Poor People like to Eat Too?!

[cameorose]

Here is the Problem. I am laid off, my husband is down to three day's a week. His check pay's the bill's most of the time. I draw 118. a week. I have to keep 50 of that so he can get to work the next week. Gas is way to high. I can't get help, they say he make's to much money, can you believe that!!!!! I am luckier than most, house, car & truck(old) are paid for. But lights, phone, insurance,tax's,medicenc we take 9 all together. How to buy 40 to 50 dollars a week of groceries for a family of five. We're hungry. I want to find a site that shows basic food. No fancy meats,herbs,wines. Stuff real people can't afford. If you cook like the cooking shows you'll go broke! Any one else wearing my shoe's. I am so tried of pinto beans!

[SnoopyCool]

Hillbilly Housewife | Low Cost Home Cooking from Scratch

She also has an emergency menu for $45:
$45 Emergency Menu for 4 to 6 | Hillbilly Housewife

[Banimal]

Are you using coupons? They really help. When I was in grad school and paying off credit cards, I only bought stuff if I needed it and if I had a coupon. If I didn't have a coupon for "real food" then Ramen noodles with an egg were my best friend.

[aukxsona]

We are in the same boat. My food list may be different than others because I recently found out I am allergic to wheat.

If you go to Kroger, get their loyalty card. Kroger sends out coupons once or twice a year where you can get free eggs or $2 free in veggies. Plus, of course, there is a whole swath of other coupons, but I love the free coupons. Then as you shop in Kroger, mind the products. There was a sale on breads that my children eat, buy one get one free, plus the bread had a coupon for 3.75 on it. (*the price of one loaf of bread) I bought up all the loaves with the coupon and without. In essence the 10 or so loaves were absolutely free. They freeze well enough too.

This past month they had a 10 for 10 sale. This is 10 items for 10 dollars. Be careful because you only get it on exactly 10 items. If you have 12 of something, the first 10 will be a dollar each and the last 2 full price. I bought 10 bags of vegetables and then combined it with my coupon that took 49 cents off each two bags. Another 10 for 10 item that occurred was 10 dozen eggs for 10 dollars. They ran out, so I got a rain check for that exact item. I have a whole month to go back and get 10 dozen eggs (or 20 dozen for 20 dollars) for 10 dollars.

Recently, they also had a sale on hot dogs of 2 for 3 dollars. I knew this was well below the normal price, plus I happened to have a coupon for that very brand. (Oscar Meyer) Sure it was only 50 cents off 2 packs, but this reduced each pack to 1.25 usd a pack. I bought 10 packs and called that a huge find.

We also eat a lot of rice, beans, lentils, and fried tortillas. (the latter of which I make like a 5 year old, but it eats)

[snshijuptr]

You can check out $5 Dinners™ — Feeding the Family for $5 or Less for a recipe and blog about frugal eating. if you have a yard, think about planting a small garden or purchase potted herbs to flavor your food cheaply. Rosemary grows like a weed even in my North-facing window.

[aukxsona]

5 dollars for dinner doesn't leave a lot for the other 3 meals each day when the budget is for 40-50 dollars a week.

[aukxsona]

Here are some links that might help.
Homeschooling Four: How To Spend $50/week On Groceries

How to Feed a Family of Four on One Hundred Dollars a Month | eHow.com

Plus this recipe site has been a life saver when trying to find something to eat with out limited foods. It will give you recipes based on what you have at home. Very nice, and it saves what's in your pantry. Supercook: recipe search by ingredients you have at home

[Frugal]

There are lots of ways to do this. I have been in your shoes. There are ways to use coupons, shop sales, and use very basic recipes to save money at the grocery store.

Many churches and civic organizations have food banks and food pantries. I am sure you have heard of this, but sometimes they allow people who are above the income restrictions the state allows to get food there.

My younger sister is in graduate school, and trying to do the same thing and subsist. Last time I talked to her, she only had peanut butter, an egg, and something like apple sauce in her refrigerator. This is America, wow! What have we become as a nation, that people can't even afford the basics like food? Utilities? Rent? People are turning to food stamps to even survive, and sadly, the people that need them the most I think often do not "qualify".

Well, anyway, ranting won't do any good. I hope you do some research and check out sites that can help you. There are ways to survive. I use a lot of potato pancakes, and make them frequently (like last night) to stretch things out between grocery trips. Rice is one thing you can make many different ways. If you have some basic proteins like peanut butter or the cheapest universal meat (chicken), you could combine it with cheap tortillas or bread to make basic sandwiches.

I would add to the people that mentioned growing a garden from seed if possible. Seed is cheaper than buying plants from a nursery. I am growing tomatoes. I got five large three-gallon plants on clearance for $1.50 two weeks ago at the grocery store. They are already bearing small, green tomatoes, and will help cut down my food bill. I also have chives, and apple trees that will not bear until next year. Grocery store prices are only going to go up, so it is wise to plant if you are able to (oh, and I have a very tiny yard, so if I can do it, anyone can). I grow a few things on my small backyard patio, and the tomatoes against the house where they are slightly sheltered from the sun in the mid-day. You can also try container gardening from a window, if you live in an apt. You can easily grow herbs like basil, cilantro, thyme, etc. or even parsley from a tiny window sill box or plastic container.

Hope that helps. Hang in there!

[nick__45]

Ramens and eggs are still very cheap. I lived on that stuffs in college. Ramens are still $1/11 around here.

[riverwed070707]

5 dollars for dinner doesn't leave a lot for the other 3 meals each day when the budget is for 40-50 dollars a week.

For starters, her meals are often under $5 -- don't knock it until you at least take a look. She has healthy, fresh meals (not a bunch of prepackaged junk) and feeds a family of 5 on a very modest budget. Secondly, leftovers are one of the best ways to stretch your budget. It's often cheaper to make double and eat leftovers during the week than to make a single serving and rely on making a separate lunch each day.