Hey everyone been really struggling lately with mental health/depression and trying to find work. Thought i had a job just for them to pivot on me and now i have just landed a job. I have about 21 dollars to get by until i get a first paycheck in about 3-4 weeks.
My local food bank isnt great and you can only go every 2 weeks and are given a loaf of some type of bread usually, a few cans of food, a meat and small amount of produce if youre lucky. Really only lasts a couple days at most.
I applied for SNAP and got denied i have been struggling to get a clear answer on why, they seem to think i have income i dont i dont understand why i reapplied a few days ago in person well see what happens idk but im not hopeful.
Really need some advice on stuff to do/buy i got some great ideas last time i just want to see what people have to say i need as much help as i can get im really stressing.
Extreme food budgeting help needed advice, recipes etc. Seems impossible.
byu/LifeAttempter inFrugal
Posted by LifeAttempter
8 Comments
At this point, you need to try to score free food. Go to mom and pop places and just ask them if they can give you anything they can’t sell. Bakeries and simile places will throw food out daily. My movie theater gives out leftover popcorn at the end of the night. Get creative and check around.
what do you currently have at home? Try facebook for free stuff group or free food pantry
Does your city have a buy nothing group? There are some on reddit, some on nextdoor, but you might find some people trying to clear out their pantries or willing to donate food to you. In some cases I really have seen people just ask and get help.
If you’re in north america, call 211 and ask about community food resources
Flour tortilla shells are cheap and can create a wide variety of meals. Also, lentils, beans & rice can help with carbs. Try various towns for food banks. God be with you & guide you the help you need. 🫂❤️🙏
Great advice here already, but also look up Little Free Pantry and see if there are any near you. You also can see if Lasagna Love can help you out.
If it’s only going to be for a month, then you may need to bite the bullet and live off rice & beans.
Suggestions to supplement that:
—Dumpster diving. Desperate times/measures. I’d recommend raderTray oesJay, $ Gen., or a locally owned market and look through their bins.
—Local buy nothing groups often have some food items up for grabs, or post in one explaining your situation and you may find someone who can help.
—See if there are soup kitchens in your area where you can get a meal.
—Look up ‘free in app’ deals on Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, etc.
Volunteer at the food bank and soup kitchen to get more free meals.
Get an evening & weekend job at a restaurant.
Buy potatoes and onions and fry them together or cook them into a soup.
Buy red beans & rice.
Use a little of the food bank food every day with the beans & rice.
Look up “Depression-era recipes” online to use up stale bread.
Ask your friends and family if anyone else is also broke and wants to pool money to buy in larger amounts.
Look up the freegan group near you to see where they are getting free food.
Look up the foraging group near you and go to the library to look up which plants in your region are edible and can be picked from wild places.