Let's Go Shopping!

Last night I went to the grocery store to purchase the items I needed to prepare my weekly menu for the Food Stamp Challenge.  My total budget for the week for our family of three is $94.50.  I spent $30 dollars on the SHARE Big Value Package plus $8 on an extra Deluxe Produce Assortment.  This left me $56.50 to spend.  Check out my shopping list and prices!  I still have $3.42 to spend, which I’m sure I’ll need for something I’ve forgotten before the week is over.

How do you think your family would do on $31.50 per person per week?  I really agonized over some of my purchases and it makes me uncomfortable to know I only have $3.42 left.  I sure am thankful to have the SHARE BIG Value Package to use as the center point of my weekly menu plan!

Food Stamp Budget  for 3: $94.50

I shopped with SHARE first!

SHARE BIG Value $30.00

SHARE Deluxe Produce Assortment $8.00

SHARE Total: $38.00

Remaining To Shop At The Store: $56.50

Shopping List:

leaf lettuce $0.89

3 tomatoes $1.31

cornbread mix $0.60

whole wheat bread $1.99

french bread $1.99

carrots $0.48

eggs $0.79

2 gallons milk $3.98

oatmeal $2.79

coffee $7.00

brown rice $0.99

onions $0.98

spaghetti sauce $1.19

yogurt $5.00

white beans $1.69

crackers $5.69

2 qt. cream $3.96

raisins $2.99

margarine $1.89

mushrooms $2.00

brown sugar $1.69

tea $2.19

whole wheat spaghetti $1.00

Store Total $53.08

Grand Total $91.08

Money left to spend: $3.42

The Food Stamp Challenge Begins Today!

Have you heard about the Food Stamp Challenge?  It is a national interfaith Fighting Poverty With Faith mobilization. The idea is to raise awareness and understanding of what millions of Americans face every day by living for one week on the average food stamp allotment-- $31.50 a week / $4.50 a day / $1.50 a meal per person.   The Challenge starts today and last through Thursday, November 3. In southeast Wisconsin the Challenge is promoted by our friends at the Hunger Task Force.

I decided to register for the Challenge and commit to staying on this tight food budget for a week.  I want to demonstrate just how well we can eat if we use SHARE’s BIG Value Package as the base of our week’s menus.  The idea of Living Richly with SHARE is not to just scrimp by, but to really enjoy simpler choices for everyday living.  I put the question to my husband and my mom, who are the other members of my household.  Good sports always, they too accepted the Food Stamp Challenge!

I invite you to follow us as we plan, shop, cook and eat delicious food throughout the coming week.  I will post photos, recipes, shopping tips and more.  The total food budget for our family of three is $94.50.  I know we can do it!