The Meal Planning

Purpose / Reason
Plan meals around inexpensive, nutritious ingredients.
Answer to: “How do I find affordable food during financial hardship?”

How to Apply

1. List 5 cheap meals (beans/rice, oats, eggs, frozen veg).
2. Make a 7‑day list from those; price it before shopping.
3. Batch cook 2 base meals; portion and freeze.
4. Schedule a weekly 30‑minute prep block.

How & Why It Works

• Triage and envelope budgeting put dollars where they matter most and stop leakage.

Results & Goals

• Immediate (0–72h): Panic down, priorities clear; essential bills triaged and first calls made.
• Short‑term (1–4 weeks): Cash leakage reduced, payment relief in place, income applications in flight.
• Medium‑term (1–3 months): Credit damage contained, basic needs stable, measurable savings/income uptick.

Citations / References

• CFPB — Dealing with debt & collectors
• FTC — Identity theft recovery
• Dept. of Labor — Unemployment & job seeker help
• IRS — Free File & payment plans
• FDIC — Safe banking & avoiding fees
• Mullainathan & Shafir — Scarcity