How to eat right on an itty bitty income?

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  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
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    I bought a spaghetti squash last week at Safeway for $.99. It made the biggest mixing bowl of stuff I've ever seen. I've been eating off it it all week, adding spaghetti sauce and turkey meatballs one day, fresh tomato and basil another day, eating it plain one day. It's been a week and there is still some left.
  • Topsking2010
    Topsking2010 Posts: 2,245 Member
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    Buy chicken breast in bulk while on sale.
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
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    I have been there. I understand it. UI held my income for about 3.5 weeks, and I had to get by. This is when you need to be in survival mode, and forget about eating wonderfully. Do what you need to do to survive in your home, even if that means ramen and hotdogs to keep a roof over your head. Eating healthy, comes at a certain cost. Also, working out makes you eat more, so conserve more by not exerting excess energy throughout the day.

    Do not feel guilty if eating frozen tater tots will keep the lights on. I can, however, reccomend pan fried potatoes. a sack of potatoes costs about 2-3 bucks, and is a filling vegetable. So much can be done with them for cheap.
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
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    Also, see if there is a food mission in your town. They can give you a box of food for like 15-20, or sometimes free. Holidays are coming up, so they should be sprouting up everywhere. I really hope you can come out of this glitch okay! be a scrapper!
  • Dee_84
    Dee_84 Posts: 431 Member
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    If you have a walmart close by they price-match which can save A LOT of money without going to different stores for their sales.

    I look up the online sales ad of different grocery stores in my city, then make a list what is on sale, how much and which store.
    When I go to walmart I take my list with me and at the register tell them where the things are cheaper and they give you that price.
    Saves me great money especially on fruits, veggies, meats and dairy.
  • mandersatx
    mandersatx Posts: 86
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    Buy whole chickens (.67/# here on sale last week!). YouTube how to cut one up with poultry shears & a butcher knife and freeze the parts. Or roast it whole. Pull the meat off the bones for salads, soups, ect. Boil the carcass with vegetable trimmings (I save mine in a freezer bag - squash tops, carrot tops, onion skins, garlic skins, celery roots, ect) for "free" chicken broth. I do the same the with beef scraps for beef broth.
    Buy cheese blocks & shred yourself.
    Clip coupons but compare the price per ounce with the store brand - sometimes the store brand is cheaper.
    Potatoes/sweet potatoes by the bag are usually cheap - bake several at once (so you only have to turn the stove on once), pop in the fridge for quick lunches/dinners.
    Onions by the bag are cheaper, too. Chop & saute the day you get home from the store, & freeze it usuable amounts in sandwich bags. (Don't forget to save the skins, tops, & bottoms for broth!)
    Invest in good Tupperware that can go from the freezer to the microwave, so when you make a batch of soup, a casserole, ect, you can freeze the leftovers & not have to eat the same thing everyday.
    Don't be afraid to try unusual veggies when they're on sale. Jicama is about .80/# here, and it's great for snacking with homemade hummus. AllRecipes.com is a great resource for recipes - start with dried beans instead of canned to make it even cheaper.
    Eggs are incredibly versatile. The 101 folds in a chef's hat supposedly represent how many ways a chef can prepare eggs.
    Invest in a Misto instead of paying for cooking spray. About $10 around here (Bed, Bath & Beyond/World Market) - it pays for itself quickly.
    Use white vinegar for cleaning instead of expensive (& often toxic) cleaners - windows, counters, floors, bathtub. Add a cup to the rinse cycle of your laundry instead of fabric softener. Not food related, but it'll free up more money for food.
  • cfc32flvrs
    cfc32flvrs Posts: 23 Member
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    bump
  • BelindaDuvessa
    BelindaDuvessa Posts: 1,014 Member
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    I have a whole bunch of links that will hopefully help you. Alot of it is just smart planning. Don't ever go to the grocery store without a list, and go ahead and plan your dinners so you aren't scrambling last minute to find something to eat. This has helped me cut my grocery bill in half, easily.

    25 Cheap Foods that are Good for You!
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1210

    50 Easy Ways to Cut 100 Calories!
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1183

    Eating Healthy on a Budget
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=511

    Meal Planning Made Simple
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1485

    Over 100 Hundred Super Foods for a Super You!
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=307

    Shopping Cart Essentials
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1001

    Grocery List and Menu Planning Templates
    http://www.freeprintablegrocerylist.com/

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