We completed the month spending 7 dollars a day to feed our family (2 adults, 2 teenagers). I am glad it is over since it took some of time to figure out how much each meal cost. But, it can be done and you can eat healthy, well balanced meals for that price. For the month of February, we are going to average 7 dollars a day, but I am not going to make it under 7 dollars each day. I am going to spend $49 dollars each week. There is more flexibility this way since some days you eat less expensive meals and some days it is a little more. The amounts we spent the past few days are:
Friday 6.90
Saturday 6.94
Sunday 7.0
Total for 31 one days in the month of January: $215.25
I learned a lot through through this. There are so many opportunities out there to save money if you take the time and look.
We have done $10/day earlier this year for 3 straight months, feeding a family of 6. It can be difficult. Meal planning is so essential & not buying something unless it met the right price. Towards the end of some months, I'm looking @ doing $7/day, but only for a couple weeks, if that. How long were you able to do the $7/day?
ReplyDeleteHannah,
ReplyDeleteWe have been doing $50 a week most weeks. I started with 4 people and we are down to 3. I wish I had started when I had all 5 kids at home. You are doing a great job. If I were you, I would try going down to $60 per week for a month before trying the $50. It is easier to go down a little at a time. I know we could go down more, but I am starting to buy some organics instead and am satisfied with $50 per week. Do you have a garden? Do you can or freeze produce? We just got some free apples from friends and that helps a lot. Our garden really helped too. Do you make your own bread? The most difficult thing for me is to keep my pantry stocked on $50 per week. I rarely use coupons any more since we don't eat a lot of that and I didn't like the hassle. If you have any other questions, just let me know.
Angela,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. I didn't look back at the name and addressed my comment to Hannah instead of FrugalHayman. I apologize for getting that wrong!
That's exactly how I got mine down to $10/day. I could not spend less than $600 just 2 years ago. I got mad & made a decision to get it done. So, every month, it was my goal to spend less, until I got down to $10/day ($310/mo). I was then, able to quit my job & be a SAHM to 4 boys. I do not have a garden. I buy loss leaders on produce & stock up. Today, I bought 130 oz of sliced mushrooms. OMG! I already had 30 oz in my fridge. I paid less than $15 for the 8 lbs bought today. I freeze just about everything; I have never canned---very intimidating. I buy a lot of produce @ a Mexican grocery store 25 minutes away from me at discounted prices, ie onions $.25/lb. We have a teeny-tiny garden & use pots to plant them in, here in CO. I have a bread machine. I love to use the dough cycle. I am not always successful in all the breads, like french bread for my son's class @ school (FAILED) & had to buy store bought bread. I used to buy everything prepackaged. But have found out that I can make it cheaper (most times) than store bought. Little by little, I make my own groceries, like seasoned bread crumbs, evaporated milk, chocolate syrup, etc. Lately, I have bumped up my budget (double); I got tired of making the same kinds of foods & my stockpile was dwindling. Now, I have 2 stuffed freezers. I don't have room for any turkeys to buy soon. :(... But, I am working on it. I use coupons, but not nearly as much as I used to. I would buy something, just because I had a coupon=spending more than I needed to. I do plan to go back to $10/day to use up my stockpile, but it probably won't happen until for another couple months. I definitely bargain shop for the loss leaders, especially for meat. I do not shop for organics & am not on a GF diet. I am happy to see that we have "like" ways of saving money. Nice talking w/ ya!
ReplyDelete