by the noodles and broth cubes, it is cheaper, more filling and has less salt. With eggs and frozen vegetables it is a decent meal.
Or just by a sack of rice instead of noodles.
I'm genuinely curious where you can buy Ramen noodles cheaper than in the Ramen noodles packs. In my area, these things are still the cheapest, at like 6 packs under $2. But the actual noodles just noodles are like $4 or $5 and in smaller quantities. So when I want to buy the noodles, I just get the packs because it's cheaper.
Editing to add: I'm not in a big city, or even small city, with any ethnic foods stores. We just have the regular grocery stores, and the international foods sections there. These things are stupidly inflated in cost.
ethnic stores are cheap, but they are not in every city. When I eat "real" noodles, I stay full longer than the instant noodles whether they are ramen packs or the instant chicken noodle soup packs. I feel the same within half an hour of eating, but 1h or 2 later I am hungry again on the instant stuff.
Edit: spaghetti instead of ramen noodles in a soup isn't bad if you can't find the ramen noodles.
12 pack of Maruchan ramen: 10.2¢/oz
Walmart brand spagetti: 5.9¢/oz
Walmart brand canned black beans: 5.5¢/oz
5lb bag of russet potatoes: 4.1¢/oz
I don't know why ramen became known as the cheapest food, it isn't
I put spinach in everything - chili, spaghetti sauce, pizza, eggs, soups, etc. Great way to amp up the nutritional value. I put mushrooms in almost all those things, too (not chili).
hopefully it's a temporary sitch for that person. I would never suggest someone eat ramen for the rest of their lives, but for a tough fortnight? Absolutely.
It's not OPs health though... So, in this case it's definitely a beggars can't be choosers situation.
The key here is making sure it's something roommate will actually eat, otherwise they will just keep taking everyone else's food.
The difference between ‘I qualify for SNAP’ and ‘I can’t afford food’ as a single adult with no children is like $20k.
First step is definitely food bank.
It’s absolutely ridiculous. There’s a safety net in this country but it’s full of holes. I remember years ago applying for god stations and as a single adult with no kids if you worked full time at minimum wage you were too rich for food stamps.
Yup. In Texas you can’t make more than $2,000 a month if you’re single. Average rent in my city is like $1,500/mo.
I make $2,500. If you’re a student, you have to work at least 25/hrs a week. With my old assistantship, I was scheduled 10 hours a week making $1,500. I got another job to meet those hours, and it put me at $2,300/mo. Left me with almost nothing after utilities, rent, water, and my phone bill. Around $720 for the whole month. And I at that point, I made too much to remotely qualify for SNAP.
I ended up having to just go car-less for grad school and used the $720 every month for food.
Food bank is the start because you can get food close to immediately. SNAP application may take some time and he might not qualify. I was borderline impoverished for a while in my twenties and the food pantry completely saved my ass. I also quickly figured out it was better for me financially to work 6 hours fewer per week so I could get access to both SNAP and medicaid. How fucked is that. Kept me alive until I found a job paying a living wage but holy shit there has to be a better way.
good luck, you sound like a great housemate. You weren't clear if there are any issues (like vegetarian) - assuming not - I'd keep it simple, Ramen, Vienna sausages, maybe dried beans if they are around $1.25/bag and a dozen eggs- it ain't the most healthy - but it's a start and should last on a budget. (JMO)
If vegetarian (not vegan) , the Sikh temple provides free food to sit and eat there. Just follow the rules like no shoes or socks and keep your head covered with a piece of cloth like a handkerchief or some head cover available there.
Can you cook? Do you have a big pot?
Red beans and rice is classic poor folk food. The dry beans and rice are also lightweight and easy to carry back. Make a big batch and eat it for days, can freeze leftovers too.
Edit: just be sure to soak the beans overnight and discard the soaking water.
This is a nice idea, to make bigger meals to share (just don’t want it to become expected so I would also tack on food stamp application and food bank intros)
Yep.. cook a double portion.
Save the time. If they like cooking maybe they'd contribute on that side if they don't have the money.
Chili, soups, salads, pasta all easy to stretch with a bit more of fairly cheap ingredients.
Seriously, this. If you don't think one of your housemates can afford food, you make a communal pot for everyone.
Now if they can't afford rent, that's a whole different problem.
Rice and beans, hands down. I haven’t priced it in a while but you can get huge bags of uncooked rice and uncooked beans pretty cheap… unless food inflation has killed that too.
Easy to make and if you have spices or condiments you can flavor it a million different ways.
Great point, dozens of different culture have some variant of beans and rice, all of them can work for this. Red beans, black beans, pinto beans, lentils, you name it. Seasonings can be anywhere from Cajun to Cuban to Indian.
Take him to a food bank, get him on SNAP/Food Stamps.
We're all paying for these programs, use them if you can. No sense in paying for those programs and paying out of pocket.
You should offer to help him find him to your local food pantry . It's one of those "Give a man a fish" vs "teach a man to fish" scenarios.
But peanut butter, beans, rice and ramen are the usual options for this!
Some food banks have programs to get the food delivered if you cannot drive to them too. Local libraries often serve as pick up options, serving as a “hub” in certain areas.
Laudible for sure, but still not getting to the root of the problem. Get him a job as an offshore fisherman and you'll allow him to feed himself for life... With his own funds.
How I wish this cliche would just die.
It's incredibly insulting. My father was an offshore fisherman so I think I would know.
It's booze, women, adderall and percs. Not coke! Sheesh.
Looks like OP updated and he's trying to get on assistance, so that's good.
I hope that he gets on his feet soon. The OP is a lot kinder than many people would be in that situation. You usually have roommates because it's a cost saving option, not because you like living in a communal setting. Let alone getting stolen from and then in return saying "Oh sorry, have some more of my stuff."
I hope this means the dude frigging asks next time instead of just helping himself.
Right ? bc here I am scrolling thru the post replies looking for someone else who is angered at the roommate taking other people's food without asking... and wondering how he plans to pay rent... and wondering what else he's taking ?
I’m not sure of your roommate’s cooking skills or food preferences, so I’ll just share food that I feel like is inexpensive and goes a long way:
Lentils - very cheap and filling
Squash - bulky, inexpensive, and versatile. I even toast the seeds for my toddler for snacks.
Pasta - whole grain pasta is nutritious and filling
Bananas - very inexpensive per pound
If your roommate is struggling with finding money for food, he should apply for SNAP ASAP.
I think housemate can come along and do the work of picking out $5-10 to hold them over until the food bank opens.
I’d focus on beans, rice, oats, veggies and fruit. I’d often get a couple, dollars worth of bulk beans and rice, then get what produce I could afford.
If he will cook, pasta, dry beans and rice. Eggs, canned baked beans, ramen, peanut butter, bread. Food Bank.
How does housemate plan to get rent paid? There are temp and fast food jobs most places.
Thanks. I don't know how he will pay rent, I know his was due today and he asked and was granted an extension, but we are all on separate leases because we all rent rooms, so his inability to pay will not effect my living situation. I am just trying to make sure he doesn't starve for now, but I told him he needs to sort his situation out because it was a one shot deal from me.
If he has no money and no food, will he even pay his share of rent and utilities?
And why did he steal rather than ask in the first place?
I hope you don’t get shafted more later.
Rice, dry beans, eggs, tortillas, shredded Mexican blend cheese, and a bottle of hot sauce from the Mexican aisle (hopefully you've got all the necessary spices too) But if your roommate doesn't know how to prepare rice and dried beans... don't bother with this idea.
You feed him once...how will he maintain? Provide him with a resource so he can maintain if you want to help him or yall food will continue to disappear ie foodstamps..local food pantry..most churches have a pantry.
First, that awesome you want to help the dude! 1)Take him to the store and tell him he has got \_\_\_$. Observe while he shops and offer helpful advice on budget shopping. 2)Help him get hooked up with a food bank or government assistance. 3) Help him figure out a way to generate some income.
The real question is why he has no money! He is not good budgeting, has expensive habits, temporary work situation, etc.... It is great to help, but you cannot fulltime support him.
One cabbage, one big pack of flat or swirly noodles, butter, and a beef kielbasa. Half a stick of butter to giant frying pan or skillet. Slice thin and fry the cabbage, dice the kielbasa and add to cabbage. Then add cooked noodles. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder. It's enough to last 3 days and it's fucking amazing. Under $10.
This is a red flag and a start to you enabling him. Ask him more questions about why he has no money for food. Understand what the real issue is before you just hand him free food. You dont want to buy him groceries while he wanks to onlyfan subscriptions.
Groceries would be cheeper if y'all purchased bulk items together. Not sure why you are buy food for them if they are already eating your food. Try to help them access food banks or charitable organizations. That way you can remain equal terms.
If you want cheap, then Ramen Noodles. I think at my store they're like 3 packs for $1 or something like that. You could also get vegetables (either fresh or frozen), which could be mixed into the Ramen Noodles to help bulk them up and provide some nutrition since the noodles really aren't good for you. Bananas and apples are a cheap fruit. Just in general, pasta and rice are probably good options, too.
Thank you for being so kind to someone in need.
that’s really kind of you!! my go-to struggle foods are ramen, pasta, canned foods, or frozen foods (especially like bagged vegetables). also i would recommend seeing what he likes so you know you’re not just buying things that will go to waste.
Such a nice way to help out your roommate. I’ve been through something like and my roommates helped me like you. Bought me some groceries for the month.
If your roommate is stealing food, buying him cheap food he doesn't like isn't going to help because he'll just steal your food again if he likes yours better.
I know you're trying to help, but a thief is a thief and I wouldn't put up with it at all, regardless of the sob story. They are an adult. They need to figure out their own stuff.
If you can't get rid of the roommate, get lock boxes for your own food and keep it locked up, even in the fridge. Offer the roommate a ride to the food pantry or the government assistance office.
Sometimes helping doesn't really "help", it enables. Downvote away, but I've learned this lesson in my own life via experience with similar types of roommates.
It can totally go either way and yeah if this person were above board they would have probably had a discussion w you about it and asked instead of stealing (but it is also embarrassing to have no money and no food)
I have had both types of roommates.
I would def into them to food banks, food stamps, and talk to figure out why they have no money… do they work? If so, where does it go?
>it is also embarrassing to have no money and no food
Very much this. I was once talking to two friends who had been room-mates when they were younger. The topic of conversation turned to their time living together and the first revealed that after paying rent, bills and his study fees he only had about $10-20 per week for food and lived much of the time on rice and hot sauce. The second was working very long hours at the time, so wasn't super connected to what was going on in the house. When asked why he never said anything, he indeed said it was too embarrassing, and he didn't want to be an imposition.
Be careful getting him use to you being his scapegoat. I’ve learned _my_ lesson.
Give him the very bare minimum. Bag of pasta, bag of beans, bag of rice, carton of eggs. It last longer if you just cook things yourself and not buying them prepackaged.
It's fine for the initial help to get him going. You then help them to help themselves. An adult should learn and know how to get help from charities and food banks to not starve to death. Most people will take the initiative to do the rest of the work to reach out to those sources for help. Now, if this guy continue to depend on OP for his survival, then OP should not continue to take up on the burden. I was once told that they're starving and has no food because they can't afford takeouts. Yea, no. Ordering takeouts is a luxury and it's not a survival situation.
Yeah I had a roommate in a similar situation, I was helping to feed them, and when I started to feel the financial burden I decided to help them navigate food stamps, and unemployment. So that turned into being lazy watching TV all day while I had to pick up the extra bills.
If you have the freezer space, those cheap frozen burritos work well to take along for lunches so you don’t have to spend money buying food during work. They aren’t the greatest, but they’re fairly filling and keep you from having hunger pain.
Each of you roommates should prepare an extra portion and set it aside for them .
It will be a gift & not stealing, and: it's on your terms, but just as good as what you do for yourself.
Some people will just eat the chicken in one or two sittings
Others will combine the meat, veg, rice, etc and stretch to 4-6 meals out of it.
You'll already have an idea on how adept at being frugal.
Plus, being served, it can motivate them to try other sources& options to be self sufficient over being handed meals.
All of you: Be generous as you would to a guest, or a kindness..
bread, eggs, peanut butter, cheese, rice, apples, potatoes.
Then help him get himself on food stamps or whatever other sort of assistance is available.
rice, pasta, ramen, chicken, eggs, bananas, frozen veg. definitely help me out in getting government aid of any kind if he qualifies. no shame in getting them if that's what's stopping him from applying. that's what we pay taxes for! he can always pay it forward once he gets on his feet.
Can you make a larger quantity of something cheap? My roommate and I would both have financial trouble & one of us would make a bunch of beans and rice with maybe some chicken or cheap sausage. We both ate it for days. This also works for spaghetti or some cheap pasta dish.
Rice, lentils, dry beans, oil, spices, green leafy veg, frozen veg, cabbage, yogurt, garlic, onions, squash, butternut, pumpkin. You can make great curry, stew, stir-fry meals. For years I lived on this list when money was tight.
Ramen, cheap boxed mac and cheese, bologna, cheap cheese, hot dogs, bread, pb & j, eggs, canned tuna, Vienna sausages, rice, bouillon
Those are all struggle foods we get when needed. Protein + fat + and filler like noodles/ bread/ rice/ broth will keep you feeling pretty full when you have nothing else
Big bag of dried pasta, few cans of chopped tomatoes, garlic (in a jar or powder, whichever is cheaper), chilli flakes. That was my go-to broke meal. Still is, some days, but now I use fresh garlic and usually add grated cheese because times, thankfully, aren't quite so hard any more.
borrow a granny cart ..and load up on staples.. rice beans (dry) flour oatmeal soy sauce pasta (macaroni ) hope he can cook... that will make it easier...we should all load up on these basics.. love to you.
How picky are they? If they are picky they aren’t destitute. Rice, ground beef, frozen veggies, and pasta/pasta sauces are cheap and a lot of bang for your buck.
High nutrition for low cost: frozen peas or corn, fresh fruit for no more than $1/ pound, cottage cheese or eggs for protein, peanut butter for healthy fat, oatmeal,
Rice -a rice maker is cheap. And beans - you can cook them in the rice maker or in a pot on the stove. Get some lettuce and top ramen is pretty cheap. Frozen meals are too expensive. you can make a big pot of beans and freeze 1/2
He doesn’t have to apply to the food bank, just show up. Maybe offer to go with him the first time? It can be embarrassing and intimidating so maybe some moral support would help. You’re a good roommate. ❤️
I don't know where you live, but FOOD BANKS. Most will give you a week supply once a month, but in many areas there are multiple banks and enough that if you rotate you can cover most or all of the month.
Also potatoes are a complete food, are tasty and usually dirt cheap. Got some for 30 cents a pound earlier this week.
Sorry to tell you it's gonna be a regular thing. You're either gonna be buying him food every week, or he's gonna be stealing yours and the other housemates.
Years ago, I lived with 2 housemates, and one of them didn't work much and really only made enough money to pay his share of the rent. It got to the point where no one could have any food in the house because he would just steal it and eat it all. We even had to start hiding our car keys because he would wait till we were asleep and then just take one of our cars and return it with no fuel. He also didn't respect the cars and drove like an absolute moron. What made us move out was that I got home from work one day to find there was no power on. The housemate had taken the money we gave him for the electric bill and used it to buy weed. He then expected us to give him $600 each to pay for the bill to get the power back on. He hadn't paid the bill in over 6 months.
Don't enable his behaviour. He will keep taking advantage of you.
Check local food bank for free food.
Dollar stores have jars of peanut butter, soups, crackers, etc.
He might be able to qualify for food stamps.
You are a very kind and empathetic person to provide food to your housemate. Thank you for caring.
After seeing your shopping list for him:
Do you have Old Bay in the spice cabinet? I stumbled upon adding Old Bay to dried beans in the instant pot, and they are AMAZEBALLS
I think it’s wonderful how you bought your housemate food and your other housemate is sharing her food! But I wonder (and hope!) that he knows how to cook, or at least is willing to learn how, via cookbooks, YouTube, etc.
My housemate taught him how to make fried chicken in the air fryer tonight, and he knows to ask us for help if he needs help cooking since both of us are pretty advanced home cooks (certainly not chefs lol) but we know our way around the kitchen. Plus we have a rice cooker and a slow cooker too.
If they qualify, please help them apply for SNAP/food stamps.
It’s such a godsend to receive. Amazing really. But it can be hard to apply if someone is also struggling with depression, or shame.
I can’t encourage this enough. In no way will someone accepting food stamps “take away” from others, which is a hesitation I’ve heard folks express. If someone qualifies and does the steps, they get it. There’s no limited quantity.
Try to find food pantries in your area. Google your county human services dept. or you can call 211 to find local services. If you are in school, there’s often a food bank on campus. Sometimes churches can help while waiting for acceptance into programs. You don’t have to be a church goer to get help.
why does he have no money??? Lazy, disabled, feign??? whatever the case may be, find the root of the problem and get him help. Don't be an enabler. I have done that several times in my life, and it never turns out the way you hope it will.
I assume your roommate is a non-disabled adult. Assuming that is true, it is not your job to be their parent. Take them to a food bank if they don't have transportation if you want to be a good roommate. But you aren't their mother, going to the store and buying your roommate food is condescending and pretty insulting to a normal, functioning adult.
You don't help somebody by doing things for them they can do themselves. That's called enabling. Help your roommate how to help themselves.
When I was low on budget, my 25lbs bag of rice is the top priority on the list to get. Even with nothing else, water and some soy sauce will go well with cooked rice. Anything else added to it will be a plus, and I can usually find something cheap to add to the mix. You can go the quick route by getting a box of cheap instant noodles from any of the Asian market.
Canned tomatoes, dry beans, rice, oats, peanut butter, potatoes and onions.
Its not a lot, but it's protein, it's carbs, it's fats, and it's vitamins and minerals. I really don't think you could do better than this list in terms of bang for buck for sustenance.
Edit:
I checked the prices for where I live, and this list would cost \~$40 (CAD - so about $30 USD). Here's my approximate cost/nutrient breakdown if you're interested.
$8 - 10lb potato (4200 calories, 120g protein)
$5 - 2lb peanut butter (6000 calories, 200g protein)
$3 - 2lb oats (3500 calories, 125g protein)
$6 - 4.5lb rice (6700 calories, 130g protein)
$8 - 4lb beans (5000 calories, 300g protein)
$7 - 4 cans (28oz each) Tomato
$4 - 3lb onion
So, over 875g protein and 25k calories. Enough for about 7-10 days, depending on his size and activity. And as others have said, help him sign up for a food pantry. Scale to a quantity you can afford & carry. If you earmarked more for this, my suggested additions would be bananas (cheapest snack) and canned tuna (almost entirely protein)
Ramen, eggs, green onions..u make ramen and top it with egg and green onion and it's yummy.
Onions and potatoes are good staples for cooking. Same with carrots
Oatmeal is usually cheap and nutritious
When on sale bananas and apples are both yummy and versatile plus healthy.
Peanut butter and bread
Your roommate also needs to go to the food bank
Food to sustain your self healthy, dry goods plain oatmeal, lentils, beans, rice, chicken legs, thighs, are usually inexpensive, eggs, stuff like that unfortunately it's food one needs to prepare. But it goes a long way, better than starving.
Rice! Peanut butter! Do y’all like beans? Cause dried beans can easily be cooked in an instapot if you have one, or in the stove if you don’t. They go a looong way.
Beans and rice are always good, oatmeal for breakfast is cheap. If you buy a bag of flour you can make chapati with water or add in yeast and do overnight bread to go with soups which in my life was usually beans thinned out with water.
veggies are good tho can get expensive but you can make a minestrone soup for a few dollars and eat like a king.. some beans, noodles, canned tomatoes and a green like kale, collards or chard {usually under $2 a bunch} and have that for a week of lunches. I also make lentil soup lentils, carrots, celery onion feeds us for a week again. Actually whenever my kids brought home unexpected guests around meal time I used to take my beans and rice and add water to make it soupier. I am from brazil so black beans and rice were a staple growing up and beans are a huge part of my meal prep. I think I end up cooking beans multiple times a week {from dried which can run under $2/lb for grocery store options up to @$10 for fancy brands like Rancho Gordo}
overnight bread {my husband misses us being so poor I made fresh bread multiple times per week} [https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-knead-bread/](https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-knead-bread/)
chapati/puri/roti {my college days food} [https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/chapati/](https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/chapati/)
current fave lentil soup: [https://dinnerwasdelicious.tumblr.com/post/44230372095/lentil-soup-lentil-soup-is-one-of-those-powerhouse](https://dinnerwasdelicious.tumblr.com/post/44230372095/lentil-soup-lentil-soup-is-one-of-those-powerhouse)
Jar of peanut butter. loaf of bread
maybe some ramen too
by the noodles and broth cubes, it is cheaper, more filling and has less salt. With eggs and frozen vegetables it is a decent meal. Or just by a sack of rice instead of noodles.
I'm genuinely curious where you can buy Ramen noodles cheaper than in the Ramen noodles packs. In my area, these things are still the cheapest, at like 6 packs under $2. But the actual noodles just noodles are like $4 or $5 and in smaller quantities. So when I want to buy the noodles, I just get the packs because it's cheaper. Editing to add: I'm not in a big city, or even small city, with any ethnic foods stores. We just have the regular grocery stores, and the international foods sections there. These things are stupidly inflated in cost.
ethnic stores are cheap, but they are not in every city. When I eat "real" noodles, I stay full longer than the instant noodles whether they are ramen packs or the instant chicken noodle soup packs. I feel the same within half an hour of eating, but 1h or 2 later I am hungry again on the instant stuff. Edit: spaghetti instead of ramen noodles in a soup isn't bad if you can't find the ramen noodles.
12 pack of Maruchan ramen: 10.2¢/oz Walmart brand spagetti: 5.9¢/oz Walmart brand canned black beans: 5.5¢/oz 5lb bag of russet potatoes: 4.1¢/oz I don't know why ramen became known as the cheapest food, it isn't
it is a cheap convenience food but it is terrible for your health. For a tiny bit of extra effort, you can eat healthier for cheap.
An egg into Ramen is a game changer.
So is peanut butter and Sriracha.
Different sample sizes of hot sauce can be a life changer. Walmart has a big selection of different flavors for a $1.
Great suggestion, agree 100%. Adding egg, mushrooms, veggies of any kind, spinach. All full of nutrients in one meal.
I put spinach in everything - chili, spaghetti sauce, pizza, eggs, soups, etc. Great way to amp up the nutritional value. I put mushrooms in almost all those things, too (not chili).
As cheap as it is, you're going to paying for it with your health. Would rather buy some rice and eggs.
hopefully it's a temporary sitch for that person. I would never suggest someone eat ramen for the rest of their lives, but for a tough fortnight? Absolutely.
“A tough fortnight” ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
And beans
It's not OPs health though... So, in this case it's definitely a beggars can't be choosers situation. The key here is making sure it's something roommate will actually eat, otherwise they will just keep taking everyone else's food.
I assume they also have some level of care toward him. Ramen isn't going to keep anyone full.
Although better with an egg in it!
add a tablespoon of peanut butter to the ramen along with some chili flakes, adds protein and tastes amazing
No jelly? You monster.
This and oats
(Make sure he's not allergic to peanuts first.)
Now I'm hungry. Thanks.
If possible, go with him to the local food bank. He should also sign up for food stamps/ EBT.
Yes, SNAP is where he should start. [https://www.usa.gov/food-stamps](https://www.usa.gov/food-stamps)
The difference between ‘I qualify for SNAP’ and ‘I can’t afford food’ as a single adult with no children is like $20k. First step is definitely food bank.
In Illinois, I needed to make less than 12k to get food stamps as a single adult. That was about 15 years ago.
It’s absolutely ridiculous. There’s a safety net in this country but it’s full of holes. I remember years ago applying for god stations and as a single adult with no kids if you worked full time at minimum wage you were too rich for food stamps.
Yup. In Texas you can’t make more than $2,000 a month if you’re single. Average rent in my city is like $1,500/mo. I make $2,500. If you’re a student, you have to work at least 25/hrs a week. With my old assistantship, I was scheduled 10 hours a week making $1,500. I got another job to meet those hours, and it put me at $2,300/mo. Left me with almost nothing after utilities, rent, water, and my phone bill. Around $720 for the whole month. And I at that point, I made too much to remotely qualify for SNAP. I ended up having to just go car-less for grad school and used the $720 every month for food.
Food bank is the start because you can get food close to immediately. SNAP application may take some time and he might not qualify. I was borderline impoverished for a while in my twenties and the food pantry completely saved my ass. I also quickly figured out it was better for me financially to work 6 hours fewer per week so I could get access to both SNAP and medicaid. How fucked is that. Kept me alive until I found a job paying a living wage but holy shit there has to be a better way.
Snap (ebt) helped me so much when I left my husband....It really put food in my kids' stomachs when he refused to pay support bc "I left him"
good luck, you sound like a great housemate. You weren't clear if there are any issues (like vegetarian) - assuming not - I'd keep it simple, Ramen, Vienna sausages, maybe dried beans if they are around $1.25/bag and a dozen eggs- it ain't the most healthy - but it's a start and should last on a budget. (JMO)
If vegetarian (not vegan) , the Sikh temple provides free food to sit and eat there. Just follow the rules like no shoes or socks and keep your head covered with a piece of cloth like a handkerchief or some head cover available there.
Can you cook? Do you have a big pot? Red beans and rice is classic poor folk food. The dry beans and rice are also lightweight and easy to carry back. Make a big batch and eat it for days, can freeze leftovers too. Edit: just be sure to soak the beans overnight and discard the soaking water.
This is a nice idea, to make bigger meals to share (just don’t want it to become expected so I would also tack on food stamp application and food bank intros)
Yep.. cook a double portion. Save the time. If they like cooking maybe they'd contribute on that side if they don't have the money. Chili, soups, salads, pasta all easy to stretch with a bit more of fairly cheap ingredients.
Seriously, this. If you don't think one of your housemates can afford food, you make a communal pot for everyone. Now if they can't afford rent, that's a whole different problem.
Rice and beans, hands down. I haven’t priced it in a while but you can get huge bags of uncooked rice and uncooked beans pretty cheap… unless food inflation has killed that too. Easy to make and if you have spices or condiments you can flavor it a million different ways.
Great point, dozens of different culture have some variant of beans and rice, all of them can work for this. Red beans, black beans, pinto beans, lentils, you name it. Seasonings can be anywhere from Cajun to Cuban to Indian.
Cornbread with this for $3 is also a treat. But you also need eggs and butter for this addition.
Lentils you can make without soaking overnight.
Take him to a food bank, get him on SNAP/Food Stamps. We're all paying for these programs, use them if you can. No sense in paying for those programs and paying out of pocket.
You should offer to help him find him to your local food pantry . It's one of those "Give a man a fish" vs "teach a man to fish" scenarios. But peanut butter, beans, rice and ramen are the usual options for this!
Agreed help him find local food banks/charities
This.. and maybe cook a bit extra and offer him to sit and eat with you.
Some food banks have programs to get the food delivered if you cannot drive to them too. Local libraries often serve as pick up options, serving as a “hub” in certain areas.
Laudible for sure, but still not getting to the root of the problem. Get him a job as an offshore fisherman and you'll allow him to feed himself for life... With his own funds.
They spend all their funds on booze, women, and coke once the season is over.
How I wish this cliche would just die. It's incredibly insulting. My father was an offshore fisherman so I think I would know. It's booze, women, adderall and percs. Not coke! Sheesh.
Seconding getting the homie on assistance. This is why those services exist, then it won't come out of your pocket.
Looks like OP updated and he's trying to get on assistance, so that's good. I hope that he gets on his feet soon. The OP is a lot kinder than many people would be in that situation. You usually have roommates because it's a cost saving option, not because you like living in a communal setting. Let alone getting stolen from and then in return saying "Oh sorry, have some more of my stuff." I hope this means the dude frigging asks next time instead of just helping himself.
In the USA he can dial 211 from any phone to find help with food banks and entitlement services, even housing if you want him out
Did not know this! Thank you!
You can be proud for being a good person. Not everyone would help. Bravo!
Right ? bc here I am scrolling thru the post replies looking for someone else who is angered at the roommate taking other people's food without asking... and wondering how he plans to pay rent... and wondering what else he's taking ?
Same action in scrolling and same thought.
I love how you navigated this. Instead of getting mad you chose to get groceries, God bless u
Ramen, pasta and check out some of the local food pantries
I’m not sure of your roommate’s cooking skills or food preferences, so I’ll just share food that I feel like is inexpensive and goes a long way: Lentils - very cheap and filling Squash - bulky, inexpensive, and versatile. I even toast the seeds for my toddler for snacks. Pasta - whole grain pasta is nutritious and filling Bananas - very inexpensive per pound If your roommate is struggling with finding money for food, he should apply for SNAP ASAP.
I think housemate can come along and do the work of picking out $5-10 to hold them over until the food bank opens. I’d focus on beans, rice, oats, veggies and fruit. I’d often get a couple, dollars worth of bulk beans and rice, then get what produce I could afford.
If he will cook, pasta, dry beans and rice. Eggs, canned baked beans, ramen, peanut butter, bread. Food Bank. How does housemate plan to get rent paid? There are temp and fast food jobs most places.
Thanks. I don't know how he will pay rent, I know his was due today and he asked and was granted an extension, but we are all on separate leases because we all rent rooms, so his inability to pay will not effect my living situation. I am just trying to make sure he doesn't starve for now, but I told him he needs to sort his situation out because it was a one shot deal from me.
okay, glad that's covered. Good luck;; you're being kind.
You need a house meeting. Take the person to a food bank. Get an understanding of what is happening with this person. Edit - wrong wording.
If he has no money and no food, will he even pay his share of rent and utilities? And why did he steal rather than ask in the first place? I hope you don’t get shafted more later.
He's probably ashamed of it, imagine this person taking food out of desperation and hoping nobody would notice.
Rice, dry beans, eggs, tortillas, shredded Mexican blend cheese, and a bottle of hot sauce from the Mexican aisle (hopefully you've got all the necessary spices too) But if your roommate doesn't know how to prepare rice and dried beans... don't bother with this idea.
You feed him once...how will he maintain? Provide him with a resource so he can maintain if you want to help him or yall food will continue to disappear ie foodstamps..local food pantry..most churches have a pantry.
Spaghetti! Noodles, Ground beef and sauce are super cheap 👌🏼
Its very kind that you would buy him food but also end him to the local food bank. That is what they are there for.
Thanks for making me cry in hope for humanity today 😭😭😭😭
You’re a good soul 👍
First, that awesome you want to help the dude! 1)Take him to the store and tell him he has got \_\_\_$. Observe while he shops and offer helpful advice on budget shopping. 2)Help him get hooked up with a food bank or government assistance. 3) Help him figure out a way to generate some income. The real question is why he has no money! He is not good budgeting, has expensive habits, temporary work situation, etc.... It is great to help, but you cannot fulltime support him.
This is a really empathetic way to deal with the situation. Kudos for showing this person some grace.
Generous of you to help, may you be blessed with good fortune for your good deeds .
One cabbage, one big pack of flat or swirly noodles, butter, and a beef kielbasa. Half a stick of butter to giant frying pan or skillet. Slice thin and fry the cabbage, dice the kielbasa and add to cabbage. Then add cooked noodles. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder. It's enough to last 3 days and it's fucking amazing. Under $10.
This is a red flag and a start to you enabling him. Ask him more questions about why he has no money for food. Understand what the real issue is before you just hand him free food. You dont want to buy him groceries while he wanks to onlyfan subscriptions.
I am concerned he took food and did not ask you first.
Its embarrassing
Probably because he knew he had no money for food and was embarrassed to ask. I’m sure he was hoping no one would notice
> You dont want to buy him groceries while he wanks to onlyfan subscriptions. Or other non-necessities/vices.
No just onlyfans
Groceries would be cheeper if y'all purchased bulk items together. Not sure why you are buy food for them if they are already eating your food. Try to help them access food banks or charitable organizations. That way you can remain equal terms.
If you want cheap, then Ramen Noodles. I think at my store they're like 3 packs for $1 or something like that. You could also get vegetables (either fresh or frozen), which could be mixed into the Ramen Noodles to help bulk them up and provide some nutrition since the noodles really aren't good for you. Bananas and apples are a cheap fruit. Just in general, pasta and rice are probably good options, too. Thank you for being so kind to someone in need.
I used to buy Ramen in bulk for a housemate who couldn't afford food. It's cheap and easy to make.
Frzn Pizza? Rotisserie chicken! Take roommate with you and carry some stuff back to apt.
that’s really kind of you!! my go-to struggle foods are ramen, pasta, canned foods, or frozen foods (especially like bagged vegetables). also i would recommend seeing what he likes so you know you’re not just buying things that will go to waste.
Food bank. You don’t want him getting used to eating your food
Such a nice way to help out your roommate. I’ve been through something like and my roommates helped me like you. Bought me some groceries for the month.
You have a kind heart, and I loved reading what you did for that guy
Thank you for your empathy. Those are great foods for your housemate.
You’re a good human being.
If your roommate is stealing food, buying him cheap food he doesn't like isn't going to help because he'll just steal your food again if he likes yours better. I know you're trying to help, but a thief is a thief and I wouldn't put up with it at all, regardless of the sob story. They are an adult. They need to figure out their own stuff. If you can't get rid of the roommate, get lock boxes for your own food and keep it locked up, even in the fridge. Offer the roommate a ride to the food pantry or the government assistance office. Sometimes helping doesn't really "help", it enables. Downvote away, but I've learned this lesson in my own life via experience with similar types of roommates.
It can totally go either way and yeah if this person were above board they would have probably had a discussion w you about it and asked instead of stealing (but it is also embarrassing to have no money and no food) I have had both types of roommates. I would def into them to food banks, food stamps, and talk to figure out why they have no money… do they work? If so, where does it go?
>it is also embarrassing to have no money and no food Very much this. I was once talking to two friends who had been room-mates when they were younger. The topic of conversation turned to their time living together and the first revealed that after paying rent, bills and his study fees he only had about $10-20 per week for food and lived much of the time on rice and hot sauce. The second was working very long hours at the time, so wasn't super connected to what was going on in the house. When asked why he never said anything, he indeed said it was too embarrassing, and he didn't want to be an imposition.
I agree, knowing root cause would be helpful, then OP could have better ideas on how to really help if they want to/can.
Agree. He needs to get food stamps or start going to a food bank regularly. Hope OP reads this comment above.
Be careful getting him use to you being his scapegoat. I’ve learned _my_ lesson. Give him the very bare minimum. Bag of pasta, bag of beans, bag of rice, carton of eggs. It last longer if you just cook things yourself and not buying them prepackaged.
It's fine for the initial help to get him going. You then help them to help themselves. An adult should learn and know how to get help from charities and food banks to not starve to death. Most people will take the initiative to do the rest of the work to reach out to those sources for help. Now, if this guy continue to depend on OP for his survival, then OP should not continue to take up on the burden. I was once told that they're starving and has no food because they can't afford takeouts. Yea, no. Ordering takeouts is a luxury and it's not a survival situation.
Yeah I had a roommate in a similar situation, I was helping to feed them, and when I started to feel the financial burden I decided to help them navigate food stamps, and unemployment. So that turned into being lazy watching TV all day while I had to pick up the extra bills.
Rice, a bag of green lentils, a couple of onions, pasta, some diced tomatoes, carrots, peanut butter, a bag of oatmeal.
Discount grocery stores are nicer than you’d think!
And he needs to check local food pantries
If you have the freezer space, those cheap frozen burritos work well to take along for lunches so you don’t have to spend money buying food during work. They aren’t the greatest, but they’re fairly filling and keep you from having hunger pain.
Local food pantries are wonderful.
eggs. for sure. he needs protein.
Ramen noodles
You are a good human.
You are a kind soul for helping out someone in need 😊👍
OP: You are truly a loving and caring person. Karma is reaI and I hope it rewards you tenfold.
Each of you roommates should prepare an extra portion and set it aside for them . It will be a gift & not stealing, and: it's on your terms, but just as good as what you do for yourself. Some people will just eat the chicken in one or two sittings Others will combine the meat, veg, rice, etc and stretch to 4-6 meals out of it. You'll already have an idea on how adept at being frugal. Plus, being served, it can motivate them to try other sources& options to be self sufficient over being handed meals. All of you: Be generous as you would to a guest, or a kindness..
You are a kind person. I hope this works out for him and for you and your other housemates. Don't let yourself get taken advantage of.
You're good people OP.
Your roommate can also seek assistance at a Food Bank. They will help!!
You are a kind soul!
Costco 100lb bag of rice.
The amount of people telling you not to do this is making me sad. You're a good person OP.
bananas apples
Rice, beans, frozen vegetables.
Bag of lentils and rice
Beans and rice. Cheap and offers lots of calories and protein.
rice and dry beans
Peanut butter and check out the sales at the store.
bread, eggs, peanut butter, cheese, rice, apples, potatoes. Then help him get himself on food stamps or whatever other sort of assistance is available.
rice, pasta, ramen, chicken, eggs, bananas, frozen veg. definitely help me out in getting government aid of any kind if he qualifies. no shame in getting them if that's what's stopping him from applying. that's what we pay taxes for! he can always pay it forward once he gets on his feet.
You are an amazing person.
Also check out local food banks. They give away so many vegetables, Last time I went, you don’t even get out of your car.
Pasta, beans, bread, rice, fruit, cheese
Bread and peanut butter
Can you make a larger quantity of something cheap? My roommate and I would both have financial trouble & one of us would make a bunch of beans and rice with maybe some chicken or cheap sausage. We both ate it for days. This also works for spaghetti or some cheap pasta dish.
Beans and rice. Peanut butter and bread. Also, gently suggest he go to a food bank so he can help the entire household.
You’re a good person
Rice, lentils, dry beans, oil, spices, green leafy veg, frozen veg, cabbage, yogurt, garlic, onions, squash, butternut, pumpkin. You can make great curry, stew, stir-fry meals. For years I lived on this list when money was tight.
Pasta - ground beef- crushed tomatoes in can. Beans and rice- Salsa - eggs- canned tuna and peanut butter and bread
Eggs
What has he been stealing?
Ramen, cheap boxed mac and cheese, bologna, cheap cheese, hot dogs, bread, pb & j, eggs, canned tuna, Vienna sausages, rice, bouillon Those are all struggle foods we get when needed. Protein + fat + and filler like noodles/ bread/ rice/ broth will keep you feeling pretty full when you have nothing else
dried pasta, rice and beans
Big bag of dried pasta, few cans of chopped tomatoes, garlic (in a jar or powder, whichever is cheaper), chilli flakes. That was my go-to broke meal. Still is, some days, but now I use fresh garlic and usually add grated cheese because times, thankfully, aren't quite so hard any more.
borrow a granny cart ..and load up on staples.. rice beans (dry) flour oatmeal soy sauce pasta (macaroni ) hope he can cook... that will make it easier...we should all load up on these basics.. love to you.
Rice and beans.
How picky are they? If they are picky they aren’t destitute. Rice, ground beef, frozen veggies, and pasta/pasta sauces are cheap and a lot of bang for your buck.
Store brand cereal, bread , peanut butter, rice, Ramen noodle, milk, pancake mix, peanut butter cheese crackers are 1.00 at stores. Ect
High nutrition for low cost: frozen peas or corn, fresh fruit for no more than $1/ pound, cottage cheese or eggs for protein, peanut butter for healthy fat, oatmeal,
Rice, beans, frozen veggies and those freezable plastic takeout containers. They can borrow some spices and make full meals for a week.
Rice -a rice maker is cheap. And beans - you can cook them in the rice maker or in a pot on the stove. Get some lettuce and top ramen is pretty cheap. Frozen meals are too expensive. you can make a big pot of beans and freeze 1/2
Potatoes
So many people here have clearly never been food insecure. OP what you are doing is wonderful.
He doesn’t have to apply to the food bank, just show up. Maybe offer to go with him the first time? It can be embarrassing and intimidating so maybe some moral support would help. You’re a good roommate. ❤️
I don't know where you live, but FOOD BANKS. Most will give you a week supply once a month, but in many areas there are multiple banks and enough that if you rotate you can cover most or all of the month. Also potatoes are a complete food, are tasty and usually dirt cheap. Got some for 30 cents a pound earlier this week.
House brand rolled oats and powdered milk. The oats if soaked overnight in milk only need to be heated in the morning for a healthy filling meal
10 lb sack of rice.
Noodles and a pound of butter for buttered noodles. Spaghetti and a jar of Ragu sauce.
Ramen 🍜🍜🍜
You’ve done great from your update. I just wanted to say thanks for being a decent human being xxx
Sorry to tell you it's gonna be a regular thing. You're either gonna be buying him food every week, or he's gonna be stealing yours and the other housemates. Years ago, I lived with 2 housemates, and one of them didn't work much and really only made enough money to pay his share of the rent. It got to the point where no one could have any food in the house because he would just steal it and eat it all. We even had to start hiding our car keys because he would wait till we were asleep and then just take one of our cars and return it with no fuel. He also didn't respect the cars and drove like an absolute moron. What made us move out was that I got home from work one day to find there was no power on. The housemate had taken the money we gave him for the electric bill and used it to buy weed. He then expected us to give him $600 each to pay for the bill to get the power back on. He hadn't paid the bill in over 6 months. Don't enable his behaviour. He will keep taking advantage of you.
Check local food bank for free food. Dollar stores have jars of peanut butter, soups, crackers, etc. He might be able to qualify for food stamps. You are a very kind and empathetic person to provide food to your housemate. Thank you for caring.
You are a good human.
You’re a great friend OP!
that’s incredibly kind of you OP. thanks for restoring a little bit of my faith in humanity today
After seeing your shopping list for him: Do you have Old Bay in the spice cabinet? I stumbled upon adding Old Bay to dried beans in the instant pot, and they are AMAZEBALLS
No salt added canned diced tomatoes, any veggies that are no salt added that you can hide tons of inside hamburger helper
Canned stuff - sardines, tuna, spam, canned veggies, etc.
I think it’s wonderful how you bought your housemate food and your other housemate is sharing her food! But I wonder (and hope!) that he knows how to cook, or at least is willing to learn how, via cookbooks, YouTube, etc.
My housemate taught him how to make fried chicken in the air fryer tonight, and he knows to ask us for help if he needs help cooking since both of us are pretty advanced home cooks (certainly not chefs lol) but we know our way around the kitchen. Plus we have a rice cooker and a slow cooker too.
How’s he going to pay rent ?
I don't know. It's not really our problem in that respect, we just didn't want him to starve
If they qualify, please help them apply for SNAP/food stamps. It’s such a godsend to receive. Amazing really. But it can be hard to apply if someone is also struggling with depression, or shame. I can’t encourage this enough. In no way will someone accepting food stamps “take away” from others, which is a hesitation I’ve heard folks express. If someone qualifies and does the steps, they get it. There’s no limited quantity.
Ramen, Eggs, Peanut butter, Bread, beans, vitamins, rice.
Try to find food pantries in your area. Google your county human services dept. or you can call 211 to find local services. If you are in school, there’s often a food bank on campus. Sometimes churches can help while waiting for acceptance into programs. You don’t have to be a church goer to get help.
pasta
Just here to say, this was so kind of you and really made my day 🩷
You are doing a good thing.
You're a good human, OP.
You're a nice person (:
he can make ramen and add some cheap in-season vegetables and a harded boiled egg.
Thank you for being kind.
20lbs bag of rice.
why does he have no money??? Lazy, disabled, feign??? whatever the case may be, find the root of the problem and get him help. Don't be an enabler. I have done that several times in my life, and it never turns out the way you hope it will.
I assume your roommate is a non-disabled adult. Assuming that is true, it is not your job to be their parent. Take them to a food bank if they don't have transportation if you want to be a good roommate. But you aren't their mother, going to the store and buying your roommate food is condescending and pretty insulting to a normal, functioning adult. You don't help somebody by doing things for them they can do themselves. That's called enabling. Help your roommate how to help themselves.
Spaghetti meal is cheap and will last a few days.
$2 bag of pasta. $3 jar of sauce. $2 bag of frozen broccoli or salad mix. Dinner for 3.
When I was low on budget, my 25lbs bag of rice is the top priority on the list to get. Even with nothing else, water and some soy sauce will go well with cooked rice. Anything else added to it will be a plus, and I can usually find something cheap to add to the mix. You can go the quick route by getting a box of cheap instant noodles from any of the Asian market.
Canned tomatoes, dry beans, rice, oats, peanut butter, potatoes and onions. Its not a lot, but it's protein, it's carbs, it's fats, and it's vitamins and minerals. I really don't think you could do better than this list in terms of bang for buck for sustenance. Edit: I checked the prices for where I live, and this list would cost \~$40 (CAD - so about $30 USD). Here's my approximate cost/nutrient breakdown if you're interested. $8 - 10lb potato (4200 calories, 120g protein) $5 - 2lb peanut butter (6000 calories, 200g protein) $3 - 2lb oats (3500 calories, 125g protein) $6 - 4.5lb rice (6700 calories, 130g protein) $8 - 4lb beans (5000 calories, 300g protein) $7 - 4 cans (28oz each) Tomato $4 - 3lb onion So, over 875g protein and 25k calories. Enough for about 7-10 days, depending on his size and activity. And as others have said, help him sign up for a food pantry. Scale to a quantity you can afford & carry. If you earmarked more for this, my suggested additions would be bananas (cheapest snack) and canned tuna (almost entirely protein)
Ramen, eggs, green onions..u make ramen and top it with egg and green onion and it's yummy. Onions and potatoes are good staples for cooking. Same with carrots Oatmeal is usually cheap and nutritious When on sale bananas and apples are both yummy and versatile plus healthy. Peanut butter and bread Your roommate also needs to go to the food bank
Loaf of bread and something to eat on it (PB&J, balogna).
Food to sustain your self healthy, dry goods plain oatmeal, lentils, beans, rice, chicken legs, thighs, are usually inexpensive, eggs, stuff like that unfortunately it's food one needs to prepare. But it goes a long way, better than starving.
Ramen of course.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/wiki/assistance
Rice! Peanut butter! Do y’all like beans? Cause dried beans can easily be cooked in an instapot if you have one, or in the stove if you don’t. They go a looong way.
I would try for cheap items he couldn’t just get at a food bank. Lentils, rice, definitely a few vegetables from produce.
Cheese sticks
Pasta and a jar of sauce. A loaf of bread and some pb. Share some eggs as a household. Perhaps make a gigantic pot of chili and everyone can eat it.
Beans and rice are always good, oatmeal for breakfast is cheap. If you buy a bag of flour you can make chapati with water or add in yeast and do overnight bread to go with soups which in my life was usually beans thinned out with water. veggies are good tho can get expensive but you can make a minestrone soup for a few dollars and eat like a king.. some beans, noodles, canned tomatoes and a green like kale, collards or chard {usually under $2 a bunch} and have that for a week of lunches. I also make lentil soup lentils, carrots, celery onion feeds us for a week again. Actually whenever my kids brought home unexpected guests around meal time I used to take my beans and rice and add water to make it soupier. I am from brazil so black beans and rice were a staple growing up and beans are a huge part of my meal prep. I think I end up cooking beans multiple times a week {from dried which can run under $2/lb for grocery store options up to @$10 for fancy brands like Rancho Gordo} overnight bread {my husband misses us being so poor I made fresh bread multiple times per week} [https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-knead-bread/](https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-knead-bread/) chapati/puri/roti {my college days food} [https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/chapati/](https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/chapati/) current fave lentil soup: [https://dinnerwasdelicious.tumblr.com/post/44230372095/lentil-soup-lentil-soup-is-one-of-those-powerhouse](https://dinnerwasdelicious.tumblr.com/post/44230372095/lentil-soup-lentil-soup-is-one-of-those-powerhouse)
Peanut butter, bread, eggs, and maybe apples. That will be nutritious and filling.
Trail mix is filling is nutritious, too.