Frugal Living














Living frugally can be a wonderful lifestyle choice. I do not regret choosing to stay home raising my children, or budgeting my husbands Army (E-4) pay carefully for our family. Not everyone is as lucky as we are. Many people are thrust beyond being frugal and straight into poverty, whether it be from illness, aging, loss of a job, being a single parent, lack of education, or many other reasons.  I am well aware that poverty is not a laughing matter or joyful activity for any family. But, frugality can be. I enjoy the challenge of budgeting for healthy groceries, finding inexpensive family activities, and fun ways to stretch our dollars during the holidays.


One Month With What You Have
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

This is a fun challenge for you and your family. There are no special preparations, or products needed for this challenge. Actually the challenge is to see how prepared your family is for emergencies. Is your family prepared enough at home to be able to live off the items in your house for one month, currently and at this time with out stocking up specially for the challenge, or purchasing anything for the month of the challenge? FEMA is now suggesting all households be prepared to sustain themselves for at least 2 weeks in case of any emergencies.  This challenge not only will help you be able to get prepared, but is also a great way to save money.

Participation Guidlines

1. Starting right now!...... NO spending money for food (at home or out to eat), toiletries, entertainment, etc etc...
2. The ONLY money you may spend is gasoline to get to work and back home, and outstanding bills (ie... rent,utilities, etc..)
3. Keep a log of all foods your family eats, toiletries your family uses, house staples you needed.
4. Make sure to include in your log any extra spending you ended up doing (ie... ran out of diapers after week 1...etc etc.)

This is a test of sorts to help you decide what you need for a real disaster and to be better prepared for it. You can read hundreds of websites on what to have on hand in case of an emergency... but every family is different. The only way to make sure that your family is prepared, is to test it yourself. After the challenge, make sure to restock all used items and stock up on any items that you found lacking during your challenge month.


Food Stamp Challenge

Registration
Sample Congressional Food Stamp Budget Challenge Registration
Used by Reps. McGovern and Emerson

This is a copy of the Congressional Food Stamp Challenge Registration found at http://www.frac.org/Legislative/fspchallenge.html

The Food Stamp Program helps more than 26 million low-income people purchase food for themselves and their families. The program is designed as a safety net to help ensure people have access to food during difficult times, with the majority of people leaving the program within nine months. More than half of food stamp recipients are children, and eight percent are over 60 years of age.

Members of Congress are taking the Food Stamp Budget Challenge in order to better understand how the program is working on a personal level. For one week, starting Tuesday, May 15, 2007, Members taking part in the challenge will live on the nationwide average food stamp benefit. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for administering the Food Stamp Program, the nationwide average monthly benefit in FY 2005 was $94.05, approximately $3 a day or $1 a meal.

Participation Guidelines
1. Each person should only spend a total of $21 on food and beverages during the week.
2. All food purchased and eaten during the challenge week, including fast food and dining out, must be included in the total spending.
3. During the challenge, only eat food that you purchase for the project. Do not eat food that you already own (does not include spices & condiments).
4. Avoid accepting free food from friends, family, or at work, including at receptions or briefings.
5. Please keep track of receipts on food spending and take note of your experiences throughout the week.

Many online blogs are available where you can post your progress and findings throughout the challenge week.
You may find it difficult to complete the challenge due to schedule or the limited budget. It will still be important and worthwhile to track your experiences.

I, ______________________________________, register for the Congressional Food Stamp Budget
Challenge and will live on an average food stamp budget from May 15-21, 2007.
__________________________________________ _________________
Signature     Date


Cheaters Rules
July 24th, 2007 | News | by Chuck Warpehoski

These modified Food Stamp Challenge rules were found at
http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/29/cheaters-rules/

Every time I talk about the Food Stamp Challenge, somebody asks me for the exceptions. What about their garden? What about their spice rack? What about coffee hour at their congregation.

These “what ifs” are a great chance to consider what it’s like for people on food stamps.  So, rather than lay down a strict law about what is allowed and what is not, I’d rather you consider for yourself what’s appropriate and what isn’t and how that impacts your decision.

Here are some ways people are adapting the challenge:

Put a value on the food you already have in the house. If you have a few bananas around,  you don’t have to let them go bad.  You can figure out what they would cost and put that into your budget.

Find Free Food. I know the rules say you shouldn’t do this, but in truth many people on food stamps depend on finding ways to get some free food, whether that’s refreshments after church or samples at the super market.

Use your garden. If you have a garden, that can be a source of some goodies. Did you know that you are allowed to use food stamps to purchase gardening seeds and gardening plants?

Consider what it means when you bend the rules. If you have to bend the rules, take a moment to consider what that means. If it’s too hard for you for one week, what does that mean for people who face this every day? What ways do you have access to resources that people on food stamps don’t?

Country Witch Food Stamp Challenge Ideas

1. Almost half of the worlds population lives off of $2 day. Often this money is their total and has to be used for everything from housing, food, and transportation, to clothing, medications, entertainment, and toiletries. How well can you survive off of using $2 per person, a day for just food, for an entire week?

2. 1/5th of the worlds population lives off of $1 day. How well could your family eat on $1 a day per person? Would you be able to eat healthy, or would your family be living off of ramen noodles and PBJ sandwiches?

Eating Free For a Week
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

How well could your family eat on free food for one week. How many different ways can your family eat for free?

Some options are, but not limited to...

Free meal after working a shift at a restaurant job
Dinner party at some elses house
Foraging for wild edibles (educate yourself on what is edible first!)
Trading food for work from neighbors and friends
BBQ at work
Tea and biscuits at church
Samples at grocery store or warehouse
Trick or Treating
Commodities/ food bank
Dumpster diving (interesting but not advised)
Produce throw-outs from grocery stores
Go to food product websites (many companies offer to send free samples)

Money Money Money
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch

If you really looked around, on the ground, in seat cushions, in your car, etc... how much money could you find in a week, a month, or a year? Get yourself a jar to keep it in and you might be surprised at how it adds up!

Another common frugal challenge is to have everone in your house empty the coins from their pockets and purses everyday into a jar. It is fun to see how fast just simple pocket change can add up. When your jar is full, add it up and see how much family fun you can have with it

Free For All's
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch

How much free stuff can you get in a week, a month, a year? Pencils, stickers, toys, hats, etc. from the fire station or police department. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash from the dentist. Bibles from most any church. Hats from burger king. Sample packs of vitamins from most nutrition centers (vitamin stores). Cloth shopping bags from Army MWR. Sample soaps, lotions, and creams from a lot of natural food stores. Fisbees, bracelets, and pencils from Livewell Colorado, etc.... These are just some ideas, keep your eyes open! Compete with your buddies, and see who can get the most! Most often these free items make great stocking stuffers for Yule, or favors for kids' birthday parties! Have fun and enjoy!

Emergency Car Kit Challenge
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

This is another fun challenge for you and your family. Every family should have an emergency kit in their car that can sustain them for at least 24 hours (better yet 72 hours). Even though you can get a list of what to bring with you from thousands of web sites, every family is different and so no list is perfect for everyone. The worst time to realize the deficiencies of an emergency list is during the emergency. That is why I thought it would be fun to turn this challenge into a fun family camping trip.

Participation Guidlines

1. Make sure eveyone in your family has the next 24 hours free to do this challenge with you, without interuptions.
2. You may not stock up or pack for this trip. Including no sleeping bags, munchies, electronics, or supplies of any kind besides your emergency kit (that should already be in your car) and what is normally in your vehicle.
3. The ONLY money you may spend is the money in your emergency kit, your car, and in your wallets. No fair stopping at an ATM on your way out. In a true emergency ATM's might be too busy, or even shut down.
4. You are not allowed to use your cel phones. Pretend that the lines are too busy for any signal because of the "emergency".
5. Take your family to a local camp site just to get the feel of surviving off you emergency kit. In a true emergency, gas stations might be way to busy to fill up, or shut down for conservation reasons. Because of this you might not get very far in a true emergency. Never let your gas tank go under the half way mark before filling up again.
6. Keep a log of all the foods your family eats, toiletries your family uses, money you actually needed, and make sure to restock your emergency kit as soon as possible with all used items and any items you found lacking.

3 Day Power Outage Challenge
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

How well would your family handle it if the electricity was out for 3 consecutive days? Do you know that you should consume all the food in your refrigerator, then freezer, then your pantry to avoid spoilage? How would you stay warm? How would you cook for your family? How would you produce light for your family? What would you do with your family without TV or any other electronic devices to entertain the kids?

Participation Guidlines

1. Try to get 3 days that nobody in your family has to go to work or to school, and can stay home the entire time. (It is too easy to cheat outside the home, and anyway if it was truely a power outage emergency, most places including gas stations will most likely be closed)
2. You may not stock up or pack for this challenge. You may only use what is already in your home. Using car and other emergency kits is OK.
3. You are not allowed to use any phones except the old fashioned corded ones that don't use electricity.
4. Keep a log of all the foods your family eats, toiletries your family uses, money you actually needed, and make sure to restock your emergency kit as soon as possible with all used items and any items you found lacking.

Vacating Vacation Challenge
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

How well could your family handle it if you have 30 minutes to vacate your home and stay away from it for 3 days? Take this challenge and find out!

Participation Guidlines

1. Make sure eveyone in your family has the next 3 days free to do this challenge with you without interuptions.
2. You have only 30 minutes of preparations before you have to be on the road, including trip to the gas station if needed. In a true emergency, gas stations might be way to busy to fill up, or shut down for conservation reasons. Because of this you might not get very far in a true emergency. Never let your gas tank go under the half way mark before filling up again.
3 This is a perfect time to try out your 72 hour emergency kits, so don't forget them!
4. The ONLY money you may spend is the money in your emergency kits, your car, and in your wallets. No fair stopping at an ATM on your way out. In a true emergency ATM's might be too busy, or even shut down.
5. You are not allowed to use your cel phones. Pretend that the lines are too busy for any signal because of the "emergency".
5. Take your family to a camp site that is at least one hour away from home to get more of a true feeling of "escaping an emergency".
6. Keep a log of all the foods your family eats, toiletries your family uses, money you actually needed, and make sure to restock your emergency kits as soon as possible with all used items and any items you found lacking.

Cheap Family Day Out
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

How much fun can your family really have for under $5 per person? This amount of money includes your food and activities during your entire fun day away from home.

Participation Guidlines

1. You have ONLY $5 per person to spend on entertainment and food for the entire day! (1=$5, 2=$10, 3=$15, 4=$20, 5=$25, 6=$30, etc.)
2. You may not pre-pack any foods for this challenge except formula for babies.
3. What do you eat and how much does it cost? What do you do for entertainment and how much does it cost?
4. Try to keep your gasoline usage under half a tank.

Cheap Couple Date Challenge
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

What can you and your date do for only $15. This money should include a dinner out and a fun activity out on the town for the two of you.

Participation Guidlines

1. You have ONLY $15 for the two of you to spend on entertainment and food for the entire date!
2. You may pre-pack foods for this challenge , but the cost must be subtracted from your total money allowed.
3. What do you eat and how much does it cost? What do you do for entertainment and how much does it cost?
4. Try to keep your gasoline usage under half a tank.

$5 Gift Challenge
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

With all the promotions that come along with every holiday it is hard to not over spend. What are some fun gifts that you can purchase or make for your family and friends for under $5?

Participation Guidlines

1. You have ONLY $5 per gift to spend.
2. You may handmake your gifts for this challenge, but the cost of the supplies must be subtracted from your total money allowed.
3. What age group is your gift appropriate for?
4. What was the total cost of the gift including packaging/wrapping?


$5 Potluck Dish Challenge
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

You are invited to a family friendly potluck party. You can bring any dish you want. The only catch is... you only have $5 to spend on your dish.... what do you bring?

Participation Guidlines

1. You have ONLY $5 to spend.
2. You may make your dish from scratch, but the cost of all the ingredients must be subtracted from your total money allowed.
3. Your dish must be enough to allow at least 12 people a portion of it. (It doesnt have to be a full main dish portion.. remember this is a potluck and everyone else will bring dishes to taste too.)
4. What was the total cost of the dish, and how long did it take to prepare? (please share your yummy photo's!)

Quilt of Ease Challenge
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

Here is a fun challenge for all you quilters...... How interesting of a quilt can you make without using any stored quilting material and without spending any money on any new materials?

Participation Guidlines

1. You have NO $ to spend.
2. You have to create a quilt using "free" materials not normally thought of as "quilter's materials". This would be a great way to recycle old clothing that no longer fits or is out of style.
3. Your quilt must be at least the size of a crib quilt.
4. What materials did you use and how did you get them? How long did it take to make your quilt? (please share your photo's!)

Eating The Alphabet
I found this challenge at...
http://www.babylune.com/eating-the-alphabet/.

What a fun idea! Even my kids are excited about this challenge! This is a challenge for your family to eat one vegetable from each letter of the alphabet in a week. I did think that her list of fruits and vegetables for the alphabet letters was a little small.... so I decided to make my own!

A
Alfapha Sprouts, Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado
B
Bamboo Shoots, Bananas, Beans (All varieties), Beets, Bell Peppers, Blackberries, Blackcaps (Black Raspberries), Blueberries, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Butterhead Lettuce
C
Cabbage (All Varieties), Cantelope, Carrots, Casava Melon, Cauliflower, Celery, Chayote Fruit, Cherries, Chickory, Chives, Coconuts, Coriander, Corn, Cranberries, Cress, Cucumber, Currants
D
Dandelion leaves, Dates
E
Eggplant, Elderberries
F
Fennel, Figs
G
Garlic, Gooseberries, Grapes, Grapefruit, Guava
H
Honeydew Melon, Horse Raddish
I
Iceburg Lettuce
J
Jalepenos
K
Kale, Kiwi, Kohlrabi, Kumquats
L
Leeks, Lemons, Lettuce, Limes, Lingonberry, Loganberries, Loquat, Lychee
M
Mango, Melon (all varieties), Mushrooms
N
Nectarines
O
Okra, Olives, Onions, Oranges
P
Papaya, Parsley, Parsnip, Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Peas (All varieties), Persimmons, Pineapple, Plantain, Plum, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Prickly Pear, Prunes, Pumpkin
Q
Quince
R
Radishes, Raisins, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rose Hips, Rutabaga
S
Seaweed, Soybeans, Spinach, Strawberries, Squash, Sugar Peas, Sweet Potato, Star Fruit
T
Tamarind, Tangerine, Tomato, Turnip
U
Ugly Fruit
V
W
Watermelon, Watercress
X
Y
Yams
Z
Zucchini


Giving Up Eating Out
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

This challenge is pretty basic. Eating out seems to be more and more "the norm". Eating a meal sitting down on a chair, using a table, instead of in your car, can also be rare for some. Challenge your family to not eat at any restaurants, fast food or sit down, for one month. You will be amazed at how much money your family will save!

Make A Batch All From Scratch
This is a challenge brought to you by The Country Witch.

This is a challenge to see if your family can go one month, eating only homemade food. This means... not only no eating out, but no prepackaged foods, Deli foods, vending machine foods, quick stops for a soda at the gas station, or any other means of obtaining processed foods. Better for you and your pocket book!