Day 1 - The Adventure Begins

New Years Day. The perfect day to present a challenge to yourself.

A few rules for the adventure: (1) I cannot spend over $30 on food, (2) I cannot ask for a meal but can eat at someone's house that invites me over, (3) if I invite someone over for a meal, they have to eat from the available rations from the challenge (that should be interesting), and (4) I can work or trade services for food (the good ole barter system).

Yesterday, I visited a grocery store called Quality Foods. It's a discount grocery store here in Anderson that has of brand (and never-heard-of brands) for sale at a low price. Here's what I bought:

1. A 5 lb. bag of rice
2. An economy-size bag off-brand frosted flakes (52 servings/$3)
3. Lemon pepper seasoning (to flavor the rice)
4. Two boxes of wheat spaghetti
5. A loaf of wheat bread
6. A big jar of off-brand peanut butter (this will give me some protein)
7. A big jar of of-brand Jelly ($0.99 spent with a smile)
8. A six pack of Ramen Noodles

All this was only $17.76. I was pretty happy with that. I left myself a buffer to see how this would get me through for the first week. We will see how everything else goes but I think this will manage.

Right now, I am about to eat a meal at my parents house (who invited me for an annual New Years meal). Some say that a meal at mom's house should not be allowed to which I reply with a smile, "Did I spend anything?" :)