According to the USDA, the weekly cost of food on a “thrifty” budget in 2011 is $40.60 for men and $36.20 for women (19-50 years old). For my household of two, that comes to $10.97/day. I am now undertaking a challenge to base our household food budget off these numbers. This budget seems reasonable (even generous), but I have been spending about twice that amount on groceries and alcohol each week.

Unfortunately, an easy solution would be to eat off the McDonald’s dollar menu for three meals a day or to switch from the Co-op to Sam’s Club. Thankfully it’s harvest season and we have lots of fresh and canned produce from our garden already paid for. 

USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food

How much a week do you spend on groceries in the Duluth-Superior region? Any tips for frugal grocery options? Comments on the price of food?

Instead of exclusively perusing Craigslist, I thought I’d put a question to the friendly community of PDDers.

Can anyone please recommend a handyman and/or woman who could help me with my inability to properly execute seemingly simple home repair tasks?

My husband needs his good winter coat cleaned, but I don’t know anything about the dry cleaners in Duluth. Which ones are recommended? Which ones (if any) should we avoid?

The KARE-11 special tonight from 7-8 p.m. on channel 11 focuses on youth mentoring.  Several mentor programs will be featured including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities, Parenting with a Purpose, Bolder Options, Kinship of Greater Minneapolis, Northside Achievement Zone, Courage Center and the Y’s Mentor Duluth! 

Program Coordinator for Mentor Duluth, Dave Schaefer will be participating in this TV news event.  Federated Insurance is sponsoring the show.  You will see many familiar faces! A live phone bank will also be part of the call to action.  See the link below for more information.

Be the Change Mentor

What are PDDers’ favorite winter outdoor settings? I am looking for a nature spot, that is fairly accessible in the the winter (1,000-foot walk at most), one that doesn’t necessarily have a dramatic view (it would be a plus though) but the setting should be fairly dramatic with rocks, trees, or waterfalls. The setting can be in either city but preferably up to 20 miles outside of the Twin Ports. I am getting married in the winter and I am looking for a spot to hold a very small and very short outdoor wedding.

There’s an unusual mommy blog out there for the thinking parent looking to find stimulating and educational reading for his or her kids. It’s called Delightful Children’s Books. And it’s the work of a mom right here in Duluth (not me).

The blog has been nominated Parenting Magazine for a Best All-Around Mom Blog. It could use your vote. You just need to hit this link, register and vote.

I wrote a little something about her and her blog at urbangirlinterrupted.blogspot.com or you can just go to her site and learn everything you need to know.