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

[CEDmom]

I believe the box comes with 14 ounces. It says on the box that it has 7 servings. Yes, I divide it in half. We each end up with 1 cup of cooked pasta. 1 cup is the recommended serving size for pasta by the USDA.

When you add bread and meatballs it is quite a filling meal.

The kids are boys, 10, 8, and 5. The eight year old will eat himself sick, the 10 year old and five year old are much better about eating proper serving sizes. none of them are starving by any means.

You're right about the 1 cup serving size but you can't get that for 5 people if you only cook half a box with 7 servings in it.

As far as using coupons to cut grocery bills I don't find them very helpful for food items since they're mostly for processed stuff we don't eat that much of and what we do eat rarely has coupons. I do use them for household products and can save quite a bit since all our grocery stores regularly double up to 99 cents.

 

[disneyjunkie]

When I worked when i had both my kids my husband and I brought home together 69,000 a year we qualified and took Wic for our kids. The average income for this area is 24,000 a year we were way over it, and still were able to get it. Not everyone here goes to disney it's a dream of there's maybe. And if they save 1 dollar a month toward that goal give it to them and get off your high horse and stop condemning and wish luck in a goal. If you think your taxes should subsidize something else best place to take it up would be local government then a forum for disney vacations.
Kindness becomes an action when done.

OK, so you qualified for the program, but did you really need it? Would you have been able to purchase the allotted items on your own?

Based on my income, my son qualified for reduced lunch. I didn't apply for it, because we didn't need it. My salary is a bit low. However, my rent is extremely cheap. (My parents are my landlords ).

I've been on the DIS a long time. I've read thread after thread about people complaining about single mothers (many times the live in the inner city)collecting foodstamps, public housing... these women get racked over the coals.

Yet, it seems everyone is fine with middle class families getting WIC just because they can. (I'm not talking about the families who truly need the assistance)

People complain about the foodstamp mom using stamps for nonessential items. Yet, it's ok for the WIC mom to use savings to fund a vacation or other nonessential items.

It seems as if some view foodstamps as the Yugo of assistance while WIC is the Lexus. In my opinion, assistance is assistance. It doesn’t matter if one has a much lower income threshold than the other.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Perhaps it's regional. Spagetti is one of my cheap dinners for my family.

one can of Sauce: 96 cents @ walmart
1/2 box of whole wheat pasta: 1.25 per box @ walmart -- 63 cents for the meal.
Garlic Bread: 1.25 @ Aldi
Meatballs (1/2 bag per meal): 2.00 per bag @ Aldi -- 1.00 for the meal

so.. rough math.. around 3.84 before the salad. For a family of five.

See I think it is more than just regional it is also quality. I would never serve my family any premade meatballs. They are just horrid. BTW I am Italian. I always make my own sauce, using crushed, no salt added tomatoes. They are 99 cents for a can. It takes more than one to make the sauce, since they boil down. Add fresh garlic, fresh onions and spices and my sauce is way more expensive and way more healthy. Then I make my meatballs from 93% lean ground beef. No fillers or fat in them. I then add spices and bread crumbs to it. After I am done I have spend way more than 3.84 for just DH and I to eat dinner. But I value our health, so I tend to only shop the outside of the grocery store and we eat no trans fats and limit salt in take. As one gets older (and yes I am older than many of you) you realize that health is far more valueable than saving a few $$$.

 

[meandtheguys2]

See I think it is more than just regional it is also quality. I would never serve my family any premade meatballs. They are just horrid. BTW I am Italian. I always make my own sauce, using crushed, no salt added tomatoes. They are 99 cents for a can. It takes more than one to make the sauce, since they boil down. Add fresh garlic, fresh onions and spices and my sauce is way more expensive and way more healthy. Then I make my meatballs from 93% lean ground beef. No fillers or fat in them. I then add spices and bread crumbs to it. After I am done I have spend way more than 3.84 for just DH and I to eat dinner. But I value our health, so I tend to only shop the outside of the grocery store and we eat no trans fats and limit salt in take. As one gets older (and yes I am older than many of you) you realize that health is far more valueable than saving a few $$$.

LOL, I never picture you as older...but then again I have a hard time remembering I am!

I agree. Health above all else. I think that is what is going to make a difference in my kid's lives as they grow up. This is the first generation not expected to outlive their parents. Absolutely sad, considering the possible medical advances, etc.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I'm sorry and not to go off topic, but you only left a dollar tip for the 5 of you?

Not 5 but 4, oldest ate somewhere else.

At a buffet we always tip 15% and one also tips on the free meal. It takes just as much time to clean up after (more for messy kids) a free meal as it does a paying meal.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Did y'all miss this post one page back?

Let's try to stay on-topic here. The title of the thread is "Feed Your Family $10 A Day Challenge". The subject of who should be on WIC and whether they should vacation at WDW is better suited for the CB. Let's get back to sharing budget recipes and meal planning.

Once again, let me say "Stick to the subject of this thread! If you want to discuss WIC, it's merits or shortcomings, please either take it to PM or start a new thread on the CB. This is not the place for it.

 

[mommiepoppins]

I know exactly what you mean. I have been dealhunting and couponing heavily since 1998 with mycoupons.com . I have also used www.couponmom.com which was way before the grocerygame (as cutouthunger.org when she advocated giving any surplus goodies to foodbanks). I know very well that you can get free or nearly free stuff if you really want to, especially if you can double or triple coupons. I have known people that do this regularly and successfully. Those ladies are amazing!

I don't coupon like this as much because I eat differently, but yes, it is wonderful if you can do it. It doesn't sound like this is what is being done and it wasn't being accentuated.

I was expecting more of this kinda discussion. I think you should definitely post more and tell 'em how it's done.

I use coupons for item that I want and that are on sale. I had a coupon for Frenches Mustard . it was 50 cents off 2. Well They were at Walmart for 50 cents a bottle.. so I got one for free.. That is the type of coupons I love. I also use hot coupon world. and I love it... I will also shop from the bread store, and Aldi. I have a top price that I will pay for an item and if I have a coupon it becomes a game. I have also written to certin products to get coupons .It takes work at first then its all just iceing on the cake

 

[mickeyfan2]

LOL, I never picture you as older....

That's because I am a young typer.

 

[meandtheguys2]

That's because I am a young typer.

Well, some people are lucky that way...it's a gene thing!

 

[mom2dea0813]

Most people use (A-1 sauce , BBQ sauce , mayo , mustard , vinager, salad dressings , jellys , and the sort ) These items I general get for free- at most .50 cents each by using coupons !Those things in general are expensive but with coupons and rebates and "games" they can be had Very cheap . I buy NO processed foods like boxed dinners or frozen dinner We do buy hotdogs , I do buy boxed Noodles and I buy packages rice . I don't buy many snack items (PB crackers , grahm crackers ,regular crackers to make cheese and crackers for the kids , fruit , veggis and dip , freebies samples my kids love cause they get something new and diffrent , every once in a while I give them all 1.00 to get a special snack from the dallor store usually they come home with a box of teddy grahms , box of cheese crackers and a box of vannilla waffers . These will last us 2 weeks but they get to do this may 1 time every 6 weeks or so .
My point is you can eat healthy , use coupons and get great deals .
Food co-ops are another great place for great prices .

Also those that are around Publixs check into the double coupons they just started about 6-8 weeks ago and no cashier will tell you about it . And if the register dose not do it you can not get it done . Some coupons work some do not . I usually buy 1 of the item hand them my coupon if I see it takes the coupon off 2 times, then I have them scan more of the item and more coupons . Also publix takes others coupons as well !

Sarah

 

[mommiepoppins]

Breakfast
Bagels 26 cents
Cream cheese= 50 cents
Spiderman cereal =50 cents
Milk = 30 cents
=156

Lunch
Hot meat balls with gravy on bread
Left over chicken meat balls=0
Bread 10 cents (entire loaf from Aldi is 45 cents)
Broccoli half bag 44 cents (entire bag from Aldi 89 cents)
Salad= 99 cents
Gravy= 20 cents
Dressing= 50 cents
Milk= 65
=288

Dinner
Taco bake
Can of refried beans= 39
Sharp cheddar cheese=169
Salas= 149
Taco shells =79 cents
Milk=60
Lettuce=0
Whole Wheat garlic bread on mark down 120
616

Snacks for the day
Jell-O fruit salad
Apple slices=44
Pears 98
Canned mandarin oranges=32
Jell-O=25 cents
=199
= 1259 for the day for 5 of us.. I have no idea if the kids will even like this taco bake.

 

[dawn1967]

Breakfast

Kids french toast and Sausage .75
Cereal and banana's .25

Lunch

Ham sandwiches .35
Fruit free

Dinner
whole wheat pasta and meat sauce 1.86
Homemade Garlic bread .50
Salad Free


Sauce is fresh and home made i bought the pasta for .88 and the ground turkey for .88 only thing i bought was the tomato paste for .10 a can. and i only use half. I don't make meatballs i make meat sauce. Incase you ask about the bread crumbs.

Snacks
Popcorn .5
watermelon free
strawberries free
otter pops .04 each they will probably eat 3 each .24
Black plums free

 

[mom2dea0813]

Yummy French toast sounds so yummy ! I will have to talk my kids into that on friday morning . Thursdays I have a Dr appt every week so no time that morning .

Sarah

 

[dawn1967]

My kids love french toast Safeway has a coupon for 7.5lbs of bacon for 9.99 which is a great buy i might buy that and feed the kids bacon and french toast for dinner saturday they would love that.

 

[jordansmomma]

Wednesday
Breakfast
cinnamon twist- 1.98 (for the whole can)there is enough for tomorrow.
milk- .50
me- banana & cereal- .75
ds7- pancakes at school - free
total-3.23

lunch-
ds7- hotdogs, baked cheetos, fruit, milk- free
ds11- pizza, veggies, fruit & milk- boys & girls club- free
me- whole wheat bread .12
tuna- .25 (from costco)
mayo- .10 (maybe)
lettuce/tomato- .15
watermelon- free
diet pepsi- still left from bbq at work
cucumber slices- .20
total- .82

dinner-
quick & easy dinner going to see harry potter
fish sticks- 2.00
shrimp- free (still items from neighbor that has still not returned )
tater tots- free, (my cousins boyfriends mom works at mccains and gave all of us 5 bags of assorted frozen potato products, so i am not sure if the bag i open in going to be tatertots, jojos, or potato smiles)
tater sauce- 1.29 for the bottle not sure how much we will use
salad- .50
dressing- .10 ( i buy it at costco and make it myself)
milk- 1.00 (milk is expensive here $3.69 a gallon)
water for me
total- 4.98

snacks-
ds7- not sure at my aunts house after school
ds11- otter pop- maybe 3 @ .03= .09
me- chips & salsa @ work - free, not my week to buy the items
then each kid has a $15 gift card for the movie theater so they will pay for their own snacks, pop, popcorn. I swear they always need to have popcorn!!
me- 3.00 pop
total-3.09

days total-
12.12
but there will be leftover fish & shrimp for lunch or dinner tomorrow, and i will have left over tuna for lunch tomorrow, and the cinnamon twist will have extras for them in the am. After all of the items my neighbor gave before leaving to take care of her mom, i will have to go shopping. then the total will go up. but i still have like 1/2 of my freezer with schwanns food from her.

 

[dawn1967]

snacks-
ds7- not sure at my aunts house after school
ds11- otter pop- maybe 3 @ .03= .09
me- chips & salsa @ work - free, not my week to buy the items
then each kid has a $15 gift card for the movie theater so they will pay for their own snacks, pop, popcorn. I swear they always need to have popcorn!!
me- 3.00 pop
total-3.09

We started doing this with the kids we pay for the movie we go about once or twice a month to the discount show and then we give them a choice a soda and popcorn for 7.00 each kid (I know omg)or Lunch out or dinner out after the show. It costs 7.50 per person at the Chinese restaurant family style meal. So now they choose lets go for chinese after lol. They realized they don't need the popcorn or the soda during the movie I buy them life savers right before we get there and they eat them during the movie and there good.

 

[abcboys]

I love reading what you guys eat everyday. There is no way I would post ours because alls I would hear is how unhealthy it is. Ha ha.

Wouldn't it be easier though to just say "Challenge: spend $70 or less a week at the grocery store" than to break it down day by day? Is there something I'm missing here?

 

[mommiepoppins]

I love reading what you guys eat everyday. There is no way I would post ours because alls I would hear is how unhealthy it is. Ha ha.

Wouldn't it be easier though to just say "Challenge: spend $70 or less a week at the grocery store" than to break it down day by day? Is there something I'm missing here?

good idea. feel free to post I will not complain... Also on weekend all bets are off dh loves his macaroni and it is carb crazy here also he loves Cheeses burgers with processed cheese . he is not much into eating good. If it was up to hime to pre pare dinner it would be his fav Weaver chicken nuggets and French fries .. way over my budget and way to big on my butt . Although I do have a coupon so I might by some for dh.. his idea of eating healthy is carrot sticks dipped in Blue Cheese

so please feel free and post. I got ripped up for posting a weekend meal that was not up to " standard"

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Dinner
Taco bake
Can of refried beans= 39
Sharp cheddar cheese=169
Salas= 149
Taco shells =79 cents
Milk=60
Lettuce=0
Whole Wheat garlic bread on mark down 120
616

Snacks for the day

= 1259 for the day for 5 of us.. I have no idea if the kids will even like this taco bake.

I gotta tell you, it doesn't sound too appetizing. My guess is they will not like it. Don't you need meat for tacos?

 

[mommiepoppins]

I gotta tell you, it doesn't sound too appetizing. My guess is they will not like it. Don't you need meat for tacos?

dd 10 HATES MEAT.. so I am trying to make something she would like it is trial and error.. I will let you know!