Poor man dinner meals?

Question

I’m sitting here trying to figure out how we can possibly save more money. I can’t skimp too much on certain things with groceries but I can skimp when it comes to my husband and myself. My son is 21 months old and has to eat properly. I also have to make his lunch for school and I try to buy healthy stuff for him and well, healthy isn’t exactly cheap. And lots of fruits or veggies go to waste because I can’t cook them fast enough.

So my question to some of you is this….

What are your “poor man” meals? What do you guys make for dinner that costs very little but serves a lot? Please provide your recipes if you can.

The one meal that we make a huge portion of is called “American Chop Suey”. It’s nothing like it’s name but we basically just take a huge portion of sauce, tomato soup, elbow macaroni, some diced onions and ground hamburg. Mix it all up and freeze what you don’t use up. Usually one big batch serves us for at least 3 other meals.

So what types of meals do you guys make when you’re pinching pennies??

Answer 1

Stay away from boxed mixes and pre-prepared foods because you can always make your own cheaper. Try store brands - they almost always have a money back guarantee if you're not satisfied. Fruits & vegetables are cheap right now, so I've been putting a lot of things in the freezer for later on. Nothing like a cobbler in December from fresh cherries. Anyway, here are some links which will require a bit of reading but you can get some great ideas. Go to each site, bookmark it and read at your leisure. Good luck!

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/70doll...

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/lunchb...

http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.ht...

http://www.betterbudgeting.com/frugalrec...

http://www.mealtime.org/index.aspx

Answer 2

Bubble Up Pizza

3 pkgs. refrigerator biscuits (usually 3/$1)

1 can or jar of spaghetti sauce (never more than 99 cents)

Shredded cheese (preferably mozzarella)

Pizza toppings: Usually what I already have in the pantry and vegetable bin.

Cut biscuits into quarters and place in a 9x13 baking dish. Add sauce, stir to coat, and spread evenly in bottom of pan. Top with cheese, then toppings, (I usually stick to 3 toppings at a time).

Bake at 375 degrees for about 35-40 min. Be sure to check middle to make sure all the dough is cooked through.

Easy AND cheap!  Good luck!

Answer 3

The grocery stores now have pre-cooked meats such as pot-roasts, pork chops, meatloaf, baked ham, chicken, and etc. They are sooooo good and most have their own gravy. Buy brand names that you know. Follow the directions on the containers.  Ask a clerk for help if needed.

There are jars of all types of sauces for all kinds of noodles. These are found on a shelf.  A clerk can help you find them.

You will find many brand named boxed dinners such as Pasta-Roni. There is a seasoned packet in each box. My favorite is Garlic & Olive Oil. I put more garlic powder in it 'cause I like to taste lots of garlic. Ask a clerk if you need help in finding these boxed dinners.

Don't forget the deli. They now have roasted chickens and fried chicken just like Ky. Fried Chicken. And they have all types of side dishes to go along with your dinner. If you are in a hurry, run over to your supermarket and grab a nice deli lunch or dinner. They taste like home cooking.

By the way, supermarkets and meat markets now cook Thanksgiving turkey dinners with all the trimmings. Check to make sure if you need to put your name on their holiday list.  They will cook a Christmas roast for you too.  Check the telephone's yellow pages for meat markets.

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1. 1,160 Crock Pot recipes:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search?q=crock+...

2. 2,600 Microwave recipes:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search?q=microw...

This is one of the best cooking websites on the internet...see the categories on the left hand side of the screen.  Put this in your "Favorites" for future use.

3. Don't forget the top brand frozen dinners at your local supermarket. Add canned veggies, canned fruit as side dishes.

4. You can heat 1/2 cup of water and pour into a cup or package of oatmeal for breakfast. Packages come in a box of 12 found at the supermarket. This is a good healthy way to start your day.

Don't buy fresh veggies and fruits.  Buy frozen bags of these items and take out what you need.

Answer 4

Cola chicken...

It sounds gross but NO ONE has ever DISLIKED IT. I get requests for it all the time..

4 skinless boneless chicken b*****s

1 cup catsup

12 oz can diet cola

Put chicken in non-stick skillet.

Pour catsup and diet cola over the top.  Bring to boil.

Cover, reduce heat and cook for 45 minutes.  

Uncover, turn up the heat and continue to cook until the sauce becomes thick and adheres to the chicken.  It turns into the most

incredible BBQ sauce and it's only 4 weight watcher points per serving.  So it's healthy! :)

Answer 5

Well I like to eat spaghetti its easy to make and cheap even buying already made sauce  is inexpensive. I like to walk threw the store and find the cheap stuff and see what I can make from that.

Lunches PBJ's are cheap and keeps for a while as well

Answer 6

I buy those roasted chickens for 5.00 and use them for a chicken meal and whats left for chicken soft tacos. I always have tortillas on hand to make bean and cheese burritos, I also do soup and salad or soup and cheese sandwiches or deli sandwiches. I buy the frozen meals and add more frozen veges to them. (I let veges go bad too so I find frozen ones-even the peppers or onions I use-are a much handier buy)

I use tuna with mayonnaise,salt,onions and graded cheddar to make great sandwiches. Cereal or whole grain bread for breakfast, Little Debbie granola bars and rice krispie bars and bananas.apples and pears always get used up. Imitation crab salad-just peas and lettuce and imitation crab with mayonnaise and its always liked! Taco salad. Stirfry veges (froz section again) with chicken cuts. I use steaks every other week and use beans and chicken and fish to supplement protein with cheese etc.

Answer 7

Buy in bulk when possible.  

Pasta and rice are cheap ways of extending meals but if you have a tendency toward diabetes in your family be careful.  

If I need chicken for a chicken salad or just cooked chicken for a recipe I will always choose a whole chicken and boil it then I have the meat and a stock that I can use with some of the meat for soup.  

One of the most money saving things you can do is plan a menu.  Shop for the menu.  Look at how you have meals laid out on your menu like if I am making a chicken salad and chicken soup I plan the soup for a couple days after and use the stock, but also know that I have left over peas from Tuesday I can throw in, as well as carrots from a veggie plate on Sunday.  ETC

Answer 8

The biggest savings starts by making meals at home, in stead of eating out.  Unless you normally make meals like some of the shows on the food network there may be better places to save money.

If one of you is eating out for lunch at $7a day you're looking at $140 a month.  Then if there is Starbucks in the morning...

Some other places to look for money:

Is the home too much?

How about cars, 2 new?

Movies, golf, magazines.

Anyway...

I know you asked about food so here you go.

To lower the cost of Lasagna use one layer of American Cheese and one layer of mozzarella, and one layer of cottage cheese. The other is spaghetti, Ragu sautéed mushroom and onion and just and hamburger

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Sounds like your working at it.  You need at least one dependable car anyway.  Hang in there on the house, I don't know if you can lower the price, but that seems to be the only thing that helps.  We just sold ours and it's in MI of all  places.

Answer 9

i have a joadmeal,,,, taken from the name of the family on on grapes of wrath,,,,, hamburger gravy,,,, over mashed potates

Answer 10

Cheap Soup

I made this soup the other day with some veggies that were near rotting.  If you have a lot of produce going to waste this may be a good one.  

I sauteed onions, peppers and spinach in a sauce pan then added tomatoes at the last minute (If you sautee tomatoes to long they become soggy).  All of these veggies were on their last days of freshness, and it was a good way to make use of them.  I then boiled chicken stock, about 5-6 cups will do.  I added a cup of rice, and the vegies as well as some chicken meat.  The husband loved it.  It was a very affordable because it was food that would have otherwise gone to waste.  you could also substitue fresh veggies for canned.  

Other ways to make food last.  Freeze almost rotten bananas for banana bread (good for breakfast).  Cut mold off of cheese, the rest will still be good.  Mix fruit into a fruit salad.  Buy frozen veggies and fruits they last longer than fresh.  Buy meat in bulk and freeze.

  

      

Answer 11

Corn bread with ham and peas baked into it is my grandmas all time poorman meal.

Also try to buy on sale meats and freeze what you don't use. Frozen veggies are still good for you and will keep a long time. hamburgers are cheap and good. Ground steak with gravy and instant mash. bulk sausage made into patties or meatballs. If meatballs serve over pasta with tomato sauce yum!  

Answer 12

sandwiches and salads are cheap to make.

=]

Answer 13

Hamburger helper.  Plus, you may want to buy turkeys whole.  You get the most meat for your money that way.  Ready made always cost more, so you may want to look at what your buying and substitute out readly-made and pre-packaged foods.  Spagetti is very filling and you can make a lot at one time.  Also, buy in bulk and always get the cheaper "store brand".  The savings add up over time.

Answer 14

Swiss Steak

Round Steak cut into large pieces

onion, sliced

flour,salt and pepper to coat steak

Green beans or mushrooms (sliced)

tomato sauce

mashed potatoes(as a side dish)

coat round steak with flour, salt and pepper Brown in oil in a pan and then place in the bottom of a large casserole add sliced onion rings andmusrooms or drained green beans.  pour 3 cans tomato sauce on top.  Add water to cover.  Cover tightly with lid or heavy foil.  Cook in 325 oven for 3 1/2 hours  Serve with mashed potatoes as a side.  (the gravy is not thick but it is so good, the meat is very tender and so good!  It is a family favorite )  Very inexpensive

Answer 15

Try buying stuff from local butchers and markets.

Try to buying different cuts of meat like thigh and stuff 'cos the sometimes taste better and are cheaper too.

Pasta is a great Poor Man food and its good cos its cheap and can be cooked fairly quickly. You can make cold pasta salads for lunch if cook too much

Buy in bulk and freeze what you wont need straight away.

potatoes are cheap and versatile Baked potaoes, mash, chips,ect.