Grocery Challenge

[torch71]

NEW CHALLENGE EVERYONE!

If you had only $20 dollars to buy a weeks worth of groceries could you survive? If so what would you buy?

Please share your suggestions with all of us

Just purchased 60 eggs/$4.98 - two chickens - $7  - box of rice - $2 - a bag of romaine lettuce for $3

[erinelise2]

I would get rice for certain. You can pad almost any meal with rice.

[Clandestine1]

Yes I could survive but the food wouldn't be healthy at all. I could buy ramen and other cheap noodles. Some college students really survive on that.

[patti4me]

I would buy eggs, dry pinto beans, rice, ground beef, lunch meat, bread, and canned tuna.

[msmoneybags48]

I know I answered once, but here goes.  I saw some very entertaining answers on here.  I see that a lot of people, like me, went for ramen noodles.  They come 6 in a pack and my grandson and I eat them around here.  When I want something that is quick, I make sloppy joes, boil a pack of ramen noodles, drain them and put sloppy joes on top of my ramen noodles with some cheese.  I then nuke it in the microwave for two minutes.  It is filling, and does not take a lot of time.

[sak4kat]

I would shop at Aldi.  Seems I can always get more for my money there.

Let's see...I'm considering myself, my partner and my 3 kids in this for $20.  If it were just me...not problem.  Here Goes.
A canister of oatmeal
Gallon of milk
bag of apples
hot dogs
mac n' cheese 3 boxes
peanut butter
eggs 1 carton
bread 3 loaves
1 case of water

Okay it could be done...I don't think I could stretch it for all 5 of us.  Thank God I'm not in that situation.  Yikes.  I know people who are with kids in diapers and I don't know how they do it.

[lvstephanie]

If I were really strapped for cash and had to start from scratch, I'd probably try to get as much of the basics and make as much on my own as I could... Like instead of buying pasta or ramen noodles, I'd buy flour, eggs, milk, milk, salt and sugar to make my own pasta and flat-bread. I'd also try to get a whole chicken so that I can use the legs to make a soup, and probably roast the rest, maybe saving the breast-meat for sandwiches. For produce, I'd get cheap veggies like lettuce, carrots, and celery.

If we could use the stuff we already had around the house (just deducting what was used from the $20) it'd be even easier, esp. since a lot of the basics I can buy once and it'll last for several weeks (eg. a bag of flour, salt, sugar, spices, even a gallon of milk lasts me a couple weeks). Then I'd spend more of the money at the store on proteins and produce.

If I knew that this was how it'd be for awhile (eg I lost my job or some other expenses (eg serious medical expenses) caused me to shrink my food budget), I'd also try buying seeds to grow my own garden for the produce... Probably plant things, like tomatoes, that are easy to can so that I can can them and save them for the winter months.

[mjdoug03]

That's not a lot to live on.  You'd have to have coupons!

[gbabesmom]

I like Save A Lot. They have a limited selection but I could get what I needed.

Bread - although I may check Dollar Tree which is next door for bread or I'd skip the bread and buy tortillas
Milk
Bananas
Pasta or rice
2 pound chub of ground chuck or a bag of chicken drumsticks
Eggs
A jar of pasta sauce
A bag of frozen broccoli
8 oz block of cheddar cheese

I love to bake so I always have flour and baking supplies. I'd make bagels, biscuits, pancakes or waffles.

[jenniferhoder]

Well milk, cheese, bread and maybe some meat if some sort.... It would be pretty hard tho!!!

[xAJx]

hmm.  $20 worth groceries heh,  well i am unemployed and to survive i get foods that come in small but large amounts

1. Oatmeal - its delicious and healthy and brings alot of oats.
2. Vegetables - fresh cuts in your fridge make a fine snack, lunch, breakfast.
3. Fruits   -  i usually buy apples, oranges, and bananas
i drink only water and aside i have a box of tea bags (green tea) i like them unsweatened so it limits me to buy sugar

and if u want something fun try peanut butter, pretzels.
i have to eat this way due to economy and the non-employed part, plus i do stay healthy to limit doctors visit 

[tea4me]

I am thrilled, premar16, to be the first to answer this question.  If I only had $20 and had to buy a week's worth of groceries, I would buy a roll of sausage, eggs, bread, ground beef, ramen noodles, and an onion.

I was hoping someone would mention ramen noodles!  That is a great list for the shopping trip, msmoneybags!

[pwhittle1]

I would have to go to a discount store like Sav A lot. Probably buy 2 dozen eggs, Macaroni, Jar of sauce, rice, Oranges, Peanut Butter, 2 loafs of Bread, and maybe fit in cheap soup. I don't even want to try it. 

[Tresbn00]

I can, and have, lived on Twentty dollars in groceries. I have a family of four that lives on less than one hundred dollars per week in groceries. This wasn't true up until about three months ago when my son decided he wanted to go to private school and we didn't know how to make it happen. We make good cash so I examined our expenses and cut back in each area. By planning out the weekly meals, each Sunday, I was able to cut our grocery bill to about eighty dollars. I make one casserole on Sunday(different casserole each week for under ten dollars)and it lasts two to three days. Making a Turkey or ham lasts for several lunches and dinners. Tuna fish covers lunches and dinners.

[ljrjess69]

yes i do believe i could do it  ,,,,,,,