I'm still trying to decide whether I will continue this challenge for another month and that is making for a dilemma on how to spend the last bit of money I have. If this is it, then I want to use it to get something I will really enjoy on the last day, but if I continue, $4 is four days worth of food that could go toward some quality food. I know how I would like to use it, but I will hold off spending until I make a decision either way.

I wasn't planning on buying anything today for the challenge, but I ended up doing so. I went to pick up some free Tide Stain Release and also to pick up 4 more packages of the Smoked Turkey Franks since they were also free and I had coupons (I knew that I wasn't going to eat them, but since they were free, I will donate them to the local food pantry) when I came across an unexpected deal.

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This is part of a month long challenge to eat well while spending an average of only $1 a day on food. You can find the beginning and the rules of this challenge here

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I always browse through the discounted sections at stores to see if there are any good deals that I can match with coupons I have. In the deli meat section, I noticed that Oscar Mayer Deli Creations packages were discounted to $0.99 because their sell date was the end of the month. There is a $1 off 1 coupon for Deli Creations in the 5/16 SmartSource weekly newspaper coupon insert which made them free. I immediately bought all 10 that were marked down and actually made $0.10 (the cashier paid me — many don't when coupons are more than the price of food, but on occasion they do):

day 30 deli creations

day 30 deli creations receipt

Since I am only allow to use 2 of these for this challenge according to the rules, I will see if the food pantry can use the rest of them. I know that they like the packaged meals like this especially for the homeless that stop buy since it is a convenient for them.

Breakfast

I had my usual Corn Flakes with banana on top for breakfast, and I added a couple of scrambled eggs to the side with a large spoonful of salsa. I also had a glass of the 100% white grape / peach juice (half juice, half water):

day 30 breakfast

Lunch

I used up my last can of tuna and mixed it with the last of the bagged salad and Miracle Whip to make a tuna sandwich. I only had two pieces of bread left and wanted to save one for the last day, so I ate it opened faced. I also had a whole apple:

day 30 lunch

Dinner

I am really running low on most things, so my dinner was pretty much dictated to me with what was available. I used the rest of the ground beef and made a hamburger and fried up an egg to place on top. I also boiled one of the ears of corn I had:

day 30 dinner

This is the current list of what I have purchased:

Money Spent $26.48
Money left to spend: 4.52 ($2 must be spent at CVS)
Retail Value of everything bought: $593.19

20 Deli Selections lunch packages
3 ears of corn
1 package of chicken breast deli style (1 lb)
5 packages hardwood smoked turkey franks
1 package of veggie spiral pasta
1 salt and pepper shaker combo
1 bag of salad
1 package of macaroni and cheese
3 sample packs of Maxwell House Vanilla Carmel Latte
4 sample packages of Wheat Thins Sundried Tomato & Basil
3 packages (small) Fig Newtons
1 jar Miracle Whip
1 potato
1 mystery purchase
1 lb ground beef
6 tomatoes
2 broccoli crowns
2 loaves of bread
2 jars of Classico pasta sauce
2 Safeway brand pasta (spaghetti and rotini)
1 celery stalk
2 bags tortilla chips
5 cans tuna
1 bottle Welch's grape & peach 100% juice
1 bottle V8 Fusion fruit / vegetable drink
1 bottle V8 spicy vegetable drink
2 boxes of Caprisun fruit drinks (10 packs)
1 jar of salsa
1 bag of black beans
3 half gallons of milk
36 boxes of cereal
3 dozen eggs
2 avocados
20 bananas
2 boxes of Quaker Instant oatmeal
55 packs of Philadelphia Cream Cheese Minis
1 package of Knudsen Light sour cream
20 apples
2 lbs of carrots
8 boxes (small) of Wheat Thins
2 jars of Skippy All Natural peanut butter
2 cans of pork and beans
1 bag of long grain brown rice
2 packages of Mission 100% whole wheat tortillas (10 count each)

Donated Food / other items to Food Bank that was purchased with my $1 a day

4 packages hardwood smoked turkey franks
2 Gillette body wash
3 sample packs of Maxwell House Vanilla Carmel Latte
1 Stayfree pantiliner package
1 Kotex U tampon package
5 Bayer children's aspirin
2 sticks of deodorant
4 bottles Windex multi-surface cleaner
1 can of Pork & Beans
32 boxes of cereal
50 packs of Philadelphia Cream Cheese Minis
4 boxes (small) of Wheat Thins
2 Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean bathroom cleaner
2 Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean bathroom cleaner refill

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The Beginning ::: Day 31: Final Day

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