If I had $542 to spend at the grocery store

with or without food stamps ($542 a month for a family of 4 earning $26,856 per year), here's what I could get in Columbus, Ohio, shopping at a store within 2 miles of my home that doesn't require a loyalty card. Then I would have about $282 left over for the rest of the month. Everyone has something in the frig or cupboards, and I'm assuming catsup, mustard, margarine, and pickles are residing in mine. Indeed, I probably need to look at the expiration dates! I also seem to have an awful lot of rice and canned beans and miscellaneous canned fruits. And I've got frozen peas and corn in the freezer because I use them when I don't have fresh. But if I had to buy smart and buy cheap, I'd go for real food. And I wouldn't confuse shampoo and toilet paper with food--which is what many journalists do when they write about soaring food prices.

The quantity listed here is a bit unrealistic for my small condo kitchen, but it could be done in 2-3 trips to the store over 2 weeks, and without purchasing too many perishable items in quantity. Apples, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onions last a long time--asparagus and bananas don't. And you'd need a decent size freezer compartment to hold the meat.

I often buy marked down meat on Monday, but didn't see any today, so these prices are from the flyer. This list also contains things I rarely buy like spare ribs and bacon--but they were on special this week, and bacon can go a long way in flavoring other items or as a garnish for salads. Also, I rarely bake anymore. I just put the flour and sugar down just in case Mom's watching from heaven.

Dairy
2 gallons milk (6.00)
3 (24 oz) real cheese (9.60)
3 doz eggs (6.00)

Fruits and Vegetables
16 lbs potatoes (5.00)
3 lbs cabbage (1.50)
3 lbs tomatoes (4.50)
10 lbs apples (Braeburn)(13.90)
10 lbs peaches (14.90)
4 cartons orange juice (10.00)
3 lb carrots (1.00)
2 cantaloupe (4.00)
8 corn on cob (2.00)
3 lbs asparagus (5.00)
bag of onions(3.00)
2 cukes, seedless (2.50)
5 lbs bananas (2.50)
seedless grapes (3.00)
asparagus 3 lb (5.40)
green salad mix (3.00)
broccoli (1.00)
cauliflower (1.00)

Meat
Brats (2 lbs) (6.00)
5 lb chicken breast boneless 2.29/lb (11.45)
bacon (2 lbs) (4.00)
ground chuck 5 lb (7.50)
3 lbs hot dogs (5.00)
10 lb boneless ham (11.90)
10 lb spare ribs (9.90)
8 lb hamburger (frozen patties)(11.90)
canned tuna 24 oz (3.00)
fresh fish 3 lb. (21.00)

baking, condiments, semi-processed
raisins 24 oz (2.50)
peanut butter 16 oz (2.00)
Miracle Whip 32 oz (2.50)
jam or jelly 32 oz (2.70)
broth for soup 2 cans (1.60)
pasta 5 lb (4.00)
salad dressing(1.50)
olive oil l lb (5.00)
shortening 3 lb. (2.50)
10 lb Flour (5.00)
10 lb sugar (4.00)
walnuts l lb. (6.00)
green olives, large jar, salad (3.00)
coffee 39 oz (6.90)
oatmeal, old fashioned, lg. (3.00)

Treats
Ice Cream (3.00)
Cool Whip (1.25)
popcorn (jar or bag, not mw) (2.00)
peanuts dry roasted, jar (3.00)

TIP: A potato combined with milk (or cheese) is nutritionally a near perfect food. And very cheap. 8 lbs of potatoes will cost you about the same as 10 oz. of potato chips which have no nutritional value at all.

My blog on the thrifty plan.

The Thrifty Plan and me in 1982.