All in all, a combination of all three has been the best approach for me although the equity return has been the BEST.Just food for thought.  

Hi @Benjamin AllenI was in this position last year, and I think that budgeting is a good start, but perhaps an even better place to look are in your main life expenses like housing (which you are doing a great job on by house-hacking), transportation, and food.

Check if the parent corporation company has fixed food contracts to help control food costs  for themselves and their franchisees. 

Your financing contingency will give you an out if the strategy doesn't work and as long as the other offer wasn't a cash offer they are likely not going to begin listing again. food for thought- a risky strategy but it can be effective.

I know I've seen plenty of former gas stations turned into great food venues. 

I'm in the process of buying a house of which the owner died and the dog stayed in the house for a few months alone (some neighbors brought him food).

Keep in mind that i dont pay for my housing or food.

Here is so more food for thought: 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing.

Then check it every so often....Most cats cannot resit the smell of fresh tuna fish just out of the can.If it escaped outside and the food is not eaten (by that cat), a cat loving neighbor probably cat-napped it. 

It included things like dirt, sand, broken toys, uneaten food, articles of clothing and shoes.