Friday, March 25, 2011
The Final Day
Well, my challenge has come to an end. All totaled we spent just under $55 of the $60 we had for the week. Aaron went out of town this afternoon, so I just had some canned soup and bread for dinner. I certainly have a better understanding of how difficult it is to live on only $12 a day for the two of us. Always planning ahead, foregoing small luxuries. I have a lot more empathy for those who have to live this way. But, I have also learned that I really don't need everything I think I do. I can live more simply.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Day 4
I am getting a bit bored of the same thing, day in and day out. Our diet is lacking in variety, but once you buy one thing, you want to finish it. So again today we ate the same thing for breakfast and lunch. Aaron came home from an errand and said he had planned on running home, but he said he was out of energy. He says he eats his sandwich by 10 am, then he doesn't have much left. I came home a bit late and just wanted to have something made quickly. It is tempting to buy some frozen dinners. I can see how someone who comes home from a long day and has several mouths to feed just wants something fast and easy, so fast food and frozen tv dinners are cheap and fast.
We had the same amount to spend tonight. Half of our budget goes to dinner, we should probably spread out our food throughout the day. So, tonight I went for pasta again. The pasta cost us $1.25, the jar of sauce cost $1.67 and I had to buy more bread so I got some bread from the "just about to expire" section for $1.19. I thought we could have some veggies so I bought broccoli for $1.79. I added some of the zucchini I had from the other night and some of the spinach I already had to the sauce. It was a good, fast dinner, but lacked any protein. We came in just under our $12 again.
I can't say that I am not craving things. I am not all that hungry, but it's hard to watch everyone at work around me getting a coffee or eating some chips when I can't afford it.
This challenge is a great experience, but I want it to be over. It would be so difficult to live like this everyday. I see people asking for food and change everyday in front of the grocery stores I frequent, and I have decided that I will give my usual weekly budget for food and coffee to the United Way at the end of this week.
We had the same amount to spend tonight. Half of our budget goes to dinner, we should probably spread out our food throughout the day. So, tonight I went for pasta again. The pasta cost us $1.25, the jar of sauce cost $1.67 and I had to buy more bread so I got some bread from the "just about to expire" section for $1.19. I thought we could have some veggies so I bought broccoli for $1.79. I added some of the zucchini I had from the other night and some of the spinach I already had to the sauce. It was a good, fast dinner, but lacked any protein. We came in just under our $12 again.
I can't say that I am not craving things. I am not all that hungry, but it's hard to watch everyone at work around me getting a coffee or eating some chips when I can't afford it.
This challenge is a great experience, but I want it to be over. It would be so difficult to live like this everyday. I see people asking for food and change everyday in front of the grocery stores I frequent, and I have decided that I will give my usual weekly budget for food and coffee to the United Way at the end of this week.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
More....
I am missing all of my snacks! I am also missing nice fresh french bread. Someone brought cookies up to our floor today-none for me!!! Instant coffee is not the same. All of this does make me recognize the difference between what I want and what I need. I am not hungry and I realize that everything I think I want I really don't need, and this applies to everything in my life. I think I want a new sweater because I saw it in an ad, but I certainly don't need it. If I can do with less I can certainly afford to do more for others. Through the lens of this journey I can see that our society values the individual over the needs of the community.
So, tonight I am left with the same amount of money for dinner. I spent $1.90 on vegetable broth, $0.89 on a can of tomatoes, $0.10 for cayenne pepper, and $1.25 on a can of beans for a total of $5.04. I am making some bean soup and I will add some of the spinach I bought the other day. I had to add some water to make enough broth. Broth is not cheap! It should be good, but I wish I had some bread to have with it!
So, tonight I am left with the same amount of money for dinner. I spent $1.90 on vegetable broth, $0.89 on a can of tomatoes, $0.10 for cayenne pepper, and $1.25 on a can of beans for a total of $5.04. I am making some bean soup and I will add some of the spinach I bought the other day. I had to add some water to make enough broth. Broth is not cheap! It should be good, but I wish I had some bread to have with it!
Day 3
Last night we purchased some pasta for $1, pasta sauce for $1.50 and some zucchini for $1.25. I also added some spinach that I bought Sunday night since I have an entire pound of it! All totalled the meal cost under $5 so again, we squeaked in just under budget by only a few cents! Today we ate the same meals we have been eating all week for breakfast and lunch, again leaving us about $6 for tonight's dinner. We have just been squeaking by on our $12 and it seems that the easiest and most economical thing to do is to make a one pot meal, so there is not much variety in our diet.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Day 2
So, Last night I bought some raisins to put in my oatmeal for sugar and flavor, I got more carrots and an apple and orange. I also bought some mustard for the sandwiches. I have realized that I miss all of the little flavors in food, for instance, last night the beans and rice were OK, but I really wanted my hot sauce or something to spice it up more.
So, today we each had about the same meals for breakfast and lunch as we did yesterday, with one coffee each. So far today we have spent $6.12. That leaves us $5.88 for dinner. We need to go shopping!
I miss all of my daily indulgences, like a good cup of coffee, a soda or a snack in the afternoon, or just generally being able to buy and eat what I feel like! I have to think about this all day- how to make things last, how much money we have left, etc. I certainly have a lot more empathy for those who do not get to eat whatever or whenever. Figuring out what and when your next meal is going to be becomes the only thing I can think of. So, now we are hungry...off to the store!
So, today we each had about the same meals for breakfast and lunch as we did yesterday, with one coffee each. So far today we have spent $6.12. That leaves us $5.88 for dinner. We need to go shopping!
I miss all of my daily indulgences, like a good cup of coffee, a soda or a snack in the afternoon, or just generally being able to buy and eat what I feel like! I have to think about this all day- how to make things last, how much money we have left, etc. I certainly have a lot more empathy for those who do not get to eat whatever or whenever. Figuring out what and when your next meal is going to be becomes the only thing I can think of. So, now we are hungry...off to the store!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Day 1
Well, so far OK. Aaron just came home from work- and the first words out of his mouth were "I'm hungry." He admitted that he forgot the instant coffee I bought so he had a cup of the pot at work- which costs $0.50. I had my oatmeal for breakfast, no sugar, no cinnamon. Aaron had a hard boiled egg and yogurt. We each had a sandwich, a carrot and an apple. I soaked the dried beans and am working on cooking dinner of beans and rice tonight. We plan on having the same for breakfast and lunch tomorrow. Maybe we need some more snacks.
So far this is what we've spent for the day:
Egg- $0.78
Yogurt-$0.50
Oatmeal-$0.15
Coffee-$0.73
Carrots-$0.55
Apples-$0.96
Tofurky sandwiches with spinach-$1.87
Beans and rice with tomatoes and cayenne-$3.61
Total for Day 1: $8.65
Not bad, but I think we are both hungry I went to Yoga and Aaron is going for a run- we need more energy. Perhaps more importantly I have been thinking about food, how much things cost and how to plan the next meal all day.
So far this is what we've spent for the day:
Egg- $0.78
Yogurt-$0.50
Oatmeal-$0.15
Coffee-$0.73
Carrots-$0.55
Apples-$0.96
Tofurky sandwiches with spinach-$1.87
Beans and rice with tomatoes and cayenne-$3.61
Total for Day 1: $8.65
Not bad, but I think we are both hungry I went to Yoga and Aaron is going for a run- we need more energy. Perhaps more importantly I have been thinking about food, how much things cost and how to plan the next meal all day.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
On the eve...
It's Sunday night and I went shopping to procure food for our day tomorrow. Aaron decided he would take the challenge with me, therefore, we have a total of $12 a day to spend on food instead of the $7 I would have as an individual. So, the rules are as follows: we have a total of $12 to spend jointly on food each day. We cannot use any items we already have, with the exception of salt and pepper, so that means no sugar, spices, oil or condiments we may have just lying around. If we want any of these, we have to purchase them. We can use coupons, club cards etc., but we cannot accept any free food, so no store samples or bagels that a coworker may have brought.
Keeping in mind all of these rules we formulated a plan. There were no rules as to whether or not you could buy a weeks worth of items and spread them out breaking down their total cost per day, or if you had to only spend $12 each day. We both decided that if we were truly struggling we may not have the luxury of having enough money in advance so we plan on going to the store each night to buy food for the following day with the exception of a couple of items that we could not buy in small packages. So this was my mission tonight.
I went to the store with my calculator and a rough idea of what we would eat: sandwiches, oatmeal, eggs, beans &rice. I bought an egg, yogurt, rice, oatmeal carrots apples beans canned tomatoes, bread, spinach, Tofurky (veggie deli slices) and some instant coffee. I spent the most on the money $2.99 on the Tofurky which I will split over about 3 of days. I found some sandwich bread in the "Manager's Special" section where they put bakery items that will soon expire. For $1.49 I got enough bread for 8 sandwiches. I could buy individual eggs for $0.28 each, yogurt for $0.50, a package of dried beans for $1.59. I also found a marked down bag of fresh spinach for $2.99.
I thought about the things I would have to sacrifice, namely my morning coffee. I don't think I can go cold turkey without any, so I bought a pack of 7 individual packages of instant Tasters Choice. I know it won't be like the coffee house. And I don't have any sugar.
We don't eat meat, so I should have some protein in the sandwich slices and the beans. Mostly I tried to get a balance of healthy foods, although I know I won't have nearly enough of the fruits and veggies I should each day. In my lifetime of grocery shopping I have come to notice that the cheapest choices are not always the healthiest. Sure, I could eat $0.25 packages of Top Ramen all day, but my diet would be severely lacking in protein, fruits and veggies. As if to drive this point home I happen to overhear a couple shopping together in the bakery section. He saw a box of a dozen donuts on sale for $2.99, while the she pointed out that this box of glazed donuts, so sweet and tempting, cost as much as the single green bell pepper that they had just put in their basket. He jokingly put the box of donuts in the cart, removed the pepper and placed it on the shelf with the donuts. It certainly made a statement.
Keeping in mind all of these rules we formulated a plan. There were no rules as to whether or not you could buy a weeks worth of items and spread them out breaking down their total cost per day, or if you had to only spend $12 each day. We both decided that if we were truly struggling we may not have the luxury of having enough money in advance so we plan on going to the store each night to buy food for the following day with the exception of a couple of items that we could not buy in small packages. So this was my mission tonight.
I went to the store with my calculator and a rough idea of what we would eat: sandwiches, oatmeal, eggs, beans &rice. I bought an egg, yogurt, rice, oatmeal carrots apples beans canned tomatoes, bread, spinach, Tofurky (veggie deli slices) and some instant coffee. I spent the most on the money $2.99 on the Tofurky which I will split over about 3 of days. I found some sandwich bread in the "Manager's Special" section where they put bakery items that will soon expire. For $1.49 I got enough bread for 8 sandwiches. I could buy individual eggs for $0.28 each, yogurt for $0.50, a package of dried beans for $1.59. I also found a marked down bag of fresh spinach for $2.99.
I thought about the things I would have to sacrifice, namely my morning coffee. I don't think I can go cold turkey without any, so I bought a pack of 7 individual packages of instant Tasters Choice. I know it won't be like the coffee house. And I don't have any sugar.
We don't eat meat, so I should have some protein in the sandwich slices and the beans. Mostly I tried to get a balance of healthy foods, although I know I won't have nearly enough of the fruits and veggies I should each day. In my lifetime of grocery shopping I have come to notice that the cheapest choices are not always the healthiest. Sure, I could eat $0.25 packages of Top Ramen all day, but my diet would be severely lacking in protein, fruits and veggies. As if to drive this point home I happen to overhear a couple shopping together in the bakery section. He saw a box of a dozen donuts on sale for $2.99, while the she pointed out that this box of glazed donuts, so sweet and tempting, cost as much as the single green bell pepper that they had just put in their basket. He jokingly put the box of donuts in the cart, removed the pepper and placed it on the shelf with the donuts. It certainly made a statement.
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