I want to mention this tea. Not only is it a fantastic value when it comes to soft drinks, I think the big crates of it are even cheaper. Though, you must remember that the absolute most cheap beverage is water. It's free, every part of the world (usually) has it, though it can be boring.
Can't afford arizona iced tea in the can, but still want tea? Well, tea bags can be had for pretty cheap. I think most teas are maybe around $3 for a box. Sometimes they don't even need the water to be hot in order to brew, but if they do, you can also chill the tea out in the fridge or freezer and plop in a few ice cubes. No sugar? Honey helps to sweeten it too. A popular tea type is green tea, which is most commonly seen both hot and cold. There is something oddly soothing about a good green tea.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
College Diets 101
General Strategies!
Times have gotten pretty tough, haven't they? Despite that, I find that there are many ways to really stretch out what a few dollars can do to feed you.
First off, the most important thing that I can think of is to identify what grocery stores have memberships. Generally these are free, offer a wide variety of discounts and coupons which a lot of people simply pass over since it requires time and effort. Coupon clippers save a lot of money over the long term, and when money is tight you are more likely thinking about the long term in what you can save. So, coupons and discounts can take time to acquire and sort through, but are they worth it? Absolutely.
When it comes to the grocery stores, consider how frequently you visit them. A lot of fresh produce does not last very long, so it might be time to buy frozen produce instead. It may not taste as fresh, but it lasts longer in the freezer, and one important thing to try to prevent is too many frequent trips to the grocery store. Driving your car there a few times a week wastes gas. Common sense, really.
I recommend these books to help guide you, they've proven to be well worth every dime, and the savings have been enormous.
Living On A Dime - Financial Independence Through Better Life Choices.
How To Organize And Get The Most Out Of Grocery Coupons.
What to buy?
Rice. Staple food in many places of the world, though not eaten as frequently here as it is elsewhere. Often times we replace it with pasta, which is also a very cheap food item. Rice takes the cake, it is versatile as it can accompany practically anything imaginable and even eaten alone it is far from unbearable. It is also very, very cheap. Sales on rice are not something to miss out on. It's a source of carbs, and it's something we need for energy.
Canned beans, chili, and vegetables are awesome sources of nutrition. Some canned chili may be high in fat, but when feeding yourself cheaply is the main concern, such things can be temporary lifesavers. Canned beans can be either eaten straight from the can, cooked up with rice or added to soups to provide extra protein. Beans are generally cheap, either purchased dry in a bag or in cans for around a dollar. It is a terrific value, and may be enough for up to two meals.
Peanut butter and jelly. Cheap bread, cheap store-brand peanut butter and a thing of jelly can probably sustain you forever. A tablespoon of peanut butter has a very high concentration of protein and calories, which is essential. I find that after eating them throughout elementary school I've grown to be a bit tired of them, though the end result is quite fulfilling.
Tuna fish. Enormous source of protein. for less than a dollar you can get a good source of protein, good source of other nutrients from the fish, and around 250-300 calories from a can. Mix it with some mayo for more deliciousness on bread. It may not be the most romantic meal but it will keep you happy. Add in some celery (another cheap produce item, less than 2 bucks for a bundle of stalks) to get some greens in it. Or lettuce, whatever it takes. A filling meal for only a few dollars at most.
Chicken. If you really need meat in your diet, chicken is unmatched. The best thing to do is to shop around, compare weights versus prices -- the best ratio wins. Though an entire chicken can be had for only a few dollars, and to bake it up is not terribly difficult, though time consuming. Stuff in a lemon and perhaps cook up with celery, carrots and a pot of rice and you'll have a nutritious and relatively healthy meal all around.
Chinese dumplings. I've noticed that at oriental supermarkets the frozen sections are teeming with fairly cheap bags of frozen dumplings, premade. For around $8-$10 you can buy a bag big enough for around 4 meals (depending on how much you eat, I am usually full after about 8 or 9). They are simple enough to make:
1) boil a pan, about 2 inches of water
2) once boiling dump in the frozen dumplings, stir around occasionally
3) when it begins to boil again, dump in a bit of water to cool it off again. try not to let them boil too long
4) when they are floating to the surface and more opaque (around 15 minutes after you first put them in) they should be done. you should have boiled them around 4-5 times in this period.
5) strain and enjoy!
I hope these tips help!
Times have gotten pretty tough, haven't they? Despite that, I find that there are many ways to really stretch out what a few dollars can do to feed you.
First off, the most important thing that I can think of is to identify what grocery stores have memberships. Generally these are free, offer a wide variety of discounts and coupons which a lot of people simply pass over since it requires time and effort. Coupon clippers save a lot of money over the long term, and when money is tight you are more likely thinking about the long term in what you can save. So, coupons and discounts can take time to acquire and sort through, but are they worth it? Absolutely.
When it comes to the grocery stores, consider how frequently you visit them. A lot of fresh produce does not last very long, so it might be time to buy frozen produce instead. It may not taste as fresh, but it lasts longer in the freezer, and one important thing to try to prevent is too many frequent trips to the grocery store. Driving your car there a few times a week wastes gas. Common sense, really.
I recommend these books to help guide you, they've proven to be well worth every dime, and the savings have been enormous.
Living On A Dime - Financial Independence Through Better Life Choices.
How To Organize And Get The Most Out Of Grocery Coupons.
What to buy?
Rice. Staple food in many places of the world, though not eaten as frequently here as it is elsewhere. Often times we replace it with pasta, which is also a very cheap food item. Rice takes the cake, it is versatile as it can accompany practically anything imaginable and even eaten alone it is far from unbearable. It is also very, very cheap. Sales on rice are not something to miss out on. It's a source of carbs, and it's something we need for energy.
Canned beans, chili, and vegetables are awesome sources of nutrition. Some canned chili may be high in fat, but when feeding yourself cheaply is the main concern, such things can be temporary lifesavers. Canned beans can be either eaten straight from the can, cooked up with rice or added to soups to provide extra protein. Beans are generally cheap, either purchased dry in a bag or in cans for around a dollar. It is a terrific value, and may be enough for up to two meals.
Peanut butter and jelly. Cheap bread, cheap store-brand peanut butter and a thing of jelly can probably sustain you forever. A tablespoon of peanut butter has a very high concentration of protein and calories, which is essential. I find that after eating them throughout elementary school I've grown to be a bit tired of them, though the end result is quite fulfilling.
Tuna fish. Enormous source of protein. for less than a dollar you can get a good source of protein, good source of other nutrients from the fish, and around 250-300 calories from a can. Mix it with some mayo for more deliciousness on bread. It may not be the most romantic meal but it will keep you happy. Add in some celery (another cheap produce item, less than 2 bucks for a bundle of stalks) to get some greens in it. Or lettuce, whatever it takes. A filling meal for only a few dollars at most.
Chicken. If you really need meat in your diet, chicken is unmatched. The best thing to do is to shop around, compare weights versus prices -- the best ratio wins. Though an entire chicken can be had for only a few dollars, and to bake it up is not terribly difficult, though time consuming. Stuff in a lemon and perhaps cook up with celery, carrots and a pot of rice and you'll have a nutritious and relatively healthy meal all around.
Chinese dumplings. I've noticed that at oriental supermarkets the frozen sections are teeming with fairly cheap bags of frozen dumplings, premade. For around $8-$10 you can buy a bag big enough for around 4 meals (depending on how much you eat, I am usually full after about 8 or 9). They are simple enough to make:
1) boil a pan, about 2 inches of water
2) once boiling dump in the frozen dumplings, stir around occasionally
3) when it begins to boil again, dump in a bit of water to cool it off again. try not to let them boil too long
4) when they are floating to the surface and more opaque (around 15 minutes after you first put them in) they should be done. you should have boiled them around 4-5 times in this period.
5) strain and enjoy!
I hope these tips help!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
