RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (Full Version)

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Musicmystery -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 4:26:09 PM)

quote:

maybe we'll try a bunch of different things.


If you're making stuff with mixed veggies, cut one up and throw it in. You'll hardly know the difference.



CountrySong -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 4:27:38 PM)

Hi My EX was on SSI and we had a very tight budget so I know where you are coming from. Also as a kid my family went from upper middle class to below the poverty line. I'm currently planning on forming a BDSM co-op where we are self sufficient and I have several people on here who I regularily chat with about stuff like this. So here are my suggestions.
1) Start using the food bank. I have several freinds who do and they get some great food. For example - fresh salmon and cheese.
2) Get a freezer and learn to can. Stop letting the food you grow go to waist. Can it and freeze it.
3) Get a pressure cooker - no hassle beans and rice in 5 minutes.
4) Get a hunting and fishing license. Fishing on one weekend a month can feed a family of 4 while also providing recreation.
5) Network with nieghbors to get more land to grow food. A lot of people have space to grow food and would love some fresh food but have convinced themselves that they do not have time to garden. One lady I met has over 1/2 acre under cultivation in a 2 block radious of her home.
6) Look up urban foraging online. You need to be able to can or freeze what you forage. We can forage a lot of our food here.
7) Learn if you can grow meat rabbits and chickens in your area for meat.
8) Barter - you can trade something you can do or have to increase your food budget.
9) Look at casinos for eating out. I have a local casino were I can play 1cent and space my bets for two hours and get comped for the buffet or restaurant. I eat king crab about twice a week for less than three dollars in cost to me (2 dollars is the tip and my average loss is less than a dollar).
10) Get off your ass. Sorry if that offends you but it is general advice that I give out when people complain about money - especially those on fixed incomes like SSI. I know so many people in the disabled world who just want to complain about how hard life is and how tight budgets are. The reality is that they could live much more productive lifestyles - they have convinced themselves that they can't do things so that they do as little as possible and bum off of others or the state. I'm guilty of the same thing sometimes and yes I do have a disablity (2 actually) and deal with pain from them almost every day. It is a lot easier to plop down in front of a TV or computer than it is to get up and go foraging, gardening, or do work to barter with.
Just my 2 cents.
Peace



impishlilhellcat -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 4:35:35 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Toppingfrmbottom

My dad currently have a garden all though it's not well looked after,  but one year we got so many tomato's off the 4 plants he had honestly most them went to waste.  We seriously could of stocked an entire mini mart with tomoato's.



He also has fruit tree's and he grows onions and bell peppers and carrots and squashes,  And it's a huge boon to the kitchen You're right..


Daddy wants a membership at cosco but there's none really close by, but we're looking into it.
quote:

ORIGINAL: impishlilhellcat

The other thing you can do too, is if you have the space during the summer months keep a garden. Grow tomatoes, potatoes, beans, squash, corn, sunflowers... etc... You can, can tomatoes, you can freeze corn and squash, zuchinni, and you can, can beans. It saves you a ton of money and really all you have to do is plant the items and take care of them and then you have enough to last you throughout the year.

Additionally there are a ton of coupon sites couponworld.com is one that is free which once you learn to navigate the site have tons of coupons and what deals you can get at what store and when. Sometimes buying in bulk at sam's and costco is also the way to go.




A lot of that stuff you can, can or dry. You could do amazing things with those products and could even possibly turn it into a side business at craft fairs and farmers market's if you do it right.


Helpful Imp who is feeling creative and resourceful tonight.



CalifChick -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 4:50:00 PM)

$100 per month is $1 per meal for all persons.  Two of you, that's 50 cents per person per meal.  I would be eating lots of eggs, potatoes and pasta.  Find someone with a Costco membership and go with them.  The largest quantity of eggs they carry is 6 dozen, I believe, and if I recall, it's around $1 a dozen (although its been a while since I needed them in quantity).  And watch your portions... on your other thread you mentioned 3 large helpings of something from the crockpot.  I hope that's one helping at that meal and the rest kept for leftovers or frozen for another meal.

Cali



servantforuse -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 5:02:30 PM)

Most people in this country do not need to be eating more pasta and potatoes. Just saying.



impishlilhellcat -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 5:14:25 PM)

You can do whole wheat pasta it costs the same.



servantforuse -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 5:25:57 PM)

It seems to me that most folks are not using the whole wheat kind. When it comes to food, white is bad, very bad.



impishlilhellcat -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 5:27:32 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse

It seems to me that most folks are not using the whole wheat kind. When it comes to food, white is bad, very bad.


Yes, yes it is. Although you can have potatoes if you keep the serving size down. All about moderation. Sweet potatoes are much better for you.



DarkSteven -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 5:29:59 PM)

I'm a diabetic and I've found that ANYONE could benefit from following the diabetic diet, even nondiabetics.



DemonKia -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 6:11:07 PM)

Bwahahahaha

Trust me when I say -- white refined starches are evil.

Whole grains are next to goodliness . . . . .



ThatDamnedPanda -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 6:16:47 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse

It seems to me that most folks are not using the whole wheat kind. When it comes to food, white is bad, very bad.


Boy, are they missing out on a treat, or what? I love whole wheat pasta. I don't understand why anyone who's tried it ever goes back to eating the refined pasta. Just another example of how eating healthy can taste so much better than eating crap foods.



LanceHughes -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 6:24:50 PM)

If you're "afraid" of cutting up a chicken, see my crock-pot chicken soup recipe on yummiest-meal-on-a-budget string.  EASY-to-follow, easy-to-learn.  Sometimes we here assume some basic skills that you might not have.

Basically, you cook chicken until meat is off bones, and then just remove bones.  You can do that, package chicken meat in a couple of (maybe you'll need 3) one-quart freezer bags and have it ready to go at anytime.  Stock is freezable and can be added as flavor/liquid to just about anything.  Use it to cook your brown rice.

OP: It would be great to see your current pic replaced by a non-couch potato one.  How 'bout a pic of you both in the kitchen trying some of these ideas?  Just sayin'

The Amish say: "Kissin' don't last, cookin' do" I've never believed that exactly, but cooking is a great hobby to share with your loved one.  Slaves can be preps, masters can be chefs.  At least that's how it works around here.  Suggestions are listened to, but final decision is by Master.  Oh, gee... that sounds familair and reminds me of WIITWD, doesn't it?  Example: Boy, when that has been in for 20 minutes, you are to rotate the pan 180 degrees, turn down the heat to 275 and take it out after an additional 15 minutes.  Never failed me yet!  See, clear instructions and given responsiblity for follow-thru.



NeedToUseYou -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 6:47:26 PM)

I'm not sure if I ever lived off 50.00 a month for food, but probably been close before.

I bought potatoes, rice, made spaghetti, mixed meat with rice, etc...., ramen noodles as filler.

rice, is like the ideal filler food, as it just absorbs taste from what ever you mix with it.

You certainly cannot live off fifty a month buying any prepackaged premade food though, so if you do buy any prepacked food, the first step is to stop.



CalifChick -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 7:53:29 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse

Most people in this country do not need to be eating more pasta and potatoes. Just saying.


When you have $3 per day to feed two people, and you don't cook, you can't afford to be that choosy. 

Cali



Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 8:30:22 PM)

I'm not complaining about money,  I just mentioned programs are being cut and my amounts been reduced and I don't qualify for food stamps and if I did before I may not now, There's a difference between mentioning it and complaining..

Other suggests are all very good, except growing your own meat and butchering it and fishing lol I hate fish, and when I was a kid we had chickens and turkeys and even 4 rabbits that eventually got butchered and I didn't want anything to do with eating them lol.  If I raise it, it's a pet not for eating lol.


WE also recycle our water bottles and soda cans,  and it's not a great extra amount but it pays for some small splurges like dinner out, if you go to a place with smart deals like 2 for 20, or all you can eat for a small amount.[:D]
quote:

ORIGINAL: CountrySong


10) Get off your ass. Sorry if that offends you but it is general advice that I give out when people complain about money - especially those on fixed incomes like SSI.
Peace



Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 8:32:39 PM)

When I was a kid we had a meal called slumgolian, and it was noddles and veggies and meat and it was basically a hodge podge of stuff, and lately when we have it every single veggie in there has been garden grown![:D]
quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

quote:

maybe we'll try a bunch of different things.


If you're making stuff with mixed veggies, cut one up and throw it in. You'll hardly know the difference.



Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 8:34:04 PM)

Oh god I don't think I'd be able to get any work done my stomache would be like fooooooooooooooooooood foooooooooooooooooood and my nose would keep telling my stomach there was good smells out there go see go see!
quote:

ORIGINAL: WyldHrt


I used to work in a place where we had "crock potlucks" every couple of months. Everyone would bring their crock pot full of whatever they were making and plug it in first thing in the morning (picture 10-15 crock pots simmering away all over the building). By lunchtime, the place smelled SO good, it's a wonder we got any work done! [8D]




Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 8:38:50 PM)

Yup, they can a lot of stuff, and then 6 months later to a year we still have some wonderful stuff, stuff like sherry pears and apple butter and pear rings, while things like it in the store are out of season, or so mucked with and processed you're not getting very much for your money. 
quote:

ORIGINAL: impishlilhellcat




A lot of that stuff you can, can or dry. You could do amazing things with those products and could even possibly turn it into a side business at craft fairs and farmers market's if you do it right.


Helpful Imp who is feeling creative and resourceful tonight.



WyldHrt -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 8:40:37 PM)

quote:

When you have $3 per day to feed two people, and you don't cook, you can't afford to be that choosy.

You read my mind, Cali.



Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Healthy grocery shopping on a budget of 100 dollars a month (10/24/2009 8:41:46 PM)

It's from a skillet of  what we called slumgolian, and yeah it's one helping and maybe seconds  for each person,* there's four of  us in the house, if it's a dinner made for the whole family*and then the rest is for the rest of the day or other meals, if there's anything left after one day [:)]


quote:

ORIGINAL: CalifChick
.  And watch your portions... on your other thread you mentioned 3 large helpings of something from the crockpot.  I hope that's one helping at that meal and the rest kept for leftovers or frozen for another meal.

Cali




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