Sunday, March 8, 2009

Day 8- $1 a day


Some people are interested in the logistics of my experiment, so I will indulge you by sharing what I am eating. Here’s a photo that shows my basics- pasta, potatoes, carrots, onions, kiwis, tea bags, brown rice, Top Ramen, peanut butter sandwiches, oatmeal, olive oil and vegetable oil for cooking, and not pictured are black beans which I recently made into a soup. I keep everything on my kitchen table so I can easily see what is fair game and so I will not be tempted by the other food in my cupboards. It’s best not to see the artichoke hearts, honey, chocolate chips, Marionberry preserves, etc. on the shelves.

I’m only 8 days into the experiment, but I’m surprised by how much fresh food I have been able to buy. Special produce deals have supplied me with a 10 pound bag of potatoes for $1.97, a bag of kiwis for $1.50 (which comes to about 7 cents per kiwi), and of course the infamous 5 pounds of carrots for 99 cents.

I’ve spent about $20 up front to have some things on hand to cook and prepare. Some things are gone already—like the beans—but most things will last for a couple more weeks, and then I can buy another round of staples. I find it’s also wise to stay out of stores as much as possible. Why visit Disneyland when you can’t go on the rides?

3 comments:

  1. as i was at rainbow grocery today, i found myself comparing my purchases to your experiment. this was after spending $8 on breakfast this morning, which is 8 days of food for you right now. i asked myself why i thought it was important to be at the organic store vs. the much cheaper safeway. couldn't that money be going somewhere else? but don't i want to invest in organic and local foods? wow, quite a conflict. what do i value more saving money, saving earth or both?

    as i walked out of the grocery store, there was a man asking for spare change. at first i just walked past him and then after contemplating my $8 breakfast i had to go back and hand him a few dollars. i had great appreciation for being able to take myself to breakfast, something that you are choosing not to do right now and something some people never have a choice at doing.

    thanks for making me think more about how i am spending my $$$.
    v!

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  2. yes, yes, and yes! vicki! you managed to put at least 5 important issues all in one comment. organic vs. cheaper? values. charity. appreciation. mindfulness. I love it! And thanks for sharing your thought processes.

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  3. But Vicki have you noticed that the 'much cheaper Safeway' ain't so cheap lately? The price of food, even staples is so outrageous of late. I don't know how poor families do it.

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