Tips and tricks for eating on a [n extremely] tight 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.

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+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.

jfeakins

Great post!! Unfortunately, I find that the most nutritious and fresh foods are often the most expensive. Love the crock pot idea- I do that too in the fall/winter. Soups & stews are your friend! I need to start prepping those and bringing them to work for lunch, so I'm not tempted to by a $15+ salad. (Damn you, New York!)

On another note, I love baking frittatas on Sunday nights and portioning them out for breakfast for the week. If you're ever tempted to go to the deli/drive through/diner before work to pick up breakfast, this helps out a lot! There are so many ways to make it, but I love sautéeing fresh vegetables and adding feta cheese.

ben_100

Tips or Tricks - Love that dollorama store.. Bought all these little containers and have been making my own versions of Starbuck's yogurt parfait, and also tuna or salmon snack packs with rice crackers, and fruit salad - make a week or more's worth at one time and load up the fridge... Then add them to my recipes .. Speed things up during the work week..accurate fast calorie recording

lishie_rebooted

I know this post got necro'd but still adding my 2 cents in!

http://www.poorgirleatswell.com/
http://www.poorgirleatswell.com/category/25-dollar-shopping-cart
www.brokeassgourmet.com

shamani5

Don't forget food pantrys. I go once a month and it really helps.

shaumom

An herb garden - best investment I ever made, and it's not that much of an investment. Every month, you can spend a couple bucks on a packet of seeds for an herb, so you slowly build up (and then let a couple go to seed so you have seeds for the next year for free!), then plant in the ground (don't need special soil or anything) and you'll have a lot of flavor, and nutrients, for next to nothing.

One benefit of this for me has been that whatever is in season (which typically means cheaper) I can buy it without needing to buy specialized seasonings for some dish. Because I have ALL the seasonings growing in the yard, already, and I just need to pick whatever goes with what I just bought at the store.