Best cheap foods

**bonbon219** · 03-06-2011, 08:57 PM

I will be getting $16 a month in food stamps. That is just about all I will have to spend on food, so I'm wondering what I can buy for $16 that will stretch the furthest. I live alone, so I'm just feeding myself.

**nodmicks** · 03-06-2011, 09:03 PM

I know others will have more detailed answers but the 1st thing that pops into my mind is dried beans. A lb of dried beans makes a lot of filling meals!

**pollypurebred39** · 03-06-2011, 09:06 PM

Buy staples

Beans, rice, pasta, eggs, flour, oil, shortening, cornmeal, cocoa, oatmeal, sugar, peanut butter, yeast, salt, potatoes.

I have tons of recipes that I can share with you. I've had times in my life where I've had to live on just the basics, so I've got a collection of them.

Also, look into coupons. I get lots of stuff for free, or nearly free. It really helps. Cereal is an easy one to get for free.

Search out food thrift stores, great deals.

**NikoSan999** · 03-06-2011, 09:09 PM

My mother long ago was single and 5 kids and hardly any money. She asked a doctor back then what she could feed them to stay healthy cheap. He told her to put a jar of peanut butter on the table and leave it. Protein. A doctor probably wouldn't say that today but it's one I'll never forget.

**Homekeepn** · 03-06-2011, 09:15 PM

That is only .50 a day for food.

Drinking only tap water.
eggs
frozen veggies (cook only what you will eat at a time)
beans (as already mentioned)
ramen noodles (mixed with some of the frozen veggies to make a
lo mein)
peanut butter
rice
some cereals
oatmeal

I hope others more to add. Good luck to you.

**frugalfoster** · 03-06-2011, 09:37 PM

Find a source for coupons...and go to your local food bank...food banks are there for people like you...,please don't hesitate to use them... $16 is not very much for a person to live on for a month.. I use coupons like crazy....so I know what kind of savings can be had with them...

PM me if you want to know of some sites that i frequent for coupon savings...

**brennasmom** · 03-06-2011, 09:46 PM

You can make your own refried beans using pintos.... you get alot of beans for a couple dollars.

Peanut butter

Split peas for soup

**NikoSan999** · 03-06-2011, 10:06 PM

Potatoes....
fried
baked
few make a big pot of potato soup that will make many meals and are filling.
pancakes
added to the frozen veggies or added to the potato soup

**frugalfoster** · 03-06-2011, 10:12 PM

By the way....wished you lived closer....I'd set you up...I have 30 boxes of cereal on my dining room table right now...bought for free or .45 cents a box....

**waterbaby77** · 03-07-2011, 12:41 AM

Hotdogs. You can get a package of buns for 50 cents (generic).

Macaroni and cheese (generic). Tuna. Mix the macaroni and tuna together with a little habanero pepper to make spicy tuna hotdish if you like spicy foods. This makes a lot and is very filling.

Or make mac and cheese and mix with can of chili. This is very filling and makes enough for two meals.

Buy pasta with coupons. Make pasta with canned sauce, not jarred, unless you can get a deal with a coupon.

Tuna salad sandwiches.

Baked potatoes. Fried potatoes.

Beans and rice. Fried rice.

Lentil soup.

Carrots and celery are cheap vegetables year round and will last a while.

Oatmeal.

French toast with stale bread.

Combine double couponing with sales to get food for free or almost free.

I would recommend going to the food bank and seeing what you get there, and using your foodstamps to fill in the gaps.

**hotprincesscm** · 03-07-2011, 07:43 AM

Oh boy! That's not alot at all! As mentioned before, Oatmeal, Dried beans, Pasta, eggs, tap water, ramen, canned soups at aldis are fairly cheap, get to the food bank, most will let you go once a week and get your fill of what you need...then fill in with your foodstamps. Good luck!

**adalynn** · 03-07-2011, 08:32 AM

Where I live, if you are on stamps you can't get food from food bank.
Learning to use all leftovers has helped me a lot, most ideas coming from here. I never throw out an edible item anymore.

**The Muse** · 03-07-2011, 09:13 AM

I can stretch a bag of dried chickpeas pretty far, along with some other inexpensive ingredients. I can get a week's worth of falafel out of a 1 lb. bag of chickpeas. Also hummus/pita, "taco" salad, curry, marinated chickpeas in wraps, spanish style chickpeas with rice. There are so many ways to prepare them!

**low-1** · 03-07-2011, 10:19 AM

Where are you? Are wild edibles, or fishing/trapping an option?

**StartingOver** · 03-07-2011, 10:27 AM

I found this blog a few weeks back....If you have time, it's a very interesting read. This guy is a coupon guru and eats for less than a dollar a day, and donates to the food bank.

http://http://www.grocerycouponguide...ll-on-1-a-day/

This will give you a few ideas on what he ate. He did this for 100 days!!!