Best foods to buy on a budget

Catman_Jellytot
Catman_Jellytot Posts: 40 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi.

I'm trying to diet (again) and I'm just thinking about the kinds of foods I can buy on a budget? I've usually got a limit of aboit £30-£40 and it usually lasts me and my boyfriend about 2 weeks. I don't want to stop buying the stuff my boyfriend likes, so what kind of things can I add/replace without really paying too much more? What kind of budget meals do you cook, too?
Thanks.

Replies

  • do4fit16
    do4fit16 Posts: 5 Member
    We cook a few bulk meals a week like chili, spaghetti, extra meat and veggies. Helps keep our costs down!
  • weightliftingdiva
    weightliftingdiva Posts: 522 Member
    Peanut butter.
    Rice.
    Beans.
    Frozen veggies.

    Buy in bulk. Regular peanut butter in a big tub is less per ounce then natural/no sugar added in a small tub, usually. In bulk rice and beans are cheaper then their canned brethren and can be easily seasoned with whatever spices you have on hand. It is a little less convenient then canned or instant but better on the wallet. Frozen veg is cheap and is often picked in season - so it can actually be better quality. And it lasts longer then in in your fridge.

    Of course you are using euros so I don't know about prices in the region you live in, but on the east coast of the states that's what has worked for me.

    Good luck and happy eating. :)
  • queenjane1023
    queenjane1023 Posts: 24 Member
    Money is a little tight for us right now as well so I'm trying to go cheap as I can. Frozen veggies are a good alternative to fresh, I just look for the ones with no added ingredients. Frozen tilapia filets turn out to be pretty cheap here as well. If I get fresh produce, I go for whatever is in season at the time. My 4 year old devours many apples a day and while I prefer to buy organic, there are always the lunchbox apples that are always 3 for 99 cents.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Have a look at the nutrition labels on the cheaper stuff - some is pretty good.
    In some cases it's just a small portion size.
    In other cases it maybe more water.

    I've been eating a fair bit of the cheap tins of custard recently (like 1.6kg in a day, the other day!) - they are lower in calories and fat than the 'low fat' versions which cost more.

    Buy big bags of pasta, potatoes and so on. Try and get to the supermarket when they have the good stuff on offer.

    The other day I got 9 pack of 300g strawberries for 20p each, I think it was - and yes, I did eat the whole 2.7kg in one day - drove over 500 miles that day, so nice to have them sat on the passenger seat to munch on.
  • cadaver0usb0nes
    cadaver0usb0nes Posts: 151 Member
    Frozen fruit/vegetables can last a long time, also getting rice, pasta, beans, etc from bulk bins. I will usually make a big dinner once or twice a week and then store it in tupperware so you have meals for the rest of the week either to take for lunch or for dinner. If you eat yogurt it can be cheaper to buy it in the big tub instead of individual ones, unless those are on sale. Bananas, potatoes, onions stuff like that is usually pretty cheap.
  • missClark25
    missClark25 Posts: 4
    Speaking from a college kid perspective...

    I don't have that much money as it is but, I love stocking up on vegetable & fruits!!! If you have a farmers market coming up I recommend going to one they are filled with endless supplies for diet meals. I try to stray away from creamy foods and keep to whole foods. For example, we made grilled chicken with pineapple salsa the other night and it was hardy but with a sweet taste. I prefer "natural flavors" because the natural juices are so tasty when mixed together.
  • motivatedmartha
    motivatedmartha Posts: 1,108 Member
    I suggest avoiding all highly processed foods - pre-packaged meals are poor value as they are usually high in sodium, fats and sugar and not very satisfying. You can bulk buy rice and pasta etc, veggies are cheap if you buy in season and cheaper cuts of meat are good if you slow cook them
  • SymphonynSonata
    SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
    Check out some stores geared towards certain ethnicities, like Indian or Spanish.
  • wickedpursuit
    wickedpursuit Posts: 47 Member
    Crockpot cooking is stupidly cheap. I can make a pot of Panama pork stew for about $10 - and it will feed 8 or maybe 10 if you stretch it. This site is pretty handy for that kind of thing: http://www.slowcookeradventures.com/2011/01/crock-pot-meals-for-10-or-less.html

    If you eat a lot of bread, I'd suggest learning how to make it - ingredients are cheap and the only thing you're really doing is spending time. It's also cheaper to make your own cookies/baked goods for treats, rather than buying them from a store - and they can be much, much better for you.

    Don't be afraid of store brands. Look for meat that's been marked down - it's still good, just make sure to use it that day or freeze it. Look at buying chicken leg quarters - they're about $.60/lb here (not sure of the conversion, sorry!) and you can strip the skin off of them pretty easily. After that, separate thighs from drumsticks, and you have chicken that can be boiled and shredded or baked or what-have-you.

    Get a whole chicken, break it down, boil it with some seasonings - you not only have chicken stock, but you also have a whole chicken's worth of cooked meat to turn into chicken salad or put into a variety of other recipes.

    Rice, lentils, beans and pasta are all pretty cheap - as everyone's said before! - and frozen vegetables are amazing for adding bulk to the meal (and nutrients to your diet!)
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    I suggest avoiding all highly processed foods - pre-packaged meals are poor value as they are usually high in sodium, fats and sugar and not very satisfying. You can bulk buy rice and pasta etc, veggies are cheap if you buy in season and cheaper cuts of meat are good if you slow cook them

    I'm sorry but fat and sugar not very satisfying?!? SMH......what the what?!? LUCY you got some 'splain' to do..........
  • chani8
    chani8 Posts: 946 Member
    Whole chickens.
    Whatever veggies are cheapest.
    Pasta.
    Milk and cornflakes.
    Bread and jelly.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    OP--in no particular order; inexpensive foods which may hit or help you hit your MACROS:

    Oranges and Apples

    Peanut Butter Almonds

    Kale Carrots Cabbage

    Eggs Tea

    Lentils Oats

    EX. A cup of kale is approximately 70 cents where I live; seasonality and your location to fresh produce will effect inexpensive. Best of luck.
  • _Igotthis_
    _Igotthis_ Posts: 3
    I suggest avoiding all highly processed foods - pre-packaged meals are poor value as they are usually high in sodium, fats and sugar and not very satisfying. You can bulk buy rice and pasta etc, veggies are cheap if you buy in season and cheaper cuts of meat are good if you slow cook them

    I'm sorry but fat and sugar not very satisfying?!? SMH......what the what?!? LUCY you got some 'splain' to do..........

    Fat and sugar are not lasting satisfaction.... I think that is all the "splain" needed.
  • sandiebro
    sandiebro Posts: 31 Member
    Do you have an Aldi? They have some excellent fruit and vegetables which are considerably cheaper than the other supermarkets (well Sainsbury's that I know of!).

    Aldi's largish tub of fat free yogurt (plain) is around 59p - I've strained some tonight to make fat free Greek Yogurt which was delicious. It's very versatile.

    Their low fat cottage cheese is also delicious with baked potatoes.
  • sandiebro
    sandiebro Posts: 31 Member
    Aldi's rice cakes are also excellent - only 27 calories each. (Forgotten price - around 65p ish I think)
  • sandiebro
    sandiebro Posts: 31 Member
    You could also grow some salad on your windowsill

    http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/salad-seeds/salad-leaves-speedy-mix/4790TM
  • PinkyFett
    PinkyFett Posts: 842 Member
    Farmers markets a lot of times are cheaper, you help local farmers, and the food is better and tends to last longer.

    Eggs are cheap and good. I have eggs all the time.

    Whole chickens, as someone else mentioned.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    I suggest avoiding all highly processed foods - pre-packaged meals are poor value as they are usually high in sodium, fats and sugar and not very satisfying.
    How many have you eaten recently?
    How many have you even looked at the packages of recently?
    You're wrong in all accounts for a good proportion of them, so I don't think your 'usually' is justified.

    Oh and Aldi veg etc - often not that great value compared to other supermarkets. Maybe still at the 'good value' end, but can often find better deals per weight on others - ie their '6 for 6' or whatever you always get smaller items or less in a bag.

    Oh and - onions (which I forget to get today) - can usually find somewhere doing a massive bag for not much.
    Lettuce is currently 49p for an iceberg in a good few places.
    Iceland has a lot of good options at sensible prices - including in their fridges (rather than freezers).
  • salembambi
    salembambi Posts: 5,585 Member
    bulk:
    rice
    potatoes
    beans
    lentils


    apples/apple sauce unsweetened
    frozen corn and other veg
    melons
    nuts
    bagels & english muffins
    rice cakes
    nut butters
  • Topsking2010
    Topsking2010 Posts: 2,245 Member
    Farmers markets a lot of times are cheaper, you help local farmers, and the food is better and tends to last longer.

    Eggs are cheap and good. I have eggs all the time.

    Whole chickens, as someone else mentioned.



    This
  • josparkle
    josparkle Posts: 141 Member
    I second the endorsement of Aldi - their veg is fab, all their dairy products esp the lower fat yogurts, cottage cheese and cream cheese are great. I also like their frozen veg as they have a good range and its much cheaper than other places. Chicken and meat tend to be very good value too.

    I understand that Lidl is pretty good too if you have one, but mine is out of the way and Aldi is nearby so I don't know from personal experience.

    I have also started to buy things like Crispbakes, crispbread and rice cakes in B&M bargains or Home Bargains. The dates are often short but they don't tend to hang around long if you eat them regularly - some people are more wound up by 'best before dates' than others anyway. They also can have good prices on eggs and some of the more regular food which might reduce the overall spend for your boyfriend's extras.

    I make a lot of filling soups, veg curries, bean chilis and freeze the portions I don't need immediately. I find that helps keep costs down plus means there is always something to eat on those 'can't be bothered' nights.
  • doointhis4me
    doointhis4me Posts: 53 Member
    I suggest avoiding all highly processed foods - pre-packaged meals are poor value as they are usually high in sodium, fats and sugar and not very satisfying. You can bulk buy rice and pasta etc, veggies are cheap if you buy in season and cheaper cuts of meat are good if you slow cook them

    I'm sorry but fat and sugar not very satisfying?!? SMH......what the what?!? LUCY you got some 'splain' to do..........

    Fat and sugar are not lasting satisfaction.... I think that is all the "splain" needed.

    i actually LOL while reading all this
  • Sreneesa
    Sreneesa Posts: 1,170 Member
    My weekly budget is very tight so I base most of my buys around high protein

    3lb bag of frozen chicken(6.99 at walmart)
    2 in half dozen eggs(4.50 at walmart)
    Canned tuna and chicken breast(4 cans for 3 bucks and canned chicken breast 1 each. Great value brand)
    bananas(19 cents a piece at Trader Joe's)
    Sandwich thins(papito 1.99 at walmart)
    Strawberries (under 2bucks at Walmart)
    Some form of green leaves(spinach or kale 1.99 at trader joe's)
    Fage 0 and Trader Joe's plain yogurt 3.49 for fage and 2.79 for trader joe's ...23 grams of protein (fage) and 22 grams of protein TJ
    Dried lentils and Green peas great value brand...walmart like.... a buck and some change I believe
    Nonfat milk
    Turkey breakfast sausage... my only true splurge at 3.99... my latest love.. lol
    Avocados 70 cents a piece
    Whole organic carrots from trader joe's under a buck.

    Eggs and bag of chicken will usually last a few weeks as well as tuna as I try not to eat no more than two cans of tuna a week.

    I will buy other things on sale like some red meat etc for tacos and such. My budget right now is 45 dollars a week.

    Edit: Seen you are from the UK. Do not know if you have a Walmart or TJ out that way. But the food I mentioned above should be reasonably priced anywhere.
  • doointhis4me
    doointhis4me Posts: 53 Member
    Farmers markets a lot of times are cheaper, you help local farmers, and the food is better and tends to last longer.

    Eggs are cheap and good. I have eggs all the time.

    Whole chickens, as someone else mentioned.

    this is a good place to start.. Farmers markets have a lot of good fruits and veggies and the price is usually not that bad :-)
  • josparkle
    josparkle Posts: 141 Member
    To be fair there are different types of Farmers Markets in the UK. Some are great loaded with fresh produce at reasonable prices, however some are expensive rare breed vanity places. Not everyone is lucky enough to get the former sadly.

    But there are often market stalls in towns which can be great for veg and fruit.
  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
    Not sure how helpful this will be since we live in different countries, but I LOVE imitation crab. It's cheap; fits my calorie, marco, and micro goals; and tastes great to me.

    I'm also a fan of beef liver for the same reasons I previously provided. :drinker:
  • Phoenix__Rising
    Phoenix__Rising Posts: 9,981 Member
    Lemons are good. Fresh is best but frozen produce is priced better usually.
    As well it won't spoil. :)If you have mark down places buying in bulk
    some walnuts/almonds/rice/oats maybe?
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    I suggest avoiding all highly processed foods - pre-packaged meals are poor value as they are usually high in sodium, fats and sugar and not very satisfying. You can bulk buy rice and pasta etc, veggies are cheap if you buy in season and cheaper cuts of meat are good if you slow cook them

    I'm sorry but fat and sugar not very satisfying?!? SMH......what the what?!? LUCY you got some 'splain' to do..........

    Fat and sugar are not lasting satisfaction.... I think that is all the "splain" needed.

    strong I mean STRONG first post; and fat not be satisfying...sure run with it, believe it, and you haven't explained anything.

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