Eating on almost nothing, without hating every meal.
These guides are for “I have $20 until payday” weeks, bare cupboards, and zero energy. No “just meal prep for 5 hours” advice — just realistic food survival plans.
A simple, step-by-step plan to turn $20 and whatever’s already in your kitchen into 3–5 days of food. Includes a shopping list, a tiny meal plan, and a “use-it-up” pantry sweep checklist.
- • $20 shopping list with prices you can tweak.
- • 5–7 basic meal ideas repeated in different ways.
- • How to stretch eggs, rice, beans, and frozen veggies.
A list of ultra-cheap meals that don’t feel like punishment: think rice bowls, soups, pasta, and “throw it in a pan” dinners.
- • Meals sorted by cost per serving.
- • Options for picky eaters & low-energy days.
- • Ideas for using leftovers, not wasting them.
How to add one or two budget items at a time so future you has a few things to fall back on when money drops again.
- • Tiered pantry list: “add this when you can”.
- • What actually gets used vs. what just sits there.
- • Cheap flavor boosters to stop food being sad.
For nights where chopping an onion feels like too much. Sheet-pan meals, one-pot meals, and “dump in slow cooker” options.
- • 10-minute one-pan meals.
- • Slow cooker / Instant Pot ideas.
- • Minimal dishes, minimal cleanup.
A simple 7-day meal outline you can tweak depending on your prices and what’s on sale this week.
- • Printable one-week menu template.
- • Shopping list example with swaps.
- • Notes section for allergies & preferences.