How To Live On Ten Dollars of Food a Week
Living Meagerly and Saving Money On Groceries
Though it may not be the most appealing thing to do in times of tight money situations, cutting back on the type and amount of food a person eats can save hundreds of dollars over the course of the year. Here are some tips on how to live on around ten dollars worth of food a week.
Eat Cheap, Filling Dinners at Home
Even if feeding a family, a large bowl of spaghetti can go a long way. Don't pay for convenience, gas to drive to the restaurant, or a tip. Even if the "out on the town food" is just a burger from a fast food joint, it's still more than would be spent on a pound of beef used to make burgers at home.
Ramen noodles are the big punchline to living meagerly, but a loaf of bread is only a dollar, and generic salted crackers aren't much more. Pasta and rice are both very cheap, and if eaten in moderation can last for days through leftovers. Generic condensed soup and peanut butter are never expensive, and hardly distinguishable from their name-brand counterparts.
Eat In the Morning and Don't Snack
If a person gets filled up in the morning, especially with something cheap and heavy, it'll last longer and decrease both snacking and meals throughout the day. A peanut butter sandwich within five minutes of waking up can keep hunger pangs at bay for hours.
A bag of chips is handy, but it's also three dollars. Little Debbie treats are great at two in the morning, but they're almost $1.50 a box. Again, making use of the more inexpensive, filling food can help tremendously if a person is just looking for a little bit to eat in the middle of the day or night. Put some peanut butter on a few saltines or a banana, or toss a hotdog in the microwave.
Be Modest, Thrifty, and Creative
It may not make for the most appealing meals, but when trying to save money, it might be necessary to forgo oregano or a can of tuna for the macaroni and cheese. And don't bother with coupons or clearance items. Rarely will an item be cheaper than its generic counterpart even after a discount, and because name-brand items are usually the only kinds that go on sale, time could be better spent than filtering through the coupons in the paper and figuring out what the best deal is.
A can of beans with a roll of saltines crushed up into it and turned into a paste-like substance to be put on bread and eaten like a sandwich may look terrible, but it tastes fine, costs around 75 cents to make, and can last all day. A good rule of thumb is that each meal should consist of at least two of the following: a roll of saltines, two hot dogs, four pieces of bread, or three spoonfuls of peanut butter.
While the foods depicted here aren't very classy and certainly aren't an option for people who are passionate about eating, they will certainly save money.
How To Live On Ten Dollars of Food a Week
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