An anti-poverty group in BC is challenging politicians and residents to try and survive for $26 worth of food for a week.
Of the $610 a month the British Columbia government provides for a person on welfare, after paying for accommodation, bus tickets and cellphone (necessary to look for work), and basic hygiene only $109 remains for food – less than $26 for a week for food.
The Challenge runs from the start of October 16 (12:01 am) to the end of October 22 (midnight).
During that week, participants will only eat the food they can buy with $26 dollars.
I have decided that I will take place in this challenge and would like to invite any of our Grocery Alerts readers to join me.
Here are the rules that I will abide by:
- I will not accept any kind of charity or other food (friend or co-worker) outside of my $26 budget.
- I will not eat any leftovers or even food I have grown.
- I will document each day with a new blog post with a food diary what I have eaten and breakdown each serving.
Wish me luck!
Author: 
34 Comments
I am very interested in following your challenge. It seems almost impossible to feed yourself on $26 a week. What are you going to do for staples, like flour, sugar, etc? I am looking forward to seeing your menu plan. Will you post your recipes? I hope so – I’d like to know how you do it. Good luck and keep us posted!
Bernadette,
It was a challenge!
i love the fact that you are trying to see what its like for a individual on “Social Assistance of $610/m and that it would be a great struggle to maintain the nutrients needed for what the Canadain Food Guide recommends. That is why its so important for donations to the local food banks of BC
Hey Steven, check out the discount rack at the Rootcellar at Blenkinsop/Mckenzie (there is a bus stop right out front).
In the back on the left hand side are racks of discounted produce which is not display-perfect, but perfectly good to eat, and super cheap! I love that they offer this service, rather than throwing perfectly good food away like the big chains do.
Is that $26/person or family?
Per Person.
I HAVE MY PLAN,, going to buy a $26 dollar steak and starve for the rest of the week,,
Wow! I’m curious to see ow this goes. I’ll definitely be keeping up with your posts. It makes me sad to think of people not having enough in the budget for good, wholesome, healthy, fresh food. Sadly, it’s a reality for many.
I have a secret. When I was in university and wanted to flee the nest and go completely on my own, I had to tighten my belt and had almost no money for the kind of foods I normally ate. I relied on pastas and rice…cereal, etc. It was hard and I am thankful that I have a job that enables me to feed my family healthy foods. It also helps that I grow most of our produce and most of our food comes from our farm.
Interesting post! I’ll be back to check your latest posts!
Good luck – I am curious to see how this can be done but still help achieve proper nutrition
It’s easy to get good food – not Mr Noodles – for that amount when you shop wisely between sales and using coupons. Also remember Potatoes are cheap, replace some or a lot of meat with Lentils and Beans (also cheap). I don’t know where the idea that you had to eat sodium heavy processed foods in order to eat on the cheap.
Mr.Noodles and rice are now your best friends. You can make cheap drinks with 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup sugar to a pitcher. Michelina’s work out to about a buck a meal if you can get them for that price. No name kraft dinner is cheap… don’t forget to get your laundry out of that budget too. (btw, a cell phone can be done for under $5 a month if all you’re using it for is job hunting, 7-11 speak out phones are cheap and the time doesn’t expire for a year) Welfare here also give an extra $80 to cover a bus pass.
I am not a fan of ramen noodles or rice (except wild rice). I plan on eating from scratch pasta.
How do I follow this challenge of yours Steven? Eating cheaply is a must for the hubby and I, anything that helps is of huge interest! Good luck!
http://www.livingwithfibromyalgia.ca
Hi Shannon,
I will be posting on the blog each day starting October 16 and tomorrow I will be posting the shopping list.
Stay tuned!
Good Luck! Thats very sad, not a lot of room for fresh foods. Thanks for sharing!
Probably will be able to do this. Buy single portions at Bulk Barn and use some coupons. Is that allowed? However, limited fresh fruits and vegetables. The real question is, could you continue to achieve this for , lets say, six months? That would be a real challenge. Looking forward to reading your blog.
I am actually not planning to use coupons, just to make this more difficult.
We don’t have a Bulk Barn in Victoria but I do plan on using this feature of the grocery store.
I probably could not do it for a longer period but I am anxious to see how the week goes!
I think you can do it – but you may not be too happy with the type of food you eat.
We live on a tight budget, but I can tell you that we spend $26 a week on just bread and milk. I am very interested to follow your journey.
Pam,
Stay tuned, maybe you can learn some tips to reduce your budget (milk is expensive everywhere in Canada).
WOW since when did welfare in BC start providing money for bus tickets at a cellphone?!?! I don’t like to admit but being on welfare on and off *because I’m a teen mom and would rather graduate than work at micky ds* Realislisicly that money is spent on other things.Like clothes,or more food.But my question is Will you be using community resorces like most people on welfare? Such as food banks or meal programs? In my area of burnaby/new west they put out resorse guides with everything from foods,to clinics,councling, etc. Even low income people in my area eligable for a apartment garden to grow your own fresh veggies.
Chelsea,
I agree that BC provides many resources and with our climate you can grow many vegetables.
I do not plan on using any food banks or meal programs (these programs are intended for people that need this).
I want to challenge myself to see if I can personally live off that budget.
OH wow! I’ve never had to eat on that little and think it’s a wonderful challenge for people to partake in. Good luck and I’m looking forward to reading your daily posts :)
It is going to be a tough challenge – I am glad I have the support of our readers!
WOW. I am so curious about this..can’t wait to see what you do!
Good luck, Steve! I think this challenge is doable if you “stock up” on some of the staples (ie: small bag of rice, pasta, etc).
Jenna
http://www.snymed.blogspot.ca
Thanks Jenna, I am not a fan of rice (except for arborio and wild rice) but I plan on carefully using quinoa and oats.
I’m very interested in following your posts and seeing exactly what you will be able to eat for only $26/WEEK. What a great way to bring attention to this issue. Good-luck!
Thanks Monica!
Wow, I wouldn’t even know where to start. Not a lot of room for fresh, healthy vegetables in that budget. I think the bulk bin might be your friend for grains? Small servings? Looking forward to reading.
Lori,
It is going to be quiet a challenge for me (I love to use Olive Oil, and many spices so these are out). I will have my shopping list done by the weekend.
Good think wifey is out of town that week! Good luck Steve can’t wait to hear how you do it because I know you will!
Good Luck mate, I look forward to reading your posts to see how you make out. Cheers Mr.CBB
Thanks for the support. I am starting to write the menu plan this week!