Eating on a budget

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!