What's Cooking?
Dear Community,
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.
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.
On a budget
Hubby lost his job, so were now on a really tight budget.
I am looking for really cheap dinner ideas.
Thanks
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
Re: On a budget
We are a single income family. I try to only cook meat twice a week or so. Eggs and beans are cheap sources of protein. Soups and vegetarian chilis are filling, delicious and can last a few days.
My main tip is to meal plan, eat all left overs and make what you can from scratch.
Its tough huh?
Hamburger is my best buddy right now. My Hubby is a BIG man tho so planning kinda goes out the window at times . The man will eat 2 boxes hhelper with 3lbs hamburger for lunch. Like a bottomless pit.
im hoping now he isnt working he wont burn as many calories, therefore eat less.
like the idea of a veggie chili. What beans do you use? red, navy, lima ?
ew. that's not healthy for anyone. you can make the same thing yourself for a LOT less and save all of the mountains of sodium and preservatives and extra stuff from it being processed and boxed. look through allrecipies.com or google the one he likes.
Oh please do not let him do this! So much sodium and red meat!
Try to fill him up with veggies, instead. Frozen are inexpensive. Also, find out when things are in season and buy extra (they'll be cheaper) to freeze yourself. I find my meals are cheapest when I buy a big cut of meat to put in my crockpot, then stretch it the rest of the week with different veggies and combinations. For example, I made 3 lb pork shoulder a few days ago and from that meat we have made pulled pork sandwiches, pork carnitas style tacos with cabbage slaw, and Asian pork noodle bowls with snow peas. I was also contemplating pork, pepper, and potato hash with a fried egg if I can stretch it that far. Just make sure you are supplementing meat with veggies...the fiber will fill you up.
my read shelf:
Beans and rice (can of beans = $1, bag of rice $3-5 but can be used multiple times, plus spices), spaghetti with meat sauce ($1-2 for pasta plus $2-3 for sauce), there's always good 'ol PB&J (loaf of bread $3, peanut butter $5, jelly $3, although PPB&banana would also be cheap and healthier). Chili. Lentils. Exactly how cheap do you want to go?
For fruits and veggies, bananas, melons, greens (NOT bagged greens), green beans, summer squash/zucchini, broccoli/cauliflower usually give a lot of bang for the buck. Frozen veggies like carrots/corn/peas can also go a long way.
If you know anyone who likes to hunt, maybe they can hook you up with some venison. It's much healthier than beef to boot (very little fat, and obviously free-feeding). My FIL hunts and usually gives away tons of meat each year because more farmers ask him to hunt on their land than he can actually eat the meat for.
Actually this is not always cheaper. You have to do your comparing. I realized last year that when I went to buy at freeze cherries during their peak weeks, that it was the same price per ounce as the already-pitted frozen ones. No savings there at all.
First of all, plan your meals on what is on sale. If you live in an area where you can easily drive from store to store, then buy certain things at one store, and some things at another.
Where I live ground turkey is cheaper than ground hamburger and I never buy ground hamburger anymore.
Meal ideas: Eggs and potatoes or homemade pancakes (in moderation)
Meals you can make with eggs besides scrambled or fried: omelet with fresh or frozen veggies, deli meat, cheese, etc; egg salad sandwiches, boiled eggs in salad, eggs benedict (poached egg over bread). I find eggs are cheaper at Walgreens than at grocery stores.
Get a jar of marinara, add scrambled hamburger or frozen veggies, and serve over pasta.
Peanut butter sandwiches
Make homemade chili, and stews (very easy to do in the crockpot!). Serve over quinoa (is cheap at Whole Foods bulk section), or brown rice. It fills you up so it lasts longer.
Red beans and rice
Buy chicken only when it's on sale. Buying chicken on the bone is cheaper. Make it a habit to have a larger serving of veggies and a smaller serving of meat.
Tacos: Use fresh tomatoes instead of salsa. Have black beans and use it as a filler in combination/instead of meat. Use the leftovers for salads. You can put the leftover tortillas in muffin pans, put some meat/veggies in halfway, add an egg, cook about 10 minutes in the oven, then add some cheese and cook another 5 or so minutes. Makes a very yummy meal.
It takes work, but it's worth it. Remember it won't last forever!
I know its not healthy for him! but i try to keep him out the kitchen, but when he's hungry he's eating. Unfortunately he is really good at following directions on package meals, and scaling them up.
you cant tell by my avatar , but he's 6-9 about 320lbs. Not fat Just BIG! I've seen him eat a dozen eggs with half loaf of bread for breakfast. lol
gonna try making my own alternatives as you suggest. Do you think they will freeze well? I've never frozen cooked pasta before