assume we drink only water (milk if available).

    assume condiments scavenged from restaurants,
    or spare coinage recouped from cans/bottles.

    assume we will not go to town hall, declare self
    indigent, and receive additional food stamps.

    assume no free meals at churches or shelters.

    assume we are ineligible for WIC milk + cheese.

 -----------------------------------------------------
  FIRST WEEK
 -----------------------------------------------------
  dozen eggs                       1.49/doz      1.49
  navel oranges (4)                0.50/ea       2.00
  wheat bread, loaf                2.00/ea       2.00
  peanut butter                    2.19/jar      2.19
  rigatoni pasta (2 boxes)         0.89/box      1.78
  tomato sauce                     1.67/jar      1.67
  ground turkey (2 lbs)            2.29/lb       4.58
  brown rice                       1.25/box      1.25
  canned tuna (3 cans)             1.00/can      3.00
  green peas, dried (1 lb)         1.00/bag      1.00
  black beans, dried (1 lb)        1.65/bag      1.65
 -----------------------------------------------------
                       price at stop + shop ... 22.61

 -----------------------------------------------------
  SECOND WEEK
 -----------------------------------------------------
  rolled oats (42 oz)              3.19/can      3.19
  milk (64 oz carton)              1.79/jug      1.79
  dozen eggs                       1.49/doz      1.49
  navel oranges (4)                0.50/ea       2.00
  wheat bread, loaf                2.00/ea       2.00
  rigatoni pasta (2 boxes)         0.89/box      1.78
  tomato sauce                     1.67/jar      1.67
  ground turkey (2 lbs)            2.29/lb       4.58
  brown rice                       1.25/box      1.25
  canned tuna (3 cans)             1.00/can      3.00
 -----------------------------------------------------
                       price at stop + shop ... 22.75

                            ** cheaper deals possibly
                               avail at other stores

     bkfst:  egg/orange/toast or pb-toast or oatmeal
     lunch:  rice/beans or open-face turkey-egg sandwich
     dinnr:  pasta/meat/sauce or tuna-rice-pea casserole

     we only buy peanut butter every other week.
     we only buy dried green peas every other week.
     we only buy dried black beans every other week.
     we only buy oats every fourth week (once monthly).

     this leaves a $4.37 surplus per month to take
     advantage of grocer specials, most notably canned
     fruits/vegetables, late in the month.  in practice
     dry staples (rice/peas/beans/oats) will eventually 
     stockpile, freeing up $3 or $4 every few weeks, 
     enabling bulk frozen buys, but it will take months.