Budget Crunch Leads to Spam Cravings
by Steve Watters on 05/29/2008 at 1:40 PM
When the economy is down, Spam sales go up.
"Sales of Spam rise as consumers trim food costs." That's one of the news headlines from the San Francisco Chronicle this week:
What was once cheeky, silly and the subject of a musical (as Monty Python mocked the meat in a can), is now back on the table as people turn to the once-snubbed meat as costs rise, analysts say.
Unfortunately, an increase in food costs has spilled over to Spam:
The price of Spam is up too, with the average 12 oz. can costing about $2.62. That's an increase of 17 cents, or nearly 7 percent, from the same time last year.
I wonder if $2.62 still seems a little rich for some of our readers. I know that was beyond my price range at certain points of my "hungry years" -- especially when I got down to the "Meals Ready to Eat" that my dad sent from the church foodbank.
What kind of effects do financial challenges have on your diet?
1. obewan said the following at 1:45 PM on May 29:
When I was in college, a can of Campbells tomatoe soup cost $.25. My roommate and I used to scrape our pennies together to split a can on Sunday nights when there was no food service. The "rich" kids ate pizza of course.
2. Christina (in green) said the following at 1:54 PM on May 29:
Pretty soon, I will be living on $50 yogurt and tap water.
Downside - very little variety, doubtless I won't be getting all my nutrients and will be relying on a cheap supplement.
Upside - I'll finally manage to lose that last 15 lbs. Especially since to avoid sky rocketing gas prices, I'll be resorting to a bike for most of my transportation.
3. Frank H said the following at 1:58 PM on May 29:
I'm eating more Quaker Oatmeal from Costco. It is inexpensive, healthy, and very fast (2m30s in the microwave). With some honey or raisins, it's a perfect staple for any meal. Serious.
4. Marie said the following at 2:21 PM on May 29:
Hurrah for stores that sell just past expiration or container damaged food cheap...
Great time to practice the spiritual discipline of fasting
5. DannieA said the following at 2:24 PM on May 29:
The best thing for most meals is a big bag of rice....and beans...
for us hispanic people...this is the ultimate "poor food" that can last. Those big bags of rice (not the instant in a box) last a while, especially if it's just 1 or 2 people on it.
6. Patricia C said the following at 2:25 PM on May 29:
Rice. And lots of it. Rice and frozen veggies. Rice with a little bit of meat. Rice and eggs. Even rice and spam. A giant bag will cost 10 bucks but it will last me six months or so. Yes, I'm asian, why do you ask? :)
7. Tami said the following at 2:30 PM on May 29:
Saving money means:
Buying what's in season
Buying big tubs o'lettuce instead of always eating at the work salad bar
Bringing lunch
Farmer's markets
Coupons
Deciding whether the drive to the "cheaper" grocery store to pick up a couple things is really worth it, considering I can walk to the "more expensive" one (for most things, it's a wash considering gas prices)
8. Rachel L said the following at 2:48 PM on May 29:
I'm currently on a raw vegan diet, so my grocery bills are skyrocketing. I'm rather dreading having to abandon my newfound favorite foods...and that picture of Spam didn't help much. :)
I'm going to start trolling about farmers markets and produce stands to find cheaper produce, only buy things on sale, etc.
9. Jess said the following at 3:04 PM on May 29:
Less meat in the diet; I haven't had any in 2 days. Buying whatever produce is on sale (the local farmer's market is good for this). My grocery store was charging $6 for a carton of (bruised) strawberries this week. Ridiculous. Anyway, I buy store brands, drink tap water, add more rice and pasta to meals to stretch them, sometimes cut down to 2 meals per day. I downgraded from spinach or romaine to iceberg and cabbage for salads. I get creative with whatever is in my pantry before shopping for more food. There are more meals of pancakes, omelets, off-brand cereal, and tuna in my diet. And I plan my meals ahead a lot more.
I was really broke one summer when I had just graduated college and moved to a new state and was between jobs, and I had enough savings to live on approx. $5/day, so I ate 2 meals every day, cut out meat entirely, and ate smaller meals. I didn't go out to eat, but had potlucks with friends instead. I also walked everywhere. I lost 20lbs. that summer, which was a nice side effect. I call it the poverty diet. :) I'm adjusting back to a diet similar to that now because my grocery bill has just gotten out of control.
10. Melanie said the following at 3:07 PM on May 29:
I've joined a food co-op that provides a pre-packaged box of food once monthly. They have them in lots of cities (Angel Food Boxes) or in the northeast it's Serve New England. The boxes are $25-$30/month and provide a mix of fresh produce and frozen meats and other dry goods. The only catch is you get what you get, no exchanges. It certainly inspires you to eat interesting things. . . I've learned to love the parsnip.
11. Matt said the following at 3:18 PM on May 29:
When I moved back to the States from Japan, I brought home my rice cooker.
I can eat super cheap by buying a giant sack of rice and then garnishing it with whatever veggies and meat happens to be cheap at any given time.
Even in central Tokyo I was able to eat for less than $150 a month.
12. nikki said the following at 3:37 PM on May 29:
I've eaten my share of twice-a-day oatmeal to save money. Buy a nice big off-brand can of it, and throw whatever you can in there to make it taste...not like cardboard. It's really healthy. It's also good to buy a large container of cheap yogurt. Healthy and filling.
I've never really had any true 'lean years' though...I eat carefully to save money, not because I don't have money. I like to eat carefully most of the week, then I let myself have a nice meal or two on the weekends if I go out with friends or something.
13. k. said the following at 4:21 PM on May 29:
Maybe it's my potluck-Baptist roots, but I really want to invite some of these people over for dinner! :) Christina, sweetie -- you need more than supplements and yogurt!
14. Chris said the following at 4:29 PM on May 29:
I'd say I eat less meat than I would like.....grrrr, it's grilling season, too! For the "nice" stuff, we usually wait until it's on sale for $0.99/lb then stock up the downstairs freezer. I will splurge on items (like a roast) that will make a dinner and then several leftover lunches.
We also keep an eye out for soups and TV dinners that are on sale. They make great lunches on those days when I don't have leftovers (once or twice a week). Swanson's was on sale for $0.79/ea a couple of weeks ago. That's $1.58 for a hearty lunch (I eat two)!
I love it when the ramen is on sale for something like 10 cents a cup/pack.
15. Jane said the following at 4:34 PM on May 29:
i eat one meal a day. thats it. no more. and i eat a lot of air popped plain popcorn.
16. Nicole said the following at 4:37 PM on May 29:
Spam is what we call an inferior good. :)
Yeah, I eat rice and frozen veggies with soy sauce. Let me say, cheap meal. I eat rice with pretty much everything, very filling.
And I'm not Asain :)
Also, taking a cooler and raiding my parents freezer is a nice option for meat. My dad hunts which is very convenient.
Pasta is pretty cheap as well. It's not too bad with a little butter (butter is expensive but it lasts forever!).
17. Chelsey said the following at 4:38 PM on May 29:
I live with roommates but mostly just cook for myself and sometimes for my boyfriend. I just graduated from college, so my food budget is not big.
I really like to cook, so I try to experiment. I cook with chicken, which isn't too expensive, and recently discovered ground turkey, which is much cheaper than (and can taste almost the same as) ground beef.
Recently, I almost completely stopped using cheese in my cooking because it's so expensive. Instead, I try to modify by using cream cheese or adding a variety of spices.
18. Cassandra said the following at 4:59 PM on May 29:
During my leanest times, I was thankfully a: living in the campus dorms (as opposed to the apartments I had hoped for) so the meal plan was included, and b: started dating my boyfriend, who has a good heart and a generous streak a mile wide, and helped me through some of the tighter points. However, I have a feeling the worst is yet to come due to personal issues, student teaching, and constantly rising prices of everything. We'll see what happens in those times.
19. Heather said the following at 5:11 PM on May 29:
Food is important. I'd rather spend more on it, and avoid the doctor bill later. If something needs to be cut out, it will be cable tv.
20. Bethany said the following at 5:51 PM on May 29:
My family of 11 has always had a monthly food budget of less than/around $700... Lately we've stopped drinking milk almost at all, and using powdered milk to cook with. We never have juice: just water all the time. A garden has just gone in and we'll be making and freezing a ginormous amount of homemade tomato sauce in a few months, besides having other fresh vegetables. Meat is bought at great sale prices (boneless skinless chicken tenders for $.99/lb if you buy 40 lbs!).
21. Gene said the following at 5:52 PM on May 29:
I like Spam!
22. BDB said the following at 6:42 PM on May 29:
No meat, eh? I've got a certain brand to high-sodium,fat-free ham I really like (Hormel Curemaster if you can find it). True, it costs $10 a pop. But I get a lot more than 10 meals out of one ham, so the most expensive part of the meal is $1. And it's so low in fat, nothing is wasted in the cooking. Very low fat ground beef is more expensive, but it doesn't shrink much when grilled.
I'll note that a box of 48 packets of Top Ramen is $5 at Costco. Of course, you need a membership, or a friend with a membership. (And after mentioning that to my church small group, one of them gave me a Top Ramen cook book...)
Here's a boring example. At some grocery stores you can buy a couple of hard-boiled eggs. And then some fruit. Lunch for less than $2.
Finally, sugar-free Swiss Miss hot cocoa goes nicely with employer-purchased coffee. Leave the "luxury" coffee as a "luxury!"
Though Matt's comments remind me that I have a WOK pot, and everything can be stir-fried...
23. Rachael said the following at 7:05 PM on May 29:
Well, it's not for financial reasons (though perhaps that should be one of the reasons), but sandwiches play a major role in my daily intake. Making things for social stuff costs a bit, but that's okay - people are worth it :).
24. Amy P. said the following at 8:45 PM on May 29:
Three cheers for Aldi...
For those of you who are not familiar, Aldi is a chain of small-sized grocery stores that carries mainly their own brands and has cheap veggies. Down sides...you pay for paper/plastic bags, must pay using cash or pin based debit, push your own cart, etc.
If you have one near you and haven't tried it yet, try it!!! It's totally worth it!
25. Allison said the following at 8:53 PM on May 29:
I have started eating a lot of lentils, whole wheat pasta, and of course, oatmeal (as another reader suggested). Not at the same time, though!
26. A. said the following at 9:25 PM on May 29:
this is why I am glad to be the type of person who actually CRAVES Ramen noodle soup (A pack of chicken flavored Ramen noodle soup with carrots thrown in is my idea of comfort food, as it was one of my favorite dishes of my childhood...)
27. Leah said the following at 9:27 PM on May 29:
SALES! I'm only just in the process of moving out of home (getting married tomorrow!) but I've been helping with the grocery shopping etc for my fiance for the last 4 weeks since he's been living on his own. Of course it isn't a realistic reflection because he's been eating a lot at my place, and sometimes at his parents' place, and we've had to buy other stuff that you only end up buying every so often, like salt, oil, etc. But at the moment I think our grocery bill seems to be very reasonable- I'm definitely a bargain hunter and when I see packet meals on sale I jump on them.
Unfortunately I've been raised to believe ready-to-eat meals are more expensive than buying the ingredients and making it yourself, and while this is GENERALLY true, when they come on sale they're the more economical choice!
Oh and also, unless meat gets CRAZY expensive, I'm not losing that out of my diet. I love my meat and it's healthy. (Provided of course you don't eat HEAPS of it).
Jane- one meal a day? I'm dead serious when I say that isn't healthy.
Another thing I have to adjust to is buying for only TWO people. There are six people in my family, and while I don't do the grocery shopping for us, over the years I've often gone with my Mum and I'm used to buying bulk, which while that is cheaper for 6 people, it is not the most economical choice for 2 people who currently do not eat at home much. I haven't done too badly, but we have lost some bread and mince which has gone mouldy/ gone off :(
28. DannieA said the following at 11:57 PM on May 29:
sorry to burst the frozen meal bargains people, but the sodium in those things are crazy high...so unless one really has to, I would avoid at all costs.
29. Sarah22 said the following at 12:41 AM on May 30:
Some of my fav foods that are fairly cheap and carry you much longer than favorites like ramen noodles and white rice:
Eggs (in *most* parts of the country they are very cheap)
Cottage cheese (again, protein, will fill you up)
Yogurt
Tuna Fish
Lean deli meats (limit servings though as they usually have a high sodium content)
Bananas
Oatmeal
Canned pineapple
Peanut butter (I prefer natural)
Also, didn't notice anyone mention that canned veggies (although not as good as fresh) are a great cheap food source...a can of green beans is like .97 cents!
To me there are so many other things I would cut out of my budget so that I could eat right if I was on an extremely tight budget (I am on pinching pennies currently but not to the extent that some of you seem to be :) - I had a friend that stocked up on junk to save money but had wireless internet, cable T.V. * spent loads on diet soda every week when she could've drank water...
It takes time and effort to eat right, but I try to remember that my body is a temple and just as I wouldn't fill my mind with junk I won't fill my body with it either...
Sorry this is SO long but it's something I'm passionate about :) I get slightly peeved when people seem to wear a badge of pride about how cheap they can eat when it's things like ramen noodles and white rice :o
I pray you all will find healthy & cheap foods that fit into your budget!
30. Laurel said the following at 7:58 AM on May 30:
I am totally with Heather (19) -- food and a good, healthy diet are far too important to sacrifice or skimp on. In agreeance with Leah (27): Jane (15)! You need to eat more than one meal a day! That is unhealthy for a wide variety of reasons, which I won't go into here, but I'm sure you can figure out on your own or through just a bit of research.
Back to my original point. Sure, prices are steadily increasing for everything, including food, but please, friends, don't make cuts in your spending where food and diet are involved! If anything, eat out less (cooking for yourself really does save you money) and follow some of the other advice on here, like going to local farmer's markets, using coupons, etc. In the long run, eating healthy now is going to save you from poor health down the road and thus high medical expenses.
Additionally, I firmly believe that we are called to care for our bodies, and cutting corners where diet (and therefore health) is concerned does not seem to me to be a good way of caring for the bodies that God has given us.
31. Julia H said the following at 8:30 AM on May 30:
Alison (25): Haha. I have made chili using 1 part ground meat to 3 parts oatmeal and lots of beans. It tasted suprisingly good!
Also, oatmeal makes an excellent filler in hamburgers. You just have to remember to add an egg so that it will all stick together.
I highly recommend purchasing dried beans and lentils and soaking them yourself as it is much cheaper than buying canned.
Cabbage is a cheap and highly nutritious substitute for lettuce salad (just remember to shred or finely chop it.)
Learn to make borscht. It is my favorite soup and it's cheap and full of vitamins. The main ingredients are beef broth, beets, cabbage, tomatos, carrots, and ground beef if you can afford it.
Starchy foods like rice and potatos are always the cheapest part of any meal. I highly advocate potatos, provided you don't load them with fatty toppings. You can throw a potato in a microwave and top it with salsa for a delicious and nutritious low fat meal. Potatos are actually loaded with vitamins!
You can grow a few herbs in a windowsill to save on purchased spices. It's really easy and fun too.
32. Louise said the following at 9:20 AM on May 30:
Re comment 24, one can always bring one's own bags to Aldi.
Aldi stores are going up all over the place here in Chicagoland.
Another drawback however is long checkout lines and complete absence of magazines to read in those lines.
Re comment 4, I recommend caution re expired food/damaged cans. I've been borderline ill since Wed., possibly from eating something bad, and it's not worth the risk of sickness.
33. Jeni said the following at 10:03 AM on May 30:
It is an art form to be able to inexpensively and healthily. I'm still developing this particular art.
It is exciting that with summer comes farmer's markets. Farmer's markets help a shopper get produce at better prices. It also helps the farmer pay for their gas to get them to the market to sell their produce.
34. DannieA said the following at 10:15 AM on May 30:
Sarah22
white rice isn't bad if you mix it with veggies, meat, egg, beans....much better if you make it the old fashion way than if you do frozen meals...
35. Amir Larijani said the following at 10:44 AM on May 30:
Ramen noodles was one of my fundamental food groups in college:
1. Donuts
2. Coffee
3. Pizza
4. Ramen noodles
For really quick meals, there was always Twinkies, Moon Pies, and standard candy bars.
36. Amir Larijani said the following at 10:46 AM on May 30:
You can also get a can of Vienna Sausage for a little over 40 cents. I sometimes add that to my rice, which I get for under a buck for a package. End-result: a high-carb, high-sodium, high-fat meal for under $2.
Of course, two hours on an elliptical cross trainer burns all that off and then some.
37. Allison said the following at 10:59 AM on May 30:
Laurel (#30): I agree with you. We shouldn't compromise nutrition to cut back on our grocery bills. We do have to take care of our bodies.
My husband and I have learned a few tips on eating both healthy and cheap:
1) Plan out your menu for the week. This is huge. It has saved us a good deal of money over the past year. Instead of going to the store and buying what looks good (or is on sale), we make a plan for what we'll buy that week and then go buy those specific items and little (if any) more. We have alloted a certain amount per week for our grocery budget. That way we have a goal to work toward.
2) Don't just buy what tastes good. Buy what is actually good for you. For example, yes, boxed au gratin potatoes might sound pretty good, but 2 fresh sweet potatoes have a much higher nutritional content, and they don't cost much. Another great way to add nutrition is brown rice. It doesn't cost much more, but it has way more nutrtional value than the white kind. Instead of potatoe chips, eat whole grain crackers. If you buy the store brand, these are usually pretty cheap.
3) You don't need steak and potatoes at every meal. All you really need in a day is a 3oz serving of meat. That's about the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand. By not buying large amounts of meat, we do save a good deal. We actually don't eat it with every meal, but we do try to have it in at least several of our meals every week.
4) There are other (cheaper) sources of protein out there. Eggs are high in protein and usually pretty inexpensive. Why not have one hardboiled egg with lunch? Beans are high in protein, and of course, the ever popular Peanut Butter. :)
38. Loris said the following at 11:14 AM on May 30:
I can live on stir fried cabbage and rice. I grew up in Asia, so that's comfort food anyway. And I second the windowsill herb thing. I have basil and sage in pots on the porch.
39. Bethany D. said the following at 11:17 AM on May 30:
Coupons and sales-shopping. There are four grocery stores within a reasonable shopping distance, so every week I compare their ads & match the best sales with the best coupons. It takes maybe an hour and saves at least $5 a week - and even beyond the financial benefit, I love the thrill of hunt! There's nothing in the world like the feeling you get when your receipt says that you 'saved' more than you spent!
40. DannieA said the following at 11:38 AM on May 30:
Another idea...if you are like me and work in public schools where you get paid once a month (which actually makes for good and accurate budgeting)
build a base for the month...meaning at the beginning of the month buy food that lasts and that you can eat if all else fails....(e.g. rice, pasta, beans, etc.) and then every week make a menu in your head and buy the extras....(e.g. veggies, fruit, etc.) therefore giving you time to look through coupons, plan out your meals and not having to buy a lot every week, just the perishables and extras to make a meal.
It's so common nowadays...but take lunch to work, don't eat out....
and if you budget...take out a set amount of cash at the beginning of the month and if you use it all on eating out the first week then you can't do it for the rest of the month...if you save up, you can splurge at the end of the month with a meal or a dinner with friends.
I think the key will always go back to budgeting.
41. Jane said the following at 2:43 PM on May 30:
thanks for the concern, Leah and others, but until i find a job for the summer (my internship fell through), i have just enough money to pay house bills. and there is no money to buy food. i call it the "coffee and toast" diet. hopefully it wont be for too much longer.
42. k. said the following at 4:08 PM on May 30:
Jane -- Okay, I admit it...I'm just appalled by this one-meal-a-day plan. You can't even afford rice and beans?? I'd encourage you to stop by a food pantry, or your church, etc. Or tell your friends about your situation and see if they want to start an "ask jane to dinner!" program. I can imagine that you wouldn't feel like doing any of these, but eating popcorn, toast, and coffee is just a nutritional nightmare. It will make everything harder for you, including getting together the energy to look for a job.
(Great, now I feel like someone's mom here...)
43. Helen said the following at 4:41 PM on May 30:
I live a vegan lifestyle so I find that I am not affected in the slightest and continue to live healthy and happily with no concern about the price of meat!
Thank God for veggies.
44. Kirsty said the following at 10:28 PM on May 30:
So, food prices have gone up all over the world then? And here I was just thinking food was getting expensive here in New Zealand. One of the best things in my apartment is a boxed herb garden that my Mum gave me as a house warming present. And...another piece of advice - 'waste not want not'applies to rotten bananas which can be mashed up and put in the freezer for banana cakes, and apples that have been sitting around for a while can be stewed and frozen and used later in apple pie etc. It has been kind of fun working out all sorts of ways to cut down on food costs.
45. Jane said the following at 12:08 AM on May 31:
i live in ann arbor. you would not believe how much rice and beans cost here. (for those who don't know, ann arbor is the location of the university of michigan, and is a lovely college town near detroit).
46. Esther said the following at 8:52 AM on May 31:
I know fresh fruits and veggies can be extremely expensive in stores, but I am absolutely convinced that they are a necessary part of anyone's diet. There are a few things I've learned that may help you get them cheaper. First, grow your own. Gardens can be a lot of work, but it's rewarding, good exercise, and the freshness can't be beat. Second, go to the farm. Search out a local farm that offers pick-your-own, which is usually somewhat cheaper, you can get a larger amount, to freeze or can. Third, farmer's markets can be a great way to get local, in-season produce. Fourth, see if your community has any sort of CSA (community supported agriculture) where you can 'subscribe' to get regular allotments of in-season produce.
As for meat- when I was growing up, my family would go in with another family to buy a whole or half cow from a local farm. The farm would slaughter, cut up, and package the meat, which we picked up frozen and kept in the freezer until we needed it. The great thing was that we got all the cuts- great steaks, ground beef, stew meat, at significant savings over retail. Not to mention that we knew the cow had been raised locally, and never saw one of those feedlots.
And a plug for hunting, at least in certain parts of the country, there is always a surplus of deer. Venison is a lean meat, and very tasty when prepared correctly. If you have any hunter friends, be sure to ask them for some meat, they usually are happy to share. Not to mention that you'll get back a little from all those shrubs the deer ate!
47. Mariana said the following at 3:34 PM on Jun 1:
Before my husband and I got married we both learned how to cook. You can save a LOT of money if you make things from scratch. It is also a lot healthier than those ready-made meals... they are usually full of additives, sodium and fat.
When we cook we always make twice as much as we need, and freeze one meal. It takes about the same time to cook and it's very convenient to have something in the freezer for when you don't have time to cook.
48. Scottie said the following at 6:47 AM on Jun 2:
Whoa!!
This is an awesome thread!! I didn't know so many people work with the same mentality of cutting costs. It is understandable to minimize as much as possible, but at the same time, it may not be healthy to sacrifice your health and the body God has given you.
I commute about 70 miles a day and eat only PB&J for my breakfast/lunch. I've done this for the past 6 months after taking a new job and moving home. Sure, it gets bland and challenging, but I change it up with different breads and jellies and such. From my perspective, I get the sweets from the jelly, the protien from the peanut butter, and carbs from the bread. I'll keep it up as long as possible, but am surely cutting major costs that way. Sure, I'm famished when I get home, but that's where things get even more interesting...
Blessings to all on your cost cutting.
On a different note, how do the lifestyles we live (super-efficient) as consumers play a role in our general economy? Are there better places and things to buy that have a broader benefit? Just a thought...
Scottie
49. Anne said the following at 10:57 AM on Jun 3:
I had to become a vegitarian for health reasons, and it turns out it is a much less expensive way to live:)
50. Julia H said the following at 12:42 PM on Jun 3:
Fresh fruit and veggies can be expensive. You can save some money by buying the no name mixed frozen veggies. Buy fresh produce in season only. Learn to cook new things like cabbage, yams, turnips, squash, etc. that may be cheaper. Look for discounts on bruised or overripe fruits at some grocery stores. Consider buying raisins or dried prunes for fruit snacks.
I will also say that eating a diet that consists of only bread, coffee and popcorn is a very good way to become malnourished. Please visit a food bank or ask for help if you really can't afford food. Scurvey is a really, really nasty disease!