How many of you assumed failure from the start? I mean, $100 to feed a family of 3 for 4 weeks does seem, well, outlandish. But guess what? We did it!

When starting this project, it was my goal to try to use up lingering items instead of letting them go to waste, save a little money, and challenge ourselves to MAKE DO. That goal was more than accomplished…and I learned a lot about myself this month.

What did I learn? Namely, eating meals/snacks out is where the biggest amount of waste comes into play. I can’t tell you how many times I felt too lazy to make something at home and considered hitting the DQ or ordering a pizza. But I didn’t. It was a struggle, though. It made me realize how, without the Challenge, I would have just done it. What if I had succumbed just 5 times (once every 5 or 6 days?) – well, on a low estimate, that would have been at least $60 down the drain. That will pay the phone bill, people. Another issue was wanting to go out to eat once a week. A couple of times, we did. Once early on, after a night at the Fair, and once when my sister was in visiting (and my Dad footed the bill). But the rest of the month, we just stayed in and did our own thing. I feel sure that this is the healthiest we have ever eaten – NO FAST FOOD in a month? It has to be good for you to skip out on that way of life. Is it hard? Kind of. Only because of how convienient Fast Food is. But it isn’t impossible. In fact, we have gotten quite used to it – the lunch packing, the staying in. But if you attempt it, don’t just assume it’s going to be super easy…it takes dedication.

Now, groceries. I mentioned before starting that I have a weakness for habitually hitting the grocery store 3 or 4 times a week, just to grab stuff. Completely unnecessary. I went a few times this month, and each time, I got what I needed. NEEDED. And I even got a few things I WANTED, but only because I took advantage of fantastic sales. Those sales helped me to keep our freezer/fridge/pantry stocked instead of wiping out everything we had, as some people assumed (me included) would happen.

Mostly I learned this…we waste too much and are lazy when it comes to food. Now I know better, and I intend to incorporate this frugal way of living into our lives. We will continue to limit our dinners out, we will certainly limit any fast food, we will continue packing Jon’s lunches, and we will NOT go to the grocery store out of habit. Lessons learned.

Now, the money we saved. $502. We spent roughly $98 this month on food, and said we would start with our estimated average $600. Our reward? Tomorrow, we are heading to Williamsburg,Virginia with Seven and the rest of our family to go to Busch Gardens. We’ll be staying 3 nights and we have Park Passes for the whole weekend. No new camera this time. Maybe for Christmas? – But see? Just being smart in the food department is sending us on a short family vacation. I think that totally outshines a meal or two at Applebee’s and Pizza hut, don’t you?

Here’s what we ended with…can you believe it? This wasn’t even a struggle, and I still have most everything. We added things with our $100, used things that needed used, and still have all of this to work with!

In the Freezer:
1 2 pound Pork Loin
1 packs of chicken breasts
3 packs of hamburger
2 packs of deer burger
1 pound Ham
1 Boston Market boxed dinners
Box Shrimp Scampi
1 Bags of Corn on the Cob
1 Bags frozen corn
Homemade puff pastry
1 bag mixed vegetable stirfry
1/2 container of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
Homemade Peach Ice Cream
Homemade Blackberry Sorbet
2 servings Homemade Ravioli

Fridge:
5 eggs
1/3 Gallon Milk
4 bricks cream cheese
2 packs butter
Partial Pack of American Cheese
partial bricks of other cheese
Lots of condiments and jelly
3 bags of Sargento Shredded Cheese
1 bag sliced Sargento Provolone
1 Beer
Hot Dog Weiners
Partial pack of Bologna
1 partial pack flour tortillas
1 cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
2 applesauce

Pantry:
2 cans corn
2 cans diced tomatoes
Peanut Butter & Nutella
Baking Stuffs – flour, sugar, etc – normal amounts
Chocolates for Baking
Seasonings – normal amounts
1 boxes Shells & Cheese
3 cans Cream of Chicken
2 cans Sweetened Condensed Milk
few boxes pasta, less than I had
1 can baked beans
1 can water chestnuts
3 Hamburger Helper
3 RiceaRoni or Zatarains
2 jars Bertolli Sauce
1 jar Alfredo sauce
2 Cake Mixes
1 Brownie Mixes
Lemonade Mix
A few tea bags
2 boxes Jello
3 Gravy Mixes
1 Boxes Scalloped Potatoes
3 Boxes Romanos Macaroni Grill (free)
4 cans of tuna
2 Bags Microwave Popcorn
Partial Loaf of Bread
Half bag of Marshmallows
3 partial boxes of cereal, some stale.

Fresh Food –
an apple
fresh cilantro
lots of green peppers
lots of peaches
lots of blackberries
couple of tomatoes
zucchini & squash

I would love to hear what you all think about my Challenge. I have gotten Comments from several people mentioning that they would like to do it now. I am thinking September will be my next OFFICIAL Raid. Anyone want to join me? I would also love to know what other families average on food per month…including meals eaten at school/work/restaurants, etc. How much is normal? I just assume that my family falls into the normal range with $600 – averaging $75-100 a week in groceries, $5-6 a day on lunches for those who work outside the home, and $50 or so a week for meals at restaurants. Typical? Weigh in here. And thanks!