Protein on Any Budget! (Single Parent)

Our first example of Protein on Any Budget is for a Single Parent Households:

Meet Joe!

Joe is a single father in the Midwest

Net Annual Income: $23,302.55* 

(which is $1,941.88 per month)

Monthly Expenses: $1,555.00

rent ($800); utilities ($150); car payment ($150); 
insurance ($85); cell/cable/int/ect... ($250) ; gas ($120)

This leaves Joe with $386.88 leftover each month.  

(This is $96.72 a week for groceries.)

Weekly Protein Grocery List**:

Breakfast and Snacks

Yogurt (14 cups) ------------------ $10.00

Milk (1 gallon)    -------------------  $4.00

Eggs (1 large carton)  -------------  $2.00

Almonds (1 large can) ------------- $7.00

Sunflower Seeds (3 bags) --------- $6.00

Lunch

Peanut Butter -----------------------  $3.50

Bananas (6 medium sized) -------- $1.20

Wholemeal Bread ------------------- $2.75

Baked Beans (2 cans) --------------  $2.50

Spinach (2 10 oz. bag)  ------------ $4.00

Canned Tuna (4 cans) ------------- $3.00

Dinner

Cheddar Cheese (1 pound) ------- $4.50 

Broccoli (2 pounds) ----------------- $3.20

Porkchops (3lbs) ------------------- $13.50

Chicken Breast (3lbs) ------------- $10.50

Pasta (2 boxes) ----------------------   $2.00

Salmon Fillet (1 large) ------------ $11.00

Total: $90.65 

($6.07 left over in budget!)

* Income information is based off of census data, but adjusted to regional and demographic parameters stated:  http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf

** Prices are rounded up from author's recent shopping receipts (dating from November 9, 2011 thru March 14, 2012), but they are not based on a specific store or grocer. All prices rounded up to simulate potential sales tax.