I also am of the opinion that if you can't afford a good quality protein supp, don't buy something you are unsure of, just spend the money on solid foods in the grocery store. But I would NEVER be in a "precontest" or similarly sincere dieting mode without having fully prepared for the undertaking at the start. It always sucks to find yourself low on the gear you should have already had or short of cash for the foods you planned to be eating mid way through. In the early days I was the king of providing nutritionally for my body on the cheap - but it's always a compromise. Of course if I get caught out somewhere without food and I'm seriously late with the nutrition I WILL absolutely stuff a couple double cheeseburgers from the dollar menu down my throat rather than go without food - BUT like I said that wouldn't ever be acceptable or now-a-days even potentially possible if I'm seriously cutting the fat. Getting my big on? Oh yeah, I will eat no matter what or where - if it is a choice between eating crappy high protein food or going without.