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

[dawn1967]

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 father brings over coffee all the time because he comes and visits and expects coffee so in return he brings a can a coffee often when he makes some and notices it getting low next visit i have coffee. My neighbor bought and thawed a turkey yesturday and was called out of town for work this morning so she gave me the turkey. I wish food would just appear hoping for laundry soap and dryer sheets to appear that is a huge expense here.

 

[dawn1967]

you welcome

 

[tarheelmjfan]

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.

We don't get anything for free. My parents are deceased. My sisters & inlaws live 4 states away. They all buy for my son on Christmas, & sometimes give him $20 to $25 for his birthday. That's it! My inlaws don't even give him anything else. Everything in this house is bought & paid for by us. We've never even had any hand me downs, so I know what you mean.

 

[grlpwrd]

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.

Back in WA state my backyard and my MIL's backyard had an orchard full of fruit trees and bushes. I had plums, peaches, apples, raspberries, strawberries, and figs. In my signature picture you can see my smaller barn.

Here I get nothing free. lol I am lucky if my neighbor gives me extra produce from their little garden.

 

[TNKBELL]

I recieve so many blessings I can't count them all......Our Faith, a wonderful hardworking Dh, beautiful DKs, wonderful family and friends, a sweet dog, a warm house in the winter, a job for Dh, great neighbors, grass to mow, air to breathe, a laughing house with kisses sweet.....ect.. Sorry just had to stop and count my blessings, because love doesn't count the cost.

 

[dawn1967]

I recieve so many blessings I can't count them all......Our Faith, a wonderful hardworking Dh, beautiful DKs, wonderful family and friends, a sweet dog, a warm house in the winter, a job for Dh, great neighbors, grass to mow, air to breathe, a laughing house with kisses sweet.....ect.. Sorry just had to stop and count my blessings, because love doesn't count the cost.

That was nice to see reminds me of something i hear the Pastor's wife says often. " One of co workers says i hate grocery shopping and she will reply why I love it, means i have the means to feed my family today no matter if it's eggs and a loaf of bread i have the ability."
Every time i hear that i feel grateful.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I've been lurking on this thread, and I just wanted to pop in to tell sk!mom, no, you're not the only one who doesn't get free food handed to them all the time. Personally, while I think it's always nice to get something for free, it seems like a lot of people use that to get under $10/day. But hey, different strokes, so long as people get food, right?

Oh, my MIL lives near a Pepperidge Farm outlet and does, occasionally, bring us a bag of goodies. But that's maybe twice a year. And it's not unusual for, say, my sister to bring produce when she comes for a weekend, especially if it was going to go bad.

And completely OT, but the reason I HAD to post is, grlpwrd, I caught your sig. I had a male ragdoll for 13 years (not a purebred--his mom came from a shelter! A SHELTER!!!). Anyway, he had extra toes and a face like a white tiger, and was absolutely the best cat, ever! Great looks, great personailty. Sadly, he died this winter. I would get another ragdoll in a heartbeat!

 

[mommiepoppins]

Friday
B. frosted Minnie Wheat’s= 75 cents
Milk= 30
=105

L. PBJ
Bread 20 cents
Penutbutter =25 cents
Jelly=20
Apple slices = 25
Milk=30
Fruit cocktail =75 cents
=195

S. matzo crackers= 3cents
Tomato soup=50 cents
=53

D. chicken =1$ (pre cooked whole chicken divided into our families serving sizes)
Milk=60
Corn=50 cents
Green beans=50 cents
Noodles= 50 cents
Butter= 25 cents
B-b-q sauce= 50 cents
= 385

S. Box of little Debbie cakes 1$
Whale crackers 1$
=2

$9.38 for today and nothing was free. Also Friday night is fun night and the kids are getting snack food to

 

[dawn1967]

You know it's really petty people are complaining if people get something for free. I think it's great people care about others' in today's world where things get so confused there is that one stroke of kindness. I get something free. Does that mean i don't give back or another? Maybe the mother who gets pop tart's free for breakfast is actually doing someone a favor like babysitting and loosing money. Because she's doing it free. Or like once my sister gave me milk in return for doing laundry she didn't have to but she did. Was still my water and laundry soap and electric and dryer. So before u all complain about how u can't come to 10 dollars a day because your not getting free food why don't you just check yourself and reason you can't do it. I can feed my family with or with out free stuff and if it's all free i don't have to explain it to any of you.

 

[Plantlady]

I feed my family for under $10 a day. I spend $45 for the week, family of five, which averages to less than $10 a day. No free food.

You can do it.

 

[mommiepoppins]

Sense I started keeping track of what we spend and eat. I have saved money. I think it helps me to plan the menu place the food (snack food) out in the open. Now 2 of my kids are going to camp for a week. I was thinking about maybe being able to save even more money because I will have the 2 youngest only. Then I thought about taking them to out to dinner at ,the kids eat free places. I will have to wait and see. I just want to share how much this thread helps me and gives me great ideas. I can not wait to do the quiche meal…

 

[grumpy28]

I feed my family for under $10 a day. I spend $45 for the week, family of five, which averages to less than $10 a day. No free food.

You can do it.

I have a family of 3, and always spend waaay more than $45/week. Do you make everything from scratch? Wow, how my purse would LOVE $45!!

 

[dawn1967]

Bagels and cream cheese and jelly .75
Coffee Free
Juice .25

Snack no mid morning snack they will be at church

Lunch Left over Chicken from other night and Veggies Free

Snack Bombpops i think there called .75

Dinner
Turkey (Free) and we will eat it for at least 3 days
Tomato's free garden
Lettuce .4
pickles .35
Bread 2.65 bought hoagie rolls
Mayo and mustard .25
Total $4.40

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Do you feel you're getting enough fruits and vegetables in these menus? I know the recommendation is for at least 5 per day, and many of the posts seem to be lower than that - maybe 3 or 4. I try to treat that as a minimum and aim to get at least 6 servings of fruit and veggies daily.

Teresa

 

[dawn1967]

mommiepoppins;19335552]Sense I started keeping track of what we spend and eat. I have saved money. I think it helps me to plan the menu place the food (snack food) out in the open.

I agree since i started a few years back putting everything on a spread sheet and seeing what we eat and how much we spend. I made better choices for the family as a whole we don't eat process food way as much as we use to. And we no longer eat out as often because it's just as easy to pick up fast food. I found a new passion last few years with cooking. It's really fun to my kids join in. And i love my kids now don't think potato chips are a grain. Or Ketcup is a veggie.

 

[dawn1967]

Do you feel you're getting enough fruits and vegetables in these menus? I know the recommendation is for at least 5 per day, and many of the posts seem to be lower than that - maybe 3 or 4. I try to treat that as a minimum and aim to get at least 6 servings of fruit and veggies daily.

Teresa

Teresa I have a Bowl of apples and pears and plate of carrots and brocchili and what ever veggies come from the garden i never include these because these are pick up when hungry instead of chips and cookies so i think my kids get enough it's dairy i know they don't get enough of because they don't like it. As for me being diabetic fruits i don't eat much of because basically it's poison to me.

 

[Plantlady]

I have a family of 3, and always spend waaay more than $45/week. Do you make everything from scratch? Wow, how my purse would LOVE $45!!

Yes, I make everything from scratch.

We also dont' have soda or junk food in our house (chips, cookies, ect). I found that was my biggest expense, when I went to cut back.

We also eat 99% vegetarian foods. Lots of beans. Very rarely do we eat the fake meat products.. those are expensive. I also reduce the cheese required by a recipe by about 1/2, because we were spending way too much on cheese.

I follow a list, and stick with it. I don't ask the kids to eat anythign I wouldn't.

 

[KKB]

and sometimes snacks...

Remember that doesn't mean 5-6 DIFFERENT fruits and veggies. A serving is actually quite small. My kids will each eat an apple or a banana for a serving, but for a child that is TWO fruit servings.

Fresh produce that must be purchased can certainly add up quickly, but SO worth it to me. I buy bagged lettuce when it it under $2/bag, and choose my other produce based on store sales or farmers market availability. Also those bags of baby carrots are a weekly staple.

We eat inexpensive cuts of meat--usually chicken breasts, salmon or talapia, and lean burger/ground turkey. I prefer to spend less than $2/lb., but the fish costs $4/lb. But I know it is worth it for nutrition.

We spend extra on 100% whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta. We have recently given up most sugar cereals, going w/ honey nut cheerios and frosted mini wheats for fiber. (we couldn't TOTALLY give up sugar...that is DH's fault!! ) Cereal is one area we are NOT satisfied w/ store brands (though MaltoMeal is fine)

I buy VERY few convenience snack foods, usually store brands on sale. Trying to eliminate transfats and severely limit "white" snacks...crackers, chips, pretzels, etc. as well as sweets. Very little pop as well, (well, for the kids, at least DPepsi & MDew for Dh & I!). They are allowed water, milk, 100% juice and sugar free lemonade/fruit juice (Wylers...3pk for $1 at Walgreens, like Crystal Light)

We do allow them Sprite/fries when we go out to dinner. And fried foods ( I don't even OWN a deep fryer!) Candy is usually reserved for holidays...though it sure does seem to hang around for too long as far as I am concerned!

SOOOOO.......my point is, I am striving for good nutrition at the best price possible for my family. $15/day seems fairly attainable for a family of 5 to meet these 2 goals.

Good luck everyone! (and to the free food...I took full advantage of the fact that I cleaned out the fridge at the end of school! PTA had left condiments, several packages of hot dogs in freezer...take full advantage whenever possible! Gotta stretch those dollars anyway we can!)

 

[sk!mom]

You know it's really petty people are complaining if people get something for free.

For the record, I wasn't complaining that some get things free. I agree that gifts of food are a blessing. If my neighbor offered me a turkey that she couldn't use, I would graciously thank her, enjoy it, and then reciprocate in some way when she returned.

I was simply observing, that some are coming in under $10 due to free gifts. This is a fair observation since some have been discouraged by their own inability to eat so cheaply. Those free gifts have a monetary value that is helping keep costs down. Those who do not receive such gifts will naturally spend more.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You know it's really petty people are complaining if people get something for free.

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anyone complaining that people get things free. I think it's great that some people have more family support. I wish we did. When my DS is on his own, we will support him every way we can. As a side note, IMHO calling people petty wasn't very kind.

Now back to the topic at hand & saving us all money........