Post: #1

I am a college student and I am on a tight budget. Basically it is already the end of this month and I am trying to make up my grocery list for november. I usually spend a $150/month on food but I think I can get healthier food and I want to make the most out of my money. I also go to walmart for my food.

Here is my list
- burger patties
- chicken breasts
- cans of tuna
- bag of rice
- tilapia
- 5 gallons of orange juice
- 2 packs of water
If there is a little bit of change like 20-30 bucks I might add some stuff.
Any help on improvement?

Post: #2

maybe try Trader Joe's?

why not get those boxed cous cous/quiona type of dishes. they are cheap and taste a lot better than just plain rice IMO. Healthier too in many cases...around 2-3 bucks per box and it last a few servings.

Hummous is always good. for dips, side dishes for chicken, etc.

Post: #3

http://www.hearthealthyonline.com/health...s_ss1.html

http://www.campbellskitchen.com/RecipeCo...t-Friendly

Buy your water in 5 gallon jugs, and shop the sale ads from other grocery stores.

Post: #4

VEGIES! Get some greens, no fiberous vegies like carrots. Get some broccoli, spinach, lettuce. Fruit too! Bananas, apples, what ever you like. Dont get OJ, way too much sugar man. Get more water and get some milk for protein. Id also get a jar of coconut oil, that shit is delicious. Everything you listed is good, id maybe get some salmon too but that can be pricey.

Post: #5

Invest in a crockpot. For real. Also, buy in bulk when you find a good sale, especially meats. Walmart usually has Swai, which is healthy and cheap. Cook in bulk, and freeze into portions. Homemade soups can be made cheap. I do these, chili's, monster lasagna's, ect.

My weekly menu is mostly dictated by the sale ads.

Post: #6

(10-25-2012 07:13 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Invest in a crockpot. For real. Also, buy in bulk when you find a good sale, especially meats. Walmart usually has Swai, which is healthy and cheap. Cook in bulk, and freeze into portions. Homemade soups can be made cheap. I do these, chili's, monster lasagna's, ect.

My weekly menu is mostly dictated by the sale ads.

I didn't know what was a crockpot until now. Thanks for the advice, I also realize that sometimes I may go over my budget due to my poor cooking skills (making soups, tasty meals etc..) which I will significantly improve this month.
I already buy meat in bulk and it last longer than I thought, but vegies due to the fact that I only grocery shop once a month I don't buy that many.

Post: #7

(10-25-2012 06:45 PM)PartyonBro Wrote:  maybe try Trader Joe's?

why not get those boxed cous cous/quiona type of dishes. they are cheap and taste a lot better than just plain rice IMO. Healthier too in many cases...around 2-3 bucks per box and it last a few servings.

Hummous is always good. for dips, side dishes for chicken, etc.

There is no trader joe's in texas if I'm not mistaking and ill try the quinoa/ couscous.

Post: #8

15 bean soup. It's like $2 at Wal-Mart.

Throw a large *cheap* roast and that bean soup (soak beans overnight) into a crockpot and you'll have food for 2-3 days.

Crock pot will turn tough meat tender. Just turn one on before going to class. Come home to delicious dinner.

Post: #9

(10-25-2012 07:13 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Invest in a crockpot. For real. Also, buy in bulk when you find a good sale, especially meats. Walmart usually has Swai, which is healthy and cheap. Cook in bulk, and freeze into portions. Homemade soups can be made cheap. I do these, chili's, monster lasagna's, ect.

My weekly menu is mostly dictated by the sale ads.

Yes on the crockpot. One chicken plus some veggies in there nets me about 4 meals and you can even make soup out of the leftovers from that for another 5-6 lunches.

Post: #10

EGGS
EGGS
EGGS

And maybe one porno mag

Post: #11

(10-25-2012 08:15 PM)wiscanada Wrote:  

(10-25-2012 07:13 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Invest in a crockpot. For real. Also, buy in bulk when you find a good sale, especially meats. Walmart usually has Swai, which is healthy and cheap. Cook in bulk, and freeze into portions. Homemade soups can be made cheap. I do these, chili's, monster lasagna's, ect.

My weekly menu is mostly dictated by the sale ads.

Yes on the crockpot. One chicken plus some veggies in there nets me about 4 meals and you can even make soup out of the leftovers from that for another 5-6 lunches.

This sounds like something I want to start doing. Care to throw down some quick directions/recipe or maybe provide a link?

Post: #12

(10-25-2012 08:12 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  15 bean soup. It's like $2 at Wal-Mart.

Throw a large *cheap* roast and that bean soup (soak beans overnight) into a crockpot and you'll have food for 2-3 days.

Crock pot will turn tough meat tender. Just turn one on before going to class. Come home to delicious dinner.

Pinto beans with a slice of fatback.
Cornbread
http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/bakingd...nbread.htm

Slice up a sweet onion, cucumber, and tomato. This is a staple dinner in my family. Balanced and cheap.

(10-25-2012 08:15 PM)wiscanada Wrote:  Yes on the crockpot. One chicken plus some veggies in there nets me about 4 meals and you can even make soup out of the leftovers from that for another 5-6 lunches.

It's amazing how many people won't eat leftovers. It's not economic to cook for 1 and not make several meals out of it.

@GQ- Here ya go bud!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Everyday-C...src=mer714

Post: #13

Unless the water is really bad in your area, I would skip the bottled water. Even if you live in a dorm you can buy water bottles with a filter. You should also check out the price of burger patties vs. ground beef. I used to eat a lot of burgers a couple of years ago and I found that it was ultimately cheaper to buy the large "rolls" of ground beef, form patties and freeze them.

If you can get to a costco or bjs try getting your chicken breasts there. Since you're in college check the campus cafeteria. You might be able to pick up a weeks worth of veggies for a few bucks. When I went to school it was maybe 3-4 bucks for a takeaway box at the buffet. There was no weight limit, so you could easily fill it with veg and fruit if you chose.

Post: #14

Cheers Ali, really should help my nutrition a lot. I actually have a pretty good crock pot, don't think I've used it more than once or twice.

Post: #15

(10-25-2012 08:53 PM)_GQ_ Wrote:  Cheers Ali, really should help my nutrition a lot. I actually have a pretty good crock pot, don't think I've used it more than once or twice.

Anything you need to know about living a clean and healthy lifestyle Ali is the guy to ask.

Post: #16

Try working in some organ meat into your diet, it's cheap and nutritious

Post: #17

(10-25-2012 08:59 PM)tom Wrote:  Try working in some organ meat into your diet, it's cheap and nutritious

Girls swear by organ meat a la Ali!

Seriously, I didn't like beef/pork liver until I a pinay cook it for me. Here's a great website for pinoy food. I've tested a lot of the recipes he lists, and approve. If you guys REALLY want to get the cost down in the kitchen, date a Filipina. No joke.

http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/08/11/lut...ak-recipe/

This is a great liver steak recipe. Eaten it many times, and it is simple and cheap.


I eat a lot of chicken "lizzards and gizzard". I love being Southern.

Post: #18

35 a week?

14-21 meals

Things you need to have
- oven, range, microwave, fridge
- stainless steel saute pan, soup pot, (ideally a bbq grill)
- sharp knife and cutting board
- containers for left overs
- necessities like butter, cooking oil, and herbs and spices.

I'm in the midwest, you're prices may vary
- 2 lbs of ground beef - 6 bucks - this turns into at least 4 meals, if not 5. I like to grill my meat balls, but you can put them in the oven, or make them on a saute pan.

$29 left (5 meals down)
- 4 bucks gets you a whole chicken, 2 breast, 2 thighs, 2 wings, 2 legs - that's at least 3 meals. Grill, Roast, or Saute - easy peasy.

$25 left (8 meals down)
- dozen and a half eggs - 3 bucks
- onion, tomato, scallion - 3 bucks
This is your breakfast, a 3 egg omelet with veggies. (6 meals)

$19 left ( 14 meals down)
-28 oz can of crushed tomato - 3 bucks
- 1 head of garlic - 50 cents
- 1 lb of pasta - 3 bucks
^ you can get 3 meals out of this

12.50 left (17 meals down, 4 to go)
- i'd go with sweet potatoes or plantains for your side dishes and good carbs - 2 lbs is 1.50-2 bucks
- frozen spinach or broccoli (get more bang for your buck) - dollar a package - 3

7.50 (17 meals with sides,4 to go still)

- either you can buy some more whole chicken or ground beef
- spend the rest on fruit
- grab a 6 pack!

You can rejigger this list for
- gumbo
- chili
- beef stew
- chicken soup

And milk the hell out of cheap veggies, carbs, and meats.

The only issue is that you might get bored eating the same things everyday.

WIA

Post: #19

I don't know what its like down there, but around here if you go to the same store enough you'll figure out when the deals are on. I just bought a 5kg (10lb) pork shoulder, made pulled pork and it will feed me for a few days (my food budget is ~$300). I also got an entire pork loin. 100% meat for $15 (again 10lbs). That'll feed me for 10 days. I can get great sirloin steaks about once a month at $4 a lb. (usually its double or triple that). Buy in bulk when you can. Around here we have 10lb bags of potatoes. Usually $6, but on sale they can be as little as $2. Look for in season veggies.

- buy bulk
- look for deals
- don't buy processed food
- buy whats in season
- rice. you can get 20lb for $10-20 around here.
- EGGS. motherfuckers are dirt cheap
- don't drink your calories ie. don't buy anything liquid but milk

Post: #20

Wow thanks a lot, I didn't know I could stretch my money that much. I guess I never thought about it.
I'm going to buy a crockpot tomorrow and start experimenting with soups.

@westindianarchie thanks for breaking it down for me.

Post: #21

Two other staples I keep around are cabbage and smoked sausage. Both are cheap, and the grocery stores sometimes has a lb of smoked sausage for $2. You can catch cabbage sometimes for like .29 lb.

http://www.food.com/recipe/smoked-sausag...age-152480

This is a lot of food for around $4.

Chicken quarters are currently .69 lb at Harris Teeter. I could write a book on the ways to cook these. I was a starving student once. You won't find meat much cheaper.

Use your calculator function on your cell phone. Get a down to a science when shopping for food. Understand price per lb. Some sales and deals aren't good.

Good example: The Jimmy Dean sausage at Sam's Club seems like a good deal, right? Wrong. Look at the fat content. It is double than the rest of the brands. Very misleading.

Stay away from lunch meat. It's is ridiculous. Also, look for a for a discount bakery. Great deals can be had in there for bread that is a day old.

Hope this helps.

Post: #22

Not mentioned... lentils. Cheap, high in protein and fiber.

Post: #23

Chicken thighs are cheap and taste better. Remove the skin. Usually you can buy the organic/hormone free kind there.

Walmart has something I ALWAYS buy, broccoli slaw. It's about 1.50 a package and I eat a serving with every meal.

Added to the slaw, I'll put almonds and sliced tomatoes and a can of chicken (or cooked thighs) or Tuna (both by great value, the tuna is 68 cents per can and tastes better than other brands to me)

Paul Newman creamy Caeser dressing, this is cheap and delicious and it's made with olive oil instead of the cheap oils the other dressings are made of.

Walmart does not have good prices on their red meat, I don't know where you live but I just bite the bullet and buy ribeyes. They taste awesome and to me it's worth paying extra.

Apples - Honeycrisp apples are in season and they are delicious, I eat them with my breakfast.

Eggs are cheap, learn to cook them over easy. Bacon can be pricey for some reason, get it anyway!

A recipe I like (but isn't the best for you because of the bread) is to take an egg over easy, put it on a toasted english muffin add bacon with plum or pepper jam, the contrasts in flavors is delightful.

If I were you I'd ditch the orange juice, it's not good for you at all. Unless it's fresh squeezed by the time you get it, it's basically a glass of sugar.

Oh yeah, Liver is dirt cheap. If you season it right it's delicious, also onions are cheap as hell and nutritious. If you pan fry it right you'll have a cheap, tasty meal that you can eat when polite company isn't around ; )

Post: #24

If you dont mind being a little dishonest, (ok it's pretty dishonest ) here's how to save big money at the self checkout machines.(On fruits and veggies)

Go to the produce section and head directly to Organic. From here on out you will never have to eat a pesticide covered roma tomato ever again. Don't use the plastic bags they offer in the organic section, grab a bunch from the non organic. If they are all the same color then it doesn't matter. But you don't want the self checkout worker knowing you have organic shit in your bag.

Next, don't worry about the size or the price of the fruit. Just throw shit in the bag. You want three large honey crisp apples and two red bell peppers? Cool, just throw it in the bag. You want three organic avocados, two limes, and a head of brocoli and a couple string beans?!? Throw it in the fucking bag!

You catch my drift? Just make sure the items are all the same color.

Here are the fruits and veggies i got last week.

All organic.

five large bananas, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, three large avocados, four tomatos, three large organic naval oranges, three kiwi, stock of celery, two apples, and a peach.

I only spent about $5 on all of that.

Heres how you do it.

Each piece of produce has its own special code. I think its supposed to be universal but i know it varies from store to store. So i cant give you all the codes here you will have to do that on your own.

Grab a sticker(with the 4 digit code) off of the smallest lemons, limes, oranges, and apples you can find. You want to use the small variety because they are priced by quantity, not weight.



You see, this one is organic. You can tell because it begins with a 9. You want code stickers that look like this



When you get to the self checkout machines you will enter the produce code yourself.

Lets say you have a bag of three avocados and brocoli. You will enter the code for small limes. Here the codeis 4205. After you type in the code the screen will ask you how many you have. Type in 3 or 4. Small limes are cheap so thats about 60 or 70 cents.

After yu type n the code it will tell you to set it down on the scanner for you to weigh it. Go ahead and do that. Make sure none of the items are hannging off the edge because when you out it in a bag it checks to makemsure theneight from the scanner is the same as the weight in the bag scales.

Now you are ready to enter your bag that contains apples and oranges.

Type in the code for small lemons. Here its 4033. It will ask you for the quanity so type in 3 or 4 and press enter, place it on the scanner for a second and then throw it in a bag.

For your organic celery and bananas.. You have already done enough damage, just type in the non organic version of each.

Now just rinse and repeat until your friiuts and veggies are in the bag.


You see what i mean? Also id you want a bag of almonds which go for like $7 bucks just hide them underneath the stores ad flyer you pick up when you enter the store. For organic milk take it out and out it to the side. When you finish paying and are taking the bags off the racks just grab the milk as yu turn around towards your cart and place it in your basket.

Smile at the self checkout guy, tell him thanks, and make your exit






I suggest starting small and working your way up.

Just grab an organic orange take it to the self checkout machine and type in the small lemon code. Just enter quantity 1, set it on the scanner and then after it shows up on the screen throw it in the bag.

Find a store with a young dude working self checkout. These guys don't give a shit. They don't want to help you anyways.

Post: #25

(10-26-2012 02:03 AM)kickboxer Wrote:  If you dont mind being a little dishonest, (ok it's pretty dishonest ) here's how to save big money at the self checkout machines.(On fruits and veggies)

Go to the produce section and head directly to Organic. From here on out you will never have to eat a pesticide covered roma tomato ever again. Don't use the plastic bags they offer in the organic section, grab a bunch from the non organic. If they are all the same color then it doesn't matter. But you don't want the self checkout worker knowing you have organic shit in your bag.

Next, don't worry about the size or the price of the fruit. Just throw shit in the bag. You want three large honey crisp apples and two red bell peppers? Cool, just throw it in the bag. You want three organic avocados, two limes, and a head of brocoli and a couple string beans?!? Throw it in the fucking bag!

You catch my drift? Just make sure the items are all the same color.

Here are the fruits and veggies i got last week.

All organic.

five large bananas, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, three large avocados, four tomatos, three large organic naval oranges, three kiwi, stock of celery, two apples, and a peach.

I only spent about $5 on all of that.

Heres how you do it.

Each piece of produce has its own special code. I think its supposed to be universal but i know it varies from store to store. So i cant give you all the codes here you will have to do that on your own.

Grab a sticker(with the 4 digit code) off of the smallest lemons, limes, oranges, and apples you can find. You want to use the small variety because they are priced by quantity, not weight.



You see, this one is organic. You can tell because it begins with a 9. You want code stickers that look like this



When you get to the self checkout machines you will enter the produce code yourself.

Lets say you have a bag of three avocados and brocoli. You will enter the code for small limes. Here the codeis 4205. After you type in the code the screen will ask you how many you have. Type in 3 or 4. Small limes are cheap so thats about 60 or 70 cents.

After yu type n the code it will tell you to set it down on the scanner for you to weigh it. Go ahead and do that. Make sure none of the items are hannging off the edge because when you out it in a bag it checks to makemsure theneight from the scanner is the same as the weight in the bag scales.

Now you are ready to enter your bag that contains apples and oranges.

Type in the code for small lemons. Here its 4033. It will ask you for the quanity so type in 3 or 4 and press enter, place it on the scanner for a second and then throw it in a bag.

For your organic celery and bananas.. You have already done enough damage, just type in the non organic version of each.

Now just rinse and repeat until your friiuts and veggies are in the bag.


You see what i mean? Also id you want a bag of almonds which go for like $7 bucks just hide them underneath the stores ad flyer you pick up when you enter the store. For organic milk take it out and out it to the side. When you finish paying and are taking the bags off the racks just grab the milk as yu turn around towards your cart and place it in your basket.

Smile at the self checkout guy, tell him thanks, and make your exit






I suggest starting small and working your way up.

Just grab an organic orange take it to the self checkout machine and type in the small lemon code. Just enter quantity 1, set it on the scanner and then after it shows up on the screen throw it in the bag.

Find a store with a young dude working self checkout. These guys don't give a shit. They don't want to help you anyways.

Damn that is smart. I'm definitely going to try that trick, thanks