Dieting on a[n extreme] budget.

avoidtheclapp107

I wrote this to a MFP friend who seems to be in an impossible budget situation such. Welp...me too! I figured we can't be the only two people who are in this situation...so here's what I said:


As I work out my budget, I have $80 left over at the end of the month for food. I try not to think about it. It's overwhelming feeling so strapped for cash...but it happens. [side note. I claim to try not to think about it, but I think about it. ALL THE TIME]

Here's a couple tips/ life savers I've come up with to eat on a crazy budget. [Another side note...I'm in the mist of freaking out about my 30th birthday in 2 weeks. So don't look at my food diary because, although I've been logging, I'm been emotionally eating up the wazoo. Which isn't good either since I'm a fat chick who wants to look good in my birthday party pictures...]

In the beginning, get used to being in a food rut.
I HATE freezing food. I don't know why I just have a mental aversion to it. If you were to freeze food, you wouldn't have to eat the same thing every day like I do/did, but as long as I make something delicious(ish) then I don't mind. At the beginning of the week I'll pull out the trusty crock pot and make something I could portion for the week. Chili is a good place to start. Chopped meat or chicken (depending on what I could find on sale) with cost you like $4 (I don't know where you are, so I don't know what money you're dealing with) can of black beans $1, can of low sodium corn (if you want) $1, box of chicken broth $2 (I even hobo-ed this with bouillon cubes and water, but it wasn't as good), large can diced tomatoes (put the tomatoes and the juice in) $2. $10 in the crock pot while you go to work. Then portion it out. I can get like 6-8 meals out of it. So I had dinner the Monday night I made it and leftovers for lunch for the rest of the week.

Plan ahead
Read the flyer from the grocery store. Look what's on sale. And then go online and find coupons to match it. I sound like one of those crazy people on TV, but I got a box of pasta for 19 cents the other day and it was like Christmas. Okay. Pasta is my weakness. I don't have a sweet tooth, I have a debilitating carb tooth. Soooo technically I shouldn't have bought pasta. But, like your "chips," it's cheap and delicious. Plan your menu for the week. I go as far as putting in snacks. Then I write down an approx price next to everything I want and adjust accordingly.

Unnamed category
+I love food. Good food. and hate cooking. A lot. I'm sure, like me, you're figured out you can't order take out. Like ever.
+Go to a farmers market for vegetables. I can also pull that snotty line that all TV chefs say "eat what's in season" but it's kind of true...to an extent. I'm not a farmer, I don't know what in season when I'm scouring pinterest for food ideas. We have a farmer's market that's basically a supermarket. Not one of those hipster all-organic fancy smancy farmers markets.
+ When people offer you food, take it. It takes a lot for me to suck up my pride and accept help. But do it. My boss has a garden and brings stuff in? Mine! Bagels leftover from some sales rep that's come in? Right in the freezer! I have also learned that when everyone wants to go out and have a good time and I say "I really can't afford" because I really can't...sometimes some nice people offer to pay for me. I'll get them back someday. I've covered them multiple times.
+Eat eggs. There's a hundred ways to prepare them. They're super nutritious and when you have them for breakfast you're fuller longer.
+Dairy is expensive. Do you really NEED cheese in your eggs? (this is a question I often ask myself).
+Convenience is expensive. If you are buying cheese, shred your own. (Have I mentioned how much I hate cooking? That includes preparing food...) Buy a watermelon. Cut it up. Snacks for days. Buy carrots/celery. Portion them out yourself.
+Write out your monthly budget. You may or may not be in as dire straights as you think you are.
+Oh! I almost forgot! The dollar store has food! The one by me is like a gift from the gods and has frozen food. Yes...full disclosure...I have eaten shrimp from the dollar store (disgusting, I know) but better than that they have frozen fruit for smoothies. and seasonings. You can get all your seasonings there. and flour tortillas. Probably don't buy the pasta since you can get that for 19 cents if you try hard enough :-)

I go to hot yoga twice a week. It's basically amazing and I feel great afterwards. $19/class...UGH BUTTTT my studio (and it seems to be common practice) has karma yogis. Basically you "work" there--check-ins, light cleaning, talking to clients--and you go for free!

I don't know your personal situation. If you ever want to bounce ideas off me or need a pep talk, message me. Some stuff I'm sure your probably already know so I don't want to sound condescending. I had/have a **** load of bad habits I had/have to break. I also have some more weekly (oversimplified) recipes if you'd like me to send you some.

Cheer up. It's only temporary. I promise.

rayneface

I find buying beans/rice/grains in their dry forms (no cans, no microwave for 2 mins and it's ready, or "minute" versions) saves a lot of money.

A bag of dry chickpeas can be a couple of dollars and makes heaps more than the same dollar amount of canned beans. Same goes for rice, much cheaper if you buy a big bag that lasts ages rather than a box of the minute rice.

They take more time but can really help stretch a budget.

dramaqueen45

Food pantries are also a good way to supplement your food needs.

Eire228

I have a pretty tight budget as well (thanks, student loans!). I agree with rayneface, rice and grains in dry form are pretty cheap. I've also cut out meat from my grocery budget. I'm not a vegetarian, and if you already are this won't help, but not buying meat saves me a ton of money.

I wish I had some other thoughts for you! I'm incredibly lucky to have a roommate with farmer's for parents (they give us the left overs that weren't sold at the farmer's market that day) and a boyfriend with chickens and a fruit/vegetable garden. It's tougher in the winter, since the chickens lay less eggs and obviously fruits and veggies aren't growing right now. But we freeze things in the fall so we can eat them throughout the winter. I know you said you have an aversion to freezing things, but just give it a try!!! Maybe you'll be more ok with it in the end.

Is there anything else in your budget that you can cut out to add more to the food budget?

theskinnyonme

budget101.com

gbel1975

Tofu is a cost-effective alternative to meat with similar macros. Also, Sam's and Costco generally have better prices, but you have to buy larger amounts. For instance, Jenni-O ground turkey is usually <$2/pound but you have to buy like six pounds of it.

Aldi's has very reasonable prices compared to most chains.

Also, you may find that your grocery(ies) have a "clearance" area for soon-to-expire foods. My local Kroger has a corner for meat, which they discount. I've picked up some decent stuff there for good prices. They have a discount corner for other things, too. I don't eat gluten, but Udi's (and similar brands) bread is expensive. One day they had like 12-15 loaves discounted to $1 each. I bought them all and froze them.

I've watched that extreme coupons show. I've never been big on coupons...not even sure where to find them. I know they come in the Sunday paper and such, but I find that brand name stuff, even with coupons, is more expensive than store brands.

VeryKatie

Something I find helps me is that I have a credit card from my grocery store and charge EVERYTHING to it. Now, this advice is only good if you can definitely say you will not abuse a credit card. But it gives me 2% back when I shop at that grocery store and 1% back everywhere else that I can then put back towards food at that grocery store. So for that money that you HAVE TO SPEND ANYWAY (not additional purchases) - at least it could help you a bit! I usually get anywhere from $20 - $40 back per month (though I assume my budget isn't at tight as yours).

Also... try looking at where else you can cut. Food is a pretty important aspect of your life which can be stressful enough without money considerations. So if you can find a place with cheaper rent or find a cheaper car or start busing - those are usually the BIG ticket spending categories (which also are recurring) things (at least for me).

jessicapk

This post is awesome. I'm a cheapskate and also trying to eat well and it CAN be done! The same goes for exercise, too. Thanks for the post. I recognized many things I already do but pulled a few new ideas, too.

Cindy_Walks

Oatmeal is my main diet staple for breakfast. It's cheap. It's low in calories and best of all - it fills your belly and you feel very satisfied.

avoidtheclapp107

jessicapk wrote: »

This post is awesome. I'm a cheapskate and also trying to eat well and it CAN be done! The same goes for exercise, too. Thanks for the post. I recognized many things I already do but pulled a few new ideas, too.

No problem! We've all been there/have been there/hopefully won't ever be there!