Low-income help

dizzieblondeuk wrote: »

Unless you want plain rice and plain ground turkey, with a PB sandwich for 5 days,

Sounds like college and the period after my divorce. Except I also ate cheese and bologna sandwiches and ramen... I'm not trying to diminish the OP's specific situation, I guess I just have a natural "planning" tendency I forget others don't. When I was feeding two people on $30-35/week a few years ago, I couldn't even DREAM of buying a frozen microwave meal at $1 for 350 calories or less. For just one person that would be at least $40/week. Of course, we did eat a lot of beans. I had to make that $30 add up to 31,500 calories somehow. A dollar HAD to buy at least 1000 calories on average, or we'd be out of food. I didn't mean to vilify frozen meals.

Eat what you always do, only in moderation, to equal a deficit.

Potatoes make very satisfying meals. You can bake, microwave, fry or boil them. Great with just butter, salt and pepper or topped with everything from broccoli, ham and cheese to leftover chili. One meal I like for dinner is to chop up a potato and throw it in a skillet with some diced onion, garlic powder, salt, pepper and a little water. Cover the skillet so the potatoes steam while they cook. Turn a few times until they start to crisp, then crack in a couple of eggs. It's great as is or you can top with cheese and sour cream if you have them.

I know you said you hate legumes, but have you ever tried making dip with them? You can cook your own lentils, black beans, white beans, or chickpeas then add whatever spices you want, some peppers, oil, onion, etc and puree in a blender or food processor. If you don't have either of those, mash them manually. Then scoop up with celery, cucumber, carrot sticks, crackers, etc. or wrap in tortillas with some leftover rice. I make my own tortillas - they are very very easy to make, whether you prefer white flour or corn and the cost is pennies.

Biscuits made from scratch are pretty cheap, you can use water if you don't have milk, and leftovers reheat super easy. You can eat them plain, with butter, make sandwiches, or the gravy mixes you just add water to are usually under a dollar and for just one person you could probably eat that meal at least three times. It isn't the most calorie conscious, but is quick and filling.

I also agree about batch cooking and freezing. One other thing you might try is buying a whole chicken. Roast it, eat your portion for that meal, then divide the rest out. I will pull the meat off the bone and then use it in stir fry (you should be able to get frozen bagged stir fry mix for around $1.00) or I sautee a whole sliced onion with a bell pepper in butter then add a portion of chicken to it. Sometimes I top it with parmesan. There's a lot of flavor but not much meat and it still satisfies.

You can add balsamic vinegar and basil to tuna instead of mayo, toss in a green onion if you like, and wrap in lettuce instead of bread. You can add anything you have on hand and it's usually great (if you like tuna).

Chia seeds can be a little pricey up front, but a serving is only a TBSP, so the bag lasts forever. You can make pudding out of them. I do that for make ahead breakfasts. 1 TBSP chia seeds, 1/2 c. coconut milk (a can should run under a dollar and there are multiple servings in 1 can), 1 tsp vanilla. Stir it up, let it sit for 5 minutes then stir again, cover and refrigerate over night. Eat as is or top with fruit. If the consistency weirds you out, blend it for a couple seconds. You can make it chocolate by adding 1 TBSP cocoa powder, 1 TBSP sugar or stevia in the prep phase. Sometimes I do this and decrease my coconut milk but add coffee. It's mocha magic!

Oatmeal, the plain stuff in a big round container, is super cheap and quick and you can add whatever you want for flavor.

If there are multiple stores in your area, keep track of the sale circulars and plan your meal list from the sale items. Don't be brand loyal, go with least cost store brands. Buy in bulk where you can. You said you buy rice. I will cook a big batch to reheat as necessary and eat it in a bowl with coconut milk and fruit with a little cinnamon on top, but regular milk is good, too.

Good luck to you.

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

Eat what you always do, only in moderation, to equal a deficit.

yup. Track what you are eating, stay within the calories allotted, and the weight will come off. cheap non bean protiens- TVP (bobs red mill tvp is 4.00 a pound here) canned tuna, eggs, milk, and peanuts.

Sorry, to the people recommending buying frozen bag veggies for a buck, rice for 1.50 etc. Those are not canadian prices. Rice, small bag $5 ish, frozen veggies sometimes on sale for small bag of corn or peas for $2.50 but 3-5$. The prices here are way more than the US.

Also, if you try to find a job while on provincial govt disability I believe they do claw back (take it away) or cancel it. BC keeps you in poverty if you are on assistance.

OP-do you have a bulk barn near you?

VeryKatie wrote: »

bbontheb wrote: »

Sorry, to the people recommending buying frozen bag veggies for a buck, rice for 1.50 etc. Those are not canadian prices. Rice, small bag $5 ish, frozen veggies sometimes on sale for small bag of corn or peas for $2.50 but 3-5$. The prices here are way more than the US.

Also, if you try to find a job while on provincial govt disability I believe they do claw back (take it away) or cancel it. BC keeps you in poverty if you are on assistance.

OP-do you have a bulk barn near you?

Yes, prices are higher here. And she's in BC. Might be even higher there since the standard of living is higher.

But wouldn't the prices of the frozen meals be higher, too? We're just suggesting that via planning and knowing how to find what the real "bang-for-your-buck" foods are, that her food dollars could go further.

bbontheb wrote: »

Hi OP. I'm sorry you are going through this. I also live in BC but we are a family of 6 on one income and I have a disability but do not qualify for any govt help due to my husband's income (working poor). Feel free to PM me or friend add me to talk more. We have struggled a lot with food and have had some great tips given to me from others (couponing, mark downs at certain stores at certain times, reselling items, etc).

For others advice concerning food banks: there are food banks in our province but they are not govt funded. They only rely on donations. Items are random, and often are damaged/expired, etc. For example one would get a bunch of expired bread items, a few canned items, sometimes eggs, sometimes a few snacks or fruit. You absolutely can't rely on them but it is a supplement. Unfortunately, there is also huge stigma here to use them and have to pick it up (hamper) personally so if transportation is an issue-it can be a problem. Also, sometimes Sally Ann etc offer emergency hampers but not all, and not many churches have them offered to the public.

To the bolded: this is completely untrue. I'm in Canada as well and have volunteered at my local food bank sorting donations, and I can tell you that they are absolutely rigid on food safety. Expired anything is thrown out, dented cans too, anything that isn't sealed, etc etc. Tons of donations are rendered unusable because of this, in fact...it often felt like only half what was donated was even usable, honestly. If the date on the bread looks expired, that would only be because it was frozen BEFORE that date and thawed safely to be given out. My local food bank also uses donated egg cartons to repackage flats of donated eggs, so the date on the carton doesn't reflect the items inside.

Please don't be afraid to use the food bank if you need it. I promise that the food there is safe. They would not be permitted to continue operating if their food safety procedures were not up to scratch and they are carefully regulated.

Childfree1991 wrote: »

Packerjohn wrote: »

Childfree1991 wrote: »

Two words Food Banks. I'm in a financial situation as well (in college, working, managing a 2 bedroom apartment on my own, no car yet, no food stamps etc.) but the local food banks have helped greatly. Quite a few carry healthy/fresh foods along with the non perishables. I suggest you go to any local food banks. They're usually operated at churches.

Unless some odd circumstances if I was running the food bank I would ask someone living alone in a 2 bedroom apartment to get a roommate to share expenses before providing any food bank aid.

I live alone in a 2 bedroom apartment. Churches are there to help. They help me all the time. I rarely grocery shop. I can't afford it at the moment (I refuse to go on food stamps though because it's too much of a hassle) and they understand. I go to 10 different food banks in my area. They're all supportive (and aware that I go to multiple banks). OP is eligible for help as well. There aren't many strict rules. Three main rules are have low-income (or income not high enough for current expenses), be a local resident, and visit the food bank usually only once or twice per month.
If you were running the food bank, you would need to be highly trained in advanced lol.

I'm really not trying to be rude or derail this thread too much, but is it okay to ask why you are living alone in a two-bedroom apartment if your finances are so stretched? I'm just trying to wrap my head around that.

peleroja wrote: »

bbontheb wrote: »

Hi OP. I'm sorry you are going through this. I also live in BC but we are a family of 6 on one income and I have a disability but do not qualify for any govt help due to my husband's income (working poor). Feel free to PM me or friend add me to talk more. We have struggled a lot with food and have had some great tips given to me from others (couponing, mark downs at certain stores at certain times, reselling items, etc).

For others advice concerning food banks: there are food banks in our province but they are not govt funded. They only rely on donations. Items are random, and often are damaged/expired, etc. For example one would get a bunch of expired bread items, a few canned items, sometimes eggs, sometimes a few snacks or fruit. You absolutely can't rely on them but it is a supplement. Unfortunately, there is also huge stigma here to use them and have to pick it up (hamper) personally so if transportation is an issue-it can be a problem. Also, sometimes Sally Ann etc offer emergency hampers but not all, and not many churches have them offered to the public.

To the bolded: this is completely untrue. I'm in Canada as well and have volunteered at my local food bank sorting donations, and I can tell you that they are absolutely rigid on food safety. Expired anything is thrown out, dented cans too, anything that isn't sealed, etc etc. Tons of donations are rendered unusable because of this, in fact...it often felt like only half what was donated was even usable, honestly. If the date on the bread looks expired, that would only be because it was frozen BEFORE that date and thawed safely to be given out. My local food bank also uses donated egg cartons to repackage flats of donated eggs, so the date on the carton doesn't reflect the items inside.

Please don't be afraid to use the food bank if you need it. I promise that the food there is safe. They would not be permitted to continue operating if their food safety procedures were not up to scratch and they are carefully regulated.

Man, that's not cool. If people are going to donate, they should do better than just getting rid of what nobody can eat.

peleroja wrote: »

Childfree1991 wrote: »

Packerjohn wrote: »

Childfree1991 wrote: »

Two words Food Banks. I'm in a financial situation as well (in college, working, managing a 2 bedroom apartment on my own, no car yet, no food stamps etc.) but the local food banks have helped greatly. Quite a few carry healthy/fresh foods along with the non perishables. I suggest you go to any local food banks. They're usually operated at churches.

Unless some odd circumstances if I was running the food bank I would ask someone living alone in a 2 bedroom apartment to get a roommate to share expenses before providing any food bank aid.

I live alone in a 2 bedroom apartment. Churches are there to help. They help me all the time. I rarely grocery shop. I can't afford it at the moment (I refuse to go on food stamps though because it's too much of a hassle) and they understand. I go to 10 different food banks in my area. They're all supportive (and aware that I go to multiple banks). OP is eligible for help as well. There aren't many strict rules. Three main rules are have low-income (or income not high enough for current expenses), be a local resident, and visit the food bank usually only once or twice per month.
If you were running the food bank, you would need to be highly trained in advanced lol.

I'm really not trying to be rude or derail this thread too much, but is it okay to ask why you are living alone in a two-bedroom apartment if your finances are so stretched? I'm just trying to wrap my head around that.

I cannot answer for that poster, but it costs a lot of cash to get money for upfront rent, often a credit or a background check, . . more cash or help to move one's stuff, . . . effort to clean out the old apt.
Also, depending on the disability, a move might be close to impossible.
People who can count on financial, physical, emotional, and social/family resources have difficulty understanding.

Canadas food costs is a lot more than the US, 5 dollars here would get you bread and jam IF the jam was on sale. 5 dollars IS the cost of a pound of ground turkey.

Soups and Chillis will be your friend. I buy bulk dry beans at places like The Bulk Barn for next to nothing, even Walmart has a bag of black beans for 2.47 which amounts to over 9 cups cooked. You need to think about building a pantry of some staples and also making your more costly ingredients stretch.

I have gotten our food costs down to 300 a month for two adults and one toddler. I go shopping every week and meal plan around whats on sale that week. I eat mostly vegetarian (ex veg head, chicken or turkey only for me.) and SO eats a meatless meal once a week, and most of his lunches are as well. I put aside X amount of cash to stock up on things that go on sale that we eat OFTEN. I dont buy things on sale if we don't use them often. This trip I spent 20 dollars on various bags of dried beans.

If you buy a whole chicken (8 bucks) you can eat the breasts for two meals, plus boil the rest and make stock and soup which will do you another few meals. Brown rice is not normally more than white (at least not by more than a few cents) and microwave meals tend to actually cost more per meal than making your own food. Beans and a whole grain are a meatless complex carb and both are very cheap.

I'd start with getting some staples like rice, oatmeal, black beans, kidney beans and frozen green beans + canned tomatoes. With that right there all you need is to pick up things to add along with it, IE get a chicken and make stock, use the stock and rice and tomatoes and beans to make soup. Eggs are also fairly cheap and you can do so much with them.

Also price matching helps. The only reason I shop at walmart is because I can get the deals from three stores at one place.

I understand being on a budget and what not, but sometimes you need to cut costs where you can. Do you NEED a cell phone and if so, can you do a pre paid plan (if you already dont) VS a contract. Do you NEED to drive if you can walk, ect.

When I was single, my food bill was 87-133 dollars a month, I worked full time but all my money went to bills. There is always a way

peleroja wrote: »

bbontheb wrote: »

Hi OP. I'm sorry you are going through this. I also live in BC but we are a family of 6 on one income and I have a disability but do not qualify for any govt help due to my husband's income (working poor). Feel free to PM me or friend add me to talk more. We have struggled a lot with food and have had some great tips given to me from others (couponing, mark downs at certain stores at certain times, reselling items, etc).

For others advice concerning food banks: there are food banks in our province but they are not govt funded. They only rely on donations. Items are random, and often are damaged/expired, etc. For example one would get a bunch of expired bread items, a few canned items, sometimes eggs, sometimes a few snacks or fruit. You absolutely can't rely on them but it is a supplement. Unfortunately, there is also huge stigma here to use them and have to pick it up (hamper) personally so if transportation is an issue-it can be a problem. Also, sometimes Sally Ann etc offer emergency hampers but not all, and not many churches have them offered to the public.

To the bolded: this is completely untrue. I'm in Canada as well and have volunteered at my local food bank sorting donations, and I can tell you that they are absolutely rigid on food safety. Expired anything is thrown out, dented cans too, anything that isn't sealed, etc etc. Tons of donations are rendered unusable because of this, in fact...it often felt like only half what was donated was even usable, honestly. If the date on the bread looks expired, that would only be because it was frozen BEFORE that date and thawed safely to be given out. My local food bank also uses donated egg cartons to repackage flats of donated eggs, so the date on the carton doesn't reflect the items inside.

Please don't be afraid to use the food bank if you need it. I promise that the food there is safe. They would not be permitted to continue operating if their food safety procedures were not up to scratch and they are carefully regulated.

No, not is the case. Each food bank is individual and not all are the same. The one in our town absolutely gives items up to 2-3 years expired, dented and damaged items. Of course PB and a few other items are not but they give what the stores donate what they can't sell. I'm not saying the food that is expired is unsafe-ours has a list of what the companies have said it's good for past expiry date.

No, they are not carefully regulated. At least not here. We have had to use it since November so I'm speaking from experience.

Also, the point of saying tht is that it isn't reliable for what items you can get, or would want to eat. When people say just go to the foodbank-it's not that simple.

ashypashy7 wrote: »

If you buy a whole chicken (8 bucks) you can eat the breasts for two meals, plus boil the rest and make stock and soup which will do you another few meals.

I haven't seen a whole chicken for 8 bucks in a few years but maybe I'm not looking in the right places.

grow when you can
look up square foot gardens
food banks are great. find good ones. some are better than others
shop on sale
shop with coupons
look up recipes