r/povertykitchen

I havent been shopping at walmart due to the needlessly high profit margines/price hikes. They arent paying employees more, they make us check ourselves out so they save money yet the prices are crazy expensive and the produce is always rotten.

I just got chicken, brocolli, motzarella cheese, a bag of onions and 6 tomatoes on the vine from Aldo for 17$. Aldi was out of basil so I ran to walmart and got half a loaf of italian bread (They sell it a half loaf at a time now SMH) and some basil for 8.50$. Walmart is tripping. I will never go back there unless I have to and I no longer need an account. I have never seen such corporate greed.

https://preview.redd.it/gb79sonmzb2h1.jpg?width=810&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6450956a36bca19c615845976dfe094b85e4d68a

I can’t have carbs at this time due to a surgery. What would you suggest on a meal that cheap and easy?

I feel like grocery prices for certain items have been going up every single week. My paycheck does not go up every week (or honestly even every year). Am I just going to struggle to pay for basic groceries forever??

I have zero association with Target and I totally understand why they are not popular right now. Honestly, I'm too poor to pass up good deals for political reasons and because they are still disliked, they have some better than usual deals... so just sharing a shopping tip:

Their grocery prices are just average... but, if you get a Red Card (which is free and can be linked to a debit card so you never have to pay interest) you get 5% off everything you buy with it, and they have further discounts/credits with "Circle Rewards." Last week they had a sale on my laundry detergent, and I got a $10 gift card for buying 3 of them and $10 in "Circle rewards" for spending some amount in a month (I think it was like $60?).

So, I now have $20 in bonuses, which is good because I'm broke until the the beginning of next mo. Currently they have a deal for save $10 when you spend $50 on groceries. So, between the 3 $10 off deals and the 5% off all items, I can now buy $53.00 in reduced groceries and pay $20.35. Yes, I did spend other money there for the bonuses, but it was the best price I could find on my laundry detergent. (I don't spend money just for savings or points or whatever deal, it defeats the point.)

They do carry some items, particularly staples, with prices that are less than most other stores. (Especially their brands. Walmart is still a little cheaper, but with the 5% off and rewards it costs me less at Target.) You can get flour for around $2.50/5lbs, (regular and whole wheat), which I use to make biscuits, pancakes and bread. 2 lbs of rice for $1.89 (brown or white). I'm not going to list out a bunch of stuff, but they do have additional coupons and BOGO deals on their web page.

Anyway, after the extra savings/rewards/coupons - for the next $20 I spend there I'll get what would cost me $75 - $100 or more if I went to a local Safeway or Kroger's for equivalent items. I hope this helps someone.

Edited to fix a typo only

I have an extra full gallon of 1% milk dated May 13th. Today is May 18th. I have asked the people I know, and nobody wants it. I still have a full half-gallon of Skim.

Anyway...I have seen suggestions on here to make homemade yogurt!! I have never been brave enough to try it yet, but I want to this time. I do have a crock pot.

I have an individual cup of plain nonfat Greek yogurt that I can add as a starter. But I don't have any cheesecloth to strain it. Does it matter if I start with Greek but don't end up straining it?

Does it matter that the milk is outdated? Will the yogurt just not stay fresh as long?

Can I add vanilla extract? At what point in the process?

Any other tips for a first-time yogurt maker would be appreciated!

We’re going to use our credit card for groceries for as long as we can, but we want to be as frugal as possible until things hopefully get better. I essentially need a shopping list and ideas of what to do with the things on the list. I’m trying to find the cheapest places to shop, so if anyone from the Phoenix area could weigh in on that I’d be so thankful. We’ve never been in this situation and we’re scared beyond words.

If you could literally give me a list of the best things to have and ideas/recipes of what to do with it I would be so grateful. I’m thinking of going to the store twice a month and just getting a ton of ground beef and chicken, but I don’t know what else to get to make meals the most financially smart way. My brain is fried and I can’t think of anything right now besides how to keep our daughter fed and happy.

Editing to add that I now know ground beef isn’t a good idea. Thank you for all the comments and help, it’s more appreciated than you know.

Editing again since it was brought up. My husband had two jobs, he lost the highest paying one which is why we’re now in the situation we’re in. We cannot afford to live on just what he makes at that job as it is now, even with me getting a job. I am super grateful he does still have a job and I don’t know what we would do if he didn’t. I’m not sure if we can qualify for any assistance (WIC, SNAP, etc.) since we technically do have an income, even though our debt to income is crazy high now. I didn’t think I’d have to elaborate when I just wanted tips on how to shop, and wasn’t trying to be deceitful, but maybe this will help people understand and give me better suited advice on what resources we can get. Thank you to everyone who commented for the recommendations and tips. It’s greatly appreciated.

I was boiling broccoli and used some of the water with bits of broccoli in it to use for soup. I added chicken bullion and powdered milk. Actually pretty excellent.

I just remade my childhood staple that my grandfather always made.

- hot dog bun
- peanut butter
- pork floss (it’s Chinese)

And it was still bomb af. I made it with the classic kimbo brand pork sung, keto bagel thin, and chunky dark roasted peanut butter.

Okay so why does every single recipe on earth call for exactly one tablespoon of tomato paste. Just one. Out of a whole can.

So you use your one tablespoon, feel good about yourself, wrap the can in plastic wrap, put it in the fridge and completely forget about it. Two weeks later you're cleaning out the fridge and there it is. Fuzzy. Green. Gone.

I threw out probably 50 cans worth over the years before my coworker watched me describe this problem and just stared at me like I was an idiot.

She told me to drop spoonfuls onto a piece of foil and freeze them. Once they're solid just throw all the little blobs into a ziplock bag and keep them in the freezer. Next time a recipe needs a tablespoon you just grab one out and toss it straight in the pan.

I went home and did it that same night and honestly felt like I unlocked something. No more waste. No more guilt. No more buying a fresh can because I already know the open one in my fridge is definitely dead by now.

Sounds so small but when you're watching every dollar this stuff actually adds up.

hi! i am in a difficult situation with my living situation when it comes to cooking. i am not allowed to use the stove where i'm staying, but i can use the microwave and i recently acquired a small (2qt I think???) crockpot. i was wondering if anyone had some good affordable recipes i could steal!! :)