Can you survive on $21 a week?

Shining a light on the economic challenges many of the nation's impoverished face on a daily basis, bloggers at United Way's SpeakUnited.org are trying to survive on a $ 21 a week food budget.

Basically it means that they can go to a super market and buy groceries for an entire week, but at the billing counter, it cannot exceed the grand total of $21.

Why that figure? It's the amount of money a person in need is given in food stamps for the entire week. The SpeakUnited crew is calling it the "Food Stamp Challenge."

The rules are simple:

• Each person should only spend a total of $21 on food and beverages during the Challenge week.
• All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge week, including fast food and dining out must be included in the total spending.
• During the Challenge, only eat food that you purchase for the project. Do not eat food that you already own (this does not include spices and condiments.)
• Avoid accepting free food from friends, family or at work.
• Keep track of receipts of food spending and take note of your experiences throughout the week.

Paola Ferrer, one of the candidates taking up the challenge, is realizing that fighting Lance Armstrong for the Tour de France title is much easier. Because she's forced to be on a gluten-free diet because of her medical condition has made this more interesting. On her shopping list were eggs ($2.89 doz), deli meat ($4.09), deli cheese ($1.50), ground beef ($4.50), coffee ($2.49), potatoes ($2.29), carrots ($2.19) and tortillas ($ 2.15). Grand Total = $22.1. To make this last for an entire week would call ingenuity of an MIT grad student.

Another person trying to live frugally is Meghan Keaney. At this budget she is tempted to eat out at the friendly neighborhood burger joint where the dollar menu is doing great business. Even without taxes, assuming a basic burger is available for $1. Eating it three times a day will make it $3 per day and multiplying it by seven will make it $21.

But then this is without taxes. Not to mention the raised eyebrow of the kid at the cash register when you order that seven days in a row! Luckily one is not expected to tip at these places.

Impossible is a good word that comes to my mind. But, then to think that many of our brethren are forced to live on such tiny budgets every week makes me shudder.