Another week of pasta dinners...

[disneybound31]

have a "clear out the freezer/cabinet" night and I bet some type of dinner can be scraped together...

 

[mb_uh]

If this is a regular issue then you probably need to look into longer term budgeting. With 3 kids and a parent living with me and DH we go through a lot of food so I have learned to budget money every month for bulk items that will last all month long (we are paid monthly which is tough).

I buy cheese, butter, frozen chicken, hotdogs, hotdog buns/hamburger buns, coffee, trash bags, and many other items at sams so I always have food left in the freezer in case we are tight. Not everything at Sams is a good buy but if you know what an item cost per ounce or lb at Walmart or your grocery store then compare that to Sams. This saves me lots of money every month.

Look at places like General Dollar- they have small boxes of items and things that are cheaper then even Walmart. Also if you have a discount bread store you can get bread at half price. Walmart will honor sale prices if you bring the ad so that can prevent driving all over town.

Bananas, eggs, beans, rice are all cheap and filling and pretty good for you.

Good luck,

 

[disneymom3]

Hi there. End of the week is next Friday. the $100 is for gas, Father's Day present, and $65 in a utility bill that has to be paid or cut off. Yes. Not fun.
Thanks so much for the encouragement and the ideas. I love to hear that it gets better!

OUch. Can you talk to them and wait til friday to pay that bill? I know it's not always a matter of budgetting "better" sometimes it's just the reality of how much money is coming in vs how much money you have to put out there.

Several people have mentioned white pasta sauce and I bet a lot of people don't realize how inexpensive it is to make. Seriously, it is basically flour, water and pepper. Add a little parmesan (Just from the green can in the fridge) and you are all set. Put in some garlic and onion and you have a different flavor profile.

I second the idea of rice. Buy yourself a bag of rice and a bag of dried beans. If you don't know how to prepare dried beans, the directions are right on the bag. Cook them up, mix them together and add a little seasoning and that is a good filling and CHEAP meal. The beans have good fiber and protein so will keep you filled up. Use more of the beans, mix together with a couple cans of diced tomatoes and chili seasoning and simmer all day on the stove you have some good healthy chilli. Take the leftovers, add cooked elbow noodles and you have chilli mac.

It will be okay. You just have to go back to an older way of thinking. It's so easy to see semi prepared foods, jarred foods etc and think that's how it has to be done but it is much cheaper to keep things simple and do it yourself.

 

[mom2val]

!

 

[clintswifeymomof4]

A giant loaf of bread (my store had it on sale for like 99 cents or you could go to the 'day old bakery) will go a long way.
A jar of peanut butter.
A dozen eggs.
Chicken drumsticks.
A bag of dry beans (black, kidney, or pinto)
A bunch of bananas.
A head of lettuce.
An onion.
A tomato.
Some cheese.

You can make eggs & toast (dry, cheese toast, cinnamon/sugar, jelly if you have it).
French toast
Omelet w/ part of the onion (sauteed first) & some cheese.
Peanut butter or peanut butter/banana sandwiches
A green salad w/ lettuce, tomato, cheese, & onion
Chicken drumsticks grilled or baked... could eat as is or...
pull the chicken off of the bone and season w/ some cumin, chili powder, or whatever and make it more Mexican inspired. Use the lettuce leaf instead of a taco shell or make it a taco salad. Eat w/ side of beans or rice or both. Use onions, cheese, and tomato for garnish.
Pull the chicken & add bbq sauce to it.. eat on bread for a quick bbq sandwich.

I'm not sure what you already have to work with condiments wise but if you could share what's currently in your pantry- I could help you.

We are a family of 7, on 1 income (for the last 3 years) and we get paid ONCE a month. We eat clean and we eat like kings... but it isn't expensive if you know how to plan it up!

 

[Marionnette]

I'm not sure if anyone posted the Hillbilly Housewife's $45 Emergency Menu for 4 link, but I thought I would put it out there for the OP.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm

This will feed a family of 4 for a week on $45. It's not a menu to live on forever but it does show that it's possible to get by in a pinch and not starve.

 

[DawnM]

It is a $45 menu for a week, not a month.

Dawn

I'm not sure if anyone posted the Hillbilly Housewife's $45 Emergency Menu for 4 link, but I thought I would put it out there for the OP.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm

This will feed a family of 4 for a month on $45. It's not a menu to live on forever but it does show that it's possible to get by in a pinch and not starve.

 

[bdcp]

I'm not sure if anyone posted the Hillbilly Housewife's $45 Emergency Menu for 4 link, but I thought I would put it out there for the OP.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm

This will feed a family of 4 for a week on $45. It's not a menu to live on forever but it does show that it's possible to get by in a pinch and not starve.

I think you meant $45/week, not a month. My sons who don't live with us spend on average about $45-50/week on groceries for themselves and they do not starve at all. They only eat out once or twice per week for lunch or dinner too, but they could easily stick within their budget for those 1-2 meals also.

I know it's been a long time, but in the early 80's I fed a family of 4, (groceries included cleaning supplies and diapers for one) for $50/week.

$65 for utility bill so since you clarified from the original post, $35 can get you by if you're careful with what you buy. A whole chicken will last several meals, things like that. Eggs are one of the cheapest, nutritious foods out there. A dozen eggs can last you more than a week eating 1 per day.

Also, as for Father's Day gift, be honest. I don't think he would want you to not eat just to buy him a gift.