$65 budget for this month's groceries... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Sly · 10-30-2009, 05:30 AM

Title says it... any suggestions what I should buy instead of buying the same old KD/Instant Noodles crap (small budget)??? I'm leaning towards cheap healthy things that are quick to prepare since I'm in school at the moment, and it's basically exam hell when coming late November. The closest grocery stores I have near me are Sobeys and Safeway, so the cheap Superstores/Walmart is not really an option. I have never ever had this low of a food budget for the month and it's giving me thoughts whether if I should pick up free food in those wooden boxes at the end of the cash registers. Thanks.

Deegee · 10-30-2009, 05:40 AM

How can you have the internet if you only have that to spend on groceries?

Peanut · 10-30-2009, 05:44 AM

It might be worth the extra time/bus trip to walmart if your budget is so tight? If you're going to Safeway, at least go on 10% Tuesday (first Tuesday of every month). Other than that, eat a lot of beans for your protein because it's cheaper than meat and still healthy.

Good luck... I don't know if I could do it!

Peanut · 10-30-2009, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deegee

How can you have the internet if you only have that to spend on groceries?

There's free internet at school, I would assume.

Sly · 10-30-2009, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deegee

How can you have the internet if you only have that to spend on groceries?

My roommates/neighbours and I split the costs of the internet, so I'm only paying 6 bucks a month for great wireless.

burnin_vernon · 10-30-2009, 06:13 AM

You can buy cheap or healthy groceries...never both.

Antithesis · 10-30-2009, 06:35 AM

I'd agree with the sentiment that if it's at all convenient, Superstore may be the way to go for you. I'm sure they kind of fudge numbers a bit but even just buying name brand stuff there is about 30% cheaper than Safeway, if you move into their yellow no-name stuff, it's even more so.

starseed · 10-30-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnin_vernon

You can buy cheap or healthy groceries...never both.

That seems to be the case here. When I went to Southern Ontario, produce was insanely cheap. Eating healthy down there is way cheaper than up here. One would think that Calgary's proximity to the prairies and interior B.C. would make produce cheap here.

Rhettzky · 10-30-2009, 07:30 AM

Simple solution:
1) Go to the food bank.
2) Get food.
3) Buy a flat of beer with the money saved.
4) Get drunk and eat lots.

But seriously, when times are tough, don't feel bad about going to the food bank. That's what it's there for, just give back when you are more financially stable down the road.

valo403 · 10-30-2009, 07:48 AM

Sounds like 13 hot-n-ready's to me, You can stretch that out for at least 20 days.

BuzzardsWife · 10-30-2009, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deegee

How can you have the internet if you only have that to spend on groceries?

wow

Burninator · 10-30-2009, 07:54 AM

I would go to Sobeys over Safeway, since Safeway is pretty pricey in my experience.

BuzzardsWife · 10-30-2009, 07:56 AM

seriously though, you need to go to the food bank..i think u have to be on welfare or something for them to give you food though..so if that doesn't work, go to the hospital and steal food off the carts while they are in a room serving someone...SERIOUSLY, i actually know someone that did this!

Eric Vail · 10-30-2009, 07:59 AM

A budget of $2/day is pretty lean. I guess that's two boxes of KD a day. Maybe you could buy no-name KD.

Those boxes in grocery stores are for donations to the food bank, aren't they? I don't think you can take food from those, can you?

Rhettzky · 10-30-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

A budget of $2/day is pretty lean. I guess that's two boxes of KD a day. Maybe you could buy no-name KD.

Those boxes in grocery stores are for donations to the food bank, aren't they? I don't think you can take food from those, can you?

No I don't think you can just take from them. But you can check with the food bank and see if you qualify to receive an emergency food hamper.

http://www.calgaryfoodbank.com/emergencyhampers.html

Me and my room-mate did that one time while we were both going to school. We got too broke to support our KD/minute rice/ichiban diet and had no resources at the time. Someone at SAIT recommend I try that avenue and we were definitely grateful that it was available.

Burninator · 10-30-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

seriously though, you need to go to the food bank..i think u have to be on welfare or something for them to give you food though..so if that doesn't work, go to the hospital and steal food off the carts while they are in a room serving someone...SERIOUSLY, i actually know someone that did this!

Wow, I don't think you can get lower than stealing food from hospital patients. Stealing candy from children maybe?

socktape · 10-30-2009, 08:07 AM

Big bag of rice and beans....good carbs and protein on the cheap.

Go to the campus food bank and get some stuff there. There are a lot more students that use this than you'd think.

tkflames · 10-30-2009, 08:09 AM

Buy Rice and Lentils...this will give you sufficient protein for the month. Then live survivor style and try to obtain fruit and vegetables by any means necessary (friends, family etc.). Look up east indian "Dal" also spelled "Dahl" for recipes. If you don't like this type of food...food bank it is.

GreenLantern · 10-30-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

Wow, I don't think you can get lower than stealing food from hospital patients. Stealing candy from children maybe?

That's not till Saturday night

JerzeeGirl · 10-30-2009, 08:15 AM

Definitely make the effort to hit up either Wal-Mart or Superstore for any grocery shopping - they are far and away the best prices in town for groceries. Also, if trying to eat healthy - see if you know anyone who has a Costco membership who could maybe go with you and get a flat of canned veg like peas or beans for under $10. The fresh veggies there can be a decent price too if it's available to you. I'd stay away from fresh produce merely because it's so perishable and very pricey at this point in the season.

And really, don't be afraid/too proud to hit up the Food Bank if necessary. That's what they are here for and it's all about paying it forward when you can by helping them back in return. With their help (they provide basic staples) you could probably stretch your budget and not be forced to eat Mr. Noodle every day for 3 weeks.

Just had a thought that maybe you should see if your roomies would be interested in sharing resources for the month - if you planned it out right, you could make some big casseroles/chili/spaghetti type meals that stretch and freeze well to have over the course of the month.

[And I don't know if this is just temporary for you Sly, but it's the best time of year to find seasonal part-time work in the city. If you don't want to do the Food Bank try getting on somewhere for 5-15hrs/wk to supplement your income if it's at all possible. Or check Craigslist for some day jobs that pay right away....]