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WorseBeforeBetter

(11,441 posts)

72. I took advantage of the cheapie "Manager's Special"...

Sun Apr 22, 2012, 01:23 AM

Apr 2012

for dairy and meat--stuff that had a sell-by date of about 1 or 2 days. A big splurge was a Pom juice on sale and with a coupon, and I made it last 3 days. I have to admit this revised diet did make me feel better, but the need to be so organized was *exhausting.* There was no room for error, and while I tend not to waste food, absolutely nothing was wasted during this period. (I guess I say that because a family member lets her kids PILE food on their plates, then toss anything they don't eat, rather than save it for leftovers, which really ticks me off!)

I still dine out way too much, but am lucky to have a lot of cheap, fresh "ethnic" restaurants in my area. And after the salty, grease-bomb known as the Wendy's Bacon Portabello, I'm good for fast food for at least another quarter. Blech.

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Food Stamp Challenge starts on 4/23 - can you live on $35 a week for food? (no free/already bought) [View all] Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 OP

I guess my family already does this GobBluth Apr 2012 #1

you don't do it because: "we got a lot of meat for free." HiPointDem Apr 2012 #99

But we eat meat maybe twice a week. GobBluth Apr 2012 #113

terms of the challenge are nothing for free. so you don't do it. HiPointDem Apr 2012 #114

At one time in my life, I fed myself and 4 children on food stamps. Arkansas Granny Apr 2012 #2

Although you say meat is more of a flavoring, implying that is a bad thing, nobodyspecial Apr 2012 #12

Didn't you supplement the food stamps with SOME cash? I think that's what most people Honeycombe8 Apr 2012 #77

What cash? At that time, my only income was child support which barely covered Arkansas Granny Apr 2012 #89

+1 Gormy Cuss Apr 2012 #115

I could izquierdista Apr 2012 #3

I don't think the challenge allows eating from your backyard because most people on food stamps Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 #7

many people on food stamps where I live have gardens cali Apr 2012 #78

I realize the challange doesn't allow it but that is a bit non-realistic. FedUpWithIt All Apr 2012 #104

Oooo blackberries Aerows Apr 2012 #27

You've had blackberries before April? muriel_volestrangler Apr 2012 #96

Southern MS Aerows Apr 2012 #98

I suppose I could; I'll grant it wouldn't be fun or particularly easy...but why in the world Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #4

to experience how people on food stamps live/eat Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 #5

And I would want to do that...why, exactly? Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #10

I suppose the thinking is, when someone says to you, closeupready Apr 2012 #13

Being poor is a negative experience. What public polices should be enacted to ameliorate Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #15

Aren't those Marie Antoinette's famous last words? closeupready Apr 2012 #16

Actually, Marie Antoinette's last words were: Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #20

I think realizing it one's head & in one's body are different experiences. HiPointDem Apr 2012 #101

Some people can't afford their own car, and have to use public transportation. Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #103

If it allows empathy or understanding to other people who may not have your insight, LanternWaste Apr 2012 #106

It's my experience that you can't really know without the experience. Not sure that playacting HiPointDem Apr 2012 #112

so we don't become as clueless and insensitive as Mitt Romney Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 #17

While I'm no fan of cluelessness, I think sensitivity is overrated. Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #21

Feelings propel actions. Lex Apr 2012 #22

Not necessarily. Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #25

Mawkish sentimentality? Aerows Apr 2012 #33

"Mawkish sentimentality" was a big strawman offered Lex Apr 2012 #42

No kidding Aerows Apr 2012 #45

Well I'll tell you what.... JNelson6563 Apr 2012 #61

To each their own. Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #64

Every time Atlas Shrugs Ikonoklast Apr 2012 #83

However, in many cases, our actions certainly are predicated on our emotions. And rather than gettin LanternWaste Apr 2012 #108

okay Mitt nt U4ikLefty Apr 2012 #74

I believe the intent is to raise awareness of the choices available to those Arkansas Granny Apr 2012 #35

Since I use my own money to buy food, I'm perfectly aware of what $35 will buy. Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #102

yes... justabob Apr 2012 #6

how do you make do? Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 #32

well justabob Apr 2012 #53

I love the 99cent store..... blueamy66 Apr 2012 #95

i don't know why anybody should have to... KG Apr 2012 #8

I don't either. SammyWinstonJack Apr 2012 #18

Yes, but it would be difficult. closeupready Apr 2012 #9

the challenge doesn't include using stuff you already have on hand CreekDog Apr 2012 #50

Can do for even less, if I coupon to death. Zax2me Apr 2012 #11

you have to keep your eye out for sale prices cali Apr 2012 #41

are you driving and gassing up to go find sales? CreekDog Apr 2012 #51

You really don't aimlessly drive around looking for deals. nobodyspecial Apr 2012 #70

When I was a kid all american girl Apr 2012 #14

Funny you say you can't stand tuna casserole closeupready Apr 2012 #54

per person? That is more than we spend CBGLuthier Apr 2012 #19

same here - 35 a week is about 100 more a month than I spend for two people sammytko Apr 2012 #28

and so much of it tastes so much better CBGLuthier Apr 2012 #30

Have you ever tried making yogurt cheese? GoCubsGo Apr 2012 #37

Sort of CBGLuthier Apr 2012 #46

We spend less than that most weeks too but have a larger family. FedUpWithIt All Apr 2012 #105

I'm near that level, but without food stamps. freshwest Apr 2012 #23

Me, too. GoCubsGo Apr 2012 #34

That's very good. I try to go for all fresh food. I have to eat it fast, though, or lose it. freshwest Apr 2012 #44

I have shopped at Aldi. RebelOne Apr 2012 #47

They have some fantastic produce deals this week. GoCubsGo Apr 2012 #48

I grew up in a large family Mojorabbit Apr 2012 #24

How many people is that supposed to feed? ceile Apr 2012 #26

Just one person - each is alloted 35 dollars a week. n/t sammytko Apr 2012 #29

one person Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 #31

Food stamp benefits are not intended to pay for all groceries, that's why as income rises... JVS Apr 2012 #56

I just did a quick bit of googling, and the maximum benefits for a single person seems to be $200 Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #57

That's a maximum national benefit amount, not an average benefit. Gormy Cuss Apr 2012 #91

I agree it's not the average, but my understanding is that as one increases one's resources Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #92

Easy Dokkie Apr 2012 #36

We eat a lot of grits for breakfast Aerows Apr 2012 #38

No, I cannot. MrSlayer Apr 2012 #39

I lived on about $35 or less in college - About $5/day was typical. OneTenthofOnePercent Apr 2012 #40

That's all I ever spend a week for food for one person, except for holidays. Yo_Mama Apr 2012 #43

I already do every week. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #49

I make it under that but that's because I believe the grocery stores do not deserve to have my money RB TexLa Apr 2012 #52

Damn evil grocery stores... TheCruces Apr 2012 #66

Nothing evil. They just don't deserve to have it. RB TexLa Apr 2012 #67

Why not? Is it just grocery stores or does this extend to other stores? TheCruces Apr 2012 #75

It extends to anyone. I worked for the money, I deserve to have it. RB TexLa Apr 2012 #76

When you buy food, you ARE "having" your money. You are using it to stay alive & be healthy. Honeycombe8 Apr 2012 #79

Saving is obviously good, but if you're just being cheap to hoard it, that's kind of weird & selfish TheCruces Apr 2012 #97

And we reap the results! Lars39 Apr 2012 #100

Try living on $86/mo as a friend of mine gets here in TX. hobbit709 Apr 2012 #55

In Santa Cruz, CA? varelse Apr 2012 #58

I could yes, but I live alone Rex Apr 2012 #59

I could eat on 35 a week panader0 Apr 2012 #60

maybe but i don't know how it would be very healthy JI7 Apr 2012 #62

I tried it and found the opposite to be true. WorseBeforeBetter Apr 2012 #63

I agree nobodyspecial Apr 2012 #69

I took advantage of the cheapie "Manager's Special"... WorseBeforeBetter Apr 2012 #72

it's not easy and it takes thought and skill but I do cali Apr 2012 #80

Nope! Only if I grew a lot of my own and that would require having some property Cleita Apr 2012 #65

I bet you could. cali Apr 2012 #81

That wasn't what I meant. I meant wouldn't home ownership disqualify one? Cleita Apr 2012 #84

no, it doesn't disqualify you. cali Apr 2012 #86

i could probably do it... keroro gunsou Apr 2012 #68

I would love to think that I could but I know better....food stamps must be unbelievably hard Rowdyboy Apr 2012 #71

I can do it for less than that. I am not going to. jmowreader Apr 2012 #73

I think this is for all who have never had to do that. closeupready Apr 2012 #82

is this challenge because the repugs in congress newspeak Apr 2012 #90

For anyone who wants to take this challenge and likes to cook cali Apr 2012 #85

That's just about what I spend now... Fumesucker Apr 2012 #87

I imagine it's hard if you're not into cooking. cali Apr 2012 #88

I balance out the more expensive stuff with cheaper stuff.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #93

I already do, but sometimes I don't, and that makes ALL the difference. hunter Apr 2012 #94

probably but it would be a lot of crap food which is high in sodium & starches. WI_DEM Apr 2012 #107

quite the opposite is true. cali Apr 2012 #111

Per individual? redqueen Apr 2012 #109

I've started making my own cleaning products cali Apr 2012 #110