My menu plan and shopping list

[sunshine]

Another board I'm on is doing the food stamp challenge of $3/day/person for food.

Food stamp challenge - $3/day for food
http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/
http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/news/page/2/

Here is my shopping list, and menu for next week. This is for the 3 of us.

Country Market:

pudding mix .79
yogurt .20 x5
cucumbers .50 x4
green onions .50
oranges 4 lbs $2.49


Meijers

pork steaks $1/lb x3
carrots 3 lbs $1.50
Peter Pan PB $1
Smuckers jelly $1
Banquet TV dinners $1 x 3
store brand poptarts $1
store brand syrup $1
Farmland bologna .89/lb
bone in chicken breasts $1/lb x3
beef roast $1.89/lb x2
cheese slices $1

Shop-n-Save

roll sausage $1/lb
hot dogs .97
ice cream 1/2 gal $1.88
cream cheese .90
frozen pizza .78 x 2
popcorn .89/2 lbs
potatoes 5 lbs/ $1.50

Schnucks

pita bread $1/6
brownie mix $1
lettuce $1/head x 2


Aldi's

bread .69 x 2
applesauce .79
sugar $1.49
flour $1.09
eggs $1.29
milk $3.14
apple juice .99
chips .99
rice .50/3 lbs
canned veggies .33 x 3
bananas .39 x 2
tea bags $1.29
noodles .99

Total spent $54.36 - of my $63 budget for the 3 of us.

The basic menu plan:

Breakfasts:

French toast x2
poptart
egg/hashbrowns/toast x2
hot rice
sausage gravy/biscuits

Lunches

I'll take a TV dinner to work 3 days
other lunches will be:

PBJ/chips/orange
bologna/carots/applesauce
pizza/chips/brownie
chicken rice soup/grilled cheese

Dinners will be:

fried rice/egg drop soup/brownie
pork steaks/noodles/veggies
hot dogs/salad/orange slices
roast / carrots/ broiled bananas
stew/dumplings/ice cream
pancakes/sausage/banana & orange slices
chicken/mashed potatoes/veggies/pudding

snacks will be:

popcorn
drop cookies
cinnamon toast

beverages will be:
apple juice
tea
water
limited milk

I wanted to add. . . .

I used nothing from my pantry or freezer except spices/condiments. I used this week's current ads from the stores in my area.

This took me about 45 minutes to sort through the ads, make a list and a menu. I say this because the most frequent arguement I hear from those on food stamps is "I don't have time to do all that work. I have a full time job." You'll notice I even managed to include some "junk" foods like frozen pizza, chips and ice cream.

None of the foods we're going to eat require a tremendous amount of prep or cooking time.

I managed quite a few good deals because a couple of the stores are having 10/$10 deals. However, many of the other items I find on better sales frequently.

I'd use my remaining money to stock up on the good deals from this week and freeze for another week.

I didn't mention that dd will take a yogurt in her lunch every day, along with her sandwich/chips,etc. - so that's where those go, on school days.

Meijer's also has cabbage on sale 3 lbs/$1 - -I'll probably grab a couple dollars worth of that to add interest and nutrition.

[StaceyS]

Good Job!
I've always been amazed at people who say they can't get by on food stamps. I frequently spend less than $3/day - with loads of variety!

[emily_hope]

Wow, sunshine, that is teriffic. Thanks for sharing that. I may borrow your ideas.

[HappyMama]

Good job ! I always love reading your posts.

[miss_thrifty]

Good work sunshine. I wish i could get some of our items that cheap. If my hubby wasnt so fussy when it comes to meat and we didnt shop together, Id sneak more cheaper cuts lol

[YankeeMom]

I did this this summer as a challenge to myself (after that article about the politician who tried it) and posted about it on my FV blog that I have all but abandoned

I like your menu. Nice variation, far from the beans & rice most people would think $3/person/day would get.

[mom21ofeach]

Great job!!! I spend about that much time searching thru ads, clipping coupons and putting together menus each week, and I'm not on food stamps. I do spend more that $3 a person though. I am glad you posted this actually. You have variety, balanced meals, and even a few treats. I remember that challenge and I thought to myself that I didn't think it would be that difficult to eat on that amount with a little effort and creativity.

Just to play devli's advocate, the only "flaw" I can see is that someone would say that you are going to 4 stores to get your groceries. If this person on food stamps does not have a car, or limited funds for fuel, they may balk at spending the time and money on gas to shop all those places.

I am impressed though. Maybe we should put it to the test here in this house!

[Christa]

Good Job!
I've always been amazed at people who say they can't get by on food stamps. I frequently spend less than $3/day - with loads of variety!

Same here--we don't have a bunch of pre-packaged stuff or organic veggies and expensive cuts of meat, but it's generally healthy and yummy.

[Christa]

Same here--we don't have a bunch of pre-packaged stuff or organic veggies and expensive cuts of meat, but it's generally healthy and yummy.

Good job, though, Sunshine! I didn't mean to disparage your accomplishment at all--I'm in awe of your planning skills. Planning ahead is not my strong point. :-P

[thrifty gal]

Good job! Dh does the shopping with me (bad for the budget, but good company!), and I'm gonna show him the site to inspire him to do this too. WTG!

[mom2matty]

WTG Sunshine!!

[zakity]

If I am on budget, I spend about $2.85 per person per day.

[Daisygirl]

Really interesting link.

As always - you pinch those pennies til they scream for mercy!

[frugalnana]

Thanks Sunshine for the post. I enjoy the links also, reading what others have tried or bought.
I enjoy reading your money saving ideas when it comes to food.
I cook allot from scratch and am always looking for ways to cut even further.

[Edna_E]

Now I'm curious and will have to see what I can do. That's a good thing, thanks for the inspiration!

Good job on your own planning. Do you do that kind of planning all the time? I used to but lost it about 25 years ago. It would be a good habit to pick back up.