$13.30 for three days of food

sarahaflood

Hi everyone!

I'm a college student and I am currently in a class that addresses all different types of inequality. For an upcoming project, I have $13.30 (around $4.43 per day) to use to eat for three days (mirrors average assistance in my area).

I cannot use any food I already have, I cannot eat any free food (from friends, promotions, etc.), and I cannot buy from any restaurants. Unfortunately, I am also not allowed to buy in bulk (even though it would equal out to the correct cost for day).

For this time period, I will not be too worried about my calorie count or my particular fitness/health goals. I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas or sample meal plans for me?

Thank you in advance!

kommodevaran

To figure that out yourself... that's sort of the idea of the project, isn't it?

nikkit321

I'd suggest a dozen eggs, a carton of old-fashioned oats, a bag of dried beans, and a box of rice. Then add fruit and veg with whatever money you have left. You'll eat similar meals all three days, but it would also let you cook once and then reheat. Good luck!

Cuddlebearjay

You could make a big pot of goulash, it makes a lot and you could have plently of leftovers.
Shopping at a store like Save-a-lot:
-Cheap ground beef at a pound would be maybe $3-4
- a box of rotini $1
- spaghetti sauce $1

cwolfman13

Beans and rice, cabbage, a dozen eggs, a whole chicken.

wellthenwhat

I bought 9 boxes of oat crisps on sale for $3 the other day, lol. Also got 2 bags of beans, 2 big bags of rice, for 10. Could have gotten one each of those, plus a container of taco seasoning, and I'd have a week of meals. I could gather and boil some dandelion leaves to get some greenery in.

whirlyruns

https://cookbooks.leannebrown.com/good-and-cheap.pdf

tinkerbellang83

When you say you are not allowed to buy in bulk do you mean wouldn't be allowed to say buy a packet of pasta or a box of cereal that would make more than one meal?

sarahaflood

kommodevaran wrote: »

To figure that out yourself... that's sort of the idea of the project, isn't it?

The purpose of the project is to live off of $13.30 and recognize the difficulty of doing so. My professor actually recommended doing research online and to plan everything ahead of time. I thought this would be a great resource. I understand if you do not want to help because you believe that it is cheating, but I do not.

VintageFeline

kommodevaran wrote: »

To figure that out yourself... that's sort of the idea of the project, isn't it?

Yes. Isn't this an exercise in displaying how resourceful you have to be in order to manage such a small budget? I mean, sure I could point you in the direction of all sorts of resources and tell you how I have kept going on very little but I feel you need to work this out for yourself. Your fellow students and probably you will make some bad decisions and will be used in the analysis when the project ends.

Grown up teachery speech over.

sarahaflood

@nikkit321 and @Cuddlebearjay Thank you so much for your help! I will definitely be using some of your suggestions!

Allgaun

I would start with the protein, that is usually the most expensive item on the plate. Chicken thighs, hamburger, some beans? Maybe a roasted chicken? You can stretch those out for several meals. Eggs are good too, can be breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Dollar Tree can be a great resource, the one near me carries eggs, bread, pre packaged cold cuts, non refrigerated milk, small jars of mayo and mustard, cheeses and even snack foods, nuts, cookies and such.

wellthenwhat

I could also get a loaf of bread for 89 cents, a head of lettice for 99 cents, a pack of cheese for a dollar, and a little lunchmeat and have sandwiches for a week. Add a smallish bag of oatmeal for $3, and a box of raisins for $1.50, and I'd have breakfasts for a week. But I have access to really cheap groceries.

LessCookiess

Good luck on YOUR project!

Lounmoun

I would go meatless for 3 days probably.
Dry beans and lentils are inexpensive. Beans and rice or lentils and rice are basic dishes in many cultures.
Onion, celery, garlic, carrots, potatoes are used in many dishes.
Pasta is inexpensive.
Eggs are good for meals or snacks
Canned tuna
Peanut butter, jelly, bread
Cabbage
Powdered milk
Oatmeal
Frozen vegetables may be less expensive.
Soup is a good dollar stretcher. You could make a big pot of cabbage, lentil or minestrone soup for example.

Buy generic/store brands. Buy fresh produce that is in season. Look at store ads.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm may give you some ideas.

TeaBea

Cheap eats -

Pasta and sauce. My niece is in college & shops the $ day sales. This is a really common meal for her. Some frozen pizza (brands) are always cheap. Recipes using Raman noodles.

Look for vegetarian meals......dried beans and lentils are cheap. If you are willing to soak your own....you save money. The same with rice.....uncooked rice is cheaper than minute varieties.

Breakfast - eggs and/or oatmeal.

Bananas and (bagged) apples are going to be the cheapest fruits right now.

Potatoes, cabbage, and carrots (peel your own) are going to be cheap veggies.

Canned tuna & pasta. Make your own sauce....or used boxed Mac'n Cheese.

livingleanlivingclean

I'm not sure why @kommodevaran and @VintageFeline have had their posts flagged... But I agree you should be doing the work yourself! Research isn't asking others for the answers - I'd be scouring catalogues for specials and making a plan for meals that fit my budget. If you're in the states, they are big on coupons from what I understand - that might be a way to make your dollar go further...

HealthierRayne

check out Cheap Lazy Vegan on youtube, she has great ideas on how to eat well for little money, she has a series on (If I remember correctly) $20 a week or something along those lines too.

sarahaflood

tinkerbellang83 wrote: »

When you say you are not allowed to buy in bulk do you mean wouldn't be allowed to say buy a packet of pasta or a box of cereal that would make more than one meal?

No, I'm sorry, that is not what I meant. I should have make it more clear. I am not allowed to buy in excess bulk. For example, I cannot buy a 50 lb bag of rice and only use rations that fit in my daily budget. I have to stay under $13.30 overall.


Thank you @wellthenwhat !!

fallingwave

Where I live you could hit the dollar store and get a loaf of bread, a small thing of peanut butter - $2 = 3 days of breakfast (PB toast). Lunch... sandwiches. Deli meat and cheese.... $6? So there's $8 total. $5 left... I would say you could get a bag of pinto beans and cook in the crock pot with chicken stock and an onion ($3 ish) and a small thing of cheese to shred on top.

Or Ramen. Lots of Ramen

charlenekapf

Beans and rice. That's how a lot of cultures eat. Plain and simple. Carbs and protein. Some oil for fat but one container of oil will last a long time.

sbrandt37

Speaking as a professor: Unless you have explicitly been told otherwise, asking others to give you the answer to your homework problem is cheating. I'm confident that your professor's advice to take advantage of online resources did not include using the internet to ask others to do the work for you. If you disagree, confirm it with him/her--that is the way to do it with integrity.

deannalfisher

I'd recommend checking out the blog budgetbytes - every year she does a challenge based on using only money received via the SNAP program - which might give you some ideas

I would look at how much food over the 3 days do you eat - and then plan for same/similar meal components each time - foods like beans/rice can be bought for cheap (not in bulk, but in general); look through weekly shopping coupons/online coupons

mom22dogs

I think by "research" your professor meant go to the store, look at prices of food, check circulars, etc.

ncahill77

chicken thighs, peanut butter, beans, pasta and canned tomato sauce, I'm guessing right around $10 and more than enough food for 3 days

ritzvin

tinkerbellang83 wrote: »

When you say you are not allowed to buy in bulk do you mean wouldn't be allowed to say buy a packet of pasta or a box of cereal that would make more than one meal?

I think they mean that they can't overspend the $13.30 (they can't deduct off the price of the extra food if they buy more than 3-days quantity).


The following are very cheap (and stretch far - though you are only trying to stretch out 3 days): rice & beans; soup & crackers/bread (root vegetables are cheap, add beans and some meat for protein). Meat: chicken thighs are cheap, or smaller package of sausage/pre-cooked ham if time is an issue (stretches far if chopped up and added to rice & beans or soup). Sandwiches can go far for cheap. Preferably go to a discount grocery and buy generic if an option where you are.

jaynerz

I love canned vegetables and sometimes they are like 70 cents! Tuna and vegetables? you could make wraps or sandwiches probably also

AgidGirl

Rotisserie chicken for sure, you can stretch that to feed you for 4+ meals! Shred all of the meat from the bird and then boil down that bones/carcass and make a soup base for another meal. Get a small bag of beans and rice and you can eat beans and rice w/chicken and then make a bean, rice, chicken soup for another meal.

sarahaflood

Thank you so much to everyone who has been helpful!!

I'm sorry to those who I have offended and to those you believe that I am cheating. I understand your perspective and I will double check with my professor. Though, I do believe speaking to you all would be the same as reaching out to those in my real life for advice.

brandi8484

My family of 3 survives on $10/day for our meals. Total. For all 3 of us.
Chicken, beans, eggs, and veggies are a way of life for us now. lol.

dpwellman

It's definitely doable (I've done it). But the parameters of the exercise are unrealistic and seem skewed to maximize rate of failure. The premise is flawed: it's "assistance" not "subsistence." It's an important distinction and I would include that in my report.

Also don't forget to deduct sales taxes.