I have $7 for groceries.

13

Replies

  • daffodilsoup
    daffodilsoup Posts: 1,972 Member
    Beans, rice and a huge container of store brand rolled oats.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    A friend of mine pointed me in the direction of a food bank I can go to tomorrow. Thanks, everyone!
    I have never been to one, so I don't know what I will get, but I just want to stretch out my food as long as possible.

    And no, this is not a joke. I literally have $7 for a few weeks.

    kind of crying a little. if that food bank doesnt' work out keep checking. restaurants know who they donate to and so do churches.

    after you see what they give you....try to get bag of beans, bag of rice, and pasta.

    when you have money again get these same things again too for times like this.

    Good luck hope things get better real soon.

    Oh and in the meantime think of ways to earn fast cash. legal ones of course. babysit, mow a lawn, etc.
  • AliciaC81
    AliciaC81 Posts: 72 Member
    Is there a plasma donation center by you? You could go in there, donate some plasma and they give you either cash or a debit type card. It takes about an hour or two and you can do it twice a week. Some places offer like $15 but some offer $50 or so each time. Even if it's on the lower end if you can do it twice a week that's $30 every week that you can put towards food!

    Also, as a long term option..start couponing. Even if you can't afford the newspaper maybe someone gets it but doesn't use their coupons. You can get so many things for free...start a stockpile! Then the next time you're in a money bind you can just turn to your stockpile!
  • I dunno. If you still need money contact me I'll send you some.
  • Kmanouchehri90
    Kmanouchehri90 Posts: 81 Member
    pb&j and bread
  • Since you are a college student, I'm gonna assume that you are a decent writer. Check out www.textbroker.com, www.odesk.com or www.workplacelikehome.com. They offer varying amounts for small articles that have to use a specific keyword so many times within say 400 words. Even if you only do say 5 400 word articles a day for textbroker, you can earn 20 bucks a day and the money is there right away after the article is approved - you can transfer it to a paypal.com account, which you can connect to your bank account.
  • Some stores throw out perfectly good food. Don't take this as an insult, some people who _could_ buy food, dumpster dive to supplement their budgets. I didn't read every response here, but if you're interested, some people see it as a very "green" thing to do. http://freegan.info/

    I wasn't going to suggest dumpster diving, but I was going to suggest going to your local grocery store and speaking to the manager. Explain your situation. Ask if they have any "almost-out-of date" produce, meat or dairy that they are going to be getting rid of soon. Also, go to local restaurants and most definitely the cafeteria at your school (if its a brick and mortar school vs online). Explain to the manager and see if they would be willing to save leftovers for you. Most places will be glad to help and happy to know that what they would normally just throw away will help someone. And yes, get to that food bank.
  • nomicat77
    nomicat77 Posts: 132 Member
    I also wanted to echo a previous poster-- if you are a college student, I would suggest that you go to the financial aid office and see if you can get on a meal plan. Even if you need to go to another office, they will know where to point you to.

    If you do go to apply for Welfare (food stamps) DON"T TELL THEM YOU ARE IN COLLEGE FULL TIME if you have no kids. You will not be eligible./. I am a caseworker for the Dept. of Welfare. I know the policies.

    Post an add on Craigslist. Tell people you have no food. Strangers can surprise you. I'm assuming if you are in college you are intelligent enough to know not to meet that stranger in a private place. You could post a status on Facebook, let people know you have no food. Go see the provost at your school and ball your eyes out. Pan handle. Desperate people will do desperate things.

    Maybe post an add on Craigslist saying you will clean house or babysit in trade for food.

    Suck it up, and call ALL your family members and friends and let them know you have no food.

    Re-evaluate how you budget. Something isn't right to be in this predicament. Maybe Google how to budget.
  • Whatever you used to post this comment sell it...
  • Sarah0866
    Sarah0866 Posts: 291 Member
    a dozen eggs, dried beans, rice

    Ditto!!! And what JiggyGibby says...no shame; then give back. Many blessings to you.

    Agreed...best of luck to you
  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member
    Go to a church. Even if it is not your church they will help you.
  • apply for food stamps
  • call your local church or food shelter. don't let shame stop you. when you are in better $ position, donate in return to place that helped you!

    This. Never be ashamed to ask for help.
  • katmix
    katmix Posts: 296 Member
    That would be gas money to drive to your moms. Is it possible that you can't afford to live on your own and support yourself? If you seriously only have $7 to last almost 3 weeks, you've got some serious challenges going on. If you are in the states, that is what food stamps are for. If you don't qualify, then things are not quite what they seem. (i.e. someone might make too much money but manage it poorly.) I recommend that you get help...whether it be through your church or community welfare services, and be honest with yourself regarding your situation. Not everyone can afford a certain lifestyle on a small budget, and one needs to eat. What will you have to forgo to make sure that you have enough money for food?

    Not being mean, just the same things I'd ask my kids before letting them move out...

    ps. Just read your profile. You might consider giving up "craft food and beer" if you are a starving college student. I would suspect that many of us ate lots of pb and jelly while going to school (I lived on it for lunch at school, and casseroles of whatever I could throw together for dinners)...many have gone before and lived to tell about it. Giving up extras and gourmet treats in lieu of plain but cheap and nutritious meals is kind of a given (and I also worked full time while at university full time, and still ate simply and cheaply)....

    Last edit, promise! Both my children worked part time on campus (in addition to working part time off campus)...go to your dept to hire out for tutoring or any other area that hires (cafeteria, library, landscaping, trash pickup). The pay is lousy (usually minimum wage) but your hours can be flexible to fit between your classes. You definitely need to pick a job or two if you can't afford to feed yourself.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    Some stores throw out perfectly good food. Don't take this as an insult, some people who _could_ buy food, dumpster dive to supplement their budgets. I didn't read every response here, but if you're interested, some people see it as a very "green" thing to do. http://freegan.info/

    I wasn't going to suggest dumpster diving, but I was going to suggest going to your local grocery store and speaking to the manager. Explain your situation. Ask if they have any "almost-out-of date" produce, meat or dairy that they are going to be getting rid of soon. Also, go to local restaurants and most definitely the cafeteria at your school (if its a brick and mortar school vs online). Explain to the manager and see if they would be willing to save leftovers for you. Most places will be glad to help and happy to know that what they would normally just throw away will help someone. And yes, get to that food bank.

    no dumpster diving please. just pm me and promise me you're not going to do this. HOWEVER I have been dining at a restaurant with a group of friends near the end of the night and we were all offered several loaves of their "peasant bread" to take home since they were going to have to throw it away at the end of the night and said the employees were not allowed to take it home. we accepted and tipped more generously. you could try local restaurants this way but i would not go the other route at all you have too many other smarter more dignified options to choose from here. you are going to be ok. really.
  • My0WNinspiration
    My0WNinspiration Posts: 1,146 Member
    Beans
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    I've been there. I coped by dating men (no sex, just dates) old enough to be my father, and letting them pick up the tab. Was that a really low thing to do? Sure. But after several days without food it sure did seem like a good idea. One man even took me grocery shopping when he came to pick me up and peeked in my fridge looking for a beer.

    I didn't have the internet to turn to for advice. I had no idea what a food bank was and how they worked. Now I know, and I donate regularly.
  • Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Lentils, Beans, Milk, Chicken Legs (freeze and make into soup), peanut butter, whole grain pasta, brown rice and while grains (barley, Bulgar, ...Bob's Red Mill products). Potatoes. Canned Spinach. Carrots. Ask to borrow $20 from a friend or neighbor until your next pay check and make sure to pay them back.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Go to Cardenas and buy some veggies that are on sale. They also have lentils on sale right now 2lbs for $1.
  • been there. rice is the right way to go. if you get the store brand (generic item) it's the exact same thing but cheaper. get a can of store brand "chunky" beef soup (cook rice, heat soup, pour soup over rice) where i'm from that's a $3.01 meal that lasts days. make a veggie soup & add egg noodles, they're cheap (around $1.78). heat frozen veggies in a pot (you can do half broth, half water to make a larger pot of soup) towards the end add the noodles and cook until done. that will last a long time, and you can get creative with any soup, like adding a can of diced tomato. a loaf of bread could provide you toast with your soup too.
    I work at a grocery store and if you can get to one early in the morning, (not really at walmart though, try another chain) go to your meat department. they mark chicken & beef down but it's normally cleaned out by 11 AM & freeze any extra meat you get. try to locate the clearance section too. Good luck!!!
  • xaMErica
    xaMErica Posts: 284 Member
    Rice and ramen.... get creative! Or just ask for help. $7 isn't going to feed you for a month.. no way in hell! You better get someone damn good at couponing... *Not a bad idea.... I suck at it but I'm sure you could find someone! =)

    Seriously though....ask for help. =/
  • Definitely go to a food bank. Ive been given rice, beans, potatoes, onion, bananas, oranges, tomatoes (fresh and canned) soup, lettuce, radishes, coffee or tea, all the bread I wanted, even desert items. I'm able to go once a week no questions asked, just show your id. I have even gotten milk, yogurt, eggs and meat. This is just for a family of one and its enough to get you by. Best of luck to you and as others have said, babysitting, dog walking ect... will help.:heart:
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    a loaf of bread, cereal and milk.
  • jackiecamarena
    jackiecamarena Posts: 290 Member
    I actually went dumpstering earlier today. I do it sometimes when I am out of food. I have been homeless on and off for the last two years and food has been an issue for me as well. I am going to a food bank tomorrow. Luckily there was one scheduled tomorrow! A lot of them here are exclusively for mothers, children, and seniors.

    Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

    I was officially out of real food today, but my friend made me some lunch and bought me a box of protein bars, so I am getting by for today.
  • jackiecamarena
    jackiecamarena Posts: 290 Member
    Also, I am fully aware my profile says I am into craft food and beer. This is something I like as a hobby when I can afford it, duh.
    I have a ****ty family situation and I got kicked out of my house at 18. No, it wasn't my choice to move out. I would be in a stable place if I could be. I am trying to live as normal of a life as I can as a now 21 year old. I have tried applying for food stamps, but have gotten rejected because I don't have a job. I have an interview for a pretty awesome and stable position next week, so wish me luck, guys!

    And thank you, everyone, once again for your support!
    Really didn't think this many people would care.
  • jackiecamarena
    jackiecamarena Posts: 290 Member
    Also!

    I am getting into a homeless transitional living place soon.
    So, yeah!

    Excited.
    Things should be looking up soon.

    I am just in the most terrible of places right now.
    Life just, sucks.

    But I am trying to stay positive.
  • christina0089
    christina0089 Posts: 709 Member
    a dozen eggs, dried beans, rice

    agreed!
  • I also suggest purchasing rice and beans (in bulk). Lots of options to cook it with the foods you already have, another idea is spaghetti, a little goes a LONG way, and it can be extremely cheap! Try the spaghetti with marinara and a little cheese, the beans and rice will go well with the curry sauce. Shop around for the best bang for your buck and definitely compare prices, and look for coupons! With luck these groceries will last until the end of February, so you would still need groceries for a week and a half! I highly recommend going to a food bank, thats what they are there for, and like others said when you are at the right time in your life you can return the favour by donating food items then. Another option would be to research into events that offer free food. When grocery shopping look for marked down items, as there are often products that are 50% off for reasons that don't affect the product, like a box of cereal that is a little smushed. I wish you the best of luck, it sounds like a tough time but you seem positive and you will definitely get through this!
  • I was unemployed for 2 months after a move in '07. I lived on rice & beans and ramen. Not the healthiest time in my life, but I ended up losing 30 pounds, so something good came out of those lean times. But definitely head to a local church. Although I'm working full time now, there are still times when we need to take advantage of the resources available. No shame in it.


    Oh and oatmeal is another good thing to have on hand.
  • Lecterman
    Lecterman Posts: 97 Member
    How about this? If you really only have $7 to get you through until then, friend me and then send me a message with your Paypal info if you have it. I'll throw $20 your way.