food budget $31.50 per person

$31 in catfood a week?

Ahhh, you know we have 28 cats... right?

I didn't realize it was 28. I knew of the ones you had listed on your page or you posted about. People drop their jaws sometimes when they go you have 3 cats in that lil house... yep and one annoying dog.

I agree you are fortunate to be able to grow year round. I know that would help my budget if we could grow all year long. I bet you have come up with some very unique planters that fit the amount of space you have

You are lucky to be able to grow you're own vegetables. I wish we lived somewhere that we could grow vegetables year round. Do you put any herbs or spices on your kale and potatoes? It sounds really good. I also agree that everyone should be able to have a little luxury once in a while, whether it's taking a vacation or buying something special for yourself.

I don´t hav a big garden as I live in the biggest city in my country and the land is expensive. But I plant anywhere I can, even in containers. I like crepes with kale cream. And I love potatoes any way.

I just get tired of these people who seem to have more money than they have sense, trying to prove a point that they don't even understand. The small local markets are more expensive, but like you said, there is the bus and bus fare would no doubt be cheaper than buying all your food at the local corner mart. No matter where you shop, there are ways to cut costs, though, and we'd be a lot smarter to teach those ways than to throw more money into the food stamp program. I splurge on Thanksgiving, too. I try to keep an eye out for canned goods on sale through the year to help out, but it still costs extra.

Very well said Peavey! Part of what he was trying to say is that people who don't have transportation don't always have access to more nutricious foods. Yes the lil corner markets mainly carry junk and adult beverages and much more expensive than a grocery store. But what he also didn't mention is how Milwaukee has a very good bus system so transportation isn't an issue as he made out. It's just weather they want to carry groceries on a bus or go to the over priced corner market which are usually located in less than savory locations. I saw that too how much he paid for bread he could get store generic white bread for half of what he paid. Same as you mentioned the soups could of been store brand and the peanut butter as well. That's one thing I will agree with. You pinch your pennies where you can so you can afford the basics and a lil something more elsewhere in your budget if it works out. Thankfully thanksgiving is not at our house. That's one of the times I splurge on things we don't normally eat.

I think they are taught in some places, but other places, not. I don't think they teach in depth, though, and that's what people need. It's one thing to say "buy on sale" and yet another to show them that if you wait for a sale, then buy a little more than you would, you will save money. There's a lot more to it than just that, too. Limits is why I watch throughout the year for canned things like olives and sweet potatoes. I haven't seen a lot of good deals this year, either. I'm just hoping there is a good sale on turkeys.

Yes that is exactly what they do. they let the person buy say 60.00 worth of food for 40.00 in cash. In this economy, it isn't hard for them to find people that will go along with such a deal. So yes, it does amount to the same thing as selling them. I've been approached several times and yes it's tempting but it also angers me. I've actually been offered 100.00 worth of groc. for 50.00. Do you know how tempting that is? My boss had stopped taking the food stamps years ago because of all the scams and felt that it wasn't necessary to spend them in the convenience store anyway. We really have mostly expensive junk. Because of the economy and the fact that there are so many that do have trouble getting to a regular groc. store, he started accepting them again recently. It's a real eye opener (as if I don't see enough already). I would not have a problem with someone that really was unable to get to a groc.store, picking up a little snack along with a gallon of milk. The thing is, they must have ways to get to a grocery store. I know that for someone who doesn't drive, they may run out of milk or bread but these people are not buying all their meals here. The ones that are on the system legit and come in and say buy a gal. of milk because they need it...will be stressed at the price. They just have to get by until they can get a ride in to the groc. store. They sure are not buying a ton of junk if any. I really would not have a problem if they put regulations on convenience store shopping with food stamps. Maybe allow them a certain amount that can be spent in such a store.

That's why many people want food stamps regulated more like WIC as you are only allowed healthy foods and within a certain food group. So there wouldn't be any ice cream, chips or junk period. I agree if they can afford to buy for friends they are getting too much in benefits or shouldn't be getting them at all. I know a gal I used to work with went on them as she was a single mother at the time and needed the help for child care. She always came back with a story how people at welfare waiting were talking about going out to their their hair and nails done while the rest of us deprive ourselves of such things so we can pay our bills and so we can eat.

I don't know that they can physically sell them by us as they are set up like a debit card. So I think they'd have to buy the person things in exchange for whatever, but that's basically the same in a round about sorta way. It would be nice if they did track where they used them at, though people will say that's not fair because some people can't get to anywhere but a corner convenience / grocery.

That's true he did not have any porridge or old fashioned oatmeal in his shopping. He would of gotten breakfast for more than a week on just the oatmeal alone and it's filling. You don't have to eat out when you are working. You can pack yourself a sandwich, yogurt, piece of fruit, and drink water. It's possible that's what I do when I work a shift long enough I get a lunch. It's cheaper than me buying lunch, I haven't put one red cent in the vending machines at work.

Scheng, same like you, i do loves to cook porridge whenever the weather is hot. Rice porridge does tastes very delicious and cheaper in cost. Same like you, i am trying my best to cut down the cost of food by planning well my food expenses.

Hi 3SnuggleBunnies, over here, we do not have a practice of packing lunch during working days. If I were to do that, my colleagues would see me differently. It is common to go to the canteen for lunch or go to the industrial canteen for lunch. In this way, we get to network a bit. Anyway, it is rare to find people eating sandwich for lunch! Most of us prefer hot meals, as in noodle, porridge, rice with some vegetables and meat. if you have a chance to experience life in Asian countries, you would understand what it means.

True in the olden days you were overweight because you had money while others who were not well off did not have such a girth. It's can also be a cultural or environmental thing were it's normal to eat a bag of chips a day. You'd drop your jaw if you saw SIL and her kids when they were here 2 yrs ago. She ripped on me not making bacon and eggs but as soon as they got up they were opening bags of chips, whereas my kids were eating cereal w/ milk or bagels.

Yet another person who can survive on less than the "poverty" amount per person. He was mentioning how the types of foods allowed is why recipients are obese... probably true because they can afford on the taxpayers dime to have convience foods the rest of us don't buy very often.

We have been on food stamps since my husband lost his job. There is no reason for someone to be on them and not eating healthy other then laziness and or lack of reason. People are obese because the choose to eat either food bad for them or excessive quantities ( I am not talking about those with healthy issues that is different all together). Whether a person is on Welfare has nothing to do about their weight. For God's sake look at some of the richest people in the world. Many of them are over weight. Money is not the issue it is the people.

@GardenGerty, you made a really good point there about including paper and cleaning goods. My grocery bill includes those things, too, as well as some personal care items.

I agree with you there. WIC has limits as to what you can buy. That always made me mad when I'd see someone buying junk food on their Quest card while I can't afford nor justify it for my own family. I also imagine he's single as you mentioned he didn't have any beans to make his own hummus nor took the time to find out how to make it. Same with as you mentioned home made soups, I can make a hearty chicken soup that can last for days for under ten bucks easily. Only problem is I'm the only one in my house who loves it enough to eat it that long!

Sometimes my budget does include those things sometimes it doesn't it depends on what we are out of and what else I have already on hand of various items so I can "splurge".

Saving money is very important to everyone now days. You are right growing your own produce is fun and helps offset the costs at the grocery store.

You know as I do that 6 month old will be eating solids before you know it! It's always wise to buy ahead if you have the money to spare and the price is right.

My Hubby doesn't do that either. That's one thing I always like about nights cause I figured if he ate dinner he'd eat less out of the vending/cafeteria at work. It varies by day/week with him. Sometimes he won't eat stating he's not hungry or his tummy is upset (or probably just won't say he doesn't like what I came up with). That's how I feel about the kids if I don't make them what I know they like they won't eat as much as they should. My kids can be picky especially the oldest and if she says she doesn't like it well the other two won't bat an eyelash at it either. Serving some sort of potato and corn as a side for most dinner meals is getting old! I'd be delighted with something GREEN! Like green beans, a salad, hubby's brown sugar carrots ect. But now all I'd hear is YUCK! *sigh* Hubby will make dinner if he's home during the dinner hour and I am not. Or I'll be nice and put something in the slow cooker and all he has to come up with is a side of some sort. You'd probably faint but I buy a 24pk of soda every 2 months and I have to hide it! The kids would guzzle it up and have fits if they saw us having some and didn't get any. I use it to stay awake if I need to I don't drink coffee. Then I get the lines it'll help me stay awake at school ect. *sigh* True or not true I dunno... but with them both teetering on the ADD/ADHD business caffine can help their focus (oh wait it helps most people that's why we are addicted to soda and coffee!)

It doesn't seem like much does it. We are all cheap about certain things and require a diff standard on other things. Yeah I'd make hubby make his own meal or own side instead of the micro meals. I know it urks me when I buy him micro meals for work he doesn't take them or when he does he lets them spoil in the car but never eats them or when he eats them at home because he's too lazy to make a sandwich or warm up a burrito. She could be buying brand name things?

My hubby's problem is he doesn't eat breakfast or lunch. I used to pack him a lunch everyday.. but I just don't have the time to do that anymore. So he comes home starving and eats 2 or 3 meals in a matter of an hour or two at night before bed. Usually he'll eat whatever dinner I made if he actually likes it, and a microwave meal, and then make some eggs, and eat a whole bag of chips in one sitting.. But, ya know, it is what it is. I can't tell him to starve just because he's picky, he's a little too old for me to be trying to change his eating habits (I totally blame his mother for that), and if there's nothing else he really isn't too lazy to make something for himself.. but that's like his last choice if there's something faster and easier. But who can blame him after working a stressful 12 hour shift. I work 4 hour shifts and don't want to cook a large meal when I get home either! And you know, I buy a lot of name brand things also. I buy a case of Coca-Cola for myself every week because I hate the cheap stuff.. I get hubby 2 cases of the cheap stuff. I guess maybe she buys a lot more snacks. That's something I really don't do. I buy school snacks and snacks for me and hubby.. that's it. The kids get cheapo juice and they do not get cookies or candy unless it's a special occassion.

But you are surviving on a smaller amount then people who get their budget from tax dollars and probably healthier too?

That certainly makes a difference. I know having a garden helps us out tward the end of summer as the kids spend a good deal of time in there inspecting for the next tomato that has ripened... very few make it into the house for consumption.

Because we do harvest some fresh veggies from our family farm. That's why, we only buy veggies that we don't plant in our farm. And also meat, since we don't feed any animals for meat.

You are right pasta is cheap and it goes the extra mile where other foods do not. But it can get old after a while. My kids love ramen noodle and I don't mind a bowl every now and again myself but I like to add veggies to it just to make it a bit more filling.

You are right when you have more money available in your household is when you stock up. Yes it's awful that so much of our income in winter is put on the heat bill, sadly we need to keep warm and stop pipes from bursting. Always watching my money, the hard part is my hubby thinks he can spend more freely then we are able to.... of course he's the one who does not pay the bills either.

That is true as well. But the man was supposed to live what someone who receives Food Stamps gets (free food for people who are considered to be living in poverty from the government) a week. If you've read other responses he clearly is used to living very well and not having to cook or live on a budget. Rice is a staple here but not like it is in other countries.

Sounds like you have an excellent budget if you are even able to fit your toiletries, laundry, and pet foods in there!

I hate cooking when it's hot too. Our house retains heat in summer and the opposite in winter *lol* I use the crockpot & convection toaster oven quite a bit to not heat up the house and save on utilities. I can't imagine how you have to stretch your money since prices for food are higher there. You may have to do some posts and share your secrets :0)

I like doing that too. But it seems my family doesn't care for anything once it's been in the freezer, sometimes I agree but if that's the best looking thing in the house at that minute I'm defrosting it and eating it!

Yeah, I know we are too. I wish being in too much debt counted as a reason to qualify and having small kids at home. It just means we have to be come more resourceful in how we spend what we do have left over after bills.

No kidding that was one of the first things I noticed he had more name brands than store brands it seemed. He should of spent all his money at Aldi he would have done better. Very true that parents control what kinds of food are allowed in the home. Another angle I did not think of. If there's more fruit and veggies in the house and less junk the kids have better choices as do the parents. Though I think IMO it's a toss up if it's more expensive to eat healthy than not. Have you seen what a case of soda runs? a 24 pack at my Aldi's is like $4.75... a 12 pack of a national brand is about $5. Same with chips a bag of chips for nearly $4 a bag... I think I could do better and buy whatever produce is on special that week. Shoot there's even an orchard a bit away that sells 2nds for .39 a lb for apples, my kids don't care if they were 1st's or 2nd's shoot they don't even know the difference and other than a few more blemishes they taste just fine to me! I'd rather not spend $20 a week either. Sadly a good week for me is spending $20+/person

I hear you on that one. I'd eat more veggies or even just eat veggies w/ pasta but the kids they won't touch much with veggies in it. My kids tend to eat up everything I had bought to used to make something else with.