c/budget-friendly-meals

My big bag of rice split open on the kitchen floor last night

I was getting ready to make a big batch of fried rice and the whole 20 pound bag just ripped from the bottom. Rice went everywhere, all over the floor and under the fridge. I didn't want to waste it, so I got a clean sheet, poured the rice onto it, and picked out any bits of dirt or dust. I ended up washing it really well in a big bowl of water before cooking it. Has anyone else had to save a staple food from a kitchen disaster?

Heard a guy at the grocery store say he 'can't afford to eat healthy' and it made me think.

Tried a bag of dried beans instead of canned for my chili

They were way cheaper, like 75 cents a pound, but I didn't soak them long enough. The chili was still kinda crunchy after 2 hours of simmering. Anyone have a foolproof soaking trick for pinto beans?

My big bag of rice split open right as I was about to make dinner

I was in my kitchen last night, getting ready to make a big pot of beans and rice, when the 20lb bag of rice I bought on sale just gave out. Rice went everywhere, all over the floor and counter. I didn't want to waste it, so I spent like 20 minutes carefully scooping the clean top layer from the counter back into a big jar. I still had enough for the meal, and it turned out fine. Has anyone else had a kitchen staple disaster right before cooking? What did you do to save it?

Shoutout to the deli counter at the Food4Less on 8th Street for selling me a 2lb bag of chicken leg quarters for $3.50. That's a whole protein for a week.

I finally realized I was wasting a ton of money on fresh herbs for my cheap meals.

I always thought dried beans were a waste of time

The soaking and cooking seemed like too much hassle compared to canned, but a friend showed me how to cook a whole bag in a slow cooker overnight. It costs about a dollar for a pound, which is three times cheaper than the canned stuff. Anyone have other cheap slow cooker staples?

I finally did a side by side test with dried beans versus canned

For years I just grabbed cans of black beans for chili, thinking it was the cheap and easy way. Last month, I bought a two pound bag of dried beans for $2.50 at the local market and decided to do a real test. I made two identical pots of my basic chili recipe, one with soaked and cooked dried beans, the other with two cans I drained. The difference was not small. The dried bean pot made almost double the amount of food for less than half the cost of the canned version. The texture was also way better, they held their shape and didn't get mushy. The only real work was remembering to soak them the night before, which took maybe two minutes of my time. Has anyone else made the switch and found a favorite bean type for this?

Figuring out how to make my own veggie broth from scraps took me way longer than I thought

I kept seeing people online say it was free and easy, but my first three batches at home in Phoenix just tasted like boiled celery water. I finally got it right on the fourth try after letting it simmer for almost 2 hours with more onion skins and some peppercorns. What's your go-to mix of scraps for a good flavor base?

I was at the Asian market on 5th Street and saw a whole bag of dried chickpeas for $1.89.

My neighbor's leftover soup trick saved me like $40 last month

I was taking out my trash last Tuesday and ran into my neighbor, Mrs. Chen. She saw my bag full of veggie scraps like carrot tops and onion skins and just smiled. She said, 'You know, I keep a bag in my freezer for those. When it's full, I boil it all with some water and a bay leaf for a few hours. Makes the best soup base, and it's free.' I felt kinda dumb for never thinking of it. I tried it that weekend with my scraps and some cheap dried lentils. It made a huge pot of soup that lasted me four lunches. I probably saved $40 last month just from not buying boxed broth or takeout. Has anyone else got a simple trick like that for using up kitchen scraps?

My $5 bag of dried beans just ruined my whole pot of chili

I soaked them overnight like always, but they stayed hard as rocks even after 3 hours of simmering. Had to throw the whole batch out, which felt like a huge waste of the ground beef and tomatoes. Does anyone know a foolproof way to cook dried beans so this never happens again?

Appreciation post: My slow cooker died mid-potato soup and I had to finish it in a regular pot

It happened last Tuesday, right when I was making a big batch of soup to last the week. I had all the potatoes, onions, and a bit of bacon chopped up in there, and the thing just went dark. No warning, just dead. I was so mad because I planned my whole night around it. I had to pour everything into my biggest pot and finish it on the stove, which meant I had to stand there and stir it for like 45 minutes instead of just leaving it. But you know what? It turned out way better. The soup got thicker and the flavors felt more blended, I guess from the constant heat. It made me wonder if I've been leaning on my slow cooker too much for easy meals when the old ways might be just as cheap and even tastier. Has anyone else had a kitchen gadget fail and ended up liking the 'fix' more?

I always thought you needed fancy cuts for a good stew, but a bad week in February changed my mind.

My car broke down in Spokane and I had exactly $12 left for food after the tow. I grabbed a pack of beef neck bones for $3.50 and some old potatoes. Simmered them for 4 hours and it made the richest, most filling stew I've ever had. Has anyone else found a cheap cut that turned out amazing?

PSA: Stop buying those tiny spice jars at the store

I used to grab the little glass jars for like $6 each, thinking it was fine. Then my friend took me to an Indian market in Phoenix and showed me the bulk bags. I got a pound of cumin for $4, same quality. It lasts me almost a year and I just refill my old jar. How did I not know about this sooner? What other ingredients have you guys found way cheaper at ethnic grocery stores?

Shoutout to the produce stand on 8th and Maple for their 'ugly' veggie bags

I stopped by that little farm stand on 8th and Maple yesterday, the one that's only open on weekends. I always walk past it, but this time I saw these brown paper bags near the front labeled 'kitchen helpers' for 3 dollars each. I was curious, so I bought one. When I got home and opened it, I found like 5 pounds of vegetables. There were two huge zucchinis with some weird curves, three bell peppers with small brown spots, a bunch of carrots that were split or kinda small, and a massive onion. Nothing was bad, just not pretty enough for the regular bins. I chopped it all up last night and made a giant pot of veggie soup that'll feed me for days. It got me thinking about how much good food gets tossed just for looks. Does anyone else have a local spot that sells imperfect produce for cheap?

Looking for cheap dinner ideas for a family of four

Last week I had to feed my family on a tight budget after an unexpected car repair. I made a big pot of lentil soup with carrots and celery, which cost about $8 total. It lasted us for two nights. What are your go-to meals that stretch for under $10?

TIL a single can of beans has about 20 grams of protein

I was reading the back of a can of black beans in my pantry last night. It said a whole can has around 20 grams of protein for less than a dollar. I always thought you needed meat for that much. It made me rethink my whole meal plan. I've been adding a can to rice and salsa for lunch all week. Has anyone else found a cheap food that packs more of a punch than they thought?

My cheap rice cooker broke and I had to figure out dinner for a family of four with $12

It happened last Tuesday night, right before dinner. The thing just died, no warning. I had planned on a big pot of rice to go with some beans. I had $12 cash on me and the grocery store was closing in 30 minutes. I grabbed a bag of potatoes, a carton of eggs, and a big onion. Chopped the potatoes small so they'd cook fast, fried them with the onion, and scrambled the eggs in at the end. It wasn't fancy, but everyone ate. Has anyone else had a kitchen tool fail and had to improvise a whole cheap meal on the spot?

Found out how much cheaper dried beans are at the Mexican market

Honestly, I was buying canned black beans at the regular store for like $1.20 a can. Then I went to the La Fiesta market over on 5th Street and saw a whole two pound bag of dried beans for $2.50. Did the math and that bag makes the same amount as about eight cans, which would have cost me almost ten bucks. Has anyone else found a specific store that's way cheaper for basic stuff like this?

My dad swore by adding a can of chickpeas to stretch any soup, and after trying it with a $3 pot of tomato soup, I got three extra servings.

He was totally right, and now I keep a few cans in the pantry for whenever a meal feels a bit light, so what's your favorite cheap ingredient to bulk up a dinner?

Just hit $1.50 per meal for the first time and I'm kind of shocked

I mean, I've always tried to cook cheap, but I started tracking every single thing I bought for dinner for a whole month. I stuck to basics like dried beans, big bags of rice, and whatever veggies were on sale. I made a huge pot of chili with kidney beans and ground turkey, and it lasted me six dinners. When I did the math, it came out to exactly $1.50 a bowl. Idk, maybe it's just me, but seeing that number on my calculator really hit different. It made me realize how much I was wasting before by not planning. I always thought eating this cheap meant just ramen, but you can actually eat pretty good. Has anyone else managed to get their cost per meal under two bucks? What's your go-to recipe when you're trying to hit a number like that?

Unpopular opinion: Team lunches were my top money saver

I really MISS how we all pitched in for big, affordable feeds. Now with remote life, my kitchen spending feels OUT of control.

My microwave exploded popcorn but I ate it anyway.

Burnt popcorn is a delicacy when you're saving cash, fr.

Vent: My grocery bill forced me to give tofu a real chance

I always thought tofu was tasteless and just for vegetarians. After a rough month, I tried a crispy baked tofu bowl with cheap veggies. It was actually really good and cost way less than my usual chicken dinners. Now I see how switching proteins can help my wallet and the planet. What other budget swaps have surprised you?