::waves nervously at all the new people on our friends list::

I've already got some great feedback guys.  Thanks and keep it up.  :) 

One person suggested that we talk more about the $1 per meal budget, and they're right.  That originally was going to be one of our main focuses, and I've gotten swept up in job hunting hysteria.

I think last I talked about food, I showed you an example of a $3 meal.  I wanted to make the point that $1 was meant to be an average, not an attempt to make you feel restricted every meal.  I had meant to talk next about meals that cost less than $1, so here's that post.

Breakfast tends to be our cheapest meal.  A normal breakfast for me would be a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of orange juice.

I bought a box of 8 single packets Quaker Oatmeal at Big Lots for $2, so one packet cost 25 cents.
A Gallon of Kroger OJ is $3.99 (I'll round that up to $4).  I drink about an 8oz glass...about 16 glass per gallon...again 25 cents.  So that's my 50 cent breakfast.  Even if you add on the 8% sales tax on food... I still save over 40 cents on that particular meal which can be used elsewhere.

The guys vacuum up cereal.  This was cheaper than usual, but I found a big box of Honeycomb at Big Lots for $1 because it expires this month.  (They eat fast enough, I wasn't too worried about it.)  The box says there are 13 servings, but I think 10 is more realistic.  Even so, we're looking at about 10 cents per bowl...Phillip usually adds milk (about half a cup) at $3.59 a galleon/32  rounds up to 12 cents and I think he has OJ, 25 cents...so that's a 47 cent breakfast.

My brother skips the OJ but drinks a glass of milk and eats his cereal dry.  A 35 cent breakfast.

Eggs are also a cheap alternative...we don't go through them as quick, so it's harder for me to find a receipt, but I'm pretty sure they're under $3 per dozen if not closer to $2.

I'm also a big fan of General Mill's Milk and Cereal Bars.  Deals and Dollar General both had a box of six for $2.50 and Big Lots had a box for $2.  (It was a good week for breakfast at Big Lots.)  So we're looking at about 42-34 cents per bar.  Nice grab and go food.

And I'll throw in my other favorite grab and go meal, slimfast.  I usually buy it on sale, so it comes out to about 80-90 cents per can.  (though I've seen it for more).  I don't drink it all the time, but I like to keep it on hand for when I'm running late in the mornings.