Eating on 50 cents a day

OK actors, writers, and assistants scraping by. Everybody has to eat, no getting around that. We're being reminded by this with Thanksgiving coming up (aka fill up while you can on your parents' dime if you're going home - assuming you can afford the flight back) and your grumbling stomach probably helps.

I've decided to keep eating as though I were unemployed to increase my savings as much as possible and have been able to live on about 50 cents a day. Here are some delicious CHEAP meals (inspired by 'A Million By 30' by Alan Corey)

Breakfast
Oatmeal
Cost = 16.5 cents for 1 cup of oatmeal which is 2 servings ($2.50 a drum at Ralph's)
For extra flavor, add flavored creamer & sugar from work (aka 'ghetto oatmeal' which I eat regularly at work)


Lunch
Ramen - that old college standby
Beef, Chicken, Shrimp, Oriental, Roast Beef, Chili, Creamy Chicken, Roast Chicken...
Cost = 16.5 cents each (6 for $1 at the 99-cent store)

Dinner
Beans & Rice - vitamins & protein!
Cost = 17 cents
Add salt, pepper, and/or ramen packets for flavor.

Do this for 30 days and you will not only lose a lot of weight, you will spend on average $15-20 monthly on groceries, which is a major reduction in bills and body mass. Now you can be a thin actor by choice and have money to spare! I don't think this is sustainable long term, but in terms of reaching a financial goal very quickly it is probably doable for 3 months - then you might risk scurvy.

Happy Thanksgiving!