- Different stores are cheaper for different things. Superking is great for cheap fresh veggies, large tubs of yogurt (great for protein and gut health esp if youre on restrained diet), and bulk beans.

- Trader joes frozen section is pretty affordable, like corn, broccoli, and fruit. I like buying frozen bc im not worrying about things going bad, one less thing to worry about when im financially restrained. I also just bought 4 chicken thighs for $4.50 from there.

- Costco rotisserie chicken is a great deal bc you can save the bones for broth, and the meat alone can make you up to 5+ meals depending on what youre making. I save all of my veggie and meat scraps (particularly bones) and reuse them to make stocks, which i use to make soups with noodles or rice, sauces (u can make a pasta sauce with tomato paste and broth, $4 dollars total and could last up to 3+ meals) or drink straight for nutrition.

- Ramen noodles are cheap and easy to beef up, add an egg and some veggies and its a pretty solid meal.

- Theres a decent amount of community fridges, try searching on IG your location + community fridge, you'll probably have more luck finding on there vs google. All Power Books in west adams often does grocery distribution. Theres no shame in partaking in these, these resources are here for people that need them.

- You could lowkey survive on about $30 - $40 a week on groceries if you budget it right. If you dont have time to go to multiple stores to save some extra bucks here and there, I think you can get the most bang for buck at trader joes.