(1) Keep some cash for another point in time,
(2) Try to keep the food nutritious and tasty
So first things first, break the $100 up into $10 bills to create the illusion that I have funds or mentally identify what I need as absolutes, so they go into the basket first.
In reality, some persons' food budget starts at $90 and they may be buying for a two week period or with respect to some items they may be buying for the month. For some persons, their pay day determines how their budget runs, so if they get paid on a Wednesday, then Thursday is the start of the shopping period.
So here are some options:
1st $10 - 2 bars of soap @ $3.50 - This soap can last a few days in a week. Some soaps have been used for underwear and some pieces of outerwear, hence they may be used up more quickly in some periods than in other periods - Change - $3.00
2nd $10.00 1/2 lb split peas - $2.00, 2lbs flour - $5.75 and 1 small pack of baking powder $2.99 - Use $1.00 from the change from the first $10.The baking powder can last close to a month as in most recipes the ratio of baking powder to flour is 1 tsp to 1 cup
3rd $10.00 - Soup 1lb Pumpkin $3.00, potatoes 1lb - $3.00, a ball of garlic $1.00, pimentos $1.00, 1/2 lb split peas - $2.00 - Some persons may use 1/2 and 1/4 lbs of some of the items as they may not like soup.
4th $10.00 A lb or 2lbs of green bananas & a beet - Some of the green bananas can be boiled and eaten with the split peas or added to beet and as a side salad with minute cubes of cheese and some dressing if needed. The boiled green bananas can also be added to the soup.
Some of the bananas can be left to ripen to make a quick bread for dessert later in the week or mixed with milk and water for a shake or eaten by itself.
5th $10.00 Bodi, beans, bhagi - If persons do not like vegetables then one of the above can add some healthy fiber and act as stretcher. Add a pack of curry for $2.95. - This can be eaten over a 3 day period if there are few persons to eat the dish. Add a potato to the curry as a stretcher, especially if you do not like bodi. -
6th A piece of cheese - There may be some change left as there are pieces of cheese for $8.00 or less. This can be added to a bake option which is available in #2.
7th & 8th - A pack of powdered milk for $20.00 - This may last more than one week depending on the time of the month and the number of persons who are eating the meals.
9th $10.00 Either 1 or 2 tins of sausage or 3 tins - depending on the price of the sausage. Add 1lb onions as a stretcher to the sausages ( TT$2.75 - ok we go over the $10.00 a little). In some homes, this is a rarity and in some homes one tin can be used to top 3 small pizzas.
10th $10. A tin of mushrooms which can be a little more than $10.00 This can be curried with milk and can be eaten for three days or some can be used for pizza or vice versa.
Then there are alternatives where a person may elect to:
Buy a lb of chicken breast for $17.00 per lb (2 small halves -) and forgo the pack of milk (7th & 8th) as they may bake or curry the chicken in pieces rather than bake them in halves or
Buy a pack of washing soap for 12.35 which may last for 2 weeks.
Some persons may add baking soda for clothes which have accumulated scents of cologne or deodorant for $8.75 or thereabouts. They may also use the baking soda as a substitute for toothpaste or for bathing to remove odors when they are exposed to a day with a heavy workload .
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