Say you are a broke college student....

SergeantSunshine_reused

And had very little money for food for the next 2 months *-* what would be the top items on your list?

I was thinking:
cans of tuna 52 cents
bag of rice around $1.20 or so
maybe a bag of frozen chicken breasts - $6 or so

what would you add :flowerforyou:

Scott613

Learn to coupon and visit your local dollar stores. Buying store brand items instead of name brand also saves you a few dollars.

MB_Positif

Learn to start walking around campus saying, "do you have a dollar, I need a ____" You would be surprised how many people will give you a dollar. OR...you know I will suggest some beans

Acg67

And had very little money for food for the next 2 months *-* what would be the top items on your list?

I was thinking:
cans of tuna 52 cents
bag of rice around $1.20 or so
maybe a bag of frozen chicken breasts - $6 or so

what would you add :flowerforyou:

SergeantSunshine_reused

I get a coupon book delivered with the paper every week actually Many of the things in there are still more expensive than the basics it seems Looks like im going to need to learn how to extreme coupon here soon xD

jacksonpt

I'd get someone to take me to a club store (Costco, Sams, etc) and buy a big thing of chicken breast and ground beef. Then I'd get noodles, beans and milk as needed. I'd bum seasoning off my friends.

lizard053

Beans - dried beans are cheap and not hard to prepare, decent source of protein, and full of filling fiber.

I also would hit up Aldi's for food. Cheap, but still good food.

MassiveDelta

Id skip the chicken breast as it is a little pricey I think you can find lean ground turkey for cheaper. Plus I would add a bad of dried beans black is my preference.

Baby carrots are usually pretty cheap. For some veggies

beccala18

Shop the food sales - frozen veggies won't go bad, so if they are doing a deal of some sort, grab as much as you can. Lots to pay initially, but could save you in the long run.

Any dried bean - lentils and chickpeas/garbanzos are really good and have protein, too!

_Ben

Red baron french bread pizza ($3.50 for 2)
Pickles
Baby carrots


Had that for dinner, it was great

BiscuitsNDavy

Second the beans. Goya beans are dirt cheap. Wait for canned veggies to go on sale. Stock up on tuna at 52 cents, no idea how you get it that cheap (cheapest around here is 89cents for chunk light). Bananas are a cheap fruit that you can add to your nasty tasting protein powders.

kirsty736

I have started buying frozen chicken & fish fillets, even though they are more expensive than processed type meats, they fill me up well and are healthy. But I agree its tough being a student- limited supply of money for healthy food!

almc170

Frozen veggies and peanut butter

christibam

Make a big batch of veggie soup and a big batch of vegetarian chili. Freeze most of it. Beans and veggies aren't that much monies.

You're right on with the tuna and chicken.

Buy some flour, yeast, oil, eggs, sugar or splenda and some condensed milk. Make some bread. It's pretty easy unless you use a bread machine because those things are a ***** to clean.

Hard boiled eggs make a decent snack but I wouldn't suggest more than one per day if you're watching your cholesterol.

Peanut butter. It's amazing. That's all.

plushkitten

lots of tofu
black beans
rice
frozen veggies

jessimacar

I can do groceries for my fiance and myself every 2 weeks for under $100, and that's getting things that are sometimes a little pricier. We live on "no name" brands. They taste the same and are much cheaper. We eat a lot of pasta when we're low on cash, as well as sandwiches. Cheaper meals for us also include anything in a lettuce or tortilla wrap. We buy a lot of peppers and onions. I don't buy a lot of meat, since it's so pricey.. Making your own pancakes can be a cheap meal to use up the basics (flour, eggs, milk, etc). And things like Kraft Dinner that is 'jazzed up' with other flavours I'm feeling that day. Most of this isn't exactly healthy, so we make sure to buy fresh fruits and veggies that are on sale. And no fruit juice/soda! We only buy a can or bottle of something as a treat, other than that it's water, saves us a lot of money.

I hope this helps!

Meaganandcheese

Whatever produce/frozen veggies are on sale
Don't drink your money/calories

SergeantSunshine_reused

Second the beans. Goya beans are dirt cheap. Wait for canned veggies to go on sale. Stock up on tuna at 52 cents, no idea how you get it that cheap (cheapest around here is 89cents for chunk light). Bananas are a cheap fruit that you can add to your nasty tasting protein powders.

Just checked walmart 52 cents for chunk light in water - great value brand! Bananas might be a good idea since I can freeze them too to add to powers. Might make them a million times better.

What beans do you guys buy? I was thinking chickpeas and pinto, and grab some corn tortillas?


Oh also about the veggies - in one of my classes we looked at prices of veggies for what you are getting, and frozen was the most expensive. Think that it is still a good idea to get them? I know I can get bags of frozen veggies at walmart for about 99 cents each actually. Peas, carrots, and broccoli Also I think winter squash might be good price at the moment too

amphora

Tortillas- wrap up beans and veggies and you can eat it on the go!

muwchck

Coupons, sales, and discount stores are your friends. I'm working on my next shopping trip (in the morning), and I'm trying to save more money because eating cleaner has made our grocery money run out sooner. I still have some things around the house to eat, but by the end of my month, I'm out of all my fresh fruit and veggies and haven't had money for any extra for several days.

thelovelyLIZ

I'm pretty broke myself, but I've managed to do okay.

In my experience, the biggest saver is eliminating things you DON'T need. Don't buy drinks (other than milk), and limit yourself to one or two snacks. Planning is also important too, so you're not wasting food.

Other cheap iterms that are awesome:
-Beans, dried or canned
-Oatmeal
-Frozen fruit and vegetables
-Look for sale items and stock up when you can. I buy cuts of meat on sale and freeze them for later sometimes.
-Eggs

jacksonpt

Black beans go with everything.

tlinval

Eggs are cheap and you can make a whole bunch of different things.
Potatoes and onions, too.
The makings for a veggie soup (bouillon, veggies, maybe noodles).
Split pea soup is good and cheap to make (dried peas, dried onion soup mix, chicken broth)
Peanut butter and bread.

I've been there/done that...good luck!! :flowerforyou:

SergeantSunshine_reused

Might be a good thread for anyone a little short on cash - so advice doesn't just have to apply to my situation!

Anything you guys love to do with beans? I have no clue what to do besides chili xD

crudd123

Do you have an Aldi grocery store in your area? They have good food all kinds fruits, vegetables, bread, milk, yogurt, everything a regular grocery store has but lots cheaper! Good luck to you!

ednabnana

The veggies are cheap now since it is getting warmer! For example: 3 bell peppers for $1. 2 ginormous cucumbers for $1. Go to the nearest farmer's market around you

I second the beans suggestion. GL!

jacksonpt

Anything you guys love to do with beans? I have no clue what to do besides chili xD

Wraps are a quick, cheap, easy meal that can be done with almost whatever ingredients you have laying around. Meats? Yep. Veggies? Yep. Beans? Yep. Cheese? Yep. Condiments? Yep.

SergeantSunshine_reused

I think I have some sour cream and such in the back of my fridge xD Wraps sound yummy!

I think we do have an Aldi, never been in it though! Will have to check it out

I have a collection of protein powder going on, will probably be drinking a lot of that to use it up and save some cash

JennieAL

Lentils!! Rice, beans, peanut butter, tuna...

alix1105

I get a coupon book delivered with the paper every week actually Many of the things in there are still more expensive than the basics it seems Looks like im going to need to learn how to extreme coupon here soon xD

I extreme coupon and love it i save sooooooo much money its stupid. haha But it sucks cause in Cali we can't double coupon.

Here's some websites I use, Hope they can help u save some monies

onefrugalchick.com
groupon.com
livingsocial.com
dailydeals.com
slickdeals.net
reclipit.com

hope this can help you out a little. I don't know what i'd do without my couponing. lol good luck!

Kailel

This broke college student lives off of noodles and crackers with peanut butter... With a side of whatever's on sale.