bread is used for lunches or other things and at other times but this was the easiest way for me to figure it out so I’m going to count it all as a breakfast expense. We also sometimes have pancakes, crepes, or muffins on the weekend but the cost would be similar.

Lunch is difficult since we eat leftovers from the previous dinner, sandwiches, salads, etc... Basically everyone fixes what he or she likes. DD, DH, and I all eat at home or bring a lunch from home on school/ workdays. I keep sliced turkey breast, peanut butter, hot dogs, yogurt, cheese, salad fixings, and lots of fresh fruit on hand for lunches. I also buy 2 or 3 boxes of Lean Pockets each week since DD and DS like them. I know they are more expensive than a sandwich made from scratch but they like them and with coupons this is a $5 a week expense and we don’t pinch pennies too much at this point in time. I can’t really figure out an easy way to price out the lunches- I’m on summer vacation and too busy relaxing to try.

Snack- DD and 2 friends had ice cream ($1.75) yesterday but today DD went to the movies with Grma and cousins so won’t eat a snack at home. Most days I only know what DD snacks on and since it's summer she usually buys a snack at the pool. $1 - $2 per day. If she buys a snack then she won’t eat one at home. I keep Fat free frozen yogurt, low fat fudgescicles, cheese sticks, and fresh fruit on hand for snacks. The cost is usually about $10 per week at the store plus probably $4 or $5 a week on snacks at the pool. So $15 / 7= $2.14 per day.

Dinner- I'm going to list several dinners from the past week so that I can get an idea of the average spent. Dinners are always cooked for 4- if DS isn't home or doesn't eat DH or I have the leftovers for lunch.

Dinner #1 total 7.98 (no leftovers)
Burgers 3.58 (93/7 lean meat)
4 buns .44
tomato .64
roasted corn 1.32
chips 1.00
watermelon 1.00 (1/4 or a 4.00 melon) total 7.98

#2 total 11.02 ( plenty for next day’s lunch)
Chicken breast for Fajitas 5.33
Bell pepper .58
Onion .61
Tortillas 2.00
Rice 1.00
Fresh strawberries 1.50

#3 total $6.87 (only DH and I were home for this meal- we had enough left for two days of lunches)
Tortilla soup 6.87 for all ingredients

#4 total $7.70 ( leftover chicken for 2 more meals and leftover cantaloupe for next day’s lunch)
Roast chicken $5.22
Potatoes $.50
Carrots $1.00
Cantaloupe .98

#5 total $5.49
Chicken enchiladas
Chicken $0- leftover
Sauce .98
Chilies .67
Cream cheese .84
jack cheese .50(?)
Corn tortillas .50
Rice 1.00
¼ watermelon 1.00


#6 total $10.92 (strawberries left over for snack)
T Bone steak 7.48 (on sale $4.99 per pound)
Potatoes .50
Caesar salad 1.44 (1/2 of 3 serving bag- no salad for DS)
Fresh strawberries 1.50

Bottom line- I’m very interested to read how others feed their families but no way could we do it on $10 per day. Dinner for under $10 would be good for us. We eat well and healthy and find that having good meals encourages us to eat at home and eating out is a real budget and health buster.

 

[dawn1967]

Bottom line- I’m very interested to read how others feed their families but no way could we do it on $10 per day. Dinner for under $10 would be good for us. We eat well and healthy and find that having good meals encourages us to eat at home and eating out is a real budget and health buster.

Do you have a bread store? Do you buy store brand or name brand and just curious how many carrots or lbs did you buy for 1.00 i get 5lbs for .98 and i know my family will not eat that many at dinner.

We usually eat very well compare to some families i know. and 99% time we eat under 10.00 a day.

It's amazing when you have to do it you can find ways to make it healthy and cheap.

 

[sk!mom]

Do you have a bread store? Do you buy store brand or name brand and just curious how many carrots or lbs did you buy for 1.00 i get 5lbs for .98 and i know my family will not eat that many at dinner.

There is a bread store near my house, I haven't been there in years. I will check it out this week. I buy name brand bread since we eat whole grain bread and I haven't seen a storebrand that is whole grain.

The carrots were baby carrots from a bag that was $1.50. My DD loves the baby carrots so I keep them on hand. I should probably buy regular carrots for cooking to save on cost.

 

[punkin]

There is a bread store near my house, I haven't been there in years. I will check it out this week. I buy name brand bread since we eat whole grain bread and I haven't seen a storebrand that is whole grain.

The carrots were baby carrots from a bag that was $1.50. My DD loves the baby carrots so I keep them on hand. I should probably buy regular carrots for cooking to save on cost.

I buy whole wheat sugar-less bread in Walmart for $1.89 per loaf and freeze it (I hate going into walmart and shop there as little as possible). Baby carrots are more expensive, but I think it is worth it because DDs will actually take them and eat them by themselves. I usually pay $.99 for a small bag that's about 2 or 3 servings.

 

[dawn1967]

I buy whole wheat sugar-less bread in Walmart for $1.89 per loaf and freeze it (I hate going into walmart and shop there as little as possible). Baby carrots are more expensive, but I think it is worth it because DDs will actually take them and eat them by themselves. I usually pay $.99 for a small bag that's about 2 or 3 servings.

Ok here i'm getting baby carrots 5lbs for .99 here in my area carrots are grown year round along with zucchinni so that might be why it's cheap. Plus baby carrots are great subs when making a meat spaggitti sauce i grate about 1lb and add 1/2lb of ground turkey no one know's and sweetens the sauce real well. My little one loves carrots to i make sure they are on the table all day for him.

 

[Davidsmommy]

I have been following this thread (and the other thrifty ones) and I have to say I stink at saving money. But, you all have me THINKING about it much more than usual, so thank you! I have started couponing a bit, and planning meals more, and also just thinking about how much stuff is when I am at the store. So, I appreciate that!

We spend more than $10 a day on food, but I am working on it. Little steps, right? Dh told me to put cheerios on the list yesterday when I was going to the store, but I was like, "Lucky Charms was on sale for 1/2 price last week and I bought that! The kids can eat that this week!" So, I am at least trying!

Kudos to all you making it work! You are an inspiration!

 

[punkin]

We spend more than $10 a day on food, but I am working on it. Little steps, right? Dh told me to put cheerios on the list yesterday when I was going to the store, but I was like, "Lucky Charms was on sale for 1/2 price last week and I bought that! The kids can eat that this week!" So, I am at least trying!

Kudos to all you making it work! You are an inspiration!

I can't make $10 per day on a regular basis either. I am very happy when I stay under $20 on average. Sometimes I have good days and sometimes I splurge. This is life, not a contest who can be cheapest. What you are doing sounds great to me.

 

[Davidsmommy]

I can't make $10 per day on a regular basis either. I am very happy when I stay under $20 on average. Sometimes I have good days and sometimes I splurge. This is life, not a contest who can be cheapest. What you are doing sounds great to me.

Thanks! I feel a tad discouraged today - we went to Six Flags (we have Season Passes). I don't mind spending a little on food when we are there, but today we specifically ate lunch before we left (sandwiches, pasta salad, and fruit). We got there at 1:00 ish. We did a few things and when David and I went on a big ride, DH bought (for all of us, but mainly to keep our daughter occupied) 2 pretzels and a refill of our (all season) refillable cup - it was $10! Then, we got ice cream. It was $18! For a baby cup (for me) and a regular cup (for the kids to split) and some extravagant coffee drink that DH wanted, and a refill of our cup of iced tea. $18!!!!!!

Granted, we haven't really eaten dinner. We just had leftover pasta and fruit salad (that I have on hand most days in the summer), some leftover chicken from last night, and some pepperoni bread (I made from ingredients we had on hand). So, we got away without paying for dinner. But still, that was pricey!

Tomorrow we will have the ribs we have marinating (was supposed to be today's dinner), hamburgers and hotdogs (leftover from Mother's Day - frozen), baked beans (already have in pantry)...so it will be cheap (and we are having company).

Next week - back on track!!!

 

[ducklite]

I can't make $10 per day on a regular basis either. I am very happy when I stay under $20 on average. Sometimes I have good days and sometimes I splurge. This is life, not a contest who can be cheapest. What you are doing sounds great to me.

The key is to buy everything on sale and stock up. I have a large pantry closet that's overflowing with half price items. A couple of months ago between a sale, coupons, and a rebate, I got 20 boxes of Green Giant frozen veggies for $.32 a box! (I think it was $.32--it was more then $.26 and less than $.38, so in any case it was cheap!) I buy cereal when it's BOGO plus use a coupon. Last week I bought four boxes of Lucky Charms for a total of $8.98, they are usually $4.99/box. They were BOGO plus I had a $1 off coupon. I bought four cans of chicken breast for $5.18, they are normally $3.29 each--they were BOGO and I had two $.70 coupons.

I haven't been participating in this thread because with only two people to feed on a regular basis, it's easy to do it on $10 a day. But without sale shopping and coupons, I'd easily spend double what I do.

Anne

 

[punkin]

I haven't been participating in this thread because with only two people to feed on a regular basis, it's easy to do it on $10 a day. But without sale shopping and coupons, I'd easily spend double what I do.
Anne

True. Two people are easier to make under $10 per day. It's feeding 5 on under $10 that I can't accomplish no matter how I stock up and coupon. Actually, couponing doesn't help me all that much because I cook almost everything from scratch. Loss leaders are great though, and I stock up on those as much as possible. I could probably live off my pantry and freezer for the next 2 months if I had to.

 

[mommiepoppins]

The key is to buy everything on sale and stock up. I have a large pantry closet that's overflowing with half price items. A couple of months ago between a sale, coupons, and a rebate, I got 20 boxes of Green Giant frozen veggies for $.32 a box! (I think it was $.32--it was more then $.26 and less than $.38, so in any case it was cheap!) I buy cereal when it's BOGO plus use a coupon. Last week I bought four boxes of Lucky Charms for a total of $8.98, they are usually $4.99/box. They were BOGO plus I had a $1 off coupon. I bought four cans of chicken breast for $5.18, they are normally $3.29 each--they were BOGO and I had two $.70 coupons.

I haven't been participating in this thread because with only two people to feed on a regular basis, it's easy to do it on $10 a day. But without sale shopping and coupons, I'd easily spend double what I do.

Anne

If I had the lucky chams I would eat them all to my self..

 

[dawn1967]

The key is to buy everything on sale and stock up. I have a large pantry closet that's overflowing with half price items.

I agree my husband at first went nuts when i took some tax money and bought extra's that were cheap and i still buy things when on sale cheap or on case lot sales. I get 85 a week for all food and laundry and pet food. So last week i had enough meat and veggies in the freezer that all i had to buy food wise was milk and fruit and some fresh veggies we like it came out to 20. i didn't need laundry soap because early in month walmart had gain for 6 bucks for 48 loads which is almost half off the regular price so i bought two. I should be good for two months Fingers cross. The extra 65.00 I will put toward our camping food budget since we love to camp and need snacks like smores.

 

[ducklite]

True. Two people are easier to make under $10 per day. It's feeding 5 on under $10 that I can't accomplish no matter how I stock up and coupon. Actually, couponing doesn't help me all that much because I cook almost everything from scratch. Loss leaders are great though, and I stock up on those as much as possible. I could probably live off my pantry and freezer for the next 2 months if I had to.

I wouldn't rule out couponing, even for scratch items. Last week I bought two bottles of canola oil for half price less a coupon, and I haven't paid more than 50% of the regular cost for pasta in over a year. If you have a Latin or Asian market near you, rice is less than half the price as a regular grocery, and some spices are cheaper that way as well.

Anne

 

[punkin]

I wouldn't rule out couponing, even for scratch items. Last week I bought two bottles of canola oil for half price less a coupon, and I haven't paid more than 50% of the regular cost for pasta in over a year. If you have a Latin or Asian market near you, rice is less than half the price as a regular grocery, and some spices are cheaper that way as well.

Anne

I have a Korean store I go to for fruits and veggies. You are right about the price of rice there.

 

[bettyann29]

Thanks! I feel a tad discouraged today - we went to Six Flags (we have Season Passes). I don't mind spending a little on food when we are there, but today we specifically ate lunch before we left (sandwiches, pasta salad, and fruit). We got there at 1:00 ish. We did a few things and when David and I went on a big ride, DH bought (for all of us, but mainly to keep our daughter occupied) 2 pretzels and a refill of our (all season) refillable cup - it was $10! Then, we got ice cream. It was $18! For a baby cup (for me) and a regular cup (for the kids to split) and some extravagant coffee drink that DH wanted, and a refill of our cup of iced tea. $18!!!!!!

Granted, we haven't really eaten dinner. We just had leftover pasta and fruit salad (that I have on hand most days in the summer), some leftover chicken from last night, and some pepperoni bread (I made from ingredients we had on hand). So, we got away without paying for dinner. But still, that was pricey!

Tomorrow we will have the ribs we have marinating (was supposed to be today's dinner), hamburgers and hotdogs (leftover from Mother's Day - frozen), baked beans (already have in pantry)...so it will be cheap (and we are having company).

Next week - back on track!!!

I know how you feel.. we always eat before we head to six flags because the cost of the food is soooo costly ..

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

What a great thread to find when I made my way back to the DIS boards! I've missed everyone, I'm posting in a few about my crazy spring.
I'll be happy to play, I've been trying to do this for a few weeks now, I was hoping to save our fall trip, but sadly it couldn't happen.

My biggest "saver" was when my local store recently had GM Disney cereals on sale. They were offering $6 off any 4 boxes of GM cereal, which brought the cost down to less than .30 a box. I bought a ton! My kids have been eating it for breakfast every day, hubby doesn't even mind princess flakes (he normally eats frosted flakes a couple times a week no matter what, he said for .30 a box they can be pink!)
I'll post some of my menus here after I run downstairs and grab them!

 

[mommiepoppins]

Sunday

B. bagels =0
Cream cheese= 0 from yesterday (the entire container is almost gone)
Milk =20 cents
Frosted Minnie wheat’s=30 cents

L + D= 0 eating at mil

S. strawberries =0 mil bought 4 and gave me one
Apple slices=25 cents
Yogurt=35 cents
Bagel= 0
= 90 cents for the day. I hope she gives us some left over food… that would be great. I am so blessed to have such a great and frugal mil