When Your Food Budget Is Critical

by Gary Foreman

Low on dough? How can you get through the next month without starving your family? Take these steps when your food budget is critical.

Dear Gary,
My problem is beyond frugal. Some months, I only have about $150 to feed my family of three. And I’m not a great cook. What do you do when your food budget is critical? Can you help me get through the lean months without starving my family?
Jana

When the Food Budget Is Critical: Shopping and Cooking Tips

Your problem may be beyond normal frugal living standards, but it’s not unsolvable. And many common frugal shopping tips can help you keep your family from starving this month. Let’s examine a few.

Know What You Have on Hand

Begin by checking your existing inventory. You may not have a lot of food in the house, but you’ll want to use everything you have. It can help you avoid trips to the grocery store when the budget is exceptionally tight.

Learn Ways To Prepare the Foods in Your Pantry

If you’re unsure how to use some of the things on your pantry shelf, check out recipe sites. Many will allow you to enter ingredients and they’ll return a list of recipes that use them.

Don’t worry about not being an excellent chef. Recipe sites have articles and videos covering any cooking skill you’ll need.

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Master Meal Planning

One big key to your success is meal planning. You’ll want to select recipes that allow you to use whatever inventory you have and don’t require you to buy expensive ingredients. Stick to simple recipes. (See Mastering Meal Planning: Time and Money-Saving Tips for Beginners.)

Stay Away From Processed Foods

When you do go to the grocery store, stay away from processed foods. Whole potatoes are cheaper than instant mashed ones. The closer foods are to their natural state, the cheaper they will be. (See: How Potatoes Can Reduce Grocery Bills.)

Stick to the Basics

Basic food is relatively inexpensive, especially beans and starches. A five-pound bag of rice can be the basis for many meals for pennies. Sticking to the basics will stretch your food dollar.

Go Meatless

Expect to have some meatless meals. Look for markdowns when you do buy meat. And only buy cuts of meat that you can spread across multiple meals.

Buy Dry Beans

Use beans to provide protein for your meals. Dry beans are inexpensive and not that hard to cook. Check the internet for “how to” videos.

Choose In-Season Veggies

Take advantage of in-season vegetables. They provide good nutrition. Often, they’re flavorful. And, if they’re locally grown, they can be found very cheaply. (See Finding Frugal Fresh Fruits and Veggies.)

Make Soups and Salads

Blend in some soup or salad meals. A head of lettuce, along with a tomato and a bit of salad dressing, makes an acceptable meal when paired with an inexpensive soup.

Waste Nothing

Make sure that nothing you buy goes to waste. Whether it’s the last few pieces of meat or half of a potato, make sure you use it before it spoils. (See 5 Ways To Eliminate Food Waste That’s Wasting Your Money.)

Find Additional Food Sources

Next, consider other sources of food besides the grocery store. Many are need-based, so you’ll have to admit that you want help. There’s no shame in that. Almost all of us have struggled at one time or another.

Food Pantries

Find out about local food pantries. Most contain a variety of staples. If you don’t know of any in your community, check with a local church. They should be able to provide contact information.

Government Assistance

Depending on your income level, government assistance might be available. SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) is meant to help families who need help with groceries. You’ll find more information on their webpage.

Your Child’s School

Contact your children’s school. You’ll find lunch assistance programs available. An added bonus is that most school lunches are well-balanced, which should make your job easier.

Will Work for Food

It’s also possible that you might be able to work for some food. That might sound strange, but it can’t hurt to ask at local fruit/veggie stands and farms. Also, ask them what they do with produce that’s overripe and can’t be sold.

A Critical Food Budget Is Challenging But Not Impossible

When the food budget is critical, you face a tough but not impossible challenge. For the next month, your menu options may be limited, but your family need not go hungry. As a bonus, you’ll pick up some frugal living skills that can continue to save you money every month.

Reviewed February 2024

About the Author

Gary Foreman is the former owner and editor of The Dollar Stretcher. He's the author of How to Conquer Debt No Matter How Much You Have and has been featured in MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, The Nightly Business Report, US News Money, Credit.com and CreditCards.com.