hi there Quasimodo, I to have been on the low carb diet with my daughter about a couple years ago, and yes I also had to get little extras like you, those low carb bars, special carb foods, and that adds up to some $$$ bucks I to am looking for some really good low carb foods that are cheap. I also am on a small budget, it seems like all the "good stuff " (the stuff you aint supose to have) is the cheap stuff. I am new here to the site, just sign on today actually, and today is day 1 for the second round of the low carb diet. But it worked when we were on it a couple years ago, my daughter went from 240 to 195 and me from 184 to 154. But now she back were she was and me almost back. If you find any low carb cheap foods please pass it on to me if ya will. Thanks