Perry Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 No, and I wouldn't want to. The kind of "food" you can get for that price isn't what I want to feed my family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I do think it would be easier if you have a garden ( I do think she does) some laying hens, a milk cow or goats, fruit trees etc. We are looking foward to the day we can buy a place with land and be more self-sufficiant. I have a productive garden and laying hens but I live in Northern CA and groceries are not cheap. Now if I went to the outlet stores where the fruit and veggies are weeks old, perhaps I could come closer to this target but I doubt I ever could really get there. These websites that tell you you can feed a family of 4 for whatever amount a month usually don't offer very nutritious choices because IMHO it would probably be hard just about anywhere in the country to feed a family on $800.00 a year! - Unless you want to eat items from the lowest nutritional rung of the ladder and honestly even then I have my doubts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phathui5 Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I imagine it would be hard to do if you didn't use a lot of processed foods. I'll take a look at the blog later to see her menu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 No, I can't even get down to $800 per month. My kids are vegetarians and eat a huge amount of produce and dairy. We hardly eat any meat and we don't drink milk and we still spend way more than $800 per month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schoendb Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Only if we had to...there would be a lot of beans and rice and I'd probably get into making our bread again... But my kids would NOT be happy. My oldest boy looks forward to dinner so much that he asked me what we were having for it, before he had even eaten breakfast! Erika Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moni Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 $65 per month? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phathui5 Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Only if I were willing to serve what, in my arena, would be "garbage food" for that price range. Speaking of garbage, dumpster diving is a good budget option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I wouldn't be able to do it mainly because I value my time too much, am trying to eat healthy and I don't have a yard that allows any gardening of produce. ALL shade. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 If you have time to back-up to my first post, where I included an excerpt detailing what the $800 covers, the woman does include non-food items in this fairy-tale sum. Thanks! I think when I first read-through the thread I was thinking that was your breakdown. LOL!! Basic reading skills on my part would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moni Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Could you feed your family on $800 a year? Feed them what an how much of it :glare: ;) :lol: I am pretty sure I wouldn't let anyone actually die on $800 a year.... :seeya: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I can do anything that is necessary, but would I do it just because, no way. We don't buy much that has coupons available, and we love ice cream. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Therese Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I'd have a greater chance of success if my older son wasn't home! Our grocery bill goes up notably when he's here. He's been home for most of the last four months and we've spent way more than $800 in that time! Fortunately for our budget, he's taken a teaching job out of state and leaves in a few weeks.:001_smile: And, yes, he was homeschooled through high school. He'll be teaching at a private school that was founded by home-schooling parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 But right now, realistically thinking, I couldn't even do it at $800/month. Thank you! Me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Now if I went to the outlet stores where the fruit and veggies are weeks old, Um, this would be the regular grocery stores for us. :001_huh: Some of the stuff they try to pass as salable is truly, truly amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Technically, yes. In reality, it would have to be a situation of absolute necessity where calories counted- as in, getting enough calories into the body to survive was paramount- not good nutrition. We couldnt eat healthily for that amount, unless we grew a lot of our own vegetables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 If I followed this guy's lead I could. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 That's true Laura. It's something I've often been tempted to try actually LOL. I can never quite get brave enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 No way on the planet. We don't have coupons here the way that you guys in the States seem to. No kidding! And the coupons I do see are generally for brand names and I buy mostly store or no name brand stuff. Even with the coupons the brand name stuff is often still more expensive then the no name stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 we couldn't do it at all. we grow nearly all of our veggies all year round. we grow our own meat,and have a house cow. we don't have a coupon thingy happening here at all. flour alone costs around $33 for a 25kg sack. and we go through a sack every month. coffee costs over $20/kg for unground beans, though my husband said the good brands are over $30 /kg ( I don't drink it, my husband does) I spend around $500 per month on food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 we couldn't do it at all. we grow nearly all of our veggies all year round. we grow our own meat,and have a house cow. we don't have a coupon thingy happening here at all. flour alone costs around $33 for a 25kg sack. and we go through a sack every month. coffee costs over $20/kg for unground beans, though my husband said the good brands are over $30 /kg ( I don't drink it, my husband does) I spend around $500 per month on food. 25kg of flour a month? Wow! And where do you get it from?? I'm looking for a good supply of flour. Yes I'm with your DH... crap coffee is $22/kg good coffee can be double that. I'm coping with the crap stuff :( Still better than instant though eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annabel Lee Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 No kidding! And the coupons I do see are generally for brand names and I buy mostly store or no name brand stuff. Even with the coupons the brand name stuff is often still more expensive then the no name stuff. :iagree: Exactly. I still buy store-brands because of that. I'm enjoying the local farmer's market and other various local farm-stands far too much to squeeze into an $800/yr. budget. I've found the most heavenly tomatoes and I buy them for $6/lb. :001_huh: I could shoot for $800/mo., but produce up here is super-expensive. If I made a greater effort to garden, pick more berries, hunt, and fish, I could get what we have to go to the store and spend money for down quite a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 25kg of flour a month? Wow! And where do you get it from?? I'm looking for a good supply of flour.Yes I'm with your DH... crap coffee is $22/kg good coffee can be double that. I'm coping with the crap stuff :( Still better than instant though eh. I get my flour from a wholesalers, PFD there should be a PFD somewhere around where you live, they are the ones that supply caterers etc.. I get bakers flour ( cheaper), not bread premix, which costs more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Thanks :) I'll check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoriM Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Frugal for our family of four is $100 per week. "Normal" for our family is double that...so $800 per month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingM Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I found this site yesterday and didn't really look around that much, but it looks interesting. I don't think I could do this mostly because we don't eat a lot of things that take coupons such as prepackaged stuff and I don't have anys stores nearby that double and triple coupons. No, I couldn't, and I wouldn't want to. Our food budget is one of our extravagences because I like to cook and eat well and I have an appreciative audience. Nothing like a, "You're the best cook in the world, Dad!" to keep me going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tami Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 No way without having turning my backyard into a farm. We buy tons of fresh produce, lean meats, and milk but don't buy any convenience food unless you consider store-bought bread a convenience item. I don't use coupons often, because most of my food comes from the perimeter of the store where coupons don't often apply or I buy generic oatmeal, wheat flour, etc. I feel that healthy, fresh food is an investment in our health. It also makes us happy to experiment with new dishes, new herbs, and new cooking methods. I detest processed food and ingredients, and so avoid them whenever I can. We're not a Frito Pie or Tator Tot Hotdish - type family, and those are the types of dishes I see recommended on those frugal homemaker sites. We are willing to put money down to pay for quality food. ;) Is wine included in the budget or is that separate? :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PineFarmMom Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 No way without having turning my backyard into a farm. We buy tons of fresh produce, lean meats, and milk but don't buy any convenience food unless you consider store-bought bread a convenience item. I don't use coupons often, because most of my food comes from the perimeter of the store where coupons don't often apply or I buy generic oatmeal, wheat flour, etc. I feel that healthy, fresh food is an investment in our health. It also makes us happy to experiment with new dishes, new herbs, and new cooking methods. I detest processed food and ingredients, and so avoid them whenever I can. We're not a Frito Pie or Tator Tot Hotdish - type family, and those are the types of dishes I see recommended on those frugal homemaker sites. We are willing to put money down to pay for quality food. ;) Is wine included in the budget or is that separate? :tongue_smilie: Yes, I know what you're saying. I have often read the frugal sites and all the processed foods are what keep me from going that route. I do use canned soups in recipes at times, mac and cheese for lunch, but that's about the extent of it. I have yet to conquer the grocery budget. Anytime I try to use coupons, we wind up with a bunch of junk that we don't normally purchase and is unhealthy, and it is just because I can get such a great price. It seems like I have a choice: we can either eat healthy and pay more or I can set a tight budget with little health value. It just makes more sense to pay more and eat better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 25kg of flour a month? Wow! And where do you get it from?? I'm looking for a good supply of flour.Yes I'm with your DH... crap coffee is $22/kg good coffee can be double that. I'm coping with the crap stuff :( Still better than instant though eh. Great idea--this is also a good place to save, now that you mention it. Seriously, I'm taking notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Maybe if we grew 99% of our food ourselves.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I love this thread because it has me really thinking of how I can mesh frugality with healthy choices. The biggest thing for us is making sure we eat every scrap of perishables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 The biggest thing for us is making sure we eat every scrap of perishables. One can make a superior soup out of all manner of seemingly "incompatible" leftovers. (Been doing this for years !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 One can make a superior soup out of all manner of seemingly "incompatible" leftovers. (Been doing this for years !) That's a great idea! I'll need to check out recipes now that it's the end of the week and things are looking, shall we say, lifeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 If you want to e-mail or PM me with your list of leftovers, I gladly will send you my brainstorming ideas. (I don't do anything bizarre.) That's a great idea! I'll need to check out recipes now that it's the end of the week and things are looking, shall we say, lifeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanestMomInMidwest Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 nope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 (edited) I am just so relieved to see that I am not the only one spending that much per month. There are so many families larger than mine spending half that and I don't get it. We don't buy a bunch of soda and potato chips. Edited July 23, 2009 by Lovedtodeath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I am cheap, er frugal, and I could not feed my family of 5 on $800. a year. Perhaps if we had a milk cow, a steer, bought no dairy, no meat. I do manage to feed my family for around $400. a month (incl. cleaning/personal supplies) due to our large garden and orchard, but $800. a year. That's too cheap for me, even. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 If you read her website, she said that she has been stockpiling for 3 years before she started this. I wonder how many dollars worth of food that she has stockpiled. I can't imaging stockpiling enough through couponing to make a dent in a yearly budget. Paula Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Stockpiling shouldn't count. That's like saying I bought ahead winter clothes for my kids, so this year I spent $40. That's not really a savings plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvermine Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Wow. No way! I'm in CA, so prices are already pretty high, plus I'm gluten intolerant and spend lots of extra $$ on specialty food. Sure, if I had to, I'd find a way to cut down. I'd stop getting gluten free crackers and just eat a potato. I'm not sure there's any way I could feed all of us on under $100 a week, much less a month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annabel Lee Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 No way without having turning my backyard into a farm. Tami, that's what I've done, only in the front yard (because that's where the sun hits). I've got a bunch of 10x10' and 8x8' raised garden beds that I built from wood of discarded furniture. That, the compost bin, & the clothesline to save $$ on drying clothes have us looking like regular hicks. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Stockpiling shouldn't count. That's like saying I bought ahead winter clothes for my kids, so this year I spent $40. That's not really a savings plan. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reesegirl Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 There is a lady in my church that does this kind of shopping. She recently did a mini seminar at our spring womens conference at our church. I am not sure I can remember all of the steps that she goes through but here goes: She collects the coupons that come out in the Sunday paper. She has people who give her these so that she might have 15 or 20 copies. Then she files them and waits about 5 -6 weeks when the manufacture coupons come out in the store, which are usually the same as those that came out 5 -6 weeks ago...those products are on sale. She uses an online site that lets her know that those products are on sale that week. She then goes to a store that has double coupons, and with her original coupons and the store sales and the double off coupons she purchases items very cheap. As a demonstration, She had several items on the table and we had to guess how much she had spent on each thing. Some of her purchases were so cheap...like a box of cereal for $.25, or a box of crackers for $.30 and even a bag of fresh salad mix that the store ended up paying her a penny to take out the store. She said you can even do this with meats and produce. One Sunday she brought 20 gallons of milk, 15 dozen eggs and several blocks of cheese to the church to be given to people who were needy. She has been doing this for about a year and has stock piled a lot of products. She told us that she has a lot of mulitple items in her pantry, such as 15 boxes of Cheerios or 8 bottles of dressing etc. Now she is able to take food to the local food pantry and sees it as a ministry. I haven't started doing this because for one, it takes a lot of time and I would need to do my shopping an hour away (she goes with a friend every week). Plus we don't eat a lot of prepackaged food either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abcinnc Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 No. Plus, we like to eat out too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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