I admit it, I have no idea what I'm doing...
Replies
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Bananas - $2
Oatmeal - $2
Bread - $1
Peanut Butter - $2
Head of lettuce - $1
Salad dressing - $1
Can of green beans - $1
Can of chick peas - $1
Can of kidney beans - $1
Bag of red beans - $1
Bag of rice - $1
2 bags frozen veggies - $2
Bag of frozen berries - $1
Pack of Yogurt - $4
Hamburger meat - $2
Food costs more than that in UK but in £s0 -
Are you paying for the dietician or are you somehow getting her services for free? If you are paying her, I recommend cut that immediately and use that money for food!
$23 seems really low! Please cut gym memberships, tv, phone, etc.. whatever you have to do to find more money for groceries!
If you really can't find any more cash for groceries, I'll take a crack at a grocery list and menu (these prices are what I would expect in my grocery store, but they might vary at yours)
Bananas - $2
Oatmeal - $2
Bread - $1
Peanut Butter - $2
Head of lettuce - $1
Salad dressing - $1
Can of green beans - $1
Can of chick peas - $1
Can of kidney beans - $1
Bag of red beans - $1
Bag of rice - $1
2 bags frozen veggies - $2
Bag of frozen berries - $1
Pack of Yogurt - $4
Hamburger meat - $2
Kids breakfast - oatmeal
Your breakfast - banana and peanut butter
Kids lunch - peanut butter sandwich and yogurt with berries
Your lunch - three bean salad and yogurt
Kids dinner - red beans and rice OR hamburger and veggies (use bread as buns)
Your dinner - red beans OR hamburger (no bun) with frozen veggies or salad
Snacks - Yogurt, bananas, peanut butter, berries
Whew! That was hard, and it is probably not enough food for a week.
Sorry... I tried!
I don't know where you live, but where I'm from, food prices are like triple these amounts.0 -
Make sure you are measuring properly, and if you're truly under you should up your intake. Sounds blunt and simple - cause it is. I used to be 1200, then 1400 and now 1600NET and I find it hard, I am exercising a lot but ALWAYS hungry, I can't believe I used to be on 1200!0
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I don't know where you live, but where I'm from, food prices are like triple these amounts.
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I live in Georgia and shop at Kroger. They have a 10 for $10 special, where you can buy lots of frozen veggies, bread, canned goods for $1 each. BUT, I didn't include tax and as I mentioned, I don't think it is enough food for 2 people. I just wanted to give it a try! Honestly, I think it is impossible to feed a family of 2 low carb on $23 a week.. especially a family that refuses to eat tuna or eggs. But maybe that will give her a start?0 -
The BBC have quite a few articles on eating on a tight budget at the moment - as well as recipes etc...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22065978
Other suggestions would be baked potatoes, baked beans, whole chickens often very cheap and will do more than one meal.0 -
I've stopped my gym membership a couple of months back thinking that would help with the money situation, and the other things I pay for are the essential utilities (gas and electricity).
Fruit is reasonably cheap, as is veg, this is why we get a butt load of it each week. Meat on the other hand is pretty pricey. I just looked in my butchers window on the way past. Chicken is definitely DEFINITELY the cheapest meat I could afford, and beef/steak/lamb/pork? I may as well dream haha. The only time I eat meats like those is when I go to family for sunday dinner.
I also looked for lentils, but surprise surprise, my local mini-supermarket (Brits, Tesco Extra), doesn't stock it. I'm gonna have to wait until my friends decide they want to go to the main one, which is a couple of miles away, as I don't drive, and go with them to pick some stuff up.
Next week it won't be so bad. I'm just on a limited income, and I've been trying to get a job for a long while now. My partner works and tops up food when he can, but even he can't spare much, since we have rent to pay.0 -
I don't know where you live, but where I'm from, food prices are like triple these amounts.
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I live in Georgia and shop at Kroger. They have a 10 for $10 special, where you can buy lots of frozen veggies, bread, canned goods for $1 each. BUT, I didn't include tax and as I mentioned, I don't think it is enough food for 2 people. I just wanted to give it a try! Honestly, I think it is impossible to feed a family of 2 low carb on $23 a week.. especially a family that refuses to eat tuna or eggs. But maybe that will give her a start?
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Yeah that is going to vary around the country and in other countries. I'm in NJ, we don't even have Kroger. But I've never seen hamburger meat for $2, or bread for $1.
We have $10 for $10 specials and they are usually only canned items.
The cheapest you can get fresh chicken breast for is $1.99/lb for a 3lb package.
On $23 a week for 4 people, you'd be living on rice and beans I think. Absolutely no fresh fruit or veggies.0 -
don't they sell meat in your supermarket? I would think that would be cheaper than at a butcher??I've stopped my gym membership a couple of months back thinking that would help with the money situation, and the other things I pay for are the essential utilities (gas and electricity).
Fruit is reasonably cheap, as is veg, this is why we get a butt load of it each week. Meat on the other hand is pretty pricey. I just looked in my butchers window on the way past. Chicken is definitely DEFINITELY the cheapest meat I could afford, and beef/steak/lamb/pork? I may as well dream haha. The only time I eat meats like those is when I go to family for sunday dinner.
I also looked for lentils, but surprise surprise, my local mini-supermarket (Brits, Tesco Extra), doesn't stock it. I'm gonna have to wait until my friends decide they want to go to the main one, which is a couple of miles away, as I don't drive, and go with them to pick some stuff up.
Next week it won't be so bad. I'm just on a limited income, and I've been trying to get a job for a long while now. My partner works and tops up food when he can, but even he can't spare much, since we have rent to pay.0 -
I've seen pork joints at £2 per kg in asda before. You really wont get cheaper than that.
Also 2 miles to your local supermarket, that's only 30mins walk each way.0 -
I used to have a budget of $40-$60 a month for groceries. So I totally understand being on a very tight budget.
BUT.... I like eggs and tuna so I stocked up on those... haha
Definitey go for peanut butter. You can use it with bread, celery, apples, on a spoon, etc...
If milk prices are the same, go for full fat. It will give you extra calories, make you feel more full, and hopefully won't affect your budget.
See if you can get more calorie dense veggies, like corn, potatoes, etc... Potatoes should be relatively cheap, and are filling. Plus you can slice them, coat with oil and a little seasoning or salt and bake/broil them.
Delicious.....
What about brown rice? I don't know what the cost is for rice, but if it's cheap, you can add a little of that to dinners. It should last a while depending on how much you get.
I think a few people mentioned crockpot stews and that BBC link. Definitely worth checking out!0 -
I can push to eggs I think. I'm gonna have to just get over that... but the consistency really makes me gag. But fish is a no go.
I have brown rice, and use it for things like curries, but find it takes an age to cook, so don't use it too often. Its also more expensive than white rice.
I can get mince real cheap in my supermarket, and do buy it frequently, but other cuts are done on weight and priced before they get to the store, so buying more than you need ends up being really expensive (they have no meat counter).
I haven't had steak in about 15 years, same with pork chops. I could probably handle pork chops if they're only a couple of pounds.0 -
Don't force yourself to eat eggs if you really don't like them.
I have found that eggs have a bit of a different texture depending on how you cook them. Maybe having them scrambled with chicken and veggies mixed in, maybe some soy sauce or seasonings or something with it, like a stir fry.... that could be easier to eat then just eating eggs by themselves.0 -
As I said earlier, you can buy more than you need right now, but freeze the remainder. Yes it is more out of pocket now, but you will save money in the weeks ahead because you will already have it. Buying anything on a week to week basis is going to be more expensive in the long run than buying in bulk and freezing.I can push to eggs I think. I'm gonna have to just get over that... but the consistency really makes me gag. But fish is a no go.
I have brown rice, and use it for things like curries, but find it takes an age to cook, so don't use it too often. Its also more expensive than white rice.
I can get mince real cheap in my supermarket, and do buy it frequently, but other cuts are done on weight and priced before they get to the store, so buying more than you need ends up being really expensive (they have no meat counter).
I haven't had steak in about 15 years, same with pork chops. I could probably handle pork chops if they're only a couple of pounds.0 -
But I HAVE to buy things on a week to week basis because my budget doesn't stretch to buy something in bulk. If I buy something in bulk, it means having to cut something else out that we need.0
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Ditto on whoever said beans - beans are really good for you, deliver fiber and protein in a good quantity for the caloric bargain and you can do so much with them. Add them to salads, make them into soups, lots of possibilities. Also, generally can be found on sale!0
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where abouts do you live?
shopping online at asda has free delivery i think. gonna be much much much cheaper than going to a tescos extra.0 -
I mainly use Iceland for my frozen things, and I get free delivery. I have to pay for delivery from Asda unless I spend over £100, which lets face it, is not gonna happen any time soon lol. My friend will usually take me to Asda if I ask her, but I don't often have reason to go. I get my veg and stuff at Tesco.0
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do they have food stamps in the UK? I think if you were here in the US, you'd be using them.I mainly use Iceland for my frozen things, and I get free delivery. I have to pay for delivery from Asda unless I spend over £100, which lets face it, is not gonna happen any time soon lol. My friend will usually take me to Asda if I ask her, but I don't often have reason to go. I get my veg and stuff at Tesco.0 -
Low fat, or no fat cottage cheese? Gives a lot of protein per cup.0
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Is there an Aldi grocery store nearby? They are super cheap on groceries and I know they are nationwide!0
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Aldi or Lidl are great for staples - they're not brands you mgiht recognise because a lot of them are Continental, but they're fine. Also, make a point of going to your Tesco near the end of the day when they mark stuff down - itf you are going to use it by the "use by" (which is often a day or more later than "sell by") you might get yourself a real bargain. Also frozen meat is often a lot cheaper than fresh - it may have added water but if you want to ring the changes occasionally maybe give it a try.
Also have a look at the websites recommended for budget ideas. Or look in charity shops for old cookery books to get some ideas - especially ones aimed at students.0 -
do they have food stamps in the UK? I think if you were here in the US, you'd be using them.I mainly use Iceland for my frozen things, and I get free delivery. I have to pay for delivery from Asda unless I spend over £100, which lets face it, is not gonna happen any time soon lol. My friend will usually take me to Asda if I ask her, but I don't often have reason to go. I get my veg and stuff at Tesco.
lol you clearly have no idea about our benefit system here.0 -
3 chicken breasts (pre-cooked) in a store with less than decent quality food, is £3, fresh from a butcher, it's by weight and ends up a lot more. My other halfs sister once bragged to me they bought some lamb which cost £16, and I quietly gnawed my cheek, because thats half my usual weekly budget. Half my weekly budget on one cut of meat for two people, to me, seems wasteful, but then I'm poor, haha so maybe I'm being biased.
I use olive oil now when cooking, but I didn't before, though the dietician recommends I don't fry anything!
Wholefoods, should be much cheaper than they are, but pre-packaged, processed food is so much cheaper. I try to buy fresh when I can, unbreaded, unbattered, it's not always possible, and its something I really tear my hair out over. This should be so much easier than it is haha.
Lentils and beans, not so much. I don't know how to wow them up, so to me beans = bland and boring. But I would be very interested to hear ways to make them tasty and nice!
Prepacked, processed food is NOT cheaper! I have two young boys and the worst thing I ever did was get them used to that junk. The best thing I've ever done for them was switch to whole foods. You have to make your own muffins, granola bars etc, but whole foods on a budget is totally doable!0 -
Nope, that's why I was asking.
do they have food stamps in the UK? I think if you were here in the US, you'd be using them.I mainly use Iceland for my frozen things, and I get free delivery. I have to pay for delivery from Asda unless I spend over £100, which lets face it, is not gonna happen any time soon lol. My friend will usually take me to Asda if I ask her, but I don't often have reason to go. I get my veg and stuff at Tesco.
lol you clearly have no idea about our benefit system here.0
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