Suddenly on one paycheck-- Budget Foods??
killerqueen17
Posts: 536 Member
Hey everyone... so, without going into too much detail, my husband and I are suddenly on one paycheck instead of two. Hopefully this situation will resolve before too long, and we will both be employed again!!
In the meantime... what are the BEST budget foods that are still healthy? (Obviously talking grocery/supermarket... already decided we won't be eating at restaurants for the time being.)
Also, how do you keep your produce from spoiling... what do you buy, how much of it do you buy in advance, what stays good the longest... etc. We cannot afford to waste any money on food going bad before it's eaten
Basically, any advice on how to stretch our food budget to the MAX without resorting to unhealthy, cheap garbage would be MUCH appreciated!! Thanks!
In the meantime... what are the BEST budget foods that are still healthy? (Obviously talking grocery/supermarket... already decided we won't be eating at restaurants for the time being.)
Also, how do you keep your produce from spoiling... what do you buy, how much of it do you buy in advance, what stays good the longest... etc. We cannot afford to waste any money on food going bad before it's eaten
Basically, any advice on how to stretch our food budget to the MAX without resorting to unhealthy, cheap garbage would be MUCH appreciated!! Thanks!
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Best of luck with your situation
Here's a good article, with a few surprises (coffee being my favorite): http://www.divinecaroline.com/22177/52070-twenty-healthiest-foods-10 -
Bump! Don't want to eat the garbage but on a very limited budget0
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Thanks for that article, I'm saving it to my favorites... lol0
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Bump!0
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If you're on Facebook check out Surviving and Thriving on Pennies. She feeds her family of 6 a mostly organic diet for $50/week. Go back a ways in her blog. Everything through the summer is about her garden. Great stuff though.
I'm also a huge proponent of saving in other ways to have more to spend on quality food. I make my own laundry detergent ($.03/load), dish detergent (about the same), lotion (super cheap), etc. Super easy to do and extra money to use elsewhere.0 -
I buy a lot of staples at bulk barn. Stuff like brown rice, bulgur, pasta, spices, oatmeal, etc is wayyy cheaper at bulk stores. The danger is that you have to be strong enough to avoid the candy aisle!
Dry lentils, chick peas are good sources of protein and cheap to make. Also, you can buy the cheaper cuts of meat, and they will taste great as long as you cook them the right way. A good rule of thumb is the cheaper cuts need to cook longer. Think curry, stew, casserole.
When you go to the grocery store, stick to outside of the store. Don't go up and down the aisles- you'll pick up stuff you don't need. Also, if you shop in the evening, that is when the store employees mark down the bread, meat and produce. About 1 hour before the store closes is the best time to get reduced stuff. Sometimes you have to try a few different stores to find one that has a good 'reduced' section. I found that the stores with the massive produce section have more marked doww produce because they just have more of everything.
Good luck! Add me if you like, I used to be a chef so I'm a bit of a food expert0 -
Definetely check out the bulk aisle! You can get quinoa, couscous, oatmeal, spices, etc super cheap. I also check online for flyers and shop accordingly. You can find some good deals! Farmers markets are good for fruit and veggies too! Usually cheaper and better too! Good luck with everything!0
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I don't really know what to tell you exactly. I know that buying foods that are in season is generally cheaper, both fruits and vegetables. I also try to shop at Aldi's for some of my staple foods. Although they don't have a lot of produce there what they do have is generally cheaper and just as good (I'm not sure if this is even an option for you though).
As a generally rule I go shopping about every two week and that seems to work well for me for produce since I live alone. I only buy what I will eat in that time frame and it typically last the exception being bananas. I also make sure to clean grapes, strawberries, etc. right away and keep them in the fridge in containers.
Sorry, it's not much help. Hope things get worked out soon for you. Good luck!0 -
Bump0
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TRY FINDING A LOCAL CHICKEN STORE- BUY BREAST IN BULK
CANNED TUNA- LONG SHELF LIFE
GREAT VALUE WHOLE WHEAT PASTA
GREAT VALUE REDUCED FAT WHEAT THINS (16 FOR 130 CALS GREAT SNACK)
GREAT VALUE ANYTHING (WALMART)
GROUND TURKEY (USUALLY LIKE $2 A POUND)
DELI LUNCH MEAT IS MOST OF THE TIME CHEAPER THAN PACKAGED.
LASTLY- DONT EXPERIMENT WITH CRAZY RECIPES, MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN EAT YOUR NORMAL STUFF (THAT YOU KNOW YOUR HUBBY WILL EAT TOO), JUST LESS AND MEET YOUR CALORIE GOAL
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY BARGAIN HUNTING !0 -
I buy alot of frozen veggies. Broccoli, cauliflower, etc. We also eat alot of dry beans. Used as your protein, can be a cheap alternative to meat. I look for chicken breast on sale for 99cents per pound, which happens every couple of weeks. Then buy it in bulk and freeze it separately.
I don't do alot of couponing because so much of those items we do not eat. But I do ad match.
It is sad but true that healthy foods cost more.
Hope your situation gets better soon.0 -
For fruits and veggies, which can spoil very quickly, I've heard it's a good idea to wash them right when you get it out of the box, and then dry them ff and put them in tupperware- they won't spoil so fast that way.0
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Frozen chicken and veggies have become my best friends. Also I plan our dinners based on what is on sale. I've had to learn to feed 6 on 1 paycheck. It's hard at first but it does get easier.0
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When you go to the grocery store, stick to outside of the store. Don't go up and down the aisles- you'll pick up stuff you don't need.
Good idea!! Very true, I'll try that next time!0 -
You can buy big bags of bean and brown rice - the dry stuff is sooo much cheaper than the canned. Do you have any farmers markets in your area? If you go towards the end of the day, they're pretty good about haggling for prices on the fresh produce.0
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I'd always check the local flyers for sales/coupons but produce can be relatively affordable if you buy in season and in moderation (enough for the week or a few days so it doesnt spoil).0
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I buy family sizes of chicken and lean meat. I then weight it out into serving sizes and freeze. That way, its allways just what I need per meal. Per person. We eat dry beans, canned no sugar fruits ( store brands) . I go to the store about tiwce per month. Once to walmart, and once to Aldi's. I shop Aldis frist. Then to walmarts to get what I can't get at the other store. I watch for sales, then buy up alot. and put in spare bedroom, when there is not room in my kitchen. I measure everything we eat in serving sizes. I also got smaller plates. that way it looks really full. Fools the eye. By going only about twice per month. It keeps down on buying extra things that are not on my list.0
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I agree with the suggestion of buying of spices in bulk. With enough variety of different spices, you can eat some variation of cheap hamburger casserole every night and it will never get old. Or stir-fry some ground beef with whatever veggies were on sale & some combination of spices, and serve over cheap noodles or rice. If you have a green thumb, you can save money by growing many spices right there in pots on your kitchen windowsill.
Good spice combos:
Indian: curry & red pepper (to taste)
Italian: 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp basil, ¾ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp oregano, ½ tsp black pepper
Greek: 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tbsp lemon juice, salt/pepper to taste
Cajun: 2 parts onion powder, 1 part garlic, & 1 part red pepper
Barbecue: 2 teaspoons black pepper, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic, ½ teaspoon cumin
Sweet & spicy: ¼ cup ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 2 tablespoons salt, 1 ½ teaspoons ground thyme, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder
poultry herbs: 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 4 teaspoons rosemary, 4 teaspoons thyme, 4 teaspoons minced onion, 4 teaspoons minced garlic, 2 teaspoons salt0 -
Yum, those spice combos sound good!! And I like the suggestion of going to aldi first, and then somewhere else... Because it's true, you can't get everything at Aldi, lol!
I also have found some great deals at "ethnic" supermarkets (I hate that term but don't know how else to say it!!) There is an Asian supermarket, and an Indian supermarket both near my house... The produce, spices, and rice are priced amazing0 -
99 cent stores.. you can get tons of fresh veggies/fruit for one dollar. Also, sometimes they have steals on half gals of milk, 3/$99 yogurt (great brands too!). Don't over buy just go once a week so the things you purchase don't spoil, because most of the time its ready to eat within the week buy meat in bulk, and start clipping coupons, they really do help!0
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Here are a couple of tips to help save on fruit that might be going bad:
1. Use them to bake. You can make small scones or cookies without too many calories (check out recipes online- allrecipes.com is my favorite site) and freeze any you don't eat right away.
2. Throw the fruit in a blender and freeze it in approximately 2 cup portions. Then, buy a large container of plain, lowfat yogurt. Mix one of the frozen fruit portions with some yogurt and a little orange juice, if you have it on hand, for a wonderful smoothie. Makes a great breakfast.
Remember that if you buy too many veggies or fruit, you can usually freeze them before they go completely bad. We take odds and ends of broccoli, string beans, snap peas, and carrots and freeze them make lovely stir fries in the future - if you're a meat eater, this is a great way to save on meat because you can get away with about half as much as you might otherwise use in a stir fry.
And, lastly, you might want to consider volunteering once or twice a week in a soup kitchen or at community dinners. You'll be giving back to your community and probably feel good about doing something really productive - looking for work can be a downer at the best of times. Plus, you'll be really appreciated - volunteers are needed everywhere. Such dinners usually feed their workers, which means one less meal to pay for a week.
Good luck!0 -
This is how my broke *kitten* survives:
1. Google your local groceries stores name and coupons together - see if you have some blogs that work where you live. I have iheartpublix that works great for me. In short they match coupons to sales and sometimes you can really rack up on the deals. Sometimes it is a lot of work to make it all come together.
2. Don't spend money on drinks - stick to water it's cheap and 0 calories
3. Proteins help you to feel full and satisfied so those get priority, Beans, peanut butter, tuna,are usually my go to cheapies. Chicken, pork, and beef have to be on sale. Seafoods are a treat.
4. Add in the rices, veggies, fruits etc. A bag of potatoes, and a bag of apples get pretty good mileage. Canned/frozen veggies last a really long time. Frozen can be great cause you can get just enough out of the bag and leave the rest frozen.0 -
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I personally hit up farmer's markets for my produce. It truly lasts me longer than any produce from the grocery store and is much much cheaper! Another hint is to look for club value at your local store. I am not sure what your local grocery store is, but here we have Wegmans that sells a lot of their healthy foods in a CLub Pack. Example that I love is their Soft Whole Wheat Bread (true whole wheat, no HFCS!) and its a decently sized loaf is on its own $1.79, but you can buy two for $2.99. BJ's does carry some organic products as well and their coupons are often great so that can help too! Overall, I also ensure that I place my leftovers from anything in a sealed container and the fridge right away. Using pop and lock containers helps food last longer than glad containers too. Good luck!!0
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I am a full time student, work part time and my wife is unable to work due to uncontrolled MS. We spend about $150-$200 a month on food and here are a few pointers.
1. Trader Joes is your friend, just stick to the store brands, healthy and cheap.
2. Shop relatively frequently to keep produce from spoiling w/ only one person working you have the time.
3. Buy meat when it is on sale and freeze it, then plan your meals around what is in your freezer. You will be shocked how much money this saves.
4. Try ethnic supermarkets, they are usually way cheaper than the big chains.
5. Hit fruit stands/flea markets for produce. I bought 1/2 a bushel of oranges for $5 last week, and they will last for a month.0 -
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I didn't really read any of the replies, so sorry if I repeat anything.
If you have a bulk food store, check that out. I usually get nuts/grains etc when they're on sale.
Whatever you get, buy bulk (obv) cause it'll be cheaper, and remember 95% of stuff can be frozen, to prolong its life (milk, cooked pasta, cheese etc) so don't be afraid to buy a lot of fresh stuff. You can clean/portion vegetables (onions, peppers) and freeze em in baggies, once thawed they cook up fine, with very minimal loss in quality. (theyll get slightly softer due to ice partical damage, but work perfectly in dishes)
If you're any good at cooking, take something cheap like popcorn or rice crispies (anything) and turn it into some sort of cake, cookie or snack bar. It's a decent way to spice up cheaper foods, make them a litle more interesting to eat.
Any sort of meal at a really cheap price can be used or manipulated into something 10x better. Stewing beef, ground beef, flank steaks. I've gotten pounds and pounds of lean ground beef really cheap, and turned it into bags and bags of beef jerky. A fairly healthy, and waaay cheaper version then store bought.
Start checking flyers if you get em and look for sales. I snatch up vitamins/supplements from local pharmacies when they're either half off, or 2 for 1, and can save $50-100 dollars on less then 10 items. The same will apply for foods. Again, virtually anything can be frozen.
If some of your fresh foods are nearing the end of their shelf-life, cook them, they'll last another week or so longer.
If you have any farmers markets nearby, its a chance to get stuff (often better quality) for better prices, and you'll be supporting someone locally.
Hope some of that helps, and hope things work out for you guys!0
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