So far, I have talked a lot about kitchen essentials, basic cooking ideas, not going overboard on kitchen gadgets, and so on. What I have not talked about is pretty important in this day and age. Much of my content so far has been kind of geared toward people just beginning to cook. What I have not even mentioned yet is cooking on a budget, or more specifically, cooking on a tight budget. So let’s talk about that for a bit.
I Am On a Tight Budget. What Should I Buy?
These days, a lot of us are on kind of tight budgets. That could be due to any number of reasons. Regardless of why you may not have a fortune to spend on food, you can still eat well. And you can still cook some truly amazing meals, even on the cheap. So that brings up the question of what should I buy? There is, at least for me, kind of a desire to stick with name brand stuff. For some reason, I have always had an idea that the brand named stuff is better than the store brand stuff. More often than not, that is not the case. Think about it, once out of the package and in the pan, are Green Giant green beans any different or any better than Great Value green beans? Oh, and by the way, the Great Value ones were about $.25 less for the same weight package. So there it is. One easy way to save some money. Another thing to consider is buying in bulk if you can afford it. Now I’m not talking about shopping at places like Sam’s Club or Costco…although those are options as well. What I am talking about is buying the larger packages of things like rice and pasta. Often you can find larger bags of that stuff for a cheaper price. The actual per-unit cost is obviously more, but when compared to buying the smaller packages, it really is cheaper in the long run. Another technique is to plan your meals ahead of time. Make a grocery list, and buy just the items you need. Most of us are not that organized and get what we think we might need. We end up spending a lot more than we should. Try to buy what you need, rather than what you want.
Bakery Items-Why Look in the Bakery if I’m on a Budget?
That is a good question. Here’s my answer. Quick disclosure though. This may apply at places like Walmart and Publix, but not everywhere. Often the bakery section has fresh made breads and rolls. Usually close to the bakery section is the bread aisle that has your common brands like Wonder, Fleishman’s, etc. Pick up a loaf of Italian Bread in the bread aisle and look at the price. Often it is around $2.50 or more. Now go to the bakery section and pick up a loaf of that Italian Bread. Most of the time it is quite a bit cheaper. I know for a fact that a loaf of fresh Italian Bread at Walmart is $1.00…and it is good bread in my opinion. Now, the bakery stuff does not have the preservatives and stuff in it, so it will not last as long as the regular brands. I know a lot of people will think I am nuts, but I put mine in the refrigerator. It lasts longer and does not get moldy within a couple of days. Another idea is to learn how to make your own bread. Flour and yeast are pretty cheap, and the effort of making it yourself is worth it…and your house or apartment will smell wonderful as it bakes.
Meats-How Big of a Package Should I get?
This is a really good question. If you find larger packages of, say, chicken breasts, they will obviously be quite a bit more expensive. However, something to think about. If you have the money and buy the larger package, you can divide it up and freeze what you are not going to use right away. An example is a package of chicken thighs I bought a while back at Publix. I think there were ten or twelve thighs in the package. I don’t remember the price, but it was a decent amount. But when I compared it to the packages of four or six chicken thighs, it was cheaper in the long run. Something to think about.
Canned Goods-Fairly Cheap, Long Shelf Life
In my opinion, canned goods are a good investment. Yes, they often have a lot more salt than frozen products. However, stocking up your pantry with canned beans, fruits, vegetables, and yes, even Spam, is a good idea. If you come home later in the evening and need something hearty but quick, canned beans can be a lifesaver. You can quickly make a soup or stew that will fill you up, provide a good amount of fiber in your diet, and just plain tastes good. The other thing to consider is what cans of beans and other things cost. They are generally pretty cheap and will often keep for years.
Grocery Lists-Make Them and Stick to Them
Here is a lesson I can give you from personal experience. If you go into a grocery store without a set list of what to buy, you will undoubtedly find a lot of things that look good. You’ll end up spending a lot of money on stuff that you may or may not use. I don’t know how many times I have bought something I had an idea for, and after getting pushed to the back of the fridge was forgotten about. Things like that end up going bad before you use them, and that is money wasted. If you are on a budget, that is not a good thing. Like I said earlier, plan your meals out ahead of time, and only buy what you need. Do I follow my own advice? Not always. I try to, but I do get a little out of control from time to time. That is a problem I have. If I go into a grocery store and do not stick to my list, I see stuff, get some great ideas, and end up spending a lot more than I should.
The Bottom Line Is…
Think about how much money you can spend, comfortably, on groceries. We all have a bunch of financial obligations besides food. However, we do have to eat. If you can, plan out your meals, build your grocery list, and stick to it. You can actually eat quite well, even on a tight budget. Don’t always assume you have to buy the most well-known brands on the market. The budget brands work just as well, and once incorporated into a fantastic meal, nobody will know the difference.