 Sheila Steffen is a producer for CNN. Tune in to American Morning this week for special reporting on hunger in America, and check back with Eatocracy to see how she does on her food stamp challenge. That is the reality for the more than 40 million Americans who rely on food stamps. According to the Food Research and Action Center the average food stamp allotment is just $30 per week. I began thinking about taking a food stamp challenge earlier this month when I met several women who we profiled on hunger for two CNN stories (which will be posted on this site later in the week). These women had to make tough choices between paying bills and buying food. Often they skipped meals so their children could eat. Often the amount of food stamps they received was not enough. Living on a food stamp budget for just one week won’t begin to put me in these women’s shoes or come close to the struggles that millions of low-income families face every day; week in and week out, month after month. But I do expect to gain a new perspective and a better understanding. - September 19-25 I already feel the challenge just by the awareness of how much I have (or don’t have) to spend on food for an entire week. There can be no leeway. No impulse buying. No visits to Starbucks, or the vending machine at work for an afternoon snack, and certainly no dinners out or glass of wine in the evenings. On the first day I go to the grocery store (Fairway) and try to put fruits and vegetables in my cart - things I normally eat a lot of. I grab a bag of 12 apples that at $1.99 I think is a good deal. I also take some broccoli, a container of tomatoes and a bag of 4 peppers which I agonize over and later regret buying. That’s already close to 1/3 of my entire budget! I reluctantly grab a small bunch of loose spinach but realize the salads I normally bring and eat at work are not going to be possible and if I don’t change my strategy I’m not going to have enough food or the right food and will end up hungry. Fish and meat are out of the question so I scan the chicken and pick up two breasts for $4.62 though I know I should probably select the package of chicken parts. I also grab a box of pasta, a loaf of bread (on special but still a whopping $2.99!) and peanut butter and jelly. Cost: $20.16 With my remaining $10 I head to another grocery store (C-Town) determined to do better; ignore brands and nutritional content and look for the cheapest food that will be filling. I get a bag of dry black beans and a bag of rice figuring that will be a meal for several days. I also grab a box of Farina; it's like Cream of Wheat but cheaper, and I can't afford oatmeal. Coffee is something I don’t want to do without, especially if my energy level becomes low so I choose a small brick of Café Bustelo espresso for $2.86 and forego the milk. Lastly, I find cans of tuna on sale! For $.99 I grab two that are packed in water and feel really good about that choice. Still, I leave the store feeling less than satisfied and walk home questioning my purchases. I feel totally constricted; not free to eat the way I want or buy what I want. I cannot afford that freedom. I get home and realize I’m hungry. No need to ask myself what I feel like eating. It will be Farina for breakfast – all week long. |
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An outstanding share! I've just forwarded this onto a co-worker who has been conducting a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this subject here on your web site.
There is certainly a lot to learn about this topic. I really like all of the points you have made.
I simply could not depart your web site before suggesting that I extremely loved the usual info a person provide on your visitors? Is going to be back regularly in order to inspect new posts
I was on stamps at one time. Now I make about 100 to much for any help. That's fine because aid is a temporary thing. But with my disablity and making to much for a medical card is what hurts. I now buy healthcare at work for 200 a month. I have less to spend on food now than I did on food stamps. Milk lol, you drink water and eat noodles. no meat, no bread, and no milk. Not unless you was able to get a couple of hours overtime. Aid people get heat help. Food help. medical care help. child care help. They are fine. Start worring about those people that are disabled, or old. Who have no clue how to get buy. They never seem to have a hand out and are full of pride.
ALL THESE REPLIES, THAT SAY YOU CAN MAKE IT ON $33.00 a WEEK, are obviously from the ignorant republiCON party !!!!! I tell you the truth, a republiCON will say anything, do anything, tell any LIE and sink to any LOW to get their way and save their riches. Their way, of course, is the WAY OF THE WEALTHY. They only want two types of USA citizens; THE VERY RICH and THE VERY POOR !!! The VERY POOR, of course, will be used like SLAVES for the VERY RICH !!!!!
I can tell you now from past experience, at today's highly inflated food costs IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE on $33.00 a week for food !!! Here are some price examples from my trip to Walmart yesterday in Chattanooga, TN : Milk $4.69 a gallon, Bread $2.69 a loaf, Cereal $4.00 + (including oatmeal), Veggies $3.00 frozen small packages and the prices go up from there. If that is not enough, every month ALL food item prices go up at Walmart, with no increase in FOOD STAMPS. A whole chicken (raw) is $5.99 at Walmart, but you can buy a chicken already cooked in the deli for the same price !!! However, the FOOD STAMP rules do not allow cooked foods to be purchased with FOOD STAMPS !!!! How much do you think it would cost to heat an oven long enough to cook that same chicken ????? Also, what about the hot water costs to clean up the mess it would make to cook the chicken and serve it ????? Sometimes I think it is cheaper to eat out !!!!! I also use coupons for everything I buy, if I did not, I would have even less food !!!
Our Tennessee FOOD STAMP BASE FOR SOMEONE WITH NO INCOME has been $200.00 a month since the year 1999 with NO INCREASES FOR COST OF LIVING !!!!! As a matter of fact, I just got a reduction in my FOOD STAMPS from $60.00 a month down to $16.00 (a $44.00 LOSS) for an increase in my SSDI of $20.00 !!!! I now receive $850.00 ($830.00 last month) a month from SSDI and that is my ONLY MONETARY income. Along with this cash, I now receive $16.00 a month in FOOD STAMPS.
So, let's examine my budget : My electric bill is never under $300.00 a month and sometimes it is over $400.00 (for all practical purposes we will say $350.00 for electric). Then my Auto Insurance is $112.00 a month, my Water/Sewage bill is $90.00 a month, my Natural Gas bill is always $30.00 or more, Phone bill is $40.00 a month and Taxes on the home my parents left me are $170.00 a month !!!!! Then there are cleaning products, laundry soap, bar soap, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap and garbage bags; which I spend about $50.00 on each month. Then there is gasoline and oil cost along with general home and auto costs that runs around $45.00 a month. This is so I can keep my home repaired, lawn mowed by someone else, go to the grocery store, to general life appointments and to doctor appointments (that I have many of) !!!!! This leaves $3.00 in cash and $16.00 in food stamps left to buy food with. By the way, in Chattanooga, TN there is a 10% sales tax on food and drugs, so when I use the $3.00 cash for food, there will be a $0.30 cent charge for TAX on that food !!!!!!!
In reality, I have $18.70 A MONTH TO BUY FOOD WITH !!!!! Needless to say, I have to go BEG at churches and food banks all over town to have enough food to last all month. Some places will only help you ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS !!!!
So, PLEASE DO NOT INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE BY SAYING THAT I CAN SURVIVE ON FOOD STAMPS, EVEN AT $33.00 A WEEK; ..... YOU ARE A BLATANT LIAR IF YOU SAY I CAN !!!!!!
Ed of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Sounds like you waste a lot. Just sayin.
OMG GET A GRIP!!
I love the them on this blog. Is it downloadable anywhere? Thanks!
1000th post, I win!
Глоба Т.
Но когда Сарбаев поставил главой Абзелиловского района Сынгизова мы понадеялись что хотя бы он не будет воровать и продавать.
А Хеопс чертовски долго жил.
Добавим, БСТ – ЕДИНСТВЕННЫЙ В МИРЕ телеканал, вещающий на башкирском языке.
Ну, Бог с ним с праздником.
Bing Translator
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Globalization Etc.
But when put head Abzelilovskogo district Sarbaev Syngizova we hoped that he would not steal and sell.
And Khufu fu cking long lived.
In addition, the BLS is the world's only television channel, which broadcasts at the Bashkir language.
Well, God be with him on a holiday
November 2, 2011 at 8:33 am | Reply
Buy what is on sale and stock up when it is. That is what many of us in the low end of middle class are doing on a regular basis. So for a family of 4 food stamps are what about 124 a week? Many many people have to live off of that type of budget. I use coupons to save money and get more grief than if I handed them a food stamp certificate. Times are tough for many and could even be worse for those making an average salary without assistance. I believe people need assitance but if we work hard in my family and can live off of that budget than people on food stamps should be able to too! Also, take a look at the sales be savy and yes they can eat VERY healthy, perhaps limit fish and organic but still a well balanced healthy diet is doable for sure.
For an eye opener, pick up Times Money Issue, out on stands right now. Here's a post of mine on my blog – http://frugalhausfrau.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/do-you-feel-poor/ Many, many Americans DO feel poor right now.
What food stamp budget are you talking about? Every time I go to the store – I see people with carts full of meat and junk food all paying with the LINK Card – then they load it into their brand new vehicles and drive it to their very nice homes. I've even seen people purchasing product for their business using the LINK card.
I'm smiling as I read this because earlier I mentioned a young lady I know who goes to school and gets food stamps. Just hit control f and enter in hausfrau if you'd like to read all my comments – I just can't keep my mouth shut! Well, tomorrow she is in a bind, and I am dropping her off, and then I am going to help her with her grocery shopping. I can just see the looks as I go in looking all middle class with my nice purse; maybe I'll wear my new boots, too...and then I'll load all her groceries and mine – and guess what, there are a lot of pretty good meat prices at my store, and one of the things I'll buy is multiple pork tenderloins and sausages – Seriously, I'm thinking of buying 12 Pork Tenderloins – into my year old Toyota that I just bought for 2500 under book because it has a crease on one side (you might not see that if you watch me load my groceries – and you won't know my old car died prematurely at 11 years old, and costs way more to repair than to dump and is still sitting in my drive)
Then I'll drive back to my house, which looks gorgeous from the street – you won't know it was built in '42 and there is project after project just waiting for the budget so they can get done, many I am attempting myself. You'll just see a somewhat prosperous looking person using an EBT card and buying meat and assume that they are somehow cheating the system, scamming, or somehow getting so much more than you.
You are never going to know if those driving those nice cars are under leases and about to be taken back because the owner lost their job, or if their houses are in foreclosure; I get a twinge, I have to admit, that I wasn't eligible for help when I lost my job several years ago – I had $24.00 too much income per month to get around $400 worth of assistance. But I'm also really grateful that I didn't have to go through the humiliation, and that it was a real wake up call for me to look at how I manage my time and money.
I'm grateful I have the mental accuity to balance my budget and turn things around. There will always be some scammers, and always be people making wrong choices. Say a prayer for them. Be glad you're not them, and be even gladder you're not one of the ones who truly needs the help.
Those tenderloins, btw, would then be doled out, once a month for the next year.
i am a Father of Two young adults one 17 and one 20 , i have to make it on 40 dollars for 3 people a week and i dont get food stamps, and have been laid off for 5 months.welcome to the party.
You should check out the hillbilly housewife's site. It has a planner for low budget menus. One is a $40 a week planner.
A few thoughts... I liked this article. Even if someone doesn't completely understand poverty or low-income living (which the write readily admits), she TRIED to see how it would be to live a constricted shopping/eating lifestyle.
As a side note, Food Stamps are intended to be supplemental, according to the US government. I'm not sure what it supplements when your income is nil, but who cares? At least you won't starve, right? You may be only able to afford Cheetos and Pepsi – well, the store brands of those – but hey, at least you won't actually go hungry, right?
I also have to smirk at people who condemn those who rely on Food Stamps, but wouldn't bat an eye at spending hundreds of dollars on a phone or new pair of shoes. For spending snobs, get some perspective – at least Ms. Steffen gained that much.
I don't eat red meat so 30 dollars a week is fine for me but I don't usually do it because i love fruits. I buy so many fruits that it is 30 right there.
I was able to feed my 5 boys healthy,filling, home-cooked meals daily when they were growing up. We couldn't afford things like cold cereal, soda, chips, hotdogs, etc. Imagine my dismay when, in later years, I went to my oldest son's home after the birth of his second child and found out why they were constantly struggling to feed themselves.....processed, prepackaged, pre-prepared foods. I decided to prepare a meal for them from the food they had available and put together a yummy fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, & corn dinner. Later my son thanked me for "cooking & bringing the food from home for them" and I informed him that I had cooked it there from what they had in their cupboard & refrigerator. He was shocked. I was shocked that he was shocked. I wish I could say that he learned his lesson that day but he didn't. They continued to throw money away on delivery pizza and things like that and are now no longer together mostly due to the financial strain. Now my husband & I have drifted into bad habits due to some long-term health issues, but its time once again to make the effort to shop & cook in a responsible & healthy way. I've bookmarked the blogs posted here which will help me get us back on track nutritionally & financially.
well you clearly failed to teach him how to cook.
I clearly failed to teach you tact.
Where's that paddle? It's time I learnt you a lesson in manners.
Unfortunately I"m bgetween jobs, and no unemployment, benefits so temporarily, it's food stamps. I generally shop at a discount grocer that doesn't take coupons, that is if I have the gas to get there (20 mi. rt). Otherwise, I scour the ads, use coupons for somethings (coupons are generally for processed food, but there are those for canned beans rice, cheese, yogurt) but generally, I try to cook from scratch meaning fresh if I can, frozen or dried, yeast, flour sugar- all on hand. I make pizza dough and make my own pasta sauces. I do go to the food bank 1x's per mopnth. I had an abundance of pears, so I poached some pears in chai tea- they'll be great dessert over some angel food cake maybe? But, it's tough to do this, to live so limited on funds for food. I can't imagine trying to please a family of 4 or more, and everyone has favorite foods or cravings they want. Hey, I have cravings, and I don't often get to indulge (it's only been a couple of months on "assistance" and I'd even take a lower wage job if I could have my freedom back). And, I have to say, it's heartbreaking when you see $10 of produce went bad before you can use it, and it's your own fault. You come to really respect food, and learn what keeps, and what doesn't! B ut, things are expensive- milk in Western Washington is (ON SALE!) $3/gallon, and bread, not Wonder bread but real bread that actually fills you up and that isn't just a bag with sugar in it, is at least $2 on sale, and BOTH are perishable. America, not just those on food stamps, needs to get smarter about eating, and cooking! $30/week, long term, is a challenge! You have to plan longer-term, about what you're going to eat, cook, and when so things don't go bad, and you don't spend $$ on something you only need 4 ounces of, and 1/2 a gallon sits on the shelf for months... I'd just like to see this article go on for several months, and see how this come sout! CNN, whatd'ya say???
Check this ladys blog out, she is doing exactly what you propose.
http://frugalmomdiner.blogspot.com/2011/09/lets-get-started.html
Thanks Jerv.
Do you have a freezer? I realize not everyone does, but if you do it can be an incredible help in not wasting food (and therefore money!) in terms of perishables going bad. Not only can you freeze some vegetables and most fruits directly if you didn't use them early enough, but you can also make a batch of stew/soup/casserole/etc. and freeze to pull out later (saving time and energy another night) from veggies that are at the end of their shelf life rather than throw them away. And, of course, many veggies are cheaper to buy frozen anyway and you can plan meals around these rather than fresh produce for the latter part of the period between shopping trips. As far as items where you only use a small portion of a package for a recipe, one tip is to buy an inexpensive ice cube tray and freeze what you don't use of the container (obviously, not for dairy products but it works wonderfully for things like canned chilies, tomato sauce, pesto, minced herbs with a bit of water etc), transferring to another container for long term storage after it freezes in cube size portions so you can pull out the right amount later. Best of luck both with your frugal shopping/cooking learning process and with your job search.
I worked out some figures for my blog last year on a home freezer. Here's the site. http://frugalhausfrau.wordpress.com/better-living-for-less12-strategies-to-keep-your-food-costs-low-quality-high/bank-your-foods/
Frugal
I would love to know where the food stamp budget is coming from. My brother and his wife were recently on food stamps with their 2 children {so family of 4} and were allotted about $700/month for food stamps. We have a family of SIX and our monthly budget for our food AND additional things {toilet paper, etc...} is $500 ~ with no food stamps.
It was almost ridiculous, especially because they could buy loads of junk food {candy, etc....} and it all counted toward food stamps, but they couldn't buy necessities such as toilet paper and other things.
What are you talking about, most "Entitlement people" are fat, and maybe this limited moneys on food would be good for the country. Me I just pretty much eat 1 meal a day, mostly for lunch, and if I bought the food, rather than go to Burger King (for Vege' Burger) or Pizza, probably could live for a week, on $20.00/week, no problem, and when I'm hungry I just drink water. In the Bible with one of the sins is, they say don't live with "Gluttony", as most people do, with food, merchandise, things and that includes the "Entitlement People" and the "Rich People". Live like the "Native Americans" do, only take what you need from the land.
My guess would be that the $30 per week number is based on the numbers reported by the USDA for the average benefits per-person amount for people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds (ie. "food stamps") which was $133.79 in fiscal year 2010. Obviously, not everyone receiving assistance from the program receives the same amount with some receiving much less than this average amount and others receiving more.
I think it depends on your monthly income, and where you live. We live in New Jersey. My husband receives $650 a week in unemployment. (NJ is a "generous" state.) Our mortgage is $1,500 a month, so keeping a roof over our head takes up half of that. (We could move out, but the avg. 1 bedroom apartment in this area is $1,200 a month. If we lived in a shelter, the government would pay the same or more to house us.) The rest of the money goes to heat, electricity, gasoline, job searches, etc. We are a family of 4. We receive $70 a month in food stamps, and we are gosh darn thankful for it. We make it cover one week's worth of groceries. The rest of the month, we juggle everything like crazy.
I could easily live on $30 per week. Actually I have. One big thing that is to my advantage is that I am a vegetarian. I won't be spending big bucks on meat products. I do use eggs and some cheese. Eggs are a good cheap protein and so are beans. No problem. As other have pointed out, there are a lot of resources out there. And yes coupons make a lot of difference in your food budget. It does take time and preparation. Even if you are eating simply meals like PB&J, it needs to be part of the menu. Summer is always much easier if you have a garden. But planting and maintaining a garden isn't free either.
I think we all need to learn to get by on less. As a people we shouldn't be eating such large quantities of food. Sheila did pick a few good items to work with: rice, beans, peanut butter(one without added sugar and oil would have been healthier). If she did it again, I'm sure it would work out much better for her.
I know the discussion is on food for $30 a week but I note that many mentioned the free breadfasts and lunches at schools and the backpack program. I work with an organization that sponsers the backpacks. the reasons for these programs is survival for the kids who can not cook and would not be safe to use stoves even. there is NO food in the house at all. food stamps if any have been sold for drugs and noone cooks or cares if the kids eat. drugs are the necessity. the packs contain food that does not require cooking or only a microwave and extra is included for the toddler at home and more for weekends. bad system but unwanted kids survive to become citizens someday and hope they don't fall thru the cracks.
A great place for food and drink specials is SpecialsAgent.com. They have over a million bar and restaurant deals, coupons, discounted specials and venue features. The site even features handy reviews and content from open table so you can find specials, book a reservation and get directions all in the same place. Check it out :)
cant believe noone up here even mentioned coupons... i can feed my whole family for 30 dollars easy and i dont mean 100 free ramen either ..they have coupons for everything now a days ... rice is like 60 cents a bag pasta is free ... and there are coupons for veggies cheese and milk all over the place. I have paid more then 1.00 for a bag of cheese in since i cant remember when... work full time have a kicken job that prevents me from ever qualifying for help have to do it on my own..dead beat baby daddy included .... and i can make it work ...gives a shout out to southernsavers.com
It doesn't seem as if Ms. Steffen did any preparation at all before stepping into the store let alone taking advantage of coupons. While her point seems to be that a food budget means one can't just walk into a store and purchase whatever catches one's fancy without regard to cost, that probably seems a bit obvious to most people feeding a family or even a single person on less than a producer's salary (ie. most Americans). Her false parameters make this exercise of hers completely misleading as far as a "food stamps challenge" goes and tells us nothing about the true challenge of feeding a family thrifty but nutritious options on a restricted budget; however, it does show us her complete lack of knowledge or experience in frugal meal planning and the lack of motivation she felt to put any thought or effort into spending her food dollars in the most nutritious and cost effective way.
Either the woman didn't take this seriously, or she's not very bright. She chooses chicken breasts and berates herself for not choosing the assorted chicken parts. Does she think chickens grow that way? What happened to buying a whole chicken (on special) and cutting it up? I'm vegetarian now, but I lived this cheaply for many years when I was young. You do coupons, go for the five-cans-for-two-dollars loss leaders at the supermarket, buy discounted food that's getting near it's sell-by date, buy and cook dried beans and grains, make soups with the parts of the chicken carcass you did't eat , buy store-brand frozen vegetables on sale (just as nutritious as fresh), buy fresh produce in season and on special, etc. In other words, you think it through, plan your purchases ahead of time, and put some work into cooking - using leftovers, stretching what you have. You do not buy those imported, off-season peppers at $5.99 per pound. This article made me very angry.
Excuse me, but I read this as an experiment to see what living on a food stamp budget is like. Is it reasonable for someone on food stamps or at that level to have regular internet access, printing ability, and the time and resources to drive to multiple locations to maximize their coupon effect?
yes, it's called a public library, they are free and have computers. Printing is usually $0.10/page if they put a bunch of coupons on 1 page they will recoup the $0.10-$0.50 they will spend printing with coupons.
The other day when I checked this site, there were over 1300 comments, and I assume it only went up from there; many mentioned coupons. I guess that some of the coments were cut out because of space or somehow moderated. I'd love to see all the comments.
Well, let's see: 10 lb. potatoes or 5 lb. rice ($3.50), bag of yellow onions ($3), 2 lb. carrots ($1.80), fresh romaine or a cabbage ($1.80), 1/2 gal. 2% milk ($2), bag of red beans ($2), 1 dozen eggs ($1.20), peanut butter without salt or additives ($3.50), fresh baguettes ($2 for two), 2 lbs. fresh broccoli on sale ($2), can of beets ($0.75), coffee (1/4 of $5.80 = $1.45); oatmeal or cereal ($2) = total $30.20. Also: paper plates ($1.25/week) to save time; gas for cooking (1/4 x $18/mo. for my 20-year old stove = 4.50/week); walk to store (1.25 mile each way, weekly, no charge, good exercise with carrying food home). This brings the total to $35.95 per week for food *and* preparation, as a reasonable estimate. Every other week, use leftover potatoes or rice and buy $3.50 worth of meat on sale. Once a month, skip one or two items to buy sugar for the month. If no refrigerator, walk to store more often and add $2 for bag of ice for cooler (yes, I've had to do this). Extras: fresh fruit samples at grocery store (walk extra 1/2 mile each way; free), home grown basil, tomatoes, mint, bell peppers, jalapeno, dandelion greens ($0.35/week for cost of settings; dandelions grow free); download recipes and search "How to Eat for Free" sites (free from library; walk 1.5 miles each way, also no charge). If you're disabled, this won't do, but if you're able-bodied and live in an urban or suburban area, you can probably do this. I believe that for the able-bodied, the objections that "fresh foods are too expensive," and "costs of transportation and food preparation are too high," don't hold up. Most able-bodied American adults can reasonably reduce their food expenses by 15-20% if extra fruits/veggies/milk are needed by the children, by the way. Also, if salt content of frozen foods is too high, soak and drain them before eating. There are lots of ways for the able-bodied to make do for their families; these are just a few possibilities.
That's not a healthy diet you just listed. Way too much carbohydrate!
Why the baguettes, btw? Doesn't seem to go with the rest.
Not all carbs are equal. Whole grains (such as brown rice or oatmeal) and beans are very nutrient dense, high in fiber and can definitely play a large role in a healthy diet with studies even showing that they can help prevent the development of type II diabetes or be a tool for some people to successfully manage their diabetes. They also have the advantage of being good choices for frugal meal planning both because there are low cost options and they are very filling as well as nutritious. I'd agree with you though, Fiona, that meals would be healthier if the potatoes and heavily refined starches (such as in the baguettes) were used in moderation.
We've kind of been doing this for a couple of years – $30 for 2 people: http://thirtyaweek.wordpress.com.
That number kind of skews the reality. People read this and take it at face value. 76% of all benefits go to households with children. The average household size is 2.5 persons. So you're really living on $60 for 2 people or $90 for 3 people most of the time. Which sounds the same as $30 per person. But it's A LOT easier to buy food to feed multiple people than to feed one person. Lots of the basic foods are shared and it diffuses the costs.
That being said, I grew up in a poor neighborhood and there were definitely times I was hungry. We were on food stamps for almost a year (back when it looked like Monopoly money). I just think that the way this info is presented makes it seem crazier than it really is.
I thought that this was absolutely hilarious that he was calling this a challenge. To me a challenge would be $10.00, because we live in between $20.00-30.00 a week normally. Hoorah for living in poverty most of your life!~
I thought the same thing! And realized when he said "No Starbucks," and when he said basically he wouldn't have the freedom to eat what he wanted, I realized that this is ALL second nature to me...I have a budget of $20 to $30 a month, and have for years. Sometimes i don't spend that much, and it includes food, and all groceries, personal items, health care, laundry, cleaning products, etc. (Last year I spent $964.00, and was very well stocked up!) At the risk of self promotion, I've got a blog, too: http://frugalhausfrau.wordpress.com/are-you-on-track/
http://frugalhausfrau.wordpress.com/are-you-on-track/
People do abuse the system. I was just at walmart the other day and someone was buying a cart load of bottled water and pop with their EBT/food stamps card. I drink the water out of the tap just fine....
I use to be a cashier and with the EBT they can buy taxable items – such as cigarettes and alcohol! what a scam! There also wouldn't be one day going by that someone with food stamps would ask me where's the angus beef? where's the crab legs at? And that is the sad truth – these people do eat better then us.....
We need to start making food stamps and EBT a restrictive entitlement program by limiting what people can buy. The WIC program is a terrifc example of this – they give people the basics, ex. cheese, milk, bread, cereal, etc.... now if they just expanded that selection to day to day choices such as meats if they choose so and veggies and fruit then we would be in the right direction.
You can not legally purchase alcohol and tobacco products with food stamps. It is specifically prohibited under the federal statutes establishing the program. If you were allowing people to do so while working as a cashier, not only were they breaking the law, so were you and your employer... this is a federal statute and so applicable nationally regardless of what your state laws and policies might indicate and the federal violation can not only result in a person losing benefits (or the right to sell to those using an EBT card if you are a merchant rather than recipient) but can also lead to jail time and heavy fines. Now, if you meant people using food stamps to purchase food were then using other assets to purchase alcohol and tobacco that is another matter.
EBT cards also hold TANF (cash assistance) and in some states unemployment benefits. So an EBT card can be used on non-food items.
Those would be the "other assets" I mentioned. My point was that the people were not, as frustrated@walmart implied, using "food stamps" (ie. SNAP funds) to purchase alcohol and tobacco even if they were using an EBT card. It is still illegal under federal law for the recipients to use the SNAP portion of the funds on the card for alcohol and tobacco or for a retailer to allow them to do so in their establishment even if the cash benefits from state programs or TANF on the same program can be used for these. I'm not sure if all states monitor this the same way but in my state during a purchase payments for the eligible food items are deducted from the person's SNAP account and payments for non-eligible items or cash withdrawals are deducted from a separate TANF account... if the person has spent all of their TANF account funds, they can't get cash out from funds they still have in their SNAP account or use those funds to purchase non-eligible items.
".My point was that the people were not, as frustrated@walmart implied, using "food stamps"..."
LOL!
Aloisae, your ONLY point was to rip 'frustrated@walmart' a 'new one' even though it was YOU who was jumping to conclusions all over the freaking place. All 'frustrated' ever said was the people who have food stamps buy frivolous things with them, and the people with EBT buy taxable items like alcohol and cigs. Frustrated@walmart made it immensely clear that she was talking about two separate programs, stating each one specifically while giving pertinent examples of each abuse. If you're too crazed on 'schooling' people to be able to comprehend what you're even reading then...you need to stop reading....or at the very least....stop commenting.
Just started a blog today on how to feed a family of 4, 3 meals a day for around $60. You can find it at http://frugalmomdiner.blogspot.com/ It includes shopping lists, sample menus and recipes. Feel free to check it out. This shopping list for this week, as well as the menu for Sunday is posted. Thanks!
I'd have named it smart-mom-diner, but its the same thing! Thanks for showing folks how it can be done. I was just shocked I had a smaller than the food stamp monthly budget per person in our home without any food stamps. And I think we eat very well (mostly home cooked meals). Oh, and I wish cnn would stop labeling this poverty.
Great! I'll be sure to check it out. I'm glad others are doing the same. I'll be the first to admit I do splurge on things we don't really need, but in the real world, $30 per person is not that bad. I don't spend $90 a week on my family of three unless it's s week when we're completely out of staples like flour, sugar, etc. If you want to eat organic, free range, etc., then yes, it's not going to stretch far. But that's not really the point when you're on food stamps. The point is feeding your family. You can buy the expensive stuff when you're back on your feet.
I shop where I have to bag my own groceries. I don't mind the extra 60 seconds it takes me because my bill is lesser than the regular grocery. And I see no difference in the quality of the ingredients I buy. It is basically the same thing for less.
Oops, I misread the first line of your post. :-) Yes, that would have been a good name, too. And, no, it's not poverty, it's being conservative with resources.
$30 a week is completely possible and you can eat healthy. I have had a monthly food budget of $120 for several years. First, you can't shop at the major food retailers for most things. You have to find the cheaper discount grocery stores in your community. Second, you have to buy ingredients for meals not packaged food items. Rice, beans, and pastas can be purchased cheaply and made into a variety of dishes. You have to learn to cook. If you don't know how go to the library and get some basic cookbooks. If you want fruits and vegetables you have to buy in season and what is on sale. You also can't spend a lot of money on snacks and bottled beverages. It is not unreasonable to ask people on food stamps to put a little effort into spending the money wisely instead of simply complaining they need more.
I only know one person who receives food stamps. She has 4 kids and receives over $900 per month. The kids are all young, only one over 10, so it's not like they eat much. That's over $45 per person per week, plus WIC. She never comes close to using it all and sells the extra food money to other people for cash. If you want to eat well on the government, Florida is your state!
This is impossible. My family revives max allotment and we get right at 900 for a family of 6 and yes we are in Florida. Your friend is lying to you about how much she receives, or you are lying to us to play up the anti-food stamp agenda.
If she has 4 kids and a husband and none of them work, then that's a family of 6
And, don't forget. If she's on foodstamps, the kids automatically get free lunch at school – and most likely breakfast, too. So, that $45/week is really for only one meal per day.
Let's just do the math here since you want to complain how a family of 6 (4 children and 2 adults) would receive 900 dollars a month food stamps. There are at most, 31 days per month. That equates to 29 dollars a day for this family of 6. Divide that by 6 family members and you now have alloted 4.83 per person per day. Divide that by 3 meals a day and a snack and you get $1.20 per person, per meal, per day. If we are feeding a child living in poverty every day for just $1.20, I would say that is pretty dang good, and those of you complaining, are greedy selfish glutuness excuses for human beings that want to hide the fact of how you really are by whining about this issue of food stamps for the less fortunate. And NO I do NOT receive food stamps, but I do go out of my way each day to do something nice for my fellow man (woman or child) and I do NOT expect anything in return. Its called helping those that cannot help themselves, and its not about "lazy adults" that may not want to work....its about feeding the children in OUR own country that would otherwise go without food in their tummies. Stop your selfish greedy whining anbout the less fortunate, and DO something about it.
Well said. Thank you.
Someone needs to teach this woman how to shop. What it sounds like she tried to do was eat what she normally does for a lot less money. This isn't "how to live on $35" it's "learning how much your food costs." Buy the veggies, they go a lot further than they look like they do and they contain fiber which makes you feel fuller. You should have gone for more of the canned tuna and chicken. There is almost always a ridiculously cheap deal on some sort of meat–ground beef or roast. And you didn't even look at buying things like dried beans that go a long way and that can be cooked unattended for the most part. This story seems to me to underline the problem that most people don't know how to feed themselves with anything except a minimal assembly meal. If I had to live on $30/week here's my grocery list and I'll go high on the prices--
1) Bag of dried red beans - $2.50 (maybe)
2) Bag of rice - $2.00
3) Head of lettuce - $1.50
4) canned chicken or tuna (what's on sale) - $4.50 for 3 cans
5) old fashioned oatmeal tub - $3
6) half-gallon of milk - $3.50
So I'm up to $17. That leaves the rest for whatever fruits and vegetables are one sale and if I've got the extra money a bottle of honey. You make the beans and the rice. You have beans and rice a couple of nights. You can make bean soup. You can have chicken and rice. You can mix the beans up with a firm sweet fruit like a pear or an apple and it's actually pretty tasty. You put honey in the oatmeal or some fruit if you want. Then you've got salads for at least 4-5 days as well. If you got a veggie like squash or eggplant, you can just saute them or steam them. Put some pasta sauce over it if you've got some lying around. That should easily do for a week. This isn't that hard.
One more comment – I see a lot of comments denigrating Sheila and the fact that she doesn't know how to shop or cook within the budget, but not one of the comments, even the worse, compare to the contempt that I've seen in the comments about how the people on food stamps shop and cook. Sheila is obviously a very intelligent, professional woman at the peak of her career, probably college educated, with numerous resources, and I would assume a comfortable living place, transportation, and various amenities – yet she is having extreme difficulty in feeding herself within the budgeted amount. Now, I'm not making judgements or saying that all people on food stamps have issues, but face it, many do, and I'd say that most people on food stamps do not consider themselves at the peak of their careers with amenities...many have physical disabilities, some have emotional or behavioral issues. If nothing else, many are severely depressed as a result of their economic/social issues. Some have lost their incomes or are on fixed incomes. Assets are included in the financial mix that determines whether or not you receive food stamps, so we can conclude that there may be issues with housing, transportation, etc. Yet I've seen "those" people, the people who receive food stamps raked over the coals over their spending habits, personal habits and addictions with a venom that far exceeds any dished out for Sheila.
Interesting, isn't it? Most of the people who commented don't seem to be as much affronted by the fact that people are on foodstamps, it's what they look like or what they might have and what they buy that seems to be the huge emotional firecracker. (Granted, there were quite a few comments about foodstamps in general, but for the majority, that alone is not the issue.) We seem to expect the people with the most difficult challenges to "perform" better than the one taking the challenge, and we certainly seem to expect them to live up to the same expectations we have of ourselves. hmmm. Perhaps if they were capable of doing so, they might not be in the situation they are in.
Why not limit what they can buy, and let's raid their houses and confiscate any beer and cigarettes, along with cookies and candy, pop and juice.
Perhaps we could tattoo them, and those with the mark can't get their nails or hair done or buy lottery tickets. I don't think they should be allowed to buy clothing, either. Only cloth, let them sew and knit along with the gardening. I think they should only be allowed Cottenelle toilet paper, too. Oh, and no body wash, only Ivory soap. Shouldn't be allowed make up, either...that's really expensive.
Perhaps we should just put them on a workfarm like they did in the Depression...
And then perhaps we should start being a little more grateful that we're NOT them.
My sister is on food stamps and, in my opinion, lives such a hard life, but that's all she's ever known since she was 19. I used to think, poor her, I'd hate to live the way she does, but she's totally fine with where she is. I imagine that the millionaires look at me and think, poor thing, she has a used car, her kids share a room, she cuts her own grass and even cleans her own house. Then, the billionaires look at the millionaires and feel sorry for the millionaires who don't have their own plane. I don't feel sorry for my sister (well, at least economically) anymore, because she's fine with where she is and so am I. Those who would like to buy more with what little they have definitely need to be educated on how to do so. My family probably makes four times what my sister makes, yet she eats at McDonalds more in one month than we do in a year-I wouldn't do it more for both financial purposes and health purposes, but that's what they choose to do when they get extra money...it just burns a hole in their pocket.
Good post. There may be some "welfare queens" driving Cadiddliacs, but I've never seen one.
We're not on food stamps, but we don't eat out and I've been wearing the same pair of pants every day (except Sunday morning) for three years.
There is a very annoying tendency among us homo sapiens to insist that anyone can do whatever we ourselves can do. Well, it ain't necessarily so.
I make 6 figures and I eat on < 30$ each week. It's not hard, I eat REALLY well, all fresh & natural foods. I feed my family of 5 on not much more than that. Anyone who doesn't think you can do it is either lazy or ignorant.
Me too, don't understand why it is so difficult to buy a weeks worth of quality food for $30. Starbucks, burgers, pizzas are all luxuries which most people in the world live without.
I don't know where you live that yhou can eat on $30 per week. I have a pension of $1,750/mo and a household of seven. Even if I kicked the three oldest out, we could not eat for $30 per week if we ate nothing but lawn sweepings. And no, we're not on food stamps.
My, my! So many self-rightious people; so little time to ignore them.
Love IT! I have to fight myself on my own streak of self rightousness all the time
Here is what upsets me about food stamps. I (along with thousands of other people) are paying for people to eat junk food because it is easy. Then when (gasp) the person eating government subsidized junk food becomes obese and ends up with heart disease and diabetes, I have to foot the emergency room bill because (double gasp) the person doesn't have health insurance. So I am basically paying people to become fat and sick, and then I'm paying for them again because they are fat and sick, because when I go to the emergency room for a broken hand I end up paying $1,500 dollars for an incorrect diagnosis, 3 x-rays and an ace wrap. If you need help fine, but you use your choice of what you get to eat when you no longer use your own money. You want Hi-C and a bag of dorritos, go for it, but it's coming out of your own pocket.
should read lose you choice not use your choice
should read lose your choice not use your choice – 3rd time is the charm.
Dtiger, I'm not on food stamps – never have been. I have, however, worked at a food pantry. My challenge to you is that YOU attempt to eat for a month on $30 a week, before you make such an ignorant statement. Healthy food is expensive. Startches are cheap and fill a hungry child's stomach, and too much causes diabetes and a myriad of health problems. Either you're ignorant of these facts, or just and unfeeling, sanctimonious idiot.
Bravo! Well said...
I think it depends on where you live. I live in the South in a slightly more urban area. But I'm in agricultureland. Plenty of local places to buy food cheap. Heck I even grow a few things on my balcony. I've been making pesto all summer from the same $4 basil plant. But some areas aren't that lucky and the cost of living is higher. So I think the answer depends on where you live. Here it's not only doable, I do it most of the time.
Sorry, bet, but you're wrong. A single person should not have a problem eating on $30 a week, which was the author's challenge. You don't have to eat all starch. If you insist on organic, free range everything, then you're right. However, if you want to buy fresh meats and veggies, you can certainly live within that budget. I spent $47 at the market this week to feed my family of three and bought fresh chicken, beef and pork, as well fresh fruits and vegetables. I will feed each of us 3 meals per day plus desserts, and have leftovers to freeze or use for lunches, too. If you don't know how to shop or plan meals, then you may be correct, but if you use a little planning and shop smartly, you can do it with no problem. If I were alone, there's no way I'd go over $30 a week unless I just wanted to splurge on something. So, maybe you need to try it before you call someone else ignorant.
$30/week per person is EASILY attainable in most areas. And, not junk food, either. My daughter and I both eat on about $30/week and we do not eat junk. She also takes her lunch to school.
Breakfast – waffles or oatmeal – total for week for 2 people – $4. Box of 24 waffles is $3, oatmeal is $1
Lunch – leftovers from dinner or pb sandwich and fresh fruit/veggies. Loaf of bread $2, jar of no HFCS PB (more than 1 weeks worth) – $3. Bag of carrots – $1. Bag of apples – $2. Bunch of broccoli – $2. Bunch of bananas – $2.50. 8 pack of yogurt – $4 (cheaper if you buy the container and repackage). 12 pack of apple sauce – $3 (also cheaper to repack from a large jar). Total for lunch, with some left over for snacks – $20
Dinner – one rotiserie chicken – $5. Two bunches of broccoli – $4. More carrots – $2. Bag of wild rice – $3. Two boxes of pasta – $4. Spaghetti sauce – $2. Bag of frozen corn – $2. Bag of frozen green beans – $2. 1/2 gallon of milk – $2.50. Lettuce for salads – $1 2 pounds hamburger meat – $4 Total for dinner – $31.50
Extras – Gallon of OJ – $3.50. Pack of Austin snack cracker packs – $2 (more than a weeks worth).
Done. And, no junk food except for maybe the crackers, but those are for an after-school snack.
I agree with gemlinus in that much of this will depend on where you live since I also live in a city in an agricultural region of the country (a northern one however) and our markets have plenty of reasonably priced vegetables and fruits, especially in season when some can be downright cheap and with frozen and canned veggies stretching how far food dollars go. However, I'm sure there are areas of some cities where the big issue isn't how much people have to spend on food but rather there being a lack of access to nutritious options. Just as big of a concern is lack of knowledge about nutrition. bet said "Startches are cheap and fill a hungry child's stomach, and too much causes diabetes and a myriad of health problems" when it is really overly processed starches... a diet rich in whole grains and legumes actually protect against the development of type II diabetes (yes, it is starch but it is also high fiber) with the added benefit of being a relatively inexpensive way to eat.
OH SO PERFECT UR....AN SO LITTLE U KNOW...
Eating $30/week is a fallacy because America is to Obese and undisciplined to be able to do such a thing, All americans care about our the Material needs and over abundance in food that is why we are so large!
...stop trolling...
I think that if the writer of this article had gone to the stores with recipes in hand, she would have gotten more for her dollar instead of guessing at what's cheapest and then going home and meal planning there. Also, if there are 99 cent stores or Dollar Trees nearby, she can get bread for $1 among other things. BUT I don't know if you can even use food stamps there. Call ahead to save a trip.
But my cell phone isn't charged. Can I get some cell phone stamps?
After 4 or 5 trips, you know what the standard staples for your budget will be. Most people that cook regularly eat about the same stuff every week and then just add in some variety now and then. Once you have 5-10 recipes in your head, you can hunt for deals and substitutions while you're there. And grocery stores love competing for your business. You can sign up for weekly specials to be delivered to your email and you can plan around that.
$30/week? I'm not a CROOK, GOD BLESS AMERICAAA!!!!
Can I eat well and healthy for $30 a week? Yes, but I am fortunate enough to have a car and four grocery stores within a three mile radius. Not everyone on food stamps has access to these things.
A couple comments – I don't get food stamps and am a young married mother with 3 children and I have NO idea how to shop wisely. I haven't a clue how to cook or meal plan, how to shop for the best bargains, etc. I have read many articles on meal planning, etc. I'm just all thumbs in the kitchen. I can cook from a recipe but using my money wisely when shopping for food...not so much. I wish there were mentors who could help in this area but there's nothing. I was raised by a disabled father and we ate frozen dinners every day or we ate fast food. No we are not overweight at all. We were actually underweight. But anyway, the other thing I wanted to mention is that I have a half-sibling who has never worked, has always received state or gov't aid and recently we visited her and she has an entire room filled with food from floor to ceiling. Cases of soup, syrup, cannned goods, water, dried milk, beans, rice, etc. FLOOR to CEILING, an entire room acquired from her food stamp money. She believes that when a natural disaster or a terroristic attack happens, if her family can get to where she is, they will have enough food to live on for a very long time. She acquired all this food with her food stamps and I'm guessing maybe from food pantries. Unbelievable.
Hi Berl. I'm starting a blog about this. I'm going to include recipes, shopping lists, prep advice, etc. that may be helpful to you. This will start tomorrow with the first shopping list. You can find it at: http://frugalmomdiner.blogspot.com/2011/09/lets-get-started.html Hope to see you there.
if you have very little money to spend on food you learn to stock up for later when it's on sale. it's very likely that she bought the non perishables on sale and saved 75%. non-perishables can be bought cheaply. you can get 25 lb sacks of rice for 10 bucks and a lb of beans on clearance for 20 cents. most grocery stores have a clearance isle. she probably can't afford to buy a box of cheeze itz just because she gets the urge though.
I run the A Buck A Plate blog at http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/
$30 per week? That will get you three appropriate nice nutritious meals per day if you follow my advice, with enough left over for three bottles of wine per week! I started the site precisely to address such claims as made in this article. Good eating, cheap, is not hard. As an example, this evening I made too much delicious homemade pasta and sauce for two adults and two toddlers for under $2.
Don't fall for the lie that decent food has to be expensive, or even anything but cheap. Fish dinners? Balanced breakfasts? Satiating lunches? All for under a buck a plate, easy: visit my blog. And keep visiting; there are a lot more recipes to come.
While I agree that with some planning eating well need not be expensive. I noticed that in your blog, however, you mention that you are able to do so by buying large quantities at places like Costco, which can be a real money saver. For families using food stamps, however, this is not an option. The $50 they would spend on a large bag of rice would take a huge piece of thier monthly allottment. I am not sure, but I suspect that Costco may not accept food stamps or SMAP money which could also be a problem. I count myself among the fortunate who can afford to save money by being able to spend money on large quantities.
@Julie - Don't let facts get in the way of a good rant. I really want to see these people try to live on $30 a week today for a month (or better two months). Even then, they might be able to pull it off, pushing through the sameness and the blandness of the food because it would be over soon. But now, try living that way for an undetermined period of time.
I know how bad that can be. In the mid 1980's, my food budget was $15.00 per week. I managed and I did for over 6 months but it was not easy. But then again, I know (and knew) how to cook. Many people on food stamps don't know how to cook, don't know how to shop, don't know how to plan. Their parents don't know either and did not teach them. The classes in high school that are supposed to teach them are either being cut or are a complete joke. So ignorance breeds ignorance breeds poor eating choices.
Costco does, in fact, accept food stamps.
I eat an amazing vegan diet for $3.33 a day.... and blog about it at http://www.melomeals.blogspot.com
I have been on Food Stamps when I was a divorced mother in college and my Mother also worked for the Dept of Human Services for 25 years. I have seen so many people abuse the system that it makes others who are struggling but can't qualify angry. Growing up we were poor but my Mom made enough so we didn't qualify for food stamps but saw people who were load up there carts with steaks and soda and we ate beans, rice, and pasta everyday. When I was on food stamps during college, I still shopped sales, used coupons, and shopped at the right times. I stocked up during sales and was very frugel. Some people asked me why since it wasn't my money. My response was that it was my money. I spent my food stamps like it was real money. That is why I like the EBT cards becasue the old system made it seem like monoploy money. I was able to help friends who were also in school and didn't have food with my careful shopping. I never sold my food stamps although I was asked many times and could've used the cash for laundry or other non food items. Recently I was shopping at my local Sprouts and the lady in front of me paid me an EBT card. She could have fed a family of four for one week with the money she spent on the items and there was very little but, as we know, organic food is very expensive. I'm not talking just meat and veggies. I guess my point is that eating on $30 a week is very doable if someone knows how to cook and shop but we know there are also others that abuse the system than cry about how it is not enough for them. Sorry, those people will get no sympathy from me but I commend those who do use Food stamps as a way to help their family TEMPORARILY while they get to a better place.
Thanks for sharing your story, Annette. Very inspirational. :-)
Great comments. My sister had to accept food stamps years ago when she and her husband both lost their jobs at the same time and she had two small kids. She was embarrassed by the dirty looks she'd get in the supermarket and couldn't wait to get back to work, but having worked so many years and paying taxes, she knew it was her own tax money that was helping her out. In her mind it was always a temporary situation, the problem is that many others don't have that mindset and want to make it their lifestyle.
One thing to try to have is staples. You don't buy them every week. That's leaves you with a little money to spend on other stuff, like milk or eggs. I buy a big bag of rice and that lasts me forever. I buy olive oil. I buy oatmeal. I buy flour. This week I have eaten either lentils or black beans with rice. I have a garden at work and I supplement with greens and tomatoes from there. I make my own bread from a no-knead recipe. I grow basil in pots in my home and have hot peppers in big pots on my porch. I just planted lettuce and collard greens that I will grow throughout the winter (I live in the northeast by the way). I cook from scratch all the time. Believe it or not if you look in the 'special' bin at Whole Foods you can find really good deals on organic chicken. I bought a little over 5lbs of chicken legs for less than $5. I freeze that so if I get a craving for something other than beans, I eat that. I eat more healthy now than I ever did. It's not luxury but I'm not hungry. I'm just one person though. The principles work for a family too but it's a little tougher. My mother was a widow at 38 years of age with 7 children to feed...that's how I learned. Thanks Mom.
What's all this crying about? $30 of store bought groceries can last a solid month in our neck of the woods. That's because the fish in the river aren't polluted, the garden fared the weather and varmints okay. The canning and freezing has passed its peak; there's ham in the smoke house and a side of beef in the freezer. Summer has brought some fine fishing and hunting season is coming. All in all we might buy some bread and ice cream every week when the house is humming, but let it slow down and there's nothing better than homemade bread. Anyone who has more time than money should try to make a loaf. Who's Hungry?
Amen Lem Barley. It is about being resourceful and taking care of the resources which already exist.
Someone challenged me to make a list for $30 a week. Here it is. I went to my local market today, priced select items, and made a list of recipes for a week for 1 (because this $30 a week was for 1 person) using them. Below is the menu and shopping list for 1 week. It includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a dessert cake that should last the week. I'm sure someone taking more time can be a bit more creative with the menu. I did spend $30.60, but a couple of items were staples that should last at least 3 weeks or more, so they wouldn't be purchased again the next week, leaving more money for some variety.
Sunday: 2 eggs, 2 slices toast, milk, juice
Sliced chicken sandwich with lettuce, apple, water
Chicken thigh/leg, rice, carrots
Monday: Oatmeal with sliced banana, milk, juice
Chicken salad sandwich, apple
Congee (rice and chicken soup), apple cake
Tuesday: Oatmeal with chopped apple, milk, juice
Grilled cheese sandwich, banana
Pasta with chicken and vegetables
Wednesday: 1 egg, 2 slices toast, milk, juice
Leftover pasta
Hamburger mixed with pasta, canned tomato, cheese and onion
Thursday: Oatmeal, apple, milk
Leftover hamburger casserole
Chicken leg/thigh, carrots, lettuce salad
Friday: Egg sandwich, milk, juice
Grilled cheese sandwich, banana
Hamburger veggie/pasta soup
Saturday: French Toast, juice, milk
Chicken/egg salad, lettuce, carrot sticks
Hamburger veggie/pasta soup
Chicken leg/thigh quarters: $2.75 per 5 lbs, 8 thigh and leg quarters
Hamburger, 1 lb $2.88
Rice, 1 lb bag $0.78
Elbow macaroni, 1 lb box $1.08
Canned tomatoes, 68c
Bananas, 2 lb, $0.98 (about 5 medium bananas)
Bag apples, $3.97 (about 10 apples)
Celery, $1.28
Oil, $1.18
Box 0atmeal, $1.48
Cheese, 8 oz shredded $2.32
Cake mix, $1.25
Lettuce, $1.14
Carrots, 1 lb, $0.78
Onion, 1, $0.50
Loaf bread, $1
Frozen veggies, $0.98/bag mixed
Canned frozen orange juice, $1.53
Milk 2.28/ half gallon
Eggs 1.56/dozen
Total: $30.60
Good job, Kasey!
I've been on food stamps. I've also worked at a grocery store. Many of the young, single parents have no education on how to make more food for less. I often saw food stamps spent on convenience (pre-packaged, microwaveable, etc) foods rather than ingredients for preparing a meal. $30 per week per person CAN be done, depending on where you live (someone pointed out transportation problems). You just can't buy tons of capri suns and pizza rolls instead of real food. ;)
Thanks. Hey, I've been guilty of buying those pizza rolls myself from time to time. They're yummy. But for the most part, we eat a lot of fruit and veggies, and I cook a big batch of chicken or meat at once and then debone and use for various things. You're right, younger people these days never learned to cook (I'm not that old, but was a latchkey kid, and I learned to cook early), so they have no idea how to put together a nutritious meal. But there are lots of cookbooks at the library, so maybe they should give it a shot.
I'm starting a blog about this, with weekly shopping lists and recipes for families. You can find it at http://frugalmomdiner.blogspot.com/
Wow. If you're serious, that is VERY generous of you! People taking the time and energy to help others in need is something some friends and I were just talking about on another thread. KUTGW, sincerely.
Totally awesome! I am already signed up!
Kasey, nice job. Did you account for repackaging in your budget? For example, are you wrapping your leftovers in plastic wrap? Putting them in tupperware? How do you get your lunch to the office? (excuse the assumption)
I think one point that has been overlooked is transportation. It's a lot easier to budget 30 bucks at a grocery store than it is a corner mom and pop store. But if you don't have a car-you're hauling bags on the bus. You can only carry so much. So you have to go to the store so often and if it's late or a holiday and you've worked all day and the corner store is right there, you 're going to buy from them. Especially seniors or folks that aren't as mobile. I kept a budget for 6 months and calculated that I could buy a car with what I was overspending at my neighborhood store. Some people might not be able to figure that out or even might not be able to drive. But one writer did have it right-most of the people on welfare are children.
thank you for pointing that out! That is an extremely important factor to the the equation. The lady has to live it to understand it. What she is doing is like spending a week in some Salvation Army cloths for a week instead of living in her own expensive wardrobe. Despite the clothes she wears, everything else in her life is the same....
*Could* you? My husband and I live in New England and this is often our budget for feeding *two*. Often vegetarian, but because we have high standards for meat. It's doable if you purchase actual food (as in, generally not in boxes or cans).
Tuna & salmon, $4; bread, $2.50; eggs, $2; packaged Romaine lettuce x 2, $5; cheese, $3; rice, $1.50; broccoli, $2; canned beans x 2, $2; other assorted fruit & vegetables, $8. Total $30. Piece of cake! Uh-oh, nevermind the cake.
You're paying too much ;) Part of budget shopping is knowing which stores have lowest prices on your staple items! The other big part is cooking from scratch!
I realize I could do better by not buying whole wheat bread or brown rice, and not buying the prepackaged lettuce. But I know fiber is essential and have let too many bunches of romaine get moldy cause I dread washing it. Used to do more cooking, too, and you're right, it would save. But my utility bills have gone down a bit since I quit buying dry beans and stopped cooking quite so much. If I had a family to feed, certainly I would do the cooking as the savings would be worth it.
Rice, Oatmeal, Beans, Eggs, Raman, Tortillas
Not very healthy. No fruits, no veggies, no milk products.
Happy to share a typical weekly list, from a vegetarian who does eat fish & cheese. However, the list does not include coffee, which is ordered in bulk, online.
1 large foil pkg Tuna 1.80
1 large foil pkg salmon 2.20
2 10-oz pkgs Romaine 5.00
2 pkgs (6) tomatoes 2.00
1 cucumber 1.00
2 cans beans 2.00
1 lb brown rice 1.50
3 cans soup 4.50
2 cans tomatoes 1.50
8 oz cheese 2.20
½ dozen eggs 1.00
2 lbs bananas 1.20
1 cantaloupe 2.00
1 loaf w.w. bread 2.50
Total $ 30.40
Vegetarians do not, by definition, eat fish.
Attention class! Attention!
The vegetarian diet consists of eating predominantly plant-based foods and may include seafood & dairy.
The vegan diet is a strict diet that prohibits eating foods that come from creatures that breathe air or water. Vegans are self-committed to upholding a personal standard of living where animals are concerned. The vegan will often go beyond eliminating meat, dairy and animal products, to become an activist for animal rights.
The vegetarian lifestyle is considered relaxed, happy, free-loving and humanitarian. The vegan lifestyle usually takes on a holier-than-thou stance and will castrate, uh, castigate without prejudice or humor and shouldn't be taken seriously.
WonderRandy is right. A vegetarian does not, by definition, eat fish, or birds, or mammals. A person who eats fish, but not birds or mammals, is a pescatarian.
It is people like the professor who make my life as a REAL vegetarian (with serious vegan leaning but occasional ovo-lacto cravings) very hard indeed. If you ASSUME people who say they are vegetarians eat fish or birds, or can tolerate that stock, you will be wrong. BTW, I am always happy to bring something to someone else's house so they dont have to do anything special for me, and I am a heck of a good cook.
Can't afford oatmeal? It's the cheapest food (calorie per dollar) that I have ever seen in a grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the article, but come on, do a little research.
Also, can't afford "meat" so you go for chicken?
Chicken is poultry... not meat.
^^ignorant^^
Meat is the flesh of an animal. As a biologist, I can assure you that chickens are animals (as are all birds, fish, clams, shrimp, etc. All animals, all meat).
To all those who are putting down people on SNAP who buy things other than all healthy foods, please stop to think for a minute. Yes, of course we know that some people abuse the system. That's a given. But for some people, it's a necessity because they don't have any extra money for food.
In that case, if they want to use their money to buy a treat or two, leave them alone. Maybe it's the only thing they can treat themselves to at all.
Yes, they should be buying nutritious foods. But you really don't know their circumstances. Maybe they've already bought their nutritious foods. Maybe they have a vegetable garden. Maybe they've gotten some basic staples at a food bank. Maybe a friend or church group has given them produce.
And even if they are only buying junk food, well that's their choice, just like we buy junk food without being on SNAP. It may be a frustrating choice, but it is theirs to make.
You should be on a debate team.
One big problem with food stamps is that people can get junk food with the stamps. They should be limited to the basics like meat, vegetables, milk, cereal etc. I was behind someone with food stamps at a check out and they had the deli foods, (which are expensive) pop, potato chips etc. Things that they did not need but wanted. They could have bought a whole 10 pound bag of potatoesfor the same price as the small container of potato salad they purchased and had more meals from the bag of potatoes
They had expensive deli food, sure. But you would want to eat something different every once in awhile too.
Junk food is cheaper than healthy food (goes farther too) & when you have kids hunger pains to quench (as well as time to make decent snacks & meals after working 2 jobs), you go for it. As far as deli-counter foods....in California, you can't use food stamps for it. Has to be pre packaged.
Wrong. Junk food is NOT cheaper and lasts longer. Not sure where you get that. That box of Twinkies cost $3. For that $3, you could get 5 lbs of chicken thighs and quarters, or you could get a large bag of potatoes, or you could get a box of nutritious cereal, or you could get 5 lbs of white rice. No, it is not cheaper, and it does not last longer than more nutritious options, it's just a matter of choosing wisely with your dollar.
Totally agree. The Federal government has helped create our Fast Food nation and bad food choices. Now there is SO much money involved with the food manufacturers, it will be hard to pull the corporations away from the public trough. THEY will be the ones yelling the loudest (and lobbying the hardest!) if we try to restrict choices now.
It's about self-determation, people have the right to make their own choices. You know how much you are given to spend on food via food stamps; It is then your responsibility to make it last. When you are looking at the cart of the person paying with the food stamps what you may not be seeing is they don't have an oven or even a stove. maybe it's just a microwave and a if they are lucky a hot plate. They could have also just gotten off work from their second job, putting in 60 plus hours a week and it's still not making ends meet. You can't judge a person by their shopping cart. At the end of the day only they know what they have and do not have and only they can make the choice for themselves. You or I may not agree with the choices but it is in fact their choice.
But if the adult is expected to use the children's portion to benefit the children, and it isn't happening that way, we all suffer, the children the most. So I get what you are saying, but disagree . Sometimes it's necessary to sacrifice a little freedom for the sake of a larger good.
If it were their money, it would be their choice. As another commenter noted, taxpayers are paying for junk food and then paying for the health consequences. That is not a sustainable path; it's helping to make the economy implode.
This "experiment" is completely a bust. The person still gets to live in her comfy cozy house, with unlimited hot showers, nice cloths to wear. Her transportation is convenient. A person cannot experience eating on $30 a week unless that person experiences the living conditions that accompany that food budget.
That gal should be on the streets living the life of a impoverished person, then she'll have a story worth reading about. BAH!
Agree, and to this you have to add the cost of health care and medicines that appear not having the correct meal.
Carlos, while I understand and agree with what you are adding, this is a discussion about being able to live on $30 a week per person on food stamps, which has nothing to do with healthcare and medications, as food stamps are separate from those expenses. There is no reason why a family of 3 cannot live on $90 per week in food. That's a generous amount, more than what I spend for my family of 3, and we eat very well, with lots of fruit and veggies. That's the discussion here.
She specifically said "Living on a food stamp budget for just one week won’t begin to put me in these women’s shoes or come close to the struggles that millions of low-income families face every day; week in and week out, month after month. But I do expect to gain a new perspective and a better understanding" She never said anything other than a food budget. Pay attention before you judge.
interesting read...but more so the comments about the article
I know nothing about food stamps (and I live in Canada where prices are higher than yours) but I think $30 a week can be plenty enough for a week's grocery for one person on a budget. Shit I can even have a box of organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables delivered to my doorstep with that much cash on a weekly basis! It might be hard on the first week if you're trying to buy everything all at once. But I say spread out the "needs" one week at a time (ie. a bag of rice or a can of coffee – both can be found for under $10 and can last for at least a month). And forget about chicken breast! That's the most expensive meat you could ever buy out there.And use coupons, haven't you learned anything from extreme couponing?!? Americans are so lucky to have your coupons, up here in Canada, we can only use one coupon per item :(
Hello, fellow Canadian. I too have read the article and thought... well, I buy food for $30/week regularly. And I live near Toronto where stuff is quite expensive. And you're right, the comments are very interesting. Maybe the point of the article was also to generate discussion and that, it has done.
As for the article, I wonder if meat prices vary greatly from where I am but here they are practically giving away the pork. The price/lb for pork is less than half that of a chicken.
Someone else made a point that baking bread is cheaper than buying bread. This is true. I make a loaf of bread for about $0.50. It's no-knead bread that uses time and very little yeast. (It's the yeast that can be expensive but if you only use 1/4 tsp per loaf, all of a sudden it's affordable)
Definitely thought provoking article, regardless of whether one agrees with the "experiment" or not.
There are frozen meals that are $1.00 a piece. You could eat three meals a day for $21.00 a week.
I would look at the salt content of those meals, some can have crazy amounts of sodium in them and eating that much salt can cause a LOT of health problems.
You are exactly correct. I'm sure Lizzy meant well but the salt levels are insane. If I were in my 20s and in a pinch, I might do the dollar frozen meals.
if you're eating three $1 meals a day, your concern is probably more focused on staying alive than on watching your sodium intake. and rightly so.
Not even a challenge. I routinely eat on $90 a month or less because it’s easy and it means more money for going out or paying for gasoline. FYI, I work a 40+ hr/week job and still find time to cook, and have hobbies and a social life. Here’s a pretty normal list for me across an entire month.
Fresh Organic Carrots: $1.99/3lbs
Local Potatoes: $1.99/5lbs
Sweet Onions: $0.79/lb x 4 = $3.16
Bananas: $0.54/lb x 4 = $2.08
Milk: $2.50/gallon x 2 = $5.00
Whole beef tenderloin: $9.99/lb x 5 = $49.95 (this is filet kids)
Frozen boneless/skinless Tyson chicken breast: $10.00/6lb
Organic bulk Quinoa (super food): $2.99/lb x 4 = $11.96
Loaf of store brand bread: $0.99 x 2 = $1.98 (1lb)
Dozen large eggs: $0.99 x 2 = $1.98 (2lb)
Store brand cheddar: $1.99/lb
Since spices and cooking oil last a really long time I won’t count them either.
For those of you keeping track that’s a grand total of $92.08 (meat/produce isn't taxed) for a whopping 38lbs of highly delicious and nutritious food from fruits/grains/vegetables/red and white meat/dairy! It can be done even cheaper if you are willing to eat in-season foods that are always on sale, and gives you a wider variety. This still leaves $27.92/month for alcohol, tobacco, and junk food! I know many of us Americans are fat but you will never go hungry eating 1.25lbs of food each day. And if you need to feed more than just yourself switch to tip steaks which are 99% lean and cost $2.99/pound max, increasing the total to over 48lbs of food. What an utter joke.
There were a few times where I had to survive on ramen, a bag of black eyed peas, or just noodles with butter for a few days until I got food stamps. Even with 2 people in the house with jobs, there was barely enough money for food.
Not ALL people who get food stamps cheat the system, but there are SOME that do. In the town I came from before moving to California, there were people that would somehow get $1000 a MONTH in food stamps, and some cash benefits too...
I live in Georgia, and I already eat on $30 week. I spend on average $40-$50 weekly for family of 3 adults. I eat a green salad and fruit salad 5 days week at work that I make from fresh vegs/fruit at home, plus whatever leftovers I have from night before. I cook from scratch, and buy no name brands. I buy chicken breast family packs $.99 lb, thriftstore bread $.50 loaf (wheat) bruised/old produce at Kroger. I don't use coupons. You can eat healthy on $30 week per person, if you know how to shop and how to cook. The most important thing is to use all leftovers by making soups and casseroles, never throw food away if possible. Our household income is $140,000 year, but I choose to spend my money on other items, rather than waste it in foolish spending at grocery store.
marry me.
Aren't you special! You have money and you are thrifty. People that are on food stamps, generally live a very disappointing lifestyle. It's hard to get excited about cooking when you live in less than appealing surroundings and jobs that don't pay well, you work hard and know that your live will not change for an indefinite period of time. When I was first married and my husband and I were in our last year of college. Housekeeping, cooking, etc was fun and a challenge. Much later in my life I can't afford to spend $30 a week and it's not about eating three meals a day but glad to have something once a day.
P.S. That .99 cent chicken is probably full of hormones and antibiotics. If you can afford it you should never eat anything but organic chicken.
How can you attack her for living thrifty? If she is doing what she says others should try to model themselves after her. Too many Americans are wasting money and living beyond their means. This family sounds like they are trying to ensure that they are not adding to the problem and are taking care of their financial future.
Stepasidesue, brush the chip off your shoulder. She's making a point, and that is you can eat well on $30 a week even if you make a decent living. What business of yours is it whether or not she chooses to buy organic? Seriously, 99 cents a pound chicken won't kill you, especially if you're on a budget. Perhaps if you'd done what she is doing when you were doing well, you wouldn't be in the position you're in now.
I strongly doubt that those "other things" on which you choose to so wisely spend your comfortable annual income are as important in the long run as buying quality, fresh food not pumped with hormones and other chemicals.
I was just about to say this! My husband and I spend $60/wk at the grocery store, and cook dinners at home and bring our lunches on weekdays... what's the big deal? We make plenty of money and could afford to spend much more... that's just what we happen to actually spend. Last week was only $55...
To the person who said the people on food stamps are buying expensive food because they live an unhappy life... the point of food stamps is not to supplement happiness in their life, it is to ensure that they don't starve while they try to get themselves back on their feet. We should not be providing cushy happiness with welfare. Welfare is to keep you from the very rock bottom so that you can SURVIVE. The line between needs and wants has become very blurred indeed, for most Americans!
YES.
I just read this to my husband. His reply was "Say what you want, but there's something to be said for a box of Swiss Rolls!"
I refuse to accept food stamps we tho I make no money. I do charity work 94 hours a week.
I cook for my family of 27 people on a budget of 1.63 a week and have tons of leftovers to take to the food bank every day.
I'm so sick of hearing about people spending over $5.00 a week on food, just so wasteful.
Some of you people are just too full of yourselves...
Total FAIL at trying to stir the stink pot.
"everyone is a thrift hero in this forum"
ROFL!
You aren't nearly as clever as you seem to think you are.
Food stamps are supposed to be a supplement to your budget. Not the entire food budget. These people might have to actually pay for some of their own food. I saw a woman pay for most of her groceries with WICK coupons the other day and then paid cash for sushi. Must be nice to be able to have enough left over for sushi but she "can't afford" to buy her child's milk or cereal. I think people should be ethical about what handouts they take and then people wouldn't be so angry about the people who really need it using the system
Sounds like everyone is a thrift hero in this forum.
I'm baffled at how many people are exceptionally large with everyone living on tuna and chicken.
Just a bunch of blow hards that have to do the normal one-up-manship typical of online dialogue.
Why all the obese poor people? If you are poor you already know the answer. You can't afford the healthy food. Simple. You shop at discount stores – no bags unless you buy them, and no baggers, use store boxes and box it yourself. You buy a lot of potatoes, generic mac and cheese, a few canned vegetables. The key here is you consume a lot of starches and carbohydrates, like spaghetti; a lot of bologna sandwiches using cheap white bread. The end result is obesity - and probably diabetes. Especially diabetes, as there is no way to buy the foods you need to maintain a low fat, low carbohydrate diet. Not on what you have in either cash or food stamps. Some are fortunate enough to be in the country, where they can grow a garden, or have access to a community garden. But the poor, the unemployed, all have a hard road to go and the first thing that is sacrificed is proper nutrition.
I once tried to apply for foodstamps during a rough patch when my daughter was a toddler. I was unable to receive them because I made about $20 too much per month, as a single parent. I felt so defeated that I couldn't get them, and really needed them. It was hard to survive, and to provide my daughter with foods that were both filling and nutritious, but I did it. The key for me was to slowly stock my pantry with staples like flour, canned goods, rice, pasta, baking ingredients, and spices. Once I did that, I was able to spend my food budget on the fresh stuff, like fruits, veggies, meats, and dairy products. Cooking from scratch is better, even though it takes more time. Leftovers were either frozen for future meals, or taken the next day for my lunch at work. My daughter was able to eat meals at daycare as well, so that helped me out, too.
I've found that you can eat well, very cheaply, if it is necessary. Ad matching, clipping coupons, and keeping an eye out for the sales every week, while time consuming, can be profitable, in terms of keeping your pantry full.
I am now married, and at one point, was feeding a family of six. By following these same rules, I have mananged to provide all of us the same kinds of meals, without having to go overboard on my food budget. Most importantly, my hubby and kids have meals that are homemade, filling, and nutritious.
It can be done, you just have to be creative with meal planning and your shopping.
damn liberals....always giving out my tax dollars away to the people who don't want to work......when you don't work you are better off with all the hand me outs in this country......vote republican for president!
Fuk the Repubtards and vote for Ron Paul
Obviously you are an idiot! Many people in our country DO work and still need foodstamps. Minimum wage jobs don't cut it When you have a minimum wage job and are hungry then perhaps you willl have the right to comment on the subject.
Just looked up food stamp benefits. If I claim no income, and pay rent, I can get the max for 1 person of $200 per month. A bit more than $30 a week, and for 1 person, that should be plenty of money. For a family of 3, if I claim income of $1000 a month, rent of $500, I could receive $550 a month. That's over $100 a week, more than I spend for my own family of 3, and we eat very well.
I really think articles like this are really misleading people on what food stamps are really giving out. I work in a grocery store and see first hand the balances left on these cards after someone loads up on processed food and steaks. They're get so much more than simply $30 a week to work with and need to settle down with the complaints about not being able to be healthy. I could easily eat much better than this on thirty bucks, but a food stamp customer is working on 100+ each week from what I see.
My family of four spends approximately $100 per week at the grocery store. This covers fresh fruits and vegetables, lunch meats, breads, cereals, and boneless/skinless chicken breast. Granted, there's not a lot of junk that is bought, and almost everything we buy will be what's on sale.
It sure is nice to know that low life non-working pieces of crap eat better than hard working families that actually pay taxes.
I think we should give them $10 per week. Then they can eat the way I did for 4 years going to college. Ramen noodles, spagetti, tuna, and water. Of course, I did splurge and buy a 12 pack of Bud bottles each month as well...
Some of those low life nonworking load of crap are CHILDREN! I know a 70 year old woman who is suddenly having to care for 3 grandchildren. Thank goodness she can get foodstamps for them. She buys in bulk, cooks from scratch and pinches every penny but she could not afford to feed them if not for food stamps.
Hahaha! Gotta have a Bud!
Some of us "low life non working pieces of crap" are former members of the middle class whose jobs no longer exist. I have a BA and have worked for over 35 years. And if you're a well-employed journalist who decides it would make a great article to like on $30 a week, screw you. These is our real lives. We don't get to go back to picking up a slice of pizza or ordering in Chinese food or buying fresh fruit next week. This is it for us.
You shouldn't make a general sweeping statement about people on food stamps, now days there is a much broader segment of the population that's been forced to get government assistance. Don't you know that's why we pay taxes. We are owed those benefits as taxpaying Americans. I worked as a professional in the ad agency business for 15 years when I got laid off during my 3rd pregnancy. It was impossible to get a job at that time...no one wanted to hire a 7 month pregnant producer. Needless to say I was forced to apply for benefits and they got me and my famjly thru a very rough year until I was able to land another job. Clearly you don't keep up with the news, you must be unaware of the staggering unemployment in this country. It's not just lazy low lifes and dead beats that sponge off of the system...it's hard working men and women living under tough circumstances that you could probably never understand. It's people like you and your friends and your neighbors...it's families and kids from poor neighborhoods, the elderly, and single moms struggling to keep families afloat making minimum wage, the majority of who never got the opportunity or privilege of a higher education like you did. You should really watch what you say before you say it. It's offensive and you are in no place to judge other people's situations, especially through these tough times. In short keep your juvenile snide remarks and stereotyping insults to yourself. You should be ashamed and embarrassed.
I understand what she was trying to do, but why not eat the stuff you already have in stock at home? That's seriously the challenge I'm doing right now. Instead of going to the store every week, try to eat what you already purchased. I figure by the time I'm done I'll be eating mostly rice or oatmeal, but still it just goes to show you how much we waste from non-use.
Stupid article, as many others are saying, I do it every week and not on food stamps. What moron spends $3.00 on bread? I go to the bread store and buy name brand for $1.35 and it is fresh. Just like Frank G., I can get 10lbs of chicken for $5.00. Sure, you don't have a ton of choices but it can be done.
Agreed. Or just bake your own for about $.20/loaf. Cable is affecting the News now.
10 lbs of chicken for $5? Are you talking about the frozen chicken in the big bag at the grocery store? You should read the ingredients in those things. It's barely even chicken.
where the heck are you getting chicken for $0.50/lb?
This article, and every other food stamp challenge article is so poorly researched that it's just a joke.
First off, my family and I spend about $25-30 per week per person on groceries, so the $30 is not that unreasonable if you are intelligent with your purchases.
Second, using an average without any other supplimental income to your groceries is just plain stupid as thats not how it works. A single person household with little or no income would receive $200/month in food stamps (add roughly $150/person after the first). That's $50/week, not $30. For a single person household to receive $30/week (or $120/month), calculations would have been done using their income, and expenses (rent, utilities, child care, child support, sometimes medical expenses, etc). That number is then taken by 30% (an amount decided on by the feds, after expenses, 30% of your income should go to food), and that amount is removed from the maximum grant. So for a single person to receive only $120, you would calculate that they have an additional $80 they can afford to spend on their own food. So the author should have had another $20/wk to work with.
Even at a household size of 10, the average maximum per person is something like 37.50 a person per month. That extra $7 makes a difference, and cooking for a larger group is easier and cheaper.
I wish just once that the people who do these kinds of experiments or write these articles would take 15 minutes to actually research the subject, or talk to a local welfare office and get the entire story.
These types of misinformed articles only lead to further misrepresentations of the programs available.
The only way a person on food stamps is not getting enough food is if they are spending it unwisely (food stamps can be used on chips, pop, candy, expensive and unhealthy frozen meals, heck even on overpriced junkfood in some gas stations), or they have income and are expected to suppliment their benefits with their own income but instead waste it on other things or are so far in debt that the money is already owed to others.
The food stamp programs in this country honestly probably give too much in benefits, but just looking at this one aspect of low income families is a joke. The problem is much bigger than food stamp budgets.
Some additional things to think about.
Newborns count as a household member, so adding a child to the home increases the benefits, but does not increase the dietary needs. That child does not and will not eat solids for a good 6 months to a year, and even then it's small amounts, yet they get a full share for that child. On top of that, the family most likely gets WIC for that child which pays for the formula and simple foods like milk/eggs/bread.
Another thing to think of is that most children on food stamps automatically qualify for free school food programs. So a lot of the time these kids have a free breakfast and a free lunch at school. At 3 meals a day x 7 days a week you have 21 meals a week, but these children get 10 of those meals free, again reducing the strain on the family food budget without changing their food stamp benefits. In some areas these children are sent home with backpacks of food on the weekend (some fruits/vegies, and healthy snacks like pudding cups, applesauce cups, granola bars and that sort of stuff).
So a household with 1 parent, and 3 children could receive up to $668/month (no personal income). 1 child is newborn and on wic, so no food is needed as everything is covered by WIC. The other two are in school, so have 10 meals a week free but may also be bringing home food on the weekends. $167/week to feed 3 people, 2 of which have a large portions of their meals for free, and you get free food donated on weekends.
Beyond that they are food banks, and places that serve regular meals to underprivelaged people.
Food sure doesn't seem like it should be a problem huh.
Her housing is of course covered, and she gets help on utilities. If she starts working she'd lose a portion of her food stamps, and she'd be expected to pay something in rent, but her daycare would be covered so at worst she'd break even with even a small partime job...but as she receives more than she needs in food stamps, the cash difference could be spent on other things.
I'm in complete support of welfare, but believe that some fine tuning could be done to refine the system. Heck, right now if you pay for heating or cooling you get a $645 utility deduction....$645? I own a house and my electric, sewer, gas, garbage, phone, tv, and internet all combined never even come close to $645 a month. If you qualify for energy assistance (a program that helps pay your heating bill in the winter) you automaticallly get the utility deduction even though you may never pay anything out of pocket.
Far be it from anyone doing one of these articles, or a politician to actually explore the reality of one of these programs though...that would take time, and thought.
Being poor sucks, no doubt, and it's not easy to get out of a bad situation, but it's not like the welfare system in this country isn't adequate enough to assist people. If we'd actually tackle the problems that keep people poor, we could work towards far less money payed out in welfare than any amount of reform could produce.
Hell yeah, brother, preach on!
I agree with you completely. When I was in college a friend of mine would come over almost weekly and stock my fridge and cupboards with food (about $100 worth each time) using his mom's EBT card. She already bought all the groceries she needed for her and her two sons. They were getting about $700/month in food assistance for 3 people. Right now I have a family of 5 and we live fairly comfortable on a food budget of about $500 to $600/month. It does make me sick though when I see a young man about my age whom is fully capable of working and making money buying a 6 pack of 24oz pop bottles and 3 bags of chips and pulls out an EBT card to pay for it. I cannot afford to buy junk food like this as I don't qualify for EBT but somehow this guys does. I think in some states they may give out way too much money for the EBT program and in others maybe not enough. Just my two-cents.
Well stated Dave.
Exactly. Many people aren't spending their food stamp money intelligently. They can't be, or hunger wouldn't even be an issue with food stamp recipients. When I drew unemployment, they made me go to a class to learn how to write a resume and interview. Food stamps should also come with an education on how to prepare healthy meals and wisely spend money on ingredients.
I've never been on food stamps, but at one point, my kids and I were eating on $40 or less per week (for all three of us). We ate a lot of homemade mac 'n cheese, beans with a hambone, whatever fruit was the absolute cheapest, eggs, and whatever frozen or canned vegetables were cheapest. Very little meat except for tuna or chicken leg quarters, very little in the way of fresh vegetables. We lived in an apartment and I was working fulltime and in college fulltime, so growing anything was not possible.
It was difficult, and we all got tired of it during the two years we struggled, but we lived through it (I will say that both kids are now extraordinary savers). At least we had a full kitchen (something many people who are struggling may not have). For those who are trying to make do with just a microwave and a slow cooker, this is much harder.
Alix,
That's an awesome story. You worked together as a family, made sacrifices, completed school. Your kids are great savers. Unfortunately, yours is an experience many on foodstamps will never appreciate as they don't have the pride of taking care of themselves, having sold out there self-worth to the soulless government dole.
"A fool and his money are soon parted" Frozen vegetables – on sale are quite a bargain. Consider the waste from fresh Brussels Sprouts (outer leaves, stems) compared to frozen. Stocking up on frozen and carefully supplementing with seasonal fresh (on sale) can save a lot of money. Never buy meat unless it's on sale. 1lb of chicken doesn't last long served whole. Diced and mixed with rice and veggies – it goes a lot further. 1lb of pasta (.69) and a .99 jar of sauce makes a huge tray of food than can be dressed up with either meat or vegetables to last a couple of days. Biggest way to save on food budget – eat normal portions. Measure food and learn what constitutes an actual portion. Eating healthy also means eating the right amount. At first pass, eating on $30 sounds impossible. But if you shop carefully and take advantage of sales and get creative with leftovers, you can really stretch a dollar a lot more than you would believe possible.
Interesting article, more interesting are the comments at the end of the article!
I'm not a very price conscious food shopper but I can cook and bake and I just couldn't believe it couldn't be done. I checked prices today at a local super market and found I could eat balanced and healthy meals for $30 a week. Of course, there would be some bread baking, pasta sauce making, and roast chicken and chicken soup making but it would all be healthy, filling and good.
It boils down to not shopping at high priced markets and knowing how to cook whats healthy which will take some teaching to many in the poor communities. It's just a guess but since $30 seems doable (especially as a supplement as intended) perhaps there's another agenda behind this type of article like justifying an increase in the current food stamp allotment.
You also have to have the time to bake, or make home made meals. I think a lot of people run into that issue – no time for cooking so they splurge on covenience items. This applies to all walks of life not just folks on food stamps. High paced world equals less quality time unfortunately.
I spend around $30/week. I'm fine. I'm healthy. I have enough food for the week.
I can, and I do.
Why did this woman buy $2.99 loaf of bread? Get the store brand for cheaper or make her own. She starts off whining about having the same thing every day for breakfast. So what? Is that a hardship? I don't think so.
Why did she buy boneless skinless fresh chicken breasts when there are cheaper ways to purchase chicken?
Yes, I spend more than $30 per week for food but that is because I have the money to do so.
I know that annoyed the pizz out of me too. It was a half azzed attempt to live on 30 bucks worth of food for a week.
Looking at my Kroger ad for the week. Kroger bread – $1.00 per loaf. Tyson brand Fresh split chicken breast (with bone) 99 cents per pound. Zucchini or yellow squash $1.00 per pound. Apples $1.00 per pound.
maybe because that's how much bread costs. unless you want white bread, at which point you should just not eat bread.
I don't get why people are so upset just because she spent $3.00 on a loaf of bread. Big deal. That's what I spend for bread or more. If you want a good bread, that's what it costs. The majority of you people must live in the cheap part of the country, the Boston area isn't that cheap to live in.
I work in Boston and live on the South Shore and have no problem buying great bread and other products for very cheap and come well under the $30 a week mark. I wonder how far my dollar would stretch in less expensive areas.
Why are people slamming the author. I think she made an honest effort. In all honesty, I don't think I'd be able to do this either. I've never cooked with bean or lentils. Only been to the Dollar Store once (hated it). Would never think to go to Asian Markets. Farmers Markets in the Boston area are high. Some of the prices people are listing for chicken I've never seen in my area. I do realize I'm fortunate that I don't have to watch what I spend at the grocery store. But people do need to realize there is alot of abuse with food stamps. I think there definitely should be restrictions put on what can and can not be purchased. I do feel bad for the people who truly need assistance. The governmnent needs to do a complete and total overhaul the food stamp program and all the other entitlement programs.
one of my friends was on food stamps and she got an insane amount for her family of 5. They ate like well fed hogs – much better than my family was eating. Then when she got a job and called about being taken off, they said you can keep getting it until your benefit runs out and kept them on for 4 more months.
Thank you. It's not $30 for a family of 6, they get more. If a single person can't figure out how to eat on $30 a week, then there's something wrong with them.
I agree with Christiane. Even if you eat meat, like the two chicken breasts... So, you don't buy boneless, skinless organic free range chicken breasts. You get a whole chicken and cut it up. Or you get thigh and let quarters. I recently purchased 10 pounds of thigh and leg quarters for $5, which I split up and froze in 3 packages. That's 3 meals of chicken for $1.66 a meal for 8 pieces of chicken. Add a $1 bag of carrots, $1.50 worth of mashed potatoes, and you have a meal for 6 for $4. You don't have to buy brand name bread, buy the store brand for $1 a loaf. You could buy 3 loaves for what she paid for one. You could bake it for even less. There's nothing wrong with ground beef. You can buy it in family size packs for $1.99 a pound or less. It's all about smart shopping. I know the person that wrote this article bought the most expensive items (like the break, chicken, tuna, peanut butter, etc) to prove her point, but the fact is, if you don't buy the pre-packaged junk, if you learn how to cook and stay away from the processed and packaged items, you can eat on $30 a week and eat healthier foods. You don't have to buy the most expensive brands, try to store brands. A lot of times they're manufactured buy the same people that make the name brands, just packaged differently. In fact, I'm going to challenge myself to do just that this week. I'll buy food for my family on $30 or less, and maybe they'll post me results here next time.
Food stamps are only meant to supplement your food budget, not be your entire food budget. Most recipients are also getting either welfare or unemployment, and that's supposed to be used for food as well, no cigarettes and beer.
Could not have siad it better. You can also get used sunday's paper and cut coupons. The whole chicken is great you can use the bones to make broth for flavored rice and add beans and canned tomatoes. Tuna and noodle caserole with frozen peas is awesome too. I'm sure there's a microwave at work:-)
I find it cheaper to buy store brand than to even use coupons.
Right, Melanie. And I can make 3 meals out of a single chicken for my family of 3. I roast the chicken, and we eat about half at the first meal. Then I pull off the breast and thigh and make chicken salad for another meal. Then boil the heck out of what's left on the carcass and pick the remainder of the meat off, strain the broth, add a little bullion, salt, pepper and a cup of uncooked rice, and you get jook (or congee), a nice, simple Chinese soup my husband grew up on.
So right. I'll keep an eye out for your 30 dollar post next week. Please share how it goes.
I will be happy for you to read it, if they publish it. I'll detail my purchases, cost, etc.
Food stamps are a supplement, they're not intended to be your entire food budget. And I'll stop feeling bad for people who are "forced to live on $30 per week when I stop seeing people in the grocery store moving $100 bills out of the way in their wallet to get to their WIC cards. If you want to increase the amount of assistance these people get you need to decrease the number of people eligible so it's cost-neutral.
Hi Guest,
Although food stamps are just supposed to be a supplement, they are the only means of income for food for many families all across this nation, especially during the declining economy. And, how do you know that those $100 bills in that person's wallet wasn't for the Electric Bill to provide heat for their family, or for Gas or Oil? So quick to judge someone collecting the transitional aid, obviously you are not one whom ever needed this provided service. Just to let you know, these departments such as food stamps and welfare are based on income of the amount of people in a family. Trust me, when I say one is pretty much classified poor when receiving benefits such as this. But, you could be right, that person could have lied to the system just to gain an extra $30 off their grocery bill, however, that doesn't seem all that beneficial, when the amount of paperwork that must be filled out in order to even qualify for these programs, is so extensive that anyone wanting to be a free-rider is just crazy, and has no care for the real people that need these services. Do you think people really want to be in the class of low-income and poor, sometimes life throws you curve balls that are unexpected and you are forced to deal with the realities of them. Hopefully if you were to ever be in such a situation, people wouldn't judge you, but help you!
Food stamp, problem is there are millions of people who are not using this as a stop gap during tough times, they've lived off it their whole lives, and their kids have, and their children will as well. I've seen the abuse to the system. I'm not saying you would do that, but there are people out there that do. Millions of them. And they're sucking the system dry to the extent that people who really are in need can't get the benefits.
Do you have internet at home, or are you at the library?
I'm not as ashamed to be on food stamps, Iresorted to food stamps the last month of living in a homeless shelter to get a breakfast and lunch since I'd be at the library or job center searching for employment. Now that I am on SSI due to cerebral palsy, I keep my food stamps. Medical supplies cost over a hundred dollars and I get under $700 a month as my only income. In short, I'd rather eat and have my medical supplies than have to choose.
My regular diet consists of chicken, vegetables, and rice for dinner, made with the large bag of breasts, cheap bags of veggies, and a 20lb bag of rice. I make it in different ways each week so I don't get bored, and every other month, I buy a bag of tilapia fillets, since I do like having fish on fridays–its a Wisconsin tradition. I also buy the big boxes of oatmeal, 18-packs of eggs, and a few boxes of cereal for breakfasts. As of now, living with my mom–who doesn't make much herself, I will eat some of her dinners, though I like eating my own food more than hers.
I would agree with this – there are a lot of people who abuse the system, actually. One of my classmates actually had the nerve to be proud of himself for using food stamps when he didn't need to. His father was rich, and this kid drove around a nice car and wore a rolex, but he worked the system to get as much free stuff as he could.
Hence why people need to stop having kids.
One problem is that too many food stamp recipients are lacking basic dietary knowledge. I know of a lady who thought gummy bears were healthy because "they are a fruit." Another is that when you're poor, you also tend to be poor of time and and energy, so buying only whole foods and preparing them from scratch = not an option. Thus the cheap junk foods and resulting diabetic / obesity / high blood pressure epidemic.
In short, American culture is f***ed up at the core. But then again, the real cause of all this is the corporations who engineered our culture, the Fed/IRS who have bled the people dry for decades, and the exorbitant waste and military spending that eats up all these revenue giving nothing back to the people in return.
The way things are going, the whole system's going to collapse soon.
Chicken little said, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling." S/He was wrong, too.
BTW, are you available for kids' parties? You sound like a barrel of laughs.
Sorry, Jane, but I agree with James. If that makes us a killjoy for you, then so be it. I call it realistic.
Why are you sorry? I agreed; you disagreed.
The choices the author made are judicious and healthy for the money. Most people would NOT make those choices in my opinion.
Spaghettios – $5
Ramen noodles – $3
Mac-n-cheese $3
Hostess cakes – $2
Six pack of Pepsi – $3
Spam – $4
Beer – $6
Doughnuts – $4
Dying of diabetes, malnutrition, and high blood pressure – priceless.
Hahaha! Why the heck not?
part of the problem for poor people is that fresh fruits and vegetables are very expensive and that the cheapest foods are the most processed and lease healthy....
Abby, that's a fallacy. Box of twinkies, $3.50. Bag of apples, $3.50. It's all about choices. Yes, buying a box of twinkies for your kids for breakfast is easier than making them, say, a healthy breakfast of eggs, toast and juice. But the cost is basically the same.
You are forgetting that, in addition to the food stamps, the kids are getting free breakfast and lunch at school.
@Kasey, sorry but you're wrong. Juice, $3.99+ per gallon; eggs, 2.89+ per 18 pack, store-brand unhealthy white bread $1.39 loaf. That might feed two kids breakfast all week. Store brand pop-tarts in the large box, $1.99. Our grocery bill is our largest expense feeding two teen boys! One can't eat wheat. We cook from scratch and buy healthy without buying organic, boneless, skinless, freshest everything because we just can't afford it. Without changing anything in our house, our grocery bill has doubled in the last two years!
Exactly. The kids here are coming into school hungry with no breakfast every day. What are the parents using the food stamps for? And on top of that, on Fridays, if the kids have a backpack, they pack those with food for the weekend. WTH?
aMom, you just described $8 for breakfast for two teens for a week, that's about 80 cents per kid per meal. If these kids are eating as you say they are, do you really think a $1.99 box of poptarts is going to be a filling breakfast for them for a full week? I'm sorry, but that "unhealthy" white bread is healthier for them than a poptart. You can also buy canned, frozen orange juice cheaper than buying the gallon of premixed frozen juice. That's beside the fact that kids who are on food stamps get subsidized breakfast and luch, so they most likely wouldn't be paying for that anyway.
I know that there are people who genuinely need food stamps and who budget them to have enough for the month, however I lost all faith in the system when I was behind a woman who paid for a $50 bithday cake, 2 gallon jugs of sugary fruit punch and 6 bottles of soda all with food stamps. She then proceded to tell the checkout girl that it was for a party for her boyfriend who was out of work and needed cheering up. She paid cash for beer and laughing told the checkout girl her kids would be living on beans and cereal for the rest of the month. I don't think this is what was intended when the food stamp system was put into place.
That's the price of socialism. For every 1 person who is helped, there are 10 parasites who abuse the system. The only solution I see is limiting food stamps to the basic staples. By the way, some military study from long ago determined that the cheapest way to survive is eating cabbage and hog's liver.
You are exactly right.
I remember when I first got out of college and started working, I was in line behind a woman who had a basket full of ribs, steaks, chops, etc. and she paid for it all with food stamps. There I was standing in line with my 4 boxes of mac and cheese, pound of hamburger, milk and cereal, counting to make sure I had enough to pay for it that week. I also paid for hers as well, in the long run.
Please help me how would I spend and eat my food, when I receive FoodStamp. I try to hard when I buy the food at the supermarket, the price is not cheap, it cheap I buy a lot, someone will judge me, it expensive I still be judged. Please understand.
If you're buying ribs, steaks, junk foods, etc. and paying for it with food stamps, and the guy behind you is buying ramen but with his own money, then he has a right to judge you if he wants to. He's essentially paying for his food and yours too. I'm not saying some people don't need the help, but I'm saying this $30 thing for 1 person should not be a problem, and it annoys me, someone who has never accepted assistance, to read an article whining about that free money.
I am a teacher who lives alone in NC, and I easily eat very healthy meals for less than $30 a week. When you work for your money, it takes on a little more value. I shop once a month when I get paid for things that will keep, and once a week for fresh fruit and veggies. I only buy what is on sale, and I use coupons when I can. I don't waste money on soda (drink water), chips, cookies, or anything that would be bad for my health anyway. Typical staples are whole grain pasta, brown rice, beans, eggs, broccoli, wheat bread, 2% cheese, canned tomatoes, canned tuna, bananas, etc. I don't eat meat, but when on sale I will occassionally buy frozen Boca burgers or shrimp. Meals like chili, rice and beans with salsa, and whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce are healthy and cheap and I usually have plenty to bring leftovers to work for lunch.
I eat on less than $50 a week but I eat organically (mostly). I don't feel deprived. I do eat meat but 3 oz of boneless chicken breast gives me more than 1/2 the protein I need each day. I eat beans and rice. Eggs, oatmeal. Veggies. I don't buy snacks. Nut and fruits are my snacks. A big chunk of my food bill is the freshly roasted whole bean coffee I buy. Starbucks? That goes under my recreation allowance. Hmmm, I just realized I'm spoiled.
I am dissapointed. I thought this article would be uplifting, proving that you CAN eat well for $30 – in fact you can eat GREAT!! $30 a week for one personis quite a bit of money. My Husband and I spend $50 a week on groceries (including cleaning products, toiliteries and paper products) and manage to eat and live very, very well. We shop using coupons and I cook our dinners with leftovers for lunch the next day. Our diet is full of fresh vegetables, healthy whole grains and lean protein. I plan our shopping trips ahead of time and shop sales using coupons – perhaps the writer of this article should spend a little more time planning her meals and shopping trips ahead of time (like many American's do – especially those out of work!!) and less time at Starbucks.
I already do this. For one person, this isn't a challenge. If you had to feed a family of four, then maybe. I used to live off of $50 a month when I first graduated college. Did you read that? $50 A MONTH.
I eat very well on less than $30/week and I shop exclusively at local farmer's markets and Trader Joe's/Whole Foods eating all organic foods. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts. No problem. In fact, while I do not use food stamps myself, my local farmer's market encourages their use and doubles them to stretch the dollar even further for poor families. I can buy plenty of fruit, greens, carrots, onions, squash, etc for the week for $15. A loaf of bread for $2. A box of pasta or some rice for about $2-3. A couple can of beans for $1 each. Oatmeal for $3. I spend the rest on something a bit more expensive like cheese or nuts. I am curious to know how and where the writer of this article is shopping. Close to $5 on 2 chicken breasts? I do not eat meat anymore, but I always see chicken breast for $1.99lb. That was either some premium expensive meat or massive portions! And bread for $3? I can buy a large artisinal organic loaf for $2 – what bread is she buying? Fruits and vegetables are not expensive. Shop in season or if all else fails bags of frozen spinach are $1-2 and are extremely nutritious. Buy strawberries and blueberries during the summer when they are very cheap and freeze them youself for the winter. Throw a handful into your morning oatmeal. Apples are 79 cents a pound around here in fall and winter and bananas are always very cheap. So you can't afford Starbucks? Who cares? You are better off without the high calories drink.
I live in Spokane, WA and the cheapest chicken breast I have found (I LOVE chicken) is $4.99 a pound. I am 6' 4", not fat and about 210lbs. I only have to shop for myself and I spend $130.00 every 14 days to have the food I need.
Hi Luke,
If you don't mind frozen, you can usually find a bag of frozen chicken breast tenderloins for anywhere from $4.99-6.99 per bag. This is what I buy for my family of four, and I usually get 3-4 meals out of it =) Fried chicken, chicken pot pie, homemade chicken noodle soup, and baked chicken are a few of our favorites =)
Maybe those are drastic cross state differences then. At my regular supermarket today, whole chicken is 99 cents a pound and boneless, skinless chicken is $2.29/lb. At my local Whole Foods, organic pasture raised chicken breast is $2.59/lb. Much less than the price in the article.
You assume that the people on food stamps have nothing better to do than to go all over the state looking for bargains. Truth is most don't even have transportation except for buses, they have kids, and most of the ones I know have part time jobs or go to school. It's not easy for them, no matter what you think.
I never mentioned anything about driving around looking for bargains. I am just surprised that people keep saying healthy foods are so expensive. From my experience living in both NJ, NY, and MA, frozen vegetables are very cheap. Picking up the first circular I see: 1lb bags of vegetables are 10 for $10. Add some whole wheat pasta (4 for $5) and a can of beans ($.79) and you have yourself a cheap and healthy meal of less than $1 per serving. Unless you are living is some desolate urban area where everything is shut down and the closest food store you have is a 7-11 type convience mart, I do not see the problem.
I agree with the others on this not being a challenge if you plan out your meals and gather up some coupons. My DH and I have a self-imposed $30 a week grocery budget, so $15 a person. The trick? I cook all of our meals from scratch, and make sure there are leftovers for lunch the next day. I shop monthly at the Asian market in order to get the best deal on tofu and fresh vegetables, and once a week for staples. We are vegetarians so lots of beans and whole grains to along with the vegetables. To share my love of cooking I also started a budget-friendly vegetarian cooking blog :-)
We don't have to do this, however we had rather spend our money on vacations and visiting family.
If it is that difficult, why are the women using foodstamps so heavy? I rarely see a skinny mom using her food stamp card.
cuz they are stuffing twinkies, moonpies, chips and processed meats in their pie holes, thats why
don't forget, koolaid, soda and hot pockets in those pie holes as well
Ahhh, gotta love that ever-present sense of entitlement. It makes the world go 'round.
Ahhh, gotta love that ever-present sense of entitlement. It makes the world go 'round.
Ahhh, gotta love that ever-present sense of ent!tlement – makes the world go 'round.
Or because they are pregnant with their 5th child...
Or because they sell their food stamps for 50 cents on the dollar to buy booze, cigarettes, weed and fast food for themselves and their live-in pimp boyfriends.
Because cheap food often contain "fillers" which, while they may make you *feel* full, don't give you the nutrition you need – thus leading you to eat more. Or those "fillers" are things such a sugar or other high-calorie substances.
Have you ever gone to a Food Bank and seen what is available to the poor? I have. Meat is a rarity. Vegetables are usually either rotting or on the verge of rotting. Bread is available, but it is usually white bread (which has no real nutritional value). There are often beans and rice, which is good. Milk and juice are very rare. But do you know what they have in abundance? Cookies, cakes, donuts and all other manner of sweets. Stores can donate these items when they are at/past the "Sell By" date and the sweets tend to keep longer due to all the preservatives.
If someone is hungry, living off Food Stamps and possibly a Food Bank, they aren't going to throw the food away. If nothing else, it fills your belly. Organic and high-quality foods are expensive. Chicken can be found at decent prices, but forget beef. Cheap hot dogs, lunch meat that is on sale, lots of pasta (it's filling), etc. My wife and I do our best to eat healthy, but it can be difficult.
I served in the US Military for 8 years and am permanently disabled. My wife is partially disabled and has gone back to school to try to update her skills so that she can get a job that will work around her disability. In the meantime, we live on less per month than most people spend on their house payment. We don't like living off the government – but we have both worked hard, paid our taxes and put in plenty of years working (and for me, serving our Country). Without the help, we would be dead. It is that simple. So yes, I thank everyone that contributes to the economy and to the system that allows us to survive. But don't think for one moment that we are "living in luxury" or anything. We are not.
Daelda,
I thank-you for your service. May God bless you. I wish I could be helpful to you, but here is a recipe I have used that is very nutricious, goes a long way and is inexpensive. Saute 1 diced onion lightly, a carrot or two if you have them diced small in a non stick pan. Add any leftover rice that you have (at least 2 cups, but you can add lots if you have it, cold works best) Throw in any leftover bits of meat you have like ham, chicken, beef etc. Even a cut up hot dog can add some protein. Scramble an egg or two if you have them in the center, mix together well and add soy sauce to taste. I have also used frozen english peas at the end to bulk it up. This makes a great stir fry dish that is very filling, nutricious and goes a long way. If I had a way to communicate with you I would send more recipes.
Thank you Seeker. I actually make a very good Pork Fried Rice – cheap and nutritious. In addition, I make a *great* Thanksgiving Turkey (when I can afford it). My wife and I don't starve, but we also don't live with much in the way of excess. Going to a movie? Once or twice a year. Eating out? 1-2 times a year. Fast Food? Maybe every 2-3 months. We've been married for over 7 years and we are about to go on our first trip more than 50 miles from home – to visit her son (he's paying for the plane tickets).
We have internet as our main form of entertainment (and my wife needs it for school). We borrow books from the library and we parked the car once the weather got nice so that we could reduce our insurance and not pay for gas (used public transit).
Getting government assistance is time consuming, difficult and humiliating. You have to present your entire financial and living situation for scrutiny. Everything is examined, questioned, reviewed and recorded – and it can all be used against you if you are found to have lied about any of it. The penalties can include stiff fines, jail time, disqualification from government assistance programs for years, or for your entire life. Anyone who would CHOOSE to live on Welfare...is an idiot! Believe me, I would LOVE to not have to run around, gathering up a stack of documentation about my finances and my life several times a year and showing them to people. But I have no choice.
Bravo, sir.
It's easy in some people's worlds.
I've never actually had to go to a food bank or get assistance myself, but I wouldn't qualify even if I tried, because I make just a bit too much, I'm single and without kids. Most of the time I do okay, but I don't spend a lot on food except on certain special occasions. But when things get bad, you'll find me with a cart full of beans, rice, pastas and frozen pizzas (the kinds you can get for under a dollar). Because when you don't have enough, you eat whatever is available to you.
I count myself very fortunate to not be on the verge of starving, but I don't fool myself that it couldn't happen to me. Stories like yours help me keep my perspective on the reality of those situations.
You shouldnt be embarrassed at all. You have paid into this system both physically and financially. It was created to help people like you (and me) as a helping hand during tough times. It is the "lifers" abusing the system who make it hard for everyone else. Thank you for your service and I hope you and your family will see better days ahead soon.
I lived in Mexico for a while. Trying to eat like and American was expensive, eating like a Mexican was cheap (and delish). The author could eat well if he concentrated on filling cheap foods augmented with a small amount of meat. If you know how to cook cheaper cuts of meat you can also eat very inexpensively.
I produced a blog for a couple of months that specialized in high quality fancy meals for less than $5. It's perfectly doable.
What some people don't seem to get here is that this person who had difficulty getting a week's worth of food for under $30 is in BROOKLYN, where food is expensive. That's why it was so hard to get as much food as they did.
I live just outside of DC in what is considered to be the most expensive area of the US (also area with highest income in US) and I still manage to spend $30 a week or less for two people. I buy store brand for all of my staples and shop at the local Asian Market/Farmers Market for fresh produce. I also use coupons when possible, but since I don't buy heavily processed items most of the coupons go towards pasta and household products (shampoo, toothpaste, pledge, etc.)
I also have a terracotta garden (pot garden) for fresh herbs and tomatoes, items that I would otherwise be forced to splurge on. Bread? I make my own for about $0.30 (whole wheat) or $0.20 (AP) a loaf.
Location is NO excuse!
Get a big box of cereal – store brand, boring cereal – and a gallon of milk. Buy some pasta – generally under $1/lb (and a pound is about 1600 kcal) and cheap-ish sauce. PB&J for lunch should complete the rest of the day. It doesn't have to be exciting, just has to sustain you.
A week's worth of eating is around 14,000 kcal. $30 per week is about 500 kcal/dollar. Remember that whenever you buy anything.
Another thing to remember is that food stamps are supposed to be a supplement, NOT THE ENTIRE FOOD BUDGET. Also, is the $30 alottment per person or family?
The author should be ashamed to admit that she is struggling (or expting to struggle) to eat for $30/week. Many people who don't even need do it can do it without any real effort.
I would like to know what stores you are shopping at friend. I use coupons galore and still there is no way I could live on $30.00 a week for groceries.
Good article.
It’s sad the state of affairs of millions of Americans now days, many people are barely making it in the riches country on the planet.
I’m all for food stamps for the people who really need them, There are people who were poor and need help. And we have a responsibility to them and to this country. Through no virtues and accomplishments of our own, we have been fortunate enough to be born in the United States under the most comfortable conditions. We, therefore, have a responsibility to others who are less well off.
Before I get accused by tea baggers and republicans of being a liberal, if feeling compassion for my fellow Americans is a being a liberal so be it. I’m not writing this comment out my mother’s basement; I am of the “few” fortunate Americans with a job, I’m working 60 hours a week, thank god I don’t need any body’s help financially but I know that millions in this country do.
In the words of Ted Kennedy:
"There is discrimination in this world and slavery and slaughter and starvation. Governments repress their people; millions are trapped in poverty while the nation grows rich and wealth is lavished on armaments everywhere. These are differing evils, but they are the common works of man. They reflect the imperfection of human justice, the inadequacy of human compassion, our lack of sensibility towards the suffering of our fellows. But we can perhaps remember - even if only for a time - that those who live with us are our brothers; that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek - as we do - nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness.
USA is destined to be like Rome.
I am so conservative that I could make Reagan look like a fan of Welfare, but I agree with you. It is nothing short of a travesty that people (let alone children) go hungry in our nation, which is one of the wealthiest on Earth. And while abuses will always exist, I would rather we as a society err on the side of some welfare recipients abusing the system over scrapping the whole thing.
Thank you for saying this. I don't know where all the hate comes from–I sometimes imagine these commenters to be frothing at the mouth over their keyboards.
Well of course there are abuses of the welfare system. I see them myself all the time. But that does not mean that helping out the poor is a bad idea. It just means that corruption and lack of morals is EVERYWHERE. If I were to look the other way when I saw real need, then I would be no better than the immoral lot who abuse the system. Two wrongs do not make a right.
And with that said, I think the food stamp allotment should be reduced. I know a family of 5 who receives $700 a month. That's ridiculous. Also, the assistance should be in the form of vouchers for nutritious food staples, instead of the current system where the recipient can use that credit on virtually any edible product. The WIC program uses a voucher system. If it works well for WIC, it can work for food stamps. In the end, if you cannot stomach peanut better and legumes, then that serves as a good incentive to bust your butt to better your financial situation. No one should go hungry in this country, but by the same token, no one should ever be too comfortable on public assistance.
"I scan the chicken and pick up two breasts for $4.62...a loaf of bread (on special but still a whopping $2.99!)...I choose a small brick of Café Bustelo espresso for $2.86" +++++ This producer is NOT a good shopper. In fact, she's awful. This is like having someone who failed Algebra I describe how to do a Calculus problem! She ignores the things that poor people know are cheap: $1.19/lb hotdogs, 49 cent packages of store-brand mac and cheese, etc. If you're going to do such a story, have someone who knows how to shop get the food! I'm better off than most and I NEVER pick up two chicken breasts for $4.62. I look at the sell-by dates and make sure I'm in the store that day (for the sales) and buy chicken for 49-89 cents per pound. Then she gets bread for $2.99. It's 99 cents at Aldi – $1.49 for whole wheat, $1 at dollar-type stores, and some supermarkets do the same for their store brands. You can get enough Folgers coffee for less than $10 to make 380 cups at Costco (have a friend get it if you can't afford membership). And for the same price I get a large brick (11-12 oz) of Cameron's, Eight O'Clock, etc. whole-bean coffee shipped to me from Amazon. Also, she says meat and fish are impossible. Occasionally, I see top-round or bottom-round ("London broil") steaks for $1.789/lb, most recently at ShopRite. I bought a lot and froze it. Fish sticks are relatively cheap sometimes and frozen, boneless, Tilapia fillets are occasionally on sale at 4 lbs/$10.99 ($2.75/lb) at my local Shoppers supermarket. Tilapia is an excellent tasting fish, which I prefer to Pollock or Mahi Mahi. I would have trouble eating nutritiously for $30/month – especially if my sources were constrained due to poverty limiting my ability to travel, but I could do it.
Each employee in the Justice Department needs to be restricted to live on $30.00 per week and then they would not allow $16.00 muffins to be served at their meetings. This is what is wrong in Washington, their lack of real understanding the real pain in this country. We need change we must cut costs and live within our means. Spreading the wealth would occur naturally if we were not in such great debt.
Samo for us Canucks
Something people overlook: The cost of cooking. Ingredients are all well and good to calculate, but if you want to bake a potato in a toaster oven for an hour and 15 minutes, a heating element running 1500w for 1.25 hours assuming 98% efficiency and 30% BTU loss (convection and radiation mostly) you could be looking at upward of $.16 to cook your potato. Sounds silly, but eat a potato each day and just heating it becomes 1/30 of your budget. This example may sound petty, but consider the efficiency of your stovetop or keeping your coffee maker turned on. And put a lid on your pots... it takes 3 times longer to boil water if you have it uncovered. There is LOTS of latent energy in steam, thats why they used it to move trains.
Buying ingredients for $30 a week may be easy, actually EATING may not be so simple.
Oh, and Crock pots FTW.
I spend about $300-400 in the summer and can and freeze all the fruits and vegetables I can find. I have three freezers, two of which I bought from garage sales for around $25 each. I then have all the fruits and vege that I need until the next growing season a year later. I then just need to buy perishables such as cheese and milk, which I buy in bulk (for sometimes just a few dollars more than if I had bought a much smaller size at the grocery). Most hard cheeses will freeze, so it is there when I need it. I also buy some things in bulk at Aldis, such as canned milk, which is great for making rich soups with the vegies that I have frozen. It does mean having a summer budget, but I plan ahead so that I can eat like a queen during the winter.
Indeed, worth emulating.
Damn, Karen, are you single??
Karen,
Running 2 extra freezers year round is not saving you any money. You're getting frozen veggies then (why not just buy frozen to begin with?).
2 Freezers probably run in excess of $10 /month in just electric alone.
Frozen veggies can be bought for under $1/lb at many grocery stores here in the Philadelphia region.
I suggest the following:
1. Bulk packages of meats – you can regularly get ground meat for $1.99/lb.
2. Spaghetti Sauces – $1 per container
3. Pasta – $1 or less per lb.
Dollar store has 2 of these Walmart even sells cheaper.
That's a spaghetti and meatball past dinner for 3 people for $4.
I agree that $30 for 3 people a week is not enough but honestly I'm very well off and I have chosen not to have kids until I have a buffer in case of "tough times". I suggest that people make more conscious decisions on what they are doing.
I understand there are some that have just been unlucky (job loss etc) but a vast majority choose to have children with bums out of wedlock. If we just eliminated the 1/2 of the people that do this, then we could give those who actually need it more and STILL save money on the welfare system.
If someone accepts food stamps / welfare, while they are on it they should NOT be allowed to have kids. plain and simple. If the government is paying for your children already then you shouldn't be allowed to have more!
I hate that government gets involved with many things but I believe that if you accept money from them for certain things, then certain freedoms should be given up.
If someone is staying in your house, then they have to live by your rules. Why not the same with government assistance?
I am a large man, and eat on ~$30/week. What on earth were you eating before now, that having that budgetary limit is making it difficult for you??
You simply have to embrace the leftovers!!
Completely agreed! I don't understand what's so hard about eating cheap. I feed my family of four healthy meals for around 80-100 dollars per week. We do eat about 3-4 meals a week that are meatless and that are "beans and rice" or pasta w/ sauce type of meals. My grocery bill is more in the summer when fruit is good, but if it's expensive or out of season, I don't buy it. I don't buy name brand anything - always buy store generic, since it's cheaper than name brand with coupon (my grocery store does not double coupons though). Make a menu every week or every two weeks, and make an extensive grocery list before you go grocery shopping. Don't ever go without a list, don't ever go shopping hungry, and don't ever buy stuff that's not on your list. It takes discipline but we've been eating & buying food this way for years and we have saved a ton of money!
Part of the problem is the (artificial) parameter that were set. There was no carry-over on this at all. Start from scratch and stay within the single week's budget. It would be much easier to have some food carry from week to week so that one can take advantage of sales, and pick up some things that maybe last longer than a single week.
It’s a good challenge to undertake and will require you to learn some good stuff about food, nutrition, money and yourself. Half of the world lives on less than two dollars per day, so, it can be done.
You said that you knew you were making poor choices when you selected some things at the store. You were right. Coffee and a three dollar loaf of bread! C’mon! No Red Bull either, okay? Americans have to change from the Twinkie-Fast food,over-processed choices that big companies foist onto us that thin our wallets and thicken our butts.
The American Indians taught the conquistadores how to use what the Spanish called tres hermanas , the three sisters of corn, beans and squash. That is the real fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon was after; the secrete for the long life of your body and your $$$: whole grains, beans, and inexpensive vegetables.
There should be no food stamps. The poor should line up and get one bag of beans and one bag of rice per month. They can survive on beans and rice three times a day, every day, and not starve. If it's good enough for third world countries then it's good enough for the poor.
@TeaMan: I'm no fan of the Teaparty either, but this obvious attempt at baiting / trolling is rather pathetic.
It was meant to be obvious. I don't want my message to get lost in the real Tea Bagging filth.
That should work well... Except for how long the line would be.
Far to many people in this country in a bad way. Maybe everyone should try to live like this for a while. The "Walk in my shoes" idea. Than maybe we could have a serious discussion... Not.
Don't be a moron. There is no reason for any of us to starve but some people are so afraid that someone is getting something free on their watch they say ridiculous things like this.
Food in America should be the cheapest. Problem we don't hold people in office accountable and I'm not talking about the president, but Congress the majority of whom are millionaires and are so out of touch they would sell the food out of your mouth if they could get elected to their cushy jobs again.
My mom raised my three sibs and me on $75.00 a month but that was back in the mid '70's when you actually got value for your money, this is a travesty.
The author of this story is as out of touch as congress, who can afford Starbucks five days a week?
I'm lucky I can buy a small container of instant coffee every few months.
I Worked for 30 years before becoming disabled, I don't get food stamps, I need them but for now I'm ok, in a few more years we'll all probably need them especially that member of congress who said after taking care of his family, he only has $400,000 dollars left.
I've spent a little more of that amount on food while in college at Boston. Nothing new and for the price of the (2!) chicken breasts, I bought a 4 lb bag of frozen chicken thighs. Ended up defrosting and portioning out the entire thing myself. Or you can buy an entire chicken for less and debone it yourself.
Weekly grocery shopping while in college:
Bread 2.50, the multigrain kind
Box of pasta $1
Cereal 2.50 (generic)
Misc fruits $3-5
Misc Meats and dairy $7-9
Misc Veggies $4-6
Misc monthly expenditures divided by week ( such as a 10 pound bag of rice):$6-7
So for the price of around 33-35 dollars, along with comparison shopping with store flyers and frequenting an asian supermarket for cheaper prices, I managed to eat quite well for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In comparison, I went grocery shopping with my friend one time and she spent $75 on herself just by choosing brand names, convenience packages, and shopping solely at a rather expensive supermarket (shaw's). It's really all about figuring out how to balance nutrients with your budget.
For myself? Yes, I could spend $30 a week on food, but I don't have to, so I won't.
Right now for my family of 5, I spend around $150 a week on groceries. Sometimes more, sometimes less. For me, it depends on what the bargains are. If there is a huge sell on steak or ground meat, I will buy in bulk. I have a separate freezer to store it in, to use as I need. Pretty much the same with all meat products.
What really kills my budget more often than not, is fresh vegetables and fruits. I have an 18 month old and an 8 year old. I need them to get the proper nutrition, not matter how much the 8 year old screams about it. I make the baby food by hand, I can make 18 servings worth of a vegetable product for what it would cost me to buy 4 servings already canned.
I don't think it's bad, since we're a 2 income family of less than $21,000 a year. Oh. And I don't get food stamps. Or free health insurance. We'll cut something out of our 'lucky' budget before we get help when it is not needed. Lucky being, cutting the cable, suspending a cell phone, not buying a video game or movie, cutting streaming service to movies, that sort of thing. What I put in my family's stomach is more important than the other things, and I don't want to have to rely on anyone else and take the easy way out to do it.
18 servings for the same price as 4 pre made?? That's insane!! Good for you! I wish more people would take responsibility for themselves and their families, and if things get tough, make the choice to forgo something to keep they're families fed I stead of keeping their 130 a month iPhone plan but making the government buy their food!
Wow! I totally commend you on making it work on $150. The baby food you make not only saves you money but also is healthier for your baby! :-) I have a hard time keeping my food budget at $200/week for my family of 6, although all four of my kids are teens (19, 18, 16 and 12) so they eat as much, if not more, than my husband and I do. We have our "cheap" nights (hot dogs & mac'n cheese or manwiches) but also try to cook good, homemade meals several times per week.
Food stamps were never meant to be the entire food budget. I also have seen food stamps being used for items I could not afford, or at least make less expensive choices
I feed 2 adults and frequent visitors on $200 a month in food stamps. My cupboards and refer/freezer are nearly full at all times with enough food to last 2-3 months. Careful shopping and forward planning are crucial, and almost every course of every meal is prepared from scratch. We eat very well and very well balanced meals; and with sufficient variety to rarely eat the same dish twice in a given month. Frankly, I cannot tolerate the foul tasting and unhealthy garbage that most people I know consume for their meals at $200 or more a week. Sadly, most of those people do not know how to cook.... heating canned goods or nuking something from a pretty box is NOT cooking.
Already do. It's called going to college. You'll get used to rice and bologna.
Coupons, now available on the internet, helps. Last month I found a $.75 off Fiber One bread. And took it to a store that doubles coupons. Don't know of any that do that in NYC.
I DO eat on $30.00 a week–and have for a long time. Pretty easy if you do a little planning ahead and make the right choices. I buy nearly all fresh food, whether meat or veggies and fruit–and improvise. A whole chicken can make AT LEAST three good meals, sweet pototoes are yummy baked, frozen veggies make virtually any kind of vegetable available year round and there are tons of recipes for nourishing, inexpensive meals everywhere online. It's not brain surgery, people, just get creative and learn to cook instead of relying on dinner-in-a-box.
Nobody has commented on the jar of Skippy? Does anyone pay any attention to what that crap is made of? Palm oil. One of the worst things you can ever eat. Food stamps should be used for healthier options like: fruits, vegetables, real peanut butter, milk, eggs and 100% juice, beans, lentils and quinoa. That is all anyone needs really.
3 meals a day per 7 days a week = 21 meals. Is it ironic that the ad in the upper right corner of this article is for McD's Dollar Menu? That's a hot sandwitch every meal and it's only $21! What to do with the rest of the $7??? ($2 was for the tax at McD's)
If you eat nothing but a McDonald's sandwich 3 meals a day, not only will you blow up like a balloon from the fat, but you'll probably start going into organ failure in a couple of weeks from eating no nutrients. Haven't you heard Ironyislost? Our country is suffering from an obesity epidemic right now. Your math might be on, but your idea of a meal is way off.
Running is free
Buy whole food ingredients like oatmeal, brown rice and barley. Dried beans, lentils, eggs and cottage cheese. If you keep your pantry stocked when/if you have to cut back you can make it on even less than $30 a week. Buy from the bulk section of the market – don't buy anything premade, ever. Putting the effort into cooking is healthier anyway. Cut back on meat two or three days a week. Learn to bake bread, learn to make the things you take for granted. A person can eat very well on $30 a week.
Have a look: http://www.inspiredhomecooking.com/2010/06/1500-week-food-budget.html
$30 per week per person? Piece of cake. I regularly pay no more than $100 for 4, and there's still leftover food at dinner. The trick is to buy unprocessed food like fresh fruit and vegetables. It's better for you anyway. No need to buy tender cuts of beef. It's the cooking that counts. Better yet cut out red meat and just buy chicken or pork. I go to an Asian grocery store that is vastly cheaper than your average supermarket. And the variety of meats and vegetables they have you wouldn't believe.
If you really know how to cook, it is much easier. Many people have never learned to cook. They consider putting a frozen dinner in a microwave to be cooking. Cooking with raw foods is a skill that many people have never learned. How many children are taught to cook by their mothers anymore? In most families, both parents have to work and so they tend eat out several times a week. If they lose one of their incomes, they can no longer afford to eat out and must adjust to eating at home. Suddenly someone has to start cooking every meal.
Many of comments come from people who know how to cook and so it seems to be a minor problem to them. I would guess that many people have never really cooked anything in their life. So having a skill like cooking becomes very handy when you are poor. Just like being able to fix your own car when it breaks down.
I can eat on $30 a week but I'm awfully grouchy when I do. I have Greek yogurt, bananas, green beans, and ExtendShake everyday. It's great for my diabetes–keeps my blood sugar super normal and my energy is up but it always feels like I'm missing out. I'm gluten intolerant and carb sensitive in addition to being diabetic.
I fed a family of 5 last year including a 3 teenagers (one a boy!) for $70/week. Easy? No, it took planning. Doable? Of course. Coupons. Sales. The author spent $2.99 for a loaf of bread? I could by 3 loaves of good, name-brand bread at Dollar Tree for that amount, or make wonderful homemade rosemary bread for .25 cents a loaf (grow my own herbs in pots). Cook ahead. Buy bulk when possible. Put leftover bits and pieces of meat and vegetables in a homemade soup–restaurant quality food at pennies a serving. $30 per person is more than doable. There is also an organization called Angel Food Ministries that sells good meat and fresh fruits and vegetables at a deep discount. I never took advantage, figuring we were managing on our $12 each and others were worse off, but the organization is there.
So...do you have advice for any families that don't live in Disney's Magical Kingdom or is this just for the Mickey Mouse Club?
Why do you need to insult sOmeone who is handing out advice!
What the author, and many, many food stamp recipients fail to realize is that food stamp benefits (or SNAP, as the program is now known) were never meant to provide the full food budget for a household.
Before it was a money transfer system, there was just government surplus redistribution. They provided agricultural production price supports by buying up surpluses and using that, rather than paying producers not to produce and paying low income people to buy food. The subsidy levels are insane now, but all anyone talks about is the food stamp side of the funding.
Government cheese was actually good, once you cut the mold off the skin. Picking out the non-moldy bread didn't work as well for me though.
I remember the days of the government surplus - in fact the cheese is something I still long for. That was real cheese and not the garbage they try to pass off as real cheese in today's market. Govt Surplus was a much better program than SNAP and WIC as it provided the basic staples to people and did not allow them to buy the junk food and processed foods.
In addition, the surplus program actually served as a stabilizing force for the farmers - but today we pay the farmers no to grow and then pay the needy to buy junk food. But wait, I am certain that it was a liberal congress that stated that the govt surplus program was too costly for the American people (vs. what we have today?????)
I'm impressed with all of the ideas. I was laid off from my job one month ago. I used to spend $50 a week on just lunch for myself when I was working. I once spent $35 on 1.5 lbs of halibut. I've gotten more cost conscious since then. I would love to try the $30 per person a week challenge. Thanks for providing the grocery lists!
Interesting, but hardly a problem! I have by choice lived on less than that for a number of years in large part because I'm also feeding some 'family members' who don't qualify for assistance, and they do not do without. I have never accepted food stamps or other aid – but love to cook and don't buy anything that's taken the fun out of that cooking. Granted, I have my own hens (so a wonderful supply of eggs) and garden when the climate permits (don't ask about the effect of the great southern drought this year). But yes, a whole chicken lasts me over a week, and I do bake my own bread. I have some serious dietary limitations, and those are proving costly – there are things I simply cannot eat and others I can but shouldn't. But eating comfortably and creatively and healthily for $30 a week is hardly a challenge!
I know it varies by region, but we spend $50/week for 2 adults and 1 child here (just food, not toiletries, etc.). Mainly, we shop the ads–either going to a store that honors competitors' prices, or planning which store we visit based on who has the best deals that week. Forget brand loyalty! We don't buy processed foods (except for the rare sale priced item combined with coupons), and we don't feel deprived. I can appreciate the writer's thoughts, but really, she sounds like someone who really doesn't cook. I think it would've been helpful to know how much she was spending on groceries before her experiment.
Me and my wife spend no more than $200 a month in groceries. We cook at home and eat meat and vegetables every day. That is less than $30 a week for each of us. So I don't see the problem in living on $30 each per week.
It actually depends on whether you are single or have a family. If you actually cook, cooking for three is about the same price as cooking for one. You just don't have nearly as much leftovers.
Also, for a minimal investment, you can grad some top soil, vegetable seeds, and a watering can. You can grow a large portion of your own vegetables relatively cheaply. Sure, your lawn won't look as nice, but that should be a non-issue if you have trouble finding the money to feed your family.
Well we spend about 140 a month for food for 2 adults, a baby, and two dogs. So yeah 30 a week is awesome eating if your single.
17.5% of your pay check should go to food. So if you lived off of 30 dollars a week that would come to 171.43 week. dived that by 7.25 an hour, that is 24 hours a week.
You neglected taxes in your calculation, but I like where you're coming from.
Something people overlook: The cost of cooking. Ingredients are all well and good to calculate, but if you want to bake a potato in a toaster oven for an hour and 15 minutes, a heating element running 1500w for 1.25 hours assuming 98% efficiency and 30% BTU loss (convection and radiation mostly) you could be looking at upward of $.16 to cook your potato. Sounds silly, but eat a potato each day and just heating it becomes 1/30 of your budget. This example may sound petty, but consider the efficiency of your stovetop or keeping your coffee maker turned on. And put a lid on your pots... it takes 3 times longer to boil water if you have it uncovered. There is LOTS of latent energy in steam, thats why they used it to move trains.
Buying ingredients for $30 a week may be easy, actually EATING may not be so simple.
The Cost of Cooking ... thanks Schlangeman, a good point to consider. I'll drop the quick microwave and use my gas range. The gas is free in my building.
17.5% SHOULD(?) be spent on food? Says who?
Tofu–$1.79 at my local Kroger, and it's organic! Makes cutlets mixed with a bit of veggies/edamame/soy sauce
Tofu stir fry–freeze tofu, drain well (wrap in towel, weight, pour off water), cut in cubes.
Tofu fritata–lightly fry diced carrots, zucchini, onion, mix with shredded cheese and 2 T soy sauce-bake 40 mins.
Learn how to drain and cook this resource.
Rice, beans, onion fried in olive oil, cilantro. Yum!
Lentils (69 cents/lb) and bulgar wheat, topped with onions slow-fried in olive oil (recipes online) Top with yogurt.
Lentil stew
15-bean soup (comes in bag in soup aisle–about $2.50). Makes a ton.
Best cheap and easy bread recipe: 4 cups flour, 1 T. salt, 2 pkgs yeast, 1 2/3 cups very warm water–add water to dry ingredients and knead (or process 1 minute in processor). Let rise 1 hour, punch down & make 2 balls. Place on cornmeal sprinkled baking sheet, cut x on top and bake 400 degrees 30 mins.
Any pasta mixed with any vegetable and olive oil. Top with grated cheese.
... and thank you, JFritz, for the recipes. It is heartening to find that so many people find it quite easy to eat very well on $30 a week or less. I certainly do. I shop for on sale items, cook with basic ingredients, and bake bread, cakes, and cookies. When you start to eat REAL home made food, you can't bear the idea of going back to expensive nutrient-poor, and even toxic processed foods. And cooking is fun!
... and I forgot to add – you feel so much better, and have so much more energy when you eat real food.
Awesome, thanks JFritz!
Interesting point on the hidden energy costs associated with cooking. Of course, if one is willing to prepare foods in larger batches it's possible to maximize the efficiency of energy use while saving one's time. Instead of using a toaster oven, (which typically has massive heat loss issues), to bake a single potato use a large gas or electric oven to bake 4 and make a few loaves of bread simultaenously. Incidentally, cooled, well-wrapped bread loaves freeze beautifully for weeks! Also, once the oven has been turned off it's possible to use the residual heat to warm lefovers and/or dehydrate thin slices of fruit and veg like apples, pears, carrots and kale for healthy, tasty and cheap snacks.
I'm trying to remember how long ago it was that we could get chunk light tuna in water on sale 3 cans for a dollar.
Not 4 cans for $3.
I think that the cans were 6.5 oz. then, not 5.5 oz.
You had 30 dollars for an entire week and you bought peppers? Really? No cereal? One but not two packs of pasta (dinner for four nights at least for at most $2.50)? And you spent 10% of your food budget on coffee? You aren't entitled to anything, so don't complain when you spend money on things you don't need.
This post illustrates some of the problems with food stamps. You shouldn't have been allowed to purchase peppers. It's a vegatable, sure, but it's expensive, has no real caloric benefit, and is generally a waste of money when you are being given free food. You also ignore that people with children get that $30 for each person in the house. If you have three children, it's pretty absurd to state that you could not live and eat comfortably on $120 per week. Cereal each morning and pasta a few times a week for dinner and you've spent no more than $20 of your weekly budget on half your meals. It doesn't matter, though, since I'm sure I'll continue to see people at the grocery store using their food stamps to buy $50 worth of goldfish, soda and chicken wings, and returning diapers when they exceed their limit.
You seem so bitter and angry. It takes a special kind of personality to complain about the purchase of a pepper. "OMG you bought a freakin pepper with your hard earned cash while pretending you were on a food stamp budget!!"
Calm down and stop trying to be so controlling and you may find someone to love you someday.
Peppers are fruits, not vegetables.
She's got pretty expensive tastes for someone with $30 to spend on food for a week. She shouldn't tried out some of the discount grocers....and clipped some coupons.
It's because she's just doing this as an experiment. She doesn't really relate to the experience of someone being so broke that they can't splurge on little things like coffee (and as one commenter suggested – a pepper.) She just bought them anyway knowing that her experiment is only temporary.
I agree that they are somewhat odd and random choices. The article would have been much more interesting (and helpful) if she had followed the $30/week rule for 2 weeks and documented not only how hard it was to stick to the budget, but also the different choices she made the second week and why.
We are family of 4 adults and spend around $500 on grocery food every month.
We eat plenty of meat, veggies, fruits etc. Show your veggies and fruits on local farmers market
Guys...what century is this writer living in? Or at least what decade? It's really difficult in places of the USA where you can live on $30 a day in food. This is more like 1950s thinking or maybe the 70s.
Did they ask people in Arizona and California if they can live off $30 a week. Folks south of Vegas would laugh in the writer's face? Maybe in the midwest where the odds that you're paying for the delivery of the food is lessened due to the growing season and stores working with the local farms to provide fresh stuff (or the ever friendly roadside stands that pop up starting in August and, of course, the Farmer's Market where you can get fresh stuff right out of the field...picked that very day (or maybe the day before...LOL) But, in places where everything pre-packaged and prepared for you...nah, you can't live off $30 a week...I know that from experience.
Oh well.
I live in Southern California and have no difficulty living on $30 per week. I do go just over that with my 2 buck chuck wine from Trader Joes or the equivalent at Fresh & Easy.
I eat very well =lots of veggies and fruit, a little fish and sometimes chicken; dark chocolate for my sweet tooth, some brown rice 1-2 times per week.
I live in Tucson and have no problem spending only 30 a week, and I buy almost all organic, it's called planning meals, nit buying crap you don't need and home cooked meals!! It isn't a problem here, farmers markets are the hidden treasure for me to do it!,
I just started getting $90.00 a month is food stamps and feel I have won the lottery. It may not seem like much, but it is wonderful. The author does not realize that this frees up money – cash to be used elsewhere...like bills and gas and medicine. My food stamp application was processed so quickly too...I am so grateful to my DSS office. And there are local food pantries too. And you always DO have access to what you already have at home, so her experiment is not completely accurate.
I like the attention that this author is bringing the situation, but she seems a bit too eager and her great sense of distance from women like me is too transparent.
I was a single parent, and my daughter and I ate on less than that many a time. My uncle sent me $100 for my birthday and Christmas, and guess what I spent it on? Food! Any time I had extra money, I bought canned goods to squirrel away. I worked full time but earned just over the limit to be eligible for food stamps. The closest we ever came to going hungry was when I had a huge car repair bill. For a week, until payday, we lived on potatoes. I fixed them every way I could think of and they still tasted like potatoes! What made me so mad during that time was my cousin and her husband, who had 4 kids and were self-employed. They lied about their income, and got all kiinds of aid - food stamps, free eyeglasses, Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets. I never lied about my income and never tried to "work the system," and I wasn't eligible for anything. This was back in the 1980's, and maybe the food stamp office didn't check things out so carefully. Thankfully, those years are behind us, as my daughter is now grown.
We have to be related. Call it New England survival, but I also squirrel away. I have a huge freezer (bought in 1978) that I keep fairly full of frozen dinners when they're on sale. My closed in porch is not heated so I keep the non-perishables stocked; if I have room for six cans and I have only four left it drives me NUTS!...I simply HAVE to buy the other two cans.
Most weeks I spend $100 and it's just me and the cats. But then again, I shop for the long haul not just for one week.
A dear friend of mine was a single mom for a long time, and active duty, and made $300 a year too much to qualify for aid!! Yet her neighbor, who ran a day car((self employed and lying about income) received everything you could think of for free! sad!! She became the best coupon shopper, master of recreating left overs and an amazing cook!! I think in the long run she made out better! (funny, from New England too) I actually learned my grocery shopping skills from her!!
I've lived on LESS than $30 a week for groceries, easily. There are a few basic steps to take:
1. Cut out all pre-prepared & convenience foods – WHOLE FOODS ONLY.
2. Frozen veggies have all the taste of fresh, but with a longer shelf life & lower price tag, and without the salt of canned (don't look for the crispy texture of fresh broccoli in a frozen bag, though). These are the one exception to the "no convenience items" rule above.
3. Frozen chicken breasts bought in 5lb bags and frozen, unbreaded fish fillets bought in bulk (Swai is my current favorite) are a very inexpensive form of protein.
4. Whole grains FOR THE WIN – brown rice, lentils, chick peas, etc. – filling, healthy, and CHEAP. Also think about adding whole grain pasta to your shopping list for a great flavor, fiber boost, and a way to stretch meats.
5. Beans bulk up meals without bulking up the bill – again, dried vs. canned.
6. Cut out non-food "foods" – beer, soda, etc.
I can eat like a KING for $30 a week, and can eat like a health-conscious bachelor for $10. I love to cook, and have been able to throw together delicious, nutritious meals with a per-serving cost of $1 – $2. Some of my favorites are home made from scratch falafel (baked in the toaster oven after a very light spritz of extra virgin olive oil vs. frying) with some curried chicken breast & rice or lentils, sesame noodles tossed with frozen stir-fry veggie mix (and made with a FRACTION of the oil & grease of store bought sesame noodles – UGH so greasy), and fish filet baked with a parmesan and dill weed crust on lemon-garlic brown rice with steamed Brussels sprouts. Breakfast for me is usually a crustless spinach and eggwhite casserole (one carton of eggwhites, one 28oz bag of frozen spinach, dill & onion powder, top with parmesan cheese & bake). That recipe makes four HUGE servings at about $1.50 each, or you can split it further for more savings.
Cooking on a shoestring budget requires forethought and planning; you can't just run out to the store every other day for this-and-that (and besides, what you save on grocery money you waste on gas money).
Thanks for the blurb on the swai. I see it in the grocery store a couple of times a year. It's cheap, and one of the best-tasting fish I've ever had. I had no idea it was also nutritionally sound.
I also eat swai and love it. great tasting, low calorie and very good for you
A couple of problems here. I do not handle raw meat. Two, there are certain grains I cannot digest.
Great minds think alike, Charlie. I, too, love falafel, and can yield about 32 patties from a box of mix, with the exact method of cooking you described. The boxed mix is very reasonably priced, and much less time consuming than making falafel from scratch.
I don't know if Costco and the like are allowed, following the methodology of the author, but buying a big bag of broccoli florettes from Costco is another good idea for vegetables. The chicken breasts you mentioned are good to buy there too.
It can be done if you have the time to shop the right way and plan. I'm not a meat eater so I survive on a salad a day with an apple, then again I'm only 100 pounds and want to stay that way. I have a cup of coffee in the morning, a light snack for lunch and then a salad for dinner and an applie about two hours later. If you have kids that want to eat a lot of snacks/junk then good luck, but by the looks of most Americans, seems like most people can do without all the extras. Take advantage of the BOGO discounts and freeze bread, meat, etc. Spaghetti is very inexpensive to make. Cereals can be bought on BOGOs with coupons, etc. Lots of people need education on how to shop properly for deals.
You're right Deb; it's very easy to live off of $30 a week when you eat what I am guessing adds up to less than 500 calories a day. The people with low budgets should be focusing on being healthy and giving their body the proper nutrients, not staying 100 pounds.
You sound like you have serious food issues, and a severe eating disorder. That, and you judge others' worth by what they weigh/look like. You must be a very unhappy person to willfully starve yourself on a daily basis. Your body will not function well without proper nutrients forever. You might as well be one of the overweight people for whom you show such judgmental disdain, there is no way you are properly nourished on coffee, a salad which I bet has fat free dressing, and an apple. Let me guess – your light snack at lunch is a celery stick and a cup of ice. You poor, pathetic, teeny, tiny size zero thing. You will be a very slender little corpse – probably sooner rather than later. It's called ANOREXIA. It's a control issue.
First, I am not anorexic and do not have an eating disorder. I have been small my entire life and don't feel the need to eat 3 meals a day because someone says I should. I just went to the doctor for a checkup and all my blood work is excellent. No high cholesterol, no high blood pressure, etc. I walk and exercise every day. For my height, I am the right weight. Secondly, I am not showing "disdain" for anyone overweight. I'm just saying people should cut out all the extra junk they eat. The author is writing about eating on $30 a week and all I'm saying is it's doable. Eat healthy, plan well, shop well and don't buy junk. I take a multivitamin/mineral supplement and get my proteins from eggs and other sources. Don't slam me when you don't know me!
That's not a very healthy diet sister. I understand you want to stay 100 pounds (I was once that skinny too...a perfect size five; then again I was in high school). Anyway, two packages of hot cereal (mix and match), the whites of two eggs, rice cake with butter.
I used to eat a whole box of Rice a Roni (teen years), but can't do it now. Now I eat frozen dinners, depending what's on sale.
And I have to have my large chocolate milk for breakfast.
HoJo's used to have English Muffin buttered-twice toasted, slice of American cheese, top with tomato, bacon, another piece of cheese and melt for 20 seconds. So just don't eat the bacon.
Deb is right. Smaller women just don't need as many calories. I'd guess she probably is getting between 1200-1500 calories daily, altho I do not usually count them, either. A salad can make a fine meal, especially if you include avocado, cheese and even chopped egg.
Unless you are allergic to them, it was very stupid not to buy eggs.
Just move to Asia. I know for sure that you can buy a complete meal for $1. Do that a few times a day and you'd come in well under $90 a month. Why pay money to the food conglomerates?
$30 per week doesn't sound like much at first. However, this equates to about $130 per month for one person or $520 per month for a family of 4. This is definitely enough. A few years ago when finances were tight for my family, we budgeted $250 per month for food for me, my wife and our two children. We got by on that without problem, month after month for 2 years. It wasn't steak and lobster every night, that's for sure. But it was enough for us to eat healthily. My family has now grown to 6, which would be about $750 per month in food stamps. We no longer monitor our expenses to the penny (don't need to anymore, thankfully), but my wife estimates that we spend $700 per month on groceries. And we don't hold back at all on what we buy ... lots of meats, fresh veggies and fruits, etc. I'm pretty sure that we could easily trim our grocery expenses to $500 a month for our family of 6, if we needed to. So in my opinion, the food stamp allotment could be reduced to $20 per week per person without harming the health of the recipieints, and it would certainly help out a bit on government spending.
While we are at it, let's just allow $10 a week for children because they are smaller, and really, what the hell are they doing getting the same as an adult?
And BTW, estimating is not calculating. I bet if your wife actually sat down and figured to the penny what she spends every month, it might not be as little as she thinks she spends. Don't forget to add the side trips for things like milk and bread.
Food Stamps is now referred to as SNAP benefits. The benefits are issued through a card, not stamps, thus the name change. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. They are meant to supplement your food budget, NOT REPLACE IT. Yes, some folks abuse it but some, especially seniors, rely on these benefits to help them through the month. Seniors should not have to decide if they will pay for their medication or eat. They should be able to do both! The entire Medicare Drug Plan mess needs to be revisited...but that another thread!
I know what my parents would say...go back to ration cards. I know they used to be traded with other people (which was illegal). Once the ration books were used up, that's it. Just ask anyone who grew up in the 1940s.
Wow...OMG. This makes me feel so grateful that when I was growing up with my mother and every friday in a month or two we had salmon for those nights. It's really sad that looking at this article makes me realize how painful it is to survive only on forty dollars or less a week. I can't even do that despite the fact I work for the military. I give props to the people who are more grateful than I was before I decided to grow up and join the Navy.
Wow. I seriously spend around $20 per day, average. I would be miserable. Especially when training or doing any kind of endurance work outs.
I feed my family of 4 (soon to 5) on a $70 a week budget. I think if I was only feeding myself, I could definitely make $30 work. I use coupons, shop carefully, don't buy pre-made food, and plan my menus carefully so that I can use leftovers to make another meal. It's common sense. It can be done.
Being pro-life, I love it you're having a baby. Congrats!
Personally, I myself can live very nicely on $60 a week maximum if I don't go hog-wild and impulse buy.
Very Christian of you. I'm pretty sure Christ said "F66k the poor" too. Grow a conscience.
er, that was supposed to be a reply to some j@ck@ss whose post has since been deleted. "Nevermind...."
I am able to consistently feed a family of 3 (2 adults and 1 child) on $40/wk. We always have left overs and we're never hungry. We don't even really eat that unhealthy at all.
Maybe if most of us weren't raised as spoiled brats often receiving instant gratification in many forms (including ready-to-eat meals and fast food) more of us would be better equipped to stretch our grocery dollars further. The sky and our imaginations are the real limit.
Details on what and how you buy and eat would be much appreciated.
Tom, can't give you too much detail in a short post, most Americans eat too much meat. Cut your meat servings to 3-5 oz. Eat a hot breakfast cereal in bulk boxes, not expensive envelopes. Cook a pot of beans-soak them over night, drain and cook in enough water to cover with a three of so chicken bouillon cubes and serve with homemade cornbread and diced onions. The next day make a batch of rice with bouillon cubes to flavor and have beans and rice with left over corn bred or homemade biscuits. The third day, saute a half pound of hamburger or ground turkey, add a 6 oz can of tomato paste, a pinch of sugar, a tablespoon of chili powder, a teaspoon of cumin and 1/2 tsp of thyme and enough water to make a thinnish sauce. Add a bit of cayenne if you like it hot. Simmer for an hour or two, rinse the last of the beans and add for a delicious chili. If you have any chili left, roll it up in a flour tortilla with a tablespoon or so of grated cheese. You can do the same kind of thing with chicken. Buy one whole and make stir fry with 1/2 chicken breast and in season veggies bought fresh. Bake or grill the other breast half and chop it into cubes. Cook some rice on the stove top and then layer half in a baking dish. Add the chicken cubes. Stir a small can of Ortega mild green chilies (not jalapenos!) into a can of Campbells cream of chicken soup. Pour it undiluted over the rice. Sprinkle with a bit of monterey jack cheese and bake until everything is hot. Simmer the rest of the chicken well covered with wate until it completely falls part. Strain and reserve the broth. Put half aside for tomorrow. Pick all the bone gristle etc.from the chicken and put half away for tomorrow. Cook noodles in half the broth then remove with a slotted spoon. Open a can of refrigerator biscuits (the kind for 25 cents) and cut each biscuit in quarters Drop pieces in the rest of the remaining simmering broth (if you don't have enough broth add water and some bouillon cubes to taste) a few at a time. Turn them once and remove with a slotted spoon when they are shiny. Cut one in half to test for doneness. They should be dry in the middle. Repeat until all the biscuit is cooked. By then the broth will be more of a gravy. Mix the chicken meat with the noodles and pour the gravy over. Serve with the dumplings. The next day mix the rest of the broth, the other half of the chicken and the rice from the second day and serve hot with biscuits, or add more Ortegas and serve wit hot flour tortillas. You can adjust the seasonings on any of these dishes to suit your own taste. I got these from the book I mentioned in another post. think through all of the things you can do with with a piece of meat and then cook them one at a time. I usually freeze this stuff so we aren't eating the same basic food every day. After a while you will have lots ingredients for cheap easy meals in the freezer and you can have something different each night.
So anybody and everybody are spoiled brats who have ever eaten ready to eat meals or fast food? What? What is WRONG with people being so nasty. Get over yourself and quit being so arrogant and judgemental. That really was an idiotic blanket statement. You have no clue what you are talking about.
Bitter much?? Why because that's the mind set of Americans?? Over indulge, want everything now now now!! Nope, that's pretty much most of the problems in this country right now! Way to get all upset over the truth!
I can eat 30 McChickens a month!
Some of the comments here really make me sick. We are currently on food assistance. My fiance lost his job and is looking for another one. I work 3 part-time jobs. Since we started receiving assistance, I've noticed a vast decrease in the amount of unhealthy foods coming into this house. I'm much more able to budget and plan meals wisely now because of the amount we get each month. Once he finds a job, I'm perfectly fine with receiving less benefits. I grow vegetables each summer and store them over the winter in an attempt to cut down on food costs. We buy frozen chicken breasts to use for multiple meals. We aren't uneducated or greedy (since many people seem to think recipients are) and often times I feel guilty about using assistance even though we're barely getting by. I know that there are some people that abuse the system, but I can assure you there are real people that are grateful for the assistance. I think in addition to gaining food assistance there should be some nutrition education that goes along with that–as for us, we do not use our EBT card for junk food or energy drinks–we buy locally grown vegetables, fruits, and meats. I've seen a lot of comments from people saying "I live on ramen!" but it's really not healthy (as someone who got through college eating ramen). I'm grateful that I did grow up in a household that required budgeting and careful consideration with regards to food, because if our benefits run out, I'll be better prepared to deal with a slim budget.
Don't listen to those who lord over others in judgment while they hide behind a keyboard. I used to be a social worker and gave out benefits and 99% of my clients like you and your husband who had been working or are working but weren’t making enough to cover basic necessities. You put into the system while you were working and still do by the taxes that are taken out of your check. Especially for food stamps/ebt cards they are heavily federally subsidized. So all you are doing is getting a hand up with money you already have and continue to put in the system. People will find anything and anybody to call names and judge. They are just unhappy people who try to make themselves feel better by putting others down.
Your fine and I hope things get better for you soon. Don't you dare feel bad for asking for some help while you get yourselves back on your feet.
great answer Elizabeth. I too am sick of reading the comments of greedy people who begrudge food to those who need help.
Mom says there but the grace of God. Anybody can be so poor they have to rely on assistance tomorrow (including myself). My theory is as long as you've got a dollar coming in, stock up on essentials while you still have the dollar. That's it. Even though I'm unemployed, and "supposed" to be cutting back, I still manage to spend an extra $10 on groceries for the community pantry for those who are worse of than I am.
Get a whole chicken, and bake it (which is quite healthy, and easy!) And some pie crust. And some veggies.
Tonight's chicken is also a week's worth of delicious pot pie! (they freeze well, then you just pop them in the oven!)
Except I don't like pot pie, but some homemade chicken soup or stir fry will hit the spot quite nicely thank you very much.
I love buying whole chickens!! It's cheaper and so many meals!! (pot pies being my fav, though I still mess the crust up, it's getting there) chicken soup, chicken casseroles that i randomly throw left overs in, home made soup stalk!!! And my favorite part, all the organs, cooked up and becomes a great little treat for the dog!
Yikes! This poor woman will starve to death. She has no idea how to shop or cook. I wonder what she is going to do with the tuna? eat it out of the can with a fork? She bought more bell peppers than tuna. I guess she eats those things like apples. She is going to get very sick of farina. Instead of espresso to kick up her energy she should have planned nutritious meals! As for the woman who is sure she can do $150 because she has several $10 and $15 dollar meals in mind, that's just for dinner. What about breakfast and lunch. You can't slide by on the kids eating at school because some of these people have to feed preschool children or it might be summer. I think she will find she has to fall back on supplies she already has on hand or she won't make it. If I spend $10.00 on one meal, it must be a celebration. We average $3-5. for two. Sarah Autry's Hardtimes Handbook @surviveanythingt.webs.com has lots or recipes in that price range
If she utilized her well stocked pantry, with pasta she can make tuna salad. NO cream of tuna on toast (my parents' favorite meal of all time...goes back to childhood during Great Depression). Can stuff bell peppers with rice pilaf or simply white rice (I do that myself on Fridays during Lent). Spaghetti can be supplemented with homemade sauce like Mom used to make. REAL garlic bread.
Nothing wrong with Farina for supper, especially after a heavy (for me) lunch.
Eating on two dollars a day per person is doable if you educate yourself. Check out minimalistmenufesto.wordpress.com for the right way. Save your budget and save the planet. Basic trick is to lean on the use of cheap fruits and vegetables combined with whole grains and beans, nuts and seeds like the American Indians used to.
You are so right. Canned fruits and vegetables are low-cost, proven sources of nutrients and sometimes safer than fresh. Beans are very nourishing and can be combined with small amounts of meat if necessary. We have forgotten how our grandparents, (or in your case, great grandparents) lived.
Precisely. The last and only time I tried to eat raw spinach it noted in the news that it may be contaminated. Stick with canned...one brand/size or another is always on sale.
Baked beans are one of those durable (homemade is best) that can mix with rice for a meal or mix a hot dog in for casserole.
Beans, Rice, Canned Vegtables, Frozen Vegtables, Nuts and Seeds are a wonderful thing. Maybe once a month a Big pot of stew. $30 dollars a month should not be a problem for a family of one person. I am not a vegatarian I love meat but it is just too expensive. Pork is the way to go if you want meat.
i just checked out the website and it looks very interesting. Thanks for the tip, but I couldn't find anything on food or budget meals there. Can you point the way?
Read the main page all the way to the bottom. Then read the Rants. Let me know what you think!
I just checked that website again (I copied your web address) and I went to minimalistmanifesto. Didn't find anything for menufesto. What am I doing wrong?
It's minimalistmenufesto.wordpress.com. You wrote manifesto–with an "A". Try again?
I struggle with this debate as a person who believes in social services. I understand the dilema that right now that many Americans so must live on so little but I also feel that we have to alter the feeling of entitlment we feel to eat whatever we want. Through the generations of convenience we have enjoyed as a nation we have forgotten the art of resourcefulness. It is possible to eat healthy within this budget and not be confined to be a "dollar menunaire". My inlaws eat within this budget everyweek and they have two school aged kids still in the house. This is not because they cannot afford it but rather because they are from a country we call "third world." Still, they eat staples like rice or corn meal flower and veggies like cabbage, onion,and tomatoes everyday with beans or meat. I agree that it is sad that there are people here who cannot afford more than $30/week but it is hard to feel too much sympathy when our version of poverty is so drastically different than other countries.
Um, the real tragedy here is no one should have to live like that. In the country that feeds the freaking world, that we have so many so hungry is an OUTRAGE. Thank you for nothing, stupid politicians and my selfish fellow citizens.
The author's approach to this challenge is ludicrious, and her flippant approach to the planning and shopping process is a slap on the face to many who spend a great deal of time and care finding ways to feed themselves and their families on a very low budget. When I saw the headline to this article I grabbed a piece of paper and made up a grocery list based on sensible shopping, and maximization of healthy, nutritious foods. I also assumed I would be feeding more than one person for that $30 per week. When I finished my list, and began reading the article more fully, I was dumbfounded.
Here's my list:
$2.00 = 2 cans of concentrated orange juice
$2.00 = 1 week's worth of milk powder
$2.00 = 5 pounds potatoes (often on sale for less)
$4.00 = 1 whole chicken
$6.00 = 1 pork roast
$3.00 = veggies for cooking (celery, carrots, onions)
$3.00 = 2 loaves bread (yes you can find bread cheaper than $2.99 a loaf if you don't shop at Fresh Fields)
$2.00 = 1 pack of cheese
$3.00 = 1 dozen eggs
$1.00 = 1 week's worth of butter
$2.00 = fruit (bananas, anything else on sale)
This would feed a family of TWO for a week:
Breakfast can include: Milk, juice, toast, egg, french toast, breakfast potatoes
Lunches: cheese sandwich, chicken sandwich, leftover roast pork with potatoes
Dinners: Roast chicken, chicken soup, roast pork (sides of baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, carrots)
When I was young and poor my weekly groceries consisted of a $5.00 piece of beef (cut into 4 pieces, that was 4 days worth of dinner), 2 packs of ramen noodles per evening meal (10 cents a pack), a pack of hotdogs and 2 cans of beans, store brand macaroni and cheese for lunch (39 cents a box, about 4 boxes a week), oatmeal for breakfast, and milk.
I would be much more interested in the author exploring with REAL people who have to live on such a budget every week - the efforts they go through to feed themselves and their families - THAT'S a story worth reading.
You get more money if you have a dependent or a family.
You Go Girl! You sound like a true bargin shopper to me!
Absolutely. Every purchase needs to apply to more than one meal. A dozen eggs, loaf of bread, pkg of spaghetti, pound of ground beef (2 hamburgers 1/4 lb burgers on bread and 1/2 lb for spaghetti sauce), tomatoe sauce, rice, veggies....fried rice with egg and veggies, eggs scrambled with onions, tomatoes, and spinach.....You just have to plan it. The CLOSER to the earth the food is (less processed) the less expensive it will be and the healthier because of less preservatives and more fiber. $30 per week is do-able for one person.
you didn't get any green vegetables. A bag of frozen peas, or green beans should also be on your list.
Quit being so judgmental. A slap in the face? Don’t be such a drama queen. This is a reporter who is TRYING to find out how people feed their families on what little they have. She is TRYING to at least understand. This is the first week. And because she didn't shop like you think she should have you get arrogant and nasty. If you would have even bothered to read her article, she says she knows she will never know what it is like to really go through what people that have that little go through but again she is at least TRYING. And she also admitted she hadn't planned well and her purchases weren't the smartest. It is called learning from our mistakes. I would have been more impressed had your shared your knowledge with those of us that need it, without the judgmental arrogant commentary.
What a bunch of LIARS!!
ONE chicken and $6 worth of pork roast, LearningKat, to be stretched for two people for two weeks?
"7 soy burgers made from soy pulp (from the milk) @ 10 cents each: $0.70", Mark M.? What brand is that and where do you buy it? Is it as nutritious as, say...I dunno.. MEAT??
So..what people are saying here is "Nooo, the poor don't have to starve. They can have full bellies IF they make sure they buy mostly ramen, puts LOTS of water in that 'chicken soup' to make it last a few days AND eschew fresh vegetables and milk. Doesn't have to be any more nutritious than a bag of Cheetos..as long as a person eats, all is well with the world"
Did ANY of you ever spend a few weeks with a family living in poverty in the United States? You can pretend you know what you're talking about with your johnny-on-the-spot lists but, until you've actually TRIED to live on that without anything to fall back on when you tire of it, you're lying to yourselves and anyone foolish enough to believe you.
The $30 budget I worked up is for ONE week's worth of meals, not two. A whole chicken will feed one person four four nights as their main course, or two people for two nights, plus soup for leftovers at least one more night. A pork shoulder can be had for about 89 cents a pound, and you get a lot of meat from it. I have been poor, and I am not being dramatic. Privileged folks trying to "see what it's like to be poor" are nothing new, - I just would have hoped that by now such folks would see how insulting their behavior is. Whatever good intentions the author might have, she approached her "project" in a very flippant way. And lest you miissed the purpose of "opinion" columns, making judgments about their writing is what you are SUPPOSED to do.
I'm with you. I had to raise four kids on a tiny food budget. We planned and ate like you-even had steak once in a while, but NO potato chips, bags of candy, hostess cupcakes or any of those other meaningless expensive calories. We made cookies, pies, cakes and cinnamon bread, and occasional batch of fudge for treats. We bought 2% milk to drink but all cooking was done with powdered milk, although we drank it too, when we still had month left over at the end of the money. No sugar coated cereals, just oatmeal and cream of wheat with toast from homemade bread. but I understand not everyone had the advantage of a frugal, cook from scratch Mom and Grandma's like I did. All food stamp recipients should be required to take a class on shopping and cooking nutritiously as a qualification for receiving them. the USDA puts out reams of pamphlets on these topics. They should be handed out at the welfare office (or whatever its called these days). It breaks my heart to think of mothers skipping meals so their kids can eat when it isn't necessary. They just don't know any other way to do it.
Exactly! Add some pasta to that list of yours and it even goes further. The author isn't going to make it. There was no planning involved. You must plan and stretch your menus. You have the right of it. Where I live fresh fruits and veggies are tad higher. I tend to buy the frozen veggies and a lot less fresh fruit than what I would like to have. Dented cans are a bargain as well. There is no eating out or boxed processed foods in my world. Very good reply and your interest is in the right place.
Thank you!
$30 a week is totally doable, especially if you stock up on things like rice and beans. I get a big bag (20 lbs.) of rice twice a year at one of the local asian markets (great deals there!) for under $20. Whole chickens in the crock-pot for 5 or 6 dollars works through several meals plus I use the stock for a soup. Grow your own herbs if possible and make pesto's to freeze and keep through the winter. Visit the farmer's market with $10 (better deals at closing time) and you are good to go. If the first inclination is to go to a big supermarket with tons of processed foods, that's your first mistake in paying more for food (and yes I understand that not everybody has the options available to me)
yes, it's possible. Buy in bulk, buy nothing that's prepared like TV dinners or cookies or chips or soda pops. It takes meal planning but it most definitely IS possible and not all that hard, not really.
$30 goes a lot further in some areas than others.
However, I've read most of the comments, and I'm surprised not to hear more people advocating baking breads and treats yourself. Flour, sugar, milk and egg prices are all rising, but you can still get a lot more out of a bag of flour, an egg and some yeast than you can can from even very cheap bread. Depending on your loaf size, you can get six to eight loaves of bread from one bag of flour. There are a lot of bread recipes out there, but many don't require milk or oil, some don't even require eggs. So there's usually a recipe you can find for whatever budget you have.
If you don't much like to bake, take one day and make enough loaves for the whole month – for me, it's actually half a loaf or so a week, but I don't eat as many sandwiches as most. Freeze the rest. They'll be perfect again once defrosted.
Homemade bread tends to be much more filling and nutritious. I've made whole meals out of melting a little cheese over the top of a slice or two and pairing it with a vegetable of choice and a glass of milk. Add an egg, and you've got a really filling breakfast for pennies.
You can also make a ton of other meals on the cheap with homemade dough. Instead of buying frozen pot pies, you can roll out the dough into a bakeable pot for a crust, toss a little meat and a lot of veggies and filling and bake it. A dollar or two of supplies and it'll make enough for three or four meals. You can make a simple sweet bread with a little extra sugar, some cinnamon and honey, chocolate chips, or other assorted oddments you might have in your kitchen. Again super cheap, and a bit of sweet to satisfy your dessert craving.
Um... with all the adults probably working, who's going to do the baking? Where's the time? If you use electric ovens for baking the 220 power drives the elec bill out of the roof.
I work full time, and I bake my own bread. It takes around 3-4 hours depending on how many times you beat down the dough and let it rise again, but almost that entire time you can do other things. Prep time after you're used to your recipe takes maybe 20 minutes. Clean up, maybe the same. The rest is waiting and then baking.
Most people have a couple hours at some point in their week. You could take a week night or a weekend, make four or six loaves (which takes about the same time to make depending on how many bread pans you have and the capacity of your oven), and freeze them all. You've got bread for a month in one afternoon.
Saying you don't have time to bake is just an excuse. If you don't want to, that's fine. To some people, it's too much effort. But it's still a great way to have a filling staple with minimal effort and expense.
i DO eat off of considerably less than $30 week, more like $30 every 2 weeks because I work and pay bills and that is what I can afford since my husband has been laid off for 3 years and cannot find a job. Most people on food stamps, Sect. 8, medicaid have been living off the government their entire lives and have no intention of ever working. Why should they since they get free everything (and a raise if they have another baby)
you sound like you are misinformed. No EVERYONE is on there for a life time. I was on the rolls for 5 years as I went to school and took care of my daughter. I got my degree and had my First pay check by the time my daughter started Kindergarten. Prior to me no one from my family had EVER collected.
Ummmm....lemme guess...Teabagger, right? Your lack of research and spouting of regurgitated misconceptions (aka LIES) gave it away.
I side with the author, I'm fortunate enough to be a member of the upper-upper class and I spend an average of $14,000/wk on meals (this covers a family of 4), this includes my personal chef and his helper to prep. We typically start out with an array of appetizers, such as Beluga caviar, and the main entre might be something like lobster with a white truffle sauce topped with shaved white truffles, or a nice cut of prime filet mingon. For desert something is specially made each night by a pastry chef we bring in. We spend way more than $30 each night on our homemade bread, so I can understand how it would be tough to live on $30/wk.
And I'd like to add my family didn't start out right, my great-great grand pappy was one of those who spent $30/wk, but with hard work and dedication you can eventually be like me.
Can you adopt me? Just let me know!!
When your great grand pappy was around, 30 bucks a week for food was a LOT of money.. You could buy a brand new model T car in 1925 for about 300 dollars.
Well laddy da da...
Yes, I've been there and done that – but not under food stamps, but with my own money. I do my best not to get any kind of government assistance, I guess it's a matter of pride. But I have been down and out, but always willing to take any kind of (legal) job I can get.
If you are getting food stamps then you are probably going to food pantries also. I think that if you are driving a car less than 10 years old you don't need food stamps. I think food stamps should have a monthly limit of 24 months total for a life time except for people over 62. My oldest brother who is 76 said a few years ago F66K the poor people and I think he was right. If you notice the articles of people who are out of work they just keep having babies. I am sick and tired of supporting all these dead beats.
Do you know how many military families are on food stamps? And you want to kick them off? How patrotic of you.
It isn't necessary for military families to be on food stamps.....though it is a sad commentary that they qualify based on what they are paid. My husband was E6, we had 5 sons who ate a lot, and through careful planning & management we were able to feed the entire family nourishing and filling meals without the use of food stamps. Nor food pantries. I didn't know how to cook when I got married, but I learned. Our kids never starved and never did without. And there were plenty of times I can remember having just enough money left to buy a bag of flour which would get us through the last few days till payday,....pancakes, waffles, homemade bread, biscuits, etc. all from a 5 lb bag of flour. It takes time & planning but it is possible. No delivery pizza. No soda. No cold cereal. No box cookies. No chips. No McDonald's EVER. They didn't miss what they never had and to this day none of them have ever complained about having "to do without" when they were growing up.
That and if he's 76...he's getting one hell of a lot more out of SS than he paid into it. He's a freeloader too.
Those saying $30/wk is easy should keep in mind that many young and low income people have never been taught to cook from inexpensive bulk foods. I'm quite thrifty, but in college I really struggled to feed myself on the $35/week I had for groceries. I spent extra for instant rice and canned beans, for example, because no one I knew had a crockpot or knew how to cook rice or soak dried beans. These days I'm sure I could do better, but that's with years of practice cooking for forgiving adult eaters to figure it all out. Not everyone gets that chance to experiment and learn by trial and error – it's definitely more expensive than $30/wk.
Or...you can be resourceful and get a cookbook from the library or look on the internet and learn how to cook. It's really not that hard.
You should have bought everything from C-Town. They are cheaper then Fairview.
I live in Texas now. I coupon and look for deals. Food stamps are suppose to be used as a supplement. I don't get my nails done, don't get my hair cut as often as I should, and think about what I am going to cook.
You are doing this for one person. I would imagine most recipients get more. If you get $30 a week per person that's $120 a month per person. When you shop you don't but per person. You buy for the family. It's more expensive to buy a small pack of chicken as opposed to a whole chicken. Often there are B1G1deals. If it is just you then you might not do that. To do a real study....challenge a "regular" family. Work with social services to determine what it would cost them for a month. Give them the money and instructions and see how they do. If the kids are in school they should eat the school lunch for free and any "free" stuff that happens through the school. The parents should be able to have coffee if it is free (in the office) and if there is any treats from the office. If they "cheat" they have to record it so it's taken into the equations. In fact, do four families. North, South, East, West.... I get the reason behind doing this but it's hard when you hear that families get $600-$800 a month. That is very doable. We shouldn't pay for sodas. Food stamps should be for REAL food. Bread, milk, veggies, meat,cereal.... I am even fine with chocolate chips to bake. Maybe part of the problem is ideas for cooking. Maybe with food stamps they should provide suggested shopping for specific meals? Hell, hook up with Jamie Oliver. I coupon and buy stuff on sale but I know spend money we shouldn't by eating out. I am going to write down every dime we spend on food. Then I am going to do m own challenge. One week for my entire clan. I think I will do really great. $150 for the week. I have five $10-15 dollar meals for dinners already in my mind! (I love the food network).
The issue for many food stamp individuals is a combination of problems such as a lack of cooking skills, lack of proper facilities for cooking, lack of pans and utensils, and/or no back stock, pantry. This can make it very difficult to prepare healthy meals. Many low income folks live in a food desert and lack a grocery store to shop and shop at the corner market with higher prices and very few healthy choices. I teach cooking classes to low-income families so that they can learn to eat healthy meals that are low cost. If you do not have a well stocked pantry, it is also difficult to cook nutritious
meals without a back stock of seasonings and basic pantry items.
Being on food stamps should not mean that folks eat only highly processed foods. Let's hope we find ways to help individuals who are struggling find ways to choose wisely and learn how to shop and cook nutritious healthy meals. We need to bring back home ec. in high school so that our young people will learn how to cook.
I don't buy that. I can cook entire meals using a hot pot (i.e. pot that heats water) and/or a microwave. Most of my pots and pans come from Goodwill (I even found some Le Creuset frypans there too!) And if all you have is a microwave, you can cook. You just need a cookbook to get the skills. Where? The library or Goodwill! Cook chicken pieces in marinade? cover with sauce, microwave 8 minutes. I didn't live on ramen in college, I cooked rice, potatoes, barley and pasta. I bought cheap veggies in season. I used (and still use) cheap canned tomatoes. Protein was tuna, chicken, peanut butter, beans and eggs. If I lost my job, I'd grow a garden and raise hens for eggs in the back yard. You want thrifty recipes? Go to Project Gutenberg for free (if older) e-cookbooks. They have depression era recipes, or go here: http://www.food.com/cookbook/depression-era-recipes-225279
What you people are talking about is absolutely crazy. I spend more than 30 a day on food! Lobster and Flamenon's are expensive! So it all that caviar...
Sucks to be poor I guess. I wouldn't know.
If you eat it, you should know the proper spelling, it's "filet mignon", two separate words. Too bad all that money couldn't buy you a proper education.
You should NOT be allowed to comment on something like this if you do NOT know what it is like to live off of food stamps, or any other type of government assistance. Not all people who are doing so are mouchers, some tried their hardest to find a job before even applying. And are still trying their hardest while they recieve this assistance. So SCREW YOU.
No, but I know what it is like to work at a barely above minimum wage jobs and live as cheaply as I could so I wouldn't have to be a mooch, and then watch people blow my tax money on junk food and garbage. That's who a lot of us "think we are."
huh? so having managed to put myself through college by mowing lawns i have no idea of the value of money?
If the author knew how to cook, living on 30.00 a week is not hard to do. Why buy 2 chicken breast when you can buy an entire bird for the same price & make multiple meals including stock for soup & sauce. This only 1 way to make the dollar go farther there are many more.
Is Omaba's picture on the food stamp? I heard someone say that but haven't confirmed it. Could someone receiving food stamps let me know who's picture is on them?
There are no people pictured on food stamps. In fact, there aren't even any actual stamps any more. You get a card, and you use if much like a debit card. In Washington state, it has a picture of a mountain on it.
That is right at what my wife and I spend each month. Our max budget for groceries/food is 250. For the most part we are able to eat very healthy foods, veggies, and fruits with the occasional lean protein mixed in. When we have large bulk purchases the per week is higher than 30/person but balances out at the end of the month.
I've been on food stamps due to disability and it's like the author said.. choice after often agonizing choice of what can I afford and will I make it through the week if I buy this or that item. It's stress you don't have to think about when you have a good job. Now, on a minimum wage job, you often aren't getting paid more than someone on disability and are right at the poverty line and people like that have the same problems I had– and that's very sad to me too because sometimes they have kids they have to figure out how to feed too.
So the author is part of a CNN study that will be showing how hard it is to budget $30 per person per week, and profile the food stamp recipients only? That can't be right. They are given vouchers for baby food, milk, cheese, pasta, fresh orange juice, cereal, diapers, rent assistance, heat assistance, whatever. At what point do they have to shell out $30 for anything at the store. Per person? I'm feeding THREE out of pocket on a food budget of $30 per week. I think CNN could have picked a better group to profile than ones who are getting it all for free. I can't remember the last time I bought a "luxury" item like OJ.
Not true. Just because you qualify for food stamps does not mean you qualify for housing assistance, utilities assistance, or coupons for milk, cheese, etc. Some states do have programs that are geared towards women with children and provide extra assitance but if you are a single person, you probably don't. My mother was a single parent while I was in junior and high school and we qualified for food stamps but no other form of aid. It was a struggle. We ate lots of ramen with frozen vegatables.
NOT everyone gets WIC.. also people not on food stamps can get WIC... I understand where BOTH are coming from as I have been on BOTH sides. Food is EXPENSIVE and unless you are making 40 bucks an hour you will starve!
Not true. I'm retired and living on $1200 and $160 in food stamps a month. The first time in my life I have every had to ask for help. I support myself and my 16 yr old grandson (who was abandoned by his father, he left him with me after my daughter died). My rent is $700 per month. No housing voucher, I pay the full rent. I do get a 30% savings on my electric bill. My bill runs very low. I don't use air or heat unless it is very uncomfortable. I receive no vouchers for any of the items you listed above. I do not have cable TV. No cell phone. No eating out. I do not smoke or drink coffee. If you have a teen you know how much a teen boy eats. I pay $100 a month for Medicare and another $96 for my HMO to supplement Medicare. I also pay $30.00 co-pays for each office visit, lab work or other diagnostic test my doctor orders. Don't assume because we need help we are afforded a free ride. I worked for 45 years and paid taxes. I receive no child support (DA is fighting for it, for us) and although I am humiliated when using FS I know that my family of 2 (one a teen boy) can't survive without them. On my birthday and Xmas my brother gifts me Costco gift cards. I load up on things like laundry detergent, bath soap, toilet tissue, etc. My grandson does not receive free lunches or breakfast because he is not on campus until 1pm each day. He interns w/o pay earning credits and goes to classes from 1 – 5 pm. I feed him breakfast and make his lunch. Each summer he works and earns money for school clothes, summer clothes, hair cuts, toiletries, etc. Sometimes help is needed. As a country we need to start showing compassion instead of making those in need feel like losers. Most who receive assistance already feel low enough.
Sorry Soupergran, I guess we are all given a skewed image by the media and by the young mothers I've seen dripping with gold jewelry in line at the stores using their EBT cards to buy better food than I can. What little gold jewelry I had is long gone to the pawn broker. My post did have a what about me! slant to it. And yes, I know how much boys eat. You sound like a great Gran, hope your situation improves.
This may work for some, but I would be losing weight and/or needed nutrition on $30. I have celiac, so no gluten products, bread, pasta, cereal, etc. I am allergic to soy products, so aside from the normal stuff like soy sauce, there is an enormous amount of food products that contain soy beans and soy lecithin that I have to avoid. Lastly, I have a intolerance to dairy products, so no milk, etc. Yeah I can eat a ton of rice and potatoes, but I would have to eat meat to supplement my workout schedule, or I would be burning far more calories than I take in. It just goes to show, that things aren't this simple. I also live in Hollywood, CA, where things are more expensive on average and we have an almost 10% sales tax. It's cool that some people can manage, but if I had to live like that for too long, I would not be able to stay healthy.
I'm guessing that you wouldn't have such a gruelling workout schedule if you were struggling to make ends meet. You'd likely be spending a lot more time working and less time working out.
Well I never said that my workout schedule was particularly or that I had any need to eat on $30. I was simply pointing out that it would be unhealthy for me to do so. Not to mention, boring. Thanks for your snarky comment, though.
*particularly grueling
I'll spare you from reading another paragraph of blab:
Education > Everything
I'm an Eligibility Worker in California. I process food stamp applications. I can tell you that depending on the amount of the household's income a single person with zero income (after the budgeting process) can get $200/mo in Food Stamps. That translates to roughly $50/wk. The budgeting process includes deductions for a portion of their housing/utilities and a Standardized deduction based on household size (that comes right off the top). I had a family member of my own that who's household included herself, 3 children and a fiance. They were collecting a few dollars shy of $800/month in Food Stamps. Every time we would visit, the kitchen would be stocked with cubes of Pepsi, Mountain Dew and various other sodas. They had Capri Sun for the kids and the cupboard would be stocked with cookies, candy, cake mixes, brownie mixes, hamburger helper, etc. No fruit or veggies anywhere to be found and some meat in the freezer. Every couple of months everyone in her email address book would get an email saying they were running out of food, she was having to skip meals to be sure she fed the kids etc. I feed a household of 7 on $500/mo and that includes a few snack items, toiletries, paper products, laundry soap and cat food! I make a menu every two weeks for dinners and buy accordingly for those meals, then I also add in cereal, milk, bread, and the other items mentioned. It's not hard, you just gotta wanna! Heck, I've even started using coupons in the last couple of years, I love 'em.
I used to work summers at a convenience store. It was so infuriating to see the poor, underprivileged people come in and buy soda, candy, chips, cupcakes, etc. with their food stamps. I still don't know how they managed to afford their smokes, beer, and the $20 bucks a week for lottery tickets. Somehow, they always had the cash for those "necessities."
Don't forget crack and weed.
I used to work at a convenience store too. The ones you see have other means of making money, where I worked it was because many employers employed people "under the table" and they would get food stamps because they had invisible income. People who truly need food stamps don't come into convenience stores. I can definitely tell you that the town I worked in was probably close to 30% or more on food stamps – very poor area – (Ashland, PA) but I rarely had anyone come in and get candy with their food stamps. And those that did it was the same few people all the time. Most were buying real food at the grocery store downtown.
So what you're saying is, we could let them fight to the death for the food stamps and the winner can eat the loser (that alone would save you an entire month's worth of meat). This way, no one goes hungry AND we settle the population problem, at the same time!
I have read some of the comments, and I think that some of thme are harsh. The producer does not state where she lives, and cost of living does matter. Also, a lot of people are not taking to account the new poor. If you have never been poor or lower middle class (the new poor) you have no idea on how to budget even $30 a week for groceries, because you never had to do it. I was watching a news show and they were interviewing a downsized bank vice-president. She had been unemployed for a while and she was applying to secretary positions. That is a lifestyle and life changing adjustment. If you have kids it just gets crazier and more depressing. And for those proponents of Ramen noodles, that is not the answer. Processed junk is affecting our health, not just our weight. And if poor people are burdened with high cholesterol, blood pressue, diabetes and obesity, how can they get off their behinds, get a job and keep it? Especially with no insurance. How can their children do better in school? Our nation's children are not doing well in education, as shown by the recent SAT scores. I know, we have crappy schools, crappy teachers, lazy parents, but if you don't think that crappy nutrition does not add to the equation, you are a fool. It is not a conicidence that one of the CNN heroes gives out produce to inner cities. What is shocking is that so many kids don't even know that they eat poorly. Kids and adults in the depression knew that they had to make due until times got better. I have a job, I am not on welfare or have foodstamps. But, I have found this economy challenging as well. So, I created a blog. http://thedetroitfrugaldiva.blogspot.com/
Your entire comment lost all credibility when you used the term "new poor". Why not just call them "Financially challenged" or "Nutritionally deprived"? Just say what you mean, BROKE
I read this article and I remember growing up to something similar. What I learned and saw is I never wanted to live and work as hard as my parents did for food and other expenses. So I went to school and supprted myself all the way thru. What sad is Americans rather have their hands open and accept this 30 dollars a week and cry about it. If this was earlier times there was no hands out. Survival of the fittest. You either swim or drown. I think too many people rely on our country to bail them out and we are suppose to feel bad about it. No one felt bad for me then. I know times now are harder to get and education (due to less financial aide) or a job. But if you settle and are happy with 30 then dont complain. Because there are ways out if you sacrfice and struggle if you believe the reward in the end will be better than what you currently have, There is always ways to better yourself. You just have to take a minute and look to see what your options are.
I think you are so wonderful to have posted this.
You are an idiot. sink or swim? I am not on food stamps but some people need help. When people get old, i guess you think they should just go into the woods and wait to die.
food stamps were never and will never be intended to buy all your food. It is a supplemental program.
That is a very important piece of info. If that little fact was included it wouldn't be a good "times are tough" atricle.
Exactly, CJ. Food stamp alottments are designed to be SUPPLEMENTAL, not cover all the grocery bill. It would be difficult to feed a family, even a very small family, on $30 per week, but the food stamps were never intended to cover all the groceries.
$30.00: About 2 Weeks of Food For One Average Size Person:
$4.80: 10 Bags of Ramen Noodles in various Flavors at 0.48 Food Lion
$2.49 12 small Gala apples in a bag: Trader Joes
$1.99 1 bag of conventional Frozen Blueberries, 16 oz: Trader Joes
$1.25 6 Bananas: Trader Joes
$4.00 4 Avocados, 0.99 ea: Food Lion
$3.00 1lb Chicken Thighs: About 6 pieces: Food Lion OR 1 fresh cake of extra firm Tofu: Trader Joes
$3.59 1 large Box of spoon-size Shreaded Wheat & Bran Cereal: Food Lion
$1.69 1 36 oz box of Soy Milk: Trader Joes or 1/2 gal Your Fav. Milk
$1.29 1 12 oz bag Frozen Peas: Trader Joes
$1.99 1 16 oz box of Baker's Dark Baking Chocolate
$3.91 Another Vegetable, protein, fruit, or carb of your choice OR coffee or tea, if you don't have that on hand.
You can make this last about 2 weeks IF YOU budget your food consumption ea. day AND if you are only feeding one person of average, healthy weight.
Sorry, you're suggesting that people gnaw on a chunk of baking chocolate? What are you suggesting they eat that with?
This is 2 weeks worth of food? That's not even 1,000 calories a day. Not to mention it's terrible for you. Raman is EXTREMELY high in sodium, chicken thighs are the fattiest cut of protein you could choose, and everything else is just sugar. The ratio of fruit to vegetable should be reversed at least, but even still, 1k calories a day is going to put an average person in starvation mode and storing sugars as fat over 2 weeks. Bad, bad advice.
I think most commenters are missing the point. The author is not familiar with food stamps and how to budget on $30 a week, so there is going to be some trial and error on her part. Both my husband and I have been out of work at one time or another in our marriage (BTW-still made too much to qualify for food stamps), and I have had to learn how to budget for a family of 7. I utilize bread stores (loaves as low as $0.69), clip coupons, study weekly ads, buy in bulk. She'll get it down...give her a break!
I really don't know if I'd be able to only spend $30 a week on groceries. The bread pictured is what I buy and Pepperidge Farm. I've been to the Dollar Store, wouldn't go back, it was a mess and had brands I have never heard of. I really depends on where live as to much $$$ food costs. I live north of Boston and the stores aren't cheap and neither are the farmer's markets.
I think you would be AMAZED at what you could eat if you really had to. That Dollar Store bread would look pretty good if you really were hungry enough.
That's an ongoing problem with articles like this. Most authors jump in without doing any research, and they make little attempt to distinguish between "the difficulty of living on Food Stamps" and "My difficulty getting used to a Food Stamp budget". If the challenge were to live on $120 a month, and if the author had spoken with other Food Stamp recipients beforehand for advice, I think she'd find this challenge far easier. (Not easy, not pleasant, not healthy, but easiER.)
Tip – go to a bakery outlet store for your bread, pizza crust etc – the same bread pictured in the articile for $2.99 costs less than half that at my local Entenmann's outlet store...I can get large Boboli pizza crusts there for $1.75 (again 1/2 store price).
$30 a week? Easy...being doing it for years...actually more like $20-25 a week. Not because I have to, I'm just cheap. If you don't by all processed/fast foods or top of the line meat, it is pretty simple. Rice, beans, lettuce, carrots, peas, apples and some fish and chicken and you've got some pretty healthy, low cost meals. Add an egg and oatmeal for breakfast. Heck, most people in other countries get by with $30 a month.
$30.00 can buy a (14) pack of chicken legs, a medium bag of rice, dry beans,tomatoes, 1 gallon of milk, bread,butter, 1/2 lb cheese, and a few babanas!!!
Shop at Walmart.
Yes indeed! I think was my last shopping trip.
There is nothing new in this article....I've been living off of $30 a week in groceries for the last year. It's totally possible, especially if you are willing to give up things like ice cream, soda, candy, and other "treats".
I trained to eat fast food all my life until it caught up to me. Eat on $30 a week? Sure. Easy peasy. Just eat healthy and fresh. Here's how I do it:
A 2lb tub of Quaker brand instant oats is breakfast for months, and costs about $2.50. A 50lb bag of rice costs $25 and will last about half a year. Rice goes with a lot of meals, and it is very filling. Pinto beans are filling and nutritious – a 25lb bag costs about $15. By the way – a one person rice cooker costs about $15. A one-person crockpot costs the same. Those two cookers sip electricity. My electric bill is unreal – under $10 a month.
Chopped frozen spinach is about $1 a box at my local Food4Less, but one box is three servings. Sweet potatoes are about $1 each (two servings). I take a chewable daily multivitamin ($6.50 for 60 tablets). I splurge on Gatorade, enriched soy milk and cream-of-something soups. The condensed cream soups are three servings per can for about $1.50.
You can make soup fixings – the cream soups that I buy can be made by hand for pennies, but I'm soooo lazy. I should drink water (free) instead of Gatorade. The multivitamin eliminates the need to drink enriched soy milk. I still eat fast food about once a week as a treat. My health has improved and I have a lot more energy. My weight has dropped and I am saving a lot of money.
$30 a week is no problem.
Like others, I, too, notice the food stamps and wic people loading up carts with a bunch of food that I would never buy. I avoid dairy and meats because dairy is hard on the stomach and meat is sooo pricey! I am no vegan, just a healthy eater. Anyways, I hope that my post "walked the talk" a bit for someone.
the multivitamins are a waste
I did the same thing in college. It's really not that hard to live on ~$30 a week. You buy starch in bulk (rice, potatoes, oatmeal), cheap protein (beans, eggs and milk – milk was subsidized in my state so I can get it for around $4/two gallons – maybe whatever meat's on sale – it's not that hard to find chicken or beef for $2/lb.) and whatever the cheapest fruit in the grocery store is. You eat frozen (when on sale) or canned or fresh when it's in season. (I've seen a lot of different fruits and vegetables for around $1/lb. when in season.)
It's honestly not that hard. I'm glad that I earn more now and can spend significantly more on meals. But $1/meal isn't really all that tricky to anyone who needs to make do.
30 per person? cause that's what I do. Ususally less. and it's all fruits, veggies and lean meats. and cereal and bread and milk and cheese. I don't buy any junk.
Dairy products are hard on my stomach. I drink enriched soy milk instead, and go very easy on cheeses when I use them at all.
Agreed. $30 per person per week is plenty to feed a family. We generally spend $20-25 a week per person and that's eating organic and name brand items as well as a serving of meat 4-6 oz once a day. However, we only buy food for meals... no snacks, candies, etc... other than items that are baked at home. The only time we spend $30 a week is if we need to stock up on staple items.
I have never in my life seen so much food being wasted anywhere in the world except the US. It's a shame for this country really. If you think you are short on $30/week. Try living on 30 rupees a week!
The gov should also give EBT to the undock umented people in this country.
Great article!
Are they talking about $30 per person? Why I'd feel downright upper middle class if I was allotted $90 a week to feed myself and two kids. I've been feeding us all (my brown bag lunch included) on $30 or less a week all this time. I agree with another poster, I think I'll quit my job and sign up now! I think I'll fit right in with the teenage girl ahead of me at Pathmark with a toddler and a newborn buying 3 times the amount of food I was with her food stamps and the babies 35 year old grandmother looking on approvingly.
Quit your job? Why, what are you proving? Let's be logical and think about our community, country and all humankind.
Jo, it is called sarcasm.
Yeah, but I'm not laughing. I'm saddened by this topic and don't find anything funny about it. I however, agree to disagree but let's think about our fellowman (woman) and not just ourself.
Jo, sarcasm doesn't have to be funny... just sarcastic.
We could replace food stamps with food baskets. I see too many fat people using food stamps for junk food.
I feed a family of nine on roughly $2.15 each a day. Where do I sign up for the extra $2.12 that the average food stamps recipient gets over what I pay out of pocket?
I understand that there are folks out there living a very hard life and that does sadden me, but I think about those out there taking advantage of the system and that makes me furious. My husband and I both work hard to provide for our family and to allow our children to have certain advantages. But he has 2 sisters that are both married stay at home moms who collect state benefits such as food stamps to afford the privilege to stay home. They both collect about $600 a month in food stamps for 3 children under the age of 6. Now I have no issues with stay at home moms at all, more power to you. But if you cannot afford to stay home than maybe it is time to re-evaluate some situations in your life. The kids that are in school of theirs also are provided free lunches at school. Now we pay around $150 a month for school lunches and spend about $400 a month on our grocery bill. What I don't get is how my in-laws get $600 in food stamps and say that isn't enough and have the audacity to complain. !! Incredulous! Like I said this is not a working parent/non working parent issue because I could care less what others do in that regard unless it is effecting me personally. But there are many people that get more than their fair share of food stamps, so why not re-access the formula and help those truly in need such as the elderly or working parents out there really trying!
How on Earth do you get away with spending $15 per week on groceries for a family of 9? Do you give everyone a grain of rice for each meal? Do you ever eat fruits or vegetables? I don't believe it unless you left out the part where you own a huge farm.
That's $2.15 EACH per day. I think you missed the "each" in there.
That's actually about $135.45 he spends on food a week ($15.05 per person). Which means it's around $541.80 per month. I'd say that's a pretty admiral amount to spend on a family of nine.
If you go by the $30 per person, per week rule, it would be $270 per week and around $1,080 per month. That's nearly double.
Personally, I find that it's easier to make the money go further the more people you have. For instance, I find that feeding two on $50 a week is easier than feed just one on $30. Having a larger lump sum of money means you can buy some things in bulk that will last a lot longer, and most of the food you buy will be communal and will stretch further. With a smaller sum of money, it's harder to buy one thing in bulk without sacrificing something else you may really need.
I appreciate the intent of this article but it doesn't reflect what I see in carts. I served in a welfare ministry in a poor area and took people grocery shopping on their food stamp money. Perhaps this is just a difference of "recently on food stamps" vs. "on food stamps for generations", but there is very little eating healthy on food stamps. There's a lot of sugared cereals and junk food. For those who are attempting to eat healthy on $30 a week, you pretty much need to get staples from a church or community food pantry and use food stamps for whatever wasn't provided from those sources.
That is true but food stamps are given to those who have health problems and can not work, or work out or do much of anything. In addition, depression can have a mighty grasp on people to boot.
They should give food stamps to the not yet documented.
Unhealthy food is cheaper so yeah, it's different taking a person who is used to eating healthy and comparing to those whose families have traditionally been poor and know what comes at the best price.
Unhealthy food is not really cheaper....rice and beans are pretty healthy and pretty cheap. I buy a twenty pound bag for about $14. We are a family of 5, eating rice 3 times a day and the bag lasts about one and a half to two months. Add in some locally caught fish, some eggs and chicken, and some vegetables and fruits...we easily get by on about $100 to $125 a month for our whole family. We are all in very good health and do a lot of exercising. Admittedly we spend about an extra $60 a month going out to eat (once a month), but that's still well below the $30/week/person discussed.
I agree Theresa, maybe limitations on what can be purchased or required lessons on healthy eating> Though it does cost a bit more to eat healthy than it does to eat bad.
I think it's pretty fair to say that most people on food stamps have some big mental health issues around their neck – like depression. For whatever reason, right or wrong, they are unable to pull in enough income for food. Often, people eat sugary and unhealthy things as a depression or stress-alleviating coping strategy. When someone is so down and out, that is NOT the time to reasonably expect them to change their life-long eating patterns. Most on Food Assistance that I've seen in the check-out line DO BUY healthy foods, in addition to some junk food. So everyone get off your high horse.
The problem in the USA is problem of plenty. With 70% either over weight or obese if anything people should be eating less and not more. With $120 per week for a family of four you can buy hell of a lot food. If anything Government should reduce the amount.
How about an article discussing how many lazy people are on food stamps because working would be too hard for them. Or how about how people with EBT cards almost always buy JUNK. These Hispanic families come into the grocery store, and they don't even think about the cost of the food they're putting in their cart, because the food stamp card will cover it all! And then they let their friends borrow it so they can get stuff for free too. Disgusting.
I'm sure that's true. But it's not the norm. Don't judge a program or those who truly need it, by the few who abuse it or are frauds. There have been corporate CEOs who have been criminals (think Enron), but that doesn't mean that all corporation leaders are criminal or corporations should be abolished. The defrauders should be turned in; they are taking money from those who truly need it.
You have never been "in the system" have you? There are no people live like that in the system. The "lazy" people have to have a job in order to get the benefits or they are cut off. Typically the jobs offered and are, usually set up with are companies that take them for tax benefits, are not the High Paying ones, ether. My family and I was getting benefits while I was in school, (25 years ago) even though I was taking more than a full load my wife had get a job and work making us have to have a sitter for my kids, costing the state more for day care. Things have gotten more and more strict from what I have heard from a Benefits Auditor I am friends with.
Heather I agree with you. Abuses are rampant, with no accountability, especially with the generational freebie addicts.
Abuse is not rampant. News stories that focus on abuse are rampant. You eat what they feed you every day and come to believe something that's not based in reality.
I plead that we really think about how we are responding and the impacts on others. Downing other people is not going to help fix things economically or socially.
You are right on target Heather. I put myself thru school years ago as a cashier at a grocery store. Used to be that you couldn't buy anything taxable foods with food stamps. At the time that meant candy, gum, booz, soda or anything prepared from the deli. Times have changed, and not necessarily for the better.
a couple years ago I had to get through college with just $300/year to spend on food. I could literally only afford ramen and peanut butter sandwiches after paying tuition and rent. $30/week would have been a dream.
$300 for the year. WOW. I've already spent $200 on snacks for my son. Did you not get any help from your family.
That's $6.12 a week. That is definitely rough. In today's economy, $6.12 would barely buy ramen, bread and peanut butter – if you managed to find everything on sale.
I know it doesn't help now, but there are actually places you can go to get produce for next to nothing. If you have a local farmer's market, go sometime and talk to the real locals. (Some farmer's markets ship professional farms in to boost sales.) A lot of times if they cannot sell all their food by the end of the day, they are willing to give you steep discounts. If you have a service you can trade, they might be willing to just give you some of the leftover produce that they won't be able to sell the following week. If they can't sell it and they can't eat it, they usually want to get rid of it. For local farmers (who still have hearts), that sometimes translates into helping out a poor kid who has next to nothing to live on.
Hey, I have an idea! If you want to eat more than $30 of food a week, don't rely on the government! 25-30% of people don't graduate high school. I have no sympathy for people who have low-paying jobs now because they made dumb choices in the past.
This is just a crap article. Poor planning of a menu, no coupons, just impulse shopping.
2 years ago, I took a 27.5% pay cut and my ex was laid off and so I didn't get child support. I fed myself and my 2 children on about $40/wk. Now, even though I have my pay cuts back, I still budget shop. My local grocery store recently had a sale that if you bought a beef roast at $3.88/lb, they threw it a 5lb bag of potatoes, a 3lb bag of onions, and a bag of carrots for free. One crockpot day later, we had a good meal with plenty of leftovers (so 2 dinners), tons of potatoes & onion left raw to make potato soup, and the total was about $5.65 for the meat.
Some people need to get a clue.
Spot on, amen to that!
So true. People who haven't had to watch pennies just don't know how to do it. If the author really HAD to buy food for a week with $30, she really could have. A huge pot of bean soup costs pennies, is super nutritious, and freezes well. The use of coupons, store sales, bulk raw foods like rice and pasta that you cook are all a must. Fruits & veggies can be tricky, but frozen fruits & veggies bought on sale are just as nutrtious & taste great, as well as last longer. I don't recommend canned veggies, but they can be found on great sales (generic). For beverages, big cartons of tea bags and such will make a lot of beverages that you brew. Water is the cheapest. AND this is a super healthy way to eat.
I agree, I think the author of this article is absolutely clueless. And probably, i'm sorry to say, extremely wasteful. I'm a single girl who eats shrimp, ground beef, a whole lot of pasta and (flash frozen) veggies, milk, tea (not coffee) and spent a grand total of $600 on groceries last year. WITH THE SHRIMP INCLUDED! This year I've done a lot more impulse shopping and my waistline is showing it but am tracking to spend about $900, that's about $17 a week. Tips for someone who's clearly never shopped in her life before,
Chop Suey – Pound hamburger (bag into 1/4 pounds and use the other 3 for 3 other meals) 1 lb of pasta and red sauce= ~$6 total feeds family of 4 for dinner and makes at least 1 lunch leftovers or for single girl dinner and at least 4 lunches.
Shrimp pasta – 1 lb pasta, 2lb bag frozen shrimp (51-60s) use 17-20 shrimp for this dish, one bag frozen mixed veggies, grated parmesan cheese, oil, butter, garlic salt, pepper. ~$4 total Same servings as above.
Sheppard’s pie – 1 lb ground beef, 2-3 lbs potatoes (buy the 5lb bag and make mashed all at once), steak sauce, chicken bullion, Italian seasoning, salt pepper, margarine/butter for the potatoes, milk, and 1 onion. Makes at least 2 dinners for family of 4 or 12 lunches.
meatloaf – 1lb ground beef, 1 cup milk, 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs, salt, pepper, itialian seasoning. spagetti sauce for the top. ~$5 makes 6-8 slices and use the left over mashed from the sheppards pie.
measure out and put in Ziploc containers in the freezer and you have lunches ready to go for the month!
I can't imagine how much food this girl wastes when she's not on a project.
Oh, and I'm not poor, just hate wasting money :)
Totally agree .. look at the menu. $3 for bread?? For real? Buy the cheaper store bread $1-$1.50 ... thats what having a budget means. Compare prices of items, use coupons, be wise enough to buy eggs instead of nutella, loaf of bread instead of english muffins, etc.
If this author is trying to ccreate sympathy for food stamp recipients I'm afraid I am not convinced. I see these people at work every month. They feed their families more expensive but not necessarily more nutricious food than I do. They make poor choices. Soda, and lots of it, sugary cereals, processed, frozen meals, in a word, JUNK. They also come in sporting brand new colorful tatoos, piercings, designer purses and crazy colored hair. They also commonly smell like cigarette smoke and alcohol. Sorry, no sympathy from me or my coworkers, except maybe for the little old lady who uses her foodstamps to buy potatoes, carrots, whole chickens, milk and oatmeal. She probably worked all her life an doesn't get half of what these other leaches get. It really irkis me that I pay taxes to feed these leaches.
That's why America is so fat...fresh fruits and vegetables aren't considered luxury in other countries those are the basics that poor people can afford and they mix and match those to make meals. No one buys "boxed dinners" or processed foods. I don't know why the prices are so terribly inflated in the US have they not figured out how to garden and must import everything??
It isn't that they can't figure it out. I live in rural Pennsylvania. People can garden here, almost everyone has access to at least a small yard. It is the "I'm entitled" attitude. Why would they work to grow veggies when the government will buy their kids fruit snacks. I think people would be much more resourceful if the government stopped taking care of them. I feed 8 people on $150 a week. We eat lots of fruits and veggies, lean protein and whole grains. It isn't fancy but it is hearty and all six of our children are healthy and not obese. No one walks away from our table hungry. It can be done.
It wasn't until the end of the article that I realized the author wasn't trying to be funny. She just REALLY sucks at this. BTW I imagine that is $30 per person, not per family, which would help synergistically.
I know, right? Can you imagine if Americans had go go back to the old school way of the Great Depression to survive?
were you actually around for the old school depression
I can tell the author has never been poor. I was poor years ago. I think I could eat on $30/wk, though I wouldn't want to. Apples @ $2/lb, a 12 lb bag of 'em, is not something poor people can buy. You wait for apples to go on special, then buy 2 or 3 of them. Also, you have to go to different stores to buy things on sale. You buy beans in bags, rw pasta, raw rice, fruit ONLY if on good sale, cans of tuna & other meats on good sales. For raw chicken, you buy family packs of wings or thighs, OR you buy a WHOLE fryer & cut it yourself or cook it whole. Ironically, that's a much healthier diet than the average American with money eats.
I have to agree. The article author is an idiot. I lived poor through 7 years of college (undergrad + advanced degree) and my staples were rice, tuna and chicken (whole, not chicken breasts!). Veggies were cabbage, carrots, onions and tomatoes (a luxury unless I bought canned on sale). I learned that farmers markets are cheap veg sources and to shop discount and canned food stores for the rest. $2.50 for bread??? Buy a second hand breadmaker and do it yourself! I could still live on $30 per week.
Because the author is not poor she is an "idiot"????
Kill the rich, feed the poor.
Because we need more poor??
Kill the poor to feed the rich.
Good with fava beans and a nice Chianti.
"not free to eat the way I want or buy what I want." Well who the h3ll can?
Check out http://www.putfoodonyourtable.com
I raised two children with no food stamps because I had saved money for college for them. We made do and worked our way through the "hard times". It makes you never waste anything ever again.
I don't understand why people throw their hard earned money away. Tomatoes for $3/lb? Ripoff. Milk for $5/gal? Ripoff! Bread for $4? RIPOFF!!!
SHOP AROUND, people. I be there are more than just one grocery store in your neighborhood. Your supermarket might sell peppers for $1 apiece while your small family-run market might sell them for $1/lb.
BUY WHAT'S ON SALE and keep a constantly rotating stock of non-perishable food.
USE COUPONS on things you'd buy anyway (no need to go "extreme couponing"). Shop at stores that double coupons.
LEARN HOW TO COOK simple meals. I just paid $3.79 for a whole chicken, baked it, and will use it in several recipes. That one chicken will last me 5 dinners. And yeah, I put a couple more in the freezer.
Oh, and pay with a credit card that gives you cash back!
About the milk price I cannot help. As I am lactose intolerant the lactose free milk costs $6.50 a gallon and that is for store brand. I added all and I am sure me and my wife can live on $60 a week and will save some money too. Of course if we go out and eat we will definitely blow more than $60 on that day!
I buy soy milk that's got calcium in it (not all do). $2.50 per quart. All the vitamins in milk, good taste and cheaper. No lactose.
$2.50 a quart is $10 a gallon. That's pretty darned expensive!
food stamps is now called the SNAP program SUPPLEMENTAL Nutrition Assistance Program. Food stamps are meant to be a SUPPLEMENT not your entire food budget.
Meant to be supplemental, but what about the people who have no job and no income? Sometimes food stamps are ALL YOU HAVE. This is a serious problem in this country but people like you are the ones who make people like my father, who hasn't yet been approved for disability and is incapable of working, ashamed of their lot in life. Yes, lets knock people down rather them help them out.
blah blah blah. if your dad is down on his luck YOU take care of him not the g'ubment.
Yes, they're called Ramen Noodles.
I got all dat gold!
My wife and I live on 280K-300k a year. We have a large house, a boat, and four cars. We probably spend around 800/week including eating out, a bit more if you include the membership to our private club. Not sure what its like to eat on 30 dollars per week, but I don't think that I would be interested in trying. Even with an okay income we have lots of expenses for our house and cars. For example an oil change on our Mercedes is over 100 dollars. All I am saying is that we all have different incomes and different expenses. If you feel like you should have more, then ask yourself if you have always worked your hardest your whole life. I bet you have not. You could have always forgone an hour of tv to work more.
Aaaaand... Go eff yourself.
I have no interest in doing that at this time
I have an income of $56K. It also costs me over $100 for an oil change for my Honda. I'd gladly change places with you and deal with your "problems".
Expenses are not "problems" they are simply expenses, I knew the costs when I purchased the car
I think both you guys are getting ripped off on your oil changes!
I agree, there is no way an oil change for a honda should be 100 bucks. My oil changes for my VW are free.
Dude, 5 qts of oil will cost you about 15 bucks. Most oil stations willl take your used oil for free or at most charge $1. change it yourself and save $80!
what kind of dope pays $100 for an oil change? A synthetic oil change for any normal car can be found for $50 or less at any time. Probably doing that change every 3000 miles too instead of the factory recommended 10,000+
@J – we have three Hondas and you can usually get an oil change for about $24.99. Even the dealership doesn't charge $100. Where are you taking your car?!?!
Congratulations on your excellent lifestyle. I work hard too. My daughter worked her way through Harvard. However, when my children were growing up we had this to eat for two years: peanut butter, w/w bread, eggs and oatmeal (with dry milk). That's all the money that we had. I hope that you try out the $30/week challenge. It is, indeed, a challenge.
Thanks for listening.
Please check out http://www.putfoodonyourtable.com
Congrats to you daughter, wish you guys the best
You must have a small dick.
A little "let them eat cake" mentality here, Richard. I think we get that you don't do coupons.
In fact I love coupons, I try to use them when I can. Two subs for 8.99 is one of my favorites
I live on disability and a part-time wage. my total income per year is less than $9,000.00 I get an allowance for food and non food items as well as for gas for my car per week to the tune of $80.00 everything else goes to rent, utilities, trash, water, gas, internet, etc. I never made anywhere above $10,000 my whole life. This year the cost of living goes up again but my disability check and my part-time earnings stay the same. everything will be more expensive for me.
Well I hope things get better for you. It would be hard to live on 9k a year
yet you have a computer and internet service...likely cable tv as well. Good for you.
A disability does not preclude him from being able to access a librarys internet.
I'm pretty sure this qualifies you for the "douchebag of the day" award.
Watch out Rich, Karma is a b!tch.
I hope she is pretty as least
Richard what you don't realize is if you run out of gas during the month you have 3 other cars to choose from, if you need to cut back on expenses you stop eating out or seel one of your cars and save a lot. There are restrictions on income that you need to tae into account. This person may make only 24 thousand a year if they are lucky. They might drive a Honda Accord or a SUV definitely not a Mercedes. They still have to maintain it and buy gas and tires when needed and still have to pay for a place to live and all the expenses that go along with today’s word. Let’s not forget cloths for there kids and shoes. There also school expenses and any activities they may be in. there is a hedge difference between your lift and there’s. Sorry the example you gave doesn’t fit, but until you actually step into there shoes and try it you have no idea!
well, I have never run out of gas. A little light comes on when it is low.
At first I thought you sounded a bit snobbish – but you know what ? I agree with you 100% !!! I may sound like a jerk but I see the kind of food these people are buying with their ACCESS cards – its not farina and apples !!! I see carts sometimes 2-3 carts full of meat and pop and snacks !!!1 Things that I have to budget for – because my husband and I have worked hard for what we have and all of our extra toys , but thats OUR choice !!! We enjoy working to pay for these things- htey darn sure weren't free !!! As far as $30 a week – thats a crock !!! I knew a girl from college with 4 kids and she got almost $1000 dollars a month – serisouly !!! That's CRAZY !!!! I think the first thing that should be CUT OFF is purchasing crap like Pepsi , Coke and snack cakes – that's why most of them and their children are obese – and all food should have to be prepared – not in a package to pop in the microwave !!! I know I am the one who may sound like a jerk – but I am sick of seeing it and my taxes paying for it !!! These people have the same opportunities I had – its all what you make of it !
Completely agree.
they eat meat one weekend (probably share it with their low life friends) and then eat ramen for the rest of the month. i've seen food stamp ppl eat a dozen and a half eggs in 2 days and it was just two of them. the, after having the bare minimum for the rest of the month, they're eager to splurge when they get their money. they're budget is limited as well, they just do all of the splurging at once. maybe they buy more meat in one week than you eat in 3 months, but that's just one week and the rest of the month they're eating noodles. nothing but ramen noodles cos they can't even plan to have beans and rice.
Richard, are you trying to brag about your money? You are a sad, sad person who has no idea of how lucky he is. Even if I made that kind of money, which I don't, I would never waste it on such an ugly, overpriced hunk of medal that you drive around in or the mulitiple useless boats you own and anyone who spends $800 a week on food is a lunatic who obviously doesn't realize that there are children starving in this country. And I certainly would never classify my income as being just "ok" if I made that much money. And as for your expenses, I doubt they are causing you too mcuh stress. My family of four lives on about 50.000 a year that we work HARD for, many times working 50 hours a week. Even though things are hard at times, Ithat's more than a lot of others have so still feel fortunate. If having your income means I would have to act and think like you do, I say no thank you. I will keep my $50.000 a year.
Poor people think rich people dont work long hours for some reason, 50 hours is nothing to brag about, most rich people work every day of the week all day. They are workaholics. High paying jobs are extremely competitive, there is no time to rest because if you do someone will be happy to take your job.
I see the way rich people work and I want no part of that lifestyle, Im not a workaholic, I cant handle working 100 hours a week like they do. It would be nice to have the things they have but I value free time more than money. They may be rich in dollars but compared to them Im a millionaire in free time.
50 hours in a week, sounds like a government job with a little OT.
Lemme guess your boat is a penis boat to make up for a lack there of.
Thanks for all your taxes btw.
no its a sailboat, but the cigg boats are pretty cool as well. Regarding the taxes you are welcome. It's amazing that I pay over 100k in taxes and people think that I am the bad guy for buying some nice things. BTW buying things creates jobs.
Skrew all the self rightreos tw at tards, richard. Enjoy your cash and I hope your pad is paid for and you are saving for retirement.
But I do double dog dare ya to try the 30 bucks a week thing!
WHat was that??? I couldn't hear you. My boot straps were pulled up so high hafter reading your story that my ears were covered. (I can still watch TV that way, so I'm cool with it...)
I say, "good for you". You've worked hard enough and smart enough to be successful. I bet you also don't have a house full of unplanned children or a 15 year old daughter who just had a baby. I am a high school drop out who got a GED, got her crap together at an early age and realized that success was mine for the making. I got off my rear end and quit blaming the "system" for my problems and, what a miracle, opportunities were everywhere. I am very grateful for my success, and I will NEVER apologize for it. Have a good attitude, be the person other people want to be around, save as much as possible and quit looking for excuses and start looking for possibilities. P.S. – you are welcome for my tax dollars, too.
I hear ya Richard! I am working my butt off in grad school right now while my non-grad school friends are having a great time partying and relaxing. While the income I make (grad students get a small salary in the sciences) now is comparable to what they make, I have to work twice as hard for it. I imagine in about four years when I'm making 100k per year they will have reasons that it isn't fair I make so much more. What is wrong with you idiots? If you want more, you need to work for it, don't expect a hand out!
How did you turn this article into a chance to brag about yourself and how much you make? No matter how much money you have, the fact that you have to jump on this site to brag is entirely comical and thank you for making my day. I'm not rich or poor, but how pathetic you are really amazed me and I wanted to sincerly thank you for it. I couldn't think of a more fitting name for you than Richard and it makes me chuckle that someone like you who seems to have it all really on the inside feels so small and insignificant that you have to brag about the cost of your oil change to complete strangers.
I guess it depends on how you define loser and what game you are playing. If the goal is to live off the government, pay little to no taxes, buy food with stamps, then I must admit defeat. But I do not feel like a loser, I must be playing a different game then you.
We have a small garden in our backyard, and my husband hunts and fishes. Our refrigerator and freezer are always full and we seldom need to buy anything other than dairy products. When I reed the grocery flyers, it makes me sick at what people eat and waste money on.
sorry – I read flyers
I have a childhood friend with a live-in boyfriend in Cali that complains every single day of the week that they have no food, no health insurance and how broke they are. Neither went to college and she works as an assistant making $9 an hour and her boyfriend has pending theft charges and can't get a job until he finishes community service. They live in a crappy 1 room studio with only a microwave so they can't cook good food even if they chose to. They basically eat fast food every day (they've lived their 6 years). The only reason she isn't overweight is the junk food made her develop IBS and nothing stays in her system.
However, I've told her time and time again instead of spending money on cigarettes or weed every day why doesn't she buy a small burner and cook some frozen veggies a few days a week and she says their fridge is broken so they don't buy groceries. I don't care. I have little to no sympathy for so many people complaining about not having money when they have cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, cable tv, cell phones, new clothes, etc.
Thank God they don't have kids so she can't leach the welfare system (thanks to County health services providing her free birth control)...
If you have a dollar store (like Dollar Tree, where NOTHING is more than $1.00) you could certainly feed your family for a week on what they have to offer. Besides that, why do you have to go out and look for cooking meals when you could buy premade dinners at a fraction of the cost? A box of cereal is what, $3.00? One box of cereal could last you about a week, can't it? You can get Mac and Cheese for a couple nights at about $1 or $2 a pop.
The dollar store usually is not worth the money as crazy as that sounds. You can usually find the off brand $1 liters of soda they sell at a grocery store for 79 cents on sale. And that's just one example. There are some good things to get there like body washes, shampoo etc. if you aren't a frilly person but don't automatically assume that the dollar store must have the best prices!
All of that frozen food at the dollar store is filled with non-food crap. Nobody should ever have to eat that.
Amen! I feel so maddened and sorry for the ppl who get food stamps & buy crap. In many cases these ppl just don't know any better. As a society we've become too lazy to cook–so we buy box dinners full of hormones & chemicals which make us fat & unhealthy, We have to do something different. People, read labels. Cut fat, eat veggies & fruits. Cook! Better yet, garden. Even if all you have is 3 buckets on the back stoop, you can raise a little of your own food. And if I raise 3 tomatoes & the neighbor raises 3 buckets of bean plants & someone else 3 buckets of squash we can trade & all eat better. Innovate!
Dollar store food will feed you... but it has little nutritional value. Little nutrition = illness which will be another expense you have to deal with..
Dollar Store? Really? The Dollar Store/Big Lots/etc dollar stores take inferior products worth a few cents and arbitrarily raise the price to an even dollar. It's not a bargain, don't fool yourself. Also, dollar stores cause impulse buying, thanks to the "it's only a dollar" mentality. You'd do better to go to WalMart or join a co-op where you pay a price that is based on the actual COST of the items!
I think we're all missing the point here. Instead of everyone bragging about how little money they spend on groceries, we should be looking at why soooo many of us HAVE to live on so little. The days of going through a grocery store and NOT looking at prices are gone for me and most of us. None of us are eating healthy fruits and FRESH vegetables. That's the point.
I agree idean. I do agree with some that there are those who waste their money on weed and beer and other things but there are more that really don't have enough money to feed themselves a healthy diet, even after working full-time and working hard. It just shouldn't be that way.
I totally agree Idean 50. I have tried to live on "cheap" foods but always get sick. In order to function properly my body needs fruits, vegetables, and good protein. I don't know how these people live on peanut butter diets and don't get sick...you are lucky
perhaps the reason that people are "bragging" about how little they spend on groceries is because $30 is actually, in their eyes, a lot per person per week. it's all about perspective. it just depends on what you're used to. for me, i think $30 is plenty.. and i do buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
and why not look at the price tags even if you have the luxury not to? i look at price tags for everything and try to limit my purchases to only things that i need – not because i have to – but to save, so that in the event that something happens (ie: lose my job, etc) i will have something to fall back on.
We are all in different walks of life - some have disposable cash and others do not. The key question, independent of how much cash is in your wallet is why would you want to spend more than you have to for anything, including food. My parents raised me to be prudent and wise. There is no need to eat like a King everyday, and $30/person a week is quite a lot of money for one person (but agree it is easier when the family unit is larger and cooking for more people).
Keeping costs to a minimum is a wise objective in any down economy as you never know when you may need it - but I would disagree with the government taxing my hard earned wages any more to continue to "sponsor" people using EBT who have better clothes, jewelry, cars, electronics than the majority of the people who work hard to make ends meet.
I feed myself and two teenage children on $35 week. I'm not on Food Stamps and don't qualify. I work a full time job and a part time job. I pay my mortgage, my bills, and make sure my kiddos have enough for school fees, scout events, etc. We're creative with ramen and cabbage, beans & rice topped with fresh veggies, oatmeal is my go-to for breakfast, but occasionally we have pancakes. Milk is rationed at our house, gone are the days of a glass of milk when you come home after school, now it's only for meal times. Meat is a luxury, and I stretch a bag of frozen chicken breast as far as I can. Our bodies show the result of high carbs to be full, low protein and not enough fruits and vegetables to stay our healthiest. The saddest part, I feel, is we live in a higher income area (for the quality of schools) so my kids see what others eat and how they live. They feel poor, they feel the lack, and the social stigma that comes with it. I struggle and so do they, but at the end of the day they've eaten and can plan their lives so their kids can have the ice cream bars after school.
CVS Pharmacy has a chewable multivitamin for about $6.50 for 60 tablets. Sweet potatoes at Food4Less are $1.28 a pound (yummy and super nutritious). Buy Quaker instant oats in the 2lb tub for $2.48. Chopped frozen spinach is $1 a box (three meals' worth). Rice is $25 for a 50lb bag. Pinto beans are about $15 for a 25lb bag. Cream of Celery soup is $1/can (three meals' worth).
Better choices would have been bananas, potatoes, carrots, and eggs. These foods are very nutritious and filling and much cheaper than what she bought. Starting from scratch though, it is hard to build up a stockpile of food. Think about it – most people don't shop only for exactly what they are eating that week. A 5 lb bag of potatoes will likely last 2 weeks for instance. Then the next week she would not need to buy potatoes and could maybe get a tub of yogurt to go along with it. Clearly she hadn't sat down to make a menu and figure out ahead of time the foods that she could eat and make a list of items to buy. If you are shopping on a budget you HAVE to plan ahead of time or you will either go over budget or not have enough food.
Indeed. I was just thinking that 30$ a week might be hard, but 60$ for two weeks would be much easier. Always buy non-perishables in bulk. And dairy and eggs are very nutritious and filling for the cost. Definitely a much better breakfast than the farina! And they go for lunch and dinner too!
RIght you are Jennifer. Bulk is key. For the past two years, I was doing $20/ wk for food but due to a raise, I increased my budget to $30 a few months ago. Due to my job, I must consume 300 to 4500 calories per day despite being a small woman so as not to lose weight. It is possible to eat healthy on such a small budget but it is just not always exciting food. I get larger quantites of rice, beans,oatmeal, potatoes, carrots, turnips and other veggies that do not spoil quickly. I buy chicken in bulk and freeze the extra. I make a lot of soup using chicken bouillon cubes and I also make my own bread products. A lot of people find making bread difficult/time consuming but biscuits are quick, very easy, super cheap and make great PB and J sandwiches(much tastier than store bought bread).
Shopping takes a long time as I calculate everything I am buying...if it is not on sale or a good deal in bulk, I do not buy it that week. I do pretty well and even have money to splurge on chocolate and salty snacks occasionally.
Sure it can be done and a lot of us do it. The MAJOR difference or point is it's NOT healthy. If you have to live on 30 bucks a week, fruits and vegetables become a luxury item. How many of us who live on 30 dollars a week food are healthy?? that's the point, here. Hell, I can go out in the woods and eat berries and wood bark – but, how healthy is it?
Idean, I think you can leave very healthy on $30 a week. I think for a single person that's rediculously excessive. thats $120 a month on food for 90 meals. For a family of 4, yes that is hard, but for the purposes of this article it is rediculous. The question people need to ask themselves, is why are they putting in thier body what their putting in it. I hate chicken you could not force me to cook it. But I will find creative ways to cook for the month and prepare more expensive things ahead and portion it out. It's the fact that people want things that are quick and easy on the run and don't take the time to plan a healthy meal for the most part. Like the other poster said earlier, buy a roast get potates onions and carrots for free, my local grocery does that atleast 4 times a year, usually winter, but you know what, roasts freeze. Take them up on their deal and plan ahead.
Wow, where did this producer shop, at the Trump store? I buy meats when on sale, $1.99 lb or 2 for 1. Spend about $120-140 a week for four people. That includeds steaks and shrimp when on SALE.
The article is misleading. If the author is going to buy food with the average food stamp allottment for one person, she should have also used the average money available to such an individual. The food stamp amount for one person with zero net income is 200. A person receiving 30 weekly (monthly allottment of 130) has money available either through earned or unearned income. The food stamp allottment in this situation is a supplement to the individual's budget and isn't intended to represent the entire food cost. I've worked in this program for 30 years and know what I'm talking about.
Well, those of us who have been in a position to receive benefits at one time or another understand the working poor. The income is in most cases is considered too much income to receive benefits other than food stamps but too little to make ends meet. Its a catch 22 situation really. Sometimes those with an income fare far worse than those without an income because they qualify for additional benefits and do not have the expenses associated with those working outside the home – such as daycare. Bottom line – the more income, the fewer benefits, and the more you have to pay out in other areas (daycare, utilities, housing), so that $30 may indeed be all you have for a week in the end, so to say that it is intended to supplement is nice in theory, but not typically the reality.
Thank you for being the voice of reason! Articles like this one deliberately leave out the important details you shared.
you are correct. The writer didn't do her home work. My Mom feed us good meals even though a lot of it might have been pasta or beans and rice. But we always had a piece a fruit and she knew portion control then. Most people in America if they don't have a lot on there plate they think they are hungry. Parents need to really look at that cell phone your kids have, before you cry help.
I was thinking that when I read it. Thank you for clarifying. Everyone here has their own idea of what this article should tell us. I for one feel very blessed after reading it. I'm a single mom, but my income is over $70k/year, so I do very well, and rarely have to deny myself small luxuries. Every day though, I know is a gift. Appreciate what you have.
And, for "Richard", the ignorant, wealthy man above who said "we all have different incomes and different expenses. If you feel like you should have more, then ask yourself if you have always worked your hardest your whole life. I bet you have not. "... I hope true neediness floats your way some day so that you can see the types of choices hard-working people are being forced to make. You're the reason we look at people like you with pity.
I am in grad school and can eat pretty well on $30/wk, and I don't mean Ramen Noodles. It is just a matter of planning, using coupons, and buying things on sale. Anyone who has even rudimentary cooking and math skills can get by just fine if they get over themselves and think a little.
I don't think I have ate ramen noodles because of necessity in a long time. Even as a grad student like you said. $30 a week too easy.
Are you kidding me? look at the food she bought. Talk about gourmet!! $30 bucks a week is a lot of money and can easily be done. I wish I had that much money to spend on food.
In my household, there are three adults and two teenagers. We spend, on average about $250 a month and we don't get food stamps. All the adults work, but cost of living for utilities, gas to and from work and basic living needs, leaves us very little to buy quality, nutritious foods that are healthy for my family. We do it all the time, but it's not what everyone likes or would want if we had a little more to buy with.
5 adults spending just 250 a month – that's just a little over a dollar a day for each person? You really should call social services – you HAVE to qualify for something. I'm just one person and I budget $!50.00 (5 dollars a day) just for me and I NEVER get to eat healthy food.
EASY: I have done it many times. Asian diet : Buy 10lb rice enough for a week for $6.99. Buy 4dozens egg : $8.00 2eggs/meal. a Gallon milk $3.49. For veggie : buy 5lb green bean for $1.29/lb. And there you go, you still have plenty enough to buy chicken and spices.
"That is the reality for the more than 40 million Americans who rely on food stamps. According to the Food Research and Action Center the average food stamp allotment is just $30 per week."
Only the ones that rely on foodstamps, Ms. Steffen?
Why don't you revise that opening paragraph to the truth? It isn't the ones on foodstamps.....it's the ones, like myself, that qualify for NO ASSISTANCE that are really struggling to make that $20-30 each week count.
I am 49 years old, was laid off in 2008. I've lived off what little retirement I did have and barely even had $30 a week for groceries! I went back to college and once the retirement ran out, I did not even qualify for food stamps or any kind of assistance! I am working full time at a job that pays $7 for 40 hours. I have a small efficiency ($400 all inclusive), small car payment ($280 paid off in May 2012), car insurance and month-to-month cell phone (both total around $120) and those totals do not include gas or food. You do the math....it's a struggle for a lot of hard working, honest people. I can't imagine how families do it.....that is the ones that don't receive any help. What makes me sick are the people that come through my line, dressed in expensive clothes, jewelry dripping off their fingers, necks and ears, with Coach or Prada pocketbooks, talking on their iPhones and pulling out an EBT card and swiping it. Then I watch as they walk out to their BMW's or Acuras. This is the sad state of America today. I'd rather see those struggling families receive that EBT money than the ones that actually do.
One thing I did to supplement my measly grocery money was help a few friends out with their gardens this past summer. I got wonderful baskets of fresh veggies and fruits. Find somewhere you can do the same. It's called....wait for it....being resourceful.
I also shop at dollar stores and markets like Aldi for really great specials on just about everything.
I'm with ya. Same situation; I've gotten my food budget down to $35 a week . . . but those people you talk about aren't getting their money from a legal source. You can bet they are dealing. I never thought that I would say this, but I am for drug testing assistance recipients – not to punish them, but to hopefully force them to live more healthy lives and move forward.
should have worked harder in school if you wanted to have all those nice things.
@john....honey, I'm still in school. Nursing school, heading for my bachelor's degree. I will graduate in the spring of 2012 with a 4.0 gpa and I've done it in less than 4 years. I'm not worried about money now, even though it's been tight, nor will I be once I graduate and I've done a lot of it with grants and scholarships and my student loan amount upon graduation will be less than $15k. I was pointing out to Ms. Steffan that her statement about people on food stamps being the ones that have to exist on $30 per week was a bit off the mark.
Ha ha ha!! It is unfortunate that so many people will take that comment the wrong way, but that is called pure truth. It is an unbiased statement containing only facts. Work harder, get more. I am perfectly fine with that system.
Not really, John. Even people graduating from the top of their class are having trouble finding work right now. There are MBAs and PhDs serving you in restaurants, bars, and big box stores and feeling lucky for it these days. Enjoy the magna cum laude load of spit on your burger, BTW.
shame on you! Not everyone has the resources you obviously did.Some people may not have a huge IQ or maybe a learning disablilaty that their parents never noticed or who knows. Hey maybe someone had four children and was left by someone who didnt pay up.... Dont pretend to know everyones situation!!!! Their are too many reasons to list. I work and pay my way but would never cut down someone who needs help! what is wrong with you. You just insulted so many people who are caring, nice, and want to work more than anything. You assume that they are the few out there that dont!
anneks1962- WELL SAID !!!!! I am clapping for you at my desk !!!! I too have seen the Coach purses – the hi-lites and hair-do's and artificial nails and pedicures , Iphones and all the other little luxuries – who's paying for all of that as they swipe their EBT card? It sickens me !!!! I try to tell myself NOT to judge – but I stay completley AWAY from the grocery stores on the 1st of the month – there is not way these people eat all of this food without it going bad for 30 days ! I know some of them who even buy tons of meat- cook it – then sell the food they've cooked to make cash – its a HUGE racket !!!! If people were forced to buy things to prepare it woudl teach them resourefullness – I remember being behind a guy in the line that was irked because his MONSTER drink was denied on his EBT – he looked perfectly capable of working to me – I have got to get off my soap box now before I have a stroke – congrats to you and your success – in the end it still feels good to support and provide for yourself and your family !
And did these girls with the purses and nails and all that tell you they were on food stamps? Just wondering?????
I logged off, having made way too many comments, but have to say I find fraud despicable. However, I do know one young lady getting foodstamps and going to college on a grant and loans. She has a part timejob. She has nothing and I've helped her out with a few things, personal items, body wash, some makeup here and there. Her mom provides a cell phone so she can stay in touch with her. I myself am on a tight budget, NOT nor ever on foodstamps or any type of assistance, and have several coach bags and one prada. 2 bags from my deceased mother, one I bought at an outlet, and 2 coaches and a prada I've bought at thrift stores, the coach bags were $9.00 each and the prada $14.95 and yes, they are real.. Maybe I'll give one to this young lady. She had her nails done for the first time in her life a couple of weeks ago when a friend took her for a birthday treat. She'd really fit the stereotype if I only gave her my Prada bag, wouldn't she? Now, what to do about that jewelry...
Really? The writer thinks $30 per week is not enough. I have a wife and 3 kids. We live on $150 per week ($30 per person). It is NOT that hard. O.k. I guess I don't get to eat steak, but that's what we call a BUDGET! Get real! The nanny state has gotten out of hand. People no longer know how to take care of themselves because the government has been doing it. And really, why work if you can eat better on the government's dime. Money grows on trees, right?
Well said, Rich. I've lived on beans and rice for long periods of time. It can be done, and done quite well. As those of us that are truly resourceful understand.
True. I agree with both of you. We have to live in a budget. My husband and I always bring lunch from home. I cooked more for dinner so we have left over for our lunch. It is not that bad.
Depending on where you live. The cost of food varies state to state.
I just spent four years at Uni. Could I? lol...no problem.
The answer is obviously yes, but would I get the healthy variety I get now? Absolutely not.
I've been working on a similar challenge and publishing my recipes here: http://gramcracker-gershon.blogspot.com/ (It's totally free.)
Mine is 3,000 calories for $5.00 a day. I can say that having any meat or many vegetables blows the diet. It's just barely possible to achieve. Yes, I shop organic, but at the store I shop, the prices are cheaper than the big box store.
But it's no challenge to do it for a week. The cravings won't start to kick in until after that. Try doing it for a year and I'll be somewhat impressed. Do it for a year, but in the middle of it, have your car break down and you have to choose between fixing it or eating. Then I'll start to be impressed.
The oppressed are starting to speak out. Eventually, we will get our fair share with fair pay for our work.
I have a garden and it helps. Every tree in my yard has something edible on it that ripens at different times. Peaches, apples, jujubee, pears, blueberries, haw tree, hot peppers and gogi berries. I give and get food from neighbors all the time by trading and sharing. I hunt for deer and usually have a freezer full of that. What I don't need of the deer, I donate. This year, I will try turkey hunting for my thanksgiving dinner, and once in awhile get a rabbit while out looking for those. There's a lot to be said for hunting, but unfortuntely people just don't get off their duffs.
Handy if you own land that you can grow things on and live near land to hunt on. Not so easy for people living in the city, or those who don't own a gun.
I have only 1/4 acre parcel, but loaded it with trees and bushes. I hunt land that is not far using a gun I bought YEARS ago. They still aren't that bad for a beginner to buy. There is free public hunting land available too (which I use extensively). If you don't know how to hunt, there are LOTS of people happy to show you like me (I have taught many over the years) and you can consult the Department of Natural Resources for a hunter saftey course or consult online as to hunting, go get videos at the library or magazines too.
Stop by your local rod and gun club (my local one was $50 per year and includes social events, disocunted supplies, free shooting ranges and events and other give-aways that make that $50 go way far). They have a vested interest in teaching members how to hunt safely, often have land of their own to hunt, and you can partner with others who can show you the ropes. Not all hunters are redneck yeehaws...many are college educated.
Grumpster, that sounds great, but I don't own a gun. No one in my family owned a gun and I don't know how to shoot one. If I was to somehow shoot said animal, then what? I don't know the first thing about cleaning it or cutting it up and they would probably frown on this in my small apartment.
It is simple to do – beans and rice and for a change rice and beans. Also if they get rid of cellphones (go landline) the money saved can buy food. If they downsize their residence, money saved can buy food. If they work any 2nd job available, more money to buy food. You do what you have to do when you have to do it. Uless you just take a government hand-out and then sit and complain all day.
Ed...I gave up the over-priced and under-used land line and have 2 cell phones that cost me $40 total per month. That's not bad, and I can cut that further if I really want by going pay as you go.
I feed a family of 4 for about $100 a week. $30 seems like a lot of money for one person for a week. yes I could definitely do that!
Also, for those of you dissing the author on her choices, remember, she's never done this before. What if the opposite were true, if you had $300 a week to feed yourself and your family? You would probably buy just exactly the same way you do now, because you would still have a poverty mindset. It goes both ways. She's trying to understand how it works. I give her great credit for trying. Just because someone has never lived in poverty does not make them insensitive, careless, or bad.
"Credit for trying," yes. Bu, the rest of your response is just plain stupid!
Why? Because Just wondering has the ability to see things from a positive & alternative perspective and you couldn't? Grow up.
Here's an interesting epilogue – ask John Boehner, Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, the witch, and other pretenders to feed themselves and their wives on Food Stamps amounts.
Here's a more interesting epilogue–we're ALL going to be trying to live on $30 a week to pay for Obamacare, Medicare, and Social Security!
Not because of Obamacare but because of our Demoncratic welfare state; keep the masses 'inline', while the Imperial Elite enjoy boundless wealth and NO TAXES on all that Democratic tax free CASH FLOW.
You can choose to believe any delusion you wish, but Obamacare will end up costing every working person about $1000 a year to cover the medical costs of those who don't work.
My friend, we already are.
No, because they all went to college to get jobs, unlike the majority (not all, but the majority) of people on food stamps.
this is possibly the stupidest article i've ever read. fairway?!?! whaaaat?? for those of you who live outside of manhattan, fairway is a high-priced grocery store, only located in super expensive neighborhoods in metro NYC, where regular brands cost 50% more (but you'll also be able to chose your goya-type brand from, say, 500 kinds of extra virgin olive oil in the special olive oil section of the store). it's worse than whole foods in terms of cost-effectiveness. dumb article.
Actually, Fairway grocery stories are common where I grew up in rural, small-town Iowa. The Fairway's I've been in are certainly NOT high-end grocery stores. They are small grocery stores though, which means they can't take advantage of some economies of scale.
She said she walked home. It may be that it is closer to where she lives and that too can be an obstacle for people who live in food desert areas.
Your point means she had to stretch her dollars even more...
One of the Fairways in Manhattan is in an expensive neighborhood (Upper West Side)- but the one I shop at is in Washington Heights, not an expensive neighborhood by any means. Still I agree that she would have been better off going to C-Town or Associated (but neither of those stores ever have fresh product that isn't already covered in fruit flies and rotting- at least the ones near my apartment).
One big issue I see with this, food stamps are not intended to be the complete food budget, they are to supliment your own money for food. That is how they are allotted, based on what other income and housing expenses are in the home. It isn't easy to feed a family with limited resources, but it is possible. I think a requirement of anyone taking a political position should be to live for a period of time on a middle income salary, not a low income...even middle income would be an eye opener.
In the Peace Corps, I used to spend about a $1 on food in the village. It was mostly rice and beans and soda and I suppose I could live off of it again if I had to. I would supplement with a few fruits and vegetables and viola, done. But of course, it took forever to cook it too, so I usually just bought the rice and beans cooked and that was why it was so expensive ($0.40 per meal!).
Ahh, the third world, if they could just get rid of disease and corruption, I'd go back there to live.
I have a current budget of $100 for groceries for both myself and my son. This does not only include food but also other items often bought at the grocery store such as TP and paper towel (which I have reduced to rare usage).
It has not been easy and it took my son a bit of time to understand and buy into it. Especially impulse requests from him for foods targeted at children which are rediculous expensive comparatively speaking (I guess you pay extra for the spounge bob pic) were hard to turn down. After little time and consistency he understood our approach of going for items we had coupons for, to understand yoghurt is yoghurt, spounge bob or not (and generally the non-kiddo version seems to have a lot less artificial colors in it too... bonus!), and to not impulse buy but stick to our shopping list worked out BEFORE our trip. We also have become a lot more stringent about the use of left overs.
Rarely but every now and then we go out for a dollar menu item at McD (which I cannot stand but my son loves). He had to accept that if we do go to a place like that we do go there for the food, not for the toys. He can have a hamburger, but not a happy meal. he actually failry easily accpted that approach and it has not only made our trips cheaper but also the frequency thereof a lot less (ha!).
As far as the shopping is concerned, occasionally my son does get a treat, gets to pick a special item.... and he appreciates it so much more now. It has not always been easy but it really has paid off in many ways and actually I feel will leave a positive impression on my son and his financial and life attitude as well.
I'm confused. While it's impressive what you posters have managed to buy with meager food incomes, don't you folks work? Is everyone on food assistance? While I didn't think I was so ignorant about how many people have so little, I have supported myself just fine since I was 16, with a trade and a full time job and ho estly did not realize the extent of the poverty here. I put myself through college into my 40's and am doing better than ever. What happened to good old fashioned hard work? And birth control? I don't mean to sound arrogant; I really am shocked! Thanks for enlightening me.
I'm a little confused as well over your comments. I think its very clear that most of the people posting here are working, putting themselves through school and raising families. Obviously you are very lucky that the "Great Recession" has not affected you.
Thanks, Mary, I see the confusion. You have to read down quite a ways to see the comments I was referring to; there was a spate of them.
Many of us are also dealing with a wage freeze going on three years since the meltdown. I understand where you got that impression, but most comments following them are critical of how non-working families are getting food vouchers worth more than what we can afford as working folks. I think the article was a little silly, it was like sending a teenager out to shop. But it did open up a dialogue that shows the ones struggling like us are not alone.
1 in 4 children live below the poverty line in America today. I think that's the point.
I have a full-time job that requires a Bachelor's Degree, but it is my first job out of college and pays very little. I hardly earn enough to pay all my bills, and for people my age you have to take into account the outrageous amount of student loan debt that must be paid. So, my food budget is very little.
That said, I can live on $30/wk and still get a few fruits and veggies tossed in there. And I buy whole wheat bread, too. But, as stated above, I think much of that depends on where you live.
If you are not concerned with the origins of the food, $30 is possible, but if you wish to eat healthy, avoid processed foods and keep things natural/organic (as in no pesticides, preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, etc), then $30 is a joke.
Therein is the sad reality of the state of food; Good, healthy and natural food (which everyone should be able to have access to) is actually the most expensive avenue. Processed foods, pesticide/hormone/antibiotic-infested food is cheaper, but horrible for your health, but if that's all you can afford, then that's what you have to eat.
You can, at least, endeavour to try and buy the least harmful things possible on that $30 a month. Knowing how to bake, make stews and stick with produce and ingredients rather than finished products will make that $30 go pretty far.
The processed food most people recognize as crap have highly addicting additives including but not limited to high fructose corn syrup, FD&C colors, MSG, chemical compounds for "shelf life extension", et c. I would LOVE the luxury of a healthy nutritious whole foods plant based diet. It is VERY challenging!
Shopping sales, couponing (be careful though coupons are usually for new items i.e. not necessarily healthy), bulk buying, food outlet shopping, and knowing people with gardens are some of the strategies I use to keep my food spending reasonable. (Yes, I help weed, pick, process those garden goodies) For a family of 7 with special diets like diabetic, diabetic renal, low-fat, growing teens, & growing pre-schooler; we make it work on $500/mo.
I just work with what we've got making every meal as nutritionally dense and flavorful as I can & trust that God has promised to supply my needs.
Here are some meals I was raised on.
►"Ronies": My dad's invention... tomato sauce + macaroni. Tabasco optional. Serve.
►Chilli Noodles: just like it sounds, chilli + macaroni. Tabasco optional. Serve.
►Taco salad: ... this one was a real treat, and the way they made it, it stretched out everything we had, and is very filling. Lots of people are afraid to try it, because it doesn't sound good, and it doesn't look good. Basically, you make your taco meat, have a bit of shredded lettuce and either salsa or tomatoes... whatever you like on it. Instead of the taco shell however, boil some ramen noodles, and drain them. Then get some sour cream and mix it all up with the noodles, and use that as the base to put your meat and other taco fixins on. Mix it all up. MMmmmmmmm. Still one of my favorites.
►Hamburger gravy over white rice, or leftover mashed potatoes... mix all of that up with some frozen corn and nom nom nom.
►A snack was often times a flour tortilla laid directly on a stove burner, left to grill up a tiny bit, with some melted butter spread around inside. Roll up and nosh.
►Tortillas! Holy crap are they easy to make! Mix the dry ingredients, and stash them away. Add just enough water whenever you need some tortillas, and you can pretty much just guestimate based on texture.
Baking your own bread is also totally awesome. It's really not all that hard, don't bother listening to the people who say it is. You do not need a bread machine if you have hands.
Yup, doing the taco salad today!
take that tortilla, warm it, spread a lil peanut butter on it & drizzle it with honey & a touch of cinnamon! Good eats, great treat!!!!
Grew up eating much of the same. Here's a few simple ideas.
Tomato soup with Mac an Cheese.
Cabbage, peppers, onions and if available add small amount of sausage, fry together
Rice in place of pasta in most dishes works great. Adds bulk to veggie and meat dishes as well.
Tuna, mac and cheese with crushed potatoe chips on top. Add can of veggies for complete meal.
Boiled chicken in broth, jalapenos, wide egg noodles and sprinkle with chedder. Add sausage gravy mix for thicker dish.
Eating cheap doesn't have to be ordinary by any means. The trick is to be creative.
BBQ RUB...
1 part Coca
1 part dark brown sugar
1/2 part crushed red pepper/chili's
bit of garlic powder
bit of salt
bit of onion powder.
The egg is really the world's most perfect food. And if you had to (and didn't mind the chloresteral) you could stretch a $3.00 carton to feed yourself breakfast lunch and dinner for a week. I'd rather eat scrambled eggs with salsa and toast than ramen.
Very true mary its a pretty good way to eat for a week.
The writer either never had a strict budget or is pretending she didn't. If you have a limited budget you PLAN meals for the week, you don't just walk into a supermarket looking for 'affordable' namebrand products. I've eaten on $30 and often still do. Stupid article.
can of oatmeal ($3) + raisins ($4) = breakfast for a month ($7 total). pound of dry beans ($1) + cup of barley/rice ($1) + cup of frozen chopped spinach ($.50) = lunch for a week ($2.50). That's 2 meals for $4.75/week. That leaves about $25 for dinner and snacks. It's do-able. The key questions are number of calories and complete nutrition. That's not so easy.
Good theory, but obviously some areas are more expensive than others. I live in New England, and have never heard of a Fairways or C-Town. I went to university down south, and that was the first time I had encountered a Winn-Dixie or Rouse's or Ssve-a-Lot. Food at these stores were undoubtably cheaper that at stores here like Shaws or Stop & Shop. That said, it's not THAT much more expensive that would cost over $30 (according to your math/scenario) but, I've never come across a bag of a dozen apples as cheap as $1.99 (as the article stated)...
You're also eligible to buy vegetable and fruit seeds with food stamps. Perhaps it would be a better investment for those with yards.
Just because it needs to be shouted from the rooftops:
YOU CAN BUY VEGETABLE SEEDS AND STARTS WITH SNAP BENEFITS!!!!
Also, in the wintertime indoors, as long as you make sure there's some natural light each day, you can grow year round.
Wow really? Because it CAN be done. Especially if you go to a discount grocer or a grocery store that has the "savings" club card. It's MUCH easier if you stay away from Brand names and initial launch products.
Was the author never a poor college student?! Or heck just poor for any period of her life? There are many places to shop for dry goods like pastas, coffee, soups, breads and crackers and such for much less like the 99 cent stores and Big Lots, as well as discount grocers like Grocery Outlet and even Trader Joe's for much less expensive produce, meats and cheeses. Ethnic markets are also a great place to get deals on meats and produce too. If I worked at it I could feed my family of three for a week with $30! And yes it is difficult to eat healthfully if you are poor as the author found even if you are very creative.
They key here is life skiils: when I was growing up they actually taught home economics in school. We grew up in a single parent household. My mom worked and got home at 7pm, so she taught my sister and I how to prepare (simple at first) meals, so that we she got home we ate together. It was a great confidence builder for us kids. We felt like we were contributing and we were learning valuable skills. Sis made salad and I baked chicken at made rice. Mom bought only things on sale and we ate well on a tight budget. They key is never doing take out. As an adult, I know my prices, so can identify good deals, then stock up when the price is right. I plan my shopping and I always have key items on hand, so no impulse takeout orders when tired and hungry. I continue to hone my cooking skills, which are way more important than recipes, and seasonally vary what I cook. I have a big commute, so I can't cook every night. I usually cook twice a week, often making more than one thing, then have good home cooked food on hand all week. We probably spend about $75 per week for 2 people and eat very well. That includes some splurging, so I am confident that I could reduce that by $15....making it $60 for 2 people. My main point is that $30 per week per person will work easily, even in high priced NYC, but you need to have the skills to plan your shopping, take advantage of sales, keep your pantry stocked with these sale items so that you never run out and have to pay full price in a pinch, and learn how to cook your own meals. Friuts and veggies can kill the budget, but even these have sales.
Once again...
My Comment is awaiting moderation?
What exactly is offensive about this:
"Didn't someone from CNN do this already?
I don't get food stamps, but I basically live on $100 in groceries a month. That's $25 a week. It's not that hard for a single person to do if they plan for the pricey staples, like meats and get cheaper substitutes for name brands. Eat a lot of rice, bean, noodle and potato based dishes, and you'll get plenty of variety and be full with minimal cost. I basically live on rice and beans. You can do all kinds of things with them, and both can be under a dollar per meal."
I'm really starting to get tired of the internet police.
Didn't someone from CNN do this already?
I don't get food stamps, but I basically live on $100 in groceries a month. That's $25 a week. It's not that hard for a single person to do if they plan for the pricey staples, like meats and get cheaper substitutes for name brands. Eat a lot of rice, bean, noodle and potato based dishes, and you'll get plenty of variety and be full with minimal cost. I basically live on rice and beans. You can do all kinds of things with them, and both can be under a dollar per meal.
I have a budget of about $30 a week for food and I seem to do just fine. The writer here made 2 HUGE mistakes when you're on a fixed budget. 1. COUPONS! Check out the fliers and the paper to see if you can use any coupons. You don't have to be one of those extreme people who go to great lengths to pay as little as possible for their groceries, but man, do coupons help. 2. Buy what's on sale. If there's a deal, buy that. You'll have to adjust your menu for the week depending on the sale, but you'll save money. Also, knowing your prices helps. If you know milk is cheaper at the gas station then it is at the convenient store, buy it there. Don't be afraid to go to several different place and price compare. It takes time, but it's worth it. I can eat how I want (organic and fresh whenever humanly possible) and I live in Chicago where prices are high. Not NYC high, but not small town cheap either.
Also, you can't count some of those prices in your $30/wk budget. For example, Café Bustelo espresso for $2.86. That box of coffee with last you weeks. So really it's a cost of $2.86 / 10 for this week assuming it lasts you 10 weeks. Also, 12 apples at $1.99, are you going to eat 12 apples this week? probably not. Unitize the parts, and then budget. Spending $2.86 on coffee this week is rough, but you will have $2.86 extra every week for the next 10 weeks (assuming it lasts 10 wks).
Perhaps Colorado is less expensive than I thought. My husband and I live on $300 a month in groceries and that allows us to buy healthy foods, fresh and organic produce, wild fish and free range poultry (we rarely eat red meat), even a few luxuries like mozzarella and feta cheese for caprese and Greek salads, if you consider those luxuries-which I do because we live on student loans. We can even afford a glass of wine in the evenings. We don't even have to bake our own bread. The trick is being creative in the kitchen and knowing how to make multiple meals out of a limited quantity of ingredients. Everything is cooked from scratch and our meals are quite diverse ranging from Italian and Mexican to Indian curry dishes and Moroccan chicken. I don't even consider myself a great cook, but I am good at finding what's on sale, and stretching the use of the ingredients, and I also work, so I have a limited amount of time and energy to cook. My point is that you don't have to sacrifice a lot to live on $30 per week, per person.
Trader Joes is a great place to shop. They've got lots of healthy food and low prices.
Learning to cook/eat on a tight budget can be learned but is easiest if you stay out of the big stores and lean toward ethnic markets and farmer's markets. I primarily shop at an ethnic farmer's market (Middle Eastern/Eastern European) as well as get staples at Costco (Tofu, spinach, soymilk, oatmeal, peanut butter, brown rice, beans etc) . I'm able to feed my family of 4 (including toiletries) for about $300/month; this includes a splurge or two (wine and chocolate) at Trader Joe's. I recommend allrecipes.com, dedemed.com, manjulaskitchen.com. I don't feel that we're doing without at all and enjoy eating whole foods that aren't processed. I make a lot of soups and send the kids to school with a thermos of hot soup every morning. Start to experiment, it's actually a lot of fun as you learn new recipes. If you visit an ethnic market and see something in the checkout line you've never tried, ask the person. People love to share their ideas and recipes. I've discovered so many wonderful dishes this way.
Have fun and Bon Appetit!
As any college student knows. Ramen on sale for 5/$1 comes to about $23/month. Spend the remaining $7 on vitamins. Yes this is not healthy but it works. Don't forget make use of free condiments to enhance your ramen.
Ketchup and drained noodles (don't use flavor packet) makes ghetto spaghetti
Soy sauce and drained noodles is poor man's chow mein
Hot sauce packet and drained noodles makes kimchi noodles
If you can steal an egg drop it in boiled noodles for protein and it makes a birds nest soup
teriyaki and chili sauce packet in noodles with water and flavor packet makes sweet and hot soup
Parmesan cheese packet with a butter packet cooked down and put over drained noodles make hobo freto.
Dry noodles crunched in a ziplock make croutons.
I think we had about 25 recipes in all, don't forget places like polo loco have salsa, onions, and peppers!(gotta get a few veggies in)
CH
Wow, thanks so much for these tips! I am a single mother of 5-year-old twins and very often feed them and am forced to find the cheapest thing for myself, hence the Ramen. The only thing I've been adding is Piccapeppa (a form of steak sauce) to them. Now I'm actually excited about trying new things. Thanks again!
Don't any of you college students purchase the meal plan at school. I purchased one for my son and I supplement with snacks for him.
Meal plans cost quite a bit of money, money that I couldn't afford in college. My parents didn't have the money to help with college, so it was up to me to pay for it.
When you have to make the choice between a meal plan and taking out additional loans(and knowing the loans will cost you later) and eating ramen, you go with the ramen.
It's nice that you are helping to support your child, but most parents can't which leaves the students to fend for themselves in whatever way is best for them. ;)
Meal plans are not bad but if the student is forking over the money themselves it ends up costing more than going out every night. I did it for the last 3 yrs. I had a meal plan my freshman year and then decided to stop and I saved alot of money. I also don't usually eat 3 meals a day either two decent size ones and 1 or 2 snacks.
You're right, meal plans are expensive, however I don't want him eating a diet of raman noodles or mac n cheese. I will be down grading his meal plan to 14 meals a week as he informed me he doesn't eat breakfast.
The meal plan for my daughter at college was $1800 for 4.5 months. That is almost $100 a week and it was lots cheaper to have her buy and cook her own food.
Tony, What is you daugher eating for $100 a week bud. I mean sorry but I can go out and eat everday well since I don't eat breakfast for a less than that. Lunch ~6.00 a day thats $42.00 a week, Dinner ~7.00 a day thats $49.00 a week, total $91.00. If I buy food other than that it will just subtract from the total. I personally don't like to spend more than $40-45 a week on food but thats on weeks I treat myself to dinner on Sundays.
Sorry Tony I just skimmed you post ignore my last one please. But this is a pretty go estimate of costs to eat out everyday and how it is alot cheaper than buying meal plan.
I think my son's meal plan for 19 meals a week was around $5,000 for the year, but that did include dining dollars which he can spend at the fast food chains they have on campus.
Instead of purchasing a meal plan, see if you can purchase an expense plan.
At my school, there isn't really a discount for purchasing the meal plan. If you math out the cost of breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the dining hall each day, it's the same as you would pay without the meal plan. My parents got me a meal plan, I knew I wouldn't be eating in the dining hall that often, and the meal plan people kindly converted the cost to an expense plan. I could still eat in the dining hall when I felt like it, and I could also go to the mini-grocery-stores around campus and buy milk, cereal, etc.
At the end of the semester / year, the meal plan goes away, no matter how many meals are left on it. The money in your expense plan doesn't. If they only knew how little the meal plan was used! Halfway through the semester, students with a meal plan start treating all their friends to free food ("Want to go to the dining hall? I have like 150 meals left, I'm never going to use them all").
Of course, that whole plan depends on the school, how much the dining hall meals are individually, how much of a discount the meal plan is, and what other food sources are available via the expense plan. Here, every time a parent talks about buying a meal plan, I wince a little.
Ramen noodles aren't really healthy for you, though. They're fried. You can buy the baked ones for a bit more money. Is it really cheaper to buy several packs of ramen just for the noodles than it is to just buy a box of spaghetti?
The best post today! Thanks!
$30 would be like striking gold,,,,,,i got $16 a month for food stamps
Did you use the intenet at a public library? Or you have internet at home?
HA! Look in the mirror honey. That should be the LEAST of your concerns.
Probably using that $120 a month iPhone plan! :s
Church dinners. Youth Groups. Other projects created to help the less fortunate.
We need to get rid of this mentality that these are only for the homeless. Or that we have more than others. Donations are made to these groups to help out those in need and if you are in need, you will probably be welcomed. They can help with food, shelter, clothes, laundry services, and a host of other things we all need. I would like to acknowledge "Youth on Fire" "Stand up for kids" "Bridge over troubled water medical services" and the many churches that welcomed me when I was at my lowest. I now am doing a lot better and try my best to give back to these organizations so that they may help others the way they helped me.
You've obviously never had to do without, and you lack creativity. 30 dollars is a fortune! Grow up.
In the state of Pennsylvania, if you have $0 income, a family of three will get $536/month in food stamps. And every child in Allegheny county can show up at various locations to receive three squares a day. And then there are food banks as additional resources. And now Taco Bell wants to be permitted to accept food stamps as payment. What a joke. The only hungry people in this country are those kids that have parents that sell their food stamps for cash and turn around and buy drugs with it. And whether you give those people $50 or $500 or $5,000 in food stamps each month is irrelevant. There are more than enough safety nets in place to care for those that need it (and don't need it). If you believe otherwise, you will likely need to use one of these nets soon enough, as they are disproportionately used by the less intelligent.
I agree, Erik!
I know someone who gets food stamps and they buy crabmeat and shrimp and things that working people cannot purchase. Amazing! If a person on food stamps would buy the basics, $30 a week is very doable! Another thing, if you are on food stamps, STOP SMOKING! Cigs are $7.00-$8.00 a pack. Some people don't have money for food, but will ALWAYS find a way to smoke, booze it up and do drugs.
Was at a local (pricey) grocery store and the woman in front of me got mad and started yelling at cashier to "stop judging her for using food stamps" because the cashier told her that there wasn't enough money left on her food stamp card to purchase both items she was trying to buy. Let me note that the woman in front of me was trying to buy some sort of shrimp salad from the deli and a large package of king crab legs.
Although that was irritating, I know that there are people out there that are more responsible with their food stamps.
I have never been on food stamps & hope I never get to that point, but based on overall what I have seen people purchase with food stamps, I don't think the system is working very well. It'd be hard to fix as people seem to always push the limits on any system that is in place.
PS – I just went to the store this morning and spent $25 for the week for both my husband and I –
3 green peppers, 8 oz. mushrooms, 2 bags of lettuce (not iceberg), 12 pack of string cheese, 16 slice pack of american cheese, gal milk, doz eggs, gal apple cider, pretzels, corn chips, oj – not from conc,, 2 bags carrots, instant rice, gnocchi, cookies, graham crackers, saltines. Will eat with meat I bought on sale last week. This is $25 for 2 people & we're not eating ramen...
The only hungry people are the ones whose parents sell their food stamps? Are you kidding me?
There are a LOT of people who pull in a paycheck that by far can't stretch to pay everything they need to, but still don't qualify for food stamps. These children go hungry. There are people who qualify for a modicum of food stamps, but not enough to make sure that everyone is kept constantly well fed.
Yes, if you make nothing and have children, you usually get a lot of assistance from the government. But if you even have $100 in the bank, you'll get very little. If your paycheck AND the government assistance still don't add up to enough to provide all of what you need you end up not eating.
To answer the question about whether or not, I can live off of $30 a week in groceries, the answer is I LIVE OFF OF LESS.
There are four adults in our household. Myself, my husband, our adult handicapped son and our son-in-law. I purchase all of the groceries out of my income from a partime job that gives me less then 16 hours a week, at $9.00 an hour. I also pay for all of my own working expenses as well. On the average, I spend $100 a week on groceries. This includes all of our household cleaning and most personal hygine items. use coupons when possible to make the money go a little further and to purchase treats and such. We also grow some veggies in our garden that also helps a lot. What we don't use, is given to neighbors and freinds so it's not wasted. Trust me people, three out of the four in this house are chubby, but not obese. So we're not exactly starving here. Most snacks are homemade.
As someonelse already stated above, the reason why most on FOODSTAMPS and other HANDOUTS, can't seem to make what they get last, is because it's not their money. If it was, trust me they wouldn't be buying all of the soda, chips, cookies, $40 bakery cakes for every birthday, candy, energy drinks, LOBSTER, SNOWCRAB LEGS and so on, that they do before they purchase healthy veggies, fruits and the likes. How do, I know this. That job mentioned above, is how. I'm a cashier at a local grocery store and more then 3/4 of our customers use EBT, to pay. NOW THEY WANT TO LET THESE PEOPLE USE THEIR EBT CARDS AT MCDONALDS!
Wow! That's pretty disappointing for me to hear. A McDonald's dollar burger is a treat for my daughter!! I usually have around $20 a week for groceries. I'm a single mom, no child support, and no government help. I work full time and make sure my daughter has everything she needs. Those EBT folks need to find out what it's like to struggle using their own money. That's the only way they'll learn to appreciate that free McDonalds!!
I agree. I feed 8 people on $150.00 a week or less. I'm not complaining because my husband and I decided to have 6 children, nor do we expect the government to help us. I earn that $150 a week working at a grocery store. I and everyone I work with hate working the first week of the month. That is when "state benefits" come out. These people spend twice as much as I do to feed half as many people. The nutritional value of the food they buy is nowhere near what we feed our family. They buy JUNK! Someone needs to tell them that soda is not required to live. They also buy prepared, frozen foods. Let's teach them how to cook. I am also baffeled by their ability to afford tatoos, piercings, manicures, designer purses and the latest cell phones. If the government insists on continuing to feed these people they could do so more cost effectively and nutriciously by creating distribution centers and giving each qualified person their allotment of food per week/month. If they don't like it, they don't have to participate.
Fish and meat are out of the question, so she picks up chicken. Huh?
If you're confused- fish and meat (red/pork) are generally more expensive than chicken.
Pretty sure pork is cheaper than boneless skinless chicken breast.
She considers chicken a vegetable.
The program is not designed to cover all food costs. Yep, you have to use your own money sometimes!
What? And tap into the welfare check? Unheard of, what will I use for liquor then?
Nice to see so many people bash the author. If you have transportation, living on 100 dollars a month for an individual is easy. In matter of fact you can live like a king. This will not work in some places as it depends on living near a bulk store like COSTCO. I did the following test. I gave myself 200 dollars for the first month as startup and then 100 dollars for each succeeding month. That 200 dollars had to be used for all my startup spices and oils as I was starting from scratch. I found not only could I eat well, but I stil had a diverse diet. I needed to plan out my weekly meals so I could rotate out my oldest food. Most of my vegies were seasonable and I ate a lot of carrots and spinnich. I ate more apples and seasonable fruits. But COSTCO always has something in. If I wanted to go healthy or organic or even forgo gluten it was stil possible. I pretty much found that unless I was an absolute glutton I could buy more food then I could eat.
The key is to buy in bulk. The price per servings go down. At 8 dollars for a 40 pound bag of rice, that is 10 cents a serving for your grain at dinner. My weekly sequence was rice, spaggetti, maccroni, brown rice, and potatoes. I did not even bother with tuna and went straight to the canned sockeye salmon. I also ate a lot of hotdogs and hamburgers and had budget for whole wheat buns. If I wanted to cut down on the glutton I bought massive cashew bins and went nuts. Little bit harder. There was even money in the budget for pop and frozen pizzas. Though not too much pop.
Here is the rub. Pop, alcohol, junk food, and candy are expensive even at bulk stores. I found my budget destroyed if I set my eyes on the candy. I can see it being hard to live on foodstamps if you do not have transportation or access to a bulk store. And clearly some bulk stores do not take foodstamps. But for everyone else who crys poverty because 100 dollars a month is not enough for food, unless your on a special diet, your not trying hard enough.
Steve, that is a good point on transportation and location. A lot of studies, well documented, with the prices and the items, have shown that in many, especially, inner city areas, the costs are higher for the same groceries than they are in the suburbs. Add to that the problem of transportation and the cost and time logistics when shopping by bussing it! It could be a nightmare.
It's hard to brown-bag it everyday when your co-workers in finance order out for sushi/gourmet meals, and worse when the company pays for them and not for you.
I feel ya sister! That's just them trying to hold us down though.
Christine - You can either figure out a way to make this special time in your life fun, or you can feel sorry for yourself. Get a crock pot, or a toaster oven, or both - cooking in a microwave all the time is silly. We lived in a hotel room for a year and a half and now we laugh and talk about that time with great pleaseure. You can do this!
Been there, done that about the living in a hotel for long periods of time. Hated every minute of not having a real kitchen to cook in. Spent well over eight months living in a hotel while being shipped around while my husband, who was in the Navy at the time, was training others to use a new computer system. After the first week the hotplate showed up. Week three or so, the toaster oven appeared next to the hotplate. We even bought our own coffee pot somewhere along the line. By the time we were settled again, we had a kitchen full of small appliances ready to go.
Your right, it's not what you have, it's what you make out of what you have. Like you, twenty plus years later, my husband and I, look back at that time in our lives and laugh.
You concluded that you couldn't afford meat or fish, so then you bought chicken and tuna??
BAHAHAHAHAHA!
By the fact that this person said that she shopped at Fairway and C-town, I think it's safe to assume that she lives, or is doing this experiment, in New York City where food is at a premium. I also live in New York City and have had out-of-town friends be completely shocked at the price of groceries. $30 a week here will NOT get you what $30 a week will in other cities/states. It's a very very small budget for a single person. You simply cannot compare food prices in Sarasota to food prices in New York City. It's apples to oranges. Good luck, Sheila! If you live in North Brooklyn, Food Bazzar on Broadway and Manhattan Ave will get you more bang for your buck.
Exactly, when I read this, I thought, upper West Side.
People from outside of NY have no idea what kind of prices are here or what the resources are for people who generally do not have cars and have to walk their stuff home. I'm in Chelsea where a lot of people shop in the chain drug stores because they are more convenient. But beware of them if the items are not on sale. I had a raincheck at one drug store for a jar of $2.99 mayonnaise (plus I had another dollor off with a $1 coupon.) Their regular price for that mayo is $8.49!
I am recently laid off and I spend a lot of my time prowling around for cheap food. It feels like a job onto itself.
I live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan,and it is true that all food items are generally more expenseive than in other places, but, you do have to know your prices and shop around. I started working on lowering my food budget in May and am eating very well on $29.25 a week. I am lowering the budget more as I improve on shopping and cooking skills. There is a Target and a Costco on East 117 Street and the East River. There is a fast and frequently running M16 bus from the Upper West Side that services the supermarket complex, and I've seen lots of shoppers get on that bus with their shopping carts filled with bulk items from Costco.
$30 a week per person is a piece of cake! - My family of 5 lives on $350 a month ($11.66 a week per person) in the state of Alaska (not cheap food) and we eat well and we eat what we want. The key is three-fold:
- Only buy staple ingredients (no pre-packaged, pre-made anything) and make everything at home (especially bread)
- Eat normal size portions (not restaurant portions)
- Plan, Plan, Plan your shopping by knowing your prices and using coupons
Too many people on food stamps do not know how to stretch the dollar because it was never their dollar to stretch. We as a society can not afford to offer further funds to further promote this practice through offering additional funds. You have to put people in tight spots to get them to learn from necessity. I learned my shopping skills due to college (not having enough money to survive week to week) and not having Uncle Sam to pay my tuition, housing nor food. Necessity is a great motivator - I actually suggest further reducing the amount of food stamps per individual.
You can say anything you want, and try to make people believe it – but, I DO NOT believe what you have reported here!
It's certainly true. Eating normal portions (rather than restaurant portions) cuts the bill in half right there.
Why wouldn't you believe her facts? She's telling the truth and I know because I go through it every month.
Did you get Pell grants and or subsidised loans when in college? Did you get a first time home buyers loan from Freddie or Fanny? Is the cost of your electricity being subsidised by the state of Alaska or are the rates regulated?
One way or another a lot of us are benefiting rom other folks paying their taxes and Uncle Sam using the revenue on various programs. The least we can do as a civilized society is make sure folks get fed.
I received nothing from the US government as I was continually told that my family had to many assets - nice for my family but not for me who was on his own. Second - I did not go to Univ in Alaska. Third, this is about food prices and not about all other costs - If I can feed my family for $350/month is a state that has high food prices, than anybody in the continental US should easily be able to do the same.
I laugh at your ignorance, your inability to read an article and take away the key messages, your response to my statement (without creating a new statement) and making assertions about "subsidies" you think I receive without knowing the first thing about my situation - but then again your response clearly demonstrates that you did not take advantage of the primary education provided to all Americans free of charge.
"primary education provided to all Americans free of charge." I don't laugh at ignorance, I abhor it. You are drowning in it. Who exactly paid for that education of yours "free of charge?"
That's what I thought, you teabagging, ugly dimwit. Just like a three year old yelling, "mine, mine, mine!"
I believe you. I feed me and my son on 25 a week, I'm careful and desserts are few.
Good grief, what is she getting chicken breasts for? Get leg quarters; they are always on sale, and taste better. To make them healthier, remove the skin off before baking and drain off any other fat that accumulates at the bottom of the baking dish as it cooks. Or buy a whole chicken on sale: several meals there, also meat for sandwiches, and then take the carcass, add some cheap veggies like carrots and celery, and make chicken soup. (After Thanksgiving our friends give us turkey carcasses they don't want to bother with. We usuall managed to peel meat enough for another meal or two off the bones and make gallons of delicious turkey soup.) Look in the manager's specials bin for other meats. We got a pound of stir fry beef for less than four dollars the other day. Two meals for two (four ounces per person per meal). Buy store brands on everything, and don't buy breads in the supermarket bakery. Try wheat tortillas instead of bread to save a few carbs. Buy milk by the gallon rather than the half (milk is milk, you don't have to get a name brand). Find a discount place like Aldis. Beans are a good nutritional substitute for meat. Rice and beans together are excellent. Also bake potatoes and eat the skins! And don't forget the Ramen noodles.
I only spend between 40 to 60 a week for a family of 3. And we eat GOOD, I buy the least processed food I can find, bread that cost $1 to 5+ a loaf can be baked for much less (I've done it for less $0.25 when I catch flour on sale) I buy whole chickens, for the price of a single breast or two, fresh or frozen vegetable, I do stews, stir fries, make soups, I use a beans, rice.I make and buy pasta, so I have lots of options because I know how to cook and how to flavors to make a good tasting meal.
I seldom buy "name" brands as I find they have more sugar or corn syrup then no name brands. I'm making homemade chicken pot pie, this weekend, two meals at least, so I'll have that and some homemade fresh dinner rolls, hot out of the oven thank you I see the store has carrots on sale so steam carrots on the side. It's not that hard if you put in just a little work.
Care to share your chicken pot pie recipe??
Several of the people I know that get food stamps and complain about not having any $$ also smoke $7 a pack cigarettes... maybe if they stopped spending $150 a month on their habits they could afford more food and stop supplementing those costs with taxpayer money... I know that's not everyone, but there are a lot of folks that continue with poor habits and addictions while welching off the government.
Amen to that my brother, I also see beer in their cart and then drive off with a nice pick up truck
Should have seen the junk food students bought at a local 7-11 and they had free breakfast, lunch and claimed they were poor. When the parents would pick them up many were smoking, and they to claimed poverty. Most of them were on food stamps..Get real America.
Seriously, Orowheat bread and boneless/skinless chicken breasts!!?? You should have bought a whole chicken and store brand bread. Boil the chicken and save the broth to cook your rice in. You might even look for day old bread. Bigger bag of rice and bulk beans.
You can go to Jimmy Johns and get some of their day old bread for only 50 cents each. Its a lot better than the crap the grocery store bakes and its 16" so it ends up a lot cheaper, you can get 3 sandwiches out of it. Or if you feel like buying one of their sandwiches you get 2 loafs for free.
That's right, you want to buy rice the way the far east Asians do, in 40+ pound sacks. Super cheap.
That's what happen when a well-off individual tries to do a research on food stamp by staying in a tight budget. She simply doesn't have the survival skill unless she is really in that situation.
Coming from a country overseas, it apalling to me that the poor cannot afford fresh fruit and vegetables. In Greece, you can go into a market and walk out with an entire bag of fresh fruit and vegetables for less than $2. A lemon is like 3 cents. In the U.S. lemons are 2/$1.99!! You can eat very cheap there if you make everything yourself – it's the junk food that's more expensive.
You don't ever see poor people buying McDonalds (when there is one around) or frozen dinners. Tomato and cucumber salads, bread, vegetable soup with lots of beans, baked stuffed vegetables, baked chicken and potatoes some feta cheese and you don't need anything else to be healthy! The problem there is actually find a job lol...
Many countries are that way. Talk to a Colombian farmer, they can't even sell food crops, the US imports undercut them due to all the subsidies. Domestic sales aren't as directly subsidized, it's all on the production side.
Nice little system the US agricultural conglomerates have bought for themselves with a few "donations" to politicians.
lets see... from farmers market in houston:
Big bag of tomatoes: $1
Bag of yams: $1
Bag of green beans $1
giant mango $1
Bag of oranges $1
acorn squash 3 for $1
bag of Zuccini $1
bag of summer squash $1
bunch of fresh basil $1
Fresh "blanco" cheese (1 lb) $2
Throw in tea, flour, rice, corn meal, (all bought in bulk) a dozen fresh eggs and a 10 lb bag of chicken thighs from the meat market ($0.49/lb) and you've got food for 3 for a week for well under $20.
Why pay for name-brands and packaging?
Boy that cheap...1 lb of tomatoes where I live fetch for almost $3. And that's just about 3 tomatoes. One green pepper fetches for $1.99
I know! Since I found the farmers market (back in my "poor college student" days) I haven't purchased produce from the "supermarket" in over 12 years!
I have several farmers markets and farm stands in my area are they are all crazy expensive – I would love to see prices like that!! I've even seen the same brands (berries in particular) that my local grocery stores carry. The tomatoes at one actually had the little bar code sticker/product code number just like the ones in the grocery stores. So, not all farmers markets are created equal and not everything is "local".
Farmer's Markets in the Boston area are not that cheap.
agreed. The first time I decided to try a farmer's market near my house outside Boston, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, and raspberries cost almost $40! BUT, the quality of those tomatoes and peppers were a lot better than most of the grocery stores near me...
Steffan picks up a whole TWO chicken breasts for upwards of $5. You don't buy boneless, skinless breasts if you're on a budget; ever.
On your list, you forgot to add grits at five pounds for less than $2... and I don't want to hear anything about "ewwwww – grits". Beggars can't be choosers. You do what you have to do with your limited purchasing power.
The biggest problem with food stamps are the abusers; the fat mamas who load up with the groceries, pay for the majority with food stamps, and drive off smirking in an Escalade.
...b-but...I LIKE grits. Took me FOREVER to find a supermarket up here (Boston) that would sell me some friggin' grits. :(
I like how you broke that down. Very cheap and very sensible. I shop at a local butcher for most of our meats Here's a break down of last week's bill. Keep in mind, this covers this house of four, for about two weeks .
2 Boneless Chicken breast, BOGO (Buy one, get one free) 3.97 for both
2 Packs First Cut Porkchops. BOGO. 3.2 pound total. 5.78 for both
4 1lb packages of sausage BOGO. 7.48 for all four.
2 packages of Chicken Thighs, 4.5 pounds total... 5.25 for both
2 LARGE RIbeyes (a treat for hubby's birthday)...12.12
1lb Deli Chedder.... 4.98
1lb Smoked Ham. 5.10
1lb. Beef Balonga.. 3.89
1 large Vadalia onion .79 (my own were not quite ready yet. Sniffle.)
4 nice baking potatoes.. 2.00
The total bill. $51.36. Sense in most cases the meat or main course is the most costly part of the food budget, I think we get away VERY cheap. The sales above are very typical for the place. We also know where the meat comes from and it's always FRESH. They also sell frozen veggies in 4lb bags that go for 3.99 a bag. I usuall get three of these in place of those stakes, but our garden is going strong so we didn't need them this week.
YAMS are a great source of nutrition and pretty cheap! Roast them in the oven and they are good hot or cold.
Okay who grew up with the ghetto breakfast..Scrambled eggs with hotdog instead of suasage. Or the Ghetto dinner Sardines in tomato sauce over rice
I only had a hot dog in a real roll instead of white bread when I slept over my friends houses. And did your Mom tried to sneak powdered milk into a jug like mine did? Yuck.
Ghetto breakfast was the only way to go. We got bulk cereal...you know the 10lb bag of corn flake or cheerios...and that was the ONLY breakfast. If we ran out of milk (we lived on a farm so I was lucky enough not to get powder) you either used water, fruit juice (if there was any), or ate dry cereal. I will admit on Sundays we got scrambled eggs, but that was a serious treat.
Ghetto breakfast. Growing up (I am only 22) that was my favorite breakfast. Same with Dinner Sardines and Saltine crackers I could live off those things. But hey Thats what happens when you grow in the backwoods of east Tennessee/west North Carolina. And we could afford food I just chose to eat those, I liked them still do.
Could you eat on 30$ a week????? Seriously, who is writing this? I hope this is a challenge for a family and not an individual. Food stamps or not, I think a lot of single people eat on 30 dollars or less. I'm sure the majority of broke college kids could throw down a menu of noodles and veggies and a jar of peanut butter that could come in at 30 dollars or MUCH less (20$ is probably more likely). In fact, I have a great job and a graduate degree and I frequently eat for less than 30 dollars or less (weekly)...............Maybe you should consider the amount of food stamps handed out or the author should consider how much they are paying weekly for food.......geez. We must be an overweight country if we are so spoiled that 30 dollars can't afford to get food for a week.......
Agree with one of the first posters that you shouldnt get to make bad choices with taxpayer money. Problem is that poor folks are often stupid. Ive got a contractor that seems to think my 15 hr job should feed, cloth and shelter his whole family... and still the guy goes and buys two sandwiches and a coke for 7 dollars whereas mine cost $2.50. Dont get it. Guy could have had 7 sandwiches or even better beans and rice for a month for his family. I ate PB&J for about a year straight for lunch when I started the company (and probably still should though ive upgraded to tuna) but somehow this guy and his ghetto babys mama and their kids cant be bothered to cook. Im a liberal at heart but starting a biz has a funny way of making you a republican. We definitely need to overhaul government assistance to get it to folks that use it appropriately and force the others to the street.
I also grew up poor and we did not take welfare, so I do know what it is like. I agree with the posts about generics and no name foods most of them are very good, but I didn't see any information about using coupons. Coupons would also stretch that $30 much further. (I'm not talking about extreme couponing, I mean everyday normal coupon use.)
How many coupons have you ever seen for generic products?
I regularly see coupons for store brand stuff.
My fault, I should have been more specific. true, there are rarely if ever coupons for generics or store brands. If you know your prices you can buy name brand items with coupons for cheaper than generic. For example, the carolina rice in the picture, it retails for $1.39 where I live. I regulary get coupons for $.50 off that brand and my store doubles so I get a pound of rice for $.39. Much cheaper than the store brand where I live. I have no loyalty to name or store brand, whichever is cheapest when I am buying is what I get. My point is there are strategies to lower your food bill, not just going in and buying whatever you see like the reporter in this article seems to have done. (On a side note, coupons do seem to be getting harder to find, some are delivered with the newspaper and some come in the mail. does take some sork to find them)
I can easily live on the $30 a week but you mentioned coupons. I can't seem to find coupons anymore. It used to be that with Sunday's newspapers and sometimes Wednesday newspapers you could find all kinds of coupons. I don't know where to look anymore though.
Try coupon suzy.com or google your favorite products for coupons.
There are no coupons for generic store brands.
A chain like Kroger offers tons of coupons for their store brands. When you register your frequent shopper card you can load coupons to your card online – everything from fresh produce/fruit to dairy to natural foods. I even get coupons in the mail for the Kroger store brands every month or so for the products I buy most – which includes things like fresh spinach, baby carrots, string cheese, etc. All Kroger store brand.
Yup, I do the same thing, Lisa.
I don't have money issues, but I still spend only about $20-30, a week on food. To say you can't it do healthily is garbage. Yogurt for breakfast, fruit/granola for lunch and a meat or pasta with veggies for dinner. You can get 5 or 6 meals out of $10 of meat and chicken. Pasta is a dollar and you can get 3 meals out of that. I don't limit myself as to what I spend, that just ends up being the bill for the food I eat. If more people ate a similar diet, then I'm guessing they'd have more money in their pocket and fewer weight issues.
Could not agree more with you Mike. I spend under 30$/week and eat healthily. I am currently without a job, but have saved money so I can spend more, simply choose not too. My diet is oatmeal in the AM maybe yogurt or an egg, Leftovers for lunch or a sandwhich, and then cheap meat ie pork or chicken with beans, rice or pasta for dinner. The veggies I buy are carrots, onion, celery, and normally one or two sale items. If eggplant is a good price, i can get three meals out of 1. Also, learn to bake your own bread, its saves money, and is easy! Like anything, eating healthy and cheap is doable, it just requires a bit of time and effort.
She is a bit silly - like she had no time to do this and just grabbed things. It would have been easy enough to go through the store planning her purchases and jotting down the costs, and then going back to select things. $30 a week for just her own self? A breeze. Instant coffee, tea bags, sugar, oatmeall, 10 pounds of potatoes, a whole chicken, frozen veges at a buck or so a bag, bread from the day-old rack, peanut butter, margarine, chunk of cheese, eggs, canned beans, rice - This is actually easy if you just work on filling your belly!!!
What a sad story
Interesting idea. Personally, I make my own coffee which reduces spending on coffee in NYC by about $10-15 a week. However, to go out for food, even a simple sandwich and drink can run you $13! Let's not talk about dinner, where if you go out to a restaurant in the city, you're out $20-50, depending on the venue, with additional for drinks.
Sigh- this city is too expensive
Oh, and rent is due on the first of the month
Now imagine trying that feat for 2 people without food stamps (because my husband is in school full time apparently student loans disqualified us from getting any help) and without the benefit of a full kitchen – just a small microwave and a mini-fridge because we live on campus in a grad family housing, but we could only afford the studio apartment which didn't come with a full kitchen. Your sodium intake (due to preservatives for shelf stable foods) goes through the roof as ramen noodles, Chef Boyardee, PB&J and the like become staples in your home. Having a salad, or anything fresh is a luxury, and since we don't have a freezer we can't get any meats or anything that needs to be frozen. I miss fruit. I miss the snap and the pleasure and the taste of fresh veggies. We've been at this for 2 months and have 8 months to go - I'm not looking forward to seeing what my blood pressure becomes while living here. :(
I would bite the bullet and invest in one of those electric woks if I were you. You can make just about anything in them.
I wish you the best. I had a few REALLY lean years trying to support myself while going to school. There were months that I counted change to make sure my rent was paid. About 30 a week was my food budget and I felt like crap because I just couldn't afford to buy decent food to fuel my body. Four for a dollar mac n cheese is great for the budget but it's so full of chemicals. If you have even a small patio space, you can totally grow some veggies to supplement what you can't afford to buy.
Don't stress too much on the sodium thing. Most peoples (>80%) blood pressure is not affected by increased sodium levels as much as the popular press would have you believe.
I used to hang the veggies out the window in a nondescript bag (color of the building/house exterior – less noticeable – later on I put out a planter box and stored my food in it with nice plastic plants on top and no one was the wiser) in the Winter/Fall. Works as cold storage. (Keeps beer cold, too, if you can afford it.) Get a one burner hotplate and a metal steamer – works. Or get a rice steamer works for Quinoa (total protein) and other things, too. Buy vegetables that don't go bad fast like cabbage. Ask your mom for her old crockpot. Learn a different way of cooking. I lived with a microwave and small fridge for 3 years.
Can I politely suggest buying fancier peanut butter? I keep PB&J in the office fridge, so I'm getting the nutrition facts off the jar right now. The Smucker's Organic creamy peanut butter (refrigeration required, ingredients are "organic roasted peanuts, contains 1% or less of salt") has 2% of your daily allowance of sodium per serving, and I think it tastes a lot better than processed peanut butter.
If you can get a hold of a toaster oven and a hot plate, you could move far beyond the microwave-meal place you're in now. You may need to shop a little more often for your perishables, since you have such a tiny fridge, but that just might be worth it. Do you perhaps have a friend within walking distance with a bigger fridge/freezer where you could store some items? When I was in school we would cook up huge batches of stuff and eat it all week – perhaps you could spend a day cooking a few items at a friend's and keeping them in his/her fridge or freezer. Best of luck to you!
$30 for 7 days, 3 meals a day, works out to about $1.42/meal. My budget is $0.86/meal ($18/person/wk). The author needs to give up on fresh fruits and veg unless it's on sale. Frozen is considerably cheaper, canned is even cheaper yet. Buy cheap meats – never pay more than $1.20/lb on meat. Load up on cheap fillers: Pasta, grains, legumes, beans. Fresh milk can be cut with powdered to make it go farther.
Many people already mentioned it: Ramen is cheap and versatile, it's a good filling base that can be made more nutritious with the additions of veg and some form of protein. For the cost of your bag of apples @ $2.00 you could have bought 8 boxes of generic mac n cheese, or 20 packs of ramen.
There was recently a challenge in my city, that challenged people to cook a meal for $5 (or the same as a fast food value meal) what they fail to realize is for so very many poor people eating fast food, it's the $1 menu they're buying from. I would love to see a competition cooking show that limited the contestants to $1 or less per plate, required it to be bought from a regular supermarket grocery store, and it has to be healthy.
I can easily eat off less than $30 a week. I do it all the time. I bake my own whole wheat bread (two loaves at a time which lasts me two weeks, a thick slice for breakfast with a scrape of butter and a little jam). Why pay for someone else to bake bread when it is easier and cheaper and has more nutrition if made at home?
I rarely eat lunch anyway and shop for meat at a local warehouse distribution place that is open to the public. There I can buy five pounds of boneless/skinless chicken breasts for $1.49 lb., or leg quarters at 69 cents a lb in five pound portions, either lasts me well over a week. large bags of stir-fry and regular veggies for under three bucks apiece. Rice is cheaper than dirt, a dash of sauce and, VOILA!, stir fry for dinner.
I have friends with dairy goats I buy milk from and pasteurize it myself (easy enough to do with a thermometer). Other friends have large truck gardens I get fresh veggies from in season and barter and swap services with for canned veggies during the winter months.
There are tons of opportunities out there to save money on food. You just have to know where to shop to get the biggest bang for your buck, how to barter and how to skip over paying the middleman when it comes to preparation.
The stores don't make it easy, not putting price stickers on the packages anymore. Very annoying. But home cooking is the key to keeping costs down and stretching the money out. And learning savings tips like freezing leftover spaghetti sauce and using it for chili on another day. It has almost become a survival course.
I don't know how many of them are really in need of food stamps, and it is effecting them but I know people who work in a motel, who will not work more than certain hours because they will become ineligible to get food stamp, and also the lady I spoke to bought a 75 dollars hang bag, and said she loves it and wanted to buy for long time, really? I make good money but never spent that much money on a hand bag.
It depends on where you live. Personally, in NYC, where a sandwich costs $6 minimum....it'd be difficult. I guess I'll stick with the street meat vendors for a week and cut down to two meals a day.
Make your own sandwich!!! Half a can of beans and two slices of bread will give you a nutritious sandwich for way less than $6.00. Add a banana for dessert and you should be good till suppertime.
thats no way to live
Eww–
When you have no choice, that is the only way to live. You find what will give you the most protein and nutrition per penny and start being creative.
That is not what is happening here, nimrod is suggesting a way to save money, not how to survive. If you can afford something better than beans and bread then theres no reason to voluntarily ruin your quality of life like that.
I have to admit it sounded like a "real" experiment but then I read the article – what a piece of crap! And an insult to those who HAVE to eat on $30 week (or less). First of all, its evident that the writer lives on the Upper West Side in NYC – she shopped at Fairway, which is a high priced supermarket. Better she should have read the food ads before shopping and shopped for her veggies and fruit at the West Side Market where veggie & fruits are VERY reasonably priced, just a couple of blocks above Fairway. Also she should have had a menu in mind, not simply grabbed what she wanted without a rational plan. I'm a 65 yr-old woman who is retiring next month and will live only on SS. I will be shopping for myself (and my two cats) on $40 a week – and I will be doing it with a plan which is what most people who live on tight budgets do. Ask me to keep track of my shopping and menus and see how its REALLY done in the REAL world, not by a young woman who simply is filing a story for CNN. I can't believe that CNN has posted her article like its some type of real research on poverty – but as my friends say, I shouldn't be surprised.
my wife and 2 kids...eat for about $65 dollars/week. No food stamps No help from anybody..We eat chicken, fish, beef mostly with veggies, rice, and drink lot of water instead of sugary drinks or sodas. We make sure we have leftovers for lunch for us to take to work and for our kids we pay for their school lunch at school. I think america Over EATS and doesn't drink enough water which is FREE. Sometimes we blame someone else for our own failures and complain on WHAT WE DON'T HAVE but be realistic sometimes and see HOW much of blessings we have. GOD is GREAT GOD WILL PROVIDE.
I don't get food stamps.
But what makes me mad...is at the first of the month I ran out of coffee.
So I went to the store and Coffee had been raised to $12 a can for folgers or Maxwell.
The grocery stores raise prices around the 1st cause thats when foodstampers get their money!
I had to settle for a $3 can of coffee .........that tasted like crap.........
i grew up on beans and cornbread.
Spagetti.
egg biscuits and gravy
Go to Starbucks and get some samples. :)
I am bothered by how many people still add milk, eggs, and meat into their carts. Beans and rice are excellent sources of calories, calcium, protein, iron, and fiber. They are food staples in many nations in the world. Their fat content is next to nothing, they're dirt cheap, and won't perish. Instead of the $1 loaf of white bread, consider $1 of kidney beans or lentils.
overeating carbs like that is a sure path to obesity and disease. Other countries thrive on carb heavy diets because they are also calorie restricted diets – there is protection in restricting calories.
It won't make you fat if you don't have all of the processed foods, soda, sugar, etc. to go along with it, and you don't overeat. That's the mistake Americans make.
How do you spread peanut butter and jelly on a plate of beans and take it to work?
Yep, it's a myth that eating healthier is more expensive. Cut out animal products to eat better for less. It's also a myth that carbs lead to obesity. Only eating too many calories does.
actually, recent studies show that eating too many carbs really messes with your insulin response, which can cause you to gain weight.
you can slow that down by eating "good" carbs (beans, fruits, and whole grains), but too many carbs and not enough fat is a real problem!
Eating too many simple carbs does lead to obesity and higher cholesterol levels. Nutrient dense, high fiber carbs, like beans, doesn't. A calorie is not just a calorie. It's about quality, not quantity. Check out the science.
The other replies are correct, and often quality fruits and vegetables, even frozen cost more than meat. There are even valid scientific evaluations now that say skim and very low fat milk does not have the balance from the fat to slow down the insulin reaction to the sugars! A calorie is not a just a calorie. I've eaten a low fat, higher carb diet for a good part of my life, because that is what for years was taught...got a ton of excercise, very active, and got diebetes in my 40's. Oh yes, and I switched to vegetable oils in the 70's, like "they" said to in an effort to be healthy, and got high cholesteral...Now we know that all that was just bunk.
Beans and rice are good protein, but you cannot get complete protein except with meat or dairy products. So unless you've made the commitment to being vegan, then meat, eggs, butter and cheese are important food stuffs.
I can't believe this is what you chose to harp on. Of all things. You can complain about name brands and junk foods, but saying it appalls you that people add basic staples like eggs or milk to their carts? Give me a break.
Just because it is vegetable based or says "healthy", "natural" or "organic" on the label, doesn't make it genuinely healthy. People like you just follow whatever eating fad you think is healthiest, then condemn everyone else for normal eating habits.
Lol.. I lived with a girl who got nearly $700 in fodd stamps. She had also 4 children, me, and oftentimes her brother & his friends to feed (dont ask). We ate well, to be honest. And this was in Glendale/Phoenix, Az.
To those who are struggling, google "Angel Food Ministries" ... $40 will get you a good 10lbs of various meats (chicken, ground beef, steaks, pork chops, etc), fresh & frozen fruits & veggies, bread, pasta, etc. They have diff packages available & add-on "extra meat" & "extra fruit" boxes. Yes, they take foodstamps.
I Googled Angel Food Ministries and it looks as if they have fallen on hard times... This makes me sad.
Funny, i just looked it up recently, and it seemed to be fine in my area.
I used to get leftover groceries from a friend of a friend. They were leftover because she took too many groceries from the food bank. All free. No wonder food banks have a growing need. One time I got deli sandwiches that would cost $6 each.
Sadly, we were notified here in NH last week that Angel Food had suspended operations, as has SHARE, another food coop.
Also, here in NH it is very frequent for the very poor (making $1100 a month, for example) to receive $16 a MONTH for food stamps. Anyone making over $2000 gross probably doesn't qualify, even if they are negative after shelter and medicine are paid.
NH sets it just enough so the state can show the feds they have provided stamps to the target percentage of poor, but not enough to come close to living on.
A studio apt rents here for $650 a month, a hotel room with a minifridge, microwave, and coffeemaker costs $170-200 a week. Single men and women with no children do not get medicaid even if they have diabetes. Only kids, pregnant women, women with kids under 4, and people approved for social security. 7 year waiting list for subsidized housing, longer for mental health or developmental disabled services. Lately we have seen some increase in people stealing food, collapsing from low blood sugar, increase in anemia symptoms – fainting etc – and pantries are often empty. Also, home ec classes stopped in the 1980's, so anyone under 30 who is poor probably doesn't know how to cook, read a nutrition label, or compare unit prices. They may not know multiplication or division, and often don't know how percentages work. County Extension that used to teach these has been closed due to budget cuts. Last, no mass transit, so local mom and pop convenience stores are all many can get to – Cumberland Farms, Mobil on the run, etc are the grocery store.
I run a ministry that drives people to market basket on food stamp day – the only store here that doesn't raise prices for the 5th. Most of our clients need one on one assistance to shop, cooking lessons and things like pans, spatulas, containers to store food. We often provide paper and pens to write a list on...yes, there are people who waste the stamps, but very few are cheating the system. We have one client buys 2 lobsters every month. Her abusive husband usually will not hit her for a couple weeks – is she wasting money? That person buying all those bottles of brand name soda? Here in NH, they are often selling them and using money to pay for rent, gas, etc or trading them for daycare.
Nicotine kills your hunger. It allows you to concentrate. Lots of our clients could not handle working, parenting, shuffling to various appointments while doubled over because they ate 2 packages of ramen yesterday and are just trying to get to the free supper at the church 2 days from now. Several of our clients, once taught how to shop, cook, etc have taken the states free offer of patches etc and cut down or quit.
5 fraud investigators in every state would have a huge impact on cheaters and save millions. Requiring food stamp recipients to attend free classes (with transportation and daycare provided) would greatly reduce waste and greatly reduce public health spending. Won't happen here in NH. Only revenue is real estate taxes, cigarettes, alcohol, and gambling, and tea partiers who support institutionalizing disabled and poor in warehouses or (as one suggested) Siberia.
Bless your heart for telling it like it is! Those of us who waste on our own habits thousands of dollars or even hundreds, can be so quick to condemn the poor for wasting a few dollars, or spending their meager amounts in some such way we don't agree with.
I might want a cigarette, too, if I were in their position with their worries. I might want to buy a lottery ticket if it gave me some hope, some tiny little hope, that things might be better. That feeling might be more of a payoff for me than keeping the dollar!
Is the $30 per person or per family – it's not clear in the article. If it's per person it shouldn't be too difficult, with some planning and thoughtful decision-making. The grocery bill for my husband and I runs about $50 a week. That includes fresh meat, veggies and fruit, very few processed items. If you add in the occasional take-out, beer & wine, and Starbucks, of course the total is more, but those are optional items that we would forego if we were truly limited to $30.
I make way more money than my bills account for and I get a good portion of my groceries from the dumpster at trader joes for free. So much food is thrown away in this country. More people need to think outside of the "American Dream Box". We are not what we used to be and we need to start taking action!
I'll be checking out my local TJ's Dumpster. Thanks.
We are lucky in that respect here in NH – many stores and restaurants actually put the food in boxes near the dumpster or on top of it for a short period. Not Walmart though! When the food stamp system crashed one month and hundreds of shoppers walked out, Walmart threw away perfectly good food even though people were begging them not to, some even offering to buy it with cash to take to the food pantry.
My mother raised three of us on her own with no public assistance. I can remember all too well the days she would go without meals so we could eat. Living on $30 a week as a single person is one thing, but trying to raise children on that tiny amount is another. I applaud your efforts though. Good luck with your experiment.
On a side note, I believe the entire foodstamp system needs a serious overhaul. I know of a single father with one child who recieves a little over $400 a month in foodstamps and a single mother with two children who get only $189 a month. Both parents are employed and make close to the same income. Where does the math come from?
If Obama every tried to make that public on a web site like he did with Am Recov Act there are lots of senators, reps, and govenors who would be ready to do anything to stop him.
On the campaign trail in NH, he supported the idea that it would be published just like the IRS tax amounts are, and that the adjustments made for area price differences would be published too. A politician who overheard it said "good. when they see how much more massachusetts pays, we can get more of them to apply there" In 2006 I lived on the boarder of NH/Maine and the worker at the DTA specifically suggested I find someone in Maine to collect my mail as "I would get more there". Rumor has it that NH saves millions just from such "suggestions" each year. Needless to say, politicians in Mass, Maine, and Vermont border communities were not amused.
It would be very boring to try to eat on such a restricted budget but the fact is that many people in the world eat a monotonous diet. Meat is expensive and not really necessary for a nutritious diet. Your first choices probably should have been dried beans and rice. A legume combined with a grain will provide all the amino acids you need for a complete protein, so beans and rice or beans and corn or beans and wheat can basically take the place of meat. Add garlic, onion, salt, and some bullion powder and you have what a large portion of the world's population eats on a daily basis. Fresh vegetables and fruit provide fiber and vitamins but are pretty expensive and again, beans and unpolished rice are great sources of fiber and dark beans are full of phytonutrients. Sodas, kids' drinks, and bottled water are expensive, and often bad for you: tap water is cheap and generally completely safe to drink. I'm not suggesting that it would be easy or fun, but when the taxpayer is paying for your food, you shouldn't get to make poor food choices. I see so many people on food stamps with chips, sodas, and various other forms of junk food in their carts. I have also noticed that the store puts "food stampable" stickers on such high dollar items as fresh salmon (about $9.00/lb) which I seldom purchase unless it is on special (I am after all, spending my own hard earned money, not the taxpayers'). I think that there should be a section in stores where the food stampable items are and they should be restricted to high nutrition, low cost foods, lots of rice, beans, powdered milk; no junk food, no expensive cuts of meat, no canned or bottled drinks, etc.
I said this on another Blog who took this challenge and I'll say it here. It's so damn easy to eat on $30/person/week. Instead of spending time resources and money asking for more money we should be TEACHING people how to shop and cook on what they have. I feed my family of SIX on $25/person/week. We eat healthy wholesome meals 3 times a day with snacks. Guess what we even have steak sometimes. Grow up people and learn to live on what you have.
To be fair though, it costs less per person the more people there are.
I raised four children on a poverty income! I have always said that eating healthy is expensive and that we have so much obseity in children because of this!
We never received food stamps either.
I agree. It's hard to afford a healthy lifestyle when junk is cheaper to eat.
Disagree. Eating healthier is cheaper. Non-processed food is the cheapest. I got 3 days worth of food from a true farmer's market for $2.
You're markets are very generous. We don't have prices nearly as nice as those at our local farmer's market.
I wish our Farmer's market was that inexpensive. Ours really rips of the customer. 5 peaches would be $5 and about the same for apples. Here, you can purchase things at the grocers much less expensive!
We need to end ALL entitlement programs in this country. Imagine, the gov't feeding people that can't feed themselves. Disgraceful. And to make matters worse, these "poor" people keep having more babies. They can't feed themselves, but hey – let's keep having more children we can't feed. Enough is enough. End entitlement programs now.
The sad truth is that there are so many people on food stamps that don't need them and take away from the people in real need. I see women in the supermarket paying with the food stamp card and they have the designer bags, plenty of jewelry, etc. Very sad how so many milk the system.
Amen
it is possible to get many high quality items at Salvation Army stores, surprising some of the stuff that one can pick up there..
Absolutely true!
those designer bags are KNOCK OFFS..Some people love to buy them for $20 a bag at the corner street
Okay Who grew up with the GHETTO BREAKFAST...scrambled eggs with Hotdogs instead of Sausage?
Out of a dozen or so pictures in the paper of families in need, not one didn't display expensive or unnecessary items in the background, or on the people or kitchen counter, that I wouldn't buy for myself because it's wasteful or unhealthy.
abuse of our taxes occurs on every level by some, whether its padded contracts, $75.00 hammers, all exopense paid trips to other countries by politicians that don't make foriegn policy to the mom using foodstamps to buy a pack of cookies and icecream while smoking a cigarette. One thing is consistent, if asked they will all have a reason or justification for why their actions are ok. I decided long ago, as waste and abuse go, I would rather my tax dollars go to the unemployed and working poor than to the rich businessman or politician.
Newsflash most of the people commenting here are only a pink slip away from being in the ranks of those you dispise.
$30 is my weekly budget for groceries because I can't afford any more and I don't qualify for any assistance. It's definitely doable. I usually purchase frozen veggies, canned foods, and lots of rice.
On that note, if I had mouths to feed it would definitely be a lot harder...
Also, grow your own food. I have a deck that is about as big as a kitchen table, but I still manage to grow basil, parsley, cherry tomatoes, black beans, and cucumbers. Floor planters for the tomatoes, cucumbers and beans. Window boxes for the herbs. If I actually had a backyard, I could grow enough food for my family for the winter (canning is super easy and makes great homemade pickles and marinara)
Looking at the local grocery ad specials, just a few options that jumped out.. (Brek) Eggs & Toast, – 18 count eggs + loaf of bread = $5 OR Cereal (corn flakes) + 1/2 gallon of milk = $5. (Lunch) 1 pack Lunch Meat (at 2/$5 sale) OR 1 jar peanut butter (at 2/$5 sale) mustard, tomato, lettuce, loaf of bread + 3 cans sale soups = $10. Dinner 5lb chicken breasts at $1/pound sale, 2 pounds potatoes, 2 packs of pasta, 1 can pasta sauce, 2 cans or veg, 2 bags frozen veg = $14. (snack) cantaloupe on sale for 97 cents each = $1. Total = $30
HEB, by chance?
this girl don't get no food stamps.
I have not had a steak in forever.
Poor is poor – it doesn't discriminate.
There so many kids in our community who get reduced rate and still don't have the .40 to buy lunch at school.
Now if their parents would stop buying cigs and beer-that could help.
Welcome to the club, Sheila at CNN. Some of us underemployed press people have been eating this way for 2 years or more. You should see the deals at the dollar store.
That was my first thought – her first mistake was going to the grocery store! No, when you are broke, you buy your food at the DOLLAR store. You can get plenty of food for $30 there. You can tell she has never been broke, or she would know this.
I remember one dollar store, about 3 years ago, in California. They had a refrigerated section, and you could buy a HUGE vat of salad. It was good, and it lasted really well. In a house of 4 people, even eating salads every day, we still couldn't get through all of it before it went bad.
They can be tricky though. Some things at the dollar store can be bought cheaper than a dollar elsewhere.
Do you read the labels (ingredients in the salad). If you want to get cancer – go ahead and eat that garbage! I will agree – making stuff at home is much healthier! And, for those who eat the $1 a loaf bread – read the label, and take a nutrition course. Healthy bread is much more expensive – or make it at home, if you wish. And, as for $1 a bag frozen vegies – in my area they are much more expensive. Have never seen any for that price!
Cancer if you do, cancer if you don't... the ingredients in salad is usually... various leaves. You still have to wash it.
In Iowa, a family of 4 gets $668 per month for food stamps if their income is minimal. If their income is below 160% of the federal guidelines defining poverty, food stamps are prorated.
Find out how much you can get in food stamps.
http://ssa.gov/pubs/10101.html#howmuch
I hope obama is readin this!
He knows. He was raised by a single mother and grandparents. I'm sure he gets it, but it's not all in his hands. The Congress needs to get it and so do the corporations that are getting bailouts and then Not lending money to small businesses to help create jobs. There is a whole lot more to it than a President. He's only a fraction of the issue. Big companies are cutting back on medical benefits and paying their CEO's millions – it's obscene – truly soulless. It is the "Jimmy Buffet" Syndrome (as opposed to Warren) – sit on a sailboat and who cares if people are going into proverty.
That is why he has no balance, all on the left!
Wasn't Obama's grandmother some kind of high banking officer, and didn't he go to private school in Hawaii? I doubt he went hungry.
I got an early lesson in how to eat on less and I remember worrying about the next meal even though my mom always provided somehow even from her city garden. I feel bad for families struggling to make ends meet especially buying groceries. My mom was divorced when I was 10 and she fed her six kids on her small wages and never took food stamps or government help and my dad never paid child support. (it wasn't enforced back then) She lived through the Great Depression and said we were lucky. Almost 3 years ago I was part of a company-wide layoff and I make 1/3 of my previous middle class salary. So I was forced to cutback on everything. I am vegan and I can easily eat on $30 a week including buying B-12 vitamins so I don't become anemic. However, add in cat litter, cat food, toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, household cleaners, laundry soap etc. and it doubles my budget. I have cut down on the paper towels, garbage bags, and cleaners, but the rest is required. I'm living through the great recession and my mom (RIP) is still an inspiration of hope – she wasn't a green thumb, but she planted her garden – she said with every carrot, lettuce head or radish we picked we were making progress. Next year I'm going to move somewhere so I can have my own garden.
Goodluck! Many of us have moms or dads like you
How is that we have an obesity epidemic, many of them poor people, when 40 million people are getting food stamps? Could it be they are getting more than thirty dollars per week?
No, eating cheap means eating fatty foods!
High Fructose Corn Syrup is cheap....
No – it is not because they are living on $30 a day. It is because a major amount of what they are purchasing is cheap food with no nutrition! It is okay to be a vegan – but if a vegan diet was the healthiest – you wouldn't need to purchase B12 vitamins. And – no, I am not on food stamps. But, I do read labels – and I don't want to put junk in my body that will require large medical bills later, because I didn't eat things that were of nutrition. That is one reason we have so much cancer in America. Raising a garden is great, if you have a place to do that – and not eating out is much better. And, rice and beans are very nutritious – but leave the $1 bread alone – or make your own!
Think about it, vegetables and fruits are often more per pound that a lot of protiens, and it takes knowlege, skill, time, physical and mental acuity as well as a kitchen that at least has the basics to come up with decent, healthy cost effective meals on a tight budget. Not everyone has what it takes...if you're missing some of these things, it becomes infinately more difficult to to do so – so you have people eating hot dogs and ramen and cheap food that isn't so good for you...they feel deprived and splurge on what? Maybe some junk food? Maybe some alcohol? ..it's a vicous cycle. Maybe add in a little depression (or a lot) or mental illness, some chemical dependency, some illness accentuated by poor eating habits and lack of medical care....stress, poor habits....what do you have? Not a good situation...and probably not someone that wants to run out for a quick jog with their family after a meal of boxed mac and cheese with sliced up hot dogs in it!
I get $250 each week on my link card for myself and my 4 kids and that ain't enough. I always end up spending some of my own money when I go over!
Dem white kids be going to school with lunchables, fruit roll ups, etc and my kids aint got none of that, how is that fair? Yall need to spread the wealth.
Yall be buying t-bone steaks, salmon filets, etc, I can only get those like once a month, and I has to buy frozen fish da other weeks.
$30 aint nothing, it ain't nothing! At least let us eat, atleast let my kids get a decent meal!
Well why did you have 4 kids? Nobody to blame but yourself.
We can tell this is a fake post.
She should of kept her legs shut.
impersonator
Then this is embarrassing. Your kids need nutrition not $4.00 a box fruit snacks.
This has to be a joke. The spelling and grammar is comical. Last time I checked, you could buy grammar books at the dollar store.
Why don't you go work and make some wealth (money) rather than waiting for handouts? Also, stop already with the kids popping if you can't afford to feed them.
I will buy a chicken and a large bag of frozen store brand veggies, makes a meal one night, then soup for the next two. Tomato sauces are always on sale, that with a pound of ground turkey will make chili for a few days, either plain or over white rice. Both are good for bringing for lunch and all are good for your blood and heart. I will chill leftover coffee from the pot and reheat, slightly bitter after reheating but for true coffee addicts, anything will do in a pinch. That and a gallon of milk. Cheap and healthy eats for the week. Little Debbie brownies $1.79 for a snack, and probably all for less than $25.00!
I learned a lot of this from my mom, who raised and fed 4 boys and 5 girls on next to nothing. Every meal was made in a big pot on the stove. My kids like string beans added to stretch out the mac n cheese the way she taught me. And beans with sliced hot dogs served with toast. Still miss her chicken and dumplings.
For those saying eat Ramen Noodles, are you aware of the salt content in that?? I bet if you were in the same position you wouldn't be saying this, and I can guarantee that you wouldn't be eating this crap either. Its so easy to look from the outside in and attempt to try solve the problem, when you have not walked in their shoes.
It's the seasoning packet that has the salt, so leave it out and instead use low sodium bullion and maybe some fresh onion and powered garlic and other seasonings of your choice.
It may be the seasoning salt that makes Top Ramen so unhealthy – but the noodles have been fried – and that is also what makes them unhealthy!
Ounce for ounce, dollar for dollar, ramen noodles are not that healthy, and they are not that cheap! I buy pound packages of pasta all the time with coupons, and regularly get them for free, especially the healther, more expensive whole wheat, high protien and whole grain pastas. Even so, in our area, pasta is usually around a dollar a pound box, and ramen, 59 cents for a few ounces (4.5 to be exact.) I know prices vary from area to area, but pasta is about 6 cents an ounce, ramen 28 cents. (Of course, it's hard to cook pasta in a microwave, and you would need a bullion cube or some such thing to get the Ramen flavor.)
That's only if you're buying cup'o'noodles, or ramen in a cup. If you buy pacakges of ramen to cook stovetop, they can regularly be 20 cents a package, and you can stretch a package much further than you think. If you get them with a coupon, you can sometimes get them for less than 10 cents a package.
Yes, they aren't wonderfully healthy for you, but they can be almost as healthy as regular noodles, and they can be stretched really far. If you're worried about salt, low sodium boullion broth is a good option. Stir in some cheap frozen veggies, and scraps of whatever protein you have – beef, chicken, shrimp, tofu even eggs – and you've got a complete meal, for sometimes less than 50 cents.
And for the record, I have practically lived on ramen for a month or more at a time. It may not be the best thing ever, and not the healthiest, but it's not that bad, as long as you put some effort into it. And when you are desperate, sometimes you absolutely need filler foods. If you were to eat ramen as one meal a day, and make sure the other two had very little salt, you'd be just fine, and you'd be saving a lot of money.
Ramen Nerd, I stand corrected.
Sheila,
I did not see ONE grocery item that was from a generic brand. You actually bought BRAND NAME items? You are truly clueless.
I totally agree. Please stop trying to act like you know what it's like to be from a lower income household.
Are poor women allowed to pay for food from sources of income other than food stamps, like child support payments? I just heard a statistic that 75% of households under the poverty level have satellite dishes. Maybe they could cancel that service and use that money toward groceries.
75 percent of households that live under poverty have satellite dishes? I would like to know the source. Also, maybe they have them but have discontinued service until economy picks up...
I don't have a satellite dish – but you CAN get inexpensive service thru Satellite. I cut down to basic T.V. – not much on it, but was able to get a promotion for a year for $14 a month. You can borrow DVD's from the local library. And, you probably can also get a discount on phone service, if your income is low. Check with your local phone company.
Easily
2 loaves of homemade bread @70 cents each: $1.40
2 quarts of homemade soy milk @ 26 cents each: $0.52
7 servings of oatmeal (purchased in bulk at about 25 cents each $1.75
7 soy burgers made from soy pulp (from the milk) @ 10 cents each: $0.70
7 servings of homemade hummus (with home made tahini) at about 25 cents each: 1.75
3 pounds organic bananas @ 70 cents each $2.10
1 five pound bag of organic carrots @ 3.99
2 organic cucumbers @ 1 dollar each: $2.00
Total: 14.21 (and the hummus and oatmeal costs are probably over-estimated) so I think I could definitely eat for two dollars a day.
Besides frozen veggies .89 for a pound no waste – you could make white bread .30 a loaf, a whole chicken that would cost about $4, container tomatoes are the most expensive – can't afford that. Perhaps 1 tomato per week. Bananas are generally cheaper than apples. buy tuna on sale for .60 a can instead of the .99. It can be done. I did it when my kids were small and we did not go hungry. No we did not eat the healthiest food available. Salads were few and far between but we were never hungry. they got free breakfast and lunch so I didn't buy much milk. Treats were few and far between as was cold cereal. Also butter is out of reach – margarine is the option. Pancakes are cheap to make so we had occasional breakfast for dinner. You can eat on food stamps without being hungry but it takes planning, coupons. We did it for 3 years. I still try to be fairly frugal but am now able to buy healthier options. When you are poor you definitely must give up a lot of things you enjoy in favor of what you can afford.
Chicken breasts and a $2.99 loaf of bread. Someone isn't trying too hard are they? Generic bread at most stores are less than $1 a loaf. Chicken at most grocery stores here are $0.99 a pound or less for a whole chicken. Hamburger is less than $2.00 a pound (prepacked) and frozen house brand veggies at Kroger is $0.88.
They think $30 is not enough cuz it goes fast when your spending someone else's money.
Sure if you buy all the name brand stuff, get what you want instead of the one sale items, and get steaks instead of ground beef, boneless skinless chicken breast instead of a whole chicken, you're going to go through your $30 pretty fast.
What we need is a restricted list of items for them to spend their food stamps on and classes so they know what meals they can make on the cheap (like most of hard working America does).
you want the government restricting what you can and can't eat? heh no thanks. they start making those restrictions on people who are on food stamps, next logical step is to police what everyone eats.
It is my money. Why don't you get off welfare, get a job, and then buy whatever you want.
Amen. I was in back of a woman recently in the check out line. I couldn't believe the items she was buying mostly brand name items.....and then she pulled out the Benefits Card. I looked at my shopping cart full of mostly generic brands....no meat, very few fresh vegetables.....You're correct Frank. It's wonderful to buy what you want when you get it for free. YOU and I pay for our groceries AND theirs.
Just a bit about food stamps – they are sometimes the only food some individuals or families will have, and sometime they supplement their income (which has to be limited before they get food stamps.) I feel it's self regulating, and don't have too much of a problem with people buying whatever they want – they buy better food, they eat less, right? (With the exception of the scammers and cheaters...that's a whole 'nother story. I'm very grateful that I've never been in that position...can you imagine the humiliation of even going through the process, not to mention the humiliation that must be endured with each shopping trip, knowing everyone who sees you using the card is judging the contents of your cart. Who knows, maybe she was shopping for some sick friend who insisted she take her card when she went to the store....maybe she decided to buy them 'good' food and paid for some of it herself? You didn't say if the person paid in total for the groceries....or did she use a card and some cash? We don't always know the full story.
Here's the official information: What is SNAP?
Although the name SNAP may be unfamiliar to many, most people will recognize it by its other name, the Food Stamp Program. The Food Stamp Program was implemented in 1939 and has been extending services to people across the United States since its beginning. The name of the federal program was changed to SNAP as of Oct 1, 2008 ; individual states may help the program under a different name. The SNAP program provides a way for low-income families and individuals to buy nourishing food that they would not otherwise be able to afford. The benefits that are given to participants change based on factors such as family size, income, and assets. Participants in the SNAP program may buy food and seeds to grow their own food by shopping at participating stores. Items that may not be bought include hot and prepared food, cigarettes, alcohol, personal care items, paper commodities, pet food, household supplies, and medication.
The WIC program does this. They only allow specific items and brands.
Rice and beans with frozen vegatables and frozen chicken legs. Healthy and dirt cheap!
I've been living in my car for 3 and a half years and I never spend more than $3 a day on food – so $21 a week. I eat once a day, and usually that is a stale, marked-down loaf of bread with some cold (no way to heat) canned food.
This article does not impress me. Maybe I should write a story about how I do it .....while dealing with freezing winter nights in the teens and sleeping curled into a ball in the back seat.
How are you living like that and posting comments on the internet?
Public library or laptop at wifi hotspot around town. Right now at the library.
internet cafes? just a guess.
Yes!!! Good question!
Years ago a girlfriend of mine of mine said something very astute - "If people in this country are so busy they need to buy frozen meals, who is it that is sitting in front of their TV watching ads for Hot Pockets".
We have a real problem in this country in terms of our relationship with food. It is very possible to eat well on a budget if you are willing to put in the work of preparing the food yourself. But we are "taught" through advertising that food should be convenient.
You had to have given the library a permanent address in order to receive a library card and use their terminal services. Don't internet cafe's charge money for their services? Or at least request that you buy something like a coffee or food?
Most of the homeless around me go to the library to use the computers. They can stay out of the elements and it gives them something to do during the day. They have to leave the shelter in the morning and can return at night. They are not allowed to stay there all day. I see them at the library, laundromat, donut shop; any place that will let them stay for a few hours at a time.
No library card needed at my library to access their wifi from your own laptop.
Like alot of things, it's probably different in every state and/or city. You have to have a permanent address in our city to be a member of the library co-op. It's free, but you have to have a real address so they can mail the card to you (it's the explanation they gave me). Why they couldn't offer to hold the card at the library so the homeless could pick them up, I don't know.
How many homeless people have laptops?
I think you should quiet down. I'm a circulation assistant at a library, and you do NOT need a library card to use the computer. You don't need anything. You make a reservation for computer time, when one opens up, you get on that computer. How do you think people with no home internet (GASP they do exist) access the internet? Yes, there are many homeless people who use our computers, and guess what? Most of them use the computers for things like creating resumes, looking for jobs, trying to find resources. They also come to our weekly (free) job counseling meeting. Why don't you cure your ignorance a little bit and get down off your high horse before you comment to someone you don't even know. GOOD LORD.
And I think you should crawl back under your self-righteous rock. Glad you know your stuff. Seems like you know everyone else's too. Thank the management of your great township, city or county that your services are as good as they are. My city is different. Get over yourself and have a seat at the stfu cafe. No waiting.
Aw, just curious get shut down by some simple logic? I know, you'd rather see homeless people how you expect them to be... downtrodden, without a belonging in the world, no way to take care of themselves, right?
Guess what, folks! If someone is going to be homeless, and living out of their car, there's a good chance they may have a laptop. It's not like they were ALWAYS homeless and living in their car, there's a good chance that they bought that laptop with the job they had that paid the bills on the home they had. It's also not like selling that laptop would net you enough to be worth losing such a great means of getting jobs and keeping in touch with people, what with all of the free wifi around (which there is a TON of now, everywhere).
Sorry to burst your little bubble.
I think you should tell us in detail!
Go south and eat healthier. The Brownsville area of TX has plenty of cheap food fresh from the farms, and warm winters.
Ever try shopping in the bulk section? Buy some flour, buy some yeast, learn how to make your own bread, it is NOT that difficult and will cost you FAR less than if you went and bought a loaf of artisan bread. My wife and I have made a meal out of bread and marinara on more than one occasion. Full cost of the meal? Maybe a $1.25. Nutritious? Not really. Filling when broke? You bet.
I add some ground beef to the marinara for extra protein (not that I need any extra calories), but it really helps fill you up. Ground beef is pretty cheap if you get it on sale. I ran the numbers and a homemade loaf of bread costs 32 cents, using flour from Sams club (yeah, the 25 pound bag), yeast, salt, water and a teaspoon of honey.
Exactly Mike! If people went back to a simpler time and learned how to do so many of the things we take for granted, we would be spending FAR less on food. Come on, making bread is easy and something that anyone can do. Heck, you don't even have to buy yeast if you don't want to do so. There is enough natural yeast in the air that many bread recipes these days don't even call for it. Even then, yeast is cheap if you shop properly. And that is a key point, many people, including the author of this article, have no idea how to shop properly.
Okay, I get what many of you are saying. I could do $30 per week when I was in college, too. So could my husband. However, we now have two teenage daughters. They have certain nutritional needs that Ramen seven days a week will not cover. Nor am I interested in mac & cheese all the time. It is not healthy. Milk is a requisite, as are fresh vegetables. We have a good supply of meat in the freezer, as we buy a whole animal or two every fall (whole pig, quarter cow). We don't eat fancy, but we do eat well. And there is no way we could feed the four of us EXCLUSIVELY on $120 per week, without hitting our freezer and the extra veggies we can each fall.
i envy the freezer space you have. living in an apartment with my husband, it's not possible. i wish it were, my family used to do that when i was a kid. buying in bulk definitely helps to cut costs in the long run on meats.
You could do $120 per week easily if you cut out the animal products, which is healthier too.
I live in a poor area. Seems to me that people on food stamps are the fatest people in this country. Go to a grocery store in a poor area and see for yourself. These people are gigantic. Also be sure to look at how many groceries they buy. Their carts are overflowing. I think they get more than $30!
That is because often the least expensive food is also the least healthy. I don't deny that there are abuses in the system, but it is unfair to lump all people on food stamps into the same category.
I don't know what it is- but seriously- go see for yourself. Fatest people and for sure more than $30 with their ebt card.
In our local grocer I observe two women buy groceries with ebt card and then buy 4 cartons of brand name cigs. and a 30 pack of beer with cash. Where does that money come from. Then when they get outside they divy up with people waiting in the parking lot and get paid cash on the spot. This has to be illegal, and if not, it should be. People like this is what pisses middle class, tax paying people, off.
The least expensive food is often the healthiest, actually.
a gross over simplification. you don't need a lot of food to be fat. just eat the wrong foods. throwing food stamps at poor people doesn't make them choose healthier foods.
Thanks for speaking the truth.
Are you new here to life? That is because cheap things...white bread, canned meat, canned soup, canned veggies are all cheap. You could live out of a menu from the dollar store and not be hungry..but you'd be hard pressed to find healthy options. Eating healthy costs more. Add to that the lack of excersise and you have over weight folks. Don't judge. For 30.00 you can buy pasta, canned soup, beans, day old bread, rice and maybe some juice that is sugar and water...and you won't go hungry. But that is not the ideal is it?
Please go to a poor area and actually check it out. Soda, chips, juice, candy, meat, frozen food. Expensive stuff. $200 grocery bill on an ebt. All name brand too.
Eating healthy does not cost more. Lots of other posts here give details on eating healthier for less than eating processed unhealthy food.
Food Stampers living off $30 aweek?
I know a guy that gets $31.25 a week and he supports 4 people
Now if he was a woman with kids....The first of the month I PROMISE he'd get $500-600
two words: ramen noodles. 16 cents each. Buy a whole chicken ($5), roast it, then pick every piece of chicken off of it. Add it to the ramen noodles with some of a $2 bag of frozen vegetables. Viola, cheap, easy, and at least has more nutrition than a meal at McDonalds.
Also, learn to love leftovers. It's still good in the frig up to a week later. If you're throwing away food, you might as well be just buying lottery tickets with that money.
While most comments are abt how well many posters can do on so little...I didn't read any comments abt the unhealthy effects of some of these "bargain" foods..especially if this is the usual diet over an extended period of time. Hot dogs are so unhealthy, there's talk of putting a warning label on them. Ramen noodles are crammed with sodium. Those $1 loaves of bread I call "white foam" and they probably have the nutritional value of Styrofoam. So sadly, many people have probably managed to make do with far less, but it will take a toll on their health..which then brings up the issue of whether they have health insurance. How do they pay for drugs to control diabetes and hypertension? Our best hope for the future is to have educated and healthy people.
Ramen is great once in awhile, but it can make you fairly sick if you eat it too much, too often, even if you are supplementing it with other things. There is just SOOOO much sodium in it, even without the flavor package.
There needs to be an Urban Reality Show about being homeless for 30 days like Survivor based in Washington, D.C. the Nations capital.
hah! that'd be great :) it'd be a reality show i'd actually watch
Sounds like a job for Morgan Spurlock.
There was one called Urban Jungle.
Critically-Acclaimed Reality Show Transplants 13 Privileged Suburbanites into “The Hood” to Experience Life as Immigrants
http://www.hispanicmpr.com/2005/09/26/si-tv-hit-reality-series-%E2%80%98urban-jungle%E2%80%99-returns/
i'm curious what part of the country you're buying your food in. a bag of frozen chicken parts is cheaper than fresh. depending on how you prepare it, there is little difference in the taste. powdered milk will fix the milk issue. $2.99 for bread? there's typically a white bread store off-brand for around a dollar or so, give or take. unless you're making stuffed peppers, frozen peppers are far cheaper if you're just adding it to food. same with onion and other assorted frozen vegetables with a steamer.
fresh healthy foods are a rare indulgence the struggling working poor get to enjoy.
Sheila, you would not last a day in real world of the poor. Spare us this drivel and donate the $30 to your local food bank, please.
Sheila is doing this in New York City where it costs far more for groceries than I'd imagine anywhere else. $30 is a total shoestring budget here. I'm sure where you live $30 is more than enough to feed yourself on, but where I live, and where this experiment is happening, it's close to nothing.
two words: ramen noodles.
OMG – $30 for a WEEK!? That's a luxury **I** can't afford. Try this – peanut butter sandwiches (on "wheat bread") EVERY morning for breakfast. A homemade "spread" (like bologna salad) on "wheat" for lunch. Hamburger Helper for dinner (or hot dogs.) Anything else comes from the dollar store.
Where are the fresh fruits and veggies?? THERE AIN'T NONE – can't afford it. Consider yourself VERY lucky if you can afford more than $30.00 a week for food.
I'm left wondering how it is that you can afford internet services if you cannot afford food. The choice doesn't seem logical to me.
MAYBE, THEY ARE USING THE INTERNET AT WORK ... THAT IS WHAT I DO AND AGREE WHOLE HEARTEDLY THAT I CANNOT AFFORD TO SHOP FOR HEALTHY GROCERIES ... IT IS SO HARD FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS TO SURVIVE FINANCIALLY TODAY SO DON'T CRITIQUE SOMEONE UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN THERE ...
Ever heard of free internet access at the library? Try not to be so judgmental.
I wasn't being judgmental. I'm asking a question. How do we learn if we don't ask? I didn't think of library internet. I believe our library offers it free to patrons (also free) for 1/2 hour intervals.
Starbucks and many locations have free WiFi.
Curious in CT -
LOL – YUP – posting this from work. (Look at the timestamp for a clue.)
I am in the middle class. I have no debt (house and car paid off). I have a full time job. So I have money to spend... yet I only spend on average about $100 a month on food. That would come out to about $25 a week for food. It's very simple. Saves money for other things I may need.
Could you please give us an example of your shopping list?
are you shopping for a family on $25 a week? i doubt it.
I think the question at issue here is whether it's possible to feed ONE person on $25 or $30 per week, not a family. Of course a family of four is going to require a bigger budget. But for the record, I typically spend about $60 per week at the grocery store, for myself and my youngest son (sometimes 3-4 when my girlfriend and/or older son are around). And we even eat fairly well, including meat and fresh produce - salad with dinner most nights - because I am careful (some might say fanatical) about shopping for sales and using coupons. As others have mentioned, one can get store brand bread for around $1 per loaf, not $2.99. And even something like boneless chicken breast can be had for $1.99/lb, occasionally less, on sale. And if I really had to reduce my spending, I could cut out most of the produce and some of the meat and get by on $20 per week per person.
As a single college student, or any single person, that is not hard. That is about what I spend on food for myself a month. I only eat ramen noodles if I really feel like it which is about once a month. Pasta goes a long ways and can be made nutritionally with the addition of veggies. I am lucky that when it is warm I do not live far from a wnderful farmers market where fresh veggies are a lot cheaper. Things such as pot roast and white chicken chili with rice go a long ways. And when I do everything right, like I do most months, I can even have my friends over to enjoy the food I made without surpassing the $25 a week limit, with no ramen noodles as a staple.
I regularly feed my family of 3 on $30 a week. I know that food costs vary depending on location, but if you put a little effort into it, you can do WAY better than this! You even say in your article that you know you should have made different choices, but went ahead and bought more expensive options anyway. Why????
Last night, I fed 4 adults for about $3.50, and have left overs for lunch today. My total ingredient cost was about $6, and I still have items left over to use in new recipes. I live outside of Chicago.
Home made chicken noodle soup.
3 lbs of chicken legs and thighs on sale for 59 cents a lb
1/2 lb egg noodles (1 dollar a lb at any number of groceries)
1/4 lb frozen carrots (1 dollar a lb at Aldi)
1 cup frozen peas (1 dollar a lb at Aldi)
2 white potatoes, diced (maybe 25 cents? Potatoes are pretty cheap, usually 50cents a lb at the local "ethnic" grocer)
a stalk of celery (79 cents a bunch at a local "ethnic" grocer, so this would be maybe 10 cents?)
salt, pepper, garlic powder (pennies)
Put all the chicken in a crock pot and cover with water. Cook on high all day. At night, pull the chicken out, and pick the meat off the bones. The liquid left behind is now your base for your soup. If you want to go low-fat, place it in the fridge for a little white, so the fat starts to solidify on top, then skim it off. If the fat doens't bother you, then go ahead and toss your veggies and noodles in the broth, add spices, and put the chicken meat back in. Cook on the stove until the noodles are done. Add in a 50 cent box of Jiffy corn bread mix, or whatever kind of bread you like, and you are done. Healthy, nutritious, filling, and easy to make if you are pressed for time due to work, as many of the working poor are. If you don't have the money for a crock pot, this can easily be made on the stove with any big pot you may own.
AND...if your budget is more constricted than what that recipe can afford, you can make onion soup, which is pretty darn close to stone soup, in terms of cost.
It's not that it is impossible to eat cheaply and heathfully on a low food budget. It is that it often takes more EFFORT than what most Americans are used to expending.
I agree, it's entirely possible to eat healthy on a tight budget. I just finished doing the food challenge for SF Food Bank. Since I no longer live in CA, I pegged my (lower) rate at what my local state provides ($28.98/week). By shopping as much as possible local and in season, supplemented by a few select items from the market, I was able to make it through the week eating healthy, complete meals (mostly organic and fresh).
It takes planning and effort for sure, and it made me really think out every way I could use my items, but this is definitely something anyone can do, even on a really limited budget.
Hunger and nutrition are real problems facing us as a country and most people really need to make that dollar stretch as far as possible. It is frustrating that rather than talking to real people facing these issues and how they tackle them, the media takes a slap-dash approach to this sort of challenge (the reporter covering it in SF did about as poorly as CNN in terms of her weekly shopping–lots of Top Ramen in her basket).
I eat like this every week.
Right now i have $10 to my name.
That is buying me milk.. because we have to have milk in our house.
Bread
Peanutbutter
2 weeks til payday.
Fun stuff
We stopped eating out forever and a day ago.
I could easily do this.
$1.50 half gal milk
$4 2lbs ground beef
$3 3lbs pasta
$2 2 cans tomatos
$2 1lb rice
$2.50 2.5lbs pin wheel chicken pieces
$1 bread
$3 1lb cheese
$4 2lb frozen veggies
$1.50 1 doz jumbo eggs
Total $25.50 for a ton of food, that's actually what my typical grocery list looks like, people on food stamps have it better off than me.
You got that right.
This morning I was thinking...I can't have kids because I cant afford them.
Really, even though I work and make an income it's still not enough to pay my mortgage, electric gas, and food.
Much less – bring a child into the world that the government will give me no assistance.
But, If I had chose not to work and had kids years ago, I could probably be sitting at home eating brownies and cooking a big nice dinner!
Dang it. What a stupid choic I chose, getting an education and working a full time job! IDIOT!
Some people are just plain ignorant. It's too easy to judge people and generalize when you have not gone through a similar situation.
Not all people on food stamps are uneducated and lazy. Nowadays, with the large number of Americans that are unwillingly unemployed, you have all different kinds of people relying on government assistance. Circumstances can change at any given moment and people can find themselves in a predicament. It happens.
While I agree that there are plenty of people out there who abuse the system, there are also many people out there that do not. Statistics also have pointed out that those people living in poverty are also the same people that are least healthy and tend to be obese. This doesn't mean that they are buying "too much" food with their food stamps. On the contrary, eating healthy costs more money that eating "ramen noodles".
When I'm under a rock I spend even less.
Nice, very Nice eating well and a realistic shopping list. Looks like mine. Easy ingediants to make quick meals yet still not eating out of a box (no hamburger helper or anything lipton/knorr with a chemical packet). prices are spot on too.
Where are you buying your food for such low prices? No store I've been in (including discount grocery stores) has sold milk or meat for that cheap since the mid-90s! :(
Christine, if you live in Texas (and I'm sure other places) that's a pretty realistic price list. If you live in CA or NY, then not so much. But then again, you get a little extra to account for the cost of living in whatever state you live in.
It's easy to do... 2 whole chickens (lets say $5 each), 2 bags frozen veggies – corn or green beans are usually cheapest ($1.50 to $2.00 each), 1 bag flour – ($2.50), yeast (3.00). That's $21, so let's throw in a family pack of pork chops for $8 and seperate and freeze the ones you're not cooking immediately. Total: $29. I used to eat like this all the time, and it can be done if you're committed. You don't need milk or anything else to drink besides water. The issue is being brutally honest with yourself about the necessities.
One of the first lessons you learn in college is that Ramen Noodles are cheap and versatile. ...and knowing is half the battle!
Also Atlanta.
Also college.
Also Ramen.
I get by on about $3-$4 a day for food, and I never feel hungry. Lots of Ramen, peanut butter on toast/crackers/etc, and on-sale cereal. My "splurging" is for real pasta, pasta sauces, and milk.
Kevin, didn't you have a meal plan at college. I purchased for my son the 19 meal a week plan.
A lot of kids in college can't afford the 19 meal plan, because their parents aren't supporting them through college. Ramen is a good staple, as is a box of Mac-n-Cheese. I even had ketchup soup a time or two when I was getting to the end of the week and waiting for a pay check. :-)
Might be dry & hard to swallow, but I could probably do it if I added ketchup.
Yes, this can be done, and at 3 meals a day. It is a mishmosh of store brand cereal, milk, 1 lb cold cuts or cheese, 2 large loaves store brand bread, 1 doz eggs, 2 whole chickens, rice or potatoes, store brand frozen veggies, and go to the local farmers store or raid the sale racks at the supermarket for marked down fruits and veggies. I sometimes hit a bonanza of apples, cucumbers, peppers, brussels sprouts, mushrooms - but they all are very ripe and must be prepared ASAP. And you can buy a cake mix and make it too.
It is TOUGH, but the two chickens make cutlets, BBQ and soup for one person for 6 nights.
For better or worse, there's a reason for the growth of dollar stores across the country. You could get virtually everything you bought for a buck a piece...or in some cases, 2 for a buck.
Only $30 a week? How do they live?! O wait, better than I do.
40 million people using food stamps and you post that statement? You must be a teabagging, entitlement minded, idiot.
40 million live on food stamps, half of which have done it their entire lives as have their parents and grandparents. If we could kick off the ones that take advantage of the system and sit on their rear ends, then we'd have more to feed the other half with.
You made a huge error buying the two chicken breasts for that price! I *just* bought a WHOLE chicken for $4.72 and could eat off it for a lot longer than you will on those two chicken breasts. And you can get lots of frozen veggies, with all their nutrients, for a lot less $ than fresh ones.
Yup, that whole chicken can go a loooong way with soups, chicken salads and even in some breakfast stuff.
I agree – buying a whole chicken would make several meals...boil it to make chicken soup, shred some for chicken salad, etc.
Chicken soup....chicken salad....chicken burritos...chicken fajitas....chicken sandwich...macarena chicken...chicken tofu burger....chicken pork hotdogs....chicken pasta...chicken ravioli....chicken on a stick...chicken pot pie....chicken beef pie...chicken -n-rice....chicken shredded / diced / ....(Looks like chicken all week) .
I think that the plight of the poor and on food stamps is nothing to take lightly. There are people starving out there which is totally unacceptable with the amount of food we produce. I do however think this author is a raging idiot. Did you not go to college? I mean where is the Ramen and frozen vegetables. Obviously you are annoyingly spoiled and should not be allowed to write articles like this. I am sure you point is to illustrate that healthy choices are expensive but don't pretend to understand the plight of the hungry with this little waste of time.
I think the plight of the poor is having too little education and kids they can't afford.
You hit the nail on the head.
Bingo!
Think again Mr. Stereotype. I've got a Masters degree and no kids and I make $7.00 an hour now after a "down-sizing." The face of the "poor" in America has changed. 50% of our population owns only 2% of the wealth.
Why do people INSIST on putting together articles like this? Moreover – why do "reporters" or whoever does them INSIST on making these meaningless little "projects" for themselves to see if they can eat "on a budget", These types of articles and "experiments" are derisory and irrelevant. I want to do nothing less than sit here and read some sob story by a wealthy producer about how she had to try and buy cheap food for a week. Peppers?? This woman has clearly never had to budget a single day of her adult life with respect to groceries. Get real. If you're going to document what it's like living on food stamps – then document a REAL PERSON who does it because they have to, not does it because they think it'd be something "neat" to try for a week.
Well said, KP! I'd LOVE to see a PBS documentary of those here who say it can be done, to do it for two whole months on NOTHING but $30/wk. They'd only be allowed to take one tumbler of salt and pepper with them to the "Poor House" (where they'll be living for that time). We will watch them shop, then prepare and consume said food for those 60 days with nary a complaint of hunger, lack of nutrition or gastrointestinal problems as a result.
I vote we send Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin in first.
Her intentions are good. She wants to learn what it's like, first-hand, to have a limited food budget. She's seeing aspects of that already: having to actually think about what you buy and having to put something back on the shelf because you can't afford it. And she is learning: she already knows that the bell peppers were a bad call, because she could have gotten 2-5 pounds of frozen vegetables for the same price.
I have to agree, though, that these experiments are flawed by nature. "I lived for a week on $30. I'm just like you!" Sorry, Ms. Correspondent, but you're not. Not until you've done it for months on end, including a few weeks that the food budget disappears because your hours got cut at work, or because your kid's class had a potluck and you couldn't let her show up empty-handed. Perhaps most importantly, you don't get the full experience because you can count down the days until life goes back to normal, when you can celebrate your benevolence and newfound perspective with a gourmet dinner and a glass of wine. When I was working-poor, I had no idea when - or if - things were ever going to get better.
I already do! And sometimes less.
TX4UREXKARLENE: Where do you pay $5 for a gallong of milk, and $6 for two loaves of bread? Where I live, milk is $2.87 a gallon, and bread is $1 a loaf...
You're right. I just bought milk at Safeway for $1.57/gallon and a loaf of bread for a buck. You can stretch your food budget much easier than the author seems to be capable of. Same thing with chicken. It is .67/lb. at a local supermarket today. So a 4.5 lb. bird is under 3 bucks and that includes 2 large boneless breasts if you invest a minute of knifework.
Not in FL. You will pay at least $3.60 for a gallon of store brand milk here. And a packet of cheese is $3.99. If you had less to spend, you could get less from the deli.
Do you live in 1962?
I live in Phoenix and these are current prices.
One should also take into account that this is not $30 a week for a family of 4, this is $30 a week for a single person. A family of 4 gets much more, up to $700 a month depending on income level. So, this whole live on $30 a week is a load of doo. A single person with no income can get up to $200 a month, which is as much as I spend on my family. Yes, I live in Texas and just bought a gallon of store brand milk for $1.50, a whole chicken for $4, a bag of rice for $1.25 and a loaf of bread for $1 That's 3 meals for my family of 3. Is it all free range and organic? No, but people who are living on public assistance need to be a little reasonable. This author would never make it. Must have had a trust fund to get through college.
Walmart Kansas city
Hawaii and Washington D.C. have these prices
Food Lion East coast
milk is $4 for smart chocie brand and for good milk $5.50
I refuse to pay that much
no safeways here
I live in the suburbs north of Boston and a gallon of Hood milk is $3.69, a loaf of Pepperidge Farm bread or Arnold's bread is close to $4.00 a loaf so it really depends on what part of the country you live in as to the cost.
You're right. Too many people live on welfare, and have for generations in their family. They expect it, they take advantage of the system, and since they didn't work for it, they aren't that anxious to use it wisely.
In Seattle milk is $3.89 a gallon (store brand, chock full of bovine growth hormone). Organic milk is $5.99/gallon.
Paulina:
Milk is high, so folks should then purchase evaporated milk in cans. It keeps forever and when you need milk, take 1/2 cup of it, add 1/2 cup of water and there you go. People have to figure out how to make their situations work for them. Home expense first, food second, utilities third, transportation fourth, clothes fifth and so on. Priorities! We can't have EVERYTHING, so pick what is important that children need FIRST! Adults should be on their own!
I think its very hard to eat on $30.00 a week, though it forces you to cook from scratch and is more healthy. When you cook from scratch you tend too cook with more vegetables and utilize fruit that is on sale. I wish everyone had to eat on $30.00 a week as it would change today's attitude toward the unemployed. The attitude today toward the unemployed is pitiful and embarrasing, we as a nation should be doing everything possible to support and uplift the unemployed as this would uplift economy the quickest and help everyone.
5.00 gallon of milk
3.00 butter
6.00 2 loaves of no HFCS bread
4.00 multi pack Mac & Cheese
10.00 frozen chicken breast
2.00 frozen good vegetables
I've eaten on less and didnt received food stamps.... and lived out of my car. $30? where have you been at..... This is nothing new or nothing to write about, people do it every day. I will not accept food stamps or go on welfare....
I think that's the author's point, Steve. TOO many Americans are living on 30 a week, or less. There are still a small group of people in America that have NO concept of how poor we have become. I think we're all fat because no one can afford fruits and veggies.
It is impossible to grow vegetables. My yard is too acidic from the pine trees, in fact just about every plant except marijuana is growing in my yard.
There's nothing wrong with Farina but Cream of Wheat is better. Eggs. Rice cakes. Peanut butter & jelly. Rice, soy sauce, Spam if on sale.
Idean50 – what's WRONG with eating on $30/week? It shouldn't even be a challenge.