What we're giving up

It's impossible to go into this experiment and believe that we're going to eat the same way we always have. We know it's going to be radically different. I'm sure we'll eat a few meals like we normally do, but not only are the meals going to change, but the rationale behind the meal will change too. No longer will dinner be throwing together something at the last minute, No longer will Scott "Just pick something up on the way home." Meals will be planned. Meals will be orchestrated. Meals will be agonized over. Meals might become ordeals.

We know, that going into this month that we're going to be giving up some things without a doubt. They are not core to a streamlined budget, they are not found on food pyramids, and some of the them are barely considered food. Here's what we know we're going to do without.

Bottled water. Scott and I drink one bottle each and every time we go to the gym. We also carry a bottle whenever we head out as a family. An additional bottle of water usually sits alongside our bed for nocturnal parched-ness. We will finally put to use the metal canteen thingy-s that Scott regularly brings back from ocassional out-of-town business seminars. I have tried to use one in the past, but couldn't get past the weird-feeling plastic nozzle. Well I guess I have a choice, the metal canteen or the drinking fountain.

Bottled juice. If Scott and I are drinking bottled water, the kids have a cup with apple juice. I always dilute it 50%-50% with tap water, but I know that the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends that children Grant's age only consume 4 ounces of juice per day. I am certain both boys are consuming way more than that. So I guess giving up the juice by necessity is a good thing.

Fancy coffee. Scott and I have never been coffeehouse people. We don't know our Venti from our Grande, but on weekends, we love to brew big pots of coffee and use flavored cream and other goodies. Since coffee can't be consumed by our kids, we'll do without. Bye, bye International Delights, see ya next month, Splenda.

Takeout. When your daily food budget is the same as one meal at even the most modest fast-food restaurant, fast food is definitely off limits. And really, all dining outside of the home will pretty much break the bank, so that's off limits too.

Condiments. Scott and I are condiment connoisseurs. We love sauces, spreads and seasonings. At one time, we had seven different kinds of mustard in our refrigerator. Under our budget, we will be flavoring our meals with Ketchup, plain yellow mustard and possibly one bottle of ranch dressing. I will weep for lack of blue cheese and Frank's red hot sauce, but I will survive.

Soda. Scott and I usually have one diet soda per day with lunch. At 50 cents per can, I think we'll need that in our budget. Besides, water is better for us anyway.

Ice Cream. Ice cream is our favorite dessert. Ice cream is singlehandedly responsible for most of my belly roll.

Snacks. Chips, pretzels, cookies, pop-tarts (Connor's favorite breakfast). None of these foods seem like they fit in this restricted budget plan. I will buy a box of Goldfish for Connor and Grant because they did not ask for a drastic diet change and I want to have one comfort food available for snacks.

In reading this, it seems like we drink a lot of unnecessary fluid and eat a lot of garbage. Maybe getting rid of this stuff will more than save us money, maybe it will save our lives.

Tomorrow's post: Labeling the pantry

The Rules

It's almost impossible to create a restrictive meal budget without setting up some rules. Scottie and I have talked and talked and talked some more about what can and can't be consumed and what should and shouldn't count. And Scott is actually more hardcore than I am, so when it seems like all he's getting to eat is bread and water, this was his idea too.

The Rules

• We have a $400 budget for the entire month (the month is defined as 28 days, but if we're not starving too much, we will extend it a full 31 days. ).
• We will keep track of 2 totals, the amount spent and the amount consumed. Not all items purchased during each shopping trip will be consumed immediately, or in their entirety.
• Any food that Scott and Kellie consume outside of the home will count in the food budget.
• All food in the Freeze household at the start of the experiment is considered "off limits" and will be labeled as such. (see exceptions).
• All food brought into the Freeze household during the period starting January 4 and ending either January 31 or February 3 must be paid for out of the $400 budget.
• Food that is purchased does not have to be consumed within the week, portions may be frozen or reserved for future use.
• All food will be labeled with the item's total cost and cost per serving (or cost per basic unit of measure, i.e. cost per tsp, TBSP, or cup).
• Connor is allowed to eat snack at preschool without penalty.
• Connor and Grant are allowed to eat snacks at play dates but we will bring a snack from our house as first choice.
• Kellie will host a book discussion on January 20 and must pay for the refreshments (including wine) out of the $400.
• Kellie and Scott will go out one night and must budget and save $30 for the event.
• Scott's place of employment provides beverages and snacks for its employees, but Scott is limited to water, tea, or black coffee.
• When Kellie attends board meetings or other social events, unless she has prepared and paid for the food, all food and beverages are off limits except for tap water.
• If Scott has to attend a lunch meeting, he must pack and bring his own meal, food may not be purchased for him.
• We can collect and use coupons.
• We can comparison shop.
• We will weigh ourselves and our children on January 4 and again on a weekly basis. Weight loss by either child means that they are not getting enough to eat and the experiment should be reconsidered.

Exceptions

• Pantry staple items that we already own (like salt and pepper, olive oil, and baking supplies) will be labeled with cost per basic unit of measure. Amounts used will be deducted from the $400 (i.e. we do not need to buy another box of salt to use 1 teaspoon from it. We can "buy" the needed amount from the box we already own.) Cost for the entire container will be gathered from local and online grocery stores.
• Vitamins, pain relievers, and cold medications do not come out of the $400.

Yes, I know that I sound like a robot, I just wanted to make sure I've covered anything.

Tomorrow's post, What We're Giving Up

Why 400?

At first glance, $400 seems like a lot of money. $400 represents a good day of shopping or a fantastic pair of shoes or new window treatments for my dining room. A lot of money, but I chose it because it seemed like a number that I could wrap my head around. A nice round number, $400 for 4 people. $100 per person for a month of food.

My ultimate goal is to make it from January 4 to February 3, an entire 31 days. As we live our experiment, we may need to adjust the date to January 31. I don't want my young children to starve or become miserable. Either way, this is going to be a huge challenge. $100/28 days equals $3.57 per person per day or about $14.29 per day for the family. If we can stretch our experiment out for the entire 31 days, the daily budget slips down to $12.90 per day.

And that doesn't count our extra challenges. Scott and I have decided that if we are going to limit our food finances, we must still live our lives in a normal way. We must perform several tasks throughout the month.
1) We must entertain at least 4 people in a social setting. (I have budgeted $40 for food & wine)
2) We must go out for a night of fun. (We can attend only if we can budget and save $30)
3) We must attend our regularly scheduled events, and if we eat anything, we must pay for it out of our budget.

All of these expenses must come out of our $400 effectively bringing our daily food budget down to $11.79 for 28 days or $10.65 for the entire 31 day period. $10.65 seems like the cost of a lunch at a casual dining restaurant, not the daily food budget for a family of 4. Is this even possible? What in the heck will my family eat?

Tomorrow's post: The Rules.

What I'm doing

In January 4, my family and I are undertaking a challenge. Can we live of of just $400 for an entire month? Scott and I have always been frugal, but are fortunate enough that we can eat according to our cravings rather than our budget. From January 4 to February 4, we will adhere to a strict $400 budget to feed our family of four, which includes a preschooler and a toddler. Will we be able to sacrifice luxuries like Coffee, ice cream, fruit juice and snacks? Will our children accept an absence of Pop Tarts at the breakfast table? Will we be able to create nutritious and cost-effective meals for an entire month? We'll see...



You might ask yourself, why subject yourself to depravity if you don't have to? Well, why not? Scott and I would love to find cost effective ways to feed our family. We are lucky that we can afford to feed ourselves in any manner we choose, but what if our financial situation was to change? What if Scott lost hos job? What if we, like millions of Americans, couldn't afford to feed our family? 2 years ago, Scott lost his job and was without work for almost 7 months. It was a stressful time and our eating habits reflected it. We ate a lot of boxed mac & cheese and other low-cost, high-fat foods and our waistlines suffered. We would like to have a nutritional "do-over," a chance to make smarter decisions, both nutritionally and financially and to prove to ourselves that we can survive and thrive on a lot less.

Tomorrow...Why 400?