How to Eat Cheap/Free - 5 Ideas to Stretch Your Food Budget

  • Thread starter Thread starter Math Is Hard
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for stretching food budgets, particularly in the context of financial constraints faced by students. Participants share various ideas and experiences related to inexpensive meal options, food-sharing practices, and creative ways to obtain food without spending much money.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests making "Wolram soup," a large pot of soup that can be continuously added to as it is consumed.
  • Another proposes taking advantage of free samples at grocery stores like Whole Foods.
  • Happy hour buffets at local bars are mentioned as a potential source of food, though it requires someone else to purchase a drink.
  • Several participants humorously suggest unconventional methods, such as getting a boyfriend to pay for meals or luring squirrels for food.
  • Potlucks among struggling students are recommended as a way to share food and resources.
  • Ramen noodles and lentils are highlighted as inexpensive meal options, with some participants sharing their personal experiences with these foods.
  • One participant expresses a desire for simpler and quicker meal options to reduce their daily food costs.
  • Concerns about the healthiness of ramen noodles are raised, with suggestions for healthier alternatives like chicken soup and rice.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants share a variety of ideas and experiences, but there is no clear consensus on the best methods for stretching a food budget. Different opinions on the taste and healthiness of certain foods, such as ramen noodles, also emerge, indicating a range of personal preferences and experiences.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the feasibility of reducing daily food costs significantly, while others share anecdotes that highlight the variability of food prices in different locations.

Who May Find This Useful

Students or individuals facing financial constraints who are looking for creative and low-cost meal solutions may find this discussion beneficial.

  • #91
tribdog said:
I also drank one of those energy drinks that has alcohol in it. It's always possible that had something to do with me feeling sick. It was absolutely horrible. It has wormwood oil in it. I thought wormwood was poisonous.

Lol... What?! Are they making absinthe energy drinks now?
I've drank 'Sparks' and 'Joose' and neither have effected badly. I've seen some others but haven't been inclined to try them since they look more like simple malt liquor with caffeine and such added.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #92
that's why I bought it. I read an article on absinthe once. this stuff is called four maxed. it's 10% alcohol. Very very bitter. I think the bitterness is from the wormwood. I don't know why I think that, but its as good a guess as any.
 
  • #93
I've discovered the fast food "dollar" menu. It's not great food, but cheap and convenient.
 
  • #94
That's interesting. I may have to look for that.

From what I have been told wormwood is poisonous in large doses. This is supposedly why 'real' absinthe was illegalized in the states but apparently that changed just recently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_absinthium

HA! Apparently it is commonly used as a stomach medicine.
 
  • #95
I drink alcohol with energy somewhat often. Depends how much money I have in my wallet. Only those in shot format and I'll do like 3 in a row and that keeps me up. (Normally do it if I didn't sleep the night before.)

I remember my buddy tried it with me but then he woke up with heart pain in the morning and never drank it again.

Normally, my preferred shot is called an Uppercut. It's my favourite. Unfortunately, most bars have no idea what it is.
 
  • #96
so what is it?
 
  • #97
TheStatutoryApe said:
HA! Apparently it is commonly used as a stomach medicine.

that's funny. I don't recommend this stuff. It doesn't taste good.
 
  • #98
10% alcohol doesn't take long to give you a pretty good buzz though.
 
  • #99
What are lentils? I'm sitting here eating them and I don't even know what they are. Can I plant a lentil and grow a lentil tree?
I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm going to take a nap. I'd appreciate it if some people would reply to some threads. I'm getting tired of hitting my refresh waiting for someone to say something so I can reply.
 
Last edited:
  • #100
I'd guess the wormwood made you ill over anything else. Whatever is in it in large doses to be poisonous obviously doesn't agree with you in small doses.
 
  • #101
tribdog said:
What are lentils? I'm sitting here eating them and I don't even know what they are. Can I plant a lentil and grow a lentil tree?

They're a legume, a bit like peas, or beans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lentil
 
  • #102
Legume! I was trying to think of that word when I responded earlier but couldn't. Thank you for reminding me.
 
  • #103
I hate lentils, I even hated the movie Yentl, cause it sounded like lentil.
 
  • #104
hypatia said:
I hate lentils, I even hated the movie Yentl, cause it sounded like lentil.
That's just mental. The movie is trancendental. Be gentle and get it again from the rental. As for the lentil, one cent'll get you ten your problem is dental.
 
  • #105
jimmysnyder said:
That's just mental. The movie is trancendental. Be gentle and get it again from the rental. As for the lentil, one cent'll get you ten your problem is dental.

hahaha. why must you torment poor hypatia.

And did you seriously judge a movie based on the sound of the title? Thats a tad extreme!