Challenge: Can a family of five eat for week on $100?by Darla Hernandez (darlah@wsbt.com)
In this week's Money Monday, WSBT News is challenging the Conforths to feed their family of five for a week with only $100. (WSBT photo) SOUTH BEND — In these tough times everyone is looking for ways to save some green on groceries. For this week's Money Monday we are putting one family to the test with a $100 challenge. Multimedia Related Content
In times like these everyone is looking to save at the store, and the Conforth family is no exception. Mandy Conforth has to feed a family of five. "My husband is in the RV industry," she told WSBT News. So they are cutting back big time. "Nobody eats out and nobody eats school lunches, and my husband takes a lunch every day," she said. On top of that, the Conforths recently sold a car and are even selling their house to downsize. Now the challenge: Can the Conforth family stick to a $100 grocery budget to make meals for the week? “I think I can," said Conforth. The rules: No fast food, no frozen pizzas; just old-fashioned cooking. Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center dietitian Kylie Harrold says you can cut some serious green on groceries. "Frozen vegetables are a great option because you still have all the nutrients and all the vitamin C, all the B vitamins," said Harrold. Harrold says tuna and beans are filling, full of fiber and cheaper than meat. "Protein is often times been pushed as an essential nutrient, which it is. But we often eat a lot more than we need. Beans — and if you mix it with brown rice — are a complete protein," added Harrold. So with cash in hand the Conforth meal challenge is on! "Our income has been slashed significantly, so we are really tightening the belts and turning down the heat and pinching pennies with groceries," she said. Watch WSBT News next Monday to find out if the Conforth family was able to complete the challenge. A produce expert will also offer tips to give your food a longer shelf life. Thursday, Nov 20 at 4:13 PM me wrote ...I feed a family of 4 for around 85 a week, and that is shopping at meijer, and not eating crap. fresh fruit veggies and meat. I do not buy processed foods ie: frozen dinners, chips, cookies and such. It is not hard to do if you ad shop and use coupons. Of course this does not include diapers, cleaning supplies and the like only food. Wednesday, Nov 19 at 9:00 AM N wrote ...Also, someone mentioned Dave Ramsey. Do you know why Dave Ramsey is so successful and can afford to feed and care for his family so easily? Because idiots like you pay for his advice, thus making him rich and able to talk to people about how they spend their money. It's kind of hypocritical to instruct someone on how to spend their money when you are charging them to listen to you talk. I'd say thats a big sign right there that you should be spending your money wiser. Wednesday, Nov 19 at 8:58 AM N wrote ...100 bucks a week for 5 people is 20 bucks a person. Split that by 5 days a week (I assume we arent counting weekends here), and that is 4 bucks a day. Can anyone, ANYONE, feed themselves on just 4 bucks a day? No. So there is your answer. Wednesday, Nov 19 at 6:37 AM Elmer wrote ...Is that you Cornfusion pretending to be Sasha? Tuesday, Nov 18 at 10:11 PM Anonymous wrote ...There are 5 of us and we spend give or take 100 a week. You can eat good old fashion dinners. Watch for the sales. Cut out all the crap junk food, they don't need it anyways. Buy fruits and veg for snacks. Buy the meat that is on sale for the week and work around that. No boxed already made crap, make your own. Take coupons and use them. People have no idea anymore always in a rush and buy expensive already made junk. My mother always cooked good food and I am glad she taught me well. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 9:53 PM Sasha wrote ...Oh my goodness why on Earth would you want to try to do that? I couldn't imagine torturing my children by limiting them to $100/week in food. Why, we easily go through that much just in Starbuck's and honestly, the little ones only get one cup a day. I dare say I'd be pressed to get through one day's meals on under $100, let alone a week, and there are only four of us. A vegetable garden sounds interesting, but I'm not sure our gardener's really as clean as I'd like, if you know what I mean. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 9:37 PM Anonymous wrote ...Eat healthy for five on 100 bucks? ROLTFMAO Sure could be done if not one single person in the home isn't a pickky eater, or on a special diet, and you cut out meat, fresh greens, and only eat once a day. Ah but I forget myself...You know meat, is like health care now, if you have loads of cash you raped from your fellow American's you can afford the doctor and meat. I can see those CEOs, over paid sports and movie stars, etc, saying "Let them eat cake" just like little Marie Antoinette Tuesday, Nov 18 at 6:06 PM Can't beleive it wrote ...If the family of five eats cereal and water, they can suffice on $100 a week. They can grow a garden in the summer too to make it easier. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 5:51 PM sunshine wrote ...fried potatoes every day eggs and toast very filling oh and soup everyday very filling no soda lots water koolaid is cheap makes a whole pither and tang goes a long way peanut butter watch for them buy 1 get 1freeze that hillbilly steak Tuesday, Nov 18 at 5:51 PM rob wrote ...i'm single and i average about 15.00 per week,i watch for sales and benefit from that Tuesday, Nov 18 at 5:10 PM ep wrote ...Natisha...she said 8 GLASSES of water a day, not 8 GALLONS..Check your "reading" for accuracy lest you come off very arrogant. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 4:20 PM Jody wrote ...sissy, that's very noble of you. I'm sure your other two kids were more than understanding. How old were they, anyway? Tuesday, Nov 18 at 4:19 PM Sissy wrote ...I forgot to mention, if you're thinking of downsizing, the state of nebraska is VERY acommodating in regards to taking your excess kids. Just drop em off at a hostipal, no questions asked. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 4:17 PM Natisha wrote ...Molly, if a child drinks 8 gallons of water a day it will probably die, check your "clues" for accuracy before spreading this kind of dangerous misinformation. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 3:32 PM grumpy old man says wrote ...in my day if my mother fixed sticks for a meal we ate it and we LIKED it. We had stone soup and liked it. we ate dog and cat food and we LIKED it!!! one time she cooked an old rubber boot and we were told we very well better like it, and guess what? WE LIKED It........ Tuesday, Nov 18 at 3:31 PM a square wrote ...If all else fails, remember the Donner Party? Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 3:19 PM Sissy wrote ...Lou ann you just hit the nail on the head right there! Some familes really are just too darn big and how they expect to survive is beyond me. In china they only allow one child per family and thats how it should be here too. Our family recently downsized, we had 3 (only planned 2, little Nathan was a happy accident, or so we thought!) it was kinda tough giving up our two older kids, but they knew it was for the best. Now Nathan has some NICE toys and good food. Thats all we can do really. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 2:34 PM Molly Mom wrote ...This is for WEll: Don't knock it til you try it. My kids aren't overweight like 1/2 of the kids today. Besides you should drink 8 glasses of water per day. Get a clue. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 1:56 PM ???????? wrote ...you know when i was a kid first of all i came from a family of 11 children when we were kid we ate what my mom cook we had no choices if we did like it and did not eat it my mother would put it baCK ON THE TABLE FOR US THE NEXT DAY SO WE ATE IT TO GET RID OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE LOL NOW DAYS THESE KIDS HAVE TO MANT CHOICES AT THE GROCERY STORE ..... Tuesday, Nov 18 at 1:47 PM Anonymous wrote ...make a list of things you buy regularily and price them at the different stores. make a menu and buy only what's on that menu. watch for sales. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 12:46 PM Kellie wrote ...The biggest thing I have learned is not to buy brand name products. Often times the cheap stuff is just as good if not better then the name brands. And don't buy pre-packaged anything, that's a markup for all the wasted packaging. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 12:29 PM coupon wrote ...i get coupons at shopathome.com or couponmom.com Tuesday, Nov 18 at 12:26 PM Melissa wrote ...I have a family of 5 and we spend exactly 100 dollars a week on food. If the cost of food keeps going up we will just have to eat cheaper. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 11:22 AM Well... wrote ...To Molly Mom. "Make your child drink several glasses of tap water"? "They won't eat much"? This is possibly, one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. How about giving them some good for them meals? Or is that beyond your comprihension? Children need food to thrive. It scares me you are a mother. If that is the way you are saving money, well, I just don't understand....I'm shaking my head in disbelief here. Just "make" them drink water and you save on groceries. Neglect. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 10:27 AM Kammy wrote ...This is for Mary @ 5:41 PM - Yes I have a suggestion for a picky husband. Don't feed him a couple nights. I can bet pretty much any food will start looking good to him. Until then you save $$$$$$, helping your budget! Yahoooooo! Tuesday, Nov 18 at 10:23 AM Molly Mom wrote ...The best way to do this with water. Water is filling. Make each child drink several glasses of tap water before supper. They will already be full and won't eat much! Good luck! Tuesday, Nov 18 at 10:17 AM For the mom of 3 wrote ...Start by cutting out name brands. Trust me, you can live without 'em. Secondly don't waste money on sodas,chips,cookies and other snacks. Make snacks at home with the added benefit that the kids will love helping! Tuesday, Nov 18 at 10:16 AM Well... wrote ...Patti...Ummm, What? Who's meg? And what are you talking about, girl? Tuesday, Nov 18 at 9:51 AM Anonymous wrote ...Yes you can. You just need to learn how to shop. Through name brand out of the window. And you can forget you $10 steaks. Chicken, fish and hamburger are real cheap. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 9:20 AM Amy wrote ...Did everyone know that Walmart matches ads and instore coupons from all local stores? So Aldi or other flyers for items with specific price is matched? I go thru all flyers and make list of which flyer it is in and price with page. Any store brand in flyers is a Sam's brand on shelves. Just my way of pinching penny's. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 9:09 AM bee wrote ...thats what im saying,elmer.my skinny boy eats more than anyone in the house.but growing boys of any age,crap,thats all they do.i told my son he was a bottemless pitt and he said "so im a pitt bull with no butt"..lol.we thought it was funny. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 9:00 AM Patti wrote ...Meg-you've got someone watching the web sight for 'NDU and slamming 'sbt. This is the second instance I've seen. "Cornfusion" Although it wasn't the same name. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 8:54 AM Anonymous wrote ...Stop and think how many sheets are on a roll of toliet paper. There are store brands and a name brand that come with 1,000 sheets on a roll. Hey they may not be soft like some brands, but it you have a septic system, it saves you a lot of headaches. They also are cheaper in the long run. I also shop Aldi's, but not to much Walmart, as they are not cheap. I shop the grocery ads and plan my meals accordingly. If it is a real good price, I buy extra freeze. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 7:37 AM Jackie wrote ...I just looked at my receipts from the last time I went grocery shopping on 11/9 and I spent approximate $200.00 for 2 weeks for a family of 8. And that is with buying diapers for 2 little ones, baby food, medicine, and light bulbs and things like that for around the house. SO there are ways of doing it. I shop at walmart for some groceries and household products and then aldi's for the rest. Husband works at walmart and get a discount but only saved $4 on everything. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 6:57 AM Elmer wrote ...Hog Wash, I have my old lady and 3 teenage boys. Them boys drink up to 10 gallons of milk a week! That is over $30 in milk! Now none of my family is over weight, we have the skinny gene. So you tell me how one should cut back with that being said. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 6:08 AM bee wrote ...i find it really hard to get by on $100 a wk.im the only female in the house.thats 3 to one,with 2 growing boys.all they do is eat.mom im humgry,is the most said phrase in my house.i sure am glad for hunting and gardens.i planted my 1st garden last year and tho it wasnt that great it still gave me way more than the store would have for that price. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 5:07 AM Blutnick wrote ...All those cheap beans can also assist in providing low cost fuel for winter heating (believe me, I know). Some quick math: 5 people x 7 days x 3 meals equals $.95/meal. Heck you could eat a Micky D burger every meal if you wanted. But why eat that; my mouth just waters when I close my eyes and think of tuna and beans. That's some good eatin'. Tuesday, Nov 18 at 12:18 AM bjk100 wrote ...It is easy to make it on the $100 a week. Just plan on making every other day a meatless day. Spagetti is really cheap and kids love mac and cheese! buy what is on sale and if youhave to freeze some for the next week. i buy the leg quarters when the 5# bag is on sale and split it up. Wash plastic storage bags, they are easy to reuse.make regular pop corn at night. it is cheap and filling! Monday, Nov 17 at 10:43 PM Mom of 3 wrote ...I don't know how anyone can go to the grocery for $100 a week. Maybe for just food but what about diapers, napkins, trash bags, cleaning supplies, tolit paper... I mean come on people. If you can do it I want to know how... Monday, Nov 17 at 10:32 PM Anonymous wrote ...Hey people it is a family of 5 NOT 4 a family of 5 and I do it every week LESS THAN 100$ a week I ad shop at walmart and what i dont get there I get at save a lot!!!! its cheap and sometimes you can find brand names there too Monday, Nov 17 at 10:02 PM Dillweed wrote ...Yes you can, and here's how: 1) angelfoodministries.com 2) hillbillyhousewife.com 3) Dave Ramsey's remedy, Rice and beans until you're sick of them, then beans and rice.... I'm very blessed now, but I have lived very,very, poor growing up on the farm. That's why I'm thankful now, and being poor isn't so scary if you live right and pray alot.. Monday, Nov 17 at 9:00 PM mom of 3 wrote ...I do think it's easier to buy for 2 weeks at a time rather than 1. Things are packaged in such large quantities! Monday, Nov 17 at 8:56 PM e.may.756 wrote ...We have been in here so long , that looking up is like looking down.WE need soom kind of HELP by Monday, Nov 17 at 8:53 PM Already signed up wrote ...For anyone not familiar with the Dave Ramsey seminars they are being introduced this weekend at Queen of Peace Parish at Vistula & Bittersweet in Mishawaka. Information will be available after all three Sunday Masses, 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM & 11:45 AM. in the school. Monday, Nov 17 at 8:28 PM Jackie wrote ...I have a family of 8. 2 adults and 6 kids, I spend $150 a week, and that mostly includes, toilet paper, and things like that. So you can definitely feed 4 with $100 a week. Monday, Nov 17 at 7:58 PM To Mary wrote ...Tell your husband to not be so picky or starve...It's a great weight loss program...its absurd and selfish of him to be so picky when you are trying to make ends meet. He'll start eating whatever when he misses a few meals...if not, tell him to get another job to pay for his meals. Monday, Nov 17 at 7:03 PM MM wrote ...buy past date food.shop at big lots.yes you can eat pizza-buy it on sale or make your own.it's only bread,tomato sauce,cheese & meat.nobody eats school lunches-sign up for the free lunch program.sponge off the system like everyone else.grow a garden and buy a couple freezers. Monday, Nov 17 at 6:20 PM everybody wrote ...I think everybody should take the dave ramsey 13 week class you would learn alot i took the class. Monday, Nov 17 at 6:04 PM Anonymous wrote ...Aldi's and Save a Lot are not always the best deal, as the portions of meat are smaller, and packages of items are sometimes smaller. Using coupons and ads from Kroger and Martin's is great, as is the sales at Meijer, their produce is the best. Monday, Nov 17 at 5:51 PM R. wrote ...Aldis is the Best You can get popcorn shrimp for 2$ or go to walmart and spend 8$ Monday, Nov 17 at 5:41 PM Mary wrote ...Do you have any tips or suggestions for feeding a family of 4 for $100 a week when two separate meals are needed each evening? My husband is a picky eater--no beef, fowl or fish of ANY kind, and a ham steak is the ONLY pork he will try. Yet he will eat hotdogs. We all eat simple breakfasts at home. I'm home for lunch. Then two separate meals are needed at supper to accomodate his preferences while allowing the rest of us a normal diet. We already by generics and store brands. Any other ideas? Monday, Nov 17 at 5:40 PM Lou Ann Alters wrote ...What about the babies.. you forgot all the babies we got. The diapers, the feeding tubes and the baby milk. Is it better to feed mothers milk or buy can baby formula that is full of chemicals and preservatives. I am not putting any one down..it is an option for a family of five to choose. Why have five kids anyway? This days everything is so expensive. Babies add to more expense. No wonder families are downsizing and moving to rentals in droves because rent is cheaper than morgages and the insur Monday, Nov 17 at 5:31 PM Beth wrote ...Oh, yes, a family of four can eat on $100. It's really not that hard. We have six in our family and we do it on that easily. You shop at stores like Aldi and discount groceries, you only buy what's on sale, you make homemade food, and you can still eat pretty darn good. We eat fruits and veggies, too, and some meat. We don't buy much name brand food, either. I still am picky about having butter and natural pb. You CAN eat very well on $100 a week. Monday, Nov 17 at 5:27 PM Robin wrote ...Of course a family can eat for $100 a week. Cut out the garbage, cook at home, and plan out meals before shopping. Then buy generic and sale items and a family of five can be fed with change left over to replace a pair of worn out sneakers. Monday, Nov 17 at 5:10 PM Cornfusion wrote ...Sure! Tricia Sloma taught us how last week on WNDU-TV! Add a commentMost Popular |
WSBT WeatherWSBT Weather
Stock QuotesYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule7.00
Wheel of Fortune
7.30
Jeopardy!
8.00
Ghost Whisperer
9.00
Flashpoint
10.00
Numb3rs
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman
Question of The DayMost Popular
|
Thursday, Nov 20 at 10:50 PM Claire wrote ...
It's so easy to grab a pizza or takeout when you've worked all day. To save money on groceries, we have to plan WAY ahead of time & shop for only necessities. It's hard, but I feed our family of 5 for 425 a month, but that includes toiletries & cleaning supplies.