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The $20 Challenge
Topic Started: Jul 12 2011, 05:57 PM (599 Views)
ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
A family of five for $433 a month? Seems doable.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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Steve Miller
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Bull-Carp
So Jolly, how would you do it?

Looks like you're set up to do some canning. How would that help?
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The 89th Key
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
:lol2:
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Dewey
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HOLY CARP!!!
I've got news for you, I routinely feed myself on $20/week; $80/month, or a little less. I eat well, but certainly not extravagantly. I eat a range of foods, and I eat sensible/necessary portions. And when I have the money to splurge on something more than the necessities or eating out, I enjoy it all the more.
"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685.

"Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous

"Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011

I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Steve Miller
Jul 13 2011, 11:47 AM
So Jolly, how would you do it?

Looks like you're set up to do some canning. How would that help?
As I said, the first few weeks are the most challenging.

I included the small freezer and the canning stuff for a reason. Lots of folks on limited incomes will buy loss leaders, sometimes in bulk if they are able. If you have enough, perhaps you may want to preserve some for later use.

Some things that I would likely include:

1. Chicken leg quarters. Often, you'll find them for 39 cents a pound down here, in 5 lb bags. You can do a lot with chicken as a base protein.
2. Beans, pintos or kidney. $1/lb or less.
3. Rice.
4. Oatmeal
5. Fruit or fruit juice. Almost always something pretty cheap, as a loss leader.
6. Pasta. A 8oz package of sphaghetti is 50 cents.
7. Margarine. 80 cents for a pound.
8. Hot dogs. 89 cents/package
9. House brand bread. $1/loaf.
10. A couple of bucks worth of vegetables.

That's about $12.30. I'd add in some salt, pepper, sugar and flour as I could. And I would buy a cheap multivitamin when I was able, to help balance things out. Maybe some powdered milk, tea bags (coffee is expensive, but tea is not), potatoes, some bacon ends for seasoning, etc. As time goes on you could eat a bit better. Mix in some variation, maybe can some vegetable soup, or can some beef for later use...lots of different approaches.

Lots of frugal inspiration and recipes on this site:


http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
ivorythumper
Jul 13 2011, 11:12 AM
A family of five for $433 a month? Seems doable.
The Feds currently say $500 for a family of four.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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CTPianotech
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Jolly
Jul 13 2011, 05:06 PM
ivorythumper
Jul 13 2011, 11:12 AM
A family of five for $433 a month? Seems doable.
The Feds currently say $500 for a family of four.
Our family of seven eats for about $450 a month, excluding the occasional date out with teh Mrs.

The majority of our shopping is done at Aldi or a store similar in concept, PriceRite. There's a specialty store right near my work, for very inexpensive, but excellent produce.
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sue
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HOLY CARP!!!
CTPianotech
Jul 13 2011, 05:35 PM
Jolly
Jul 13 2011, 05:06 PM
ivorythumper
Jul 13 2011, 11:12 AM
A family of five for $433 a month? Seems doable.
The Feds currently say $500 for a family of four.
Our family of seven eats for about $450 a month

just imagine when they get into their teens :hair: :hair:
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Jolly
Jul 13 2011, 05:06 PM
ivorythumper
Jul 13 2011, 11:12 AM
A family of five for $433 a month? Seems doable.
The Feds currently say $500 for a family of four.
In which case you should be able to do it for $100.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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CTPianotech
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Fulla-Carp
sue
Jul 13 2011, 05:48 PM
CTPianotech
Jul 13 2011, 05:35 PM
Jolly
Jul 13 2011, 05:06 PM
ivorythumper
Jul 13 2011, 11:12 AM
A family of five for $433 a month? Seems doable.
The Feds currently say $500 for a family of four.
Our family of seven eats for about $450 a month

just imagine when they get into their teens :hair: :hair:
My oldest is 13.... I do think about what happens when there's a few more in that age group, and yah, :hair: :hair: is about right. Fortunately, none of them has an appetite, like me, otherwise.. :help:
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
Jolly
Jul 13 2011, 05:06 PM
ivorythumper
Jul 13 2011, 11:12 AM
A family of five for $433 a month? Seems doable.
The Feds currently say $500 for a family of four.
Yeah, but the Fed budget probably includes Ho-hos and happy meals.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Red Rice
Jul 12 2011, 08:25 PM
I'd buy my supplies from an Asian grocery store in Chinatown.

For $20 a week I could eat like a prince.
This man knows the Way.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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musicasacra
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HOLY CARP!!!
Red Rice
Jul 13 2011, 05:38 AM
All fresh, not frozen.

Gai-lan: green leafy veg, also called Chinese broccoli. $3.50
Fresh soft tofu. $4
Rice $0.50
Eggs $1.50
Turnip cake $2.00
King mushrooms $2.50
Scallions $.40
Bananas $1.50
Milk $2.19

Remainder for condiments (soy sauce, oyster sauce, bonito flakes).

I'm actually intrigued enough to consider giving it a try.
Gai-lan -- yes! sauteed with oyster sauce

I don't think I've had turnip cake.
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Steve Miller
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Bull-Carp
Quote:
 
Canning



It would depend on just how cheaply you could find the produce, but even if you grow it yourself I doubt you could save enough money to compare with spending the same amount of time in even a minimum wage job.

Better flavor and quality sure (if you know what you're doing), but probably not cost savings.
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
We exceed 20 per day for the three of us. Probably more like 800 per month, not including the rare meal out.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Steve Miller
Jul 14 2011, 06:55 AM
Quote:
 
Canning



It would depend on just how cheaply you could find the produce, but even if you grow it yourself I doubt you could save enough money to compare with spending the same amount of time in even a minimum wage job.

Better flavor and quality sure (if you know what you're doing), but probably not cost savings.
Depends.

First, you have to find a (another) minimum wage job.

I put a job opening up about two weeks ago. Job pays $12/hr. I've had applicants from as far away as Florida and Wyoming.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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dolmansaxlil
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HOLY CARP!!!
Gai-lan is brilliant. We had it every single meal (breakfast included) while in China, and I never got sick of it!
"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

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Red Rice
HOLY CARP!!!
musicasacra
Jul 13 2011, 10:51 PM
I don't think I've had turnip cake.
Made of compressed, finely-grated daikon radish, dried shrimp, diced shiitake mushrooms, with a small bits of Chinese ham or bacon. Available pre-made dried or frozen; if dried, it needs to be steamed first. It should then be fried. Usually available as a dim sum selection, very tasty!
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Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool.

I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss!

- Cecil Lewis
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