Buying groceries when hovering around poverty level...

SachaMichel

What's the best you can do?

I think I can live on $50 a month:

4 loaves of bread- $8
2 jars of peanut butter- $8
A case of instant noodles (24 pack)- $6
A jar of instant coffee- $4
A big sack of granulated sugar- $12
A jug of full-fat milk- $5

The tax in my province is 14% so that works out to about $49.

I would switch to no-name brands and full-calorie versions of everything to maximize savings and caloric intake :happy:

15in8

Grad student here, noodles and eggs kept me going for a long time! But I work on about $12 a day now. I could prob get it lower, but it is a compromise between health and convenience. But $50 a month, that would be a stretch for me!

SachaMichel

Grad student here, noodles and eggs kept me going for a long time! But I work on about $12 a day now. I could prob get it lower, but it is a compromise between health and convenience. But $50 a month, that would be a stretch for me!

Unfortunately I don't have a choice :ohwell: When you're worried about making ends meet, health goes on the backburner. I don't think my list is that bad nutritionally though, it just lacks any produce.

zoodalia

I'm a grad student too and you've definitely beaten me... although there doesn't look like much food of substance in there but kudos for being so economical!

takehimaway

Have you thought about coupons? Freebies? Plenty of new healthy companies love to send free samples.

LGOllie

You remind me that I did that too when I was in school...peanut butter, bread, ice tea and popcorn. I ddin't want my family to know as I felt that no one was in a position to help me. Aren't there places to go now, like pantrys? You are not getting any fruit and vegetables, though I guess for a short time that is okay. Hope your time like this IS short!

fxst78

Not sure if you can get them in the states but one that is always good to have at hand are frozen Dim Sims. $3 for a pack of 30 and they are 90 calories each, made from cabbage and meat with pasta on the outside so actually nutritionally not too bad.

2-3 is a decent meal, so that is only 30 cents. You just need some soy sauce to top it off!

They could definately be an addition to your menu!

Loudmom01

In my area the 99 cent store carries produce. Maybe let go of the big bag of sugar and get a little fruits/veggies instead? Look into food closets also because $50 for groceries is so very low. They may be able to help you. We go and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Some months we have no money for food and we are a family of 5 (3 of them are teenagers). You do what you have to do to get by.

tennillewade

can you get food assistance like foodstamps or something?. I say if you can take that 12 bucks for sugar and get a smaller sack or none at all and spend that on frozen or canned veggies. the rest you do need accept the coffee but i understand a coffee addiction but if you could cut out the coffee that gives you another 4 bucks to get more vitamin dense food. adding veggies to the noodles is a good idea. and what about meat. if you cut back the sugar and cut out the coffee you could get a few pounds of ground beef along with some frozen veggies.

fxst78

Oh and get your sugar from McDonalds in the little packets instead of paying for it! lol

Pebble321

I think I'd get rice, lentils and frozen veg instead of the bread, sugar and noodles. More nutrition for your dollar and Dahl (lentils) is yummy and nutritious. And if you have $1 left, spend it on dried chilli or curry powder to spice up the Dahl.
And powdered milk instead of fresh - you should get more and it won't go off.
I would also try to see if you could squeeze a few onions or carrots (or other cheap seasonal veggies) in there too.

mrsvampette

Coupons really help when your strapped for cash. Also as a previous poster said the 99 cent store sells produce and other things. I shop at the 99 cent store for my groceries every once in a while and have not been disappointed yet. Also, if you go the couponing route, there's a website that helps couponers its called: thekrazycouponlady.com Theres guidelines and things under the beginners tab. Hope this helps a little bit.

Windchild

I have to ask. What kind of instant noodles are you buying that cost $6 for a 24 pack?

The only 24 packs of noodles around here are Ramen Noodles and you can get them for $1.50 for 24. So I'm curious.

mandylooo

I think I'd get rice, lentils and frozen veg instead of the bread, sugar and noodles. More nutrition for your dollar and Dahl (lentils) is yummy and nutritious. And if you have $1 left, spend it on dried chilli or curry powder to spice up the Dahl.
And powdered milk instead of fresh - you should get more and it won't go off.
I would also try to see if you could squeeze a few onions or carrots (or other cheap seasonal veggies) in there too.

Those are really great suggestions.

shakybabe

2 tins of slim fast for £10 = 2 weeks of breakfasts and lunches. then frozen cheap bulk buy vegetables, chicken and fish for main meals (about another tenner from cheap freezer shops) then of course got to buy shampoo, washing up liquid and erm.. lady stuff! .. get them from £1 store - some items last longer than 2 weeks like bleach, soap so don't have to buy them every time.

Not sure if your in US or UK, but if you have fish or meat markets and go towards the end of the day when they are trying to get rid of last lots, sometimes they bring prices down to get rid of stuff before they shut stall (next days is fresh again) so sometimes can get treat like some mince or something you can't usually afford to do spag bol mix or shepherds pie and freeze half.

BerryH

Is there a market near you? I can get a week's worth of veg for two for £7 which can make up 90% of all your meals healthily. Just use meat as a garnish. Look at catering packs of pasta and rice. For protein, get dried pulses, but make sure you soak and boil them long enough. I do use the 99p store, but mainly for household good like toiletries, toilet paper and cleaning products, saving money for better quality food.

SachaMichel

I'm heading to bed so I'll reply in the morning (thanks for the suggestions everyone) but the items on my list are basically the very, very cheapest I can get them in my area.

This also sounds sad but I want the sack of sugar because it's a cheap source of calories. I can mix it with water and drink that, when push comes to shove. Unfortunately I don't think $12 worth of vegetables and fruit can last me an entire month like a sack of sugar can.

swisspea

Great suggestion on getting rice (no name/generic, NOT minute rice), lentils and frozen veg- you can get dried lentils and beans for way cheaper than the canned stuff, and all you have to do is soak it overnight.

Also, $12 for granulated sugar? I think you could get it at a dollar store for much much cheaper. And use the savings to buy no name (or whatever is on sale) frozen or canned tuna or veggies, just to fill you up a bit more. Work out the price and see if you can make your own "instant" noodles from some ramen noodles (you can get some in asian shops for mega cheap, but other grocery stores have them too), some dried mushrooms and 1/4 of a vegetable broth cube- its a touch more work, but I think it could be cheaper in the end. Is there a pantry close by you that you can go to? When I was in university I survived on very little, but I was lucky to have my dad drop off a box of groceries a month, if I didn't have him, I would have went to the food bank.

BellydanceBliss

I can relate. I have been able to manage though. We have gone to the food pantry...I can always count on them having beans and rice and sometimes fresh potatoes and onions. now this being said I am a legume addict. lol I will eat any bean at any time...It is sustaining food though with rice it is a whole protein. Even the canned beans if you soak them in some warm water first for a few minutes and rinse them a few times it takes a lot of the sodium content out and they taste fine.

sunkisses

I don't have time to add things up properly, but I'd do peanut butter, eggs, rice, dry beans, and since I live in south FL I can get fresh local produce all the time so I would shop weekly for fruits and vegetables.

Patovader

Can you grow anything? If possible grow as many veggies as you can.

grobbygru

Is this serious? or just one of those 'how would you do it' posts? Just never ceases to amaze me that people say they are poor yet seem to be able to afford the internet/phones etc.
I am guessing it's a 'how would you do it'?

swisspea

I looked online, and you can get 2 kilograms of Redpath sugar for 2.99 from grocerygateway. That would give you $9.00 to buy some frozen or canned veggies- enough 4 cans of tuna per month, a bag of frozen veggies, a couple apples and and some extra money left over for spices.

ItsMeRebekah

any ministries in your area that do outreach programs ?? the angel food ministry will give you a box full of foods, fresh veggies and meats, breads, fruit, all for abt 25bks. churches in my area also do free foods one day a week, some have shops you can go to once a month and "shop" for a amt of food all for free.

when we are tight i always do a day to day basis figuring out WHAT we have i can create and if i need to get something hopefully only spend a buck or two at the dollar store... you would be shocked what you can do for very little!!

therealangd

I think I'd get rice, lentils and frozen veg instead of the bread, sugar and noodles. More nutrition for your dollar and Dahl (lentils) is yummy and nutritious. And if you have $1 left, spend it on dried chilli or curry powder to spice up the Dahl.
And powdered milk instead of fresh - you should get more and it won't go off.
I would also try to see if you could squeeze a few onions or carrots (or other cheap seasonal veggies) in there too.

Excellent Post.

You absolutely can eat more nutritiously.

jen0731

Check your local churches for food pantries. It wouldn't be much but it will help. I've had to go to a few myself when I've been done on my luck. I hated it but you gotta do what you gotta do.

fjrandol

When I was in college I volunteered stocking shelves at the local food bank. In exchange for about 2 hours of work a week I was able to come home with a big box of goodies: fresh veggies, baked goods, etc. You might want to check out the food banks in your area. Even if you don't have the time to volunteer, I know a box of food only ran $2-3, so you should be able to keep yourself fairly well fed on the cheap.

TBirdGirl

I buy veggies & fruits on the clearance rack that are very very ripe. Take home wash, slice, dice, shred, etc and freeze. Super savings there!

almondgirl00

I can get a kg of red lentils for $3.50 at the local Indian grocer. According to Woolworths online shopping it would cost me $4.72 there. I'd invest in a few basic spices (turmeric and cumin, mustard seeds if I could afford them), over the instant noodles. Lentils have protein, tons of vitamins and nutrients and fibre, fibre, fibre! 100g of dry lentils is 345 calories. Not sure how many calories a pack of instant noodles has, but I'm guessing it's reasonably high.

A really great food is mujaderra (sp?). Fry onions, a great cheap vegetable that lasts, in oil, add spices if you have some like cumin and coriander, then throw in cooked rice and brown or green lentils. I can eat a huge bowl of this, which is why I don't make it anymore (: and it's ridiculously filling. You get plenty of b vitamins if you use brown rice as well as magnesium and, I think, potassium but don't quote me on that.

So from Woolworths:
1kg pink lentils - $4.79
1kg brown lentils - $4.29
cumin - $2.10
1kg brown rice - $3.64
750g rolled oats - $1.28
1kg milk powder - $6.44
1kg frozen peas - $2.14
250g frozen chopped spinach - $1.39x4
1kg frozen beans - $1.71
1kg brown onions - $1.88
1kg unwashed potatoes - $1.98
whole canned tomatoes - $.69x3
250g minced garlic - $1.39
25g turmeric - $1.31
420g can baked beans - $0.69x3
dozen eggs - $3.01
825g pineapples in juice - $1.59
825g pear halves in syrup - $1.60
825g fruit salad in syrup - $1.60

Total - $50.45

This is all homebrand, but I suspect it can be done even cheaper at Aldi. And the spices and oil will carry on over to the next month. The only thing I'd worry about is getting b12 - a dozen eggs over a month isn't going to supply nearly enough. I put the fruit in syrup in there as a treat. You've got to have something to tide you over. Plus it will make eating your porridge a bit more fun.

There's not as much veg as I'd like in my plan, but if I was in a bind I'd have no problem eating it.

Eta: I know the Australian dollar is roughly at parity with the US, not sure how we're doing against the Canadian!

FaugHorn

There are often food banks that you can sign up for, pick a local church and call and ask, if they don't do it then they may be able to point you to one that does. That will at least get you some canned veggies and additional nutrients! You can usually sign up for a box a month at least and that would do wonders for you.

jennajava

My husband says he lived off of fish sticks in college. You can buy frozen ones in HUGE packages for dirt cheap.