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c/budget-friendly-meals

2

blair_butler47•4h ago

Had to pick between bulk rice and bulk beans last week at Aldi

I only had $15 left for the week and needed a base for meals. Got a 10 pound bag of rice for $6 but then the beans were $8 for a big bag. I went with the rice because it stretches further with broth and frozen veggies. Now I'm eating rice bowls for lunch and dinner and honestly they are fine but I miss the protein. Anyone else have to make a choice like this and regret it later?

13

ross.jessica•1d ago

I compared canned beans to dried beans for a month straight

I used to always buy canned black beans because they were fast. But last month I tried dried beans and they cost me like $1.50 for a whole pound. After soaking and cooking them once, I had enough for 3 meals and they tasted way better. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a big difference?

25

thompson.xena•2d ago

I spent 3 hours trying to cook dry beans without soaking them first

I bought a bag of dried pinto beans thinking I could just boil them and have dinner in an hour. Three hours later they were still hard as rocks and I was eating cereal for dinner. Is pre-soaking really worth the extra planning or do you just accept the long cook time?

26

schmidt.blake•4d ago

Bulk rice bin at Aldi nearly cost me a trip to the ER

I was at the Aldi on Thompson Lane last Tuesday grabbing my usual 25 pound bag of jasmine rice. Got it home and poured some into my container and saw little black specks moving around. Turns out the whole bag had weevils in it. I had to throw the whole thing out and scrub my pantry down with vinegar.

8

grant_torres•4d ago

Tried a single-skillet approach for 2 weeks straight and my grocery bill dropped by 40 bucks

I kept making multiple dishes for dinner and throwing out half the veggies. After 3 nights of just cooking everything in one pan with some rice, I realized how much less I was buying. Has anyone else figured out a similar trick that actually cut your spending?

9

patricia385•8d ago

Picked the store brand pasta over Barilla for a month straight

So I had this debate with myself whether paying $1.50 for brand name pasta was really better than the 88 cent store brand at my local Kroger. I went with the cheap stuff for all my dinners in January. Turns out it cooks up exactly the same and I saved about $4.50 per week. The only difference I noticed was the store brand box fell apart easier in my pantry. Anyone else skip the name brand stuff and feel like it's a no brainer?

16

cameron_craig•8d ago

I finally tried those bulk dried beans my grandma swore by

For years I thought dried beans were just for people with way too much time on their hands. My grandma always told me they are WAY cheaper than canned and taste better too. I finally gave in about 3 months ago after a 12-pack of canned beans hit $18 at my local Kroger. Bought a 5-pound bag of pinto beans for $3.50 and watched a YouTube video on how to cook them. After soaking overnight and simmering for about 90 minutes they came out perfect and tasted fresher than anything from a can. Now I make a big batch every Sunday and it saves me around $8 a week on my chili and burrito fillings. Anyone else made the switch and have tips for seasoning without going overboard?

22

milam42•9d ago

My grandma's tip to add a spoonful of rice to stretch ground beef actually worked way better than I expected

Last Tuesday I threw a quarter cup of dry rice into a pound of 80/20 ground beef for tacos and my family didn't even notice, so has anyone else tried this trick with cheaper meat?

18

vera_roberts•12d ago

Popped into a discount grocery in Toledo and scored a 5-pound bag of onions for 99 cents

Found a whole section of ugly produce that got marked down 60% just because the peppers had weird spots, and now I'm planning a big batch of chili for under 3 bucks total, has anyone else hit up those discount chains for meal deals?

8

paigewood•13d ago

The week I stopped buying pre-chopped veggies saved me $40

I used to grab those bags of pre-chopped onions and peppers at the grocery store out of pure laziness. After a busy week at work I looked at my receipt and saw I spent almost $20 extra just on convenience veggies. So I decided to try buying whole onions, bell peppers, and carrots for a whole week. I spent maybe an extra 15 minutes on Sunday chopping everything up and storing it in containers. By Friday I had saved $40 and my meals tasted way fresher. The pre-chopped stuff always went bad in like 2 days too, but whole veggies lasted all week. Has anyone else noticed how much they mark up those convenience packs?

2

evan51•13d ago

Shoutout to my neighbor who called me out on my rice portion sizes

I used to just dump rice into my pot without measuring, and my neighbor saw me doing it and said I was wasting like half my food budget on rice alone. She showed me how 1 cup of dry rice actually makes 3 cups cooked, and a $5 bag from the Asian market near me lasts over 2 months now. I cut my grocery bill by about $12 a week just by measuring out servings. Has anyone else gotten a reality check from a friend about something you thought you were doing fine?

11

simon_black•14d ago

That $5 thrift store slow cooker finally paid off

My neighbor Carol told me to just dump a bag of frozen chicken and a jar of salsa in there for tacos and I thought she was nuts. Three hours later I had the best shredded chicken I've made in months for less than seven bucks. What's your go-to cheap meal that sounds weird but actually works?

2

lucas159•16d ago

Can we talk about how my roommate's $30 grocery budget changed my whole approach?

So my roommate Sarah came home with a cart full of food last week and said she only spent $30. I was shocked because I usually drop $60 on way less stuff. She told me she plans meals around what's on sale at Aldi and uses leftover veggies in stir fries or soups. I tried her method this week and cut my spending in half, but I'm curious if anyone else has tips for stretching staples like rice and beans without getting bored.

6

the_jason•17d ago

TIL frozen veggies work better than canned in most meals

I used to always grab canned green beans for cheap meals, but last month I switched to frozen bags from Aldi and they actually taste way better in stir fries. Even my roommate noticed the difference without me saying anything. Has anyone else made the swap and found it worth the extra 50 cents?

17

charles_henderson•18d ago

Colleague told me my meal prep was boring, so I changed it up

I work in a kitchen in Austin and a line cook said all my lunches looked sad, just chicken and rice every day. He showed me how to make a big batch of black beans for $2.50 and mix them with different veggies each meal. Now I do a big cook on Sunday with beans, roasted veggies, and cheap cuts like pork shoulder. Anyone else get called out for their boring meals and find a fix?

11

blair_dixon•18d ago

Rant: I used to think canned beans were a waste of money until I actually did the math

I was always team dry beans because a bag costs like $1.50 and makes a ton. But last month I tracked my time messing with soaking and boiling a bag of black beans from Aldi. It took me like 4 hours total across two days with all the rinsing and watching the pot. Then I bought a 99 cent can of the same beans and dinner was ready in 5 minutes. The time saved was worth way more than the tiny price difference for me. Now I only do dry beans if I'm making a big batch for meal prep on a weekend. Has anyone else switched sides on this one?

24

pipergonzalez•19d ago

Just ruined a whole pot of chili with too much cumin

Was making my go-to cheap chili at home last Tuesday. Got distracted by my kid asking for help with homework. Poured in what I thought was a tablespoon but it was way more like a quarter cup. Had to stretch it with two extra cans of beans and a can of tomatoes to save it. Ended up feeding us for four days though - anyone else salvage a meal like this?

6

kellyj23•22d ago

My rice cooker died mid-meal prep last night and I almost cried

I was making a huge batch of black beans and rice for the week (my go-to cheap meal) and the cooker just stopped working about 15 minutes in. Turns out the heating element burned out after like 5 years of daily use. Does anyone have a favorite stovetop method for cooking rice without a machine?

18

diana55•22d ago

Debate: Is it worth buying expensive spices or are the cheap ones fine?

I bought a pack of cheap cinnamon at the dollar store last week for $1.50 and my chili came out tasting like dusty cardboard. But then my neighbor swears by her $8 jar of fancy smoked paprika and says cheap stuff ruined her stew. I'm torn because my budget says go cheap but my tongue says otherwise. What do you all think? Do you splurge on certain spices or just grab whatever's on sale?

7

thomas_johnson35•23d ago

My $20 grocery challenge lasted exactly 3 days and failed hard

Last Tuesday I decided to see if I could feed myself for a full week on just $20. I live in Austin, Texas and thought rice, beans, and eggs would carry me through. By day 3 I was so sick of plain rice and scrambled eggs I almost ordered takeout. I ended up spending $12 on a bag of frozen veggies and some canned tomatoes to mix it up. Has anyone here actually pulled off a full week on a super tight budget like $20 or $25 without wanting to quit?

18

simonreed•23d ago

Realized my lunch meal prep cost less than $2 per serving

I sat down last Saturday and added up the groceries for the rice and bean bowls I've been making for 3 weeks straight. Each bowl comes out to $1.87 including the spices and a squeeze of lime. Has anyone else done the math on their regular meal prep and been surprised at the real cost?

23

river183•25d ago

Store brand pasta vs name brand. Blind taste test at my apartment last night.

I know it sounds dumb but I bought a bag of the store brand elbows at Kroger for like $1.10 and then a box of Barilla for $2.50. Cooked them both plain with just butter and salt. My roommate and I tasted them side by side and honestly we could barely tell the difference. The store brand was slightly softer but not in a bad way. I'm now convinced I've been wasting money on pasta for years. Anybody else try comparing something basic like rice or beans?

7

rowan_thomas•26d ago

My neighbor’s comment about my meal prep changed how I shop

She said I was spending too much on name-brand canned beans, and after switching to the store brand I’m saving about $8 a week, so has anyone else gotten a tip from a friend that actually worked?

3

the_leo•26d ago

My mom told me I was wasting money on pre-cut veggies at the store lol

She said just buy whole ones and chop them yourself, so I started doing that with carrots and onions for soup... saves like $2-$3 a week but man the chopping time adds up. Do you think the convenience is worth the extra cash or am I just being lazy?

3

max388•28d ago

Found a bag of frozen veggies at Aldi for 89 cents and it saved my budget

I stopped by Aldi on Tuesday after work and grabbed their frozen mixed vegetables bag for 89 cents. Threw it into a pot with some canned beans and rice I had sitting around, made enough dinner for three nights. Anyone else find a cheap ingredient that just works for stretching meals?