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

[momof2disneybabies]

I live in Orlando, and while yes Publix is expensive, we do not shop there..we shop at SuperWalmart, farmers markets, and I use coupons galore at Winn Dixie. If you look back at my meals, they are almost always healthy, nutritious (for the most part) and we eat A LOT of food.

1 pound of bacon (turkey bacon) I purchased for 1.50 on sale with coupon at Winn Dixie.

Instead of making an entire box of Eggo waffles, I would have made my own. A box of waffle mix at Walmart would have been $2.00 and would have made dozens and dozens of waffles. I make up extras and freeze them...so I still get the convenience of frozen ones. So instead of $4.00..I would have spen t$2.00 and had a ton of waffles.

Instead of Tropicana individual OJ's..for $2.00..I would have spent only .75 for a frozen OJ and made it up myself. (generic, from Walmart)

We don't do deli meats that often. My son doesn't like it so we rarely get it. If we did, it would be around $7.00 for one pound. We also do not get fast food very often (maybe once a month) because it's so unhealthy and because it's so expensive for what you get. So, the iced coffees from Dunkin Donuts would have not been on our menu.

Milk does not run 3.99 for a gallon here. CVS or Walgreens usually has it on sale for $2.49 and we buy extras to freeze for when it's not on sale.

We often see a sale and use our coupons...then stock up. Target often sells their Sutton and Dodge steaks pretty cheaply and then have $2.00 off coupons. We buy some pretty nice steaks for less than .50. We then buy a bunch and freeze. We also get our high fiber cereals on sale and with coupons will come to less than $1.00 a box..and then we stock up. Fruits and veggies I stock up on when on sale (or from farmers markets), chop 'em up and then freeze. Whenever I see items that are B1G1 free that we use, I look for coupons and then stock up. It's just a matter of budgeting. Both my husband and I work for Disney..so we are paid fairly low. We HAVE to budget. But we eat well and are pretty healthy.

Honestly, a lot of it depends on where you live. It also depends on what you are feeding your family, how much you use generic foods, coupons and sales, and also where you are purchasing the food (fruits and veggies are sometimes half the costs of supermarkets if purchased at farmers markets or roadside stands around here).

I do think some people go to extremes though and may not be feeding their families quite enough....but I certainly do not starve my son. You should see all the food he eats!

Good to know! We've often thought of moving to FL one day, glad to know I won't be in too much shock. We were in St Augustine when I went to Publix, don't know if that makes a difference. You guys sound like you eat very similar to us! We also have to budget, that is why my grocery bill is $50 a week. But I make sure we eat healthy foods the majority of the time no matter how much or little I have to spend. I only read the first few pages, I don't have time to read it all, but apparently some people seem to not be feeding their family enough. I can't imagine. My pantry and fridge are overstuffed right now. We entertain almost every weekend and I make sure I always have plenty on hand. I used to spend $100 a week on 3 of us, but I always had so much waste. I had to give a lot of stuff away before it would go bad. So spending $50 a week is no big deal. But we definitely get plenty to eat (more than plenty, dh and I are both trying to lose weight! ) We are not junk eaters. I have some family members who are 500+ lbs and they do nothing but gorge themselves, and it makes me sick. I love to eat all natural foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, etc) but I am a chocoholic, and I can't help my sweets addiction! But most of our meals consist of a protein, fruit, veggie, salad and home made bread.

Anyway, I'm rambling. This is a fun thread. I think some people are taking it way too seriously and seem defensive, but I've enjoyed what I've read so far. Gotta go tend to my little ones!

Jennifer

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

L= turkey lunch meat = 20 cent

For real!? Real turkey meat?

I buy Boars head and it is probably about $1 a sandwich for the meat part alone. I'm not even sure what it cost per lb, probably $8.99. I shop at Publix.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Would you care to share what brand? If you are referring to that Snowball slimey garbage full of preservatives and fillers -- I wouldn't feed that to my dog.

A good quality turkey like Boars Head or Thumanns will run $7.99 lb.

The Turkey I buy is 7.99 a pound too. I shop Hannaford here in MA and buy their Insprirations brand Turkey. It is the closest to Thumanns which they don't carry. We prefer this kind of turkey over the other. Yes it is more but, to us, it tastes so much better than some of the cheaper brands. I do buy a lot of generic brands but in some items we just have our definate favorites and will spend the extra for them.

And milk here is certainly getting close to $4 a gallon and I rarely if ever see it on sale.

Allyson

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

OMG!

Would you like an "eau de turkey" sandwich???

Edited to add: This is starting to sound more like a "starve your family" For $10 A Day Challenge!

OMG I thought the same thing. I would read this thread in hopes of getting some tips. There is no way I could ever achieve 10.00 a day nor do I even care to try. Alot of the food is processed and quite hinestly I wouldn't feed it to my family. Very little fresh fruits and veggies, too many carbs and not enough protein.. I guess different strokes and all, but food is something I refuse to compromise and skimp on. Boy oh boy, 20 cents for turkery I buy all natural turkey breast for 9.99lb but I know it's not loaded with chemicals. I would much prefer to cut corners elsewhere.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

OMG I thought the same thing. I would read this thread in hopes of getting some tips. There is no way I could ever achieve 10.00 a day nor do I even care to try. Alot of the food is processed and quite hinestly I wouldn't feed it to my family. Very little fresh fruits and veggies, too many carbs and not enough protein.. I guess different strokes and all, but food is something I refuse to compromise and skimp on. Boy oh boy, 20 cents for turkery I buy all natural turkey breast for 9.99lb but I know it's not loaded with chemicals. I would much prefer to cut corners elsewhere.

Amen to that! I am shocked at what I am reading.

I spend probably too much money on fruits and veggies that are precut/bagged, etc., but that I know we eat and need. I stick with Boars Head or brands without all the processing. I just buy what we need and what is healthy.

 

[dawn1967]

eating any cold cut deli meat is a process food even if they call it natural, natural flavoring is another name for salt..
Most of us feed our families just fine with lots of fruit and veggies from our gardens that cost us nothing and feeding our family for under 10. a day. I know for me feeding my family cold cuts IE Deli meats is a waste of money i will buy a turkey breast from the butcher for .39 lb cook it and be lot healthier. and will cost me .20 a serving after i break it up into meals.

 

[neatokimmo]

I would NEVER pay $7-8 a pound for lunch meat. You can get shrimp/steak for that.

I recently bought a Smithfield spiral sliced ham for 69 cents a pound. Yes it was a mark down but I cooked it the day before it went "bad" and still have a TON in the freezer. Could be the OP is buying whole hams/turkeys and slicing them up for sandwiches. Tastes much better than deli meats and is very cheap per portion.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Gross. I've never heard of any of those brands, we must live is two completely different areas. I normally buy Jennie-O. I have never seen Turkey for $7.99 a lb.

Jennifer

If you have tried the brands listed you will know why all others are considered gross and unedible by many of us. Jenny-O is not even in the same class as Boar's Head oven gold turkey breast.

I only buy the low salt turkey breasts or the store made one. The store made one is the best!!!

 

[samanthacatangel]

Wow, I must live in the wrong part of the U.S. Iam happy when I can feed my family for $10 a meal! .20 turkey? I agree with the above post, I usually buy Butterball Cajun turkey breast, when it's not on sale it's around 7.00 lb. I get around 5-6 sandwhiches out of that depending on who's making the sandwhich Just thinking about the meals we ate today...

Breakfast;
Box of Eggo nutrigran waffles - 3.99
3/4lb of bacon - 5.00
Tropicana invidual o.j. - 2.00
Coffee (iced from Dunkin Donuts) 2.00

Total 12.99!

Not including lunch and dinner! I guess I blew it!

Totally agree with you on the turkey, which is why we don't buy it (DD doesn't eat it anyway.)

But I live in very expensive NYC, and I can do that breakfast for WAY less.

First, I make my own whole grain waffles in my Pooh waffler. But the organic whole grain waffles are always on sale here for $2 per box. Bacon goes on sale here for $2.50, so I buy it and freeze. Got some turkey bacon at Costco for under $2 a package, also freezes fine.

DD can only drink Tropicana Low Acid, which is on sale right now at Pathmark for 1.98 each. I buy 4 (with 2 different cards - mine and my mom's). The expiration dates are usually 2 months away, but we go through about 4 a month.

I refuse to spend $2 at Dunkin Donuts, just make my own. I would never do without my coffee. I always have a pitcher in the fridge for leftover coffee. Just add ice and milk.

So, it is possible with a bit of planning, stocking up when on sale, etc.

$10 per day is still a bit out of my reach, but paying full price for items is something I choose not to do (partially out of necessity! )

Samantha

 

[Green Tea]

I can't even imagine (1) eating on $10 a day or (2) doing the mental math involved to come up with the unit costs per meal!! I can't take this challenge. I would lose. Either (1)my mind doing the math breakdowns, or (2) my husband and children for rationing their food.

I have never really considered what we spend in a day. It would be a lot more than $10, I'm sure. We don't have anything like the Aldi I see mentioned here a lot, or a Trader Joe's or anything that would resemble a bargain I just buy what we like, or at least what I would like the family to eat

 

[Green Tea]

B

Lunch and dinner combined
Hot dogs 40 cents
Rolls =25 cents
Hamburgers= 2$
Rolls =50 cents (DH and I are not real bread fans)
Squash=173
Corn= 2$
Spray butter= 25 cents
Salt = 3 cents
Juice 75
=791

$11.06, for the day. Not bad for our weekend. Also my oldest is away .

How are hotdogs only 40 cents for the entire family? Even cheap dogs would be a couple of dollars a pack and if your family has 5 or 6 people, you need the whole pack of 8.

I'm trying to get inspired, really I am. I just don't see how you all are coming up with these savings. I am admittedly not a food magician, but how can you come up with dinner out of air?

 

[mickeyfan2]

How are hotdogs only 40 cents for the entire family? Even cheap dogs would be a couple of dollars a pack and if your family has 5 or 6 people, you need the whole pack of 8.

I'm trying to get inspired, really I am. I just don't see how you all are coming up with these savings. I am admittedly not a food magician, but how can you come up with dinner out of air?

I have seen hotdogs for on sale 4 / $5 ($1.25 / pack) and never any cheaper. That is for 8 hotdogs. So $.40 would be 2 1/2 hotdogs. My DH would eat that and the rest of the family would just watch.

Maybe she goes to a salvage store and buys them expired. I for one will never use any expired food or dented cans.

 

[BethR]

I have said this before, and I will say it again. This thread is set up for a CHALLENGE. People can choose to do it or not. And it is NOT RIGHT for anyone else to come on and make fun of those who are participating and how they choose to do so.

As I mentioned before, everyone makes choices for their families and NO ONE makes choices intending to purposely cause their families' harm.

If you are not interested in "playing" along with this and only want to put down those who are doing so, please ONLY read this thread.

If we continue to see comments like some of the ones that we are seeing, there WILL BE infractions handed out. One of the main rules that we have on the DISBoards is that people treat other posters WITH RESPECT when posting.

Thank you!

 

[Green Tea]

BethR: I wasn't trying to be disrespectful! I am just trying to figure out this budgeting thing. I don't think I could ever do the $10 a day, but maybe I can learn some hints to get it down to a more manageable level.

I just copied and printed a receipe from an earlier thread for spinich stuffed chicken. Looked good, 'cept my DH will ask where the cheese is in the stuffing!

 

[mommiepoppins]

How are hotdogs only 40 cents for the entire family? Even cheap dogs would be a couple of dollars a pack and if your family has 5 or 6 people, you need the whole pack of 8.

I'm trying to get inspired, really I am. I just don't see how you all are coming up with these savings. I am admittedly not a food magician, but how can you come up with dinner out of air?

I bought the whole hot dog pack for 45 cents. I did not eat the hot dogs nor did dh or dd 14.

 

[mommiepoppins]

I have seen hotdogs for on sale 4 / $5 ($1.25 / pack) and never any cheaper. That is for 8 hotdogs. So $.40 would be 2 1/2 hotdogs. My DH would eat that and the rest of the family would just watch.

Maybe she goes to a salvage store and buys them expired. I for one will never use any expired food or dented cans.

I do not buy expired food or dented can either . I bought the hot dogs from Aldi and there was hambergers along with the meal. Also for the 1,000 time Dh and I are on a diet we do not eat everything that is written down and dh works out of town and is only home during the weekends.

 

[Green Tea]

Here's an answer to these questions. to freeze bananas to use for baking in mushy form just put the whole thing right in the freezer. When you are ready to use it take it out of the freezer, peel and all and put it in a bowl to thaw. When it thaws cut off the end and squeeze the banana out. Voila, ready to make muffins or whatever no mashing required. You can also freeze bananas to eat frozen. I take bananas in good shape, (no brown spots) and peel them and break them in half. Pop them in a ziploc bag and freeze. You can stick popsicle sticks on them or not. Pull them out of the freezer and eat frozen like an ice cream. If no stick use a papertowel to hold it. My kids love this. You can be creative and roll them in melted chololate and nuts...but that of course would change the nutritional value. I do the chocolate once in a great while as a treat!

Freezing milk pour a little out of the top to allow for expansion. freeze. When you are thawing it shake it from time to time to keep it form seperating.

Thanks for the milk tip. I wondered how to freeze it and would it still be drinkable after I saw the tip about buying onsale and keeping it in the freezer. I think my kids will note the past date and refuse to drink it although I guess I can!

I freeze bananas a lot lately. If they are starting ot over ripen I peel and cut into pieces and just freese them on a plate or in a dish. I put them in the blender as needed with skim milk to make either a smoothie (w/ more milk) or an ice cream texture with only a little skim milk. Great diet treat!

 

[mommiepoppins]

A gallon of milk in my supermarket if $3.99 -- so 40 cents of milk is 13 oz split between 4 people? That should be the serving for 1 child. 3 oz of milk per person is absurd.

I really think your math is way off -- if you are serious -- I can't understand why you wouldn't be embarrassed letting people know you allow 3 oz of milk with a meal.

I paid 219 for the milk! and only 2 people drank milk and they were under 6 years old

 

[mommiepoppins]

For real!? Real turkey meat?

I buy Boars head and it is probably about $1 a sandwich for the meat part alone. I'm not even sure what it cost per lb, probably $8.99. I shop at Publix.

yes for real...I buy healthy choice. Only 2 kids had the turkey lunch meat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

 

[mommiepoppins]

A 6 oz package of Hillshire Farms Turkey breast is $2.00 in my supermarket. The package claims it feeds 3 (serving size 6 slices). You indicate you are feeding 4 (2 children, 2 adults). If you stretch the package that feeds 3 to now feed 4 -- it's still $2. How are you possibly feeding people turkey for 20 cents? Are you waving a slice over the bread and hope it will leave behind the scent of eau de Turkey?

I am feeding 2 childrenthis week.