Ask:
My DH was out of work for a while, and we are so thankful that he's gotten another job. However, wouldn't you know it, he started in the completely wrong time in the pay cycle and we won't be getting a check for another two weeks. This is going to be extremely hard. I've already had to extend bills, blah blah blah.
I need some advice on some frugal meal ideas. These are what I've come up with so far:
Beans/Cornbread
Sausage/Fried Potatos
Spaghtetti
Potato Soup
Tacos
Chicken Casserole
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also lunch ideas would be nice. I have a very small amount of money that I am not sure is going to be enough. DH also needs gas money to get back and forth to work every day.
A prayer would be good too. Thanks so much.
Answer:
Having breakfast for dinner always helps us extend the grocery money.
At least oce a week we have a breakfast night, which may be:
pancakes
breakfast burritos
french toast
omelletees
Also making your own pizza, is a good one. I have a great copycat pizza hut pan pizza, I am planning on posting today.
Or
chicken pot pie
shephard pie
Another good one is cook a whole chicken or pot roast and use it for a few meals
Answer:
The cheapest protein to buy is eggs. The cheapest fillers are rice and beans (anything that swells with water when cooked is rather frugal). The cheapest meal to make is soup.
Other than that, the most frugal meal to prepare is one that you can make out of your own pantry (ie: you don't have to run to the store to buy anything.) If you have items in your pantry or freezer that you're not sure what to do with, just post them and maybe we can come up with some ideas.
Answer:
Also, I think that the Kitchen section has frugal recipes that you can check out. Maybe some of the products you already have will fit in with some of the recipes posted in that forum.
Prayers said, by the way.
Answer:
Black (or red) beans and rice
Black bean soup or chili
Vegetable soup from leftover veggies or veggies you have in the freezer and need to use
Anything egg- frittata, egg casseroles
maybe meatloaf , chili and sloppy joes?
potatoes - can top with taco fixings, veggies/cheese, pizza toppings to make into a meal
Soups, leftovers, sandwiches from leftovers (meatloaf)
HTH!!
Answer:
Sheppard's pies are really filling and don't cost much. You can make the filling with anything you have of leftover meat or veggies.
I always make a ncie Bechamelle sauce , with 2 tbsp or butter, 2 tbsp of flour, and milk, and add them to any type of pasta. If I want to change, Ill just put them on top of the pasta, top them with any shredded cheese I have and bake them. It's pretty easy and fast, and you can use what's in your pantry for that.
Answer:
Noodles
Rice
Eggs
Oatmeal
all very cheap and very filling. Remember that you don't have to have a 'meat' to have a meal. Just do what you can to get by until the regular paychecks come in again.
Answer:
boy we've all been in this situation before haven't we...
I always bought things I could do alot with...
10 lb bag potatoes-mashed,fried,scalloped,fries,baked,soup
chili-with crackers,over baked potatoes or fries-gussy up a pack of .59 hotgogs
eggs-breakfast...or egg salad sandwiches
you can even multi purpose hamburger helper-the quesadilla ones make great burritos if you have leftover.
hamburger is always the cheap meat...think hamburger gravy,or leftover burgers simmered in the cheap cans of brown gravy taste just like salisbury steaks,sloppy joes(my husbands even likes leftover of this over baked potatoes)
good luck,and hang in there-you'll make it!!!