Hey everyone. So ive had a bit of a saga of getting my life together. Been living in a crooked transitional center for awhile now. My max time i could stay here is coming to a close. Just started working recently and finally found an apartment ill be able to afford. I can move in in 2 weeks. Landlord let me put a deposit down now to hold the place and the rest when i get paid next.
Anyways i need to figure out a food plan. I basically have $8 until i get paid in a week and a half and ill literally have around $20 for 2 more weeks.
I dont have food stamps because of the crooked place i live making me ineligible because they lie about feeding us. And the food pantry in town is extremely limited i always leave with maybe a days worth of meals and you can only go every 14 days.
I need help coming up with a game plan for the next month on how to make this money go as far as humanly possible. I know its not enough and i work in a factory so its alot of calories to have energy all day there.
No way to cook at my current place of residence only at work but once i move into the apartment ill have a stove and microwave and fridge.
Current pantry:
1/5 a jar of PB
2 ramen
1/3 loaf of bread
Can of mixed vegetables
Just trying to give information on the situation to come up with a game plan. I really appreciate all the help reddits given me to make it this far, the advice has made a huge difference and im finally going to be in my own place after this last hump.
TLDR: Basically have $28 for a month of food, need help coming up with a game plan.
Need help with food budget for a month, will only have about $28 to spend
byu/Xxitl inpersonalfinance
Posted by Xxitl
21 Comments
I can’t help but r/povertyfinance is a thing. Might get some good advice there.
You need to figure out a way to cook, or find a place in your community that can help you out with more shelf stable foods that don’t require cooking. You could probably get by for a month on potatoes, beans and rice (whatever is cheapest), but all of them require that you have the ability to cook.
Peanut butter and ramen are too expensive for this budget.
If there are no other food resources in your community (go to 211.org, ask local churches and non-profit groups for help/referrals to others that may help, ask the same question at the library), then you need to figure out some temporary cash work. Mow lawns, walk pets, help with projects, etc.
Rice and dried beans – dirt cheap and more nutrients than people realize
Toss some seasoning on top and you are set….maybe some tortillas
Go to a couple of pizza places, see when they close. 15 minutes before close, go ask whoever’s working: “Hey I’m in a helluva bind, could I have whatever’s leftover at the end of the night?”
Not sure where you live, but my city has “buy nothing” facebook groups and there are frequently people giving away expired but still good food, or things they just didn’t like and won’t finish.
Bulk rice and beans. Broccoli is your splurge, but your body needs it.
Ramen with a tin of sardines thrown in makes a nice fish soup. 🐟 It’s easy on the wallet and filling for your tummy.
Peanut butter on wheat bread is a life saver
Check into donating plasma to get some more money.
I hate to say it but maybe a homeless shelter?
Food pantry? Local churches? I think some Sikh Gurdwara (place of worship) will provide free meals.
Look for a sikh temple or soup kitchen around you. With nothing but a microwave, I’m not sure you have many options.
Are there any Sikh temples anywhere in your area? They offer free meals (called Langar) and are open and welcoming to all people, regardless of faith. They view it as a form of service. Our local one serves 2 weekday dinners and 1 weekend lunch each week.
Tuna sandwiches
Cheap protein/meal powder shakes mixed with water
Ramen with a scrambled egg and frozen veggies if you can store/heat it (yes you can cook this in the microwave)
Buy a cheap green cabbage and add bits to everything (refrigeration recommended but not required)
Raw carrots or apples and peanut butter
r/EatCheapAndHealthy
r/povertykitchen/
Peanut butter store brand jar is generally around $2 and will contain over 2000 calories per jar. It’s not ideal but you can live off it and it gives you fats and protein.
Store brand cereal is also between $2-3 per bag/box and that gets you about 8 breakfasts, and you can eat it dry if needed.
Bananas are 5/$1 at Walmart. And some stop and Shops let you eat an orange or banana in store for free… meant for kids but I don’t know that anyone cares.
Food pantries, if you can find one. Sadly rice and beans are cheap. Dry beans are cheap, you soak them over night, boil them with some salt for a couple of hours with onion if you have one. With rice, it’s passable, albeit boring.
Food pantry. Find one in your area.
Look up I think she’s called dollar tree dinners on tick tock. She’s got a LOT of ways to stretch like *no* money into actual multiple meals
You can cook a sweet potato’s, rice and beans in the microwave.
But it’ll take you time. 10-15 min for rice use 2:1 ratio. 2 times the amount of water for the amount of rice
Beans/legumes: cover with an inch of water above the bean and 10-15 minutes in the microwave
Eggs can be made in the microwave
Find condiment packets in gas stations and such
Can you call 211 in your are for food support ?
I’m gonna use prices from my local grocery store. Yours might vary and could possibly find it cheaper
Ramen noodles are your best friend. You can get a 24 pack for $9. Good bit of flavor.
A 16oz bag of white rice is $1.69. At 6oz per serving, you can have 2-3 meals stretched. There’s another filler
Canned veggies and beans are 89 cents. Thats good for nutrients and to fill up more per meal
18 ct large brown eggs are $4.99. There’s protein
20oz white bread is $2.99. You can use your pb. That should hold you for a few meals
You can mix and match to whatever suits you. I hope you can pull through this friend. If you can embrace the suck, 2 weeks will fly by.
Cheap frozen Tina’s bean n cheese burritos from Winco or Food co that you can microwave