Yesterday, we went to the GO . ( a discount grocery store.). I found stewed tomatoes, organic, hunts for 3/1.00. The pull date was March on some and June on others. I bought six that had June pull dates. I researched the cost of them. Target has them for 1.38 which was cheaper than Wallmart.
I have been told that you cant eat on four dollars a day. I have also had people tell me that all they could eat was potato chips and ramen noodles. You can eat well on four dollars a day. We eat on less than four dollars a day and we supplement a grandchild and have grown a stock. We eat well. Salmon, Pork Loin, Boneless, skinless chicken breast, and supplement eggs, cheese, and beans.
It can be done and it can take no more time than you are spending now. It does take a little effort.
I didn't start out to feed us on four dollars a day. I just wanted to cut our food costs. We live in the 7th highest COL place in the US, so I read. Judging from the food haul I watch on a daily basis, it seems right. Because I write this blog, I set out to try every cost cutting food hack I could logically do. Some are not going to be tried here. Like making stock from already eaten chicken parts. YUK! But if it was reasonable, we tried it. The last ting that I tackled was making bread. I did find bread recipes that were almost free and easy.....almost no money and almost no time is a good thing.
When you are on a fixed income and social security give us a 132.00 a YEAR raise and. Your taxes and insurances go up 2000., its a good thing that we can eat well on a shoestring. Buy shopping wisely, we can still have a few luxuries .
By attacking the large food bill on many angles you can collectively lower your food bill dramatically.
- Shop wisely. Set rock bottom prices on the things you use on a regular basis. Don't buy those things until they are at or below the RBP. When you do, buy in bulk within reason. I would start at a 4-6 week supply of that particular food. If you use 2 cans of tomatoes a week, that means you would keep 8-12 cans. Most cupboards can take that . The average family has a list of 10-15 items they use on a regular basis.
- Buy meat and some staples in bulk. Rotate meat and buy one thing a week , enough to supply your family for 4-6 weeks. PorkLoin, chicken breast, and hamburger are good choices. They are easily purchased at a two dollar a pound average and are versatile to avoid monotonous dinners. Flour, rice, and oatmeal are items we buy at costco in bulk because they save a lot of money. Cheese at the business costco is cheapest. There are sales lately at the chain stores, sometimes with digital coupons and limited times. I want two dollars a pound.
- Meal plan. Just Meal Plan.
- Efficient scratch cook. Pinterest and the internet are full of recipes. An insta pot is worth far more than it cost. Just making beans and rice instead of buying canned or redi rice. Or instant rice will pay for itself in less than a year for the average family.
- Make bread and muffins and pancakes from scratch. A batch of pancakes are less than 30 cents. They cost five dollars. A artisan loaf of bread is upwards of three dollars. It cost a quarter. Not a quarter of the price—-twenty five cents. And it takes 10 minutes spread between two days.
- Portion control. No one needs to eat a two pound roast at one sitting. Nutritionists will tell you that three squares a day is better than waiting until dinner and gorging yourself. Portion control is good for your waistline and good for your budget.
Easy, Nothing is rocket science. But the savings are remarkable. Start with one concept. When that is comfortable, add another. Hope this helps. Four dollars a day is attainable.
