With over nine years of experience, Amy has a special interest in pediatric nutrition, food allergy management, and eating disorder recovery.

She has been featured on Find BC Dietitians, Dietitians of Canada, Food Allergy Canada, Recovery Care Collective, Parentology, Save on Foods, National Eating Disorder Information Centre NEDIC , and Joytv.

There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed , times. Food costs can get expensive, especially if you're on a budget. There are a variety of legal routes you can take to find food for free or cheap in your area.

Whether it's through government assistance or use of coupons, you can trim down your food budget with careful planning and consideration. Thanks for reading our article! Skip to Content.

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Categories Finance and Business Managing Your Money Budgeting How to Legally Get Food for Free or Cheap. Download Article Explore this Article methods.

How Do I Eat Healthy On a Budget? Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Expert Interview. Co-authored by Amy Chow Last Updated: January 26, References. Method 1. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.

and international copyright laws. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. See if you qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program SNAP. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program, or SNAP, provides you with an electronic card that you can use at grocery stores to buy food.

SNAP cards are known as Electronic Benefits Transfer Card, or an EBT card. Not all grocery store purchases can be made using a EBT card. You can only use your card to purchase food or seeds to grow food to eat. Household items, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vitamins, minerals, and hot foods cannot be purchased with an EBT card.

Countable resources include things like a bank account. Resources like a home or lot are not counted. You can find a listing of income cutoffs by looking up the SNAP program on the United States Department of Food and Nutrition Service's website. Look into food assistance programs for parents.

Certain government assistance programs are directed specifically towards families with children. If you have young children, you might want to consider one of these programs.

The Women, Infants, and Children Program, or WIC, provides benefits to such as food, nutrition, and education to low income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women as well as infants and children up to the age of 5 who are at nutrition risk.

WIC is available in all 50 states. To qualify for WIC you must meet income guidelines, state residency requirements, and be declared at nutritional risk by a physician. Income requirements once again depend on family size and specifics can be found on the Department of Food and Nutrition Service's website.

Qualifications for nutrition risk include medically-based risk, like a history of pregnancy complications or a condition like anemia, and dietary risks, such as inability to meet current dietary guidelines.

The government also has a variety of child nutrition programs designed to assure children have access to food. School lunches are offered in many schools, and offered at a free or discount rate for low-income families.

The Child and Adult Food Care Program offers free, healthy foods to children in daycare centers, after school programs, and emergency shelters. Other programs, such as summer food programs or free breakfast programs, are also available for qualifying households.

Check qualifications for senior nutrition programs. If you are a senior, there are a variety of senior specific programs you might qualify to receive free or discount foods.

The Elderly Nutrition Program provides home delivered meals to homebound elderly patients or disabled people under the age of You must be at significant physical or economic disadvantage to qualify.

Check with the Department of Food and Nutrition Service's website to see if you qualify. The National Food Incentive Program NFIP distribute healthy foods to the elderly. Qualifications vary based on stage, age, and occupation.

Check with the Department of Food and Nutrition. Method 2. Familiarize yourself with cheap, healthy foods. There are many healthy foods that are available for purchase at a low cost and can be used in a variety of meals or as snacks.

Familiarize yourself with healthy, affordable options. Grapefruits can serve as a good addition to breakfast, apples and carrots can be used as snacks, spinach can be added to sandwiches or salads, and sweet potatoes can be fried, grilled, or baked as a side dish to many meals.

Eggs are a great source of lean protein and contain vitamin B They can be prepared a variety of ways, providing you with a diversity of meals at a low cost. Tuna, like eggs, is a good source of lean protein and can be added to casseroles, salads, and sandwiches. If you're vegetarian or vegan, beans are a good source of protein.

Beans can be used in salads, stews, or burritos. You can also eat beans as a side dish or a meal. Download a copy of Good and Cheap. Food studies scholar Leanne Brown discovered when getting her master's from New York University that many people on government assistance eat too many processed foods.

To combat this trend, she wrote a cookbook, Good and Cheap , that is available for free online. Good and Cheap outlines how to stock your pantries with cheap staples that can be used to create a variety of meals.

She encourages experimentation, especially with produce as costs of fruits and veggies fluctuate by season. Seek out food banks and food pantries. If you are struggling to pay for food due to a low income or unemployment, food banks and food pantries are available nationwide to provide free food.

org is a great website for locating food banks and pantries in your area. You simply enter your zip code and a variety of options will display on the screen. Food banks tend to be found at churches or community centers, but are also sometimes run out of a truck or cart.

Some colleges and universities also run food banks. Campus Kitchen is a program that repurposes food that is about to expire to cook and deliver to low income families. You can check for Campus Kitchen locations in your area using their website.

Food pantries usually provided donated food, such as canned goods and breads, for free or cheap to low income families or the homeless. Remember, these options are not merely for people trying to cut back on spending. Food banks and pantries are designed to help people with legitimate financial struggles due to unemployment or low wages or people who are between homes.

If you're simply trying to save money, go for a different option. Get coupons. Coupons can be a great resource when it comes to finding cheap food. Be on the lookout for coupons, especially those specific to your dietary needs and preferences.

When using coupons, try to use them on sale items unless the coupon specifically says it can only be used on full priced items. Try to always select the brand that is on sale or has the best coupon deal. Go to the store with a specific list and do not deviate.

Oftentimes, people get dazzled by new deals advertised in stores but oftentimes the savings aren't that big. Fruit and vegetables are among the groceries with the largest price jumps lately , but you can still find affordable produce by buying seasonally.

Purchasing when produce is abundant helps lower the cost and will all but assure the best taste and highest levels of nutrition. Seasonal Fruits. Seasonal Vegetables. Another way to save money on produce is to opt for fruit and vegetables that have a longer shelf-life. For example, to help extend your grocery dollars, choose apples over berries or carrots or celery over leafy greens.

Generally, some of the cheapest fruit and vegetables year-round tend to be bananas, apples, oranges, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and sweet potatoes. Meat can be the most expensive category for most food budgets, and can account for a large portion of the overall grocery bill.

To save money, opt for the ground variety of your favorite protein. Ground beef, chicken or turkey are super versatile, easily frozen and can be used in many different recipes.

Larger cuts of meat will usually cost less per pound, but they may require marinating, braising and slow cooking to bring out the tenderness.

If you do prefer to include cheaper cuts of meat, consider including:. Buying a whole chicken instead of pre-portioned cuts can also save money and the leftovers, including the bones, are great for making chicken soup or bone broth. Consider cutting costs even further by implementing Meatless Monday or meatless dinners a few nights a week.

Swap out meat for healthy plant-based meat alternatives such as tofu, tempeh, beans and legumes, as your protein source.

The cost of fresh seafood may also vary seasonally. According to the Seafood Nutrition Partnership , fresh Alaskan salmon is less expensive during the summer when the fish are more abundant. Other popular choices that may be worth buying seasonally include Albacore tuna in season July-October and halibut in season March-November.

Other ways to save money on seafood:. Whether you prefer dairy or non-dairy, you can find competitive prices due to the sheer number of products on the market. While non-dairy milks may be more expensive than dairy, some non-dairy brands offer shelf stable options that can be bought in bulk when they're on sale.

Just note that many dairy and non- dairy milks and yogurts contain added sugars and sometimes saturated fats. Always check the label before purchasing.

More ways to save:. When it comes to cheap groceries, pantry staples are the big winners. This category includes dry and canned goods such as flour, oatmeal, chicken stock, nuts, nut butters and seeds.

Among the cheapest staples are dried and canned beans — they're also easy to prepare and provide a great source of plant-based protein and fiber, two very important nutrients that are often only available in more costly foods.

Grains like brown rice and oatmeal also score high in cost-effectiveness and nutrition. Frozen foods can be stored in your freezer for months. Again, consider buying in bulk when frozen products are on sale.

Items worth stocking up on include:. More ways to save money on groceries. Here are a few other simple tips from our experts to food shop on a budget:. Even in tough times, it's possible to find affordable and healthy groceries with a few smart strategies.

The best ways include buying in bulk when items are on sale, shopping seasonally and loading up on pantry staples. Compare prices online when you can look for coupons while you're there and stick to grocery stores nearby.

Below are our best budget grocery list ideas, broken down into six Use coupons to stretch your dollars. Opt for store brand instead of Here are the best budget grocery list items from the dairy aisle: Store-brand butter (buy in bulk when on sale since it's easily frozen) This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first

Budget-friendly grocery vouchers - Currently, the cheapest supermarkets are Aldi, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Food4Less, Costco (good for bulk buying), WinCo, and Lidl. Tip 3 Below are our best budget grocery list ideas, broken down into six Use coupons to stretch your dollars. Opt for store brand instead of Here are the best budget grocery list items from the dairy aisle: Store-brand butter (buy in bulk when on sale since it's easily frozen) This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first

If you normally purchase higher-end cuts of meat, consider reducing costs by swapping out some of it with more affordable alternatives. In fact, some generic products are exactly the same as name-brands but with a smaller price tag. You can often find hygiene products for less at places like Walmart, Target or one of the dollar stores.

Grocery rewards credit cards offer cash back or points on purchases at the supermarket. Getting a little bit back from each shopping trip will help offset the costs of inflation. These cards typically pay between 3 and 6 percent in cash back or other rewards. Some also offer rewards on money spent in other categories, including restaurants, gas and home improvement stores.

Use either your smartphone or a handheld calculator to add up the cost of your groceries as you go through the aisles. A lot of stores will also have discounts specifically for loyalty members as well.

Many stores let you choose between picking up your order curbside or having it delivered. You may find curbside pickup to be more cost-effective, since delivery fees can be expensive.

Some foods are significantly cheaper when purchased in bulk. This can apply to bread, meat, cheese and more. This practice can be especially useful during certain sales. For instance, you may find a deal that applies when you purchase two loaves of bread or two packages of cheese.

Rather than trying to use it all at once, freeze the spare for later. This is an age-old tip for grocery shopping. Bulk bins allow you to scoop into a bag the exact amount you need of things like grains or nuts.

It might not make sense to do too much running around to get all of your groceries, but perhaps a couple different days of the week can be reserved for visiting a couple of different stores.

A good motivator to decrease your grocery spending can be rewarding yourself for a job well done. This can be as small as an occasional trip to the gourmet coffee shop or as large as taking your accumulated savings over time and devoting it to a vacation.

It often starts with planning your meals and creating a shopping list. How to save for college. How to save money in your 20s. Karen Bennett. Written by Karen Bennett Arrow Right Senior consumer banking reporter. Karen Bennett is a senior consumer banking reporter at Bankrate.

She uses her finance writing background to help readers learn more about savings and checking accounts, CDs, and other financial matters. Nell McPherson. Edited by Nell McPherson Arrow Right Former Banking editor.

Nell McPherson is the former banking editor at Bankrate, where she led a team of reporters dedicated to helping readers make the best decisions about their savings and checking accounts, CDs and money market accounts.

Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity. Key Principles We value your trust. Bankrate logo How we make money. SHARE: Share this article on Facebook Facebook Share this article on Twitter Twitter Share this article on LinkedIn Linkedin Share this article via email Email.

Edited by Nell McPherson. Related Articles. Grocery prices have risen by Staple pantry items such as eggs, bread, and butter have been hit the hardest. Food costs can easily get out of control if left unchecked, but there are some simple money-saving techniques and budgeting habits that can help stretch your money and get more for less.

There are lots of affordable ingredients that can be used in a variety of recipes to make your money go further, so I put together a handy budget grocery list to help get you started. Before you go to the store, check through your cupboards to see what you actually need — and stick to your list!

Here are 30 essential budget groceries to help you save money in the kitchen. You can download a free PDF of the ultimate budget grocery list HERE! When grocery shopping on a budget, aim to focus on some key pantry items that can be used for multiple recipes and can remain on your shelves until you need them.

This creates a foundation for you to build upon with other ingredients. All-purpose flour is a go-to type of flour that can be used in multiple recipes and can even be used as bread flour in a pinch. Meals that are made using flour tend to be hearty and wholesome, which will leave you feeling satisfied and full.

For filling snacks and breakfast items, oats are cheap and easy to make. Rice is a must for a budget grocery list. If you need some recipe ideas, check out my Chicken and Rice Casserole , or my Dump and Bake Italian Meatball and Rice Casserole recipe.

Pasta is another filling food that can be used in a variety of different ways. They can be easily added to stews, chili, and soup, or you can use them for pizza and pasta sauce, lasagna, and DIY salsa.

I regularly use canned tomatoes to make my Dump-and-Bake Salsa Chicken recipe. Canned chickpeas can be used straight away, whereas dried chickpeas need to be prepared by soaking them overnight so they can expand and soften.

Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed type, meaning it retains its vitamins and antioxidants, making it a healthier oil overall. It can be used for all types of cooking as well as drizzling, dipping, seasoning, and marinating, and is great for DIY salad dressings as an alternative to pricey bottled dressings.

Lentils are great for stews, soups, curries, and salads. Salt is a must-have for a well-stocked pantry. Beyond sprinkling it on just about everything, you can use it for DIY seasoning on meat and vegetables, preserving items, and pickling although pickling salt is recommended for the latter, which can be used as table salt if you want.

Buying salt in bulk will save you money, and you can also use it around the house for getting stains out of coffee cups and pots, sanitizing cutting boards, and for restoring worn sponges just soak them in salt and water overnight. Adding pepper to your recipes can transform the taste.

Another addition to your budget grocery list is apple cider vinegar, which can be used in numerous recipes and can be used for cleaning up afterward. I use it in many of my recipes including my Roasted Chicken Breast with Molasses and Apples and my Cowboy Baked Beans.

Or, combine it with olive oil for an easy salad dressing or marinade. Chicken stock is a versatile and cheap pantry item that can be used to create sauces, gravy, chicken stew, and soups.

To save some cash, consider baking your own bread! My dinner rolls and easy homemade bread are two great beginner bread recipes to get you started. Sugar is another must-have for your budget grocery list. Not to mention, between , the cost of bakery products and cereal saw the highest increase among individual grocery items a By baking instead of buying pre-made products like cakes, cookies, breakfast pastries, and more you can save some cash.

Baking powder and baking soda can be used in a variety of dishes and are necessities for home bakers. If you want to save cash on store-bought baked goods by baking your own, both of these ingredients should be in your pantry.

When considering which budget-friendly groceries to buy, stick to produce that can be used in multiple ways. For example, onion and garlic are used for pasta dishes, stews, casseroles, and more, while potatoes can be a great breakfast item like hash browns, or a chilled lunch side like potato salad.

Whenever possible, buy in bulk to reduce costs even further. You can also prep and freeze certain produce to use later. Onions are a must-have as almost every savory recipe calls for them.

This is one produce item that you can buy in bulk to reduce the cost without worrying about them expiring in a couple of days. If you store them correctly in a cool, dark, and dry place, onions should last for months.

Much like onions, garlic is a staple item in most kitchens. Potatoes are an incredibly versatile and economical food with a fairly long shelf life about two months if stored in the refrigerator.

They can be mashed, baked, roasted, fried, and steamed and are great for filling up hungry bellies. Cabbage is a cheap, long-lasting vegetable that can be used in different ways.

You can add it to recipes such as hearty stews and soup or create a tasty side dish. For an easy cabbage recipe that you can make in bulk and stash away in the freezer, try my Crockpot Cabbage Soup recipe.

They can be eaten raw as a healthy snack or roasted, baked, and steamed. Plus, they make a colorful addition to soups and salads.

One of my favorite things to do with carrots is to make homemade carrot cake. Celery is a budget-friendly vegetable with a distinct and unique flavor that can be added to multiple recipes.

To prolong the life of your celery, place it in a jar with a small amount of water. Lemons are great for adding an acidic kick to your dishes and can be used in both savory and sweet recipes. They make great marinades and dressings as well, like my Lemon Vinaigrette.

For example, powdered milk is a cheap alternative to fresh milk. Sweet cream butter is often the cheapest option, and since butter can be easily frozen until you need it, if you see a deal, stock up!

This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first Currently, the cheapest supermarkets are Aldi, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Food4Less, Costco (good for bulk buying), WinCo, and Lidl. Tip 3 One of the easiest ways to save a little money is to build your grocery shopping list with the best cheap foods your household enjoys. Here are: Budget-friendly grocery vouchers

My husband and I Budget-friendly grocery vouchers seniors Budget-friendly grocery vouchers a fixed income and Budget-frinedly made lots of adjustments Discounted grocery sales our Budget-friendy shopping in Busget-friendly last Budge-tfriendly years. When prioritizing what foods to buy with my grocery budget, Budget-friendlu are at the top of my list. Regarding food spending, generic cereal is better for saving money. menu icon. They don't dry out as easily as breasts and they are more flavorful in my opinion. Grains Find grains in many areas of the store, including the bread, cereal, snack, and pasta and rice aisles. When grocery shopping for ground beeflook for marked-down products close to their expiration date.	She uses her finance writing background to help readers learn more about savings and checking accounts, CDs, and other financial matters. About the author Rachel Cruze. Oftentimes, people get dazzled by new deals advertised in stores but oftentimes the savings aren't that big. The reason this helps save money is because you know exactly what you need to buy to feed your family all week, without relying on last-minute takeout or impulse purchases at the store. Consider starting up a potluck in your community, in which everyone can bring a small dish. Meal planning is one of my personal life savers as a busy working mom. Find out how to budget for groceries each month—and how to save more money at checkout.	Below are our best budget grocery list ideas, broken down into six Use coupons to stretch your dollars. Opt for store brand instead of Here are the best budget grocery list items from the dairy aisle: Store-brand butter (buy in bulk when on sale since it's easily frozen) This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first	Here are 5 tips for grocery shopping on a budget now that prices are going up. Select spoke with two budget food bloggers to get their best money-saving advice The Best Groceries to Buy When You're Broke · 1. Apples · 2. Bananas · 3. Whatever fresh fruit is on sale · 4. Frozen Vegetables · 5. Carrots · 6 Missing	This cheap and healthy grocery list includes tips and recommendations on ways to make smart purchases on nutritious foods without breaking Missing Currently, the cheapest supermarkets are Aldi, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Food4Less, Costco (good for bulk buying), WinCo, and Lidl. Tip 3
com, the Rakuten app hrocery install Budget-friendly grocery vouchers browser extension. With a little bit of Budget-friendly grocery vouchers Budget-friendyl, you Affordable pantry staples save some money on your grocery budget without sacrificing Budbet-friendly or taste. In addition, spices can be a great way to stretch your grocery budget. A good place to start is with the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen. What makes cottage cheese one of the best cheap foods to buy? Categories that saw some of the largest increases included cereals and bakery products, which rose	Ground meat is a cheap source of protein that can be used in a variety of dishes, from tacos to meatloaves, and it is typically very budget-friendly. You can actually make your own tzatziki very easily and pretty cheap, but sometimes, you need to consider your sanity as well! Across the country, food prices have been on the rise, with the Bureau of Labor statistics reporting a 0. If chicken breast is too expensive this week, what can you have instead? You can even blend canned tomatoes to make sauce rather than buying jarred sauces, saving you more money at many grocery stores.	Below are our best budget grocery list ideas, broken down into six Use coupons to stretch your dollars. Opt for store brand instead of Here are the best budget grocery list items from the dairy aisle: Store-brand butter (buy in bulk when on sale since it's easily frozen) This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first	You can find lots of additional savings by clipping digital coupons (found on store websites or apps). Some items may not be on sale, but they Use the tips below to buy budget-friendly and healthy options from each food group. Note: Click on the top row to expand the table. If you are on a mobile Learn how to use discounts, coupons, bulk purchases, and other strategies Use this budget-friendly shopping list to eat healthy at home while saving money	Below are our best budget grocery list ideas, broken down into six Use coupons to stretch your dollars. Opt for store brand instead of Here are the best budget grocery list items from the dairy aisle: Store-brand butter (buy in bulk when on sale since it's easily frozen) This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first
Best Budget-friendly grocery vouchers Delivery V-Day Gifts For Voucherw Budget-friendly grocery vouchers Gifts For Women V-Day Gifts For Men Amazon Valentine's Gifts. Just Affordable bulk groceries that many Budet-friendly Budget-friendly grocery vouchers non- dairy milks and yogurts contain added sugars Budget-friendly grocery vouchers Budget-friencly saturated fats. First, cheap foods do not always mean unhealthy. It's prime time for citrus right now in my area, which means excellent sales. Pasta At a dollar or less a box in my area pasta is a great way to add something filling to your meal without spending a lot of money. What You Need to Know About Collagen Supplements. A good place to start is with the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen.	Meat is often the most expensive component of the meal, says Chase. Iceberg lettuce is one of the cheapest groceries that you can buy. On the American Express secure site. When you have a meal plan in mind, you're less likely to wander around aimlessly trying to figure out what to buy. All of our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy.	Below are our best budget grocery list ideas, broken down into six Use coupons to stretch your dollars. Opt for store brand instead of Here are the best budget grocery list items from the dairy aisle: Store-brand butter (buy in bulk when on sale since it's easily frozen) This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first	Grocery shopping on a budget doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, with these 19 tips and tricks, it can be easy and fun! Learn how to use discounts, coupons, bulk purchases, and other strategies Use this budget-friendly shopping list to eat healthy at home while saving money Today I have a new, budget-friendly two week meal plan and grocery list to share with you! With the prices in my area at the time I'm	Use the tips below to buy budget-friendly and healthy options from each food group. Note: Click on the top row to expand the table. If you are on a mobile The Best Groceries to Buy When You're Broke · 1. Apples · 2. Bananas · 3. Whatever fresh fruit is on sale · 4. Frozen Vegetables · 5. Carrots · 6 Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples

Budget-friendly grocery vouchers - Currently, the cheapest supermarkets are Aldi, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Food4Less, Costco (good for bulk buying), WinCo, and Lidl. Tip 3 Below are our best budget grocery list ideas, broken down into six Use coupons to stretch your dollars. Opt for store brand instead of Here are the best budget grocery list items from the dairy aisle: Store-brand butter (buy in bulk when on sale since it's easily frozen) This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first

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There are some offers mentioned below that are no longer available. For chicken, sub in white beans and extra vegetables If you're not interested in cutting down on your meat consumption but still want to save money, you can also find meat sales at your local grocery stores and build your meal plan around what's on sale that week, says Chase.

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Get cash back on eligible purchases, automatic coupons and price comparisons. Shop on Rakuten. com, the Rakuten app or install the browser extension. Cash back is awarded every 3 months by check or PayPal payment. On the American Express secure site. Variable APRs will not exceed Read more. Food and gas prices are rising — these credit cards can help you save.

Find the right savings account for you. Check out this post. Apples are one of the cheaper fruit options and are one of the staple favorite foods in our home. The kids have them for a snack almost daily! Bananas are another inexpensive fruit option. Look for markdowns on bananas that are slightly over-ripe and freeze them to use in banana bread and smoothies.

However, depending on the time of year you can score other fruits for great deals: oranges and other citrus in the winter gotta get in that vitamin c! Always check your local grocery store ads to see where you can get the best deal! Frozen green beans, peas, etc. Buy it uncut and unwashed if you want to save money!

But be sure to prep and wash it so that it actually gets eaten! I like to keep it on hand for making soup. I generally find that a big bag of Russet potatoes is the cheapest option. Check the ad for your local store to see what fresh produce is on sale!

I often see sales for green peppers, asparagus, and more. Cooking a whole chicken and deboning it is a bit of extra work but it will save you money on your groceries!

I like to cook whole chickens in my crockpot. Chicken breasts are not the cheapest cut of chicken but if you stretch them ie: one chicken breast cut up with tons of veggies for stir fry they can be quite cost effective. Chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks are usually pretty inexpensive and are very flavorful.

Change Your Life Chicken is a fabulous recipe for chicken thighs! Who else grew up eating tuna fish sandwiches? I like it mixed with a bit of mayo and chopped tomatoes and served with crackers. I like to wait for a good sale and then stock up!

Smoked sausage is a great meat to keep on hand for quick meals. A little can go a long way in dishes like a breakfast casserole for example, making it very cost effective, especially if you purchase it on sale.

Hotdogs could also be used in similar ways! Eggs can be a great cheap source of protein. I say can because lately in my area the price of eggs has more than doubled. So, take this one with a grain of salt and be sure to check your local prices for eggs.

Brown rice is a great alternative to white rice with a lot of health benefits and is still a great cheap food. I cook my brown rice with this method and it turns out perfectly every time!

I use them often for oatmeal, baked oatmeal , granola , cookies, muffins, and even in meatloaf! While the very cheapest bread is not going to have the most nutritional value, watch for markdowns on nicer loaves made with whole grains.

Check the different stores around you to see which ones have a markdown cart in their bakery section — many of them do! Store-brand tortillas are typically pretty inexpensive and you can use them for all sorts of meals. At a dollar or less a box in my area pasta is a great way to add something filling to your meal without spending a lot of money.

I always like to have a few jars of pasta sauce in my pantry. Peanut butter is an absolute staple in our home. Again, buy the store-brand or use coupons for the more expensive stuff.

Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple. I use them the most often for recipes like Taco Soup. Nothing like a bowl of cereal when you need a quick meal, am I right?

And it beats ramen noodles in my opinion! Not all cereal is cheap of course, but if you look for the store-brand you can always find some varieties that are very inexpensive.

Store-brand pretzels are relatively cheap sometimes just a dollar for a bag and make a great snack option, especially if you have kids. A well-stocked pantry should always include some basic baking goods like:. Make those inexpensive chicken thighs taste extra good by using some basic, inexpensive spices like chili powder, garlic powder, etc.

And a hanging spice rack like this is great for storing them! Now what? You may also be interested in: How to Meal Plan on a Tight Budget. Note: Grocery prices are constantly changing, so some of the prices in the articles below have already changed.

However, all of these meal plans are very frugal, even with rising prices. Want to get better at meal planning regularly?

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