Food Stamp Challenge

I was on a fellow staff worker's blog and noticed his reference to a challenge in Oregon that was reported on by NPR.org. I guess Oregon is issuing a challenge to spend only $21.00 a week on food which is the typical amount someone on food stamps has to spend. Even the governor has decided to try and survive only on $21.00 a week.

His grocery store shopping trip is detailed in this, The Register Guardian, article: Governor struggles on food stamp budget:

"Coffee and organic bananas weren't the only casualties: The governor pined wistfully for canned Progresso soups, but at $1.53 apiece, they were too dear. He settled instead for a collegiate staple, three packages of Cup O'Noodles for 33 cents apiece. Kulongoski also gave up his usual Adams natural, no-stir peanut butter in favor of a generic store brand, but drew the line at saving money by buying a 21st century innovation: peanut butter and jelly in the same jar. "

What's even worse is according the the challenge rules, you have to start with empty cupboards!

It's pretty sobering to think of what $21.00 a week on grocery's would look like. Matt and I try to survive on $60-$80 a week on groceries. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes not. We'd have to cut so much out to get down to $21.00 a week. No soda, no chips, no canned soups, no instant breakfast, no bagels, no stakes, no ice cream. It'd be an interesting challenge to try for a month.