Hungry and usually dirt poor...what are good methods to survive!

United States
February 28, 2007 4:03am CST
Alright so I'm basically a poor college student. Sometimes I go out to eat at fast food places, I buy my own groceries, but try my best to save. Nevertheless, despite a job or not I got lots of bills to pay and support myself so I'm pretty poor. I am trying to think of creative methods to make my food stretch or ideas of food that is very cheap but filling. Spagetti is one thing I do a lot of. It seems to last and the noodles are like $1 for a pack. I don't really like buying cheap hotdogs, but I do on occassion. Anyone got any penny saving meals? I live alone so sometimes making bulk food is rough cause it just spoils before I finish.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@prestocaro (1252)
• United States
28 Feb 07
i'm in the same boat! a great cheap meal is red beans and rice -- buy a huge bag of rice (never spoils) and canned or dried red beans. if you buy them dried, it will be very cheap, and you can afford to buy some smoked turkey legs and some greens to do with the legs. this is a way cheap meal and can be used to feed a lot of people. another good one is doing a whole chicken -- they usually cost between 3 and 6 dollars and can feed 4 people, or make lots of leftovers for one (leftovers can be used for sandwiches, salads, etc). just rinse the thawed chicken, pat dry, rub with butter or olive oil, salt and pepper it inside and out, and cram a sliced lemon, onion, or herbs into the cavity. bake at 400 F for 10 minutes per pound plus 15 minutes for the bones. you can save the bones to make chicken stock (also a cost cutter). i also do breakfast for dinner when i'm really broke. a few eggs and some pancakes! it's super fast and pretty inexpensive. check your local grocery for turkey legs -- these are usually really cheap -- and keep an eye on what goes on sale, so you can stock up and freeze it. as someone else said, you can make big batches and then freeze them -- i do it all the time with soups or lasagne -- just wrap a casserole with foil and then place in a freezer bag, or freeze individual portions of soup in freezer bags. i know they are expensive, but look at it as an investment.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Feb 07
A whole chicken. Hmmmm never thought of doing that. XD
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
28 Feb 07
When you do cook in bulk, freeze your leftovers. Do you have a crock pot? They can be found very inexpensively, or even free if you have a freecycle in your area. Once you learn a few recipes for it,you'll love it. You probably don't have a lot of free time for cooking as a college student and a crock pot will solve that problem too. Other ideas- potatoes are very inexpensive, very filling and healthy. Bake up enough for a couple of days all at once, then for lunch or snack heat one up in the microwave. Toss some broccoli, cheese, chili, ham, sour cream, whatever you like & have on hand basically on the top of the potato to give it some variety & flavor.
• United States
28 Feb 07
i just started to do the baked potato thing, it helps a lot. freezing would be great too.
@hopefoo (1145)
• Malaysia
28 Feb 07
First of all, are you in the United States and above 18? There are a number of survey sites out there that you can join for free and they also send product surveys. You just have to qualify for it. Now I didn't believe that those products were actually real..until my friend joined and they've since sent him sodas, sauces and a ps3!!~!#@!@ Ugh
1 person likes this