How to eat for $ 1 Dollar a Day

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

An inner THRIFTY voice
Hard Work to set up your SYSTEM
Desire to meet my challenge

Step 1

EAT FOR A DOLLAR A DAY? Yeah Right!

Was that your fist reaction? It IS difficult NOW in the 21st CENTURY, but NOT Impossible.
Not only will I TEACH you how to eat for a DOLLAR a day, But how to eat HEALTHY!
By the way....this system works best with MORE than 1 person!
I will teach you how to eat for a DOLLAR per Person, Per day!
I live in the City limits on a standard City lot. We have a small 4x8 garden and 2 hens. I feed a family of 4 and we are pretty typical overall.
Follow along.

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Step 2

First, rethink your eating strategy.
What does your body REALLY need? Follow the food pyramid. The biggest part of the food pyramid is BEANS, GRAINS, RICE, ETC.
Lesson #1 BUY BULK. Shop around and find the highest quality for the lowest price. I shop at Co-op's and Discount stores. Just watch for cleanliness.
I can find whole grain rice for less than $1.00 a pound. Brown rice is always better than White, enriched, processed rice. I can also get Otmeal for around 29 cents a pound.
Beans, Grains, Barley, Cous Cous and other dry goods are my STAPLES.
I stock up on Oatmeal, Farina, Flour, rice, grains, beans, split peas, some pasta and other dry goods once a month.
Anything dry, that will last for a long time and can be stored is a staple.
This will be the base of your meals.
Spices, Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, Honey.... can all be cheaper in the bulk section.
BREAD? Bake your own... OR: Go to the bakery outlet for BREAD 3 loaves for a DOLLAR!

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Step 3

But man cannot live on Dry goods alone! Leafy green vegetables and other fresh produce is a MUST for a healthy diet. But PRODUCE is so expensive!
Not always.
Think outside of the box. Or the can.
GROW a GARDEN!!!! Seeds are not expensive. An entire garden in 10 $2.00 packets. Most packets have 20+ seeds, enough to split the cost with friends right? After Fall Harvest, invest in canning equipment a little at a time, over the years it all adds up. Also most things freeze after YOU process them (sauce, juice, etc.)
"But I don't have space for a garden/ can't grow anything/live in an apartment/etc". Don't worry, it's EASY! Small rectangle window boxes can grow all sorts of veggies. A wooden trellis with pots lined up in front of it can grow beans, peas cucumbers, etc. NO Balcony? Do you have a window with sunlight? Grow HERBS in small pots!
Another alternative: Community Co-Op gardens. Join for small $$ and join in the harvest.
Also, BARTER. If an elderly person has a garden space and/ or room for one, offer to trade. Run errands, do light housework or just keep them company.
Finally, if you MUST buy your produce... BE Smart! Shop at farmers markets, buy at the end of the day, before they throw stuff out. Also, roadside stands and co-ops.
Find friends with fruit trees, berry bushes, etc. Ask if you can pick fruit that would otherwise rot and go to waste. Bake them a pie to say thanks!

And as a last resort, buy frozen fruits and vegetables in the off season. Again, buy in bulk if you can. Learn how to calculate cost per ounce (some grocers do it for you).

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Step 4

Finally, Animal products. If you are Vegan, skip this step. TVP and Tofu are available in bulk as are other supplements (although often difficult to find).
Otherwise, read along.
Food that comes from Animals: Milk, Cheese, Eggs, Beef, Pork, Poultry. THESE are the most expensive items to buy. Period.
There are ways around it, but consider this: Most animal products are not that great for your body if you eat a LOT. Bacon, Eggs and Sausage, RIGHT? Red Meat, Cheese, Milk, etc, etc.
I eat animal products, but in moderation. Just like the food pyramid.
How to cut costs? Easy.
Get Chickens. Eggs can be expensive! Especially, large, fresh, brown ORGANIC eggs! Chickens eat cracked corn and some supplements, but are pretty cheap to keep. Eggs are great for baking, eating and they are GREAT for trading! Barter. Fresh Organic BROWN eggs can sell for $3.00-$4.00 a DOZEN. 2 healthy hens can produce 2 dozen a week!
Can't have chickens? Check local zoning, MOST areas allow 1-2 birds, but NO ROOSTER!
Still can't have chickens? That's okay, trade with someone who DOES! Or, buy 1 dozen a month! Enough for one person and WELL within the $1 a day budget. If you bake a lot or feed LOTS of Mouths...buy in BULK. 5 dozen eggs for around $6.00 at warehouse stores, etc.
Milk, talk to the dairy manager... sometimes they will sell for $1 a gallon if it expires in a day or 2. Usually, they need the label. Also buy milk at gas stations and drug stores ON SALE. Often they sell for $1.99 or so. Milk that will expire soon is good for at least 4-5 days. You can make sour milk into YOGURT easily. Butter, watch for sales and use in moderation.
MEAT. Yes, meat is expensive. By FAR the MOST expensive item we eat. You could quit eating meat.
If that's NOT an option, conserve. I buy a tube of ground TURKEY (5 pounds I think), for around $8.00. It lasts us about a month. It's leaner than Beef and a good substitute for EVERYTHING that uses ground beef EXCEPT in my case, HAMBURGERS.

As For BEEF, Chicken and Pork.... there is NOTHING cheaper than going in on a WHOLE animal from a butcher with other friends and family, is there? Maybe. It depends on how many people you are feeding.
For one person, shop around the butcher for meat that is going to be thrown out or FROZEN soon (They usually only sell FRESH). MY Butcher sells FROZEN meat for 50% off. It's as fresh as what the grocery store sells.

FISH... Know any fisherman? Like to fish? Crab? FREEZE IT!

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Step 5

SO..... EAT FOR A DOLLAR A DAY?

Breakfast: Oatmeal with dried cranberries, raisins, a dash of cinnamon.
(Or an egg w/toast, Farina or a grapefruit, etc) Breakfast for 25 cents! (pound of Oatmeal 29 cents, raisins in bulk, or eggs from your chickens).

Lunch: A sandwich- Peanut butter, meat, a pita with sprouts, etc.
(Or last nights dinner leftovers). another 25-50 cents. (2 slices of 3 for $1.00 bread or pita)

Dinner: Stuffed peppers, stuffed Cucumbers, red sauce from fresh tomatoes, Baked Chicken breast, or something pre cooked and frozen, thawed and heated, etc. Dinner is never more than a couple bucks total.

Be creative. A BIG pot of split pea soup.... less than $2.00 to make. It freezes just fine! That could be 15-20 servings!

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Step 6

ALSO,
Shop at Restaurant suppliers, warehouse stores, etc. BUT.... BE THRIFTY!

NEED MORE EXAMPLES?

1 GALLON metal tin of Olive oil from Restaurant store (cash & carry) $16.00....lasts MANY MONTHS.

15 pound sack of FLOUR from same store: $7.00

BULK spices from any store: Golf ball sized bag of basil, It. seasoning, black pepper, Sea Salt, Curry, Oregano, Dill, Cayenne, Cumin, Thyme, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Garlic, etc.... ranges from 10 cents to $1.00 each!!!!!!!!

15 lb sack of potatoes: I pay around $3.00 or less.

HUGE (8 qt) pot of chili... beans, seasoning, ground turkey, tomatoes from the garden, peppers from the garden, dry beans, dark beer, onion, etc.... COST: $5.00 Freeze leftovers in 1 quart containers.
HUGE (8qt) pot of red sauce... Tomatoes from the garden, peppers, onions, seasoning, etc. Approx. $1-2.00 Again, freeze 1 quart containers for future dinners.
Split Pea soup. Split peas, Sweet potato, Carrots, etc. Cost: $2.00 a pot.

Regular dinners revolve around a regular menu of diverse recipes: Falafels, Stuffed peppers, Stir fry, Rice/ Cous Cous/ Pasta/ side with some meat or veggies or sauce. Shepherds Pie, stuffed chicken breast, Baked fish, etc, etc, etc.
I NEVER spend more than $5.00 to make a dish. It often doubles as lunch the next day (example: left over chicken breast is cubed cold and topped on SALAD from the garden for lunch the next day).
If you average the expense: $2.00 for red sauce that lasts 8+ dinners, Meat in small amounts and dry goods spread out over an average of 90 meals a month..... It REALLY does come down to $1.00 per person per day.
That means that YES... I spend $120.00 or LESS a MONTH on food for my family of 4!
I CHALLENGE YOU to do it!

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Comments

danahn17 said

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on 9/1/2009 great tips! thanks! :)

AnneZ said

on 9/1/2009 Inspiring! I'm going to try many of your suggestions on saving money while feeding a family! 5*S

on 9/1/2009 Thank you for this!!! I appreciate your secrets and sharing with all of us...I have become frugal!!!
I like it too!!! Recommended you also! and reated 5 stars+! Check out my articles, I think you will enjoy them, I like to make things myself.