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

[TNKBELL]

That is so sweet. I'm glad to know someone appreciates my effort. My kids just get angry that they can't have fast food and takeout pizza on a daily basis like their friends. DH is no help either. He wouldn't mind eating out all the time (but that's another thread).

I don't claim to eat as healthy as you feed your family, but I know how you feel, my Dh told me after we got married and I was cooking healthy," I just can't live like this, I'm used to white bread and white flour, I'm DEPRIVED!!!"
After years of discussions and evidence, he is more accepting of whole grains and less processed foods and he doesn't like white bread anymore! Well, I feel like I have won a battle, but the war goes on!! I myself fall off the wagon too!!

There are great ideas on this thread and I appreciate all of them!!

 

[Plantlady]

I don't claim to eat as healthy as you feed your family, but I know how you feel, my Dh told me after we got married and I was cooking healthy," I just can't live like this, I'm used to white bread and white flour, I'm DEPRIVED!!!"
After years of discussions and evidence, he is more accepting of whole grains and less processed foods and he doesn't like white bread anymore! Well, I feel like I have won a battle, but the war goes on!! I myself fall off the wagon too!!

There are great ideas on this thread and I appreciate all of them!!

we are the same way.. sure we're eating dirt cheap.. but is it healthy enough?

We have switched to whole wheat pasta and brown rice. I didn't tell anyone I was switching.. just did it, and no one said a word.

I will win the fruits and veggies arguments soon enough.

 

[smfritz03]

Maybe in some areas and some dairy farms. My dh was raised on a dairy farm (his dad was a dairy farmer till about 8 yrs ago). Never had any problems and the farm we go to is a neighboring farm and have not had any problems what so ever.

 

[lisajl]

OMG..can you people help me? I just went over what we spent on groceries in 1 month and it was $678!! We are a family of 5. DH, me, DD-21, DS-13..he eats everything in the house and is still as skinny as a rail and DS-10.

Help me!

If I could get that down to $400 a month, I would be very happy.

Lisa

 

[meandtheguys2]

True confessions...

Just went to walmart and bought 2 lbs. of those lovely pink and yellow cherries! Yikes! $4.50 a pound. But they taste like heaven...

lisajl, I found our bills went down when we added a lot more whole grains, and beans to our menu. All of that healthy fiber is filling. After a couple of false starts, we added them bit by bit, and recipe by recipe. We've liked about 75% of the new ones. Not bad!

We order from frankferd farms alone, and through the co-op, as well as somethingbetter, the other co-op. Both deliver to SE OH.

 

[MzDiz]

Now, I probably would have cut the peppers out this time, and added something else. I slice, blanch a freeze things like peppers when they are on sale, but it helps that I've the large freezer.

I also manage to justify meal cost when I can send some with DH the next day for lunch. With his diabetes, he has problems when he has to eat out everyday. Does much better with homemade.

I'd love to see your tomatoe sauce recipe, though! I'm bored with mine!

We also buy a lot from the co-op! You might look for one around you.

I haven't been able to find a co-op around me, the closest thing I can get is Angel Food Ministries or the farmer's market.
We had enough dinner tonight to have lunch tomorrow, so I don't feel so bad. My sauce is pretty much made up as I go along. What I have is what goes into it. I'm a good cook, so it's all good.
This time, what I did was threw some chunks of onion in some oil in a pan, soon followed by chunks of chicken, then chunks of yellow, red, and orange bell peppers, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. When the chicken was cooked through, I added a large can of crushed tomatoes, my own mix of "italian spices" that I keep in a jar (I swear, it goes into everything around here), a splash of white wine, a teaspoon of sugar, some white wine vinegar, a little more salt, and about 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. I let that simmer while the penne cooked, added the noodles and viola!
Those are the high tech instructions from the ex-culinary student.

I make up for it by cutting costs elsewhere, like making my own household cleaners and laundry detergent. I spend about 1.50 on laundry products a month.

 

[TNKBELL]

OMG..can you people help me? I just went over what we spent on groceries in 1 month and it was $678!! We are a family of 5. DH, me, DD-21, DS-13..he eats everything in the house and is still as skinny as a rail and DS-10.

Help me!

If I could get that down to $400 a month, I would be very happy.

Lisa

First thing I recommend is to read the threads on the budget board. If you have a specific need, start your own thread.
It may be harder for your family with the age of your DKS, they are growing and eating more than my little ones, but still you could probably save.

Do you have Angel Food Ministries?
Do you have an Aldi store near?
How about a Wonder/Rainbo/Hostess outlet?
There are tons of great tips on this thread alone.
I am an avid Walgreens rebater!!!
CVS pharmacy also has a rebate program.
It is cheaper to make things from scratch and not use as much processed food.
Someone else posted that eating whole grains, while the intial cost may be more it is substantialy more filling and contains lots of fiber and protein,actually reducing the amount consumed.
Drink water.
One tip I read said to encourage eating at home versus fast food, keep the kitchen clean and stock up on paper plates, if you don't like the inconvenience of washing dishes use paper plates.
Use coupons for items that are on sale currently, doubling the savings.
Make saving a game and get the kids involved, they can be so resourceful.
Good Luck!! We're all in this together!!

 

[punkin]

OMG..can you people help me? I just went over what we spent on groceries in 1 month and it was $678!! We are a family of 5. DH, me, DD-21, DS-13..he eats everything in the house and is still as skinny as a rail and DS-10.

Help me!

If I could get that down to $400 a month, I would be very happy.

Lisa

First of all, don't start with trying for $400. That's a huge reduction. Try going down to $578 first. That's $100 per month. Then try for $478. All at once will be a huge shock to your family and they will rebel.

Stick around here. Read the threads. You'll figure it out. Good luck.

 

[GreatLakes5]

Well we hit $130 today which included the big ol' bag of doggie food I also made the mistake of shopping with a child whose tummy didn't feel good so when he said something "sounded good" I caved

I also thought how ironic it is that I'm calling WDW to make my reservations (well, adjust existing ones) and then reading the $10/day board

 

[lisajl]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info! I just could not believe that total!
I will try for a little less. I think I need to make a menu for 2 weeks, lunches included and see what I can do with that.
I use to make menus and it would save us a bunch.

All I know is I want to go to Disney for a week next year and I really need to save some money for it!

Thanks...will look around the boards for more help.
Lisa

 

[Reese]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info! I just could not believe that total!
I will try for a little less. I think I need to make a menu for 2 weeks, lunches included and see what I can do with that.
I use to make menus and it would save us a bunch.

All I know is I want to go to Disney for a week next year and I really need to save some money for it!

Thanks...will look around the boards for more help.
Lisa

Making a menu and sticking to it is such a big contribution to saving on your grocery bill. I usually try to flyer shop for the sales, make my menu, make my list and than go shopping. Although it seems to take time at first it saves time everyday not having to figure out what to make.

 

[bookgirl]

I've never heard of Braum's. Midwest thing?

Braums is an Oklahoma thing. A local dairy that had icecream shops with a few dairy products, they now are food produce dairy and a hamburger place. They will set up only a one day drive from thier plant which is like south of Tuttle Oklahoma (I think that's where, that's where the original farm was). The furthest south I've found them is Ennis Texas (halfway between my house and Dad's on the gulf coast) I know they are over the border in Kansas, but I've not really seen them east or west.

They have the best milk ever. The fat free is so good that I've had whole milk drinkers ask for seconds. The Ice cream is to die for as well.

 

[lisajl]

Making a menu and sticking to it is such a big contribution to saving on your grocery bill. I usually try to flyer shop for the sales, make my menu, make my list and than go shopping. Although it seems to take time at first it saves time everyday not having to figure out what to make.

Funny you should say this...I was just looking online at the sale papers! LOL!
Now just have to find the time to sit down and do it.
Honestly, the thought of cutting this budget makes me happy!

 

[Cindi0511]

Thanks to all for the tips and recipes. I haven't broken ours down yet, but I know the cost of living is outrageous. It's still a great encouragement to try, though.

Question: Does ANYONE get coupons for truly healthy stuff? I do hit the local fresh market occasionally, but they're only open on Sat (going fishing without catching anything) and Sun (church) until 2 p.m. I can't seem to get there regularly. For whoever can use it, I did get a coupon for $3 off 2 half gallons of Stoneyfield Organic milk in an in-store flier last week, and definitely used it. But I never see coupons for fruit or veggies, and our are EXPENSIVE.

I think my biggest hurdle is that cherries used to be .99 per pound when I was a kid 20 years ago, and $2.99 on sale seems to be highway robbery, even though I know prices for everyone have increased. In Florida, you'd think they'd be giving away citrus, but even at the orchards, it's still somewhat pricey and the grocery stores are even worse!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I buy whatever is cheaper. Given the coupons and loss leader sales, I wind up with name brands 4 times out of 5. However, I have bought generic cereals often. The trick is to read the lables. The generic rice crispies and generic honey combs taste almost identical to the name brands and the ingredients are the same too.

However, a lot of people will not buy generic. That's OK. The problem is that if you judge how much you love your family based on the price of the food you buy...well there's something wrong there.

I don't personally approve of Mac and Cheese as a staple food (though of course, I've used it in a pinch), but not because it is cheap. I do approve of rice and beans, which I can make for under $.25 per serving and oatmeal (less than $.10 per serving). It is quality that is important, not price.

I'd say 9/10 times the generic works for us, but we generally only shop at Safeway, and all of their store brand stuff is excellent. Occasionally, we have had some generic things that are just plain nasty and find it hard to believe that they are really brand name foods with a generic label. That can't be true 100% of the time.

Fresh produce is a *must* for us, though. If we're really craving something that is out of season, we can do frozen, but I find most canned vegetables to be entirely too mushy, and they are waaaay high in sodium.

 

[neatokimmo]

After reading all 16 pages I hopped up and made a loaf of Hillbilly Wife easy bread. I got the yeast from Sysco in Nashville this past weekend ($2.50 for a pound, that's like 75 loaves of bread!). I also used some of my $1 a bag flour. So I think I put about a quarter in it, a good start huh?

Is anyone in Nashville? K&S World Market has dirt cheap produce. It's a lot of fun to shop there. The have a lot of mark downs, for example they had 5 red bell peppers for $1. By the time you cleaned them up you'd have 4 peppers, but you can puree those and make killer sauce for pasta (mix with ceasar for a great cold pasta salad).

I am trying to trim my food spending from $300 to $160 ($40 a week at the store). I do a lot of social eating that I am trimming back. I'd like to start baking again. Ideally I'd like to have a meal plan and stick to it since the kiddo will be here soon. Keep the good ideas coming!

 

[dismom9761]

loving this thread has anyone ever done a "pantry challenge"? just curious.....How long could your family eat from the food in your house without going to the grocery store, besides for milk, eggs and bread and fresh produce?

I laughed at this because I make my mom nervous because I don't shop until you can see the back of my pantry.I tell her I could live off of her pantry for a month.

I have just read this thread from start to finish and it has really peaked my curiousity.I have never kept up with what we spend on groceries but I know I should.We only drink milk and water and occasionally walmart brand crystal light.I don't buy juice because my DD3 and DD8 can't drink it.My DS11 eats more than my DH but DS9 and DD3 eat very little, though DD3 eats mainly fruit and vegetables which can be expensive.Meat is usually Deer meat which my Dh and sons hunt themselves and have processed but I am not sure how expensive that is ,I would have to ask him.The good thing is that deer meat is healthier than beef and turkey.Sorry to ramble but this thread has made me think about how much we spend.I do have to be very careful about having healthy food because DD8 and DH and I are struggling with being a little heavy though not considred obese.My DS9 is considered underweight.It is a hard balancing act.

today;
B-DH had a granola bar(.33)
me and DD3 ate at daycare(free)I work there
the other three at Pawpaw's house toast and bananas(1.50)

L-DH ate leftovers(free)
daycare for me and DD3
DD8 and DS9 ham sandwiches(1.00) and carrots(.50) and applecauce(.50)

D-dinner was a treat.DD3 is having her tonsils/adnoids out tomorrow so I let her pick.
B1G1 free frozen pizza($5) 1 bag salad(1.50) 3 cans peaches in light syrup(2.64)This fed everyone except DS11 who is at a friend's house.We had leftover pizza and peaches.My kids like to add milk to the peach juice and drink it so we use canned.

Snacks -popsicles(.40),yogurt(1.32)

Total-14.69

That is as close as I can come with guessing at some of the prices.This is with me and DD3 eating at the daycare .I will watch over the next couple of days.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Thanks to all for the tips and recipes. I haven't broken ours down yet, but I know the cost of living is outrageous. It's still a great encouragement to try, though.

Question: Does ANYONE get coupons for truly healthy stuff? I do hit the local fresh market occasionally, but they're only open on Sat (going fishing without catching anything) and Sun (church) until 2 p.m. I can't seem to get there regularly. For whoever can use it, I did get a coupon for $3 off 2 half gallons of Stoneyfield Organic milk in an in-store flier last week, and definitely used it. But I never see coupons for fruit or veggies, and our are EXPENSIVE.

I think my biggest hurdle is that cherries used to be .99 per pound when I was a kid 20 years ago, and $2.99 on sale seems to be highway robbery, even though I know prices for everyone have increased. In Florida, you'd think they'd be giving away citrus, but even at the orchards, it's still somewhat pricey and the grocery stores are even worse!

I never see coupons for really healthy stuff. But I live in a smaller community. Fruit is high here, too. We eat a lot of what is in season, and shop the farmer's market. It helps to get to know the folks there. We wind up trading around. Right now strawberries are "pick your own" for a good price. With 2 boys (number 3 broke his ankle!) and I, it is enjoyable, healthy, and fun.

But, as I mentioned earlier, some nice fruit just changes the whole budget picture on occasion. And we don't care.

We shoot for healthy, and variety over budget, if we need to.

 

[mommiepoppins]

here we go for today
b- oat meal 15 cents
minnie bagel 20 cents
jelly 20 cents
cranberry juice = 20 cents
75 cents

s. apple slices = 25 cents
pretzels= 20 cents with ranch dressing 50 cents
= 95
L. tomatoe soup= 45 cents
motza crackers = 3 cents
penutbutter on the cracker 25 cents
milk = 30 cents
caned maderine oranges 42 cents
=145
s. apple slices= 25 cents
popcorn = 25 cents
cookies 50 cents
= 1$

D.left over ground beef from last night=0
canned of crushed tomatoes=50 cents
spices 10 cents
spagetti=50 cents
dinner rolls 1
Salid =0 from the party on Sunday
salid dressing 50 cents
milk 30 cents
=390

s. cereal 125
milk 140

= 265


971 for the day.
I have to add more snacks in dd 14 is pms and she would eat the entire house.. (my kids and I are getting sick of the salid)

 

[MrsPooh]

I've really been wanting to participate in this tread but just didn't have time to figure cost per serving for each of us for each meal. I am curious how much we actually spend though so I had an idea about how to figure it quickly and easily. Hope you all don't mind buy I'm gonna figure mine differently.

I've got a family of five (me, dh, dd18, dd12, dd15m). DH eats at work each day (usually paid for by someone else). DD18 takes a lunch from home each day. The rest of us eat here three meals a day. I decided to only add up the new items we open to use each day. This will boost the cost on the day we open something but the rest is "free" leftovers. For example, if we open a new box of cereal today I'll add the cost of $1.50 (on sale w/ coupon). We'll eat out of the box for several days or a week but I'm not going to figure out how much each bowl costs.

Hope this doesn't confuse everyone but we eat fairly well although we're a bit high on carbs and fats. I'd like to post daily so I can keep myself on track.

Also, I'll only post our dinner meal because for the other meals everyone eats something different and they are not "planned" meals.

June 6
Dinner was Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Fresh Cantalope, celery sticks and chips because we had a busy evening planned. Leftover cupcakes for dessert. Iced Tea, kool-aid, milk and water for beverages.

New items opened for the day:
5.97 Bag of Chicken Breasts (on sale)
1.49 Celery
1.50 Catalope (on sale)
1.49 Loaf of Bread


Total for day = 10.45 and we have enough Chicken Salad left for lunch for several days.

I'm going to try tracking this for about a week and see how it really averages out.