Food Stamp Challenge; Could You Do It?

A good friend of mine is doing a food stamp challenge this month and asked if anyone else would like to join in on it.  The rules are that you have to only spend the same amount that a family of the same size (and ages as yours) would get in food stamps for the month.  No pet food, paper products, etc. , just food.  Jeff and I decided to give join in.  

In order to see how much a couple, the same ages as we are would get in food stamps, we went here:  http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/18SNAPavg$PP.htm
The link is currently down due to the government shut down but should be back up again when things are resolved.  I had checked previously and found that we would have $253.38 to spend.  Taking into account that we already have some things on hand, I have faith we can do this!  

Today Jeff and I went shopping and spent $58.94 after coupons on food alone.  Our coupon savings were $4.75 so that really did help out.  So, that leave our total for the rest of the month at $194.44.

Some of the ways we were able to stretch our money are by buying in the bulk bin area for flour, sugar and spices.  I make our bread every 2-3 days, so we go through lots of flour.  I also buy our yeast in the big bags that you can find at either Winco or Costco.  If I had to buy loaves of bread at the store, we would have to spend about $15 or more a week on that item alone.  My husband takes at least 2 sandwiches to work with him each night and also enjoys toast here at home.  Any leftover bread is made into homemade croutons when I make a fresh loaf of bread.  We use those to top soups, salads and we also just like to snack on them.

Some of the items we got today:
~whole wheat flour
~unbleached white flour
~2 pound block of cheese
~10 pound bag of potatoes
~onions
~carrots
~celery
~bananas
~ground pork
~yogurt
~butter
~crackers
~pop corn
~turkey bacon
~pot stickers (I had a coupon for these making them really cheap and they help satisfy my craving for Chinese food and are quick to fix after a long day at work)
~a huge bottle of coffee creamer
~milk
~english muffins

We already have cereal on hand for quick breakfasts, assorted homemade soups, fruit and veggies along with some meat in the freezer and some canned and packaged goods on hand.  Our remaining fresh fruit are pears and apples that we picked at our local orchard for .40 a pound along with some plums that I had bought at the store a little over a week ago.

This afternoon I plan on making a menu based on what we have here at home to last us for at least 2 weeks.  This weekend, if the weather holds, we will be taking our grandsons up to the orchard with us and will be picking more apples to have on hand and get us through the end of the month.

Do you think you could do the food stamp challenge?  What would you use the extra money that you were able to save over your regular food budget for?  

Breakfast of turkey bacon, waffles, berries from the garden and homemade raspberry syrup.