Projects in Conflicts in Nature & Society

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Grocery Budget Activity

On pages 141 and 142 Alex Kotlowitz provides LaJoe’s grocery list for the entire month. LaJoe is able to feed THIRTEEN people on less than $542.00. This, although it might seem like a common task, is not as simple as it sounds. You will be tasked with seeing how well you could do on a limited budget of $18 per person in your family per week (I have adjusted for inflation/cost of living).  You may partner up, but your budget will be limited to the amount of people in your group, with a maximum number of four.           

You will complete one week's menu and grocery list and staple it to your answers to the questions below.

Use the Grocery List by clicking on the file link at the bottom of this page (.XLS format) as well as the grocery price comparison at:

 http://www.comparegroceryprices.org/search/data/comparison.shtml  Consult these resources to learn how to better stretch your dollar: http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=5493 http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/10-ways-save-money-food-shopping
  

 After you have completed your list, answer the following questions:  

* What you have discovered about the process? Was it as easy or more difficult as you thought? Explain.

* Did you have money left over? If so, what would you spend it on? If not, would you sacrifice something next month?

  

* What did you sacrifice on purpose, knowing or even expecting that you would or might not have enough money?

 * What does this experience reveal to you about the realities in which LaJoe lives? Could you live as she does? Explain.

 WARNING!!!

THE GROCERY BUDGET IS BY DEFAULT A 10-PAGE DOCUMENT. SELECT "PRINT PREVIEW" BEFORE PRINTING, AND PRINT OUT ONLY THE PAGES THAT ARE NECESSARY!!! Grocery budget.xlsx 22.18 KB (Last Modified on November 20, 2013) INTERNAL LINK Comments (-1)