If you have ever had food stamps, what did you usually buy to help last a month?!
Answers: Thank you
oatmeal, yogurt, bananas, skim milk, whole grain cereal, boca burgers, whole grain bread, raisins, peanut butter, canned fruit
canned veggies, pastas, meats, cheese, and fresh veggies as needed thru the month. We are on them now and go to a store called Aldi's that is really cheap where you can get a cart full of food for about 100 dollars. If you have a discount store like that near you they are the best bet to save on food stamps and fill the house for the month on canned, frozen, and boxed foods. Plus some meats are good from them too.
I bought meat , milk, bread, and fresh fruit & veggies based on what was on sale, and would stock up on things like pasta, canned veggies, soup, and fruit, boxed side dishes (rice, pasta, stuffing), staples (sugar, flour, baking needs) and condiments (salsa, ketchup, mustard, etc.) . Then I would plan my meals ahead of time as much as I could to make sure I had the other items I would need that I didn't keep on hand.
I also shopped (and still do shop) extensively at Aldi or Sav-A-Lot, where you can get a lot of items as off-brands or at a lower cost. Shop the ads you get in the mail and if one place has chicken on sale, go get your chicken there, and go someplace else to pick up your broccoli where it's on sale.
When I was shopping on a tight budget, I was feeding myself and 2 kids, so your needs might be different. Try to avoid getting a bunch of frozen meals and junk food, because it's a waste of your money, there's virtually no nutrition and you'll end up regretting it later. If you're not a very good cook, eat as much fresh food as you can, and if you're able, buy a cookbook for easy meals you can make on your own.
To help stretch Your dollar I would buy a lot of beans, rice, noodles, pasta, tomatoe sauce, canned soups. I would make large pots of homemade soups and chile.or something that You could freeze in portions and have many meals from.
First it depends on how much you get and how many people you are feeding. Definatly buy only whats on sale and only what you need as opposed to what you want. You can also try to buy some store brand items, which tend to be cheaper. It would help if you knew what you were cooking on a week to week basis. I do not shop for the month. I am a week to week kinda girl. I usually have an idea what I am cooking or have a taste for week to week. As long as you have the basics. Rice & Pasta can go a long way, and there so many different ways to cook it. I buy frozen vegetables, they are healthier for you. Groung beef/turkey, chicken...so many ways to cook that as well. If you are into cereal, buy the big store brand bag. If your family eats left overs, that helps too.There are many ways to stretch a dollar/food stamp.