Cheap ideas help!!

JatieKo621

I am moving soon and my deposit alone will be +1000 dollars....and I am just a student/server right now so I am definitely watching what I spend money on. I need some cheap (and healthy) meal ideas!!

Today I realized we had NOTHING in the fridge so I ate a can of tuna (water, drained) on top of a bowl of diced canned no salt added tomatoes with a little ground pepper. Not the most creative or delicious lunch, but it filled me up and I didn't have to buy anything.

Anyone have some ideas on cheap things to eat?? I am trying to save as much money as I can so all ideas are appreciated!

wonnder1

2 (14.5 ounce) cans tomatoes
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup white wine

Sautee onions with the oil. Add wine (I like Reisling) and cook down a bit. Add tomatoes and spices. I like to mix whole tomatoes with pureed tomatoes, and run a potato masher through them. Simmer 30 minutes. Makes a tonne, you can freeze leftovers. If you get sick of it, take what you want, and throw some chili powder in it.

2 cloves garlic, peeled (I like more)
1/2 red onion (or regular onion.)
1 coil turkey polish sausage
10 large russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
seasoning salt to taste
3 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 can skim evaporated milk
1 tbsp butter
1 teaspoon dried parsley

In a blender or food processor, puree garlic and onion. Heat garlic and onion puree with sausage in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until sausage is no longer pink.
Transfer the sausage mixture to a large soup pot. Add potatoes and water or chicken broth to cover. Stir in the seasoned salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until potatoes are tender. when potatoes are done, stir in the butter, evaporated milk and parsley. Cook long enough for the butter to melt. Serve hot with bread or crackers.

I usually skip the butter, but some people like it. I also make it a LOT spicier. This freezes perfectly as well, and is enough to feed an army.

ak_in_ak

You might have to pick out a few things that you like and stock up. Yogurt, a bag of frozen fruit and protein powder, and stuff for salads. Bulk bins are great for grains and nuts and there are big bags of frozen chicken.

theflyingartist

Fat-free Popcorn Bags
Quaker Rice Cakes
Frozen Vegetables
Bananas and Apples
Eggs
Rice/Quinoa (Whichever you can afford)
You could always try buying basic baking items like flour, cinnamon, milk, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, applesauce (instead of oil) and make breakfast/snack muffins with trail mix, frozen berries, grated baby carrots, oatmeal, ect.

shannonkk

You might have to pick out a few things that you like and stock up. Yogurt, a bag of frozen fruit and protein powder, and stuff for salads. Bulk bins are great for grains and nuts and there are big bags of frozen chicken.

so true, I jsut discovered the bulk foods at my local grocery, I got a huge bag of steel cut oats for $1.67 and it made breakfast for a week, I had 1 cup cooked oats with some frozen raspberries. I also got the bulk veggie/barley soup and for $2.00 it made lunch for the week. I just added 4 cups water to 1 cup soup mix and cooked for an hour.

Sa2ah

watch for sales. know what you like to eat. buy in bulk & freeze leftovers. look for discount food stores. i used to be able to get a weeks worth of groceries for 100$ for 2 people when i purchased things from a grocery store in a poor section of town.

our fav is Spaghetti Squash (you can get 4 servings out of 1 squash) ground turkey, onion, and tomatoes.

the dollar tree sells bags of dried fruit & nuts. those are great healthy snacks!

courtclerkkris

Eggs...mix them up. Throw differrent veggies in there. Make a omelette, scrambled etc.

Tuna like you said is very versatile.

Veggies aren't all that cheap but you can stock up on them and eat salads forever. Just add different protein....tuna, salmon, chicken, shrimp what ever your heart desires that night.

Chicken breast can be bought very inexpensive and can do so many things with. I say stock up on them!!

JatieKo621

Thank you all so much!!!

TrishJimenez

fruit is in season right now. cottage cheese, oatmeal is always cheap and really good for you. As well as brown rice. There are so many ways you can dress up brown rice. Frozen veggies you can steam, very filling. eggs etc