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twisterinAZ
04-30-2008, 05:43 PM
Today is supposed to be the first day of my master cleanse. I'm hungry.

CherryBomb954
06-17-2008, 12:29 AM
But I've never been honestly and truly broke. My family would help me out before it ever got that bad.

Lucky girl....actually lucky all of you who have families like this. My father has all the money in the world and STILL won't send me a few bucks....even though I told him we couldn't afford groceries for another week.
I've never asked my father for a dime, ever. Now I really need it. All I want is $100 bucks for food and gas and I can't even get that.
Anyway...before I get too pissed off.....

I am "too broke to eat" right now and am so upset. I know this thread is a few months old, but I'm glad I found it. I actually got here through a search called "cheap food"
We are totally, completely tapped except for a big thing of change we are gonna take to Coin-Star tomorrow to cash in.
From the looks of it, it's probably around 30 or 40 bucks, maybe....
We have to get gas, so that's gonna be about 20 bucks, which will leave about 20 left.....again....maybe

We somehow have to feed ourselves and probably fill up on gas a little more with $20 until my husband gets paid next week.

Our roommates have food but they are barely making it by as well, so we don't want to mooch off them and cause any tension or problems in the house.

We ate the last if what food was ours today (2 bagels and cream cheese, and a couple handfuls of Wheat-Thins)
My tummy is growling

I am praying to the Coin-Star gods that there is at least 20 or 30 bucks worth in that container.
We even removed the seats in the car tonight to get all the change out from under them!!!!!! A bunch of quarters so that's good.
I really hope it pans out, if not, I really, seriously have no fucking clue how we are gonna eat for a whole week.
I am pretty scared.

ScarletPhoenix
06-17-2008, 04:35 AM
Am I the only lost soul who dumpster dives? I know it's seriously way way way WAY less than glamorous, but it's like, free, dude. I had literally NO money for food before I started stripping. Nothing. NOT A RED CENT. I had a job, but no health insurance, so all my free money after rent/utilities went to my psych meds. If I don't take my meds, I go off the deep end in a dribbling, screaming, maniac sort of way. I refuse to live like that ever again. Soooo, I lived off of stolen goods, strategic dating, turning the occasional trick, and dumpster diving.

Check out freegan.info for tutorials on good dumpster diving techniques and practices.

My parents never helped me either. I'm the total black sheep (and product of my mother having an affair) out of four kids. The oldest, too, to boot. They tell me that I was their starter child, and at least they have three more, even to this day. I make more money than Dad now.

Lena
06-17-2008, 05:11 AM
I'm eating dumpster dived food right now.

phillyvixen
06-17-2008, 05:50 AM
Lucky girl....actually lucky all of you who have families like this. My father has all the money in the world and STILL won't send me a few bucks....even though I told him we couldn't afford groceries for another week.
I've never asked my father for a dime, ever. Now I really need it. All I want is $100 bucks for food and gas and I can't even get that.
Anyway...before I get too pissed off.....

I am "too broke to eat" right now and am so upset. I know this thread is a few months old, but I'm glad I found it. I actually got here through a search called "cheap food"
We are totally, completely tapped except for a big thing of change we are gonna take to Coin-Star tomorrow to cash in.
From the looks of it, it's probably around 30 or 40 bucks, maybe....
We have to get gas, so that's gonna be about 20 bucks, which will leave about 20 left.....again....maybe

We somehow have to feed ourselves and probably fill up on gas a little more with $20 until my husband gets paid next week.

Our roommates have food but they are barely making it by as well, so we don't want to mooch off them and cause any tension or problems in the house.

We ate the last if what food was ours today (2 bagels and cream cheese, and a couple handfuls of Wheat-Thins)
My tummy is growling

I am praying to the Coin-Star gods that there is at least 20 or 30 bucks worth in that container.
We even removed the seats in the car tonight to get all the change out from under them!!!!!! A bunch of quarters so that's good.
I really hope it pans out, if not, I really, seriously have no fucking clue how we are gonna eat for a whole week.
I am pretty scared.

Can you go to a food bank?

MissDewdrop
06-17-2008, 07:50 AM
Cherrybomb: I ran into a similar situation earlier this year. I found that buying some rice, canned beans, eggs (1 carton if expensive), as well as an on-sale fruit and veggies make a somewhat-healthy diet that fills you up and provides some basic nutrients and protein via the beans. Remaining money can be used for a stock of ramen or other really cheap stuff to mix with the better meals. Cheap peanutbutter is also good for protein and fat sources. I hope things improve soon. The food bank idea that phillyvixen mentioned is possibly. It can't hurt to look around and ask. Many places also have soup kitchens where one can get a meal in an emergency.

**kImBerLee**
06-17-2008, 09:10 AM
yes, i've been too broke to eat and too broke to leave my house! this past winter, my boyfriend and I were so broke we had to make up things to eat and couldn't leave my house! it was awful, but the rough times are what make us stronger!

Yekhefah
06-17-2008, 09:20 AM
If there's a food co-op or somewhere that sells food in bulk, go there. Take a big empty container and buy brown rice and dried beans. Takes about an hour to cook rice and beans, and you have to pre-soak the beans the night before, but it will keep you full and fairly healthy for quite awhile, especially if you can round it out with a veggie or a piece of fruit now and then. You can get a week's worth of brown rice and beans for under $5.

Arizona_Angel
06-17-2008, 09:33 AM
Ugh. Been there - it sucks.

Me and my stbX-husband rolled into Albequerque on fumes with 38 cents to our names at 9AM. I went to a club to beg for work at 7PM and thank the goddess they let me. We got double cheeseburgers off the dollar menu after the club closed. For the next few months it was up and down like that.

Never want to be there again!

Julie.t
06-17-2008, 09:40 AM
I saw a kid from Brazil get scurvy from only eating ramen, so I tried to diversify when I first moved to L.A. I would eat watered-down condensed soup, or the soup mix that you pre soak and add bouillon to... or a head of lettuce from the market, or veggies that they need to get rid of... even at the grocery store sometimes they'll discount "overripe" stock.

Strategic dating? Does anyone else call it 'dating for leftovers'? I guess that is a bit harsh to call it that...

Oh, and condiment soup! Ask for a bowl of hot water, and use the condiments at the restaurant... sometimes they'll even give you crackers... my friend used to swear by this, and sometimes the waiters would find it so sad they'd buy her food...

One night the manager at the club bought pizza and a few of us ladies thought we were going to pass out.... it was 3ft in diameter, and we had so much we were taking leftovers home. :D

CherryBomb954
06-17-2008, 11:35 PM
My parents never helped me either. I'm the total black sheep....

I somehow am also the "black sheep" I've done nothing wrong. I never got in trouble, did drugs, did anything bad at all. I just got disowned for being myself and marrying for love, not money. God forbid you marry for love in my family....
My father always told me "Marry for money. Love can wait"
Bad, bad advice.
According to my father, everything going on right now is my fault cause I didn't do exactly what he told me to do. I'm starving and all I get is an "I told you so"


Can you go to a food bank?

I have no idea. I guess I'll look into it.


yes, i've been too broke to eat and too broke to leave my house! this past winter, my boyfriend and I were so broke we had to make up things to eat and couldn't leave my house! it was awful, but the rough times are what make us stronger!

I swear, this is the worst thing sometimes. I don;t get to leave the house for a week straight usually. I'm goin' a little crazy. I mean, don't get me wrong, I am thankful to have a roof over my head and all, but....
Cabin fever is setting in and it's ugly.
I can't even go for a walk or run cause it's 108 fucking degrees here in AZ.

winterrose
06-18-2008, 08:08 AM
the last time i was too broke to afford food i was 8 months pregnant with my second child.
My godparents came over one day while I was at work and stocked my fridge, freezer and cabinents with food for at least 3 months. i didn't know who had done it for about 2 years.
They are the greatest people you will ever meet. I thank God for them everyday.

Starfire
06-18-2008, 09:08 AM
The closest I ever came was one semester I paid my tuition, bought books, paid my bills and had literally 0 dollars left over and no groceries. BUt I was dancing at the time, so I went to work that night and made enough to replenish my pantry (plus some).

Do you guys have shoppers near you? They do a lot of 10 for 10 sales, where you don't have to buy 10, but the price of whatever will be a dollar. They do it on stuff like rice and pasta sauce a lot.
Maybe look on the internet for some coupons too so you can stretch what little food budget you do have.

AzAzn
06-18-2008, 09:38 AM
When I was a kid we were really broke. My mother could use food stamps, but became to proud to use them. She just worked her ass off to support three kids. I remember eating TONS of bread with that Swansons chicken a la king poured on it.

hardkandee
06-18-2008, 11:33 AM
You should be able to qualify for the Community Food Bank. On Tuesdays and Saturdays they do a farmer's market down there too, so you can get fresh foods cheap also.

OmgShesWild
06-18-2008, 04:56 PM
I saw a post on SW about this site http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ maybe you can check it out.

RebeccaSolidarity
06-18-2008, 05:00 PM
Am I the only lost soul who dumpster dives? I know it's seriously way way way WAY less than glamorous, but it's like, free, dude.

Dumpster diving pretty much kicks ass.

Flick6
06-18-2008, 08:19 PM
[quote=ScarletPhoenix;1587809]Am I the only lost soul who dumpster dives? I know it's seriously way way way WAY less than glamorous, but it's like, free, dude. /quote]

I know!! I was scanning waiting for someone else who had done this.

When i was in europe with no money and no plan ticket home, a bunch of us would ride our bikes to the market at closing time and would often be given a crap load of left over fruit and veg. Then we would scoot round to the supermarkets and get our luxaries. Hehe Supermarkets throwq out everything!! I ate better then than I do these days, sometimes. Of course it does help to be a vegetarian or vegan, because I dont think its super smart to eat meat or diary from the bins. We call it "skipping" in australia. It sounds so friendly and fun I think :)

Now I am still so tight with money (except when I blow it on silly frivolous things like boots) my boy gets mad at me for not doing big shops at the supermarket. It's hard to sped money on things that I used to get for free.

Also when I was young and desperate and the bins were all locked or I was dying for coffee I would shoplift from the big commercial supermarkets. I figured they could afford to lose it. :-\

Blade
06-19-2008, 12:08 AM
been there done that and it blows when ya have to look at your kids and know that they are hungry.

VegasPrincess
06-19-2008, 12:16 AM
Okay, i hate to say this, but it does work...

If you're that broke you're starving and you live close to a fast food place, go in in the middle of their rush hour. Say,"

G**dammit! I just went through the drive through and my order of chicken nuggets (or whatever) wasn't in the bag! My kids are bitchin and moaning I have to send them off to daycare in a minute! HURRY UP!

I wouldn't normally advocate being rude with people but if it's an emergecny it's an emergency. And this does work. (not that I know from personal experience or anything...wink wink)

thechaosfairy
06-19-2008, 02:00 AM
If there's a food co-op or somewhere that sells food in bulk, go there. Take a big empty container and buy brown rice and dried beans. Takes about an hour to cook rice and beans, and you have to pre-soak the beans the night before, but it will keep you full and fairly healthy for quite awhile, especially if you can round it out with a veggie or a piece of fruit now and then. You can get a week's worth of brown rice and beans for under $5.

An Asian grocery has these essentials for cheap as well. :-)

Yekhefah
06-19-2008, 05:33 AM
Yes, and so do those little Mexican markets! You can get five-pound cans of stuff for cheap there too.

CKXXX
06-19-2008, 11:15 AM
Yes, and so do those little Mexican markets! You can get five-pound cans of stuff for cheap there too.

hubby was just talking about this last night..a woman he works with is a single mother on a VERY tight budget and she goes to some Spanish farm market(I dont know where it is) and gets HUGE bags of rice and beans..like 5 pounds for $2. She cooks it all up and freezes it and it lasts for weeks.

CherryBomb954
06-19-2008, 03:23 PM
Well, we ended up getting a little over $50 bucks from the change jar, then, we found $12 in a pants pocket! Don't you love finding cash in a pair of pants, or a jacket or something that you haven't worn in a while??? It's like a little reward.

We grabbed Top Ramen, Mac n Chz, Tuna, canned salmon (yummy......salmon patties! I found a great cheap recipe on the net) Frozen chicken strips, frozen fies, and even found a pack of chicken thighs on sale (the "managers special" haha) They even had skim milk on sale for .89 a quart. We were joking on the way out of the market that "Wow, we even got some real meat!!" haha....It kinda lightened the mood a little which is well needed.

Thank GOD for that stupid change jar that we'd never thought would be used.
So, we really, truly have no money left now until next week, but at LEAST we're fed. It's the one thing I was really stressing over. Bills can wait for now, I refuse to starve. I'm hoping the tank of gas we have will last till next week, too.

Corgan
06-20-2008, 09:26 PM
it will :D you will be okay :)