Giving Challenge – Stretching $20 For The Food Bank This Week 11/16

We wanted to start sharing something additional with giving this year. In addition to our normal giving – we decided to challenge ourselves to see how much we could buy for our local food bank using $20 a week through the end of the year.

We also want to show you each week what we were able to get for $20 for the next several weeks.  We would love to spread the spirit of extra giving this holiday season and encourage you to participate with us. However, please do not think that you need to budget $20 a week – you could do less, more or give of your time or things from around your home – any possible way that you and your family are able to give this holiday season!

For this first week, our budget was $20 and here is a picture of what we bought for $20:

We decided that this first week we would shop at Smiths (our local Kroger affiliate). This week they were running the Mega Event (ME) sale where every 10 items we purchased, we received an additional $5 off = .50 off each of the items.  So the breakdown shows .50 additional off each item as we bought items in groups of 10.

• 8 Boxes of American Beauty Quick Cook pasta sale for .49 each after ME = $3.92. Then used 8 .55/1 10/3 Smart Source Insert – $4.40 = FREE plus .48 OVERAGE
• 33 Cans of Campbell’s Chunky Soups sale for .99 each after ME = $32.67. Then used various coupons from the Campbell’s site that took .50 off each can of soup – $16.50 = final is $16.17 a can or .49 each.
  
• 2 cans of Hormel Chili Master sale for .89 after ME = $1.78. Then used two .75/1 printable coupons – $1.50 = .28 or .14 each
• 6 Heinz Gravy sale for .75 after ME = $4.50. Then used two $1.00/3 printable – $2.00 = $2.50 for 6 or .42 each.
• 8 cans of Campbell’s condensed soups sale for .49 after ME = $3.92. Then used two .40/4 10/3 Smart Source Insert (there is also a $1.50/3 printable to make these FREE, but our print limit was reached :() – .80 = $3.12 for 8 or .39 each.
  
• 2 Garden Delight Ronzoni Pasta sale for .99 each after ME = $1.98. Then used two .75/1 printable – $1.50 = .48 for two or .24 each.
  
• 2 Colgate toothbrushes sale for $1.00 after ME = 2.00. Then used two $1.00/1 printable – $2.00 = FREE
• 2 Colgate toothpaste sale for $1.00 after ME = $2.00. Then used two .75/1 10/31 Smart Source Insert = .50 for two or .25 each.

Summary: The total with just sale prices was $50.27 for all of the above.  We used $30.20 in coupons. This means that just with our coupons – we were able to give $30 more food to the food bank for a total of $20.07 for all of the above.

Why We Loved This Shopping Trip:

• We were able to use the coupons we had for products that we wouldn’t necessarily buy, but perfect for the food banks – the coupons did not go to waste. A few of these coupons made some of the items FREE too!
• Because we used coupons, we were literally able to buy $30 more food above the sale prices.  If we had only shopped the sale with our $20 budget, we would have only been able to buy 40% of the food above.  WOW – that is eye opening on coupon usage even for your regular budget!
• It was also a ton of fun to see what we could buy and accomplish with $20 vs. our everyday shopping trips filled with shopping challenges of food allergies, food pickiness, brand loyalty and trying to be as natural and organic as we can with our budget.
• Also, these items above are not the only thing we are giving.  Often times in our shopping trips, about 10% is given as it was items that were such a great deal that we couldn’t pass them up (even if we do not personally use them) and we could easily slip them into our regular budget and then give them to those that need them!

So Here’s What We Want To Encourage You To Do:

• Join us in the challenge between now and the end of the year. You can give in anyway that your family is able to do. Whether this be to clean out your current pantry and storage and donate, create a weekly budget (even as little is a $1!) to shop for those in need, give of your time at local food banks, charities, soup kitchens, etc.!  You could even challenge yourself to use any of the coupons you wouldn’t normally use to get FREE items to donate to your food bank.  Finally, don’t forget that your old clothing is also very needed by many and you might do yourself a favor by clearing out some extra space too!

To Participate:

• Just leave a comment on these giving posts that we will be posting each week with our results of our family’s personal challenge.  Share each week how you and your family were able to give to others this season.

We feel so blessed to have learned how to shop this way – we enjoy making use of it to help others especially during this time of year.  Will you join us?  This is a time that the local food banks often run short on food – let’s try to keep their supplies full and do it the thrifty way!

Note:  Thanks to 918moms.com for the use of the Food Drive image.