Hitting the last 10 day mark before reaching 100 days of eating well on $1 a day, I need to make some big decisions. I have enough food that I could easily last these last 10 days without buying anything and end the 100 day milestone at just over $0.50 a day, but that would make for some pretty repetitive meals and probably wouldn’t be much fun. On the other hand, I could go on a spending spree and have some pretty impressive meals these last 10 days using up the emergency fund I have accumulated, but that is definitely not how I would spend it if this were a long term need. Neither of these options appeals much to me, so possibly something in the middle – what do you think?
Another question that I need to decide is if I am going to continue this challenge beyond 100 days (which will greatly affect how I use the money that I have managed to save). Right now, it’s a toss-up. On one hand, I think I have accomplished the original goal showing that it is possible to eat well on $1 a day when using a bit of creativity and I have built up enough of a cushion to show that I could continue to do this long term if I wanted to. On the other hand, I would like to continue to encourage others to use the strategies to reduce their own food bills while creating opportunities to give to their local food banks. I would love to hear any suggestions you have and if you think I should continue, how you think I should proceed?
There really aren’t many deals this week at Safeway, but I needed to get some basics (I was out of whole wheat bread, onions and I forgot the pasta I had at the house where I was house sitting — another hazard of moving around a lot) so I decided to buy some stuff even though I didn’t have coupons for them:
I decided to splurge a bit and get organic whole wheat pasta since several readers have complained that the pasta I was buying wasn’t healthy. I also picked up a red and green pepper because I had run out of them and they were fairly inexpensive ($0.50 each). The total for everything came to $7.49 (I did use a $5.00 off coupon that I had, but it wasn’t real savings for this challenge since I had to pay that amount out of pocket for some other things I had purchased for my sister — I knew I could use the coupon more readily than she could, so I simply kept it instead of having her paying me $5.00 and me giving her the coupon)
Although I rarely go to Lucky to buy food (it’s actually the closest store, but doesn’t have as many deals), I decided to stop by when I was in the area for other business since I wanted to check out a cereal promotion they were having to see if I could work it out to get the cereal that the Milpitas Food bank had requested I try and get. While there, I decided that I would splurge a bit more and purchased some spinach, beef and salsa:
This cost me an additional $6.57. While I could have purchased many of these things for less if I had waited until a sale and coupons aligned, one of the advantages of doing this system is that you don’t always have to restrict yourself to the best deals. Swing on so many things opens up opportunities to buy some things you want as splurges (once you have built a base) and still stay well within your budget (even when it is only $1 a day).
Now that I am back, I finally got to go on my morning walk and see what had happened to all those blackberries while I was gone. I was concerned that they would have all ripened and the birds had cleaned them out, but the cooler than usual weather here worked to my advantage. I should have as many blackberries as I want for the next couple of weeks as the blackberries on the huge blackberry bush have just started to ripen. I picked a few, but since most still need a few days to ripen completely, I left most alone.
Blackberry Yogurt Smoothie
I decided to use the other half of the yogurt I had to see how it was in the morning, and as I expected, it wasn’t nearly as refreshing as the other smoothies I had been making. Again, this isn’t a bad thing (I can definitely see making these in the afternoon or evening), but definitely not what I am accustomed to in the morning. It is much more filling rather than refreshing:
I went with the usual afternoon peanut butter on whole wheat bread and carrot sticks for lunch along with a bowl of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios (plain) as snacks later in the afternoon. Now that I have bread, the only concern is whether or not my peanut butter is going to hold out since it is quickly disappearing.
Beef Spinach Rice
I’m finding that simple meals are my favorite these days (probably a combination of them not testing my lack of cooking skills and because I have been pressed for time so anything non complicated is a relief). I first threw in onions, red pepper, garlic and frozen spinach together:
and then added some cooked hamburger that I had browned earlier (with salt and pepper for seasoning):
and placed this all over long grain brown rice I had cooked with some steamed broccoli (which I desperately needed to use since it was beginning to go bad) on the side:
It was really good and I can see myself continuing to make myself meals like this even when this challenge ends. In the late evening I was craving a snack again so I finished off the rest of the cantaloupe:
This is the current list of food I still have
This is the current list of what I have purchased:
Goal: 100 days eating on $1 a day
Current Money Spent: $67.73
Money Left to Spend: $32.27 ($6.17 must be spent at CVS)
Retail Value of Everything Purchased: $1440.92
The Beginning ::: Day 91: I Still Think I Can Change The World
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Perhaps you could start using some of your surplus to create a stockpile. I guess with house sitting that could be a little complicated, but it does seem like a natural next step for the challenge, and it would be nice to get to watch you build a stockpile from the ground up.
I have been following you blog and find it very interesting. I do not use coupons very often since my husband finds them a pain and they are usually for products that we don’t use. However, I am all for “money makers.” How does this sound… I am currently at a conference for 5 days for work. All meals are covered except for 2 dinners. For one dinner, we are going to be taken out by my employer, leaving only one meal for me to pick up on my own. After the conference, we are reimbursed by the employer w/ a $125 meal stipend – even though they know our meals are covered by the conference. I think this might be the ultimate money maker.
I wish I had come across your blog sooner.
Keep up the good work — it’s nice to know that one can spend so little on food, and yet still make such a difference at their local food bank.
I definitely think you should continue, and since you’re wanting Mexican so much on day 101, I think you should have some type of eating out budget, so that it would be even more enjoyable for you! As someone who determines eligibility for SNAP (food stamps) this has been very encouraging, and hopefully I can persuade clients to use their resources more wisely.
A fun part of this challenge has been seeing your daily meals on limited food items and budget – but the real goal was to eat on $1 a day. It would be fun to see you continue, but somehow I think it’s more fun for your readers than for you!
I would love to see you continue the blog – even if you didn’t limit yourself to $1 a day, but just showed how you get your deals from week to week. This is what is so encouraging and makes me believe that I too can cut my food budget!
Possibly you can do your $1 a day challenge for one quarter per year, and set parameters for what you’re able to use to “set up house” the first week or so, since this is the most difficult period? Everyone has SOME food in the house, so if readers chose to follow along, they could use up what they had just as you would… by starting with what you consider “basic pantry” items.
Just some ideas as we head into the future with you!
Oh – and I say you should splurge with your extra cash (just a little) and buy more bacon!!! đ
I’ve been reading your blog for a couple months and I’m very impressed on how well you’ve done. I suggest, if you want to end your challenge, is to use your saved up money for a sort of Food Not Bombs-type thing. Use the extra money, make a ton of food, and give it away for free at your food pantry or park.
I think you have well an truly proved your point, as far as the $1 a day project goes. If you’re still undecided, perhaps a compromise is in order. $10 dollars a week or maybe $1 a day Mon – Fri and a free for all on the weekends.
You seem to be cooking a lot more and I’d hate to see that fall by the way side.
Wah! I don’t want it to end! I won’t have much to look forward to in my daily internet adventures. I’ve never read a blog but I really love this one! Noooo don’t end!!
Go for a whole year doing what you are doing (like so many other bloggers have done – went for the whole year doing whatever they were doing) and maybe you’ll get a book deal out of it.
I am so amazed at what you have been able to do. It not only takes a ton of coupon skills but it takes even more will power. Kudos to you for this entire project. My question is, how long do you think you could go using just the $32.27 you have left? Then it wouldn’t be eating well on $1 a day, it would be eating well on $100 divided by the number of days you did it… Would be an interesting number to know!
I found your blog about 2 weeks ago and have read through every post. I have recently (3 months ago) started super couponing and donating to a local charity organization. Your blog has really encouraged me to keep doing this and also helped me to understand how to better coupon and make money. Thanks so much!!
I would love it if you would continue! I’ve really enjoyed your posts.
First, I’d like to see you continue. Now that you know that you are able to build up a reserve, I say you should go out to eat once in awhile. The cost of eating out wouldn’t hurt you and in most cases you would have leftovers for another meal.
Secondly, there is nothing wrong with white pasta on a budget of a dollar a day. Let’s get real for just a minute, how many people do you think would turn down their noses up at white pasta if they only had a dollar a day to spend on food? Nutritionally speaking, white pasta is a good source of carbs and can be included in a healthy diet. They are faster burning carbs and I know many atheletes who use them to carb load the day before long bike rides and or race.
Finally, you could splurge on a few condiments to make your meals more restaurant quality. I would suggest a little soysauce in the dish you made tonight, it looked delishious. Balsamic vinegar, olive oil and dijon mustard are a must in my house, many dressings and marinades can be made from these ingredients.
I hope you will continue to post what ever deals you find, especially CVS, that has been a real learning experience for me.
Thanks.
I am thoroughly enjoying your progress and look forward to reading your daily posts!
I believe staying with the challenge would continue to inspire others to follow in your footsteps. You are showing us by example how to care for ourselves and others in such a positive way. Thank you for doing what you do~ You will know when it is time to move on.
I would like to see you cook dinner for several of your friends or your sister and her family…maybe even once a week or twice a month?
I would love to see you continue for a year and get a book deal out of this. I greatly enjoy reading your posts.
However, I do get the sense that this is not as much fun for you as it is for us (the readers) so I can understand if you want to give it up.
And I also vote for a Mexican splurge on day 101. Maybe your sister can take you to dinner as your reward for winning the challenge.
My vote is that you continue, but without any of the rules and voting — so that you can do more good for the food pantries. Just use your own conscience.
You’ve proven you can do the challenge, now it’s time to ramp up the challenge to doing the most good, regardless of how many printers you use or how many Sunday papers you collect or whether you collect apples on this side or that side of the fence.
I have to agree with the general consensus that I’d love to see you continue. I think going for a full year would be an amazing accomplishment, and like Carolee said, you could probably write a fantastic book about your experience. I’d buy it!
My son and I have enjoyed your blog. I think you should continue your lifestyle–maybe with this in mind you could pay cash for your own home. How about venturing into food storage– freezing all of those blackberries that are about to ripen? Good luck to you and thank you for the inspiration.
I absolutely love what you have been able to accomplish. Great job! I think you are done though. 100 days on $1 a day sounds good. Use the last bit of money you have to stockpile for the rest of your meals, but then, you’re done. Now, here’s the new challenge. Can your sister’s family do it?!? i would love to see a family live off of $1 a day. only a $1 a day (not $1 a person a day). could she feed her kids and everyone? you could blog for her… Just an idea.
Well, previous comments contain the real truth. Milestones are a funny thing, and don’t tend to scale linearly. You did a month on quite a restrictive budget, then you did another two months plus a bit on a significantly less restrictive budget, though it’s still far more restrictive than most of us would place ourselves on voluntarily. So, should you continue, what would be the next milestone? Human nature really does tend to put it in bigger & bigger numbers the more milestones we reach; hence the pushing for a year.
Potential book deal notwithstanding, I’d take a long, hard look at whether you’d enjoy continuing this challenge for that long. It’s not an easy row to hoe, and while it sounds like you’re enjoying the challenge and the attention from all us “unwashed internet masses”, it also sounds like the actual food situation makes you miserable. And what about when winter hits? Are you going to be learning some food preservation techniques between now and then? Admittedly, living where you do, winter is much less dire, but your plums & blackberries are still going to disappear on you sometime between now and then.
Again, I think it comes down to why you’re doing this, and if it at all ties in with your long-term personal goals. You’ve said in the past that doing this challenge for yourself reduces the amount of time you can dedicate to finding food bank food for pennyexperiment.com – are you really okay with that? Do you find that this challenge reduces your personal time, but more people are donating to food banks, and so it’s worth it as a form of “advertising”?
I don’t know, and could probably pepper you with a billion more questions as you answered these ones (and even before).
I wish I lived near where you do, to go to that meet-up you’re organizing. I’d love to learn more about the coupons, but I would also end up asking you a lot of the above questions (and more). Good luck to you, whatever you decide. And if you want to bounce any ideas off some dork from the internet who is good at asking crazy/important/even obvious questions when you think on this, well, I think you can see my e-mail address and can tell I’d be super interested in hearing your thoughts and asking all those questions.
yes i say continue but get rid of the rules that are unrealistic. then you can show us what you can really do when it comes to maximum stuff for the food banks. that is the most fascinating aspect for me. you’ve been pretty busy lately, hope you can make some time for more big food bank shipments. you go guy!
also would be good to see you start recruiting some volunteers in your neighborhood to do the same deals and really generate massive
piles of donations. if i still lived there i’d be your first foot soldier.
I agree witH Tammy with a few more condiments you could really up the ante on your dishes. Purhaps some Asian sauces since you like stir frys
Here’s what I’d love to see you do with the remaining $32.27 …
Yes, go on a spending spree, but with a twist. Your goal would be to accumulate as much food as you possibly can in the next 10 days, staying within the $32 limit.
Personally, I’d love to see you do this. It’s kind of a challenge, like, “how much food can I buy with $32”.
To me, the usefulness of this 100 day challenge is in seeing how you find the deals. By doing the challenge I mentioned above, it would give me one last great example of how to find the BEST deals.
Oh, I do enjoy reading about your experiences with this challenge. And I have learned a lot. But I don’t think you should suffer for my entertainment. đ Maybe you should just end this particular challenge at day 100, but continue to blog about your coupon deals and cooking adventures while spending as little as possible (just not as harsh as $1 a day).
Other than the obvious benefit of this challenge of showing others how they can reduce their food bill and donate more to food pantries, I also think that this challenge has benefited (sp?) you by showing you easy, healthier meals that you can make for yourself.
Maybe this is a bit extreme, but what about continuing the challenge for 6 months (or even a year) because realistically, those who NEED to tighten their budget due to loss of income usually need to do so for more than just a few months. Maybe not go as strict ast $1 a day but even if you were to increase to $2 a day but still show how to get the best deals it might be nice? Either way, thank you for doing this challenge!!
I think that you should mark the “challenge” itself as complete, but continue looking and blogging on good deals that you find.
I would like to see you continue the challenge through Christmas, for both selfish and unselfish reasons:
Selfishly, I enjoy your writing, whether it’s laughing at your basketball ‘tournament’ at the hospital or empathizing with you when you lost your coupons. I enjoy the details of your wildlife encounters as well as your family get-togethers. I also like how you deal with and overcome the various challenges you’ve encountered along the way and the resourcefulness you show (like when you used the crumbs from a chip bag because you didn’t have any salt.)
Unselfishly, I think that if you could continue to Christmas, you would draw an enormous amount of attention to the terrific foods sales at the holidays. Many people donate to food drives during this time, and you could show them how to stretch their contributions beyond what they thought possible. I can just imagine you, rolling coupons and rebates until you get a truckload of frozen turkeys or something similar on a grand scale.
If you do continue, and if it would not be a hardship to you, I would like to see you take on a weekly challenge. Actually, you’re already doing that for the most part, but it might be fun to label them as such. For example, you could learn how to make ice cream like this: http://www.ehow.com/how_4879437_ice-cream-bag-minutes.html . Other weeks, you could make tortillas, yogurt, homemade pasta from scratch, etc. You needn’t stick to a dollar a day, even three dollars a day (a dollar a meal) would be helpful for most people.
No matter your decision, I want to thank you for the journey you’ve shared with all of us so far. It has been eye-opening and inspiring and it shows all of us what we can do to change the world if we just try.
Well Jeffrey,
You said that you would soon be in need of a peanut butter deal. I think I found one that will work for you. CVS has Skippy peanut butter on sale 3/$5, when you spend $10 you will receive $3 in ECBs. There are $1 off 2 coupons in the 8/1 redplum inserts. If you buy 6, you can use 3 coupons and your ECBs you have to use at CVS. Your out-of-pocket will be around $1 and you will get back $3 in ECBs. If you want to stick to the rule of only using 2 insert coupons for yourself then you could donate 2 jars of peanut butter. Or the Ragu spaghetti sauce is also on sale 3/$5 and is part of the ECB deal, buy 4 jars peanut butter and 2 jars of spaghetti sauce.
I’ve already purchased my peanut butter and spaghetti sauce. I also used the buy one get one coupons for the Sobe Lifewater. I love the Zero calorie ones and use those in place of diet sodas.
I think it is absolutely amazing how these deals come around when you really need them. Good Luck and don’t forget to ask for a raincheck if they are out. CVS’s rainchecks never expire and will come in hand in the future. Make sure they write the event code on the raincheck.
I’d like to see you continue on for a little while because I just caught up reading the whole thing from day one, and now I’d like to follow in real time. One new “rule” I’d suggest: Allow yourself to take a day off whenever you feel like it, without guilt.
I’m with others here, and say you should do this for a year. I totally hope you get a book deal out of this. You have shown us, that even in a bad economy with rising inflation, it is still totally possible to eat well on the most frugal of budgets.
My girlfriend and I have been inspired by your blog, and have actually made a game of couponing. We get our coupon inserts and printable coupons and match them up to each week’s ads to maximize our savings. We managed to fill two carts for less than $60 yesterday. We didn’t do as well as you, but we’re still learning. For a couple trying to make ends meet with a harsh economy, student loans, rent, a car payment, utilities, and a fresh-out-of-college job; this blog has shown me how to save money on one expense that is vital: groceries.
I hope you keep it going!
Here is some food for thought, how much money have you actually saved yourself during this interesting challenge? If you end it now are you prepared to spend the extra money on food when you know how cheap you can actually live. My on opinion on this is if you throw out the rules and do it in more normal fashion you would be very happy with the results.
Keep us posted, it has been most interesting.
I’ve been a heavy coupon user for about 5-6 years now. And while I often get the freebie and money makers you get, I haven’t done as well as 50 cents per day per person.
I’m about $400 a month for 4 people and 2 pets. I include all toiletries and eating out though.
Now that you’ve built a little stockpile and have the surplus, what about continuing and including your eating out and toiletries? Or maybe just one or the other.
to eat out cheap.. either go to a restaurant’s happy hour for cheap eats or find a friend, use a B1G1 coupon and split the cost.
Jeffery,
(no one said keep it short, and I think a lot of your efforts}
What a wonderful show of spirit and brain power. Your blog is the first I have ever read, and my husband and I have found it to be a remarkable journal that attests to the abilities of the youth today. We have a household of 3 very seniors. There were 4 but we lost the wife of my husbands 91 year old uncle a year ago. My husband Ed, and I removed them from a nursing home because they were about to seperate them, and the uncle had become bedridden. We brought them into our home, and got help thru the family doctor. With a lot of work he is walking with a walker again. Which is good because he is a polio survivor. Oh, I am also limited mobility,and my husband is wheelchair bound.
We manage on just my husbands ssi and his uncle gets his own income that just supports him. So, we have been on limited means since my job went to Mexico a few years ago. So many are in the same boat. {Buy American, support America people!} Our daughter living in another state was out of full time work for over a year and a half, downsizing is kicking the economy of the American middle class, and seniors.
I have years to go before I will be in line for ssi myself. We moved to the country and live a rural style, but with the limited mobility a true garden is not in my future. I had one when we first came, but RA is now making a real effort to stall me. We eat a lot of eggs, and have a small pond for fish.
Not only do we take care of his uncle, my husband has adopted a new dog, we already had one. This one had been dropped with another, and my son and his wife could only get the one to come to them. They brought it to us, and she has now gifted us with 10 puppies. Of course we will have her spayed, and are trying to get the puppies in with a good adaption program. We have 4 awaiting the puppy of their choice now.
I tell you all this to let you know that you have touched not only young families, singles, and working poor, but also the seniors. We have been watching your blog with interest, especially to gain insight to make a dent in the puppy chow we will soon need. If we all hang in there, and help each other with the suggestions, the coupons, and the interest in helping people and creatures less fortunate than ourselves, we as Americans will stay strong.
Blog readers, if you can’t use your inserts, see if they will let you put up an envelope or box at the local stores or drop off at the local food banks. Others need them, or could use them to help the food banks. Instead of stockpiling too much, clean out the pantry every 30 days and donate or drop off. Fire stations are good places, churches, schools as well as food pantries to donate these goods, do ask.
Everyone should look around and see if a neighbor needs help, so many may. Sometimes it is the littlest things that make a difference. I see greatness in what you are doing Jeffery, and in what you have already made possible. I hope there is a book in it for you, a movie, an interview on Oprah,and Dr. Oz show, and CNN and Fox and Family networks. I wonder if they are out there watching and listening, and if not I hope someone will forward my message.
I hope someone sees the penny challenge, and the eating well on a dollar a day Blog as I see it. Part of the continuing show of American heart, of American invention, and American spirit. And for those in other countries that say they don’t have coupons available. Maybe they should do something about that themselves. They have advertising dollars, shouldn’t their dollars count for what they want.
Jeffery, your a hero to me. Each one teach one has always been the best way. Your showing all of us how to use things we did not know existed, like catalinas and sales that would allow the use of certain coupons with other coupons has been a lot of help. I hope you will continue with it with some changes. Allow yourself to have a little leeway on eating out. Perhaps give yourself a percent of something when you have been able to donate so much to the food banks.
Helping others should count, maybe some of the local eatery places should donate a free meal to those that are in the way of helping at the food bank, if they don’t want or need it they could give it back by giving it to a child or family in need also. As you said Jeffery, there are a lot who are out there who do not have the luxury of eating a meal at a restaurant.
Perhaps get with a friend, use two for one coupons and split the benefit of the discount. Thus, eating out helps a friend, and helps you. and helps the working poor and our economy.And it is tax deductable to those local restaurants probably. Also, with those lovely children of your sister, maybe show some how to eat out on less with the discounts available for offers free with one full adult meal price. So, you would be showing a family how to meet and have fellowship and still save money.
And Lighten up everybody on the sister, she is a sibling helping stir her brother to new heights of greatness. I think it shows a healthy interest in the well fair of each other. Some families never have any interaction now, and our families are becoming very disfunctional with so many fragramented and odd new family sets, stepchildren, half siblings, and foster. I enjoyed hearing you help her find discounts on diapers and being there for the birthdays. You are a good uncle. How many wish that their brothers or sisters would take an interest in their nieces and nephews.
If she were to get involved in a connecting blog, she could help show some new parents about buying diapers, clothes and accessories as well as child items on coupons and discounts. There are many of us who are limited income parents, grandparents or handicapped, or unable to afford the papers, or have limited use of computers. But, the library is helpful. I see no inserts or papers except what comes in the mail.
I will not be in a position to go to coffee shops or laundry shops or places for breakfast to pick up papers. I was interested to hear that there are places that do collect them for you for a price. But, many can not afford that. So, get friends and family to save them and send them on, or neighbors maybe. Talk to the local paper and see if they have extras you can pick up that will help with the local food pantry.
Get the churches involved in helping distribute to those who have a need. And many will not ask, but will appreciate the offer of them. I do hope for you to continue, with modification if you can. But, we all realize how much of an effort this has been. We hope you continue in good health. But, look how much you have grown, making new internet friends, new connections with the pantry, learning to stretch your cooking talents, and inspiring even teachers and their students.
I think your experiment has more far reaching benefits than we have yet seen. Your foraging walks were great. Each one teach one was what I was taught. How many have you already taught. What a wonderful legacy. I am very happy to have known you via the internet. I hope you continue to keep us inspired. Everyone who has commented seems to have had a positive input. You give me great hope for the future. I hope you decide to keep going, but no pressure. It is your decision, and whatever you decide, it was a pleasure being a part of it.
We can all afford to spend the extra quarters to add a little to the food banks. No child should go to bed hungry, no mother should have no options, nor should any out of work father be forced to leave his family so that they will be eligible for aid. Lets keep our families together, and keep children well and fed. Our communities used to draw together, the strong helping those who were at a difficult time. Even just sharing coupons or a little groceries makes a difference. Buy an extra bag of rice, beans or peanut butter. and school supplies. It really does matter to those who have little. Even those of us who have little to do with, can still do a little. How much stronger we will all be, if we even do just our ten percent.
Jeffery, you’ve already done one hundred and ten percent in your 100 day challenges. You have taught skills that few are learning in modern times. Words to describe your actions come to my mind, like exciting, frugal, common sense, never give up, inventive and earth friendly, thought provoking, creative, clever, and thoughtful, human kindness. You know the old saying give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime. What you are doing has made a difference.You have been a really expressive, inspiring teacher, and I bless all teachers. If you go we will miss you. But I thank you for what you have done already for those who at this critical time in American history needed it.
You need to decide what your goals are. If you want to get a book deal or something out of this, what will get you on the morning news shows? “Our next guest is a man who spent only $365 on groceries last year thanks to coupons.” I can see that. For anything less than a year, probably not. Also, a book based on your blog posts would get pretty boring and repetitive after a while, so you’d need some sort of angle. Maybe you should find an agent.
I’m not sure what readers have been telling you but I’ll say this, I think you have one of teh healthiest diets ever. How many people can say they eat fruit and veggies almost EVERY single day. Def not me.
I wish you would continue and just see how far you go. Its always an inspiration and if you stop now future readers might not be as motivated. Even if you don’t continue your $1 a day goal its always fun to see your receipts posted up for the awesome deals you manage to get.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog, and really hope you can keep it going. Make whatever rule changes you need so that it stays rewarding for you. I really enjoy seeing what you’re eating daily, including the pics and the details on how you prepared your meals.
I really look forward to your daily entries and would very much miss your encouraging examples of how to eat cheaply while still making well-balanced meals.
Brenda,
It was truely a pleasure reading your comment and I whole heartedly agree.
Thank you so much for shareing the senior point of view. I was not very close with my grandparents and really appreciate you reminding us to look at those around us who may need assistance.
Jeffrey, I think you have fulfulled the challenge exceptionally well. I don’t think going for an extended time period will add anything new, even though I do love reading this every day. Take the pressure off yourself. I can see this blog morphing into a general, money saving grocery blog rather than a day-by-day diary as it is now. I do think you have a shot at a column on one of the personal finance sites. You have done a super job, relax and look forward to this changing into some type of money maker for you and some type of motivational site for the rest of us. Some other ideas might be how you handle this budget with entertaining or holidays, etc. Ok, I will stop rambling. I love the blog, but you need your life back. Taking pix of what you eat all the time must be a pain đ
If your goal is to show that it is possible to eat well on a dollar a day, why would you stop? It’s one thing to say, “I ate for 100 days on less than $100 dollars.” It’s an entirely different thing to say, “I made a permanent lifestyle change to having a grocery budget of a dollar a day.”
If you’re interested in stepping the challenge up a notch, how about trying a month or so eating on a dollar a day with gluten-free food? I saw a comment a while back from at least one other person who eats gluten free. It’s really challenging to find good prices for our food, so it would be interesting to see how you handled it.
I don’t know… I like the idea of saying you ate well on just $0.50 a day… even more extreme and really shows the power of couponing! Of course, that would make for 10 really boring blog entries…
How about you only eat what you have and say you did it on $0.50/day, and donate the $32 to getting as much food **and of the largest variety** (not just a million boxes of cereal) you possibly can for the food bank and you tell us about that instead so we don’t have to read about grilled cheese sandwiches 10 more times. If you find something you really want or need, you can swap it out of your stash for something(s) of equal value so you always stick to your $0.50/day result.
Or else use the $32 to throw a huge dinner for family and/or friends to show off!
Or you could go 365 days on $1/day (or $0.50/day? Or less? Could you get it down to $0.25 a day by stockpiling?!). I was thinking about that: our family food budget has been $400 a month… you could eat for a year on $1/day and spend less than we have been spending in a month! (until we found couponing)
Yeah, and get rid of the rules after day 100 to really show the power and potential of couponing.
PLease continue to write these articles!! As someone who uses some coupons, it has been an inspiration for me to try to use up food I already have without running to the store all the time. It is also an encouragement to others to continue to donate to the food banks…I don’t think most of us realize how many people use the food banks and it’s our job to help them out!
I would love to see you continue. You have challenged me in many ways. What about changing the amount per day and only eating healthy foods? It is harder to do. I try to buy organic on all produce so I have to do money makers to get the cash to do that. I also buy grains to make bread. Its more complicated, but it can be done. My grocery/cleaning supply bill is $540 for the year so far. We have a family of 5. I am sure you could do better…Challenge me đ
Thoroughly enjoy reading about your challenge. I don’t understand all the comments suggesting you go “out” to eat. What’s that obsession about? You are eating fresher, healthier meals than you would get “out” and saving sooooo much $$. And you know what is in your food. I too would love to see you continue to make it for a year. Thanks again for the inspiration!
I think you should you should spend the rest of the money on a banquet for your family and friends. You could prepare a sampling of your favorite meals during the challenge.
I was a happily retired Chef turned Internet Geek behind the Gurus until you came along.
*sigh*
I have the utmost respect for your project…. As do my two young-adult children, TWO sisters and six brothers. I worked the food pantry in our town for years and know the challenges. My current passion is Share Our Strength that targets feeding children.
Needless to say there is more than enough peer pressure going on here to promote action on my part.
To appease that, I put up a quick web page today, set up a support Yahoo group and told the TEN of them that if you would accept a free membership for chef prepared menus in exchange for sharing your input on helping others to donate to food pantries that I would see what I could do to bring in people to listen, learn and respond Online.
SO…. if you are willing to accept my offer, I will have no choice but to get off my donkey, dust off the cookbooks and fire up the Internet to feed the masses.
If not, you and I are returned to our regularly scheduled program….
The ball is in your court, my friend, and my siblings are working hard to find your sister and get her after you as well. đ
Let me know what you decide. Either way, I remain your biggest fan!
I think you should keep going. I have read every day of this blog in the last two days!
You say it doesn’t take you much longer or cause much of an inconvenience, and you’re couponing anyway for charities, so keep it up!
I like the Monday-Friday thing. You’ve proven it can be done every day, but people would like to see you continue to save. You can splurge on eating out while still showing us all your ways, Coupon Man!