Low Budget Meals that Stretch

I usually make enough dough for 4 small loaves per week - mine are half white/half wholegrain and I grow herbs so sometimes I'll through those in for variety. I know carbs are not the best for dieting, but for cheap meals - hot fresh bread with salad or a soup is really* delicious. dried beans, industrial sized bags of rice, shopping for vegetables and fruits that are still good but have bruises or are almost about to go also really helps. A lot of organic markets here have bags of 99cent organic vegetables or fruits that are just about to go but if you use them that day its a really good deal. You can simmer almost any vegetable with onions and stock and blend it up to make a good soup. Buying things in bulk when they're on sale and keeping them in the freezer is also helpful.

When cash is lean for me my go to meals:

- bread and soup
- veggie chili + rice (can last for days)
- rice + stir fries
- stews and curries
- iceberg lettuce salads with vinegar or lemon and homegrown herbs
- putting anything in a tortilla from the mexican market (they're cheap and fresh there - sometimes still warm when i buy them!)

I avoid anything already premade, because it's always more expensive, processed foods (bad for you anyway), drinks other than water or coffee or tea.

Weaz66 wrote: »

@janejellyroll thank you, great idea! Gives me something to research. I've never made dried beans before so this will be a first. I like the ideas of mixing them with frozen veggies (I really need to incorporate them into my daily plan) and changing up the spices, again all new to me to experiment with.

If you have a crockpot, preparing beans is super-easy. Even if you don't, you can do it in any large pan. The bonus is that cooked beans freeze really well so you can make a big batch and then save some for later meals. I will often cook a whole pound at once and then save what I don't plan on eating right away.

I like making dried beans too. Look for discount meat that's nearing expiration. I love seeing yellow and orange tags. I frequently find chorizo for 2 dollars a pound and chicken thighs and legs for less than that. I also like steel cut oats and pasta.

Eggs are a cheap source of protein, even more so since the prices seem to be normalizing again. I often boil up a dozen at a time and use them over the following two weeks in salads, sandwiches and even just eating them whole.

Hit your local dollar store for produce, bread, etc. You'll have to keep an eye on grocery store prices, too, so you can know what's a good deal and what isn't but we usually get some great deals at the one closest to us. Bags of baby carrots, radishes, yellow squash and potatoes for $1 are almost always a great deal.

If you know someone with a Costco, Sam's Club or B.J.'s, get them to take you shopping. You can buy frozen veggies, rice, beans, etc. in bulk and save a ton of money. Things like ground beef are also cheaper although you're buying 5 or 6 pounds at a time. I use my kitchen scale to weigh out individual portions, squish them flat in freezer bags (also bought there more cheaply) and freeze them.

Look at other things there, too. While buying food cheaply is a good way to save money there are other ways to cut back, too. For example, I've switched from using fabric softener in the laundry to using vinegar in the rinse cycle. I've done it because fabric softener ruins the wicking ability of technical fabrics, and more and more of our clothing now is, and it also makes towels less absorbent. However, I'm also saving a lot of money; that stuff can be expensive. I can buy two gallons of vinegar at Sam's or Costco for about $3.50. A gallon of the Costco branded fabric softener is about $11.00. Buying Downy at Target is even more expensive. You can also use vinegar in the dishwasher instead of JetDry, soak showerheads to remove hard water build up, etc.

Get in the habit of making meals in bulk and packaging up the leftovers to eat during the week. Don't just cook for one meal at a time. You can freeze individual servings, too, for a little further in the future so you aren't eating the same thing all week. Meals like stew, chili and casseroles are great for this.

I was in your shoes a year ago. If you have an Aldi Grocery store in your area--this is where you should be doing 90% of your shopping. In the Orlando area, I have found the produce last LONGER, the house brands are very good (some better than name brand).
Anyways, as far as low-budget meals--anything you can stretch with rice, beans that reheats well. Items with pasta as well--very little meat stretched with pasta goes a long way.
Good luck with the new job search--don't let it get you down.

Oh, and as Dave Ramsey says, "Beans and rice, rice and beans."

With falafel, you don't even have do more than just soak the chickpeas. You DO NOT want to cook them prior to baking or frying or even grilling the patties. Falafel dough freezes extremely well so you can make a large batch and divide it into quart Ziploc bags to pull out of the freezer whenever. I have actually a huge bowl of chickpeas soaking for tomorrow to make freezer falafel and chana masala with.

Here is a starter recipe:

http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2011/01/falafel/

I generally will food process the beans first, put into a large bowl, and then process the spice binder. You can add baking powder if you like. I find it adds an extra fluffy element, but that's entirely up to you. I also use egg whites to help bind, but again, not necessary.

Love all these tips! One I'd like to add is don't be afraid or too proud to get assistance from a food bank. My ex had to use one for a month or two before and she came out with a months worth of veggies, fruit, proteins...some of it was even organic! A lot of people don't think of this as a viable resource, but they are there to help for this reason