Explanation and Disclaimer: Last week Collin, our middle son and recent college graduate, and I wrote a blog on graduating from college almost debt free. For the next few weeks, we will be having an ongoing dialogue about his food budget. Much can be learned from his journey, and we would love to have your feedback and suggestions.
And the disclaimer. Collin is a natural researcher, saver, and able to live very simply. We are convinced he came out of the womb this way! Oh, the stories we will tell! But he does give each of us a perspective that is many times uncommon for one so young: live with what you have and within your blessings, be content and generous. If we could all live by these principles how different our world would be.

The following dialogue began two weeks ago as Collin was facing his first full month of independence. He is working for York College as a Freshman boys dorm manager as well as working part-time in the IT department. Once school begins, part of his salary will include meals at the school cafeteria, affectionately called “the Caf”.

Here begins Food Budgeting 101:

from Kristin, aka Mom:
Can you give me a list of about 10 meals or dishes you would like to prepare?

from Collin:
I can’t think of specifics. But I would like to make things that are simple, have a few ingredients, and involve ingredients that can be used a lot of different ways, like rice and pasta. Also meats are expensive so I haven’t been buying a lot of them, but what are ways to get the most out of meat, an what quality meats are usually the cheapest? And what spices are very versatile? Can you cook chicken with noodles? boil them at the same time? and what about making meatballs? I also need to know what are good prices for food items. Today is my research day. Is $.25/ear of corn good or bad?

from Kristin:
The price of corn is about average, but corn this time of year is not always good. I would wait a bit and purchase locally-grown corn. For $1, you could eat two ears and cut the corn off the other two ears and freeze to use later. What is your budget?

from Collin:
I think I can do about $50-75 per month. I mean I can easily do more if needed, but that’s my goal. (re-read the disclaimer above!)

from Kristin:
Your budget is a bit tight. But let’s see what we can do. For your meat, you can buy ground beef and get 3-4 meals for one person. Beef is at an all-time high, as is chicken and eggs because of the outbreak of avian flu outbreak on chicken farms. Pasta, rice and cheese work well for extenders. What is on sale at your grocer this week? Let’s start there. And what staples do you already have?

from Collin:
Prices looked high, and I’m not sure what is on sale. They don’t put out ads from what I can tell.
Here is my plan so far, and why I think I can make it for under $75/month.
Rules:
-Eat when I am hungry
-If I am still hungry after a meal or snack, I will wait 30 min, then have a snack.
-Throw nothing away by eating old stuff before making new stuff.
-Eating out comes out of personal spending, not food budget.

Breakfast:
– I usually only have a bowl oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins, and then a cup of coffee. When I don’t have that I have a bowl of cereal. A big container of off-brand oatmeal (48oz) only costs $2.50, and will last me about a month. I spend about $5/month on cereal, so for around $8 my breakfast is covered.

Lunch:
-I only have an hour to eat, so I usually make PBJ, or eat leftovers. Usually paired with a carrot or banana, and sweet tea that I make or left over coffee. One large jar of peanut butter and a large jar of jelly will last me a month; I buy one loaf of bread a week for toast, sandwiches and side bread.

Dinner:
-I have been making rice with corn and black beans, then add the Sweet Heat Hot Sauce to it and use normal bread or tortillas. It’s pretty good, with 1 cup of rice and a can of each getting me about 4 bowls with two pieces of bread or a tortilla.
-I make pasta with sauce. I get 4lbs of noodles for a little under $5, and a big jar of sauce for around $6. I just got Italian seasoning to make it a little tastier, but it fills be up pretty quick.
-These I eat with a carrot or banana, whatever I didn’t eat for lunch. I usually drink milk or tea or water.

Snacks:
-I usually have a bowl of cereal, Ramen, or popcorn.
-The ramen noodles are also something I can offer to other people, because it’s so dang cheap.
-The ramen and popcorn come to around $0.07 per bowl/bag when I buy it in bulk at Walmart, spending $8 between the two for 24 items of each.

I just added eggs and a bag of frozen chicken to my list so I can add those to what I make, probably chicken with noodles or rice, and eggs and noodles and the Sweet Heat.

I buy food every week, splitting it up. Weekly things like milk and bread are bought every week; corn, beans, chicken, eggs are bought every two weeks; and everything else is bought for the month, like oatmeal, pasta, rice, popcorn.

I will let you know at the end of the month what this all adds up to, and if I go over. You can suggest other meal options that will give me some more variety. But I plan on doing it like my budget, and know everything I am going to buy and use before the start of the month.

from Kristin:
These are good rules and something we could all benefit from.

What you have discovered is inexpensive protein sources as well as that pasta and rice can fill you up. You may discover, though, that the feeling of fullness can be short-lived. Protein and some fat can offer longer lasting satiety. Consider adding a glass of milk.

Also, as I quickly review, it appears you are getting a variety from all food groups, fruit, vegetable, protein, and dairy.

Here are a few suggestions to add a variety, and continue to keep in your tight budget:
When you shop, first walk through the produce isle and check what might be on sale. You can add celery to your options; it is a great snack, especially with protein.
Frozen chicken (skinless, boneless) like I usually purchase is more convenient, but with convenience comes cost. Buying chicken thighs is a great option, providing a moist meat at a cheaper cost per pound. Be careful, though with off-brands, you end up paying for fat and skin, and not meat.
To change up a bit, you could make a simple chicken Parmesan. Cook your chicken or use your George Forman® grill. Place in oven with a slice of mozzarella cheese. When the cheese is slightly melted, serve with your spaghetti sauce.
Your breakfasts are healthy! Would you like some protein? Add an egg or peanut butter toast to your meal with a glass of milk.
If the over-ripe bananas are on sale, you can use those for your oatmeal, mix with peanut butter, or smash and freeze for a smoothie. Since you don’t have a blender, smash the bananas with a fork, freeze, then mix the equivalent of one banana per cup of milk.
When cooking chicken, cook extra to make a chicken salad. Mix with chopped apple, sliced celery, and a few leaves of lettuce or spinach.
For your spaghetti sauce, add some fresh garlic. No need for a garlic press, simply chop finely.
I think that is enough for this week. Let me know how this week goes, and ask more questions.

p.s. For spices, if you like more Italian, I would go for oregano and garlic. Cinnamon is also very versatile

from Collin:
Okay awesome. Those will help. I also do have a blender, a big one and a small personal one.

Spices were on sale today, so I got Italian and oregano.

 

Next week we will continue this dialogue discussing more variety and checking the small food budget.

Leave your comments and questions below.