ADVERTISEMENT

If you’ve been facepalming whenever you see the prices at your local grocery shop, then you’re not alone. This ‘totally-not-a-recession’ we’re in has wreaked havoc on food costs in many parts of the world. In the UK alone, food price inflation reached 12.4% in November. Meanwhile, grocery prices in the US were up 12%, compared to the year before. So you’re definitely not alone if you’ve been feeling your wallet getting thinner.

Shoppers have been forced to react to this in different ways. Some are working overtime or have picked up a new side hustle. Others are cutting back on their favorite foods, eating out, and the size of their meals. However, food budgets, creative cooking solutions, and buying things at discounts are new to some people.

Luckily, the internet is chock full of friendly folks who love to lend a helping hand. Some budget-savvy shoppers from the r/Cooking online community shared their best tips on what underrated cheap foods you definitely shouldn’t ignore. You’ll find their awesome advice below. Upvote the posts that you found the most useful, and share some cost-saving food tips of your own in the comments. Us? We’re not big on cabbage, but lentils are great!

#1

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Baked potatoes. Cheap to buy. Easy to prepare. So many options to gussy it up with cheap but tasty fillings.

mapoftasmania , Vegan Feast Catering Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sarcastic Fringehead
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I freaking love potatoes lol. Such a weird obsession, but you can do them in so many different ways. I’ve yet to eat a bad potato. Yum

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Cabbage!

Bestihlmyhart added:

Keeps forever too. Looking at you spinach..

chantillylace9 added:

Try taking some shredded cabbage, it can have the carrots or not, and roasting it in a pan with a tiny bit of oil and maybe some chicken stock or a little bit of bullion or umami or mushroom powder until it’s nice and wilted and toss it in with Asian pasta dishes!!!

It bulks it up so nicely (which also helps cut calories) and makes thai and other cuisines even better because it soaks up the sauces way more than the rice noodles do.

IndigoRose2022 , michael warren Report

#3

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Lentils! Lentil soup is the best! And dhal is awesome. And you can make burgers with them.
Healthy, filling, versatile and delicious.

Yenneferofvenga , cisc1970 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lentil soup is so good! I know I would have turned my nose up at it as a kid, but as an adult, it is legit!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Food prices have grown by leaps and bounds over the past year. USA Today recently reported on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ findings about just how much more expensive it is to buy some iconic holiday stables in 2022.

The price of flour rose by a quarter between November 2021 and November 2022. The cost of bread went up by 16%, cookies were 19% more expensive, and if you’re a fan of crackers, they’re now worth a fifth more.

God forbid you eat a lot of eggs or use them for baking! They’re 49% more expensive in the US, year-over-year. Sugar and sweets are up 13%, butter costs 27% more, and milk is 15% more expensive than last year. In short, baking tasty treats for Christmas and the New Year was bound to drill a hole in your wallet.

#4

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Oats! Not only for porridge, but just grind it and add it into your baking - it is so tasty! Also, if you are on a really tight budget (or sick) it is really nice to add some oats into soup indead of noodles to make it more filling.

chiyostoppedcaring , Anshu A Report

Add photo comments
POST
K Tigress
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love steel cut oats. Nice texture and not all mush like you get with instant.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#5

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Rotisserie chickens. One chicken will feed me and my husband for 2 meals each plus some snacking and the carcass can be turned into amazing bone broth. That's a lot of bang for $5

socialjustice_cactus , terren in VirginiaFollow Report

Add photo comments
POST
nana theater
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If a chicken is that cheap it usually comes from industrial factory farming with all it's brutal conditions. I am not willing to support that system just for a bargain.

Rebekah
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I buy multiple whole chickens when they are on sale. Last week they were .49 a pound. So about 3 dollars per. I picked up 6 and freeze them. Roast them yourself.

Naesil 🇫🇮
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think these are pretty expensive here.. and for me they seem small enough that I could eat it in one sitting, but probably would make it to 2 different meals. For the longest time chicken seemed to be one meat that didnt skyrocket in price but now it also seems to be climbing fast.

Remi (He/Him)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chicken legs are still reasonably priced, but of course you need to cook them yourself. Rotisserie chicken is something like 10€ in Helsinki, Finland or it was when I last checked. Might be more now and they're barely large enough to feed two people

Load More Replies...
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Meat's crazy expensive right now, except for chicken. I've been buying the frozen ones lately. The way I cook, they taste the same anyway.

Shyla Bouche
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother and I ran to the grocery to buy something for dinner. We saw two rotisserie chickens in the glass thingy, and Mom decided to buy them. We took the food to her house. She started cutting up the chicken while I started a veggie. She started laughing. There was a paper on each chicken, reserving them for a family we knew in town. Mom had bought the last two chickens. Now and then, I wonder what happened when the other family went to pick up their chickens.

Ace
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whatever the price and quality, surely it's cheaper to buy the chicken uncooked and roast it yourself?

John L
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While that is generally true for meats, roast chickens tend to be a "loss leader" for a lot of chain grocery stores. Loss leaders are cheap items to get you to come into the store, so that you can buy other things.

Load More Replies...
I'm Izzy and I'm busy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's why it's called the bachellors handbag! $5.50 here, but they're littler ones.

T'Mar of Vulcan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One hundred rand (R100) in South Africa. Which to be fair is only about $5.80, but for comparison you can buy a dress from a cheapish shop for less than R200...

zububonsai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Germany: 4€ " raw, deep cooled/for prepare at home" at the supermarket, up to 12€ for a "ready to go chicken" at the rotisserie man in front of the supermarket.

A Bobcat From Philly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BJ's... $4.99 Wife and I do the dark meat... legs and thighs but use the breast meat for chix salad or boil the bones and add breast meat for some amazing chix soup. Add noodles or even rice! A cold day feast forever!

Tiffi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get one for about $6 at Sam's and they're darn good. Nice big plump chickens too. I can make 3 meals out one bird for me and hubby, depending on what I do with it.

Joan Dobbert
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Takes two to feed my family for one dinner. Not at all budget friendly. Best budget tip: make it from scratch.

Melanie Hope
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Five for a whole chicken. They're over 13 in the area I live in and that's even at Walmart.

Helen Johnston
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$5 - yeah right, $15 here and with a family of 6 that is not 2 meals plus soup

Jessica Salter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its cheaper if i roast it myself, but yes a chicken is the cheapest roast to buy

Nichole Harris
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only are they like 9 bucks here but they're the size of sickly pigeons

Clementine Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We buy these at Walmart when we go to the states. Cheaper than buying a raw chicken and cooking it

Greenmantle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Half the price if you roast it yourself! But yes, such a versatile ingredient

Zander Porbanda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The way those prices are driven down is horrific. Unless it says “air chilled” the body was floating in water and bleach and other chicken parts and chicken poop so more bleach too. If you have to, get air chilled.

Jude Laskowski
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best deal ever at Costco - $4.95. Great for sandwiches, shredded in salads, etc.

RMA
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

£5.75 in the UK. £4 if it’s near 5pm (when they clean down the rotisserie area).

Noname
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Skinny rotisserie chickens in France, tough birds, good flavor so I use them to make soup. Not really worth the cost unless I'm in a hurry. I roast my own and work from there with a savings of pennies per kilo.

Jacqueline Pie Francis
Community Member
Premium
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though I cook for a living, if I’m tired, I’ll pick up a rotisserie chicken ($6.99 where I am) and pull it apart and make chicken burritos or chicken a la king and then use the bones for soup. It’s a good deal.

LizzieBoredom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bring a Rotisserie Chicken home and my cat, Don'tTouchMeThere, follows me around for hours.

Alexej Dvorak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a food truck with rotisserie chicken coming to literally the opposite side of the street across my house once a week. Ngl, half a chicken will fill me up ok with fries on the side, but on hungry days I can eat a whole. I can not fathom how two grown humans can feast twice each on one chicken.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Popcorn is underrated when it comes to the variety of flavors it plays well with.

riverrocks452 , veggiefrog Report

Add photo comments
POST
David A Paterson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pop it in a covered casserole dish in the microwave. Cook on high 2 minutes 20 seconds, remove popped kernels. Repeat. Repeat.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Recently, Bored Panda looked at the ways that you can save money on food. Cooperating with your family, friends, and neighbors can really help you squeeze the most out of every dollar, pound, and cent you have. You can buy produce in bulk, at a major discount, and then freeze most of it for later use.

So long as you package the food properly, it shouldn’t get freezer burn, and it’ll keep its nutrition value. Double-bag your fruits, veggies, fish, or meat, or use a vacuum sealer.

Another great way to put meals together cheaply is to embrace the power of stir-fries! You can use rice or pasta as the base, and throw in some cheap, seasonal veggies from your local market or mom-and-pop grocery store. Bonus points if you tend your own veggie and herb garden.

ADVERTISEMENT
#7

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Dried beans and rice. Infinitely customizable. A perfect protein. Great source of fiber. You can eat great tasting food for a week for $5 USD. $20 gives you options

One_Posh_Possum , rovingI Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jake B
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best thing is these two together make a complete protein. So you’re being healthy. Tofu (Soy) and Quinoa are the only two plants with complete proteins, so knowing to mix the rice with beans is super smart.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Sweet potatoes. Sweet or savory, chunky or smooth, extremely versatile food you can do a lot of delicious meals and snacks with.

Pascalica added:

I use them in burritos. Cut into chunks, season with cumin, garlic, chili powder, salt, and toss with some oil. Bake until tender in the middle with some charring on the outside. So damn good with black beans, Mexican style rice, the sweetness of them goes very well with all the savory.

foodishlove , Nathan Dumlao Report

Add photo comments
POST
Benita Valdez
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of the very few vegetables that I just don't like really. Just not a fan of it cooked; I do enjoy the occasional raw piece though

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Canned garbanzo beans.

Add salt , pepper , sugar and a spice of your liking. Lightly oil. Put in the oven for 20-25 mins 400F. Great crunchy low calorie snack.

OrangeCoffee87 added:

I make "not egg" salad with them. Great with crackers or in a pita.

nihrk , demi Report

Add photo comments
POST
Antz Online
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chickpeas! Rather prepare the raw chickpeas than the canned products, massive difference in the taste. And way cheaper.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#10

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Eggs are the cheapest healthiest food you can eat.

ParticularMuted2795 , Morgane Perraud Report

Add photo comments
POST
Frank Brewster
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our supermarket brand eggs are going for $6/$7 lately. Organic eggs are almost $10 in Arizona.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

God i was wondering if anyone was going to mention instant ramen or not.

So cheap, so versatile. I do two packs, a chicken thigh (marinated, grilled, sliced, and frozen individually), and a couple table spoons of dried, mixed veg. I have an electronic kettle in my work office. 3 cups of hot water and 10min of waiting...BAM, lunch. Costs me maybe $2.

single_malt_jedi Report

#12

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food I'd say omelets. They are cheap nutritious and not hard to make if you practice and have a big flat spatula. There's also a thousand ways to make an omelet. I like mine with sautéed mushrooms and some goat cheese and herbs.

No-Dirt-8737 , Rool Paap Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lauren S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does it count if you put all the stuff in but still scramble it because the omelette part takes skills and nonstick pans that I just didn’t have?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Tofu is legit 1 dollar a lb now and can be used in so many dishes

prizim96 , David Pursehouse Report

Add photo comments
POST
Couldnt_find_a_decent_name
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But I hate the texture. Edit: thank you so much for all these suggestions, I’ll definitely try them out!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#14

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Sourdough loaf with olive oil and salt and pepper

EveFluff , Jon-Eric Melsæter Report

#15

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Gnocchi. I just learned how to make it, i have always loved it, and it is CHEAP. Last batch made about 6 servings for the two of us. Took six potatoes, three spoonfuls of ricotta, 2 eggs (which my backyard dinosaurs provided) and a cup and half or so of 00 flour. Maybe $8 real world. Eat them with everything. Mushroom gravy, tinned fish, puttanesca…whatever. Always good and ready in under 3 minutes ;)

Unlucky_Particular29 , cyclonebill Report

#16

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Pb&J, add berries and it really feels decadent.

chocoheed , Sue Thompson Report

#17

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Dried beans. The US is weirdly against dried beans becoming mainstream.

NoZombie7064 added:
With inflation, canned beans are much more expensive than they used to be. Store brand canned black beans are a minimum of $2/can around me, more for other types of beans or any kind of premium brand or organic. Back of the hand calculations suggest that dried are still cheaper even with the cost of energy.

_lmmk_ , cookbookman17 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Cindy M
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm. I live in the U.S. and grew up with dried beans as a pantry staple. Love them, and so nutritious!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#18

Canned tuna! Cook it in some soy sauce and add some garlic powder, ginger powder etc with a bowl of rice and it’s warm, filling and tasty on a budget. I make it all the time and add avocado, green onion and cucumber when I have some extra cash, really takes it to the next level.

xlcor12 Report

#19

So many possibilities with onions but I love French onion soup. Doesn’t need gruyere although that’s delicious. Fine with any Swiss or even mozzarella.

I also love bologna sandwiches. Cheap and easy. Too bad it’s not healthy too.

Also chicken thighs. Goes with any seasoning and aside from a few dishes, tastes better than chicken breast to me.

simplyelegant87 Report

#20

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Celery root. Baked in oven with olive oil, salt and pepper.

basilico12345 , Leslie Seaton Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#21

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Cottage cheese — cheap protein/calcium and you can use it savory or sweet.

bluejayghosts added:

Cottage cheese is the best—Costco sells large quantities for like $4!!

traditora added:

In a bowl with some cinnamon and sugar or honey is a nice snack. Add some granola and it's breakfast.

Or my favorite breakfast: a hardboiled egg, cottage cheese, cherry tomatoes, lots of olive oil, salt and pepper, and good crusty bread to soak up the oil.

Rough_Elk_3952 , Megumi Nachev Report

#22

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food A nice baguette. Wish I could get my hands on one, but US grocery stores tend to not give a s**t about quality baked goods, and quality independent bakeries are few and far in between (and usually only focus on sweets).

Fartin_Scorsese , iRubén Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lauren S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it depends on where you live in the US. I cannot tell you why (I’ve heard it’s the water but idk) but bagels from NYC or northern Jersey are amazingly better than anywhere else I’ve had them in the country. I’m not talking clever delicious flavors, just plain regular bagels are amazing! I imagine the same would be true where some places in the US must make great baguettes. Although, I have a feeling some European countries probably have us beat with these (ahem… France). I wonder what bagels are like in France?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food I find a lot of canned meats and seafood are looked down upon but I really enjoy them. Spam, smoked oysters, sardines etc

PlantQueen1912 , garlandcannon Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#24

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food You can do a lot with a few veggies and fruit. Individually it sounds boring and not fulfilling. But I like to make a salsa with cilantro, a red onion, a tomato, a mini pineapple OR a mango, and a lime. I’ve purchased one of each of these ingredients for under $5 and made a huge salsa out of it after chopping and stirring them all up (and squeezing the lime over). Along with tortilla chips it’s great or you can use it in fish tacos too.

Dananjali , Sakena Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love salsa fresca! Such a handy go to for a party. Not sure about the pineapple though. If god wanted us to eat pineapple, why did he cover them in spikes? *sarcasm ;)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Peanut butter ftw

Upward_Fail Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lauren S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do love my reduced fat JIF. Not sure why it’s better than other brands but it sure is. I remember the PB shortage of the pandemic. Those were dark days. I’m also very grateful no one in my house is allergic. That’s so common now.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Spinach! I made this really nice spinach and artichoke dip last night, and it's so much better homemade. The stuff you find it stores is like 50% mayo and i think that's gross lol

SeverenDarkstar , Heather Kennedy Report

#27

Carrots.

TrinityTosser Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lauren S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved carrots for many years. When I was pregnant I was absolutely disgusted by them. They made me nauseous to smell them even. It’s taken me years since then to eat them. My kid is 6 and I can barely tolerate them. I didn’t know that pregnancy aversion could extend beyond actual pregnancy. (Side note: my kid HATES carrots)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#28

I really love a cheap grilled cheese with American cheese (the processed kinda plastic stuff in individual sheets) just cheap white bread, cheese, and margarine. The American cheese almost tastes fluffy, like a cheese cloud.

Ok_Upstairs4459 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sarcastic Fringehead
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But see here’s the thing, it’s better with actual cheese. Not “cheese product” or whatever c**p they say. Put real cheese then consider your opinion again my dude. EDIT: I am just stating my opinion here, I am well aware there are plenty of people who happily would disagree. I just prefer higher quality foods. Doesn’t make me “snobby”

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Dried jarred herbs and spices. Yes, they don't compare to fresh, and yes they lose some oomph the longer they sit.


But modern cooking trends have resulted in people feeling like jarred seasonings are automatically inferior. But the truth is they are comparable to fresh (you may need to use more) and while I wouldn't suggest making dinner for the King of England with them or for your Michelin Star restaurant, for Saturday spaghetti, you absolutely can throw in jarred dried oregano instead of spending a ton on fresh. In my area buying Badia brand seasonings is typically the cheapest way to go, plus they carry large sizes.


And while we're at things in the spice cabinet, get yourself some MSG, buying it from the Asian grocery store (or online even from Amazon in the asian brands) is cheaper than buying a jar of Accent from the grocery store, because its that secret ingredient you are missing from your meals!

goblyn79 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Rebekah
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the US, bags of spices in the "Spanish" section are way cheaper than the ones in the spice isle.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#30

Bananas

mweisbro Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's the banana for size comparison. Oh I guess that joke doesn't work here... Damn it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Baked beans for me. If you buy them just in tomato sauce you can doctor the sauce and make just about any breakfast and add them to different meats with a little thought using seasonings and sauces. No its not gourmet but it is an imitation food I suppose that can make you quite a few BS versions of meals. Im not advocating making a hummus by straining them, just things like left over duck with baked beans and a salad is sort of cassoulet like, or adding the mornings bacon is pork and beans, or tossing tobacco and smoky sauce puts you into a tex mex breakfast territory with some eggs... lots of reasons to buy a 12 pack when they are on special because when you dont have power you can have a small fire and go different places with a relatively cheap canned food.

pushaper , David Martyn Hunt Report

#32

Dried pasta slaps when prepared correctly.

l_Ultron_l Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#33

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Really any “salad” involving mayo. And I don’t even like mayo on it’s own. But a good tuna salad SLAPS and it’s cheap as hell

ElderberryMiddle3614 , jeffreyw Report

#34

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Spam

Bruh, i dont give a damn what time of day or night it is you put spam masubi near me and ill be scarfing that b***h down before i can say thanks.

FNKTN , Jul Lllll Report

#35

I just made an imitation crab salad sandwich and it was quite good. It definitely doesn't taste like crab, but it's good nonetheless. I consider it its own food product and not a substitute. It has a really nice flavorful sweet taste.

No-Dirt-8737 added

Oh yeah imitation crab and lobster is often made from pollock and are really good.

Captain_A**_Clown Report

Add photo comments
POST
David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

pollock - sugar - dyes - some flavors. Does not taste like crab but it has its uses.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Frozen veggies
Instant mashed potatoes
Canned tomatoes

siniquezu , Amy Jane Mitchell Report

Add photo comments
POST
Okatango
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Frozen veggies are ok if prepared correctly, often even higher vitamins because frozen at peak. Greek Style Stew: Saute onions, add some garlic, thyme, can of tomatoes, quartered potatoes, bay leaf, salt & pepper. Cook until potatoes almost done, then add frozen green beans on top, cook until everything is done: add some crumbled feta to melt and voila, a superb meal.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

Chicken drumsticks. I can get them for 49 cents a pound on sale sometimes.

michaeljc70 Report

#38

Pork Carnitas are really easy too. Drop a big chunk of butt in with 1% salt by weight and put water up to its shoulders. Black pepper, Lime, garlic, cumin, bay leaf, anything you want adds to it but just salt is fine. Simmer it til the water is basically gone, 2 hours or so. It falls apart and is incredible pan fried for putting in tacos all week.

Vinterslag Report

#39

I have loved liverwurst since I was a kid, and it's very cheap. I can get a pound of it at my usual grocery store for $2.49, whereas any sliced lunchmeat will cost me at least double that.

taniamorse85 Report

Add photo comments
POST
David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Weird - body memory - have not had it in forever but I could almost taste it while reading that. I do like it once in a while but I forget about it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#41

Bolognese, classic dish, everybody likes if. Cheap.

ThickSecurity5430 Report

#42

Canned tuna, pasta with butter and garlic, chicken, beef or veggie broth (can be used for so many things), dried/canned beans or any other canned items that will be used.

These are all things that we always had on hand when we had very little money. Never went without, but we didn't each steak, much meat or went out for food.

PirateGamer76 Report

#43

Tin cornbeef with some cabbage and onion over rice what a treat.

MrMcKush Report

#44

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Canned salmon for salmon patties and canned chicken for casseroles and chicken salad.

PitifulConnection4 , jeffreyw Report

#45

Nothing makes me happier than a tuna sandwich and an orange. My favorite lunch.

avantgardian26 Report

Add photo comments
POST
cutie 904
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can't go wrong with this one. Add some cucumber, mayo, pepper to taste, mix up, spread in bread and you have a delicious lunch 🤤

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#46

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food SAR-F*****G-DINES.

Healthy, delicious, eco-friendly and CHEAP!

bagelmaster3000 added:

I get the mustard sauce ones and eat them over hot multigrain bowl (one of those 90 second pouches from Aldi). Or just over crackers: I like the mustard sauce ones.

I've heard people sauté them in their own oil and toss them with pasta, you could break them up in pasta sauce for a fishy kick.

not_a_foreign_spy , o Ignat Kushanrev Report

Add photo comments
POST
Miss Frankfurter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love sardines, but I found out the hard way they don’t like me. Highly allergic. Not fun finding that out.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

Hamburger Helper. Use to make it in college cause it was all I could afford. Now decades later I still enjoy it.

unclebear28 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Amanda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So very very little pasta in box for the same or more money now-a-days. Smh I swear when I was young mom made two boxes fed all 6 of us now would take like a box a piece for full bowl each of the pasta

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

Boiled peanuts, i get a large cup of cajun peanuts and they’re only $3

cookingmami101 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG thank you!!! I moved to the Midwest US a few years ago and was sad because no one ate these. Oddly, Walmart has them canned in the canned veggie aisle and I was happy to find them. Some folks don't like the texture; ex hubs called them "alien eye balls" lol more for me 😋

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#49

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Canned pumpkin is great for pumpkin pie and other pumpkin desserts. Why bother carving out a fresh pumpkin when canned pumpkin can be just as good, if not better.

Canned pork liver pate. I especially love using it for banh mis.

Canned corned beef hash is great when pan-fried until it gets ultra-crispy. I haven't had homemade corned beef hash that was better than the canned variety.

Darwin343 , meerkatbaby Report

Add photo comments
POST
K Tigress
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But you get more bang for your buck with a pie pumpkin. How about the seeds? You don't get that with a can of pumpkin.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#50

Not sure if it counts as "cheap", I've never seen anyone else even own (let alone prepare) a can of Vienna Sausages. So many great recipes with those things.

My favorite is rolling them up in a Pillsbury croissant dough to make pigs in a blanket. But my "cheapest" preparation is slicing in half lengthwise and frying them and having them with eggs and toast.

PrinceHumperTinkTink Report

Add photo comments
POST
Cat Furr
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like to mash them up, add mayo and some relish to use as a sandwich spread. Pretty tasty and cheap.

View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#51

You could put turkey here, especially after turkey day.

If you plan your shopping budget and wait till mod November lots of stores will give you a frozen bird for a 100 or 150 dollar purchase. That's hardly a week's worth. You could get two or more shopping different stored.

Even buying one is cheap enough. And they go on clearance after Thanksgiving

blkhatwhtdog Report

Add photo comments
POST
K W
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They weren't on clearance after Thanksgiving here. A small turkey breast was $23 USD and the turkeys were at least $40. And unfortunately they stopped doing the free turkey thing because that was awesome. None of the local groceries offered it this year.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#52

Pollock is a legitimate fish to eat on its own.

Azuvector Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nadine Debard
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pollack/pollock is one of my favorite fish, cheap and delicious. Also hake is wonderful.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#53

Channa masala. Cheap to make, but that’s only if you already have the spices. Very underrated vegetarian dish.

doc_akh Report

#54

Lots of great ingredients listed, but I’m gonna shout out local street food and equivalent. Could be street tacos, tamales, your local laborer lunch truck, Baltimore’s chicken box or pit beef or lake trout, Seattle’s Teriyaki, NY and Boston’s Halal Chicken carts. Many others I don’t know or don’t know yet. Love em.

kevlarcupid Report

Add photo comments
POST
David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Street food is often good but topic of thread is saving money / food on a budget. I can make several meals for what it costs for a meal from a food truck.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#55

Batchelor Chow: a starch potatoes/stuffing/rice/pasta, vegetables, a protein sausage/chicken/egg/beans. Terrific with Tabasco sauce.

DryInitial9044 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bonus points if the "tobasco" is some weird off brand you never heard of from Grocery Outlet.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#56

Mussels! Cheapest food in the seafood counter, easy to make and delicious with frites and/or crusty bread

effinlawz Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#57

50 Budget Shoppers Share Their Best Tips And Tricks To Save Money On Food Organ meats! Heart especially. It takes a bit of etra effort to trim down, but it gives a fantastic beefy flavor, and as red meats go its very lean and comparatively healthy. I'll usually chop it up and throw it in the slow cooker for a stew. Occasionally I'll slice it thin and cook it more fajita style, but the stew is my go-to. I've been out of the states for a bit now so not sure if the price is still the same, but it used to be about $5-6 a pound, not a bad price at all for meat.

MagicTheDudeChef , Alpha Report

Add photo comments
POST
Debby Keir
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Quite difficult to source in the UK anymore. It got 'banned' during 'Mad cow disease' and even when that was over, few places bothered to stock heart, liver, sweetbreads etc any more.Think it mostly goes into our pet food now.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#58

The humble chicken Maryland (thigh and drum together).

When I bbq them with charcoal and make a good sauce people get excited vs a ho hum another steak. $4.50 per kilo vs $30 ish for the steak.

Chiang2000 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We call them quarters here, but totally agree. They come out juicier too because they aren't cut in half.

#59

Honeybuns, great carb to price ratio.

DeePhD Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#60

Pork neck bones. Super cheap, adds lots of flavor and extremely versatile

TW3RKUL33Z Report

#61

Velveeta. It’s delicious. It may be a “cheese product” and have a strange consistency, it it’s delicious and goes fantastic as a dip or with veggies.
Vienna sausages. They’re dirt cheap, and for all intents and purposes, they are pate. Pate is an expensive culinary delicacy- Vienna sausages are the exact same thing, but dirt cheap and in an easier to get ahold of format.

Low-Yard-1685 Report

Add photo comments
POST
David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Last time I checked, Velveeta cost as much per pound as "real" cheese. In my childhood it was a cheap alternative.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#63

I buy the cheapest hotdogs I can find (my grocery store sells packs for $1 made from chicken by-product) and pickle them. Makes them actually taste good, and you can eat them on some sardines.

For the record, I cut them into quarters so they are more akin to vienna sausages.

shigglewiggle Report

ADVERTISEMENT