Eating on a budget

jaynniembaby

What are some things you recommend when dieting on a budget?

brittanyjeanxo

Staples in my house growing up on a budget were pasta, potatoes, soup, and rice, usually brown. All very filling. I also highly recommend shopping at Trader Joe's if you have one near. They have sensational deals. They work by only having one brand of everything--Trader Joe's brand. Plus, most of it, if not all, is organic and insanely delicious.

ltlemermaid

Brown rice
Frozen veggies (last longer still good for you) fresh veggies if you will eat them in the next 2-3 days
fruit (great for sweet cravings)
Beans-all kinds
get meat on sale/stock up a little when it is on sale
popcorn-kernals (made in a popcorn popper) and great for snacking
yogurt-I love Chobani and stock up when its on sale



I recently implemented a $50/week budget for us (2 adults) and so far so good. I tend to limit the processed foods and cook a lot at home instead

alyssaguirguis

big fan of soup here, too. I use it as a way to clean out my fridge, lol. whatever veggies i or meat we haven't used (even if already cooked, usually some leftover boneless/skinless chicken breast that needs a second life) gets thrown in the pot with chicken or vegetable broth. The great thing is that even if the veggies are a little limp or whatever it doesn't matter because you are just going to boil them in the broth anyway.
If you can invest in one cheap piece of kitchen equipment that will help save a ton of money it is a slow cooker. You can buy dry beans for way cheaper than even canned, cook in slow cooker, and freeze what you don't use. You can buy inexpensive cuts of meat that can be kind of tough but cook them slowly, with little to no fat added, and they will come out tender and flavorful. Slow cookers also take almost no energy in comparison to a stove or oven (whether you use gas or electric) so you save even more money over time in utility bills.

Kateinprogress

You can buy a large amount of couscous for 5-7 dollars and it puffs up enormously so you get a lot of food out of it! Rozoni Smart Taste pasta is usually on sale for $1 per box and has 6 servings of the healthiest pasta I've found. I ALWAYS get store brand frozen veggies because they're usually cheaper than fresh, especially broccoli and cauliflower. Farmers market eggs are usually cheaper if you live near one, skim milk is always fairly cheap and an excellent source of lean protein. Hope that helps!

jaynniembaby

Thanks everyone! :]
I spend maybe $40/week and by the end of the week it seems like I have nothing last! The only thing that seems to last are my yogurts & string cheese! But thank you for all the advice on shopping on a budget! If anyone else has any more suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated!

Nicolette_Karls

Making your own soup is a great way to ensure that you use up any extra veggies. I tend to buy carrots, celery, mushrooms, etc. and some cans of chicken/beef broth. That way I have some easy to make soup, as well as some healthy snacks! Popcorn is also extremely filling and (in my opinion) a cheap little snack.

chrisdavey

rice
eggs
milk (I get powdered as it's way cheaper & I don't have to buy it so often)
fresh & frozen veggies
tuna cans
canned veggies /beans
oats
cheapest meat you can get (I buy in bulk at butchers)

Stay away from the processed stuff like muesli bars etc as these are quite expensive for the minimal food you actually get IMO.

jaynniembaby

Thank you!
powdered milk?! Is that even tasty?! haha

bahacca

Powdered milk is NASTY if you are just drinking it straight and are used to the liquid stuff. It is fine for stuff like smoothies, though.
If you are single, find another single friend(or 2) and split a membership to Costco. String cheese, eggs, milk, huge bags of spinach and baby carrots are cheap, especially if you can divide them up. Bananas are another healthy, cheap food.

bcattoes

Don't plan a menu and then go shopping. Rather, shop for what is on sale and plan a menu around it.
Stock up on non-perishables and frozen foods when they are on sale.
Buy fresh produce in season when it's cheap.
Clip coupons
Cheap non-perishables such as brown rice, barley, whole grain pasta and dried beans are great ways to add bulk to a meal without breaking the bank or your diet.

littlebeans

I've been trying to stick to a budget too. I've been trying something different and so far it's working. My new plan is once a week I roast a ton of veggies (this time parsnips, carrots, fennel, red onion, and potatoes) in a little olive oil and salt and pepper, about 8 cups worth. I also make a big batch of brown rice and cook 1lb bag of chickpeas (all dried beans are super cheap) All of these went into the fridge after they're ready.

So far I've based my meals around these ingredients. For example, dicing up the roasted veggies to add to egg whites, or making chickpea burgers with brown rice. For a salad I've tossed rice, roasted veggies, and chickpeas over mixed greens with a light salad dressing. Tonight I'm planning gnocchi with roasted veggies, sausage (bought on sale, frozen) and jarred tomato sauce.

The best thing is I know exactly how much is in everything since I've calculated out portion sizes ahead of time.

I'm even thinking of next week cooking a bunch of dark greens like kale or spinach, so I can quickly add them to broth for a fast soup, omelets, with a poached egg, to toss with pasta. etc.

LeslieMartina

I buy in the bulk section at health food stores. It saves a lot on grains or other dry goods.
I also bought a salad keeper from Amazon for about $10. It really keeps veggies fresh longer, so I don't waste money throwing food out.
I use coupons and plan my meals around what's on sale.
I usually buy frozen veggies (the store brand).
Think about what you really need before going to the grocery store too. Don't just whrow things in your cart all willy-nilly.

nrvo

Always check out store circulars for good sales. Buy store brands instead of name brands - it is usually the same stuff anyway. Compare prices per ounce - normally the largest size container is the cheapest (but sometimes smaller sizes can be less when they are on sale). Stock up on staples like bags of dry brown rice, lentils, and beans (bags are almost always cheaper than cans/pouches/frozen, not to mention lower in sodium). If you have a farmers markey nearby, go towards the end of the day when vendors are more willing to haggle over prices of fresh produce.

Smuterella

I find it is mainly about economies of scale so I batch cook at weekends, making several nights dinner and freezing them. You can pretty much freeze anything once cooked, it also makes healthy eating much easier if you have home made healthy meals frozen that you can just heat up like a pre-prepared shop bought meal.

BrendaLee

Chili, especially vegetarian chili, is ridiculously cheap and filling. A can of red kidney beans, a can of tomatoes (no-sodium versions) and some chili powder, and you're good to go. Beans and mashed potatoes, pasta and sauce and tuna sandwiches are all cheap and easy. Breakfast wraps are great, too.

heartshines

Are you just eating for one?
The Michelina's lean meals are very affordable. Low in calories and only cost $1 here.

wildon883r

Eating healthy costs less then eating all those high priced processed boxed foods in the supermarket. You should spend 95% of your money shopping the perimeter and very little shopping pollution ally which is what i call the isles in the center. You can buy meat on sale in fact use coupons whenever you can. Fresh veggies and frozen veggies are good and inexpensive. Dried beans of all types generally for a lb cost less then $1.50 a bag. Everybody thinks eating healthy cost more when in fact it really cost less since your not buying junk food. I used to eat an 8 oz steak at a meal and not i eat half of it. Food goes further eating responsibly and healthy. Good Luck

erickirb

Dried beans and lentils, pasta, frozen or in season veggies. Buy meat on sale in bulk and freeze. Buy cereal and other grains at bulk food stores, that way you don't pay for the packaging.

erickirb

Are you just eating for one?
The Michelina's lean meals are very affordable. Low in calories and only cost $1 here.

It would still be cheaper to buy the ingredients, make it yourself and freeze in individual portions. Not to mention it would be way more healthy as frozen meals (even ones that call themselves healthy) are not healthy at all.

smilebhappy

bump to read later

jbahrami

I agree with Erik with the dried beans, veggies, etc...they're VERY versatile!

LittleFootHafner

As mentioned before, pasta and rice are cheap! However, when trying to lose weight, they are definitely not your best friend! Try some of the following that can be somewhat healthy and cheaper:
- oatmeal
- boiled eggs, string cheese & fresh raw veg (just pick the cheapest one available that week!)
- almonds aren't that expensive when you consider that you only eat 10-15 at a time (I usually eat them with cheese or dried apricots)
- barley
- beans/lentils, etc...
- frozen vegetables
- homemade trailmix (go to the bulk store!)
- dry cereal with tea
- applesauce
- homemade omelets

GOOD LUCK!

ashreneeknutson

When I make things like soups and pasta, I make enough to freeze some and then in a matter of minutes, you've got a tasty and healthy meal...and better yet, minimal mess! haha. We eat a lot of baked and grilled chicken breast in my house. We just change up what veggies we have with it. I try not to buy a lot of processed food.

Estrella30

bump for some ideas later! thanks all!

BlueObsidian

If your store has bulk bins, check those out. At my local grocery chain, buying things like oatmeal and nuts in bulk take the price down to a fraction of what you would pay to get them packaged. They have amazing deals on dried herbs and spices in the bulk section as well.

Once the weather gets warmer, check your local farmers markets. I like to go near the end of the day. Many of the vendors will cut you a better deal instead of packing up their product and taking it home! Plus, the fruits and veggies there are the freshest and typically taste the best.

chrisdavey

Thank you!
powdered milk?! Is that even tasty?! haha

My progression over the years went from
full fat to skim milk. I couldn't drink uht skim at all.

Then I became single & CBF getting "normal milk" so I started getting uht skim. Got used to that.

Then I realised that my 20L of skim milk was taking up too much space in the cupboard so switched to the powdered & it tastes pretty much the same to me.

I don't drink a lot anyway. Just use it for making ice cream & shakes really so there is always other flavours.

TheIzella

I buy a whole chicken -usually only .99 a pound- and roast it with veggies. The leftover meat and vegetables gets reused in sandwiches, soups, and fajitas.

kristilovescake

I go crazy coupon lady to buy toiletries, cleaning products, etc. so I have more money to buy produce and meat. I also buy snacks via couponing so I pay little out of pocket.

Other than that, cook from scratch! Dried beans and rice are pretty cheap and you can make slowcooker meals that will feed you (and family?) for a week! I just made Turkey chili this weekend and we'll be eating it all week! Cost me less than $10 for everything and the slowcooker made it easy peasy!

Look for rice and bean recipes. Many crockpot recipes that call for ground beef/meat, you can omit and add extra beans to save money and still keep it pretty healthy.

Avoid eating out as little as possible and try saving money in other portions of your life (going to movies, to the bar, etc.) and use that money to buy produce and lean meats.

LorinaLynn

Pick a couple of nearby grocery stores and browse their circulars online before you go shopping. Sometimes certain places have amazing deals, like "buy one, get TWO free" on staples like breads or English muffins. Stick one pack in the fridge and two in the freezer for future use.

I also shop the discount racks for ugly fruit/veggies or day old baked goods. What do I care if the bread's a day old? If I bought it yesterday, it'd already be a day old!

grapenutSF

in season vegetables. then eat them all! so at the end of the week, use those about to go in a soup (just roast it and then mix it with broth- betternbullion lasts me a while), then freeze the soup. or put the about to die on a homemade pizza- also cheap.