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

[dawn1967]

I'm not starting anything just curious. What is the difference between target and walmart they both put local retailers out of business competing for customers. I live in a town where target was here first and been here since 1989. How do i know this because i worked there for 15yrs in management and in the first 4 yrs little stores closed down the mall that was mostly mom and pop apparel and housware stores etc closed down and stores like macy and jc pennys and mervyns moved in. There is no difference between target and walmart in business practices really i worked for both. And after 18yrs in retail i will not do it again after working for the two major retailers in the world. Target puts out those coupons to get your business because your local guy would not be able to survive selling meat or bread for nothing. and they know you will buy that product for .50 and something else at regular price and they will make it up. I don't really mean to start an argument but when i hear people go i don't like walmart for this reason but glad for target they really need to see both companies. they are no different they both want your money. Ok off soap box.

 

[mommiepoppins]

I am really enjoying everybody's posts. Although I am not trying to stay under $10 each day, my goal is to really use up all the food/leftovers with careful planning to cut costs. There are only 2 of us unless DD is home from college. DH and I are concentrating on not eating lunch out (big saver) and using up what we have in the freezer. (I have tons of meals in there and just need to remember to defrost) So all I really have to buy is fresh veggies and fruit and milk and bread when I am planning correctly.

For instance the other day while shopping for fresh stuff I picked up a rotissierie chicken which we had that night, then the next day we each had chicken sandwiches for lunch and then chicken & rice & gravy for dinner. So not bad for 5.99. Everything else included in any of those meals was already in the house except two tomatoes. So YAY for me You all are rubbing off on me! Now tonight I bought 2 pizzas from pizza hut because I have a weird schedule so that cost big time but it will feed us for at least 2 and more likely 3 meals. Baby steps!

I am really not trying to stay under 10. If you noticed to day was under 10 because the kids ate at vbs. I find this thread useful to help me be accountable to how much I am actually spending. I did not try at all this week to stay at 10 or under. However I do now use left overs and I plan according to what I find on sale. Ex Whole wheat buns at the bread store for 75 cents... Well I buy about 10 pks and freeze them and then plan ex. . So what ever I find at a great deal I get tons and then plan.

 

[KKB]

I'm not starting anything just curious. What is the difference between target and walmart they both put local retailers out of business competing for customers. I live in a town where target was here first and been here since 1989. How do i know this because i worked there for 15yrs in management and in the first 4 yrs little stores closed down the mall that was mostly mom and pop apparel and housware stores etc closed down and stores like macy and jc pennys and mervyns moved in. There is no difference between target and walmart in business practices really i worked for both. And after 18yrs in retail i will not do it again after working for the two major retailers in the world. Target puts out those coupons to get your business because your local guy would not be able to survive selling meat or bread for nothing. and they know you will buy that product for .50 and something else at regular price and they will make it up. I don't really mean to start an argument but when i hear people go i don't like walmart for this reason but glad for target they really need to see both companies. they are no different they both want your money. Ok off soap box.

In Nebraska (where I live...), there are 13 Targets...of which 10 of them are in Lincoln & Omaha, the 2 major cities of our state.

Walmart on the other hand, has TWENTY-EIGHT stores in Nebraska...only 2 of those are in Lincoln! (vs. 3 Targets!) They are mostly in small towns...some at least as small as 5000. That is murder to most small businesses in the town, particularly locally owned grocery stores, pharmacies & clothing stores. I realize that the citizens of the towns could choose to shop locally...but Walmart knows darn well the allure of cheaper prices and much wider variety than the local stores can offer.

You are correct...it is all about business. And there is certainly the argument that providing the citizens of these small towns better prices and variety is beneficial to them. But it has CHANGED the demeanor of small towns...\

Funny, there was a survey done a couple of years ago...EVERY county in the USA preferred Walmart to Target...EXCEPT my county in Nebraska! Hmm...guess I am biased! (but, I have to say...I DID shop at Walmart last Sunday...hoping Super Target takes over that position!)

 

[swtmommie2four]

In Nebraska (where I live...),

I live in Nebraska too, in Papillion, outside of Omaha!

 

[mommiepoppins]

Breakfast
Rice crispy =0 I counted the box price yesterday
Apple slice=24 cents
Milk 60 cents
=84

Lunch
Delved eggs
Eggs=0 brother gives me them
Mustard=5 cents
Mayo= 50 cents
Ritz crackers (dollar general brand =50 cents
Fruit salad
Cherry’s from yesterday=0
Apple slices=44 cents
Mandarin oranges= 35 cents
Pear slices =98cents
Jell-O=25 cents
Cool whip =50 cents
=357

Dinner
Baked Ziti
Mozzarella =289
Box of ziti= 50 cents
Spag sauce=1$
Fresh tomatoes in ziti=25 cents
Whole wheat garlic bread from bread store 125
Milk =60
=649

Snacks for the day including night time sleep over for 3 teenagers

2 boxes of l Debbie’s cakes 2$
1 bag Aldi chips =1$
Fruit salad=0
Cookies=50 cents
Frozen apple juice pops=50 cents
=4$
14.90 For the day.
Now I do not want to here that they are eating a lot of junk food... It is a sleep over party

 

[KKB]

In Nebraska (where I live...),

I live in Nebraska too, in Papillion, outside of Omaha!

Lincoln girl here!

 

[Todd&Copper]

I cannot get these kind of prices. Really!!!

Noodles: $.99 on sale
Spaghetti Sauce (OK, it's the expensive one my family likes): $1.50 on sale for 15 oz.
24 oz of cottage cheese is almost double what you list.
$.64 for shredded mozzarella - never saw it go on such good sale.

I am frustrated.

I know! Safeway had 16 oz. of cottage cheese on sale for 1.79 this week.
Canned spaghetti sauce goes on sale for $1, but I find that stuff tastes tinny. I make my own using canned tomatoes ($1 on sale) and paste (4/$1 on sale).
The 8oz. bags of mozzarella are $2.50 on sale, though I usually only get them if I have a coupon. Sometimes I buy the cheese by the block and shred it myself.
Pasta doesn't go on sale cheaper than $1, even the store brand.
And ground beef (93% lean) goes on sale for 2.99 OCCASIONALLY but usually the sale is over $3/lb.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

With respect to that posted lasagna menu and ingredient prices, I only make meals like lasagna when I can get the cheese on sale! I stock up on pasta and sauce (if I don't do homegrown & homemade) when those are on sale. When the cheese is on sale, I will buy a LOT and make several lasagnas to freeze. My "buy it" prices are ~ $1.99/lb for unshredded mozzarella and ~ $2.99/3lb of ricotta cheese. The 3lb ricotta will make three large pans of lasagna using my favorite recipe. I use 1lb of mozzarella per pan.


Anyway, yesterday's meals. Family o' 5. Dd12 has multiple food allergies (soy, sesame, peanut, hazelnut, and the new one, watermelon!). Both she and dd7 are packing lunches this week to ballet intensive and to science camp.

Ds14 had a friend over from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday's evening Boy Scout meeting---so I had two hungry boys around all day!

Breakfast
cereal & milk, dh and two kids, $0.75
scrambled eggs, 6, $0.48 (the boys ate b'fast at 10am!)
bacon, 1/2 pkg, $1.00
organic grape juice, great sale at ShopRite, $0.50

total: $2.73

Lunch
girls packed leftovers and goldfish from Pepperidge Farms outlet, $0.50
Dh took clients out to lunch (business expense)
I bought a take & bake pizza at Costco while shopping for the boys & I, $8.00
grapes, Costco, $1.00

total: $9.50

Dinner
grilled chicken legs and thighs (took skin off, btw), $0.49/lb, $2.50
pasta salad: organic whole wheat pasta $1.00 for lb, organic frozen mixed veggies from Costco, about lb so $0.80
squash from garden, FREE

total: $4.30

Snacks
popcorn, $0.25
more grapes, $1.00

Daily total for Thursday: $17.78

 

[dawn1967]

Breakfast

French toast and bacon 1.45
I ate today

Lunch
Turkey Hamburgers and home sweet potato fries ( free left over from camping and in the freezer. )

Lettuce tomato and onions pickles all basically free i bought the lettuce for .39 a head we will not use more then what one leaf and the pickles left over from there camping trip.

Dinner
Tuna sandwiches with chips and lettuce tomato pickles 1.99 for bag of chips
fruit salad 2.79 bought the cantaloupe and the strawberries. Mine are either done for season or sill producing.

snacks today are same as always fruit and veggies. Tommorrow they will have chip and dip left over from movie night tonight.


1.45+.39+2.79+1.99=6.62

 

[dawn1967]

LuckyMamaInDE;19845898]With respect to that posted lasagna menu and ingredient prices, I only make meals like lasagna when I can get the cheese on sale! I stock up on pasta and sauce (if I don't do homegrown & homemade) when those are on sale. When the cheese is on sale, I will buy a LOT and make several lasagnas to freeze. My "buy it" prices are ~ $1.99/lb for unshredded mozzarella and ~ $2.99/3lb of ricotta cheese. The 3lb ricotta will make three large pans of lasagna using my favorite recipe. I use 1lb of mozzarella per pan.

See i would love to make Lasagna or Baked Ziti and use ricotta and lots of mozzarella. But my cholesterol goes o no u don't. So i just don't make it i do make that cheap skillet version and a Crockpot version that does not require all the cheese just doesn't taste the same. And please no suggesting soy or cottage cheese because I'm 100% Sicilian there are some traditions I can not change .lol But I'm curious has anyone found any good whole wheat Lasagna pasta? Brand name not store brand because here i'm very limited on my stores.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Dawn, I usually buy the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest wholewheat pasta (not the multigrain) or a store brand (not in lasagna shape yet, though).

But just last week I found Luigi Vitelli organic wholewheat pasta at the grocery store. It's in bags, not boxes, LOTS of shapes (unlike the Ronzoni). The regular price is $1.99/lb but I got it at $0.99/lb. I like that there are 16 oz in the package instead of the 12 oz for the Ronzoni or store brand. The only difference is that it is NOT fortified which might make a difference to some people---my family gets enough vitamins/minerals through cereal and/or wholewheat bread so I'm not worried about the occasional non-fortified pasta meal.

I didn't find the Luigi Vitelli in the lasagna shape at that store. I will check the other grocery stores in my area when I next make the rounds. I know that my natural foods co-op carries several brands of whole wheat lasagna but haven't tried them all yet.

Do you really think that 1 lb of mozzarella and 1 lb of ricotta in a 13x9 baking dish (the lasagna is dense and more than 2" thick once cooked) is a lot of cheese? The dish will feed my family of 5 for one dinner and two lunches (with 4 people packing and me eating at home).

 

[disneymom3]

look on the package. Shredded cheese says 2 c./ 8 oz. Therefore 4 oz. is 1 c., or half a bag of shredded.

Actually, these prices compare to the midwest (though I SWEAR groceries go up everytime I go shopping! And the sales have been PRETTY rotten lately!)

Fav store (NOT the warehouse store or Walmart)
Noodles...25/12 oz. fairly regularly (though we eat whole wheat which I watch for .99 and I usually have a coupon too)
Prego... .99 often on sale, and usually a coupon
Cott cheese/Sr cream often .99 on sale (though these you can't stock up on much!)
Burger...1.99 to 2.49 for 93% lean or lean gr. turkey for same (sale,again)
Shredded cheese...regularly 1.25/8 oz.

The beauty is that other than the dairy, it is very easy to stock up on these items when they are on sale!

I must say prices seem to have gone up SO much on so many items in the last year...I suppose it is gas prices..!

First, what part of the midwest are you from? MN is midwest but I pay a lot more than that for cheese and gr beef as well as pasta and cottage cheese. Sour cream I get cheap but I am always surprised at how expensive cottage cheese is.

As for the prices--somewhat it is gas but another significant problem is that the gov. subsidizes the growth of corn for ethanol. So much so, that in turn the cost of feeding cows has gotten way more expensive. This then causes the cost of dairy goods as well as beef to skyrocket. That is what is behind the rising milk costs for instance. Messy system!

 

[dawn1967]

Dawn, I usually buy the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest wholewheat pasta (not the multigrain) or a store brand (not in lasagna shape yet, though).

But just last week I found Luigi Vitelli organic wholewheat pasta at the grocery store. It's in bags, not boxes, LOTS of shapes (unlike the Ronzoni). The regular price is $1.99/lb but I got it at $0.99/lb. I like that there are 16 oz in the package instead of the 12 oz for the Ronzoni or store brand. The only difference is that it is NOT fortified which might make a difference to some people---my family gets enough vitamins/minerals through cereal and/or wholewheat bread so I'm not worried about the occasional non-fortified pasta meal.

I didn't find the Luigi Vitelli in the lasagna shape at that store. I will check the other grocery stores in my area when I next make the rounds. I know that my natural foods co-op carries several brands of whole wheat lasagna but haven't tried them all yet.

Do you really think that 1 lb of mozzarella and 1 lb of ricotta in a 13x9 baking dish (the lasagna is dense and more than 2" thick once cooked) is a lot of cheese? The dish will feed my family of 5 for one dinner and two lunches (with 4 people packing and me eating at home).

Thanks I can find fortified and non in any pasta shape i want except lasagna here i did tried a local growers market kind and i did not like the taste at all I make my own pastas but when it comes to lasagna I like the process brands better and die hard ronzoni person here. For me cheese is bad to much fat really 1lb isn't bad for a family of 4 but for me i by pass cheese mayo margine butter i will break down on occasion and have spinach dip with sour cream but i use the low fat or that umo brand. If i make the Crockpot or skillet lasagna i can add the cheese after it's cooked. Thanks really.

 

[punkin]

Today:

Breakfast: english muffins, butter, jam, cereal, milk, sunflower butter $2.50
Lunch: Ramen (I know. Bad Mommy) $.75
Dinner: Roast Chicken, cucumber salad, rice and beans $7
Snack: popcorn at the movies $3.50


TOTAL: 12.50

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Today's food:

Breakfast
Cereal & milk, all of us, $1.25
orange juice, 1/3 of carton at $2.50 Costco, $0.83
coffee, etc, $0.90

Total: $2.98

Lunch
dh and the girls packed leftovers (pizza, chicken)
ds and I had leftovers (ditto)
grapes for all $1.50
goldfish for girls, $0.50

total: $2.00

Dinner

leftover roasted chicken
zucchini, garden, FREE
green beans, garden, FREE
sub rolls, 5, $1.25
tomato, garden, FREE
lettuce, garden, FREE
milk, 3 kids, $0.75

total: $2.00

Snacks
local "hot" pretzels (we buy a bunch and freeze), $0.50
more grapes, $1.00
blueberries, garden, FREE
yogurt frozen in popsicle maker, 4, $0.15

Total for today: $8.63

Must figure out non-messy meal options for tomorrow since we'll be reading Harry Potter 7. The big kids are taking four-hour shifts and I get the book after 9pm!

 

[dawn1967]

Must figure out non-messy meal options for tomorrow since we'll be reading Harry Potter 7. The big kids are taking four-hour shifts and I get the book after 9pm!

Non messy food no way my 8yr wears everything he eats even toast on his shirts.

 

[mommiepoppins]

we are going out to eat all 6 of us.. way over 10$

 

[TNKBELL]

Non messy food no way my 8yr wears everything he eats even toast on his shirts.

My DS8 thinks his shirt is a napkin!

 

[dawn1967]

Breakfast
Only one kid ate .50

Lunch
Left over hamburgers and fries from other day free

Dinner
chicken and red pepper cannelloni 3.
spaggitti sauce free all from garden.
Home made garlic bread 1.
tomato salad .50

snacks
popicles
popcorn
fruit and veggies
1.50

Total for day 6.5

 

[mommiepoppins]

Breakfast
Only one kid ate .50

Lunch
Left over hamburgers and fries from other day free

Dinner
chicken and red pepper cannelloni 3.
spaggitti sauce free all from garden.
Home made garlic bread 1.
tomato salad .50

snacks
popicles
popcorn
fruit and veggies
1.50

Total for day 6.5

what is your family size anyway?