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

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy here.

November 16 by Cassie 10 Comments

giving food challenge

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:

giving challenge #1
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.

Filed Under: Coupons, Giving/Charity, Groceries, Thrifty Tells

Previous Post: « ShopKo Deals Through 11/20 Part 2, 2010
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynn Fox-Embrey

    Thanks for sharining your Giving Challenge with us. I took three boxes of food to our church last week that was not hoilday related, items that were in my own pantry. Our church feeds about 80 families a week and their pantry is very low and they have to turn people away.

    My personal challenge this week and the beginning of next week is to make 5 boxes for families for their Thanksgiving meal. I’m including all the fixings and hopefully the turkey (3 free so far). I will also include at least three additional meals for for the family.

    Our Fry’s store just finished their mega 10 sale and I was about purchase most of the items for a average of .20 each. This week I’m getting breakfast items to finish my boxes. Total for 5 boxes so far is $21.85. My goal is to also do at least 5 more for Christmas.

    Thanks for all the information you share on your blog. It has help me save tons so I can give to others. God bless your family.

    Reply
  2. Patricia Haskell

    What an amazing idea!! I will do it…

    Reply
  3. rhondag508

    Great trip!

    I’ve just started doing this too! I used to only clip coupons we use, but now I keep a separate envelope for things we don’t use that might end up being free (or very inexpensive) to donate. I love that when there is a “fill a bag” event at school or church, I’m ready (usually with two bags for half the money spent and virtually the same products!). Our center appreciates toothpaste (Colgate is often free, and I don’t care for it.), personal hygiene and cleaning items like hand dishwashing liquid, so I can include those as well.

    Reply
  4. Rebecca Z.

    From time to time, I post a picture on my facebook page asking people to guess how much I spent/saved and the closest guess wins a gift basket with tons of goodies. I also have been chosen for a few House Parties and I always take my baskets of samples that I sign up for so people can take what they need. I love giving!

    Reply
  5. Jennifer

    Great idea! It’ so great to be able to maximize our giving by saving money through coupons and sales. I always have a bag in my pantry that I fill with things that were an amazing deal, but that my family doesn’t use.

    Reply
  6. dawn

    I love this idea!!!

    Reply
  7. Kim

    We just donated a bag full of items to be put into Shoe boxes for Operation Christmas child. I have gone through my children’s clothing and am donating two bags of clothing to a local family who posted a need. We have a special cash offering set aside too to help some missionaries in our church.

    I’m thankful for these ideas. I noticed an ad in our church bulletin saying that our food giveaway was running low on items and asking for donations. I was thinking that I wish I were able to give to that need but if I use my coupons it likes I may be able to help after all !! 🙂 thanks for the great ideas!

    Reply
  8. FoxyJ

    Remember that many food banks need diapers–those really great diaper deals you can get at Rite Aid and such could go far for some families. Those are another great thing to get and donate.

    Reply
  9. necta

    you guys are amazing with your deals generosity and kindness. Thats why you are so truely bless. i contribute when ever we can but mostly local churches tha are collecting clothes. around thanksgiving time i donate some foods to my local church but not as much as i would like to…i love your idea

    Reply
  10. Kelly

    I am doing the same thing! Money is tight, but we are matching coupons with store sales to give what we can with a $20 budget!

    Here is my post highlighting what we are doing:

    http://livingonthecheap.blogspot.com/2010/11/donations-using-coupons.html

    Reply

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