What's the CHEAPEST way to EAT?!!?

Question

What's the cheapeast way to eat...meaning cooking meals yourself or eating out for most meals? I mean, with all the dollar menu crap now-a-days, fast food is pretty darn cheap and convient (yet normally horrible for your health). On the other hand, going to the grocery store and loading up on groceries...spending...eh...around $80 a month, single person living alone, sounds kind of pricey up front....but think of all the meals you can make, and how much healthier they are. Then again, groceries require buying ALL necessary required items in the receipe, plus you have to prepare everything yourself. And Time IS Money...... So which is better/cheaper, in your opinion, eating out or buying groceries. There's pro's and con's to both. I need to get tighter on my budget though....so I need some opinions/ideas...

Thanks for any input!

Answer 1

Cooking a meal for yourself is almost always cheaper. For example, you can add rice as a filler to almost anything, if you have a rice cooker. Also, look for sales and stock up. See Rice-a-roni at a good price? Buy some. Also large bags of frozen veggies, or bags of meatballs or shrimp make great additions.

Consider this meal (one of my typical ones in college):
Rice-a-roni - $1
2 Tbsp. butter - $0.20
1/8 a large bag of veggies - $0.40
10 meatballs (1/8 bag) - $1
and this makes about 2 meals worth of food if you eat a reasonable portion. That is $1.30 a meal. Sure, you might have to add sales tax on it depending where you are, but it is still hard to beat the price. 1/2 hour cooking time.

A note: Try not to eat Ramen too often. It can make you feel bloated and tired.

Answer 2

When I was at the poorest point in my life, my roommates and I survived on red beans and brown rice. Those two apparently provide all the nutrients – especially protein.
With a little spice and imagination, it can actually make a decent-tasting meal, and you can cook up a lot of it and store in the ‘fridge (or even freeze it). That’d save time and also rice and beans can cook while you’re doing other things.

We’d reward ourselves with a whole chicken once a week, which we’d bake in the oven and devour in one sitting. (That can also bake while you’re doing homework or bathing etc.) If you’re living alone, a whole chicken will last several days, and you can make delicious gravy out of the leavings.

If you added on a modest amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, I’ll bet that you could come in at under $80.00 a month – especially if you bought LARGE bags of the beans and rice…but you’d have to be careful. Don’t buy the pre-cooked rice.

Eating out is not really time-saving, if you seriously consider the drive time, and the food quality – health wise – is not too smart to try to live on. I can make a good salad in about 5 minutes. (Don’t buy those “pre-made” salads, they are no deal. Buy the vegetables separate, keep them in a crisper.)

Plus, you could watch your favorite DVD or TV show while you ate. You can do it! Good luck.

.

Answer 3

Dear Brandi,

Preparing your own meals is healthier, and lower cost than fast food. However, your figure of $80/month for groceries, is quite low. It is not even three dollars per day. My estimate, for one person, would easily be double that, or more.

When I was a student, living alone, I prepared a large order of food about twice per week. I would make beef stew, Hungarian Goulash, roast capon, meat loaf, lasagna, spaghetti sauce and London broil. Most of these items keep well, and reheat well, except for the London Broil. London Broil, properly sliced, makes great sandwiches.

A typical quick meal for myself was a broiled hamburger and steamed vegetables.

Larry

Answer 4

The very cheapest and healthiest way to eat is to grow your own food. On your patio, with grow lights indoors, in your yard. You can rent land cheaply for gardening with others. It was only during WWII that people gave up home gardens where lots of food came from. We were very poor and grew all we could. It's rewarding, easy, and nice to nurture what you will live on.
You will also notice a very interesting phenomenon when you eat food that is fresh and ripe from a garden; improved health. You would only need about a 20 sq. ft. plot for just yourself. You also would be amazed at how much food a small piece of land can produce.

Answer 5

My husband and I got married in Vegas and we were on a very limited budget. We took $500.00 and stayed 5 nights,and had the time of our life. In the AM we would eat at MacDonalds. Bkst Sandwiches only $1.00 ea. and OJ and coffee. Then at lunch we would grab a big hotdog at Circus Circus for 50 cents each. and all sodas and Mixed drinks are free as long as you are playing the slots. Beer is also included. So we would spend a little playing the slots and drink while playing. We tipped the waitress as well, Then we would go out and have a nice supper at Tony Romas and other places. We ate Steak,Prime Rib and anything we wanted very resonable.Go to the websites and check out the restarunts and prices . Then they also have dinner shows. We went to one at Circus where they have Dancers and comedians and singers and a Hawaiian Buffet of all you can eat and drink mixed drinks too for $16.50. They only have the Hawaiian show on Wed and Saturday nites. You have to make reservations because they sell out. It is an awesome show. Fire-eaters,jugglers,everything u can think of...It is a good time for little money,have fun!!!!Spend alot of time sitting by the pool and Hot tubs!

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Answer 6

Eating healthy ,should be the answer.Spending time and preparing homemade food then being able to freeze it and take it out to micro-wave.Adding something fresh ,salad ,vegetable this should keep it healthy and also cheaper.
Your not getting healthy food if most of it breaded,preservatives added and what else you might get from a restaurant .At home you know what your getting,because you prepared it.
Your saving ,by doing it yourself.

Answer 7

well, with buying your stuff. like 80.00 a months pretty good..cause some of the stuff you dont use...like you only use a certain amount you buy....its not like you cook up everything you buy, like some flour....you dont use it all at once...and theres 7 days a week and like 4weeks in a month + 3 meals a day which is like 84 meals...so thats like less than a dollor per meal...and thats pretty good.

Answer 8

Time managment is important. If you eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat and seafood, you will definitely save. Simple and quick recipes do not use up a lot of time. It is always healthier and more fun to cook your own food. Enjoy! {:-)

Answer 9

top rAmen and chineese food . loooool