Looking for advice on eating cheap for a week.

[Flatfoot]

I volunteered to work in Dayton for a week, starting Monday. I love traveling for work, because my company pays for a hotel room, I'll get per diem and mileage when I get back and claim it, and the hours and pay are gonna be great. Unfortunately, I goofed up and forgot that I just paid a butt-ton of bills, which will wipe out my account until Thursday next week. However, I remembered that I have a $15 Target gift card. I figure I'll bring some minor groceries with me, but I wanna keep it to stuff that doesn't require refrigeration or microwaving in case the hotel doesn't offer those amenities(which probably rules out ramen and lunch meat. 🙁 ). I can almost guarantee I'm gonna bring PB&J and bread, and I might try potted meat(though I never had it before.). I know there's some fellow broke people out there who know how to eat cheap. Help me out! What's good? 😛

 

[Sanhael]

A belt, with a wide array of holes. Seriously; if you can tighten your belt you don't feel as hungry. I suspect that's where the expression came from.

I would assume (?) that the hotel offers some sort of microwave and/or fridge... it's been a while since I've seen one (with an "h" as opposed to an "m," of course) that didn't. If so, ramen is a good idea. If not, I might suggest that you subtly encourage your company to find a different hotel next time.

Does the hotel offer a free continental breakfast? Pig out. I wouldn't reccomend "burly breakfasting" as a lifestyle choice, but for a couple of weeks? You should recover eventually.

Other than that...

I'm poor, and I frequently can't afford groceries... but I work at KFC.

 

[Flatfoot]

A belt, with a wide array of holes. Seriously; if you can tighten your belt you don't feel as hungry. I suspect that's where the expression came from.

I would assume (?) that the hotel offers some sort of microwave and/or fridge... it's been a while since I've seen one (with an "h" as opposed to an "m," of course) that didn't. If so, ramen is a good idea. If not, I might suggest that you subtly encourage your company to find a different hotel next time.

Does the hotel offer a free continental breakfast? Pig out. I wouldn't reccomend "burly breakfasting" as a lifestyle choice, but for a couple of weeks? You should recover eventually.

Other than that...

I'm poor, and I frequently can't afford groceries... but I work at KFC.

I'm hoping this hotel has free continental breakfast. If so, it is ON. Last time I traveled, I wasn't so lucky and ended up at a Holiday Inn that charged for just about everything. If I got a microwave, ramen's my ace in the hole for dinner. I don't wanna count on something that may not be there, though.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Ziplock bags and a cooler are always helpful too. Even hotels with no fridge have ice machines. The ziplocks will keep your stuff dry while they sit in the ice in a cooler. Don't want it to get freezer burned? Double bag it with a washcloth or hand towel between the bags. It will stay cold without freezing. Canned meats are often overpriced and not very good. Check the area for a dollar store too. There's generally some stuff you can use.