Make a 3-5 day meal plan and then shop to the meal plan. Estimate your total as you go. Add in unplanned snacks and spontaneous purchases once you've shipped you meal plan—make yourself go back for things rather than impulse buying.
Build up a core of affordable staple items like grains, legumes, root veg, etc. I love my rice cooker. Slow cookers are great. I also eat a lot of dense salad these days.
Check for cheaper alternatives like sale items, frozen vs fresh, pound per ounce, etc.
Make sure to learn how to store your perishables and when to wash them. Know what you can freeze.
Learn some clean out the fridge recipes. Soups and stir frys are great for this and freeze.
I’d start with buying groceries that you like and already know how to cook. You can add in new things to try on future trips, but don’t get ahead of yourself. At any given moment, I seem to have a lot of aspirational groceries going bad in my fridge.
Create a menu for the week. List out the ingredients and quantity you’d need for each item on your menu and only buy items from this list. This will ensure, you don’t spend on items you don’t need, you also don’t buy more than you need. This will make sure your spending is controlled as well as you don’t waste food.
Once you get hang of this and if you want to stretch your budget more or you are in a crunch, plan your menu based on items on sale at grocery store. That’ll save you more.
If possible, shop at Aldi’s. Good quality stuff at very reasonable prices. Many times they are cheaper than Kroger/Albertsons/Stop & Shop/Giants/HEB (you get the idea).
Before you head to the store, make a plan. Figure out your meals for the week - check the sale for what's cheap and plan around that.
Frozen vegetables are cheaper and better than fresh in a lot of cases. Beans, eggs, and tofu are solid cheaper protein options.
Is your food card limited to a particular store? If not, check out a local ethnic store for spices, they will be cheaper and better quality. A well-stocked spice rack is a bit of an expense but it will pay off massively in terms of making food taste good for cheap.
How long does that amount have to last you until you have more money? If it is a month, maybe break it down and don't spend more than 1/4 of it. Make it last for a week. Also, you may want to plan your meals ahead of time so you can see what is realistic.
Generally, the edges of the store has fresh food. Veggies, proteins, dairy, etc. Healthy and usually a better deal. The middle shelves have packaged food that's often junk.
What saves me is a couple of recipes that I can keep on hand when I haven't planned for something. I can throw onion rice and lentils in the instant pot and have dinner for a couple bucks all in. Something like that.
Start paying attention to what your staples cost. Sign up for newsletters for deals at your local grocery stores. Assuming you eat meat, get an instant read thermometer: https://www.thermoworks.com/thermopop-2/ is good, inexpensive option. If you don’t overcook meat you’re much more likely to not waste any and it’ll be way tastier.
Chicken thighs are your friend. Around here you can get them for around $1-4/lbs. They are safe at 160 degrees but cook until it’s at least 180-190.
The first shop tends to be pricey bc you have to buy staples that will last like condiments, flour, containers etc. subsequent ships will be more maintenance.
Try to make a list of what you'll need for the month, and try to plan out meals for the first week.
I recommend getting a big bag of rice, lentils/beans, and making a bread item once a week so you have filling meals. Get some fruit and veggies, and then buy discount meat that you can cook/freeze.
I go to an Asian grocery store and it's been perfect to find various produce you normally wouldn't, and it's way more affordable than some bigger named grocery shops.
Make a list of things that you like to eat for breakfast, lunches and dinners. Then make a grocery list from that and go shopping.
Buy in small quantities especially produce and perishable items.
Learn to store food well so it does not spoil.
Always have the following at home
Milk, eggs, cheese, canned beans (any that you like), salsa or sauces of your choice, basic spices (salt, pepper, oregano, chilli flakes) rice and bread, pasta.
These can help you whip up quick and easy meals when supplies are low (meats or vegetables)
$360 is plenty for a single person for meals. Write out a list with ingredients for specific meals before you go. Don’t stray from your list. Clip coupons and consider store brand or whatever is on sale to be the cheapest. I get a weeks worth of food for my husband and I for $50-60 on average.
Make note of the prices. There’s a huge fluctuation in prices between stores. Basically stores sell specific things cheap to get you in the door and mark other things up. Be prepared to shop at different stores to make your money go farther.
Don’t feel like you have to immediately fully stock your kitchen with ALL the ingredient stuffs (canned goods, tons of seasonings, 10,000 condiments, etc). As others suggest, start meal planning (budget friendly) and buying what you need for those meals. Of course, get cereal, etc; whatever you actually plan to eat. Over time, you will build up that pantry of basics, like at mom’s or grand mom’s house.
I’m going to suggest something that I was taught long ago that “kids these days” may not have been introduced to in school: unit pricing. Be aware of the cost per unit when comparing size of items to buy or items that are on sale.
Normally, at a large/chain grocery store there will be a price posted on the shelf, like $2.50. However, in the lower left corner of the tag it will have something like $0.25/ounce (US bias in units, sorry). If there is a larger size container of the same product, maybe the cost is $3.00, but the unit price is $0.20/ounce. Assuming you can use all of the item in the larger package, because the cost/ounce is lower, buying the larger item will save you money in the long run.
This can be very useful when buying things like cereal (small box vs family size) and comparing generic vs name brand items.
Eat something before you go. You’ll spend more when shopping on an empty stomach.
You’re right, that is a very good idea.
Actually when I need food and I'm not sure what I want to get, I go when I am hungry.
Make a 3-5 day meal plan and then shop to the meal plan. Estimate your total as you go. Add in unplanned snacks and spontaneous purchases once you've shipped you meal plan—make yourself go back for things rather than impulse buying. Build up a core of affordable staple items like grains, legumes, root veg, etc. I love my rice cooker. Slow cookers are great. I also eat a lot of dense salad these days. Check for cheaper alternatives like sale items, frozen vs fresh, pound per ounce, etc. Make sure to learn how to store your perishables and when to wash them. Know what you can freeze. Learn some clean out the fridge recipes. Soups and stir frys are great for this and freeze.
I’d start with buying groceries that you like and already know how to cook. You can add in new things to try on future trips, but don’t get ahead of yourself. At any given moment, I seem to have a lot of aspirational groceries going bad in my fridge.
Good idea, I’m definitely gonna try to make some things that I will have left overs of.
Create a menu for the week. List out the ingredients and quantity you’d need for each item on your menu and only buy items from this list. This will ensure, you don’t spend on items you don’t need, you also don’t buy more than you need. This will make sure your spending is controlled as well as you don’t waste food. Once you get hang of this and if you want to stretch your budget more or you are in a crunch, plan your menu based on items on sale at grocery store. That’ll save you more. If possible, shop at Aldi’s. Good quality stuff at very reasonable prices. Many times they are cheaper than Kroger/Albertsons/Stop & Shop/Giants/HEB (you get the idea).
Ok thank you!
Before you head to the store, make a plan. Figure out your meals for the week - check the sale for what's cheap and plan around that. Frozen vegetables are cheaper and better than fresh in a lot of cases. Beans, eggs, and tofu are solid cheaper protein options. Is your food card limited to a particular store? If not, check out a local ethnic store for spices, they will be cheaper and better quality. A well-stocked spice rack is a bit of an expense but it will pay off massively in terms of making food taste good for cheap.
My food card works at anywhere that accepts it! Thank you for this rly good advice :)
Protein, carbs, veggies, fruits and dairy products are a good start. You'll also want spoons, forks, knives, plates, and bowls.
How long does that amount have to last you until you have more money? If it is a month, maybe break it down and don't spend more than 1/4 of it. Make it last for a week. Also, you may want to plan your meals ahead of time so you can see what is realistic.
A month but I have personal money I can always spend on groceries if I really need to that bad.
Generally, the edges of the store has fresh food. Veggies, proteins, dairy, etc. Healthy and usually a better deal. The middle shelves have packaged food that's often junk. What saves me is a couple of recipes that I can keep on hand when I haven't planned for something. I can throw onion rice and lentils in the instant pot and have dinner for a couple bucks all in. Something like that.
Check for sales and shop at multiple stores if you can. Look for bulk meat packages that you can break down yourself.
Never shop hungry and never date horny.
Start paying attention to what your staples cost. Sign up for newsletters for deals at your local grocery stores. Assuming you eat meat, get an instant read thermometer: https://www.thermoworks.com/thermopop-2/ is good, inexpensive option. If you don’t overcook meat you’re much more likely to not waste any and it’ll be way tastier. Chicken thighs are your friend. Around here you can get them for around $1-4/lbs. They are safe at 160 degrees but cook until it’s at least 180-190.
The first shop tends to be pricey bc you have to buy staples that will last like condiments, flour, containers etc. subsequent ships will be more maintenance. Try to make a list of what you'll need for the month, and try to plan out meals for the first week. I recommend getting a big bag of rice, lentils/beans, and making a bread item once a week so you have filling meals. Get some fruit and veggies, and then buy discount meat that you can cook/freeze. I go to an Asian grocery store and it's been perfect to find various produce you normally wouldn't, and it's way more affordable than some bigger named grocery shops.
Make a list of things that you like to eat for breakfast, lunches and dinners. Then make a grocery list from that and go shopping. Buy in small quantities especially produce and perishable items. Learn to store food well so it does not spoil. Always have the following at home Milk, eggs, cheese, canned beans (any that you like), salsa or sauces of your choice, basic spices (salt, pepper, oregano, chilli flakes) rice and bread, pasta. These can help you whip up quick and easy meals when supplies are low (meats or vegetables)
$360 is plenty for a single person for meals. Write out a list with ingredients for specific meals before you go. Don’t stray from your list. Clip coupons and consider store brand or whatever is on sale to be the cheapest. I get a weeks worth of food for my husband and I for $50-60 on average.
Make note of the prices. There’s a huge fluctuation in prices between stores. Basically stores sell specific things cheap to get you in the door and mark other things up. Be prepared to shop at different stores to make your money go farther.
Don’t feel like you have to immediately fully stock your kitchen with ALL the ingredient stuffs (canned goods, tons of seasonings, 10,000 condiments, etc). As others suggest, start meal planning (budget friendly) and buying what you need for those meals. Of course, get cereal, etc; whatever you actually plan to eat. Over time, you will build up that pantry of basics, like at mom’s or grand mom’s house.
I’m going to suggest something that I was taught long ago that “kids these days” may not have been introduced to in school: unit pricing. Be aware of the cost per unit when comparing size of items to buy or items that are on sale. Normally, at a large/chain grocery store there will be a price posted on the shelf, like $2.50. However, in the lower left corner of the tag it will have something like $0.25/ounce (US bias in units, sorry). If there is a larger size container of the same product, maybe the cost is $3.00, but the unit price is $0.20/ounce. Assuming you can use all of the item in the larger package, because the cost/ounce is lower, buying the larger item will save you money in the long run. This can be very useful when buying things like cereal (small box vs family size) and comparing generic vs name brand items.