Hi Peter! I agree on your point, as you probably remember I joined you on our low budget trip to France. Actually I think we spend 10 euro's each in around 20 days so that is a 0,5 euro per day schedule we followed there. After I left you for my solo-trip through Spain, life remained below 1 euro per day, so also there it is possible. I want to add some remarks:
-France is an excellent country for asking old bread at the bakers which is mostly 0,5-1 day old. It is called "Pain Rassis" and they use to give it to you for free in quantities from 0 (if you are unlucky) to 10 kg (if you are lucky). I think a lot of other countries have similar possibilities, but I think you always have to do a little research. In Spain it is called "Pan De Ayer". they throw it away after the end of the day or at the early morning after so the best system is reserving it the day before so that they keep it for you in the morning.
-We also need some vitamins. As Peter told, some months you can pick fruit in the fields, and actually I think this is more than half of the year the case. But, a good second choice is the leftover fruit from the market , fruitstores or small supermarkets.
-For the other stuff you maybe want to go to a supermarket. In a lot of European countries, these are unfortunately closed. But in Spain for example, there is a lively recycling culture. Best times are directly after closing time and sometimes in the middle of the night after they have opened the door for the garbage people how will empty the big containers before the next morning.
-In my opinion not all ways are equally easy or comfortable, but they are all doable. Don't be shy and don't stay at home only because a lack of money. Go out and you will find it
