Eating on a serious budget.

[HamMach1]

Basically my only income right now is money from the GI Bill because I recently separated and going to school full time.

I go to Walmart and get what feeds me every 3-4 days for roughly $20:

- 4.5lb pack of 93/7 ground beef
- Whole wheat pasta
- 2 cans of tomato sauce
- 2 cans of diced tomatos
- 1 can tomato paste

Basically meat sauce with a little penne added.

I figured it could be a LOT worse. Is that too much red meat? Not really sure if there's such thing as too much red meat.

Advice on other ways to eat somewhat decently for a broke bastard?

[magician27]

lol you are broke but you buy the most expensive protein source. switch to chicken, eggs and whey man , you save more money

[Partyrocking]

chicken thighs in particular are mad cheap
rice and beans
potatoes/sweet potatoes

[ErikTheElectric]

Shelled Peanuts. Srs.

[MostAlpha420]

Potatoes
a gallon of milk is like $3.50 in Win Dixie with the card so thats not bad
Chicken
I once bought like an industrial size oats bag for like $10 so if u can get that it lasts forever

[Mirabelle]

Basically my only income right now is money from the GI Bill because I recently separated and going to school full time.

I go to Walmart and get what feeds me every 3-4 days for roughly $20:

- 4.5lb pack of 93/7 ground beef
- Whole wheat pasta
- 2 cans of tomato sauce
- 2 cans of diced tomatos
- 1 can tomato paste

Basically meat sauce with a little penne added.

I figured it could be a LOT worse. Is that too much red meat? Not really sure if there's such thing as too much red meat.

Advice on other ways to eat somewhat decently for a broke bastard?

That's going to get old quick. Like the others said, add some chicken. You can buy a whole chicken for pretty cheap and throw it in a crockpot, or just a bag of frozen chicken breasts at walmart for like 5 or 6$.

[HamMach1]

lol you are broke but you buy the most expensive protein source. switch to chicken, eggs and whey man , you save more money

Is it really? I've never compared much. Figured 4-1/2 pounds of beef for $15 was pretty darn decent.

That's going to get old quick. Like the others said, add some chicken. You can buy a whole chicken for pretty cheap and throw it in a crockpot, or just a bag of frozen chicken breasts at walmart for like 5 or 6$.

You'd think it would get old but it's actually incredibly delicious even after using this method for the last 5 months haha. I just change up the spices. I like the idea of a whole chicken in a crockpot though.

[motilynn]

First up- Don't forget you can still grab that 5k pell grant. Since the GI is covering you, you'll get all of that. If you need to grab a student loan on top of your GI bill you can.



-2nd try and grab things you can preserve and save in your freezer. A package of chicken breast and legs you can put in freezer

[magician27]

Is it really? I've never compared much. Figured 4-1/2 pounds of beef for $15 was pretty darn decent.

chicken is still cheaper but that doesnt sound too bad just usually to fat/protein ratio is high with beef. beef surely tastes better

[Partyrocking]

Chicken thighs = goat. Also, they're $1/lb where I live.

Although that beef price is pretty solid. On average it's $4/lb.

[Killshot1]

Before I bought my meal plan at school, I'd eat on that poverty time. I'd always go to Walmart get WW pasta, great value sauce, natty peanut butter, brown or white rice for my $15 rice cooker (GOAT appliance, srs) tilapia then I'd often see ground turkey on near date for $1.99 and they would often have excess or left over brotisserie chickens for $1.99 (regular or $2.50 for family sized). I'd PIITB 2-3x if possible, cut every bit of meat off, freeze it and eat it throughout the week. Sometimes I'll boil the bones and make some 10/10 broth for some real homemade chicken soup . Just an idea brah. Keep an eye out for close dated products!

[HamMach1]

First up- Don't forget you can still grab that 5k pell grant. Since the GI is covering you, you'll get all of that. If you need to grab a student loan on top of your GI bill you can.



-2nd try and grab things you can preserve and save in your freezer. A package of chicken breast and legs you can put in freezer

I don't think I was able to get it this go around because I believe the questions it asked me made it seem like I am well off (asking about my previous years tax return which was good). Probably next year though since this is my only form of income this year.

chicken is still cheaper but that doesnt sound too bad just usually to fat/protein ratio is high with beef. beef surely tastes better

Yeah beef is way tastier. I honestly think chicken is usually a daunting task to eat because it's just not the greatest even with all of the spices and sauces.

Chicken thighs = goat. Also, they're $1/lb where I live.

Although that beef price is pretty solid. On average it's $4/lb.

I'll check those out the next time I go out. Could use a break from beef and venture into the lean meat world.

[HamMach1]

Before I bought my meal plan at school, I'd eat on that poverty time. I'd always go to Walmart get WW pasta, great value sauce, natty peanut butter, brown or white rice for my $15 rice cooker (GOAT appliance, srs) tilapia then I'd often see ground turkey on near date for $1.99 and they would often have excess or left over brotisserie chickens for $1.99 (regular or $2.50 for family sized). I'd PIITB 2-3x if possible, cut every bit of meat off, freeze it and eat it throughout the week. Sometimes I'll boil the bones and make some 10/10 broth for some real homemade chicken soup . Just an idea brah. Keep an eye out for close dated products!

I need to get back on my peanut butter and rice game. I do have a rice cooker and that is definitely one of the greatest inventions ever.

[motilynn]

I don't think I was able to get it this go around because I believe the questions it asked me made it seem like I am well off (asking about my previous years tax return which was good). Probably next year though since this is my only form of income this year.



Yeah beef is way tastier. I honestly think chicken is usually a daunting task to eat because it's just not the greatest even with all of the spices and sauces.



I'll check those out the next time I go out. Could use a break from beef and venture into the lean meat world.

What?! We were making an entire income while I collected. I took the student loans and invested. Then paid them back with my profit. Check into again.

[HamMach1]

What?! We were making an entire income while I collected. I took the student loans and invested. Then paid them back with my profit. Check into again.

I might have to. Thanks for the heads up. I applied for financial aid because it was recommended to do so as a just in case type deal but was never awarded anything other than loans.

Paid your loans back with profit?? That sounds like a fun idea.

[motilynn]

I might have to. Thanks for the heads up. I applied for financial aid because it was recommended to do so as a just in case type deal but was never awarded anything other than loans.

Paid your loans back with profit?? That sounds like a fun idea.

I'll tell you. It was the best choice I could have ever made. I work in the aviation field,so my first loan I went halfsies with another investor in Cessna's. For student pilots. They pay 120 an hr. Got another and invested on my own. The upkeep and making sure the miles are FAA approved do have some cost. But in the long run- that profit can't be beat. Paid my loans back before the interest even hit.

[EmperorRyker]

Check out flyers of stores you go to so that you can buy thing on sale. Also, don't shop at a single place, but rather buy things where they are cheapest. I'm not on an extreme budget, but I'll always buy certain items at one store, others at another one and so on. Also, you can order a lot of things in bulk online (oats, rice etc.).

[KalelFitness]

I eat mostly chicken thighs and eggs when money gets tight, its always served me well. Plus I like the thighs more, the reheat better. Chicken breast is just too dry.

[comp85t]

A can of Tuna is 100 calories with 20g of protein.

I usually eat it twice a week, a few days a apart because of the supposed mercury.

[yoojungl]

Better to buy things in bulk so you can save a bit of money in the long run, but I know around my area chicken thigh or canned chicken is usually cheap

[Sherniee]

Have you tried soup/stock cuts of meat? At the supermarket I go to I see packaged scraps that are super cheap. I assume it's gonna be hard to accurately count macros with scrap cuts, though.

Also, bags of dried black beans. Huge bags cost less than those 10lbs bags of home gardening soil. Black beans are literally cheaper than dirt.

[wlodarczykn]

Eggs, potatoes, beans, and rice are cheap AF

Aldi is GOAT when on a budget if you have one in your area.

[KalelFitness]

Aldis is your best friend on a budget I agree!

[Partyrocking]

Chicken thighs aren't very lean. That's why they taste good. Salt+pepper and roast at a high heat = crispy skin deliciousness, and you can save the fat and use it like butter.

[HamMach1]

I'll tell you. It was the best choice I could have ever made. I work in the aviation field,so my first loan I went halfsies with another investor in Cessna's. For student pilots. They pay 120 an hr. Got another and invested on my own. The upkeep and making sure the miles are FAA approved do have some cost. But in the long run- that profit can't be beat. Paid my loans back before the interest even hit.

You a pilot brah?

Eggs, potatoes, beans, and rice are cheap AF

Aldi is GOAT when on a budget if you have one in your area.

Aldis is your best friend on a budget I agree!

Had one near me until I moved. Aldi was great. Always a mess and pretty hectic, but some of the prices were ridiculously cheap!

[KalelFitness]

Yea the only thing I noticed is sometimes you have to cook things up quick from there. I had some ground turkey that went bad after a few days in my fridge. I tend to buy groceries from aldis then immediately meal prep. I hope you can find an alternative to them near you. Usually there is at least one store in the area cheaper than others. Yea it might look like Hurricane Katrina blew through it but can't beat the prices when on a severe budget.