This is Day 26 of a month long food stamp challenge. If this is your first visit, please check out this link to see all of the posts and get a better understanding of what is going on.
When I looked out the window this morning I was struck by how brilliant the blue was in the sky, accenting the changing colors of the leaves all around us. At the same time I was hit with the inordinate change that we have been going through in the last month.
The food stamp challenge itself has been a tremendous shift in both thought and action for us. Even though we already considered ourselves in the upper echelon of frugal types, we don’t look at shopping the same way anymore. I see every component in a meal on a per-serving basis now and try to come up with even more creative ways to use lower cost alternatives to achieve the same flavors and add some nutritional value when I can.
John’s pain lead to several doctor visits, medical tests, hospital stays, procedures and now this time tomorrow we will be at the hospital and with any luck, John will already be out of surgery to repair his back.
I was in a car accident that totaled the car. Thankfully I was relatively unhurt, but the timing could not have been any worse – the accident happened while John was in the hospital. We had to deal with the ridiculous accident reporting system in the state of Alabama, deal with insurance, rent a car, deal with insurance, seek out and purchase a new car, deal with insurance.
We had a visit from an out-of-town friend that was a beautiful break in the midst of the chaos and to be honest it may have been the first time that either of us really laughed in a long time.
The formation of my business was finally complete in October as well. That lead to the need for completing forms, opening accounts, filling out licenses, documentation, tax papers…
That’s a lot of change we have gone through in a very short period. I caught myself saying that I’d be glad when this challenge was over and as I type this I can’t help but to have tears in my eyes. I am ready to end the administrative aspect of the challenge, sure. The rest of it has been an important part of changing our lives and the way we think.
We have 5 days left, part of which will be spent in the hospital. To those who have decried us for not having a realistic enough challenge because of this or that, I think that if you look back over what we have overcome in this month – and the change we are in the midst of still dealing with – you’ll see that this has been a lot more real than anyone could have imagined.
PURCHASES
We purchased sugar from our pre-challenge pantry at the current sale price of $1.99 with a $0.50 off coupon that we have on hand.
| ITEM | SIZE | PRICE | UNIT | PRICE/ UNIT |
| sugar | 4 lb. bag | 1.62 [P, C] | ||
| C: Coupon | P: Price Match | R: Reduced | D: Damaged |
MEALS
BREAKFAST: $1.18
coffee
sugar
creamer
waffles
SNACK: $0.32
cereal with milk
MAKE AHEAD MEAL: $0.17
Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup
LUNCH: $0.45
hamburger steak (leftovers from Day 25)
DINNER: $2.99
breaded tilapia
French fries
- Consumed Today: 5.11 [+3.89 for the day]
- Consumed To Date (week): 19.79 [+25.21 for the week]
- Consumed To Date (month): 113.74 [+111.35 for the month]
- Spent To Date: 213.41
- Remaining Balance: $65.77
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What (if anything) have you learned from this challenge and what (if anything) have you not seen that you would have liked to?
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree Michael. The reality is life happens. Continuing the challenge and sharing what has happened in your life is the best way you could’ve handled this. Life happens to people on Food Stamps too. You done good.
The only thing that I’m missing is a LITTLE bit of positivity. There are many ways to make that little bit of FS turn into a lot of good food. It’s not easy, but it’s so well worth it. You’ve shown it to a degree with what you guys are eating, tho. One chicken breast to make stuffing… sweet potato/carrot soup… etc.
I’m not sure I understand, Beth. You don’t think we are being positive enough? Especially in light of the situations listed in this post? I would have to disagree. In this very post I talked about how beautiful the day was. On Day 24 we talked about getting away from the chaos for a beautiful and quiet day out in nature.
My fear has been that appearing too positive during this experience might send the wrong message, as though we were breezing through this challenge without a care. It has been important to me from day 1 that people realize just how difficult this month has been, even with people who ARE experienced shoppers and cooks.
I have been with you all month. Some days your posts brought tears to my eyes. But this wasn’t meant to be all happy and cheerful. It’s a reality check. My husband and I always feel like we never have enough (money, food, time). But after reading this, I tell him almost every day. We have food on the table, our son has diapers , snacks and toys. We both have great familys, good jobs, we never wonder if or when we will have our next meal, or if we can pay the rent, or for the cars. Things like this give you a new outlook. We seemed to think we had it …not bad, but not great either. I think we are doing pretty good. I think that you have given people something to think about. Its no longer sit and complain about what you dont have. Be greatful if you dont need to be on food stamps. And dont pity people who do, dont look down on them. Realize we all struggle some times. Its good to have help.
Wow, I start writing a small note on how I think you’ve done a great job, and it turned into this……
I think it’s been a great month. Admittedly I didn’t check in each and every day but the ones I saw showed do-able food that anyone can cook ( and a lot of people say they can’t afford) within a budget. I also applaude your use of left overs.
A couple of things I can see that were missing, and maybe I missed them on the days I didn’t read.
1. No Food storage. The secret to eating well on a budget is having a good pantry. Did you cover how to build that up? Those left over dollars could go to that.
2. Unplanned long term houseguests. Many people who have food stamps also have the socio-economic delight of having other family members who are even worse off than them who drop in for extended periods of time. How does one make SNAP meant for 2 extend to 6? ( I suggest red beans and rice and the like…adding a cup of water to stew goes a long way)
Anyway I look forward to the cookbook. And hopefully you all are feeling better and healed soon.
Your comments mean a lot, Jenn. Thank you.
I think you did a wonderful job.
I can’t see how some think it’s unrealistic……for the people who think they can do a more “realistic challenge”…….do it.
I know that I would not have a problem living on a food stamp budget. It’s easy for me…..but there is no way, I’d be able to breakdown costs per meal like you do….I’d rather stick a fork in my eye. LOL
I enjoyed reading your posts.
Oh Michael! I certainly did not mean to insult you. I was just trying to make the point that people who actually are on food stamps don’t have the options you have when things go wrong. I certainly wasn’t criticizing you, and I’ll forgive the dig due to all you are going through, although it did hurt my feelings…a lot.
I have been praying for you and John. I had back surgery after an auto accident in 1990, and still have problems to this day, so I really feel for you.
Again, I’m sorry you misunderstood what I was trying to say. If I did not admire you IMMENSELY, I would not have been so inspired to do my own. I keep seeing all these FS challenges where people are only doing it for a day or a week. You stuck it out for the whole month, despite all that life threw at you, and I admire you even more for that.
Michael, you are one of my favorite people. Please don’t be upset with me. xoxo
Michael… I didn’t mean that you didn’t show anything positive whatsoever. I apologize if it came off that way. It’s just being a person who’s been thru the FS thing twice, I know how negative it makes you feel. People who are on it need to see that good meals CAN be made within their budget, and need to feel confident in their capabilities to do so. Maybe I’m a bit thick headed on that point… wanting to show the happier side of being poor, lol. That’s all.
It is difficult… but not impossible. My quest for the perfect five dollar dinner is getting to be fun for me, honestly! Yeah… I don’t get out much. :)
You’ve done very well tho. I’m proud to have been able to read along with ya.
Deb: That was not directed at you whatsoever. For every comment you folks do see there are a lot of private messages you do not. I love you to death, lady.
I was honestly concerned that we weren’t showing positivity enough! LOL
I’m a positive ray of freaking SUNSHINE! CAN’T YOU SEE THAT?!?!?
*giggle*
Hope your changes put you on the path to something great. :-)
Whew! That makes me feel so much better! I was in tears thinking of losing you. I love you too. xoxoxo
For the happy-see-all-the-great-food-you-can-make-even-if-you-are-on-a-much-below-the-average-food-stamp-budget-if-you-work-your-butt-off-and-are-practically-obsessed-with-food recipes and more, you’d want to see my blog, where I share many, many recipes, including quite a few that cost (me) less than $5 to feed the family. I stuck that “me” in parentheses since I garden, forage, glean (with permission), and make a lot of stuff from scratch, plus my husband hunts, so it may cost more, maybe even a lot more, if you expect to just walk into a grocery store and buy everything.
*Hope the plug is okay, Michael. John and you are in my thoughts and prayers this morning!*
I get the impression, you feel a little guilty for reaching the end (close to it)of the challenge and will have money left over.
People who say it is really hard, now have to face facts..it really isn’t.
It is a bit time consuming, but that’s life. Get over it, and get on with it.
Even though I am reading this challenge over the course of 2 days, I wonder if my multitude of comments will actually get published.
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