But still interested in feeding yourself? What if I told you that there’s a woman with a blog who had to feed both herself and her young son…on 10 British pounds ($15/14 Euro) per week?
Let me tell you a thing.
This woman saved my life last year. Actually saved my life. I had a piggy bank full of change and that’s it. Many people in my fandom might remember that dark time as when I had to hock my writing skills in exchange for donations. I cried a lot then.
This is real talk, people: I marked down exactly what I needed to buy, totaled it, counted out that exact change, and then went to three different stores to buy what I needed so I didn’t have to dump a load of change on just one person. I was already embarrassed, but to feel people staring? Utter shame suffused me. The reasons behind that are another post all together.
AgirlcalledJack.com is run by a British woman who was on benefits for years. Things got desperate. She had to find a way to feed herself and her son using just the basics that could be found at the supermarket. But the recipes she came up with are amazing.
You have to consider the differing costs of things between countries, but if you just have three ingredients in your cupboard, this woman will tell you what to do with it. Check what you already have. Chances are you have the basics of a filling meal already.
Bake your own bread. It’s easier than you think. Here’s a list of many recipes, each using some variation of just plain flour, yeast, some oil, maybe water or lemon juice. And kneading bread is therapeutic.
She has a book, but many recipes can be found on her blog for free. She prices her recipes down to the cent, and every year she participates in a project called “Living Below the Line” where she has to live on 1 BP per day of food for five days.
Things improved for me a little, but her website is my go to. I learned how to bake bread (using my crockpot, but that was my own twist), and I have a little cart full of things that saved me back then, just in case I need them again. She gives you the tools to feed yourself, for very little money, and that’s a fabulous feeling.
Tip: Whenever you have a little extra money, buy a 10 dollar/pound/euro giftcard from your discount grocer. Stash it. That’s your super emergency money. Make sure they don’t charge by the month for lack of use, though.
I don’t care if it sounds like an advertisement–you won’t be buying anything from the site. What I DO care about is your mental, emotional, and physical health–and dammit, food’s right in the center of that.
If you don’t need this now, pass it on to someone who does. Pass it on anyway, because do you REALLY know which of the people in your life is in need? Which follower might be staring at their own piggy bank? Trust me: someone out there needs to see this.
❤
Budget bytes is a decent American version. She did a SNAP challenge recently too.
even with living in a different country, that’s a great resource to have… I just wish grocery stores here did giftcards or something like that.
Something I like to do though: whenever I have some money to spare, I put it on my debit card for use in emergencies.
Here in Germany, we don’t regularly pay with credit cards for small amounts, so I rarely touch the debit card unless it’s for online purchases that don’t accept paypal. So it’s a great way to save up some extra cash
We’ve all heard about the massive food waste Americans incur every year.
‘Sell-by’, ‘best-by’ and ‘use-by’ dates are mostly unregulated and confusing for consumers when it comes to throwing items out —a factor that contributes to $165 billion of food wasted every year.
In May, he’s launching The Daily Table, a grocery store and restaurant in Dorchester, Mass., that will offer inexpensive food considered ‘unsellable’ by regular grocery stores.
Food available will include fruits and vegetables that are expired and repurposed food that will be incorporated into hot meals. Other items for sale will be products that are fine to eat but may have damaged packaging.
!!! Finally
Awesome!
Or like cucumbers that aren’t ‘straight’ enough of tomatoes that aren’t ‘red’ enough to be sold ‘cause what would the customer have to think about that?!’.
Wonderful idea it is.
holy fuck. when i worked as a cashier i wanted to cry everytime an egg broke. they made me throw away the entire carton. it would be “theft” to take it home. that was 11 or 15 perfectly fine fucking eggs and we did NOT waste food at home. it would tear at me all goddamn day. i hope he does eggs too.
this is fucking beautiful! Tell me there’s going to be a chain of these!
we have this in Bangor, North Wales. its called the “ugly” food shop. where all the “undesirable” foods that cant be sold in supermarkets for weight or superficial reasons and other things and its amazing!!
Omg i love the ugly food shop! They do great smoothies, soup bags (contains all the ingredients for soup for 4) and all the fruit and veg is basically pay what you think it’s worth, it’s great =)
The restaurant Din Tai Fung (originally of Taiwan) has proliferated across Asia bc their xiaolongbao (pork dumplings) are the best. Eat while hot. #outeast http://ift.tt/19v0TZW
Guys! Domino’s is now offering this coupon- 50% off all pizzas when you order online! It’s not much, but if you’re always super tight on money like me and your cupboards are bare… You can get a small pizza for $3! I just ordered a large for $6 and I will have leftovers tomorrow.
It’s a great deal! Thought I’d share with you guys~
nomad-hermit 