Feeding your family on $30/week

[sunshine]

http://www.freelancebyu.com/thirtydollars_a_week.htm

Not sure when this was made, but the prices here have increased some. Still a good idea and menu.

[guest2]

Thanks Denise. I subscribe to her newletter and love it!

[Mom23boys]

I think she has some great ideas!

[pip]

Thanks for the neat website.

[homesteadmamma]

Thanks Denise. Although I know we couldn't do that here in Canada, I'm going to read her stuff and see if I can glean any tips. I've bookmarked it for later.

[i.m.cheap]

Great article, but we could never make it a week on a HALF GALLON of MILK! We go through about three gallons a week (down from 4). There are three of us, and that is still only about two and one quarter cups a day per person, including what is used for cooking. A half gallon of milk a week does not seem very reasonable if you have kids.

I did like her website, and signed up for the newsletter.

[sunshine]

Still contains good ideas. . .

[i.m.cheap]

I attempted to update her list with more current prices. She did not list weights for many things, and many things, like milk, cheese, and apples have really gone up! Here is what I came up with:
Dozen eggs $1.25 (sale this week only)
Honey Graham O’s cereal (or other SALE CEREAL for less than $2.00 box) $2.00
Package of tortillas (no Aldi's in my town, cheapest on sale at Dillon's) $1.50
Frozen broccoli (store brand) $1.59
Wonder Italian sliced bread $2.49
Chicken livers (I don't know this one, with my high cholesterol, I don't eat livers) Guess $1.49 lb.
½ gal milk $2.15
4 pack of “blue” Pillsbury biscuits $1.59
Blue Bonnett margerine 1 lb 59¢
1 ½ lbs of ground beef $3.00
1 lb carrots 79¢
Bag of navy beans $1.09 (these have really gone up lately!)
2 lbs of ham (chunks) 2 lbs. @ 2.99 $5.98
Ham bone (free from butcher……just ask most places) free if you can get it, no luck at my store
1 lb of long grain rice 89¢
1 can of saur kraut 69¢
5 ears of white corn on cob $2.00 (this week in season, on sale)
24 oz of macaroni $1.19
Quick Grits (1 lb) 97¢ (Wal-mart)
Cannister of Oatmeal (not the instant) 97¢ (Wal-mart store brand, Quaker was $2.49!)
1 lb of cheddar cheese $3.99
Polish Sausage Hillshire Farm $3.19
5 lb flour (self rising all purpose) $1.19
3 cans starkest tuna (in water) $1.77 (three cans at 59¢ each)
5 lb potatoes $2.99 (these have really gone up lately, too!)
2 packs of Glory Cornbread mix 66¢ (for two boxes of Jiffy mix, the cheapest around here)
Wesson Canola Oil (what size bottle?) I usually pay around $2.49 for 32 oz.
5 packs of ramen noodles $1.00
LARGE pork roast (how large is large?) 5 pounds @ $2.99 lb. $14.97
32 oz applesauce $2.19 for name brand
5 lb sugar $2.49
2 cans of Italian Tomatoes 2@ 89¢ $1.78
1 can tomato sauce (small 8 oz. Can?) 33¢ for store brand
1 bag of reduced apples (never seen any reduced apples in these parts!) a 3 lb. Bag is $4.99
1 bunch of bananas (we'll say two pounds @55¢ a pound) $1.10
1 lb of Mozerella cheese $3.99
Orange Juice (12 oz. Can of frozen concentrate, store brand) $1.50
Celery (very expensive here, I never buy it!) $1.89
Chicken thighs (large pack) 5 lbs @ $1.19 $5.95
1 pint of strawberries (these are sold by the pound, here) one pound $2.99
1 can of coffee (small can 13 oz. Store brand – Kroger) $2.79
TOTAL FOR TWO WEEKS OF GROCERIES……………… $96.46
SAVE $6.00 for Milk, eggs & bread for next week
TOTAL FOR TWO WEEKS OF GROCERIES TO FEED 4 with LEFT OVERS FOR FOLLOWING SHOPPING TRIP! $102.46 or $51.23 a week

I stand by my earlier statement that one half gallon milk is not enough for children for one week. The juice would only make 48 oz. so four people would each get 12 oz. of OJ each to spread out over two weeks! That is LESS than one OUNCE of juice per person per day. There are not enough other vitamin C rich foods (just one box of strawberries) in this list, so I would triple or quadruple the juice.

If I am off on the prices of chicken livers or thighs, feel free to add your prices. I never buy these items. I know leg/thigh quarters are usually 99¢ a pound on sale at my store. I haven't even seen chicken livers in the meat case forever.

[boogiemum]

Very interesting website. I am going to have to read it through some more.

[Lori Biever-Launder]

Broccoli is a great source of vitamin C.

I agree--we use tons of milk here! Also, DH is lactose intolerant, so we have to buy Lactaid milk. He uses it ONLY for cereal--it's between $7.50 and $10.00 a gallon! Never complain about gas prices after seeing the cost of Lactaid milk.

[YankeeMom]

I attempted to update her list with more current prices.

*snip*

I stand by my earlier statement that one half gallon milk is not enough for children for one week. The juice would only make 48 oz. so four people would each get 12 oz. of OJ each to spread out over two weeks! That is LESS than one OUNCE of juice per person per day. There are not enough other vitamin C rich foods (just one box of strawberries) in this list, so I would triple or quadruple the juice.

Good idea, I'll try this too. I will say though, that we only go through 1 gallon of milk per week for the six of us. And 1-1.5 gallons of juice per MONTH. We just don't drink our calories, I'd rather they eat fruit than drink juice. They also rarely drink milk. It's mainly used for cooking & cereal in the mornings. I definitely don't drink milk They eat yogurt, cheese, and greens for calcium/vitamin D.

[YankeeMom]

Here are my prices:

Dozen eggs 93c (bought in bulk @ Sams..avg $8 for 7.5dz)
cereal $1.50 (I can almost always find cereal for $1.50 or less per box)
Package of tortillas 60c for a 12pk
Frozen broccoli (store brand) $.79 (1lb cut broccoli)
Italian sliced bread $1.69 (I wonder, why not make this homemade?)
Chicken livers *gag* I can't even venture to guess
1 gal milk $2.87
4 pack of “blue” Pillsbury biscuits $0.99 (less w/ coupon, again why not homemade??)
Blue Bonnett margerine 1 lb 59¢
1 ½ lbs of ground beef $2.60
1 lb carrots 60c/lb (5lbs - $2.99)
Bag of navy beans $1.29
2 lbs of ham (chunks) $1.98 (I can often find this 99c/lb or buy a whole ham and spread it out throughout a bunch of meals for 59c/lb)
Ham bone (free if you buy a whole ham leg rather than ham chunks)
1 lb of long grain rice 44c (5lb $2.19)
1 can of saur kraut *ick* I have no clue, this stuff does NOT come into my house!
6 ears of corn on cob $2.00 (last week it was 12/$2, didn't buy it at this weeks price)
3lb mac $1.29
Quick Grits (1 lb) $1.50
Canister of Oatmeal (not the instant) $1.69
1 lb of cheddar cheese $3.49 (can't believe the price of cheese lately!!)
Polish Sausage Hillshire Farm $2.79 (and can almost always get them 2 for 1)
5 lb flour (all purpose) 89c (can make self-rising by adding baking powder & salt)
3 cans starkest tuna (in water) $1.56 (52c each - DIRT CHEAP at Target )
15lb potatoes $3.99 (1.33/5lbs sale price)
5lbs cornmeal $2.00 (40c/1lb)
Wesson Canola Oil (what size bottle?) $1.79 (32oz)
ramen noodles 13c each, so 5 could be 65c
LARGE pork roast (how large is large?) 6lbs @ $0.99/lb (always on sale here) $5.94
32 oz applesauce $1.09
5 lb sugar $1.89
2 cans of Italian Tomatoes 2 @ 59c each $1.18
1 can tomato sauce (small 8 oz. Can?) 29c
1 bag of reduced apples 69c/lb this week (often get them for 25c/lb in the reduced produce) 3lbs $2.07
1 bunch of bananas 35c/lb this week 2lbs 70c
1 lb of Mozzerella cheese $3.40
Orange Juice don't know, don't buy it - 64oz apple juice $0.99
Celery $1.39
Chicken thighs (large pack) 5 lbs @ $0.79 $3.95
1 pint of strawberries don't know, don't buy them. I get grapes at 99c/lb 4lbs $3.96
1 can coffee (39oz) $5 (lasts us the month, so $1.63 per week)
TOTAL FOR TWO WEEKS OF GROCERIES……………… $64.73 (plus however much chicken livers & saurkraut are ) plus I got a whole gallon of milk, more strawberries than I would have gotten grapes, etc.

It's a nice concept, but you can buy more with your money by shopping sales, stocking up, and buying in bulk. I'd never buy just a small can of coffee or just 1lb of rice at a time. Too costly!

[PB&J]

Good idea, I'll try this too. I will say though, that we only go through 1 gallon of milk per week for the six of us. And 1-1.5 gallons of juice per MONTH. We just don't drink our calories, I'd rather they eat fruit than drink juice. They also rarely drink milk. It's mainly used for cooking & cereal in the mornings. I definitely don't drink milk They eat yogurt, cheese, and greens for calcium/vitamin D.

We don't use much milk, either. We drink iced tea or water the majority of the time. The kids can have a glass of milk if they want, but they usually don't. They do drink chocolate milk with their lunch at school, that premade syrupy stuff that I refuse to buy for home. lol People are surprised when I tell them we usually only use a gallon, maybe a gallon and a half of milk a week. There are lots of other ways to get calcium that are actually better absorbed than milk is.

I think there are some really good ideas on there, but I don't care how broke I am, I am NOT eating chicken livers.

I did shopping for the week yesterday, stuck to my list and really did lots of comparision shopping and I spent $39. I got enough food to last for about 6 days. I already had ground beef and some chicken, so I planned my weeks menu around that and bought a few extras. I did buy a lot of store brand.

[Dancing Lotus]

I have found what works for me and I am sticking to it. I think if you didnt have a stockpile this could be helpful but for me her list would only cost me more then I could do myself. I think her prices need an update.

[i.m.cheap]

I think it is funny how many people would not eat chicken livers. I wouldn't touch them either. Heather, I am so jealous of your fruit prices! The cheapest I have seen apples here is $1.49 lb. (on sale) in the last year or two. My dd loves apples, sometimes I will buy just one or two, and they cost .75-.90 EACH! That is why we drink OJ, I can still serve orange juice for about 20¢ a serving.