Any Asian groceries near you? They often have cheap, good quality produce. The ones near me are also a good place to buy staples like beans, rice, olive oil, etc.
It would help if we knew the city/state you’ll be in; also, how many meals will you be home for? Are you going to be able to bring perishable meals w/ you or pocket-friendly snacks only?
I just stocked up on some individual fish portions at $1 each. Getting enough protein is never a problem. The real trick is to cook with enough variety to keep yourself from becoming bored and then going out blowing your money on pizza and beer.
Learn to make sauces. A basic white sauce, tomato sauce, curry sauce and even something like teriyaki turns one dish into four. Then vary between side dishes like potatos, rice and pasta. Now you have 12 different dishes and you’re still just eating fish. Do the same with chicken and you have 24 days out of your 30. Add mac and cheese with hot dogs once a week and you’re at 28 out of 30 days.
Like Teacake demonstrated, it’s all about mixing up a few staples.
Aldi’s also has cheap groceries if they are near you. They seem to vary in quality by location (some are downright scary). In addition to unhealthy college staples (a case - 12 - of ramen for $1.79), they have meat, veggies and milk for reasonable prices. Don’t expect high quality organics, but cheap.
If your apartment has a freezer, think in terms of freezer meals. I’d make cupcakes (cake mix $1) and freeze them when I was broke. Then when I wanted chocolate, it was right there. I’d also buy little tiny foil loaf pans and throw meatloaf or lasagna in there.
On the “one hunk of meat, eat for a week for cheap” my favorite rubber chicken week: http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2009/02/1-chicken-17-healthy-meals-26-bucks-no.html
Keep things like cans of soup or chicken pot pies around. The trick to “limited budget, no foodplan” is to avoid going out. Pack lunch if you won’t be home (peanut butter, tuna fish, pieces of fruit).
Thanks for all the replies!
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Dangerosa**, I really don’t think we have an Aldi’s around here (I’m in NC for those who asked), but it sounds like a really good store.
Chessic Sense, I’m definitely planning to experiment with recipes over the summer and learning how to make soup, haha.
And “How to Cook Anything” sounds awesome. I will definitely check that out the next time I can make it to a bookstore.
I’m a tea fanatic, and you can do it for cheap:
- Order good loose-leaf tea online.
- Get a travel-mug.
- Any cafe will fill it with hot water for free.
- Top it off with their milk/sugar. (this is a little dishonest, but you asked about cheap)
Actually, a lot of cafes are charging a nominal amount for hot water now, because a lot of people DO use their milk and sugar…and even hot water isn’t free.
There are Aldi’s in North Carolina - might be worth a stop by their web page to see if one is on a bus line for you.
Often the easiest grocery stores to get to for college students are the most expensive.
Have a Trader Joe’s around? Lots of good buys there. I like to stock up on cans of sardines and red/pink salmon. They make a wonderful fast, healthy lunch.
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Lots of good ideas here: http://www.poorgirleatswell.com/
Well, the farmers’ market near us is NOT cheaper than the grocery store, though the produce is fresher and nicer.
Depending on where the OP will be living: I know s/he said North Carolina. If it’s Chapel Hill, there is a very nice farmers’ market in Carrboro, which is an easy bike ride / longish walk away.
Half-price or the library.
Eggs eggs eggs. Asian dishes are best for this, but eggs are a real winner. Asian rice and vegetable bowlis my favorite.
-Refried black beans from trader joe’s are $1. Spread it in a whole wheat tortilla and top with 2% shredded cheddar. Two of these quickie burritos and you’ve got yourself dinner (with a small salad or mix of frozen and microwave steamed veggies on the side).
If you’re looking for portable lunches (always the hardest for me), think 3 hard-boiled eggs (only eat 2 yellows), an apple and iced tea.
-Peanut butter and jelly, but don’t buy the cheap shit - buy peanut butter that ONLY has peanuts in it, no palm oil or other shit. But the flavor of jelly you like. Buy almond butter or cashew butter for variety as well. Spread it all on good quality whole wheat bread and you have yourself a healthy and inexpensive lunch.
-Pack portable fruit or canned fruit (rinsed off) then packaged in tiny Pyrex or Gladware containers.
-Get yourself a good water bottle, like a Sigg. Get two sizes - Liter and the half liter so you can tote around only what you need. Get yourself a thermos for iced teas and for hot soups.
-Get yourself a lunch bag - a good one - like this Built black lunch tote. The initial outlay may seem daunting but it will save you a lot in the long run.
And usually cheaper still at an ethnic (Mexican) market.
Ethnic markets are great for huge packages of spices for less than a little tiny packet costs at the grocery store and for staples like rice and beans.
(I’ve never found Trader Joes to be that cheap or that good, though other people swear by it. I live in co-op land though - so if I’m going the natural food route, the co-op is better and cheaper than Trader Joes or Whole Foods. And I’m not a fan at all of Trader Joes extensive processed food line. In addition to the co-op, I make use of the Farmer’s Market, which is also cheap around here.)
If Mom or Dad (or anyone else you know) has a Sam’s Club or CostCo membership, offer to buy off toilet paper, cleaning supplies and paper towels from them.
Got a hispanic population in the area? My local Mexican market is MUCH cheaper for meat and vegetables than the supermarket chains.
Learn how to break down whole chickens (or even a turkey). Use the backs, necks, pope’s nose, and wing tips to make broth. Freeze the broth. Use the rest of the pieces as you like.
If you drink milk, buy by the gallon: freeze anything left by 2 or 3 days before the sell by date. That milk still works for cooking.
Buy frozen vegetables; you can’t afford to waste, and it’s easy to have happen with fresh. Some canned vegetables are even OK at an Aldi’s (or similar) store. Generally the kidney beans, chickpeas, and navy beans there are good, and they’ll save time you might not have.
Watch the fat content of any ground meat you buy. Anything less than 80% lean means you’ll have to putter around with draining fat (and wasting money.).
:nodding: I’m all for sustainability and supporting local businesses, but my budget simply won’t allow most of the prices I see at our local farmers’ markets.
In my area the supermarket always wins out price-wise.
But then again, I don’t live in an agricultural state, which no doubt has a lot to do with it.
YMMV, I guess. I was living in Washington State, so things like apples, onions, potatoes, corn, and some fruit were wildly cheaper at the farmer’s market. Other things were no cheaper than the grocery store. What I mean to say is that products that are grown locally and are in season are sometimes cheaper at the farmers’ market. If you’ve got more time than money, it can be a significant savings.
General advice.
Buy in bulk things that won’t go bad before you use them up- rice, pasta, noodles, couscous, tins of tomatoes etc.
Buy off brand, special offers and things from the discount aisle.
Go in with friends to buy in bulk things that will go bad before you use them up- big sacks of potatoes, onions, carrots or family packs of meat, eggs, bread etc.
Learn to love un-sexy vegetables- root veggies, cabbage and seasonal greens will always be cheaper than fancy and imported veg.
Your basic meal will involve a cheap starch, onions, spices and garlic for flavour, vegetables, a source of protein (tofu, meat, eggs or pulses) and some sort of sauce- probably tomato based (cheaper than cream). You will get bored quickly- so go outside your comfort zone and experiment with different spices and herbs.
For example- using the same basic ingredient of ground (minced) beef and varying the veg, spices and starch you could make:
Spaghetti and meatballs
Beef curry and pilau rice
A beef moussaka
A Moroccan beef tagine with couscous
Lasagna
Vietnamese spiced beef in lettuce
Russian style beef wrapped in cabbage
Chinese hot and sour beef and noodles
Tacos
Beef enchiladas
Minced beef, onion and potato hash
Spicy beef and quinoa
Think about investing in a good spice rack- when you’re trying to make something appetising from the same ingredients you have been eating all week it will be worth its weight in gold.
Think about your storage- don’t buy more than what you can freeze or refrigerate because you’ll only end up throwing it out.
At NYC farmer’s markets the more local it is, the pricier it is. The farmer’s market is MUCH MORE expensive than the grocery store. I once paid $8 for a quart of strawberries. They were good though.