How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

[Thumper1616]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

Seems to be the common thread....stock up while it's on sale. A whole chicken is pretty cheap too (or does your entire family not like dark meat?). I've spent tons on money on groceries this last week on adkins friendly stuff but the good news is, I'll only need to stock up on fresh veggies for the next couple weeks, so I think it equals out.

[Anguissette]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

I guess my problem with stocking up while things are on sale is my pre-grocery trip meal planning. I combat temptation in large parts with avoidance. I want one trip to one store per week to minimize the amount of times I have to look at food I want that I cannot have. If I am getting what is on sale.......I dunno maybe I should come up with a complete list for what might be on sale?

I did get it down to $175 last night at the store btw--so discounting the extra $50 from last week's budget that we didn't have in this week.....down about $25. I really need to be at $125 or less if possible so all these ideas are great!

Could everyone maybe post your one cheapest (but still tasty!) meal?

[Miss Phode]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

I shop the sales. I lost my job in November, and since then, I've been really making an effort to spend as little as humanly possible, but not giving up on good meals. I stock up when the sales are good, and I made a spread sheet to keep track of rock bottom prices. I never buy produce at the grocery store unless they really have a great deal. I use the farmers market for produce. I find the quality and price is better. I shop 4 different grocery stores, and I don't buy something if it's not on sale unless it's something we literally can't live without. We plan meals around sales. Just this past week, my grocery store was selling eggs at 99 cents per pound, which is unheard of in this area, but they limited your purchase to 2 per customer. So I went back 4 days in a row (wasn't out of my way at all, so I don't feel like I spent my savings on gas) and bought a total of 8 dozen.

[J.R.]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

So I drive an extra 20 minutes to the closest HEB and get my food there.

As soon as you said "HEB", I said, "Central Texas". Then I saw you're in Austin. I lived in NE San Antonio for 5 years (near Converse, Universal City, near I-35 towards Austin). I miss HEB. After moving to Houston, I had to go to Albertsons instead... If I found my way back to SA, there would be worse fates.

[not2late]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

It seems like meat and veggies are just a ton more expensive than crappy frozen meals and macaroni and cheese.

That's because meat and veggies are real foods. Frozen meals and mac and cheese are so stuffed with additives, preservatives and other stuff that they aren't very real at all.

Like the others have said look for sales. The grocery stores in my area are in BIG competition now. A month ago, they were selling whole chickens at 69 cents per pound. Last week, two stores had an egg-war: each selling a dozen large eggs for 89 cents a dozen to $1 a dozen. For the last two weeks, two stores had chicken breasts on sale for $1.69 per pound. This entire month one store had iceberg lettuce on sale for 99 cents a head, celery for 99 cents and alot of other 'sales' in the veggie aisle. Buying in bulk is expensive initially, but it's cheaper in the long run when you can defrost a chicken you bought at 69 cents per pound than buying one in the supermarket for twice or three times that amount.

Frozen veg is just as good as fresh. So frozen broccoli, spinach, green beans, etc. can often be purchased cheaper per pound than the fresh ones.

[not2late]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

I forgot to add....In my area there are "low income" stores. Little grocery stores that buy the "B" grade produce. It's good produce, but their sizes aren't as consistent as the produce you'd find in the major supermarkets. These places are a penny-pinchers dream! I've bought veggies for half the price than what the major chains sell them at. Like 8 ounces of mushrooms for a 50 cents to a $1. So check those out too.

[rajenki]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

Truly, since I got stocked up, the only expensive thing for me is buying way more dish detergent. When I got to nearly 300 pounds by being almost fat free, I didn't need much detergent to get my dishes clean.

LMAO...OMG...that is so funny! I find myself washing WAY WAY more dishes now than ever before. I think I used to run my dishwasher once a week (I live all alone)...and now I run it at LEAST 4 times a week. I own three cutting boards and never seem to have one free when I need it...same with Knives. LOL...

I will echo all said before me...and add that I have a stand-alone freezer in my garage that helps a ton! I stock up on things at Costco...usually bacon, ground beef, chicken (various parts), blocks of cheese and eggs. I always buy a six pack of romaine lettuce and occasionally the bag of chopped broccoli. Both these items prices can't be beat and they last a while. My freezer is full of meat products, I jokingly refer to going to my garage as "grocery shopping" sometimes. Eggs keep for a pretty long time...and with the cheese I cut off a hunk that I think I can use in a reasonable amount of time and vacuum seal the rest. I my vacuum sealer!

Personally, I'm eating out WAY less often than before, which helped stabilize my grocery budget.

I freeze a lot of leftovers and I cook large dishes ahead and portion them out and freeze them as well. I have 18...make that 17 (already ate one today) breakfast egg/sausage bakes in my freezer right now.

Fortunately, I also buy my dishwasher detergent at Costco...

[iamran]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

For my favorite cheap meal I will buy the cheapest ground beef I can find and make hamburgers and fry sliced onion and sliced green pepper with it. Use what every seasonings or spices you like to jazz it up a bit.

Also a can of tuna on some lettuce is pretty good. I just use my blue cheese salad dressing on it.

Another favorite of mine is when my husband goes fishing. I will take a fish fillet and just throw it in a skillet along with some cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper. I eat with what ever veggies we have. (Fish is free. It just takes time to catch them.)

Omlets are pretty good and cheap to make. Just fry your omlet and add cheese and your favorite veggies.

Hope this helps!

[Jodes]

Re: How to Low Carb on a Budget!?

Wow your meat is so cheap.. We pay $4.99 (on special) for chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings etc. Our skinless breast fillets are around $9.99 on special and usually $12.99. (per kilo or 2.2lbs)