c/budget-friendly-meals

Serious question, has anyone else tried making a huge batch of lentil soup to freeze and had it turn to total mush?

I made a gallon of it last Sunday, froze half in those cheap plastic containers, and when I reheated a portion last night, the lentils had completely broken down into a thick, unappealing paste, so what's the best way to freeze bean or lentil dishes without ruining the texture?

My brother argued that dried beans are a waste of time. I tried his way and now I'm a convert.

That week I tried to live on $20 for groceries and my stomach still hasn't forgiven me.

I bought a giant bag of rice, a bag of onions, and a single can of beans, and ate plain rice with fried onions for dinner three nights in a row before I caved and bought eggs.

My neighbor said frozen veggies are a waste of money compared to fresh.

He buys cheap fresh stuff that wilts in two days, while my $1.50 bags of frozen peas and corn last months. Which side are you on for stretching a food budget?

Pro tip: I chose a $3 bag of dried beans over a $12 pack of chicken thighs for my chili last night and the texture was a total letdown.

Has anyone found a way to make beans feel less mushy without spending on meat?

My friend in Chicago swore by buying a whole chicken instead of parts

She told me to get a whole chicken for about $8 and break it down myself. I was sure it would be too much work and messy. Last month I finally tried it with a bird from the local market. It took me maybe 15 minutes with a good knife and a video guide. I got two breasts, two thighs, two drumsticks, and two wings, plus the backbone and neck for stock. The same amount of parts bought separately would have cost me nearly $15. Now I do it every other week. Has anyone found other meats that are much cheaper this way?

Shoutout to the humble bag of lentils

Back in college, I had to choose between a $6 frozen pizza or a $2 bag of dry lentils for dinner. I went with the lentils, boiled them with a chopped onion and some bouillon. It wasn't exciting, but it fed me for three nights. Anyone have other cheap, filling staples that actually keep you full?

My $3.50 lentil soup lasted me four lunches this week

Last month, I was really broke after paying my car insurance in Portland. I threw a bag of green lentils, an onion, and some spices from the back of my cupboard into a pot. It made so much food I didn't have to buy lunch at all. What's your cheapest meal that makes a ton of leftovers?

Finally chose the store brand tomato paste over the name brand and saved $0.89 for the same recipe.

I used the extra change to grab a bunch of parsley, which made the whole pot of beans feel a lot fancier.

I used to buy cheap canned beans, but now I spend a bit more for dry ones

For years, I was all about the 79 cent cans of beans at my local store, thinking I was being smart. I'd grab a bunch, drain them, and toss them in chili or on salads. But about six months ago, I did the math after a friend in Portland mentioned it. A one pound bag of dry beans costs me $1.50 and makes the same amount as about four cans. That's less than half the price. Sure, you have to soak them overnight, but I just set a pot on the counter before bed. The texture is way better, they hold their shape in soups, and I can control the salt. I know the convenience of cans is the big draw, but the extra ten minutes of planning saves me a lot over a month. Has anyone else made this switch and found a good way to cook a big batch to freeze?

Pro tip: I was wasting so much money on fresh herbs until last summer

Honestly, I used to buy those little plastic packs of basil or cilantro for like $3 each, and half would go bad. Tbh, the thing that tipped me off was seeing my neighbor's huge pot of rosemary on her apartment balcony in Chicago. She just snipped what she needed. Ngl, I felt pretty dumb. Anyone have other good herbs to grow in a small space?

I always thought you needed fresh herbs for flavor, but my wilted basil plant and a $1.99 jar of dried oregano from Aldi last week proved me wrong.

I was about to toss the sad basil, but instead I dried the leaves in my oven on the lowest setting for an hour, crushed them, and now my 'fancy' pasta sauce tastes just as good for pennies... what's your favorite dried herb swap?

Unpopular opinion: dried beans are a way better deal than canned, even with the extra time

I compared a pound of dried black beans to the same amount from cans, and the dried ones cost me $1.50 versus over $4 for the canned. The 90 minutes of soaking and cooking is worth it for the savings, plus you control the salt. Anyone have a good trick to speed up the process?

Can we talk about the time I swapped ground beef for lentils in my chili to save $3?

I learned the hard way that you need to cook them separately first, because my whole pot turned into a weird, mushy paste that even my dog wouldn't eat, so what's your go-to method for using dried beans without ruining the texture?

My grocery bill hit $92 for one person last week and I'm still mad about it

I usually spend about $55, but last week everything went wrong. My usual store was out of the cheap chicken, so I had to buy the pricier stuff, and then I grabbed a few fancy cheeses because I was hungry while shopping. The real killer was needing to replace my olive oil and spices all at once. By the time I checked out, my wallet was crying. How do you guys handle those weeks where you need to restock all your basics without blowing the budget?

I went to a food pantry in Cleveland and saw a whole wall of dry beans

It was a small place near my apartment, and they had these huge bins of black beans, pinto beans, and lentils for people to take. The volunteer told me a single bag costs less than two dollars and can feed a family for days. I always thought cheap food meant ramen, but now I make a big pot of bean soup every Sunday. What are your favorite ways to cook dry beans without getting bored?

TIL you can make a huge batch of refried beans for about $3

I was choosing between buying the canned stuff or starting from dry pinto beans, and the dry ones won by a mile after a 2 hour simmer. Anyone have other cheap bean recipes that freeze well?

Overheard a guy at the hardware store say he spent $50 on a single steak dinner and I just thought about my pot of chili simmering at home.

It made me realize my big pot of chili, which cost about $8 total and feeds me for three days, brings me just as much happiness as his fancy meal probably did.

My coworker called my lunch 'sad' and I'm still annoyed about it

We were in the break room last Tuesday and I was eating a big bowl of rice and beans I made for maybe $2 total. He looked over and said, 'Man, that looks depressing, you need to treat yourself.' I told him it had cheese, salsa, and avocado on it and tasted great. He just shrugged and went back to his $15 takeout salad. Has anyone else had to deal with people who think cheap food can't be good?

Serious question, did you know about the 50 cent bag of soup bones at the butcher counter?

I saw a guy in line at the grocery in Eugene grab one and ask for a free onion from the produce scraps, then he told me it makes a week of broth. What's your cheapest kitchen trick?

My slow cooker gave out right before a big batch of chili

It happened last Thursday night, just as I was about to start a double recipe to freeze. The old thing just stopped heating up, and I had all the beans and meat ready to go. I ended up having to use my biggest pot on the stove for over two hours, which really ran up my gas bill. Has anyone else had a main kitchen tool break and found a good, low cost way to fix it or replace it?

My sister called my cheap meal plan 'sad' and it got me thinking

We were at her place in Denver and I said my main dinner was a $3 bean and rice bowl I make four nights a week. She said 'That sounds so sad, you're just eating to fill a hole.' I've always been proud of saving money, but her saying that made me wonder if I'm missing out on real food joy for the sake of a budget. Do you ever feel like being too cheap with food makes eating a chore?

Choosing between a whole chicken and chicken parts for the week

Honestly, I was at the grocery store yesterday and had to decide between buying a pack of chicken thighs for $6 or a whole chicken for $8. I went with the whole bird, even though it was a bit more work. I roasted it that night, which gave us dinner for two, plus a ton of leftover meat. The next day I used the carcass to make a big pot of soup with some carrots and an onion, which got us through three more lunches. Tbh, the upfront cost felt higher, but it stretched so much further. I think I got about six solid meals out of that one chicken. Has anyone else done a cost breakdown on this? I'm curious if it's always the better deal or if it depends on the store.

Unpopular opinion: I stopped buying chicken breasts and switched to whole birds

Last week I had to pick between a pack of two boneless chicken breasts for $9 or a whole chicken for $7. I got the whole bird and roasted it. That gave us dinner for two nights, plus I made a big pot of stock from the bones. The stock alone made three meals of soup. Anyone else find that the 'convenience' cuts are a total budget trap? What's your best cheap protein switch?

My friend in Austin swore by dried beans over canned and I thought she was nuts

She said the savings were huge, but I always thought the extra time wasn't worth it. I finally did the math after buying a 2-pound bag of black beans for $1.89, which made way more than six cans. The texture is better and it's way cheaper, even with the soak time. Anyone have good recipes for a big pot of beans besides just soup?