We don’t have to tell you that times are tough, dear Pandas. You likely already noticed how everything costs just a bit more (or, well, a LOT MORE in some cases), and how some food packages at your local grocery stores are shrinking and shrinking . Meanwhile, some food items simply don’t get delivered to your neighborhood anymore and the quality of some groceries might not be the same as before. Welcome to the awful world of inflation , supply chain issues, and financial worries.
High gas prices, rising food costs, and the inflated cost of rent are all making many people look over how they budget things. They’re looking for areas where they can cut back. Drastically. Some choose to change their eating habits but aren’t sure where to begin. Luckily, the internet’s full of unsung, kitchen-savvy heroes who are willing to teach others how to eat well in a way that’s lighter on the wallet.
Bored Panda got in touch with cooking and baking grandmaster Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin , who’s known all around the globe for her fabulous pie art . Jessica shared her thoughts on saving money on food, whether it makes sense to freeze food nutrition-wise, and she even revealed her awesome idea for a cheap-but-delicious meal for the entire family.
“Everyone is feeling the pinch the world over right now—so don’t go it alone! Team up with friends and relatives and develop your cost-cutting strategies together. Your purchasing power is greatly increased when you shop together and you can share tips and keep an eye out for deals together,” the pie artist told us that you should look to your friends, family, and community for help in these times. Scroll down for the full interview.
instead of getting grains/lentils from international food isle, visit an Indian groceries. you will see grains/lentils that you have never seen before and much cheaper. also many of the lentils have high protein contents.
WideBlock , Betty Subrizi Report
Soup. I know it’s summer and hot af but I love soup anytime. I always bulk buy staples like diced tomatoes, beans, veggies etc. last night I made tomato basil soup with fresh basil from my garden. Eat some freeze some.
vixystix303 , Nathan Dumlao Report
Less meat overall. Cabbage is super affordable and can be salad, sautéed, or ingredients in stir fry. Eggs - quiche, omelettes, scrambles. Bananas are amazingly cheap per pound and make amazing smoothies and desserts. Soups and stews with leftovers and add rice and beans. Grow your own herbs - I haven’t bought rosemary in decades because the fresh one on my porch is amazing and hard to kill. It can really elevate those on sale potatoes.
StinkyCheeseWomxn , Thomas Le Report
Roasting a whole chicken instead of buying breasts or thighs already cut up. I think I paid $5.50 for a whole chicken and $9 for 4 breasts.
AtlJayhawk , Tim Douglas Report
Beans beans and more beans.
KekistaniNormie , Łukasz Rawa Report
Avoid processed foods. Careful shopping to minimize waste. Cheap veggies like potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, etc. Plant based foods like grains and legumes.
alanmagid , Fikri Rasyid Report
Impulse buy meat thats on sale and freeze it. Its a rare day when i pay full (inflated) price for meat anymore.
TurkTurkle , phiraphon srithakae Report
Really started honing my Chinese dish skills because so much of it is rice (cheap) and few veggies and even fewer meat. Like, a single chicken breast can be a part of a 5-6 serving meal. Also, refried beans for burritos. So cheap, so delicious.
Little-Nikas , Pille R. Priske Report
1 small chicken is all the meat 1 adult needs in a week. Costs less than £4. I roast and debone it on Sunday, then make meals each evening with it, curry, stir fry, roast dinner etc. Fresh fruit and veg are cheap enough, big 2kg bag of rice lasts ages, porridge for breakfast. Only spent £22 at the weekend for this week’s shop.
fozid , Amanda Lim Report
I’ve changed what I’m growing in my garden this year. I’m currently drowning in raspberries and artichokes, all free! I’m going to be freezing most of my blueberries and preserving/canning almost everything else. I’ve also planted extra onions and squash because they keep for a long time and make an excellent and filling side with dinner. I still have some squash from last season that we are using up.
FoolofaTook88888888 , Irina Iriser Report
It will sound obvious, but go to the store and see what’s on sale, especially in seasonal items like fresh produce. People often go in with a plan that may have nothing to do with what’s a good price that day.
joemondo , Morgan Von Gunten Report
I’m freezing a lot more stuff and being much more proactive about labeling and using up foods before it goes bad. There are only two of us and in the past I might toss out half a can of tomato sauce because it would go unused after a recipe. Now everything gets portioned out and frozen on the spot with a label. I’ve got butter molds that I use to freeze four ounce sticks of broth and other liquids. I’m also eating at home more for lunch whereas I used to eat lunch out once or twice a week. Now it’s more like once or twice a month.
speedycat2014 , epicurious Report
Rotisserie chicken from the deli-and it’s already cooked for you. Shred it for chicken tacos, chicken soup, make stock for other soup bases. Eggs-so versatile for a boost of protein. Add to ramen, eat by itself. Very filling if made into an omelet with a side of rice. Dice up into egg salad sandwiches. Rice-can make fried rice, Spanish rice, jambalaya rice or put into casseroles. However you use it, it will fill you up. Potatoes-bake ‘em, fry them, shred them boil them, mash them.
PeoniesNLilacs , Alison Marras Report
Don’t get stuck on having to use a certain kind of meat and look for what suits your budget. Ground beef has been really expensive so I have been buying ground pork and ground turkey instead. Chicken thigh meat works in most recipes that ask for chicken breast. Watch for sales on meat around holidays.
Bluemonogi , ΛLΞX KOZLΞNKO Report
I’m intentional about leftover meals. I’ll make extra rice one day and then use it to make fried rice [the next day]. At the end of the week, I make a homemade pizza crust and then put whatever leftovers are still in the fridge on top of it. My kids love ’leftover pizza.’ It’s always fun and different every week. Last week, we made three pizzas and our toppings were tacos, chicken curry, and spaghetti.
FoolofaTook88888888 , Mgg Vitchakorn Report
Eating less meat. Showing up at the farmers market near closing and buying a lot of things at reduced prices.
LemonLymandotcom23 , Ashley Winkler Report
My local small Persian grocer has the best prices on produce, feta, spices, and especially fresh herbs. things I’ve always done that make my shop more affordable: Eat a ton of lentils - delicious, cheap, easy, can be spiced and prepared in infinite exciting ways and in many different countries’ styles. 95% vegetarian diet. I eat seafood 1-2 times a month and poultry maybe 3-4 times a year.
rhinny , Katana Report
Ground mushrooms will bulk up ground beef sauce without much taste affect. Just add when beef is almost browned
Pucketz , Pixabay Report
This one might be obvious, but I’ve started shopping online and knowing exactly what I need to cook for the week. I used to go to the grocery store with sort of a general plan, but not knowing exactly what ingredients I need. I would wander around, see something that looked good, and then try to plan a meal around it on the fly. Now, I’ll come up with a couple recipes, figure out exactly everything I need, and add it all to the cart online. Doing this also helps with not buying snacks or other things I don’t need. It’s a really great feeling to total everything up in the cart and see that I’m only paying $50-60 to feed 2 people for the week.
saintlouisarch , rupixen.com Report
So China wise, “northerners” were poorer back in the day. There’s a difference in cuisine but it’s much clearer to me now having lived with some. 1. Meat is expensive. Use tiny slivers of pork (or bacon) stir fried in dishes of vegetables to give them meaty flavour. 2. Veg is king. Those northerners even eat salad. Usually with a lot of vinegar dressing. Probably a throwback to hide not so great veg. 3. Stodge. Their bread is like bricks. Cheaply made with flour, water, minimal proving. I don’t recommend it but it does fill you up. You can also add flavour by sandwiching with braised aubergine and pork. Yes, more pork fat flavour. For my regular cheap self, I have some habits that keep things cheap which make up for the fact I spend a lot of money on food as a vice. 1. Lidl. When I can. I’m very selective about meat and veg so if it doesn’t look great I’ll buy elsewhere. Cheap chocolate, eggs, sliced meats, foreign treats…all lidl. Also the cheapest place for cotton pads. 2. Own brand fun. Unless branded cereal is on a major deal, I do own brand. Cheaper and weirdly healthier because they spend less adding sugar. 3. Oats. Love them. Super cheap. Even if you went organic they’re cheap. Raisins, milk, two minutes in the microwave. Can also use up every out of date Nutella, peanut butter, biscoff, jam jar you own as toppings. 4. I memorise prices of things I like and if its over that line, I don’t buy them. Doesn’t work for necessities, but water crackers and the ilk, my brain knows things to be £1 or less… 5. Drinks are water for me. I am grossly resentful when dining out that soft drinks can be £3 and up. You can’t really reuse teabags the way we used to but you can if you let it brew in a pot for longer. 6. If you use the oven, use it to cook more than one thing. Sweet potatoes constantly get roasted when I bake cakes.
flyingmonkey5678461 , Wright Brand Bacon Report
Choose potatoes, onions, and garlic with no blemishes. Keep them dry, dark, and separated (onions and garlic can be together, but the potatoes need to be kept in another area). You can keep all these for weeks. I like to use pantyhose and hang the potatoes on the inside of my pantry with hooks.
cachemoney426 , Monika Stawowy Report
Rotisserie chicken from Sam’s for $4.98 (they’re huge), instant mashed potatoes (family size is like $2.49), and a bag of fresh green beans ($3.50) roasted with garlic powder, black pepper and olive oil. $11 to feed family of 4. Spaghetti is always cheap and easy to feed multiples. Rice and homemade gravy. I make a cheap broccoli cheese casserole that easily feeds 4. But for real. Those Sams rotisserie chickens are a godsend. So easy.
Negative_Gift1622 , Sam’s Club Report
The usual: I shop at Aldi and a Korean vegetable store. I also check the local flyers and buy things on sale. Also I have been doing intermittent fasting (for health reasons) so that’s one less meal per day. I’m hoping that everyone else has answers because other than being really mindful of food waste, it’s tough.
nvmls , Marques Thomas Report
Honestly I’ve been buying bulk meats and freezing extra for years with a vacuum sealer. I barely noticed the price increases. If I can’t get a good deal at the market I just grab out of the freezer. Also trying to reduce meat intake can drastically reduce bills. Tofu is usually like a dollar per lb at costco. And most vegetables are even cheaper. Fill up on healthy vegetables and a more modest serving of meat. As for vegetables, just buy what’s fresh and plentiful and usually on sale. Also check out farmer’s markets and produce stands and look for deals with CSA farmers.
Picker-Rick , Los Muertos Crew Report
We use ground turkey in place of ground beef. Way leaner, and properly seasoned it’s hard to tell a difference. Burgers, chili, tacos, works for all of it
Professional_Fun_182 , Eva Bronzini Report
Thank god for culinary school- because it’s taught me how to menu plan and utilize the same ingredients in different ways, as well as how to keep veggies longer and what to freeze, as well as I have been buying whole chickens (I live alone so it’s easier with less people to feed BUT) and fabricating them on my own and freezing the rest for later use as well as the carcass to make homemade stocks and broths. I’ve also been saving veggie and herb scraps to add to homemade stocks and broths as well. It’s been saving me a ton of money thankfully.
yodacat24 , Cisco Lin Report
I have all the apps for my local grocery stores so I can compare prices. Buy lots of frozen veggies because they’re cheaper right now. Bought a cheap rice cooker and eat a lot of rice to stretch my meals out. Have a small chest freezer so I buy meat in bulk when it’s on sale.
BalthazarShenanigans , Priscilla Du Preez Report
I turn maruchan ramen noodles into all kinds of things. Spaghetti, Alfredo, butter noodles, pesto, beef stew and noodles, etc. If I need carbs in a dish, I add it. I save the flavor packs for soup bases/broth or whatever I might need seasoning for. Like I just used a chicken packet to make the base for broccoli cheddar soup. The beef packs work well with caramelized onions for a French onion soup. Add the noodles as well!
LandonSleeps , M. W Report
I switched to smoothies instead of whole fruits. I can make a combination of fresh and frozen fruits without compromising the flavor since the texture doesn’t matter too much in the smoothie.
cachemoney426 , Alina Karpenko Report
MrsKravitz , John Schnobrich Report
Shop at ethnic grocery stores (Mexican, Chinese, Indian) for cheaper produce and dry goods. Never buy ethnic food from a Western-style store. Prices are marked up so high! Buy spices in bulk from Indian stores, if available. If you have Costco membership, the rotisserie chicken is a bargain! For $5, you have enough meat for a work week’s worth of dinner for one or three days of dinner for two. You can use the chicken bones to make stock or porridge. I’m Chinese-American and a little meat goes a long way in Chinese dishes—1/2 pound of ground meat (pork or beef) with a box of tofu can be five to seven servings. Half pound of chicken can be cut into small pieces for stir-fry for five servings. Some things like green onions can be planted and easily regrown in backyards. Mung bean sprouts are also easily sprouted from mung beans.
Kagomefog Report
The way I make grocery lists is i plan meals and snacks and put what I need for those (and anything around the house I might need like cleaning stuff) on my list in order of where they are in the store. Then I also put an estimated price by every item on my list (based on what the price has been or what I anticipate it to be) so I don’t have any big shocks at the register. Planning ahead helps a lot with the shopping because you’re not as likely to buy stuff you don’t need. I’m also trying to eat less meat so I’ll portion any roasts or pkgs of meat out into several portions and freeze until I need them.
KeriEatsSouls , Torbjørn Helgesen Report
On occasion, I buy whole chickens/ducks and filet them. This way, I have the carcass and make a mean broth/soup with it. I also buy stewed meats and slow cook them. so tender and juicy. I don’t miss having a NY Strip as I get my beef fix from the stewed meats cooked ‘right’.
yourbuddywill , JK Sloan Report
Go to the discounted section. Almost every store around here has a bargain bin/shelf/cooler/etc.. where they sell close to expiring food. Unless I’m making something specific, I don’t ever pay full price for meat. I just got 7 portions of flank steak for $15 in the bargain bin. Learn how to cook. When I go bargain bin shopping I go…I can use that, and that and make this.
thealphateam Report
There’s a spice store not too far from me that sells spices in bulk WAY cheaper than the big chain grocery stores. Indian grocery stores are good for this too but they don’t carry a lot of the spices I like. I bought a huge bone in ham shank for less than $2/lb, diced a bunch up for breakfast burritos and froze the rest. So much cheaper than deli meat which starts at over $8/lb, and honestly it had better flavor. Also the bone can be used for soup or stock or a lot of other things (or a dog treat!).
ObsessiveAboutCats Report
I look for clearance meat/chicken etc. If the expiration date is close I cook it up & portion it out & freeze it. I bought 6 packages of chicken burgers the other day, 4 patties for $2.27 each package. I love a bargain.
Accomplished-Act-126 Report
I go to a day old bread store..not sure what it’s called in other cities but they often have good deals. I buy hot dog buns, bread and tasty cake snacks for cheap on mondays. Freeze the bread stuff. Also: rice. its versatile, cheap, and lasts a very long time
nwod_mlac Report
I have two here that nobody ever seems to mention. One. If you are willing to put in the work, fish is basically free. If it is off a pier, the shoreline, the surf, a used kayak off craigslist, or even a split charter with a good guide, you can source that affordably. The second, and this is a lot less work, is abandoned game. And no, I do not mean roadkill. I do not hunt, and in my state selling wild game is highly illegal. But in March or so, start calling around to deer processors around you. If you do you will find out that every year a few people dropped off a deer or hog. Had it processed, and never came back. So they have a freezer they would like to empty full of meat that they can’t get rid of. Now they can’t legally sell it at a profit. But they can let you take it from them if you pay the ordinary processing fee. Now the downside is, you have to take it has it is. So if they ordered 20 pounds of it as smoked sausage at $5 extra per pound, that means an extra $100 on the bill. And you have to take the entire animal. I have seen them as cheap as $150 for a simple breakdown and wrap, to as much as $350 for a bunch of smoked sausage, boudin, snack sticks, jalapeño cheese summer sausage, and so on. And remember you must take the entire animal. So take multiple coolers, and have lots of freezer space.
HooptieRider Report
I went to the local restaurant supply store bout a big beef should roast. Cut up part of it, and ground the rest. I also got some pork butter too. Saved about $4-5/ pound.
a-a-ron1776 Report
Bulk pre mixed seasoning from Sam’s or make your own pre mixed. Saves time and money. Fajita seasoning is my go to for about everything except garlic bread. Which also goes on just about everything.
Numerous-Expression2 Report
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