Today began the “Food Stamps Challenge” supported by Philadelphia’s Coalition Against Hunger. This challenge was instituted to allow people to see what it is like to live on the allotted $5.00 a day/$35.00 per week that individuals living off Food Stamps are given. I am hoping that participating in this challenge will educate me on what it is like to have to budget more strictly, especially when I have so little to work with.
To begin this challenge I have to go shopping!
I learned that whenever you need to learn how to budget while shopping it is good to take 2 people with you: 1) Someone who can find the best deals and 2) Someone who can point out the yummy stuff despite price. My #1 was my sister Becca, and she made sure I didn’t spend more than I needed to (she was adamant that I buy the salad kit rather than the salad and dressing separately. I saved $3.00!). My #2 was my sister Maddie, a 3-year-old who pointed out the good stuff so that I could really understand what I was going to be missing out on. Nothing like fully appreciating solidarity! After an hour in a Bottom Dollar grocery store (which I found out accepts WIC, so it was an appropriate place to shop) I came home with (in no particular order):
1 Chocolate Chip Cookies = $ .99
1 pack of hot dogs = $ .75
1 box of spaghetti = $ .88
1 bunch of bananas = $ .44/lb
1 Caesar salad kit = $ 2.68
1 peanut butter = $ 2.88
1 grape jelly = $ 1.68
2 loaves of bread = $ 1.76
1 gal. Skim milk = $ 3.26
1 pack of butter = $ 1.57
1 pack of cheese = $ .99
1 box Honey & Oat Tasteeos = $ 1.79
3 boxes Mac&Cheese = $ 1.07
1 Pasta Sauce = $ 1.09
4 lbs of oranges = $ 2.94
1 dozen eggs = $ .98
Total = $ 26.49
I still have $8.51with which to buy food for the week so we shall see how far this food gets me.
My first day of eating was as follows:
Breakfast: Bowl of Honey & Oats Tasteeos with milk
Lunch: PB&J sandwich and 3 cookies
Dinner: Mac and Cheese, banana and peanut butter, and cookies
Dinner was interesting today because I had made plans to meet a friend for dinner on campus, but since I am not able to use my meal plan during this week then I had to bring my packed lunch. Thankfully it was a friend I was with who appreciated what I was participating in, but I can understand how humiliating it is to have to say that you can’t afford to eat out. Since food stamps are not traditionally accepted at restaurants or fast food chains this means that I have to bring my food with me wherever I go, if I am not going to be at home. This means, that as a college student, whenever I go to campus I have to plan ahead, packing myself a lunch and/or dinner. How reminiscent of high school! I was borderline ashamed of my plastic bag of food, while my friend was enjoying a freshly prepared sandwich that was fairly delicious (It is campus food.). This brings to mind whether or not I could give up eating out all the time. Think about how often you and your family eat out. Could you supplement that with preparing a home-cooked meal every time?
At the end of day 1, I am feeling pretty positive about this experience. I seem to have a few options per meal so I am not being too repetitive, and I still have over $8.00 which I witnessed, when spent correctly, can get quite a bit of food. Here’s hoping that the rest of the week can remain just as positive!
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