Shopping on a Budget

p_cakes
p_cakes Posts: 282
edited September 23 in Food and Nutrition
Okay, so I'm in a pickle.
I am on an extreme diet. Things are slow at work and my paychecks aren't as high as usual, go figure.

What are some good things to get at the store that can be used in multiple meals without breaking the bank?
I usually get veggies and fruit, but those are gone within the week since I eat them. I need something for meals, that's actually good for me, but won't cost much on my wallet.

Replies

  • GURLEY_GIRL3
    GURLEY_GIRL3 Posts: 347 Member
    GET A BAG OF FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST..LOTS OF THINGS TO MAKE W/ THEM
    GRILL...STIRFRY....TACOS...
    AND I GET ALOT OF FROZEN VEGGIES--THEY KEEP ALOT LONGER
    THE STEAM ONES ARE GREAT
  • p_cakes
    p_cakes Posts: 282
    Thanks!
  • monkeydharma
    monkeydharma Posts: 599 Member
    Simply put: the more of the work you do at home, the cheaper the food gets. Buying pre-made, processed, or prepared food adds a lot of bucks to the bill.

    First, buy in bulk where possible. Dried beans and brown rice are inexpensive in bulk; they can be cooked in large batches, then frozen in smaller units and used as recipes call for them. Large meat items like a 10lb pork roast can be slow-cooked with a spicy rub to produce pounds of meat that can also be frozen in smaller units and used in recipes. Same thing with a turkey: roast the bird, take all of the meat off and package/freeze it in smaller portions. Take the carcass and make a pot of stock, which can then be used to make soups (if you cool the stock and remove the fat, it's fairly low-cal). One time when money was real tight, I lived for two weeks off of one turkey, a bag of barley and some vegetables.

    I basically reserve one day for bulk cooking, and then use a bunch of sandwich baggies to portion it up and freeze. It's sooo easy to take a half-pound bag of turkey out of the freezer, thaw, chop, and throw into a salad, soup, or omelet.

    Not knowing what type of diet you're on, it's hard to be more specific. Good luck.
  • aspeck23
    aspeck23 Posts: 13
    I am also on a budget.
    I eat oatmeal (old fashioned in the big tub, not the packets) with apple and cinnamon almost every day. Sometimes I'll add a Tbsp of peanut butter.
    These black bean burgers are also tasty and cheap to make. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Homemade-Black-Bean-Veggie-Burgers/Detail.aspx I substitute ground up fiber one original cereal instead of bread crumbs, but I've also ground up oatmeal in the blender. I make a double batch, form into patties, then put in freezer on a cookie sheet until they're frozen and store in a zipper bag.
    This sweet potato soup is cheap and easy: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spicy-Sweet-Potato-Soup/Detail.aspx I usually skip the sour cream and lime.
  • ltlemermaid
    ltlemermaid Posts: 637 Member
    Beans-any fresh/dry not canned (canned has too much sodium!)
    Brown rice

    these 2 are super cheap and last a while
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    Home made soup. Cook it up, eat what a portion and freeze the rest. You can pack it full of veggies and make it really healthy. Also if you can find a local market and buy your veggies there. They'll be cheaper than those you get in the supermarket.

    Buy in bulk if you can. Again, if you buy a lot of something that's perishable then make something with it and freeze it.

    The only other thing I can think of is planning your menu. If you do that and take a shopping list you only buy what you need.
  • mayburcm
    mayburcm Posts: 24
    I know cereal can be expensive, but it goes a whole lot further when you're portioning it out. I put a couple baggies of portioned out dry cereal in my bag for work, and I find it lasts a long time for how much it costs and it keeps me really full.
  • shannonshock13
    shannonshock13 Posts: 355 Member
    I'm on a budget.... Well to me this seems like a budget. I Probably spend $150-175 TOPS a month of groceries just for myself, and i eat pretty clean

    . I get a big pack of foster farms chicken at costco (comes with about 16-18 breasts) $20 That lasts the the entire month. I also get 4 pounds of 99% fat free ground turkey $24. Sometimes i splurge and buy a huge fillet of salmon from costco $16-20 but it lasts me the entire month and i usually share with my friend.

    Organic cage free eggs 4 dozen a month $8. Bulk organic oatmeal like $2-3 for entire months worth. 4 quarts almond milk -$5. organic Whole wheat couscous $3 (lasts entire month). months worth of organic salad greens $4. sweet potatos, i prolly end up buying 20 palm sized ones each month maybe costs me $8-10 max. cottage cheese $8 a month. Brown rice $2

    the rest is produce which i get at a somewhat local market that carries nothing but organic but they have amazing prices. organic broccoli- $1.49 lb!!!

    I do have some staples that i have to buy every few months like protein powder $60, flaxseed, bee pollen and stevia as well as other vitamins and supplements.

    this is kind of long and rambling but I just thought id share a straightforward post of how much i spend and i consider myself to be on a budget.... i think i do pretty well considering most of what i eat is organic and "clean".

    Good luck!!

    I do a trade for my mom for organic raw almond butter, she sends me 4 -5 jars and i send her professional hair color hahaha :)
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