So, this past week, I was reading about the SNAP challenge from Panera's CEO. Given the challenge does illustrate a few things such as this guy should not be allowed to shop for himself on a budget.. ever. He bought crazy items that - yeah would not go far to keeping one full.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=732006746824789&set=o.339795970622&type=1&theater¬if_t=wall
Spanish olive oils, lentils and chickpeas?
So, I decided I would help those less fortunate, not by going hungry but by informing.
Let's get real up close and personal. You see, I was a daughter of a multimillionaire in the 80s.. Then he passed and I was penniless due to the greed of my family and his business partner. I lived in despair. I survived by my wits. I lived in the ghetto, barrio and such. I made my way back up (with education) to a 6 figure salary within a decade of completing my Bachelors. However, I am not a waster and I only work a few months out of the year full time. The rest of the year, I spend homeschooling my children, writing, creating Droid apps and with my family.
So, here is my SNAP CHALLENGE.
If I would be so blessed as to have 31.50 a week per person for 4 people... in a month, that would be something in the neighborhood of 500 a month. That is a lot of money.
I know food stamp people get free lunches. The school my children attended didn't know what to do with me because my children were not eligible and every single child in that school but mine were eligible for food stamps (we lived on the college campus). After years of struggling as a single parent of 3, I can definitely show you how to make the most of your SNAP benefit.
SNAP Challenge - Eating awesome for 31.50 per person per week.
Example: Family of 4 = $126 for the week (are you serious? That is an obscene amount of food)
504/month
$140
Walmart Cost = approx $ (some here do not charge tax on food - San Tan Valley(for sure) and Mesa(?)) See if you can find one that doesn't charge tax near you.
(3) 10 lb bag of Potatoes (ad match) $4.50
1 Gallon Oil - 7.36
6 dozen eggs $6 (albertsons, ad match or walgreens)
36 pack Ramen $6 (ad match)
10 Avocados $2 (ad match)
2 pk Radish .50 (ad match)
6 head lettuce $2 (ad match)
Cabbage approx. 6lbs $4(ad match)
6 bags Mini Peeled Carrots $6 (ad match)
Mini Onions in jar $1.99
9lbs Fresh Brown or yellow onion $3 (ad match)
Split Chicken Breasts 10 lbs @.99lb (Bashas or Smart/Final ad match) $10.00
Beef Back Ribs 10lbs @.99lb (Pros ad match) $10
10 Milk 1/2 gallon (safeway ad match) @$1 each = $10
Store saltines 6 boxes (ad match) = $6
10 Powerade .59 = 5.90
5 boxes of Taco shells = $6
1 20lb bag of rice = $10
25lb bag Flour $8
10 lb bag sugar $5.48
45 oz margarine $4
3 Sour Cream = $3 or Mexican Creama (yum!) $3
Olives = $3
Tortillas = $3
Refried Beans $1
$5 more in fruits or veg
Roma Tomatoes (ad match) 9lbs = $3 or Red Tomatoes 9lbs for $4.50
Here is the trick with the tomatoes - simple you could have figured it out or have... here goes anyway - get tomatoes that are ripe and not ripe.
Approx $100
Sams Club (get a membership or ride a complimentary _ *Students, military get $15 card after membership sign up - tell them you are student or military. )
10lb box of frozen 1/4lb patties = $28
2 BOXES Breaded cod fillets (40 fillets)- $24
Mushrooms = $5
Coleslaw mix - $3
5lb block Cheese = $11
2lb block Colby Cheese = $6
Box of pasta - elbow macaroni = $6
12 bags Frozen Veg - $10
5lb bag peas or some other frozen veg = $6
That's $240. That is a TON of food for the month. This leaves approx $260
So, now, you can get a sandwich pack for $8 at Sams and bread for 4 = $12 for a treat each week.
48 dollars which leaves approx. $190
Here's your menu. To make it simple eat the same type of items each week just as an example.
Remember to eat veggies with your food. So - Salad or veg pack works.
Week 1
Chicken Chicken Fish Burger Tacos Pasta/Casserole Sandwiches
1 lb 1lb 8 fillet 4 4 or 1lb 4 or 1lb
Rice Potatoes rice bread taco shells pasta bag
Week 2
Chicken Chicken Fish Meatloaf Tacos Salad Pasta/Casserole Sandwiches
1 lb 1lb 8 fillet 4 4 or 1lb 4 or 1lb
Rice Potatoes rice bread tortilla pasta bag
Week3
Chicken Chicken Fish Burger tostadas Pasta/Casserole Sandwiches
1 lb 1lb 8 fillet 4 4 or 1lb 4 or 1lb
Rice Potatoes rice bread tortilla pasta bag
Week 4
Chicken Chicken Fish Burger 7 layer dip Spaghetti Sandwiches
1 lb 1lb 8 fillet 4 4 or 1lb 4 or 1lb
Rice Potatoes rice bread chips/tortilla pasta bag
Left with 2lbs of Chicken
Left with 2lbs of Hamburger
Left with 8 fillets
Some quick dinners.
1. chicken in a crockpot - use broth to make a soup
2. fish tacos are an option
3. Chicken with rice and cabbage/veg to make asian dish
4. Burgers or meatloaf or even shepherd's pie
5. Taco or tostada night !
6. Pasta or casserole dish
7. Sandwiches or whatever $12 treat
Breakfasts - eggs, cheese, milk and you still have like 190 dollars which amounts to about 50 a week more for other stuff.
I mean, let's get real. It really is more than enough if you stretch it.
The problem I think and I see around here is this:
At the beginning of the month people tend to get their food SNAP benefits through about the middle of the month. You see them with their multiple full baskets. Sometimes kids will eat a lot if a parent is working. So, getting food they can easily eat could be a challenge in keeping food in the house.
Solution I found with consuming is - don't get easy to cook items like burritos, corn dogs, sandwich meat or even a roast (yeah... they ate a pot roast for a snack one day).
What I did was get some frozen dinners and let them put their names on it and just have those if they were going out or missing dinner or I was exhausted from work.
To be honest, before I had a mother's helper, all I gave them was frozen dinners.
If you want to go that direction - you can get dinners for about $2 each.
7x2 = 14
14x4 = 56
56x4 = 224 dollars for dinners.
You still have 275 dollars for other food for the month....
There are a lot of options and ways to make the most out of your benefits or money, even without couponing.
Also, did you know that you can buy plants and seeds for planting with your SNAP. I heard that in Alaska you can buy a bow and arrow!
Plants would be great because you would have fresh food free... like parsley, rosemary, other items. I saw a website where you can grow potatoes, strawberries and mushrooms in buckets! Of course, mushroom picking or growing should be done with caution. I wouldn't do it.
