Feeding a family on a tight budget is one of the trickiest things you can do in this life. For 25 years, TikToker Francesca (@findingfrancesca_), who is based in New Jersey, was broke and had to rely on food pantries to get by.
Now, she’s using her firsthand experience to show people what she did not just to survive but to thrive during hard times.
“I know a lot of people are struggling with SNAP benefits ending in the federal shutdowns,” said Francesca. “People aren’t getting paid, and it’s just a hard time for everyone.”
When she was low on cash, Francesca became a master of strategic grocery shopping. She would often do her grocery shopping at Dollar Tree or Family Dollar.
Most of the time, the latter would be too expensive for her to afford, so she stuck to Dollar Tree as her go-to spot. If you’re ever in a pinch and need to make a few dollars stretch into multiple meals, that’s exactly where you should go.
Francesca admits that not everything at Dollar Tree is a winner. For example, she does not recommend buying the meat under any circumstances. But the veggies are always fair game.
Frozen veggies are affordable, versatile, and an important part of your everyday diet. You can build a surprising number of meals around them if you get creative.
Carbs are another essential way to power through lean times. She suggests getting Texas toast or potatoes for carbs because they are filling, cheap, and easy to prepare.
The bean burritos and frozen pizzas were staples for her as well. The pizzas are a bit pricier at $5 each, but it’s unlikely frozen pizzas would be cheaper anywhere else.
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Everyone needs their bread, and English muffins and bagels are definitely worth getting at Dollar Tree. Don’t even get her started on seasonings.
These helped her turn basic, bland ingredients into tasty meals. Hot tip: Francesca also used to love the pasta salad.
Francesca wanted to take the time to utilize her platform and share her strategies so that others don’t feel ashamed or alone when money is tight. Throughout the years, she has learned what is worth spending money on and what isn’t.
Even though she is now on more stable footing, she is paying it forward by passing on that knowledge to those who may not be aware of all the little tips and tricks. After all, it was the small but smart decisions that kept her going when things felt bleak.
Hopefully, her video will help a lot of people out there, especially as grocery prices continue to climb.
And with winter rolling in, food insecurity hits twice as hard. At the end of the day, you deserve to eat well, no matter your financial situation!
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
