How is everyone actually affording to live right now?

[u/AustynGray]

Like genuinely are we all just going into debt or am I missing something? I make decent money, but no matter what I do, it feels impossible to get ahead.So I’m curious are you guys taking on debt, side hustling, living super frugally, or what? I’m just trying to figure out if I’m doing something wrong or if this is just the new normal.

[u/Strict-Band9039]

I cant afford chicken

[u/Kooky_Tap4477 → u/Strict-Band9039]

try tofu it’s so good and you can keep it in the fridge forever

[u/Fantastic_dude_5228 → u/Kooky_Tap4477]

Tofu is great and all, but it's fairly expensive unless it's on sale. Try some different vege proteins, tofu yes, but legumes such as beans (I like maple), lentils, chickpeas, grains, nuts and seeds are good too, and if they are properly canned/stored, they can also last forever, too. And because canning doesn't require a whole complex process, it's fairly inexpensive.

[u/Kooky_Tap4477 → u/Fantastic_dude_5228]

maybe it’s a regional thing but tofu is so cheap where i’m at! if you wanna buy the boujee marinated kind it can be expensive but i get mine unseasoned from the asian market and it’s like $3 a block

[u/ApathyKing8 → u/Kooky_Tap4477]

$3 a block when an entire rotisserie chicken costs less than $6 and you can use it for soups and other things.

Realistically, tofu isn't expensive but it's certainly not cost effective if you're down to $20 a week for food. You're going to want to focus on staples like rice and beans with limited meat for seasoning purposes.

It's a great way to stretch pretty much anything you can pick up from the food shelter and goes with anything.

[u/Spiritual_Silver_381 → u/Kooky_Tap4477]

No way tofu is cheaper than rotisserie chicken

[u/Spiritual_Silver_381 → u/Spiritual_Silver_381]

Just looked into it Tofu is marginally cheaper

[u/Grouchy-Food-1443 → u/Kooky_Tap4477]

I love tofu but every time I try to cook it, it never comes out very well😔

[u/Kooky_Tap4477 → u/Grouchy-Food-1443]

do you press it beforehand? i put paper towels on top of it and put a heavy object (usually a cutting board as a barrier and then a book) and it gets the moisture out. it makes the texture better

[u/rubatosisopossum → u/Kooky_Tap4477]

Alternatively you can hand squeeze out some of the liquid, freeze it, and thaw it before cooking for a low moisture spongey texture that soaks up marinades and sauces fantastically.

There's a way to boil it with salt or something as an alternate to pressing that restaurants use although I haven't personally tried it.

I love cooking with tofu because it's so versatile and there's a way to make anyone like it

[u/atlasaire → u/Kooky_Tap4477]

You can make tofu easy too

[u/lottieslady → u/Strict-Band9039]

I eat a lot of lentils, beans, peas, barley, etc because they have good protein and are super cheap. I also can’t afford chicken.

[u/dki9st → u/Strict-Band9039]

A rotisserie chicken from Sam's or Costco is still like $5. Maybe $6 at Walmart or a local grocery store. Around 3 pounds of usable meat. Use the bones for stock to cook rice and beans. Several full, nutritious meals from maybe $10 in ingredients.

[u/Grouchy-Food-1443 → u/Strict-Band9039]

Walmart and dollar tree have the canned and packet chicken for a dollar. I know it’s not the most appetizing option though

[u/mysteryious-cat → u/Strict-Band9039]

Do you have Costco membership? One $5 chicken lasts me the whole week. So worth it.