tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post846754111197798457..comments2024-02-02T04:26:58.941-08:00Comments on My Year Without Spending: The Day of Reckoning: Results of the June Food Stamp ChallengeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16599239118658166008noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-46807241419186453302010-07-01T09:50:07.013-07:002010-07-01T09:50:07.013-07:00Angela - Thanks. Writing-wise, Julia blew me out o...Angela - Thanks. Writing-wise, Julia blew me out of the water with her post. I had just written mine and then went and read hers and was really struck by it. Especially the way she captures the incremental lines we all would, or even have, crossed. Free food at Happy Hour? Sure! Take some sugar from the table at the diner? No big deal. Etc.<br /><br />Christine- Yes, feeding someone else definitely makes the difference. I lived on way less than that when I was poor in Manhattan, but I also did think about food too much, I was in some sense starving. I'm 5'5" and I weighed 105 pounds, so I was definitely too thin. Having time to bake and cook from scratch is the other issue. That depends on both whether the parent is working full time away from home, and whether they actually know how to cook that way. <br /><br />Melanie- Thanks for your comment. Butter and milk and eggs are very expensive here as well, especially if you buy organic. But the more I bake and cook from scratch, the more that dairy is the main item I need to buy in addition to the CSA delivery, so it still isn't an overwhelming amount since there are only two of us. I think it would have been really hard to get to $202- I would have had to cancel the CSA for the month, and possibly not eat as much produce. I don't want to do that any time, but especially not in June. I've got to have my summer fruit!<br /><br />Thanks Shelayna.<br /><br />Melonie- I try to use coupons when I see them for things I buy, but I don't use them often because since I buy dairy and meat and snacks at Trader Joe's and get a CSA delivery, the only items I get at the supermarket are very specific: cooking oil, condiments, a certain kind of cereal, Quaker's Oats, etc. So sometimes it's not worth looking through coupons for the ten or so items I would buy, and only go to the market for once every two or three weeks. It sounds like you did great on the challenge, so glad you followed along.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16599239118658166008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-18745918522089982832010-06-30T20:14:38.034-07:002010-06-30T20:14:38.034-07:00I think you did very well, considering your hubby ...I think you did very well, considering your hubby wasn't specifically in on the challenge! I don't consider your results a "big fat failure" at all. :-)<br /><br />I didn't sign up for the challenge itself as I planned a blog hiatus. But I did keep it in mind when I did my commissary shopping this month and spent about $275 for myself and two kids, including paper products like tp, diapers, and tissues. My husband is in the States right now so I just didn't include him in my total because I have no idea what or where he's eating. Presumably some at the chow hall, some out with his coworkers. Technically my limit was $303 (101 x me and the 2 kids) - the main reason I beat that is because I used a TON of coupons, including a handful of free item ones, so that helped things along. <br /><br />I'm going to keep this challenge in mind for a long time though - thanks for bringing it to your readers' attention so we could learn and challenge ourselves!Meloniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218572127310877215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-92134088608029443552010-06-30T17:23:00.801-07:002010-06-30T17:23:00.801-07:00I do have to agree, that is very impressive!I do have to agree, that is very impressive!Shelaynahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14662655523739367717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-30218117152357365152010-06-30T16:28:40.121-07:002010-06-30T16:28:40.121-07:00I think you did well to get as close as you did! W...I think you did well to get as close as you did! We spend about NZ$500 a month on groceries for two people, mind you we often cook for our flatmate and that does count toiletries etc. Food is very expensive here though, not sure how it compares but we pay $4 on special for a pound of butter, $5 full price. And New Zealand is supposed to be a dairy country! Well done Angela, I am mighty impressed!Melanie Websterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07608438330688587893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-19648017931217655112010-06-30T15:59:08.481-07:002010-06-30T15:59:08.481-07:00What a concept to live by the amount you would rec...What a concept to live by the amount you would receive in food stamps. I used to live on food stamps as a single mom with a child. No problem. I also was only working part-time or going to college. <br /><br />One needs to consider the amount would differ if you are working more. <br /><br />If I was still at home as much as back then, no problem. As I would have time to bake oatmeal-apple bars, make trial mix, meusli and the likes. Batch cook beans, make my casseroles to freeze, etc...<br /><br />That would be tough now, as I work full-time and now have a family of 4 with two children. They would have a tough time doing w/out the luxuries of specialty drinks and snacks. Ya...definitely would have a grumpy family. LOL. But I, personally, could do it.Christine | Money Funkhttp://www.moneyfunk.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-49342849535827325202010-06-30T10:42:02.578-07:002010-06-30T10:42:02.578-07:00I was really touched by this post and Modern Muse&...I was really touched by this post and Modern Muse's. I love the "walk in her/his shoes" adage and I think it is amazing you all tried.<br /><br />I am inspired by your intentional living.<br /><br />AngelaClandestine Roadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13940122890388505695noreply@blogger.com