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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Need Super-Budget Meal Ideas!
Hello Ladies! Long time no talk!
Due to some bills that have come up, we need to crack down and be on a super-budget. DH won't eat any leftovers for more than one night and we don't have a large freezer to store meals in. We like to eat pasta, chicken, taco type stuff, potatoes, anything on the grill, etc.
What are some budget-friendly meal ideas? I try to meal plan as much as possible, but it's sometimes hard to plan as 1- I feel like we have the same meals over and over again and 2- we still end up going to the store multiple times for produce and such. I should also add that SIL is living with us and has been for the past 10 months, so we also have to take her into consideration and she (heaven forbid) hates marinara sauce.
TIA! 
~Mrs. K~
My Married Life & Cooking Blog
Re: Need Super-Budget Meal Ideas!
Here are a few cheap meals - also, I like to stock up on meat when it's on sale, divide out in portions before freezing...saves a good amount of $$.
Lentils with Pasta
Scalloped Ham and Potato Bake
Chili Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Salisbury Steaks with Mushroom Gravy
Baked Lemon Pasta
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Same here. It's cheaper at Costco than at my grocery store, so I'll buy the pack with 5 - 6 lbs of hamburger and divide into freezer bags.
Try shopping your freezer and cupboards. You might be surprised at what you've got ingredients for in the house already, or how far you can get with all those half-used boxes of pasta and forgotten freezer veggies. (I realized this when trying to use up groceries before we moved!)
Homemade pizza is very affordable, especially if you make your own dough. Sometimes I double the dough recipe so I have 2 or 3 to store in the freezer, then I can use them on a night we're pressed for time. I buy mozzarella cheese in bulk at costco and split it into 4c freezer bags, just like the meat.
Also, don't discount really easy meals like grilled cheese and soup, breakfast for dinner, hot dogs, etc - they might not always be the most gourmet choice, but they're way cheaper than carry-out when you don't feel like cooking.
Also, I've only had a regular upright-refrigerator freezer in the 6 years we've been married. Right now, I know mine has several pounds of chicken, 5 lbs of beef, a big bag of shrimp, pork chops, a roast, 3 packs of hot dogs, a bunch of veggies, etc in there and that's only taking up one shelf. (I know this, because my H bought an ice cream cake for his birthday last week and cleared out the bottom shelf to make room, so all of the actual food is on the top shelf.)
If you don't have room in your freezer, perhaps that is a starting place. Eat out your freezer. Empty it out one meal at a time to use up what is in there now. Also eat out your pantry. You might be able to go a week or two like that.
As far as SIL goes, I'd tell her we are having marinara tonight so you can go out or get take out.
Adventures in My Kitchen
As a PP said, eat more rice and legumes. They are a lot cheaper than meats but offer the same benefits. We're on a tight budget too so I feel your pain. Here are some of the more budget friendly meals we've had lately.
Lentil Sloppy Joes
Summer Squash Quesadillas
Homemade Pizza
Spicy Tofu Stir-Fry
Sorry for the long post, I don't have a blog. I made these the other day and thy were great. They were also really good re-heated in the oven and served as "hamburgers." I would also add that it might be worthwhile to search out a vegetarian cookbook -- I got mine from the bargain book section at Barnes & Noble for $4. As for your sister-in-law, she's no doubt capable of making her own arrangements if she does not like what is being served one night.
Lentil Burgers
1 rib celery, diced fine
1 medium carrot, diced fine
1 small onion, diced fine
1/2 cup lentils
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning blend
2 cups water
1 cup dry breadcrumbs
1 egg white
Flour
Additional breadcrumbs
Oil for frying
Combine celery, carrot, onion, lentils, seasoning, and water in medium saucepan and bring to a full and rolling boil over high heat.
Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup breadcrumbs.
Season to taste with salt, pepper, or additional seasoning blend.
Allow to cool for 3-5 minutes, until easy to handle.
Form mixture into four patties.
Coat patties lightly with flour, then dip in egg white, and finally in breadcrumbs.
Allow to rest 5-10 minutes.
Pan fry patties in oil until crisp and golden brown on both sides, 2-3 minutes per side.
Notes:
I used red lentils, but I am sure any lentils would work.
I can?t find Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs here in Australia, but if I could, I would use those over plain and adjust the seasoning.
I served the patties like schnitzel, rather than in buns, but they would be great stuffed in pita bread with a bit of lettuce, tomato, an a yoghurt sauce.
I don't have any specific recipes, just some ideas.
Pay attention to what day/time meat gets marked down at your regular grocery store if you can't get it at costco. Our store drops them Saturday evenings, so either later Saturday or early Sunday, I can get great deals. Usually the meat expires within a few days, but if you can freeze it it doesn't matter.
When I was looking really carefully at our food budget, I realized we spent a decent amount on drinks and snacks. We now stick mainly to water, and I make some snack foods. (Tortilla chips cost about $4, but I can get a package of tortillas and cut and bake them for right around $1.)
My husband won't eat leftovers either, so I feel your pain. When it is cost efficient, I still make extra and freeze it to use within the next few weeks. We have a tiny freezer, and I am amazed at what I can fit in there (it feels like a game of tetris sometimes!)
Frozen vegetables are not as good as fresh, but for a semi-short term situation they can save you a fortune.
Good luck!