Super Frugal Grocery Mini Challenge #4: Share Food

Hoping for more cucumbers to share this summer!

(Read all Super Frugal Grocery Challenge posts here!)

(This post, when I drafted it three weeks ago, was originally titled, "Have a Potluck." LOL how times change! The potluck ideal is still relevant, though— I just added some pandemic-friendly ideas, too.)

Today's challenge, should you choose to accept it: Find some way to share food with your community.

In the modern Western world, we tend to think of everything in an individual sense: how can I (and possibly my immediate nuclear family) accomplish this? Money and food are no exception, but stepping outside of that mindset a bit allows us to see a whole new host of possibilities: food, like most resources, is best (and cheapest!) when it's shared.

You all know that I positively adore potlucks. I love the random things that people bring, and the way that 90% of the time the dishes harmonize perfectly, and the other 10% everyone brings carrot sticks and popcorn and we have the weirdest meal ever. I love sitting down and talking over a meal that everyone contributed to. 

It wasn't until recently that I considered the money-saving part of a potluck, too. On the first day of our challenge we had a potluck at our house, and I threw together a simple dish of rice, collard greens, and roasted carrots with a homemade kung pao sauce. Other people brought veggie dishes, pasta, cheese and crackers, and more. My dish by itself wasn't a good full meal, but with our powers combined, it was part of a filling and wholesome dinner! Then everyone who wanted leftovers got to take some home.

If you're trying to save money on food, I encourage you to think of the ways that you can share food with other people. This can look like all sorts of things: having a "use up the dregs of the pantry" cooking party, doing a cookie/tea/baked good/casserole swap, a dinner club, or giving away the chili you've been eating five days in a row that you just don't feel like eating anymore. 

If sharing food in a communal meal isn't an option (like, I dunno, maybe there's a global pandemic going on and you're not supposed to hang out with people), there are still ways to pool resources. Dig out the canned goods in your pantry and offer to swap with someone. Bake two loaves of bread and give one away. Grow some food, find other people who are growing food, and share the extras. If you need an ingredient, put out the word among your friends and see if someone will give it to you for free (or in exchange for a value-added item, e.g. bread in exchange for flour.) See if a restaurant, catering company, or grocery store will let you take their leftovers before they hit the dumpster, and share the bounty. The possibilities are endless!

We are stronger and more resilient together, and community support is one of the best ways to maintain a frugal but abundant life. How will you share your food (or other resources) this month?

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