134 Comments
- nixonrichard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+84There are cheaper ways of eating for $30 a month?
I bet a pound of bricks is heavier than a pound of feathers too. - wonderboy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+55Anyone can do this, just buy a bunch of Ramen Noodles.
- capiCrimm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+50@sardon1c
They grow those little legs and then start running around the house trying to eat you? - ferreth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+44Agreed, you can eat better than he did for $30/month, but he didn't do any planning or research, just jumped right in. The food chosen is about what I'd expect for lack of forethought. Realistic though - you don't plan to be broke either.
- jaycliche, on 10/12/2007, -4/+37"Anyone can do this, just buy a bunch of Ramen Noodles."
..And a plunger, Drano, and a ton of toiletpaper. - remiprev, on 10/12/2007, -2/+31@ivachen
"You can live with less than 30 dollar a day with just eating rice mixed with soy sauce, and drink purified tap water"
I can easily live with less than 30 dollars *a day* too ;-) - m0nk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+28Oh, and for those who might be wondering, I first make sure that my grocery budget goes to making sure my son eats healthy first, and then to what I eat for the week.
- hankmt, on 10/12/2007, -3/+28I honestly think it's amazing that we think ramen noodles are cheap. They're cheap for what they are: easy to prepare food. But if you want cheap, go to walmart and buy a 30 lb bag of potatoes. $30 bucks can buy you enough potatoes and rice to be completely stuffed for several months straight, and you'll have money left over for butter and milk, which is all you really need to survive. Ramen noodles, while convenient, don't save anybody money. They do have a lot of fat though!
- Geener, on 10/12/2007, -1/+26Soaking overnight also brings the fart factor way down.
- NetJunkie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+24Soak them overnight in water. Greatly reduces cook time. You just have to plan ahead.
- mynameistim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+24day 3:
I think my body finally caught onto my plans for the month; and it’s not pleased.
thats funny. - capiCrimm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24yet his caloric intake is probably higher then most models.
- tidu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19I wouldn't be surprised if he drank his first Coke in 30 days and it tasted like *****. Happened to me; I'm off soda for good ;)
- ivachen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18You can live with less than 30 dollar a day with just eating rice mixed with soy sauce, and drink purified tap water. One of my friend lived off a semester in college doing just that...
- ZackScott, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16My favorite post of his is day 9:
"I had Navy beans for dinner tonight. Just a bowl of them. They took like 2 hours to cook. You would think that “bean technology” would have somehow advanced beyond a 2 hour cook time by now."
As a young guy myself, I learned how hard beans are to cook the one time I tried to made homemade chili. - hankmt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15@sardon1c: Indeed, I do. You can keep potatoes in a cool dark place (refirgerator, basement, etc) for at least a year without greening or sprouting. That's why they call the 'root cellars'
- KChambers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Everywhere I've been protein shake mix and milk is pretty expensive.
Milk: $4 a gallon
Protein Shake Mix: $10 for a small bottle up to $40 for a big tub - ZackScott, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13I know of a local church that prepares packages of frozen, boxed, and canned goods that are supposed to feed a 4 person family of 2 adults and 2 kids for a month. Each box costs $25 and can be bought by anybody. They don't contain fresh foods really though.
- m0nk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13This is true. Usually, when those who can't afford to buy food that they really "want" find out that they can't, they don't really spend much time planning on what to buy, just that it's affordable. I say this from experience, as an IT worker who was laid off to send jobs overseas, went bankrupt while trying to find a new job, and now get paid a fair percentage less, while being a single father.
- peter337, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13If you were worked at google, meals are free. Problem solved.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Dugg. For no other reason than what he did with the money he saved. The guy deserves credit for that. Id like to see more of his posts.
- catullus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13If you *were worked* at google, you should sue
- duke, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12SRB -- Solid Rocket Booster??? ;-)
- one1plus1one, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11@animaniacsrule
Yes, actually this recipe I used during my university days is very cheap, and quite healthy. I still eat it now several days per week. In fact I eat a plate of this before I go out and eat with friends, just so that I eat less junk food when I am out.
You need:
- 1 can of beans.
I prefer "Romano" or "Small Red Beans (SRB)" (SRB have the highest levels of antioxidants of any food on earth -- even more than wild blueberries)
- Salsa Sauce
- Low fat mozerrella or cheddar cheese
To make it:
- Crush beans in a plate with a potato masher
- Mix in Salsa sauce, and stir it all together.
- Add cheese on top
- Microwave for 8 minutes (I use 8 minutes because my microwave is low power)
NOTE: There are the usual jokes about eating beans. But I had to gradually get my stomach used to eating them, by eating small amounts and gradually increasing the amounts. Some beans go down easier than others for my own biology which is why I prefer SRB or Romano. You may have to experiment, but start with small amounts if you are not used to eating beans! - timothiuz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12it's very cool but unhealthy
- robbyjo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I propose something healthier:
Canned tuna for $1. One can is enough for three meals (i.e. a day) --> $30 / mo
One bag of 15lb rice for $9, enough for 1 month.
One bottle of tomato or barbecue sauce $1, lasts the entire month
Canned / bagged veggies for $1. Each bag lasts about 6 meals --> $15 / mo
Always drain and wash the tuna before cooking to remove excess sodium.
It costs you a total of $55 / month and the diet is rich in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Replace tuna with canned salmon for $1.20 / can, if you will.
I've been on this diet. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9alcohol...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10@ivachen Make sure it's brown rice or you will die of malnutrition.
- dorianh49, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Sharting Really Blows.
- sardon1c, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Do you know what happens to potatoes that sit around for several months?
- D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Let's see:
at .15$ a package times 2 a day, times 30 Days, were looking at about 9 bucks a month that leaves you 21 bucks for nice breakfasts - veegun, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Just don't add the MSG package.
- ROFLance, on 10/12/2007, -15/+23"- Drinking nothing but water. I can’t wait to suck down a giant Coke."
good thing he spelled coke right. - kevxross, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Have a little Freudian slip as you read that line?
- kevxross, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8lol nagumi, he said "whey protein" not "why protein." We'll just blame it on your mild brain damage (just joshin' ya) ;-)
- AnteChronos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8@ardenr
I think that capiCrimm was attempting to get in a joke about the potato famine. So he wasn't making fun of the Irish, he was making fun of people starving to death. - tont0r, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Yeah, get the precious taters... boil them, mash them, stick them in a stew.
- gconeen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7i think i've done this, it's called "college"
- GiggleStick, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8And when your hair falls out, you won't have to worry about your bangs obscuring your view of the TV!
- betasp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I wish my wife and I would have lived cheaper in college. The $500/mo in student loans suck 15 years later...
- armbar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6A while back, I took a soda fast for around a year and a half. My first drink after that time was a Dr. Pepper, and it tasted awful. Way too sweet, and had a terrible aftertaste. It was surprising, because I used to drink between 3 and 6 per day before that (which was why I went on a soda fast in the first place).
- TetchyTony, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@DaveV
"To add flavor to rice and noodles, buy bullion cubes." Bullion can prove expensive for lunch, unless you work in Fort Knox, better try bouillon cubes. - The_Dude, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I'd rather read about a guy who eats for 100 dollars a day. Mmmm....good food.
- charlie55, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5food is extraordinarily cheap. if you are smart an buy in bulk you can easily eat for a month on almost nothing. (and by nothing i mean a few days worth of pay at a minimum wage job). poor people in america are fat, it is not an issue in developed countries.
this guy would eat for a dollar a day, which is just a few minutes work even at the worst job possible. that says alot about how it really is easy to feed yourself, even if you are dirt poor. that doesnt mean you will be eating truffles, but you can pretty easily have healthy foods like grains and vegetables for cheap.
if we care about world hunger, the solution is political, and has little to do with food. - animaniacsrule, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5So does anyone have some recommendations for healthy cheap eats? I'm trying to save as much money as I can right now, and cutting my food budget would be a great start, but I definitely don't want to give up my health to eat the dollar value meal at McDonalds.
- dawger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5All that sodium is horrible for you.
- JoCliMe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@ The Description
$30 a month is good, but you would be overspending in February! - veegun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Geez, it costs me around $250 a month on food. I feel like a pig.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5This guy should have thought things out, or at least learned a little about the food available.
To add flavor to rice and noodles, buy bullion cubes. A bottle of hot sauce is your friend when things are bland, and you can use hot sauce from Taco Bell if need be. Off-brand cereal is cheap and filling, one may have to eat it dry, but drink water after. Off-brand mac and cheese is cheap and filling as well. Shop at discount groceries, overstock/closeout stores, and bakery stores (old items only). Others have mentioned cheap fruits and vegetables that are available. Dried beans are good, what he didn't think of was soaking them overnight. For meat, cheap ham and sausage are good. You can add a little to the beans for flavor and protein. Go to your local butcher and see what you can get for bones, ham hocks, etc. You can get them cheap and turn them into soup or add them to beans. And don't forget potted meat, vienna sausage, spam, and tuna can be had cheaply.
Off-brand mac and cheese, a can of tuna and some frozen peas will make a couple of tasty, filling, and nutritious meals. Cook beans with a hamhock and get as much of the meat off as possible, and some hot sauce and stir well, and serve over rice. A quart can of tuna and some frozen veggies added to shrimp flavored ramen.
There is a lot that can be done with a little.
There are a lot of ways to eat on $30/day. - capiCrimm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5whey protein? That stuff fills you up about as much as the water you mix it in. If you want to get stuffed on very little you eat carbs. Think pasta, rice, potatoes.
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