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

[punkin]

A family of 4 gets $120 a week here in MN. That is the statistic I heard most recently anyway. They also have good nutritional information programs here when you go into to pick up your stuff/remeet or whatever. They meet in the same room as WIC which we received for a bit when DH was laid off and we had one still on formula.

That's not too bad. That's $17 per day. Now granted it is less than I usually spend but if I had to, I could do $17 per day consistently AND it would still be healthy. Now, If I had to feed the family on $10 consistently, I don't think it could be very healthy.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Breakfast: Pancakes (buttermilk and Chocolate chip), milk, OJ, lingonberry jam, maple syrup $2.50 I had two "guests" for breakfast, so I made homemade pancakes and we ate very late, so it was really a brunch (I aslo had a bowl of cereal-$.75).

Lunch: Leftover Fish Chowder, Bread, Salad, Macaroni w/ butter and salt (feeding another 8 yp today and all she eats is macaroni) $3

Dinner: Spinach Quiche, salad, bread $2.75

snacks: I am planning to bake chocolate chip cookies $3 (will have some in the car for our trip to Disney tomorrow )

TOTAL: $12

I noticed you inquiring about a Fish Chowder recipe a few days ago. Obviously, you found one. Care to share? I think I'll move in with you. You're menu always sounds so good.

 

[Davidsmommy]

Today (this thread is addicting! I love you guys!)

B: I still don't know what DH ate. Maybe toast? And coffee.
Kids: Bolws of cereal with milk. Milk to drink for both.
Me: Coffee x 2
Let's say $1.50 for BF (does that sound right?)
Lunch: DD - daycare
DS - 1/2 can of clam chowder soup ($1.99?) I ate the other half.
Some oyster crackers (.20? just ate a few out of the box)
gatorade to drink for DS (50 cents?) ginger ale can for me (25 cents?)
DS had a rice krispie treat (from the store) - 50 cents.

Dinner: I am making sloppy joe's with manwich stuff. $3 for meat, maybe $2 for can of manwich (not sure) $1 for rolls. Kids will likely have a hot dog instead (won't like sloppy joes) - $1.50? Carrots $1.50 and cornbread from mix (50 cents - plus an egg and a little milk and margerine - say another 25 cents for that). Not sure if we are having a starch. No-one is very hungry in the summer it seems. Milk and juice for kids. Pellegrino water for me ($1.99 - I can drink a whole bottle!). We might open a bottle of wine as well, which would be another $10 - what a budget buster!).

Total: like $18 without wine or $28 with wine.

 

[WDW4TheGirls]

subscribing...

 

[Davidsmommy]

What about drinks? I see some mentioning them and others not. When I attempted to figure out my daily spending I only included milk.

Drinks would add more to my weekly total. I buy 3 / 12 packs of diet soda a week usually about $7 ( 2 are generic brand and one Diet coke). Dh and I have a DCoke most days at lunch. DD11 only drinks soda maybe 2 or 3 times a week in the summer and never duing the school year. DS drinks several each day. We have cut back. DH and I used to have a serious DCoke addiction.

I buy 6 - 8 bottles of flavored sparkling water @ .50 per bottle. DH and DD love this stuff.

DH and I have wine with dinner every night. I rarely buy this, DH does, so I'm not sure of the cost.

Believe it or not DH, DD, and I also drink a lot of plain tap water or bottled water at work. DH's and my employer both provide this at no cost to us.

Almost forgot- coffee every morning for DH and I and he makes us cappucino on the weekends.

Anyone else spend a lot on beverages? or do you just refuse to buy it and everyone drinks water?

We spend a lot on drinks it seems. We have a water cooler (but my mom pays for the water delivery - long story, basically I canceled it awhile back and she is afraid we will get cancer from the perfectly fine tap water - she saw Erin Brokovich one too many times - so she called and reordered it without telling us and she pays for it!).

We always have diet soda for dh. I drink a lot of Saratoga or Pelligrino water. Kids drink milk and juice. I recently bought some flavored vitamin water (propel grape) and it tastes like kool-aid without all the sugar - I liked it. We also have beer and wine frequently. I am trying to not do that as much now that I think about it because alcohol is a huge budget buster, but we have a pool and a lot pf people visit frequently, so we always have it on hand.

 

[punkin]

I noticed you inquiring about a Fish Chowder recipe a few days ago. Obviously, you found one. Care to share?

I made one up.

I melted butter and sauteed some chopped onion for about 5 minutes. Then cut up 5 potatoes into cubes and sauteed that with the onions. Turned down heat and let the whole thing sweat for about 5 minutes. Add veggie broth to cover (the original recipe calls for clam juice, but I do not have any in the house EVER). This time I just used a bullion cube and water. I also added thyme and salt and pepper (careful using salt w/ bullion cubes, they are salty) Sometimes I actually have homemade on hand but not this week.

Let simmer until potatoes are tender - about 15 minutes. Add fish fillets cut up in 1 inch . I used frozen whiting fillets from Aldi's ($3.99 for 1.5 lb) as soon as they become opaque, add can of evaporated milk (calls for cream, but I am on a diet). I also added a cup of reconstituted powdered non-fat milk. Do not boil, but heat to almost boiling.

Serve with crusty bread.

I think I'll move in with you. You're menu always sounds so good.

I don't mind cooking, but you'll have to clean up after me. Believe me that's a scary chore. I am a mess.

 

[WDW4TheGirls]

We love iced tea--we buy a 12-pack of Snapple each week plus a gallon of Arizona for the frig. I know we could make our own for about .50 a gallon, but we love to grab a Snapple for the car, etc. I also do organic milk for the kids, which costs a bundle, but I don't want all those hormones and antibiotics going into them at such an early age. I mostly drink water from the Brita, but I have been drinking more of those iced teas lately!

 

[dawn1967]

I giggled when i seen we spend alot on drinks because that was us about 5 yrs ago we gave up beer wine and whiskey and smokes for health reasons and automatically saved 400 a month in the vacation fund. When we gave up soda every day that saved us another 100 a month. When i decided to do this 10 dollar a day i had to give up my bottle water which i went threw 4 cases a week that was a savings of 20 a week found making that one time investment in a good water jug for 4.99 has saved my family and I over 1000, a year. We also have a pool our friends and family know now you want to hang out on weekends or evening bring your own drinks if you don't want water. It works out great to because they bring drinks we have the desserts or snacks.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I made one up.

I melted butter and sauteed some chopped onion for about 5 minutes. Then cut up 5 potatoes into cubes and sauteed that with the onions. Turned down heat and let the whole thing sweat for about 5 minutes. Add veggie broth to cover (the original recipe calls for clam juice, but I do not have any in the house EVER). This time I just used a bullion cube and water. I also added thyme and salt and pepper (careful using salt w/ bullion cubes, they are salty) Sometimes I actually have homemade on hand but not this week.

Let simmer until potatoes are tender - about 15 minutes. Add fish fillets cut up in 1 inch . I used frozen whiting fillets from Aldi's ($3.99 for 1.5 lb) as soon as they become opaque, add can of evaporated milk (calls for cream, but I am on a diet). I also added a cup of reconstituted powdered non-fat milk. Do not boil, but heat to almost boiling.

Serve with crusty bread.

Thanks, that sounds yummy. I'll try that this weekend.

I don't mind cooking, but you'll have to clean up after me. Believe me that's a scary chore. I am a mess.

My DH makes a mess too. Mind you, there's very few things that he actually cooks & they're very simple to make. I can't figure out how he manages to use a pan, 2 pots, & 4 spoons to heat up a pot of Campbell's soup. Not really, but it seems like it. I've pretty much mastered the art of cooking with little mess. I hate washing dishes, & I'm trying to limit my dishwasher use.

BTW, Have a great trip!!!

 

[mommiepoppins]

I am trying to plan something for tomm. Punkin how do you make the quiche?

I never add drinks in only milk or Juice Juice, because we drink water other wise.

 

[MaryKLady]

I just made dinner and made what I affectionatly refer to as "Icebox Review Casserole" and thought I would share. It is a great recipe because you can substitute everything in it to use up all the stuff that is hanging out in your fridge. Here is what I used today...

leftover chopped chicken or what ever protein you have, even eggs

left over chopped broccoli or any vegetable

cream of broccoli soup or any cream soup (with 1/2 the water for condenced soup)

1 box of Stove Top or rice mix, brown or white rice

pre-shredded cheese or what ever cheese you have

Cook the stuffing or rice, throw in your protein, vegetable and soup. Transfer it to a baking dish, top with cheese and bake at 350 for 30 mins.

I use this recipe all the time to clean out my fridge and my family loves it. It makes enough to feed three of us at least twice. Sometimes when I'm feeling fancy I'll throw in some herbs or spices.

Enjoy!

 

[bellebuzzandpooh]

I just thought of two more ideas I use regularly that relate to keeping a low food budget.

• At 9:00 pm every night, our WalMart lowers all the deli items to half price. Frequently I'm there at that time, so I get a rotisserie chicken for $1.98! We can get several meals out of that. (I skip all the fried junk, even though it is half price.)
• When I am making something with veggies I keep all the scraps in a bowl. (potato peels, tops of carrots, onion skins, etc.) Then I boil all of those for about 30 minutes. Put a strainer over a bowl and dump the mixture in. Trash the soggy veggies, but save the vegetable broth! I freeze it into ice cubes to use later for soups, rice, or whatever.
  
  

 

[punkin]

BTW, Have a great trip!!!

Thank you.

I am trying to plan something for tomm. Punkin how do you make the quiche?

Today, I am making it crustless. Usually, I make it with a crust, but I don't have the energy today.

Sautee onions in butter. Add some garlic cloves. Add Spinach. cook until wilted (I use fresh @ $.79 per bunch, but you could use frozen). Add cheese (today I have mozzarella. sometimes I use cheddar or feta or even farmer or cottage cheese) Spoon mixture into crust.

I don't use frozen cause the cheap onese have trans-fat and it only takes me 10 minutes to mix up my own with real butter. Of course the dough has to rest at least an hour and then you have to roll it out.

Mix eggs with milk (4 eggs, about 1 cup milk) add salt and pepper (also nutmeg if you like). Pour over spinach mixture. Bake at 350 'til done (about 45 minutes)

Today, since I have no crust prepared, I will pour mixure into casserole and bake the same way.

For cooking or baking, I always use reconstituted powdered milk. For drinking, I only buy good quality organic.

 

[punkin]

[*]When I am making something with veggies I keep all the scraps in a bowl. (potato peels, tops of carrots, onion skins, etc.) Then I boil all of those for about 30 minutes. Put a strainer over a bowl and dump the mixture in. Trash the soggy veggies, but save the vegetable broth! I freeze it into ice cubes to use later for soups, rice, or whatever.


[/LIST]

I do this too. Having some sort of broth in the freezer is a time and money saver.

 

[dawn1967]

Thank you.



Today, I am making it crustless. Usually, I make it with a crust, but I don't have the energy today.

Sautee onions in butter. Add some garlic cloves. Add Spinach. cook until wilted (I use fresh @ $.79 per bunch, but you could use frozen). Add cheese (today I have mozzarella. sometimes I use cheddar or feta or even farmer or cottage cheese) Spoon mixture into crust.

I don't use frozen cause the cheap onese have trans-fat and it only takes me 10 minutes to mix up my own with real butter. Of course the dough has to rest at least an hour and then you have to roll it out.

Mix eggs with milk (4 eggs, about 1 cup milk) add salt and pepper (also nutmeg if you like). Pour over spinach mixture. Bake at 350 'til done (about 45 minutes)

Today, since I have no crust prepared, I will pour mixure into casserole and bake the same way.

For cooking or baking, I always use reconstituted powdered milk. For drinking, I only buy good quality organic.

Have you tried a breadcrumb crust? It's made just like a graham cracker one but with bread crumbs or cracker crumbs. I make one that i use rye crackers and garlic bagel chips crushed with 3 tablespoons of butter and pat in the pie pan and bake with quiche. Your quiche and fish chowder sound great i cut and paste them.

 

[punkin]

Have you tried a breadcrumb crust? It's made just like a graham cracker one but with bread crumbs or cracker crumbs. I make one that i use rye crackers and garlic bagel chips crushed with 3 tablespoons of butter and pat in the pie pan and bake with quiche. Your quiche and fish chowder sound great i cut and paste them.

That really sounds great. Next time though. Quiche is already in the oven.

 

[sk!mom]

I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that $15 a day is about the best that we can do. I'm loving reading this thread and will try seafood chowder next week.

One thing that I have noticed is several people mention free food gained from various sources and this is helping them come in under $10.

Just wondering, Am I the only one who doesn't have anyone ever give me food? Even when we have family get togethers, it's not a free meal as we always all contribute to the meal. For instance, we will get together for the
4th of July and I will provide homemade ice cream. So while we will eat someone else's burgers that day, I will have the expense of the ice cream.

I'm just wondering about this.

 

[Davidsmommy]

I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that $15 a day is about the best that we can do. I'm loving reading this thread and will try seafood chowder next week.

One thing that I have noticed is several people mention free food gained from various sources and this is helping them come in under $10.

Just wondering, Am I the only one who doesn't have anyone ever give me food? Even when we have family get togethers, it's not a free meal as we always all contribute to the meal. For instance, we will get together for the
4th of July and I will provide homemade ice cream. So while we will eat someone else's burgers that day, I will have the expense of the ice cream.

I'm just wondering about this.

My mother will often bring something for the kids when she visits - which is often (like a box of capri suns, a big thing of animal crackers, etc.). Sometimes she shows up with like a frozen chicken, which is odd but if they were cheap she may buy an extra one. Which is very, very nice of her.

On Father's Day, my sister bought a mess of chicken to cook, but honestly, she is only around very seldom (lives a few hours away) and for the most part, I pay for her. She just wanted to make dinner and went and got chicken that day.

I do have a few family members who will bring stuff over sometimes in the summer, mainly because we host a LOT of get togethers with family during the summer since we have a pool. So, we generally provide a lot of food/drink for people. So, generally, I think that cancels each other out.

If we go to my dad's for dinner (we do frequently), we may bring something, may not. If we go to other people's houses, we always bring something.

 

[mommiepoppins]

Have you tried a breadcrumb crust? It's made just like a graham cracker one but with bread crumbs or cracker crumbs. I make one that i use rye crackers and garlic bagel chips crushed with 3 tablespoons of butter and pat in the pie pan and bake with quiche. Your quiche and fish chowder sound great i cut and paste them.

Thanks for the crust idea . I will be using that!

 

[mommiepoppins]

I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that $15 a day is about the best that we can do. I'm loving reading this thread and will try seafood chowder next week.

One thing that I have noticed is several people mention free food gained from various sources and this is helping them come in under $10.

Just wondering, Am I the only one who doesn't have anyone ever give me food? Even when we have family get togethers, it's not a free meal as we always all contribute to the meal. For instance, we will get together for the
4th of July and I will provide homemade ice cream. So while we will eat someone else's burgers that day, I will have the expense of the ice cream.

I'm just wondering about this.

I did not always have this way . I think I get some free stuff from family partys, because I have the largest amount of kids. The eggs I get from my brother , he has chickens and just gives me what he dose not use. I do not always get stuff. It is somethimes feast or famin with the free stuff. I either have tons or nothing.