If You Had to Be VERY Careful Money-wise….

oedipa_maas

When we were young and my mother and father had the monthly "which bills can we pay this time" conversations, my parents took up canning. We had access to applesauce, peaches, tomatoes, pickles, etc. from the shelves in the basement year round.

Now is a great time of year to try it. It's harvest season! The equipment and supplies are not very expensive and you'll find a good amount of them on Craigslist, at thrift stores, and similar places. There's nothing bad about a used canning pot and no need to upgrade to pressure canning unless you want to do low acid things like wild meats.

Here's a site with another way to get canning equipment cheaply: http://authenticsimplicity.net/2012/04/how-to-get-canning-supplies-for-cheap-or-free/

Canning is not difficult. Happily, there are lots of free, well-written sources of information about canning online from local university Extension Services. Just google whatever you want to can, preserve, or freeze and the words "canning extension" and you'll hit lots of valid info. For example, googling "peaches canning extension" pulled up http://www.clemson.edu/extension/food_nutrition/canning/tips/28preserving_peaches.html

Thanks for this great post. And I especially love the info on canning. I've been thinking of for a while, especially if I can't use my entire CSA delivery fast enough.

oedipa_maas

Hi O_M,
Just a thought with the ED and empty cupboards - would it be helpful to buy a big, cheap bag of brown rice, then fill up jam jars and fill the cupboards with them? With some cheap cans of beans? Maybe it is a silly idea, but I too panic when food supplies run low so I understand that desperate feeling when seeing bare shelves!
Hope it goes well.

That's not silly at all .! I love it!

oedipa_maas

Costco. They have Soooo many healthy organic stuff for CHEAP especially the ones in the bay area. There is a meetup group in SF (I don't know if its still active) that pools together resources. Not everybody in SF have cars or costco membership or the space the buy in bulk so someone might drive and somebody might have the membership and they can split up bulk goods however they want.

I never thought of meet up groups for this and other health related activities. Thanks!

oedipa_maas

[img][/img][img]]http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/melanieamostruitt/IMG_0831_zps3a928725.jpg[/img]

I tried to post a pic of whats in my cupboard, but I guess message boards won't accept them. I post on:
what's for breakfast?
What's for lunch?
What's for dinner??
Those sites accept pix for some reason...
You might get ideas for eatables from them.

--These are just backups in my cupboard, for when I'm too tired to prepare food. I also used to have no food, and now I cruise various markets looking for things on sale that I know I will eat or use. Mostly soups: lentil, black bean, split pea. I check calories and protein for the whole can, since I usually eat the whole thing which is 2 servings. I also pick up almond milk from the 99c store. I shop where the poor folks and retired people shop. Cruising markets for cheap and wholesome food is now one of my hobbies.
I also pick up veggies, chop them and put them in containers. It's easier to make a salad when you do the prep on a day off.

I really like that!

kherrons

I just made spinach feta stuffed chicken from cleaning out my fridge.

24 oz chicken breast cut into (6) 4oz portions
90g fresh spinach
2 oz feta
50g chopped red onion
4tbs light sour cream
Spices

Mix up the ingredients, spoon 1/4 cup onto cutlet (might have to flatten chicken with a mallet a bit), roll it. Dredge through 1 beaten egg and roll in 1/4c seasoned breadcrumbs. Repeat the remaining 5. Bake at 350 for 25min

29 protein 6 carbs 6 fat 189cals.

If it's just you, easily last for 2-3 days Seems doable with your current foods and coop share. The sour cream could easily be replaced with Greek yogurt.

kimberlyblindsey

One more thing. I don't think I've ever been to a thrift store that didn't have a crock pot for sale. While its not a necessity, for cheap meals that taste good, nothing makes it all come together like a crock pot.

^^^And the little crock pots, enough to feed, 2-3 people are cheap; I think I paid $12. Sometimes I use the little one and reserve the big one for roasts and larger amounts of meat.
Here's a link to Amazon one:http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-33015Y-2-Quart-Cooker/dp/B0002CA3C6/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1407017519&sr=1-2&keywords=mini+crock+pot

kherrons

Oh and for reasonably priced groceries, I always stock up on 10 for $10 frozen veggies and best possible greek yogurt at the time. Always find the best sale in either chicken cutlets/thighs/tenders/breast and incorporate those into my weekly meals. Find a good deal on fish, usually at Sprouts farmers market down in the southwest region, usually get about 2lbs for $8-$10 which breaks into 8 4oz servings. And I always do bulk on grains and nuts, again looking for the best prices.

And yeah, I agree on trying to score a crockpot

YearsWorthOfFAT

Eh, my mom always made this bubur ayam, and i saw her make it a couple of times. It's not very calorie dense, however. She was able to turn two handfulls of rice in an enormous pan of rice. You can probably find a recipe. Also, nasi goreng in bulk. Macaroni in bulk.

Serah87

How about salsa chicken you can make in the oven

Chicken, rub with taco seasoning, cover with favorite salsa, bake, shred and put over rice or in a tortilla, top with sour cream and grilled onions and peppers..

I just found some taco seasoning in my cabinet, so this is perfect! And I have everything you mention. Thanks a ton!

You could add black beans, more protein, to this recipe and also use a crock pot, my hubby and my boys love this stuff!!

drummygurl

I don't really have any useful information to add from myself, I spotted this topic in the boards and wanted to bump it to my topics to save those recipes for later. I want to try the salsa chicken and homemade chili.

I am currently in a pinch and have to get caught up on some bills so I'm working a lot of overtime and trying to not buy anything my family doesn't need (it's me, the hubby and a 6yr old boy).

I normally am quite frugal already, I am looking for additional ideas to get me through the next 4-6 weeks.

From my experience, here is what I can add to help your situation: Clip coupons, those suckers are everywhere. The Sunday newspaper with inserts can be $1-$2.50 (I live on the border of 2 counties, one county's newspaper is $1, the other is $2.50, go figure). There are lots of those little machines at the store in the aisles that you can grab coupons from (if it's something I need or use a lot, I take a couple more). And sometimes, certain stores print out coupons at the register if you have their membership. If you have a printer, coupons.com is free to use.

I take my coupons and I pair them with the sales. I shop at the grocery stores, the big name stores, the dollar stores, whoever has the best deals (I also live 25 minutes away from 2 cities in opposite directions so I try to make one car trip and stop on my way home from work or get stuff at a store when I'm already in the area for something else to save on gas). Walmart has ad match, so you can do that as well.

Just today I spent $25 at the local Price Chopper and with my coupons, I saved $15. I got chicken breasts, baby back ribs, a few vegetables and fruits, canned beans, lunch meat, margarine, and a box of mac and cheese. I was amazed with myself. I always love it when I go to the store and I save more than 50% of what I spent. It's an awesome feeling.

Just an idea if you can spare the time for it. I really don't have a lot of spare time so I try to give myself a set 30 minutes or hour during the week (usually Sunday is easiest).

Hope this helps. :flowerforyou:

melimomTARDIS

Thank you OP for appreciating my post! I really hope things turn around soon for you, but its always nice to know how to eat when times are hard.

I second poor girl eats well, as well as cooking with clara on youtube (depression era recipes, simple to prepare)

If all else fails, a microwave baked potato and a can of soup is a mighty fine meal.

oedipa_maas

WOW. Thank you all so much! I went to take a nap and woke up to find great advice galore! Thanks so much for taking he time. I really was worried about how I was going to eat well and be full!

oedipa_maas

I haven't had tofu, but I really like it. i often freeze it and reconstitute it so it's chewy. Thanks for the tip!

oedipa_maas

I make tacos regularly! I buy a pack of 100 tortillas from Costco for under $3 (but they are pretty from other places)... Fill them up with chicken (1oz per taco, so one breast goes a long way), tofu, beans or grilled zucchini/bell pepper... Then top with mixed lettuce and a few dashes of hot sauce. Super yummy, low calorie and economical

I adore tacos! Thanks!

oedipa_maas

I just made spinach feta stuffed chicken from cleaning out my fridge.

24 oz chicken breast cut into (6) 4oz portions
90g fresh spinach
2 oz feta
50g chopped red onion
4tbs light sour cream
Spices

Mix up the ingredients, spoon 1/4 cup onto cutlet (might have to flatten chicken with a mallet a bit), roll it. Dredge through 1 beaten egg and roll in 1/4c seasoned breadcrumbs. Repeat the remaining 5. Bake at 350 for 25min

29 protein 6 carbs 6 fat 189cals.

If it's just you, easily last for 2-3 days Seems doable with your current foods and coop share. The sour cream could easily be replaced with Greek yogurt.

That sounds fantastic. Thank you!!!

oedipa_maas

[img][/img][img]]http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/melanieamostruitt/IMG_0831_zps3a928725.jpg[/img]

I tried to post a pic of whats in my cupboard, but I guess message boards won't accept them. I post on:
what's for breakfast?
What's for lunch?
What's for dinner??
Those sites accept pix for some reason...
You might get ideas for eatables from them.

--These are just backups in my cupboard, for when I'm too tired to prepare food. I also used to have no food, and now I cruise various markets looking for things on sale that I know I will eat or use. Mostly soups: lentil, black bean, split pea. I check calories and protein for the whole can, since I usually eat the whole thing which is 2 servings. I also pick up almond milk from the 99c store. I shop where the poor folks and retired people shop. Cruising markets for cheap and wholesome food is now one of my hobbies.
I also pick up veggies, chop them and put them in containers. It's easier to make a salad when you do the prep on a day off.

That's a great hobby. I should sometimes grab when the grabbing's good, even if I don't have a recipe lined up right away. But I can freeze things, and have stuff at my fingertips. Great idea.

oedipa_maas

Brown Rice Chili

Basicly follow your favorite chili recipe or idea but use brown rice instead of Ground Beef.

4 or 5 dollars worth of stuff makes enough to last 4 or more meals

Chili seems like a great idea, because you can throw all kinds of things in. Thanks!

oedipa_maas

Ok, so, avoid the market on clement, I forget the name but it's the big one near the fish monger. I got so sick from pork there. I'd head to the mission for pork.

I'd cut the CSA, and just do my vegetable buying at the farmer's market at Civic Center. It's the same vendors as the embarcadero one for the most part, and majorly lower prices.

I could get out of that market for $15 and have at least a week and a half of vege handled, including some splurges like mushrooms.

Oh I know just the market you mean! Ha! There is a smaller one, just a tiny butcher shop down the street that hasn't steered me wrong (so far). But I'll take your advice on New May Wah.

Sometimes a farmer's market has been coming to the Richmond. I should check it, and the Civic Center one, out. Thanks!

oedipa_maas

I don't really have any useful information to add from myself, I spotted this topic in the boards and wanted to bump it to my topics to save those recipes for later. I want to try the salsa chicken and homemade chili.

I am currently in a pinch and have to get caught up on some bills so I'm working a lot of overtime and trying to not buy anything my family doesn't need (it's me, the hubby and a 6yr old boy).

I normally am quite frugal already, I am looking for additional ideas to get me through the next 4-6 weeks.

From my experience, here is what I can add to help your situation: Clip coupons, those suckers are everywhere. The Sunday newspaper with inserts can be $1-$2.50 (I live on the border of 2 counties, one county's newspaper is $1, the other is $2.50, go figure). There are lots of those little machines at the store in the aisles that you can grab coupons from (if it's something I need or use a lot, I take a couple more). And sometimes, certain stores print out coupons at the register if you have their membership. If you have a printer, coupons.com is free to use.

I take my coupons and I pair them with the sales. I shop at the grocery stores, the big name stores, the dollar stores, whoever has the best deals (I also live 25 minutes away from 2 cities in opposite directions so I try to make one car trip and stop on my way home from work or get stuff at a store when I'm already in the area for something else to save on gas). Walmart has ad match, so you can do that as well.

Just today I spent $25 at the local Price Chopper and with my coupons, I saved $15. I got chicken breasts, baby back ribs, a few vegetables and fruits, canned beans, lunch meat, margarine, and a box of mac and cheese. I was amazed with myself. I always love it when I go to the store and I save more than 50% of what I spent. It's an awesome feeling.

Just an idea if you can spare the time for it. I really don't have a lot of spare time so I try to give myself a set 30 minutes or hour during the week (usually Sunday is easiest).

Hope this helps. :flowerforyou:

This totally helps. I feel for you, since all I have to feed is me (okay, and my pug). Lean times are hard. You have all my support and good thoughts!

oedipa_maas

Thank you OP for appreciating my post! I really hope things turn around soon for you, but its always nice to know how to eat when times are hard.

I second poor girl eats well, as well as cooking with clara on youtube (depression era recipes, simple to prepare)

If all else fails, a microwave baked potato and a can of soup is a mighty fine meal.

I had an….incident….with a microwaved potato. It wasn't pretty.