I spent only $2 a day on food for a month — here are the 9 foods I bought to get the most for my money

Kathleen Elkins/Business Insider

If you're spending $2 a day on food, you have to shop strategically.

I did just that for the month of January on the "Elon Musk Challenge," spending a little under $62 on food over the course of the 31-day month.

I did all of my shopping at the famously affordable Trader Joe's. Yes, I've heard that Aldi is cheaper, and I probably could have found better deals at a local market — but Trader Joe's is conveniently located in my neighborhood and I know the lay of the land.

I only purchased nine items during the month-long challenge, which I ate repeatedly. I'm sure there are plenty of other cheap products out there, but these were my staples:

Oats

Cost: $3.99

Cost per serving: $0.20

Bananas

Cost: $0.19

Cost per serving: $0.19

Peanut Butter

Cost: $2.49

Cost per serving: $0.18