I Wonder if This is Still Possible

I keep this link, and a few others like it, handy just in case of a major disaster. But I wonder if it is still feasible with the way prices have gone up. (Please note that this article was written in 2001 and no update has been done.)

Just for kicks I'm going to do a bit of "research" this weekend when I do my shopping.

UPDATE 8/30/08: I just returned from W****** where I do a majority of my grocery shopping. Based on my findings, this emergency list is not possible at $10 if you have no items in your pantry (ie. an odd can of tuna, or a can of veggies). My cost for this list as written below was $18.30. BUT if you live in an area that sells smaller packaging you may be able pull this off or at least knock a buck or two off the total. (Keep in mind your unit cost will higher but your aiming for total cost.) I will highlight in green were you may be able to cut some costs. Also you may be able to beg, borrow, or steal small scale items like salt/baking soda from family and friends if your situation gets to this point.

Taken from "Surviving on a Budget: $10 Grocery List" By Liss Burnell © 2001.

Shopping List:

• Baking Soda (article has a link to make your own)
• $ .48
• Eggs (assuming 1 dozen/change to 1/2 dozen)
• $1.64
• Flour (assuming 5# bag/some stores may have a smaller convenience store size)
• $1.94
• Fruits (purchase what is on sale--I "purchased" 1-banana, 1-peach, 1-nectarine, 1-apple)
• $1.26
• Hamburger (assuming 1# ground beef)
• $2.43
• Rice or Ramen Noodles(assuming a 1# bag of rice)
• $ .88
• Margarine (assuming 1# sticks)
• $ .68
• Milk (assuming 1/2 gallon/quart or smaller)
• $1.91
• Potatoes (assuming 5# bag-only size available/would definitely look for smaller bag or even go with canned whole potatoes)
• #3.97
• Salt
• $ .33
• Vegetables (assuming canned-1-corn, 1-peas, 1-green bean)
• $1.50
• Tuna (assuming 2 cans)
• $1.28

The Menu: ***Please note: original article has links to these recipes

• Scrambled eggs in a Biscuit
• Fruit Smoothie, Hash Browns
• Muffins, many kinds...
• Pancakes, Fruit
• Potato Pancakes
• Tortilla with scrambled or fried eggs inside
• Donut Muffins
• Rice Pudding
• Tortilla with anything you have on hand in it
• Tomatoes/onions/hamburg etc.
• Shepherds Pie (Hamburger/gravy over mashed potatoes/corn)
• Veggies in gravy over rice
• Baked Potato and Vegetables
• Scalloped Potatoes and Vegetables
• Oven Baked French Fries & Salad
• Vegetable Soup w/ or w/o Rice
• Tuna/ Pea Wiggle (serve over toast or biscuits or saltine crackers)
• Scalloped Potato/Tuna Casserole
• Popovers fill with: tuna pea wiggle recipe or gravy/veggie mix
• Chicken Pot Pie

Will update this over the weekend after completing my research! Items "purchased" will be store band products.

***** Just for reference: an alternative $45 Emergency Menu for 4 to 6. As stated in HHW's article this menu more realistic as it does not assume you have any items already on hand. (Prices used are from 2006).

My OMG!! Moment from the Other Night

So what has me so excited you may ask?? As silly as it sounds, I am re-discovering my freezer! Now that I have y'all confused and scratching your heads, let me explain.

For the past few months I have been experimenting with meal preparation for my partner and I; I work 55+ hrs a week from 11AM-11PM, my partner is working 3PM-11PM. Sit-down meals are rare even on weekends, so I have been trying to find a solution. My usual routine would be to prepare a few casserole type meals or what I call "put together meals" so my partner could re-heat an item on her lunch break. Not a reliable answer to our problem for 2 reasons.

Way to much waste. It never fails, I'll make a nice dinner, P doesn't come home for lunch. Or, I'll pull stuff from freezer to cook next day, then my work schedule changes (ie. called in to work early/late) and I forget that I have meat in frig to cook. I don't know how much this has cost me but I'll guess close to $60 a month if not more.

My possible solution(s) have come from various blogs and websites I have been reading. So to all of my fellow bloggers and site owners thank-you :))

1. Freeze any and all leftovers immediately, even if I think I'll take some for lunch the next day.
I have the nice option of ordering my meats (beef.chicken/pork) at wholesale through my one employer. No more gross pre-packaged stuff from W*******. Better product decent price.
2. By purchasing my meats wholesale and in larger quantities I have been able to prepare, pre-cook, then freeze items that normally I would try and make during the week. For example--meatballs, meatloaf, hamburgers, ground beef for tacos etc.
3. As with the ground beef I have been experimenting with some pre-cooked chicken recipes that could easily be re-heated in microwave or toaster oven in less than 10 minutes--I need more ideas
4. Everything gets saved and frozen for later use. Scraps, bones, juices from roasts, pan drippings, veggies trimmings, etc.. Usually end up in soup stocks or gravy base

Not a big list but a beginning. So far it's helping but I have many quirks to get rid of to try and please my partner eating preferences. As far as saving money it should help, if my estimate on money thrown out is correct. I have more reading to do!!

When I came accross this article I had to take a second look. Altho I use cost per pound I have always looked at food items in terms of cost per serving; it has always seemed more natural to me. Finding this article has helped re-affirm something I have done for a long time.

Cost Per Serving versus Pound by Ellen Lawson Ferlazzo; a different type of tool to cut your grocery bill.

"When you are exploring different ways to cut costs in your grocery bill, one of the things you start paying attention to is the cost per pound of various cuts of meat. You probably see some things that are selling for less per pound than you are used to paying but perhaps the cut of meat is unfamiliar and you are not sure whether something is a good deal or not. How do you compare two different cuts of meat? You want to look at the cost per serving rather than the cost per pound. If something is cheap, but you throw away a lot of bone and fat, then you're paying more per serving than you might realize."

Grocery Shopping is so Much Fun--Part 2

Now that the shopping is done let's see what the costs per meal/portion is.

(Just a note, due to work schedules and family commitments my partner and I very rarely eat more than one meal at home. Our lunch is actually dinner. If by chance we do eat twice at home, I have tried to schedule meals that have leftovers that's why the number of portions and portion cost is important to me. Our life is a bit hectic as I work second shift and my partner works for school district as a substitute secretary plus she cares for her six youngest nieces and nephews. That is why only one meal is scheduled at home I eat second meal at work, partner eats with nieces and nephews. Therefore I look at number of portions and their cost.)

Friday-Hamburger Helper=$1.50, 1lb grnd chuck=$2.63, 4oz shredded cheddar cheese=$.87. Total for meal=$5 (not incuding drinks)--Portion Total (3)=$1.67. The packaging says four portions but we usually only get three, but we don't eat anything else with this. The third portion becomes my lunch at work.

Saturday-Saucy Pork Chops=$1.72 ($4.20÷5 portions=$.86/portion), homemede parm noodles=$.63, corn=$1.12. Total for meal=$3.47--Portion Total (2)=1.74. Only leftover should be some corn which I'll throw into a soup concoction.

Sunday-Roast Chicken=$1.16 ($3.49÷6 portions=$.58/portion), doodle-bugs=$.20, green beans=$.98. Total for meal=$2.34--Portion Total (4)=$.73. There will be some chicken left which either becomes a one fill-in leftover meal and/or chicken salad for sandwiches. Carcass and juices and beans will become soup concotion.

Monday-Goulash=$6.63, mozz cheese=$1.73 Total for meal=$8.36--Portion Total (10)=$.84. There will be lots of leftovers for second daily meals or even another full dinner.

Tuesday-Chicken ($5.55÷3=$1.85) w/ broccoli ($.98) and ramen noodles ($.29). Total for meal=$3.12--Portion Total (4)=$.78. Since I'm making ghoulash on monday I don't think I'll be making this. Most likely I'll wait till next week to make this--stretching food budget.

Wednesday-Hot dogs/Rolls ($1.06), pan fried potatoes ($.50). Total for meal=$1.56--Portion Total (2)=$.78. Quickie meal since partner has to work in the PM instead of AM.

Thursday-Chicken ($5.55÷3=$1.85) Broccoli ($.98) Casserole ($1.18 shredded cheddar cheese+miracle whip). Total for meal=$4.01--Portion Total (6)=$.67. Leftovers will be used for second meals or my work lunches.

Snacks=$5 Drinks=$21 Misc=$2 Total Meal Costs=$22.86 ------------------------ Actual Total Food Cost for Week=$50.86 (based on the assumptiom I will have some product left multiple use packages).

That leaves $27.87 of food product to utilize next week.

By looking at my food cost in this way I am hoping to show what, when and where I can cut more cost. One things I am trying to do is to make my own side dishes to compliment the main course. That issue all depends on how well we like my experiments. I guess only time will tell.