I’m not gonna sugar-coat this. If your SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are expiring or already gone, and your grocery budget just got gutted, you’re not alone. It’s tough, unfair and stressful — but there are tools, programs, and strategies that can help you stay fed and afloat right now.
Below is your no-nonsense guide to what’s available today and how to stretch what you’ve got. Don’t wait until you’re starving to act. Use these external programs, tap the toolkit and plan below and make the groceries work harder.
Your priority is to keep you and your family fed. Do not have any guilt over doing what it takes to do that. Everyone deserves food and there are people and groups that want to help.
1. Emergency Food Resources You Can Access Now
- 🍎 GoPuff – Get up to $50 in free groceries this month. (not sponsored)
- Phase I ($25): Nov 1–15 – Use code SNAPRELIEF1
- Phase II ($25): Nov 16–30 – Use code SNAPRELIEF2
(While supplies last for the first 200,000 people.)
- 🥫 Feeding America – Find your local food bank: feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
- 💻 FindHelp.org – Search “food” + your ZIP code to find local food pantries, meal sites, and assistance: findhelp.org
- 📞 211 Helpline – Call or visit 211.org for community meal sites, pantries, and local aid programs.
- 🧺 Little Free Pantry – Grab what you need, leave what you can. Find a neighborhood pantry near you: littlefreepantry.org
- 🥕 The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) – Provides free groceries for eligible households: fns.usda.gov/tefap/emergency-food-assistance-program
- 🍞 FindFreeFood.net – Lists current free food and meal sites in your area: findfreefood.net
- 🍲 Mom’s Meals – Delivers ready-to-eat meals to qualifying households: momsmeals.com
- 🛒 FlashFood – Get steep discounts on groceries close to expiration: flashfood.com
2. My Hacks to Stretch Every Dollar
Now, let’s talk about what you can do while these benefits wind down. These are tools I use and teach all the time, and they can help you eat well on almost nothing.
a) Meal-in-a-Bag Kits
My Meal in a Bag project shows how to build full shelf-stable meals using just a few pantry staples — canned goods, rice or pasta, and basic spices.
Each bag is cheap, filling, and lasts months. You can make them for yourself, donate to food pantries, or stock up for tight weeks.
I also link some budget food creators who are dedicated to teaching you how to stretch a food dollar and eat well while having very limited resources in my video here.
b) The Grocery Playlist System
If you’ve seen my budget grocery and meal-planning playlist, you know I swear by having a repeatable system — not a brand-new plan every week.
Do this:
- Pick 5-7 cheap, versatile items for the week (beans, rice, eggs, pasta, canned veggies, etc.)
- Build meals around those — not around what looks good online.
- Rotate what you already have. If it’s expiring soon, eat it first.
c) Stop Wasting Food
Seriously — wasting food is like burning cash. Go through your fridge, freezer and pantry once a week. Eat or freeze what’s close to expiring. Get creative with leftovers. Check out my post on 50 ways to save money on food for tons of practical ideas from the Budget Girl community.
3. Week-One Survival Plan
As we know, most SNAP recipients work. Food insecurity can take up a lot of mental space and cause extreme stress on top of a full time job or jobs, so here’s a simple plan to follow to keep you moving forward – one foot in front of the other, instead of spinning on anxiety mode.
Day 1:
- Call 211 or use FindHelp.org to locate food banks or meal programs.
- Apply for TEFAP or local emergency assistance.
- Claim your GoPuff code if eligible.
Day 2:
- Take stock of everything in your pantry and freezer.
- Pick one Meal-in-a-Bag recipe to cook this week.
- Look up where Little Free Pantries are located in your community, visit one and take what you need.
Day 3-4:
- Grocery shop strategically — use your playlist and stick to stretch foods. Pay attention to cost per unit and make note of which stores have the best deal for items. Don’t go all over town wasting gas to cost compare, but $1.25 for a can of vegetables at Dollar Tree vs. 65 cents at Walmart adds up when you’re making future meal plans.
End of Week:
- Review what worked.
- Repeat the system next week.
4. Mindset: You’re Not Failing, You’re Adapting
This season doesn’t define you. Learning to budget, stretch and find creative ways to feed yourself is survival — and those same skills build long-term financial freedom. I’ve been broke, I’ve been scared, and I’ve also learned that resourcefulness is power. You can do this. Above all, be kind to yourself, especially when you’re learning.
Need Help Staying Organized?
I built a free printable checklist with all these resources and steps to keep handy when money’s tight.
I believe in you. You are far more powerful and capable than you think. Do what you need to to get through this season. There is hope and people care.
– Sarah
