HOW, How on earth do you manage to spend less than $100 a month on food?

Question

Just last month alone I spent close to $450 on food-related expenses for myself! Thing is, I'm a frequent runner and consume close to 3500 calories per day. Any tips to cut expenses while still maintaining a high calorie supply?

@Debi in LA:
I buy food, not crap at grocery stores.

@LemonButt:
I'd rather not get the majority of calories from refined sugar.

@SAK:
$450 solely on foods and drinks, nothing more.

Answer 1

watch sales and cut coupons for stuff you already use.

Answer 2

I work in a restaurant kitchen, so excluding beer, I've probably spent $100 at the grocery in the past year. I think the best way to cut your expenses is to break it down. $450/month is roughly $15/day in food. That is $15 double cheeseburgers off the dollar menu at McDonalds. Granted it's not the healthiest thing, but consider this. If you drink a 2 liter of soda a day, that is roughly $1.25 and 1000 calories. Not only that, but it is carbohydrates which give you the energy to run. If you can bump your spending down to $8/day you would have cut your monthly food bill in half. I think that is a more realistic goal than $100/month, especially right off the bat. Good luck.

Answer 3

Good ol' Wal Mart, store brands, make a shopping list,and stick to it, Don't shop when you are hungry--everything looks even more tempting to buy when you are hungry. Check all the ads in the newspaper each week. Wal Mart allows you to use coupons as well, Plus, what all did you buy for that $450--you said it was on food-related expenses. Did you buy new pans, or something else other than food? Also, please see abot an appt. with a nutritionist to see how to consume the calories you do, maintain it ( or close to it), and spend less money on food at the same time. Take care.

Answer 4

You should never sacrifice quality for cost when it comes to food. Generic food products are often loaded with unhealthy hydrogenated oils and trans fat.

Try seeking out a local CSA (community shared agriculture) where you can buy a farm share and receive inexpensive, fresh produce every week. Look for food co-ops in your area, although those can be expensive too if you aren't careful. Buy in bulk when possible. Seek out farmer's markets. Use the internet to find recipes, and make more meals from scratch. Beans are an excellent and inexpensive source of protein. Buy them dried and cook them yourself for the best deal. TVP (texturized vegetable protein) can be purchased in bulk and used as a ground meat substitute. It is only about $1 a pound, has an incredible amount of protein, and is very simple to cook with.

You will not be able to significantly cut your food costs while purchasing boxed or frozen food. Dairy products are expensive; try substitutes. Make stirfries or pasta more often. Best of all, grow what you can at home.

Answer 5

Start by cooking food instead of buying packaged stuffs. If you don't have a crock pot, buy one. It is simple to operate, you can load it in the morning and dinner will be ready when you get home. Use oatmeal from a bulk food store, about a third of the price of packaged, as well as lentils and rice. Milk, butter and cheeses are always on sale, so lay in a supply when the price is right. Buy in quantity, on sale and use your refrigerator freezer as a food bank for meats and fish. If seasonal produce is expensive, buy frozen or canned.
I am a surviving senior and manage on about half of your calories for about $150. and I eat very well, and oh yes, I buy steaks and chops and love salmon. I also use coupons for more savings, several dollars a month, and I don't have food stamps to fall back on. You can do better. Best wishes

Answer 6

Shop at Aldi's. I feed my husband who eats 7 or 8 times a day, and my daughter who can eat just as much and me who eats 3 or 4 times a day. I spend about $250 a month at Aldi's. My husband and daughter both can consume the 3500 calories a day, and they don't gain a pound--which sucks....
But I say that would be the cheapest place to go, then maybe Save-A-Lot. They are the next cheapest.

Answer 7

try fresh fruits and veggies. Frozen veggies are usually cheap. Make your own cookies and sweets at home. Don't go out to eat, and try raymon noodles. I have heard they are the cheapest way to make a decent meal, plus you can add your own favorite goodies to make it taste good. Look at sale adds for you local grocery stores, shop at more than one store for cheaper items, clip coupons and use them. If you like meat, try butcher shops instead of local stores, sometimes you can get a package deal of meat that last for the month. My husband and i spent 600 a month on food, then my friend showed me some ways to cut our expenses, we ended up saving 400 dollars. Good luck, food is expensive and i think its rediculous on some of the food prices. A cucumber used to be .45 cents a year ago, know they are almost a dollar in my state. It went up that much. To make a regular salad cost almost 5.00 a person for a decent salad.

Answer 8

Less that $100? Ya, rice and rat meat will do nicely with an apple core chaser. High carbs, high protein, natural sugars. Food is expensive everyplace and with your needs ......try buying in bulk at co-ops or "big box" stores if you have them where you are ie: Sams, etc. I fed my sons.when they were playing school sports, massive amounts of corn breads, whole wheat breads, whole wheat pastas, in season fruits (can be frozen) made soups with barley and veggies...all purchased in bulk and cheap. Get clever. We were not rich and had 4 son's all teens at once. Their snacks were home made power bars I made from different grains, molasses, corn syrup, dried fruits, nuts (bulk walnuts, almonds) cereals, powdered milk, powdered malt, spices. Whatever was on sale or a best buy bulk. They were lean and mean kids with clear complexions. No junk foods here.

Answer 9

I think it's really inhumane and disgusting but that's very similar to the situation I am in because of invasion of privacy due to corruption and computer hacking! I do not even have enough money to go and see the latest movies! It's almost like being in a prison for a crime worse than murder without any form of justice whatsoever. Even really sick people, like Clifford Olson, get tax dollars to pay for degrees in prison and have more food and rights and freedom than some people out there. In other words, what's wrong with our society when stuff like this can happen?!!!

Answer 10

My live-in GF and I , spend only about $140 monthly for two of us...

simple plan:
Keep meals small..use veggies buy butcher specials on meats..buy no name brands or the store brand...avoid uneeded items like ketchup mustard salt pepper sugar.....you can grab a hanful / bagful in most fast food resturant side -counters..for free.
use hard paper plate..and wash them for 2nd usage..avoid using large dishwater liquids..use small amounts like a teaspoon - works as good.

go to the store - on a full stomach.....this help avoid your grabbing munchy stuff and the uncomfortable feeling of being full makes you spend less time in the store.

dont go into each aisle...you tend to grab what u se instead of what is needed.

make a 14 day menu of the meals you will eat and what you need to cook them...only buy what is 100% needed..
for example: Garlic bread is NOT needed with spaghetti meals .. toast will work perfectly.
fancy coffes are so expensive..regular is still good.

Answer 11

Use coupons! Shop on the spanish food isle! the pasta there is 25cents compared to maybe a dollar on the other isle. in fact, everything on the spanish food isle is cheaper. potatoes are cheap. make big dishes of stuff and freeze it until you are ready to eat it again. compare prices to weight.. meaning how many ounces are you getting for the price, hope that makes sense. macaroni and ketchup haha just kidding buy in bulk. or go to the local food bank where they just give it away.,... make friends with the peopel at the store and get a discount. that made me laff when the guy said eat beans... my gramma had 13 kids and all they ate was beans and tortillas... you could eat at the dollar menu everyday, calculate that and see whats cheaper