Losing weight with little to no money.

Heard today on the news that we (North Americans) throw away 40% of the food we buy at the grocery store. First thing I'd suggest, and this applies to me too, is to plan meals better to reduce wasted food.

I always buy the day old bread for 50% off and keep it in the freezer. I just go right from freezer to toaster, and it is exactly the same as fresh to toaster. We buy meat in bulk when on sale, and we eat what's on sale. Veggies in season, or else frozen in bulk. Starches are items on sale or filling at a low cost, like whole wheat pasta or potatoes.

Buy store brands instead of national brands.

The most expensive items are always the pre-packed foods, or brand names. Grocery store flyers are your friend, and Walmart (at least here in Canada) price matches every other store flyer out there.

Good luck!

I totally understand where you are coming from. It is cheaper to eat macaroni and cheese from a package than to spend money on fruits and veggies at the store. It is very expensive to be on a diet. I found out that your neighborhood Sprouts carries locally grown produce so it's cheaper but everything else in there is expensive. I buy food at a neighborhood Winco. They are the cheapest around since they are non-union and therefore they don't have the higher prices. You do have to bag your own food but it's worth it. Their produce is picked over but I have found bagged fruit to be good. Just don't give in to junk food. Buy healthy and plan your meals. Use coupons. If you don't get a local paper with coupons, go online and go to the product website. Sometimes you can find them there. If you love macaroni and cheese, like I do, make your own with fiber-rich pasta or whole grain and make your own sauce. It can be time-consuming but think of it this way. You are worth the time. It is about you. Get up early and make ahead meals, freeze them or do what you can to stick to your plan. We all get the same 24 hours in a day; it's what you choose to do with that time that makes a difference. Good luck.

Workout videos on YouTube. I like the Leslie Sansone walking workouts, but there are a plenty of others.

Exercise:

1. Running - all you need is some shoes and you're good to go
2. You Tube - loads of fitness videos including Jillian Michaels. Have a look for 30 Day Shred - great for getting in shape

Food:

1. In the UK shops like Aldi and Lidl are substantially cheaper for fresh food (e.g. Rooster potatoes are £1 a bag compared to £1.80 elsewhere). I'm sure you have similar cut-price supermarkets where you live (not sure where - are you in the US?)

2. Supermarkets often stock 'basic' ranges, which are cheaper. For example, fresh chicken breasts in these ranges are usually from the same farms as the normal chicken but are different shapes and sizes, which doesn't matter. Even better, buy and cook whole chickens - far cheaper and tastier than fillets, legs etc (and you have a convenient supply of ready-cooked lean protein for meals for the next few days).

3. Shop at the end of the day to bag some bargains. Meat that has a use-by date that day is usually cut massively in price and is safe to put in the freezer for future use. Markets are also great for this. My freezer currently has all sorts, from rump steak and smoked salmon to turkey mince and fresh beef burgers. Just be cheeky and ask the staff if they have certain times when they sell goods off. One woman I work with goes in at midnight once a week then brings in items the next day that she has bought for 5p each etc and sells them at a profit!

4. Asian/ethnic supermarkets: From little local Gujuarti stores on your local high street to big out-of-town Chinese supermarkets, there are bargains galore. As a student I only ever shopped in the local shops, getting big bags of onions and carrots, bunches of herbs, spices etc for a fraction of the price in the supermarkets. I also buy loads of noodles from the Chinese supermarkets in a once-a-month shop. They last forever, are really cheap and I particularly love the rice noodles as you simply pour boiling water on from the kettle then leave to stand for 10 mins. Drain off, add in a stack of raw or lightly cooked veg and beansprouts and several splashes of soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and you have an instant dinner.

5. In the UK you can shop online so I assume you may be able to do this where you live. It means you can check the prices of products from the comfort of your home so you make wise decisions, both in terms of checking prices and not buying rubbish. (for those in the UK http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/ offers you price swaps on products to save money).

6. Try dried beans and pulses - cheap, filling and nutritious. Red split lentils are a great substitute for minced meat in chili and curries. Simply simmer in your sauce for around half an hour and they are done.

7. Bulk buy with friends or family from a cash and carry. My mum buys trays of meat which she bags up and puts in the freezer. Family then buy them from her at cost price when they visit. Much cheaper than buying two chicken breasts at a time.

8. And my final suggestion is to always try to shop in season. Cabbages grown in season locally will always be cheaper than those shipped in out of season! Google for where you live and what is in season each month.

I find I naturally lose weight when I have less money as luxury goods are the first thing to stop.

If you have a yard get some chickens. You will have free eggs & meat if needed. Chickens will eat anything. Also, like so many others have said beans are cheap & nutritious. Brown beans are very cheap. They can be stocked up for a long time too. Chili is a cheap meal, buy hamburger on sale. We shop at Save-A-Lot most of the time, and if you're not picky about brand name food you will save compared to other stores. You may want to call your local meat processing centers to see how much their fresh meat is by the box. It's healthier too.

if you have an Aldi store..it is amazing how much you save there. I buy my oats..eggs..tons of fruits, vegetables for a fraction of it costs at Kroger. I used to go because of the bad economy..now i go because it is crazy not to.

Fresh/frozen fruits and veggies are pretty cheap. Exercise by walking/running or by finding free videos on YouTube.