Impossible to eat healthy when in debt

I buy the, i cook, i have all the dietary restrictions. The hubby, other than having Grave's Disease, is as healthy as an Ox and will and can eat anything. We are both trying to get out of debit and it's hard. With the 2 of us, we buy bwt 75-150$ every two weeks (food, tolieteries, cat supplies and house hold goods), with replacements as needed. We finally found some friends who want to split the cost of a Costco membership so we all can try getting bulk sizes (I have a vacuum sealer) and try this way to see if it will help control the costs even more.

I look for sales, clip coupons and try to tweak everything as far as we can get it to go.

It's hard, but we are trying. He's switched to an electronic ciggy (trying to quit) which has saved ALOT of money, but he drinks alot of soda and energy drinks. His job also doesn't have a kitchen or fridge, so he has to eat out while working. I do energy drinks. We are starting to shift what we consider important (like I am cutting back the vitamins and reducing the number of things I take - he's trying to eat better, like cheap lunches - mcdee's dollar side salads + chicken poppers).

We are trying to NOT eat out - it's more costly no matter what.

It's hard, but doable.

can't he pack food in a cooler?

I think it is hard, but not impossible. Groceries have definitely gotten a LOT more expensive--my grocery bill is up 30-40% every week and it pisses me off! But we have to eat....

There are some sacrifices I have to make with our grocery list--sure, I'd rather have the organic chicken, but the big frozen bag goes a lot further.

I do a lot of coupon shopping but only for what I NEED--coupons will get you to spend so much money on so much crap, a lot of people are better off avoiding them altogether.

Also, lots of bulk--if you have somewhere that you can buy good bulk food (not Costco, not Whole Foods--here I go to Winco, there used to be Cub Foods, depends on your area) you can save a bunch, not only because it is less expensive per pound, but also because you can get only what you need. Beans, rice, pasta, flour, sugar, honey, fresh ground peanut butter and almond butter, granola, nuts, spices, etc.

Another one of those tricks in the store is to put something on "sale" to entice you to buy more--don't give in! If you only need one package of pasta, only buy one. If you buy into the "sales" you're actually spending about 75% more on that item than you intended or that you needed.

If you have time at home, experiment with some new recipes--maybe you'll surprise your wife! Make it a challenge to yourself--how much can you buy for a set dollar amount? How many meals can you get out of that shopping trip? Can you duplicate something that you already make with different (healthier) ingredients?

Good luck to you! I know how difficult it can be to get creative, healthy and inexpensive in the kitchen!

Bumping this thread for all of the great, interesting, creative ideas I've seen here...even if it apparently didn't meet the OP's very complex needs.

Thanks to everyone who shared "eating healthy on a budget" ideas-I will be happy to take your advice and run with it :flowerforyou:

Hey EccentricDad, have you showed her this site? If not, show her the nutritional value of a McD's meal or even better something from Taco Hell, and then compare it to something you make at home on MFP. The unholy sodium content alone from the fast food joints should do wonders to help nudge her focus towards your way of thinking.

For extra bonus points, also do a cost analysis breakdown for the meal for the entire family.

She's aware of this site and ones like it. But again, how the food affects the body is no concern to her. She cares only about ending that pesky feeling of "hunger". And she isn't the only person like this. I bet there are lots of you reading this thread going "that's me" and feeling guilty by my attitude towards this mentality. The truth is though, it is her (your) mentality that is causing the obesity in America to sky rocket (along with the bonus checks of Fast Food owners).

well sadly, as is my current experience, it won't become a concern of hers until it becomes real to her, which even more sadly means once she hits rock bottom or develops a serious condition because of it.

As for your origiinal problem, I think you already answered it with the gift card idea. I think that is pretty brilliant and if you can find one of those sites that let you by them from other people at a discount, could really be a money saver too.

I'm in debt (not as much as I used to be, but...). I find this very very possible. If you want to lose weight and be healthier you WILL find a way. If you want to remain the way you are, you'll find an EXCUSE.

edited to say: That may have sounded harsh but I've had too many experiences with people saying "I would love to lose weight but..." and then find that they really didn't want to do it all... maybe that's not your story, but hey.

Direct your attention at the concept of the thread instead of me. I am fine. I lost 70 lbs in 5 months and I can fit in clothing that I could only fit in during high school. How did I do it? Eating "my definition" of healthy eating. But I didn't do it to lose weight, that was just an added bonus.

I wasn't necessarily saying YOU.. YOU wrote "Impossible to eat healthy while in debt".... I'm saying IT IS NOT. Sorry if I offended YOU carry on with YOUR day... :flowerforyou:

I bet there are lots of you reading this thread going "that's me" and feeling guilty by my attitude towards this mentality. The truth is though, it is her (your) mentality that is causing the obesity in America to sky rocket (along with the bonus checks of Fast Food owners).

Hm. Wow. A lot of very nice and probably very BUSY people have taken the time to follow this thread; to offer suggestions, workarounds, tips, budget sites, food/recipe sites, ideas how to discuss this issue with your wife...and yet you continue to insult and alienate people.

Well, whatever, I hope you can get all your and your family's needs met somehow, because I'm pretty sure you're never going to just be appreciative of all of the help you've been offered. Best of luck.

"Le sigh."

Look man, I get a little frustrated/confused when I see posts like this. You say you can't eat healthy because you're in debt (and yes I have the capacity to read a whole post and pick out the pertinent details - you don't have to be so snippy with people who are trying offer you advice). I'm not trying to be rude because I really do sympathize with your situation. I also have a ton of debt and someone else who controls food decisions.

I guess what I'm wondering is what you're actually looking for here? If you're just looking for sympathy then that's OK, and you certainly have mine. People have given you plenty of advice on eating healthy on a budget. I could give you some more, but that doesn't seem to be what you want. The people on these message boards can offer advice, but we can't be your marriage counselors. Like other people, I would tell you to talk to her, and express your concerns in a mature manner. Have an actual conversation, and if your wife is so tyrannical that she can't see her way to buying a bag of beans instead of a happy meal, then I really don't know what to tell you.

I wish you the best of luck.

I can't believe this thread is still going.

bumping as we are currently trying to get out of debt and buy a house

From a UK perspective it seems as if food and groceries are a lot cheaper in the States here £2 for six apples, £1.25 for a nice loaf of wholemeal bread and £1.18 for four pints of milk. We dont have coupons like you do but we do have supermarket value brands for things like pasta, rice and porridge oats. Unfortunately where I am we dont have very many markets close by and petrol is currently £1.39 a litre but with a lot of thought and careful shopping using the freezer and slow cooker you can eat well and fairly cheaply

I read several pages of the thread. I didn't have the tenacity to go read every post but I read for a good 10 minutes.
OP It sounds to me like you would like to have as much say in the finances as she does. Is there a power struggle going on?
Do you feel as if she gets to make all the financial decisions, are her priorities are always getting paid for- while your priorities are not getting financed because she doesn't think they are important?

I sympathise with you. As a home maker myself, I often got the same schtick from my ex husband. Since he worked, he got to make all the money decisions. If I wanted something, and HE wanted it too- we could have it. But if I wantes something- and it wasn't important to him, 'we couldn't afford it". This made me feel be littled.

I understand the need to vent. I wish I had some advice for you. Were it me, I would be tempted to leave m duties as home maker- put the kids in day care, and get a job to make the extra money needed for the types of food you want to buy. But that would't solve anything and likely change the dinamics of the marriage too much.

I know you want to set a good example for your kids, and it must be frustrating to be dealing with this.