How To Survive On $35 Per Week Food Budget

Hey Frugal Fitness Fans I have an excellent grocery store savings plan for you today! As an elite cheapskate and poor twenty-something, I knew I wanted to take the #SurviveOn35 Challenge of surviving and thriving (eating healthy) on a $35 food budget for a week. Why $35 for the weekly food budget spend limit? Because that is about equivalent to the amount of government assistance a typical impoverished individual might receive, often in the form of food stamps. This challenge sheds light on the very serious hunger, health, and poverty problems we have in the United States, other first world nations, and all over the world. 

While there are some critics of the challenge, I think they are missing the point and that it is an excellent educational opportunity benefiting some great causes such as food banks and the Cooking Matters organization. If you couldn't tell from my websites and videos, I have always been very Frugal and I am used to making the best out of minimal supplies. Sometimes this has been by choice or habit, but most of the time it has really been out of necessity just to survive in a tough world and a tough economy. I have always made it my mission to prove to others that they can in fact eat healthy even while on a very tight budget.

I have never had or made much money, and have often earned at or below the legal poverty levels for annual income. Please understand that I don't take this challenge lightly at all or consider it a publicity stunt. This is an accurate depiction of my life nearly every week of the year. I empathize greatly with others that struggle to pay basic bills and hope to help those that are even more financially distressed than myself. 

I think my purchases during this $35 weekly grocery challenge are excellent examples of foods and products containing large amounts of lean and complete protein, fiber, whole grains, antioxidants, heart healthy fats, micronutrients, and electrolytes as well as maximizing longevity, portability, and simplicity. I even made sure to hit all of the stores in one 4 mile drive so to not waste time or gas.

My approach to eating on a very small budget seems to be significantly different from most of the other participants in this program. While I am all for tons of fruits and vegetables, I also take the macronutrients and calories very seriously. Also, as a man and a natural bodybuilder / powerlifter, I  require more calories than some other participants and I am also focused on minimizing bodyfat while maintaining as much lean muscle as possible (survival comes first though). That means enough protein and healthy fat. I am usually a 165 pound man so I require more calories and protein than some of the other entrants, but everyone has different genetics, goals, time and resources for cooking, and food preferences for a $35 per week food budget.

Also, I am a minimalist when it comes to meals and recipe ingredients. I like it quick, simple, and on the go if possible. Minimal time, preparation, and cleanup, are very important when I am spending a lot of time working to try and make ends meet. So you won't find extremely complex recipes or meals here, just a lot of healthy snacks and simple staple healthy meals, designed for eating small meals around 6 times per day. And yes, like Jerry Seinfeld before me, I like cereal and breakfast foods at all times of day and therefore utilize a lot of (Kashi) cereal and oatmeal! I like versatile foods and I like snacking foods so there are plenty of those in here that fit that description along with being healthy and cost-effective for a frugal diet in 2023.

Total Week's Food Costs: $34.52

Stores Visited For Cheap Food:

Grocery Cost By Store Location

1) Target ($20.88)

2) Dollar Tree ($9)

3) Stop & Shop ($4.64)

Frugal Food Items By Store:

1) Target:

- 2x Generic Gallon Skim Milk ($6.78)

- Jif Natural Peanut Butter ($2.99)

- Kashi Crisp Toasted Berry Cereal ($2.99)

- Kashi Heart To Heart Warm Cinnamon Cereal ($2.99)

- Quaker Oats Quick 1 Min 1 lb ($2.54)

2) Dollar Tree: (everything is $1)

- Canned Turkey Breast

- Canned Chicken Breast

- Canned Tuna Light

- Green Tea 80 Bags

- 1 lb Instant Coffee

- Honey Wheat Sticks

- Sweet Potato Chips

- 5-Pack of Peanuts

- 5 oz Sunflower Seed (roasted, shelled, and salted)

3) Stop & Shop:

- Spinach Salad ($1.99)

- 3x Banana

- 2x Apple

Nutritional Strategies Utilized To Eat Healthy With Cheap Groceries

So as I mentioned earlier, I have all of these foods chosen for specific nutritional reasons in addition to their low cost to hit my $35 weekly eating budget. It also matters how you eat them and pair them up. I eat 6 times per day, spread out, never a huge amount of calories at once, and usually getting a good mix of complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and heart healthy unsaturated fats in each meal. I consume more calories in the first portion of the day when my metabolism is at its highest. A lot of the food choices that I made have relatively low GI (Glycemic Index) values which means they won't spike my blood sugar and provide long-lasting energy throughout the day. They also have a lot of protein, fiber, and heart healthy fat in them to keep me feeling satiated. These simple yet effective strategies help translate to staying full, energized, lean, and healthy!

Nutritional Value of Foods Purchased

The 2 gallons of skim milk allow me to have over 18 oz of milk per day for excellent sources of complete protein, calcium, Vitamin D, and potassium. The Kashi cereals provided plenty of high quality whole grains for complex carbs, fiber, protein, antioxidants, and pretty low amounts of sugar and fat. The spinach gave me several salads throughout the week and providing Vitamin A, fiber, and antioxidants. The cans of tuna, chicken, and turkey gave me cheap lean additional protein for my salads. The fat free cheese was also used on the salads for more lean complete protein and extra calcium and vitamin D. I even had some left over after salads and just ate it out of the bag by hand! The coffee was for some extra daily caffeine (with cinnamon and skim milk) to enhance metabolism, and so was the green tea which also added high amounts of the antioxidant ECGC twice daily. The JIF Natural Peanut Butter, sunflower seeds, and roasted peanuts provided plenty of heart-healthy unsaturated fats, fiber, micronutrients, and protein. The bananas and apples both provided antioxidants, fiber, and electrolytes. And finally, the sweet potato chips and honey wheat sticks provided some snacking options that were low in sugar and saturated fat (and also another salad topping). 

Daily Meal Example:

Because I am a man of habit and simplicity, all of my daily eating patterns were like this throughout the week of surviving and thriving on under $35 worth of food.

Breakfast:
- Coffee with Skim Milk and
- 8 oz Glass of Skim Milk
- Cup of Kashi Heart To Heart Warm Cinnamon with 1/2 Apple Slices, skim milk, & 1 bag of crushed peanuts


Snack #1:
- Handful of sunflower seeds and handful of Kashi cereal

OR 

- Scoop of natural peanut butter & banana or apple
- Handful of honey wheat sticks
- Water


Lunch:
-Green tea
-Spinach Salad w/ can of Chicken / Turkey / Tuna + Sunflower Seeds, Fat Free Cheese, & Crushed Sweet Potato Chips

OR


-Kashi Crisp Cereal with 1/2 apple or banana and skim milk


Snack #2:
-Handful of sweet potato chips

OR

-TBSP Peanut Butter with toasted oats

-Green tea


Dinner:
1.5 cups of Oatmeal with 1/2 banana and cinnamon


Snack #3:
-8 oz glass of skim milk
-1 tsp JIF Natural PB

*Lots of free tap water daily!!!! 96 oz daily spread out throughout the day

Leftovers:

So I used up a lot of things by the 7th day but I still have plenty of left over Oatmeal, Instant Coffee, and Green Tea (oh and my landlord pays the water bill... well not hot water but you know what I mean haha)! I also had a bit of fat free cheese that I just finished by hand right out of the bag, because I am classy like that! These are all super-frugal items that will last you a long time and get you plenty of bang for your buck!

Possible Improvements And Modifications

Although I love the products, I think I should have eliminated the Kraft Fat Free Cheese or JIF Peanut Butter, and 1 of the Kashi Cereals, to have freed up about $5.75 to be put towards more salad and additional fruit variety. I still had a good week of nutrition and plenty of fiber / antioxidants but in hindsight I would have made those adjustments. This would have also helped if you were watching your sodium intake or trying to eat more of a Paleo diet. And lastly, I would have utilized that extra .48 to buy another banana!

Conclusion

This past week was certainly another great experience in my Frugal Life. Although I am always on a very tight budget, this week really made me tighten my finances and lifestyle to fully empathize with those that are in even worse financial situations than myself. I didn't indulge in some of the "extras" for food products that weren't completely necessary so it certainly got me more disciplined. I walked to stores and meetings even more often than usual and tried to give back to the community what I could spare. 

I would like to reiterate that this is a very personal matter for me and really hope that it has helped to educate and inspire you to improve your nutrition, work as best you can with the budget you have, and to help the impoverished and hungry communities of the world.

Also, Please Donate your food savings to the Cooking Matters organization!

Also Thanks For Joining Me In The Frugal Groceries Twitter Chat To Help Others Eat Healthier On A Tight Budget!

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I hope you enjoyed this article about how to live healthier on a frugal budget and maximize your performance!

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Read My Posts:

- 10 Reasons Why You Aren't Seeing Muscle Gains

- Just How Natural Is Natural Bodybuilding?

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How to Penny Shop at Dollar General Stores

According to a recent study, sixty-five percent of Americans don’t know how much money they spent last month. Even though money is listed as the main source of stress for forty-four percent of people, fewer people track their spending habits than ever before. 

Of course, this could be because money is stressing them out, so instead of tracking it, they choose to ignore it. This can lead to many other problems down the line, such as missing bills or running out of money because they weren’t budgeting. 

If you’re one of those people that find budgeting gives you peace of mind, or you would like to jump on that wagon, you’re in the right place. Finding deals can get you what you need much cheaper (for a penny, perhaps?), and it can be an enjoyable experience along the way. 

Keep reading to learn the tips and tricks on how to penny shop at Dollar General and find unbelievable deals you would have never thought existed. 

What Is Penny Shopping? 

If you’re new to this world of finding amazing deals, you’re probably wondering what penny shopping even is. When products are older or out of season, they get marked in Dollar General’s system as an item that needs to be taken off the shelves. 

The way they get marked is by making them a penny in their system. So, if you were to find these products and attempt to buy them before the sale associates remove them from the shelves, your product would ring up as just $0.01! 

It’s a bit of a scavenger hunt to get started because these products are never marked as a penny for the customer to see. But, once you know the ins and outs, you’ll be able to load up on a ton of cool stuff and save a bunch of money. 

Look for the Codes 

One of the most helpful penny shopping tips is knowing the codes for how they mark discounted items. First, look at the codes underneath the barcode. They will be labeled by both the year and the season in which they were first released. 

So, you will see something like this for each item: 

• SP – Spring 

• SU – Summer 

• FA – Fall 

• WI – Winter 

• 18 – 2018 

• 19 – 2019 

• 20 – 2020 

• 21 – 2021 

If you want a product with the symbol “SU18” on it, chances are it’s going to be discounted. If the item is older, there is a higher chance it will ring up as a penny, but it is never guaranteed. 

Another sign you can look for is the colored stickers on the products. You’ll find these located on the tags, ranging from different colors and shapes such as: 

• Blue Circle 

• Pink Circle 

• Red Circle 

• Pink Star 

• Purple Diamond 

Each color and shape refers to a specific discount, ranging from 10% to 90%. Each store uses its own system, so you won't know right away which code means 90% for your particular store. Once you work it out, you can come back in a week or two and see that item will most likely ring up as a penny. 

Try a Scanner 

When learning how to penny shop, it may seem overwhelming to learn all of the codes without even being sure it actually is a penny. One tool you can use is a scanner, which you can download on your phone through the app store for both Android and iOS devices. 

There are many different types of scanners, and some are specifically made for penny shopping at Dollar General. When you scan the product’s barcode, it will ring up as it would when you purchase it, so you’ll know ahead of time if it is truly a penny product. 

Another great perk of using scanners is that you will be able to find other great bargain deals of the week besides penny shopping, and you can access different store’s deals as well. 

Check Out Penny Lists 

Since penny shopping was discovered, there have been resources created to help the avid bargain hunter on their quest to uncover the penny products. Every month or so, the list of penny products gets leaked to the general public, and some sites are in the business of updating those who are in the need to know this information. 

It doesn’t always mean the store you go to will follow these lists absolutely, but finding these deals can help you save time by looking for the particular products you already know are most likely going to be a penny. 

Final Tips and Tricks 

There are a few disclaimers you should know before you start your penny shopping journey. The most important thing to remember is that these penny deals exist for a reason. These products are old, and Dollar General intends to take them off the shelves and throw them out. 

Therefore, if you happen to find them, they aren’t obligated to sell them to you. But for the most part, it’s a win-win for both parties, as the store is getting rid of the products by selling them to you anyways, and you get it for practically free. 

It is up to the discretion of the employee working at the time, so keep it in mind, and don’t argue with them if they refuse to sell it to you for the penny price. 

Otherwise, there are some tips you should keep in mind when beginning to penny shop. Asking the employees where the penny deals are won't help you, because they won’t show you. In fact, they’ll probably try to hurry to take them off the shelves before you find them at Dollar General stores. 

Similarly, it's not wise to ask for a price check, because they’ll tell you it’s an unsellable item since they were supposed to take it off the shelves a while ago. You don't want to sabotage your frugal finds.

Instead, fill your cart up with product and go to the check out normally. Be nice to the Dollar General employees, and you’ll have a much better chance of them selling it to you for that penny price. 

How to Penny Shop at Dollar General Smarter

Now that you know how to penny shop at Dollar General, it’s time to put these tips into practice! Learn the codes, look at the lists, and keep in mind that nothing is exactly guaranteed when penny shopping at dollar stores. 

You could be the owner of some pretty cool products and only spend a few cents, which, who wouldn’t want that? If you enjoyed this article on how to do penny shopping at dollar stores and found it helpful, check out more of our frugal shopper posts today!