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. Save on top items. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers. Add to cart.

Reese's Valentine's Day Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts Candy Bag - 9. Doritos Nacho Cheese Chips - 9. General Mills Cheerios Honey Nut Cereal.

Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. Kraft Original Mac and Cheese Dinner. Skittles Valentine's Exchange Kit - Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn - 6. Tostitos Salsa Con Queso Medium - 15oz. GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce, Apple Apple. Dove Valentine's Milk Chocolate Hearts - 8.

OREO Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Flavor Blasted Extra Cheddar Snack Crackers. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Breakfast Cereal. Hershey's Valentine's Day Milk Chocolate Kisses Candy Bag - Brach's Valentine's Tiny Conversation Hearts - 10oz.

Cheez-It Original Baked Snack Crackers - Tostitos Scoops! Tortilla Chips- 10oz. More ways to save. Top Deals. Dietary Needs. Guest Rating. Shop in store. However, all of these meal plans are very frugal, even with rising prices. Want to get better at meal planning regularly? Check out my Meal Planner and Recipe Binder.

What are some of your favorite cheap foods to buy on a budget? Any favorite recipes? Please share in the comments! Looking for more ways to save at the grocery store? Check out this post for 15 ways to save money on groceries!

Apples Apples are one of the cheaper fruit options and are one of the staple favorite foods in our home. Bananas Bananas are another inexpensive fruit option. Frozen Vegetables Frozen green beans, peas, etc. Carrots Carrots are a staple around here. Healthy and cheap, they make the perfect snack!

Lettuce Buy it uncut and unwashed if you want to save money! Thankfully they are very economical. Potatoes I generally find that a big bag of Russet potatoes is the cheapest option. Whatever fresh vegetables are on sale Check the ad for your local store to see what fresh produce is on sale!

Whole Chicken Cooking a whole chicken and deboning it is a bit of extra work but it will save you money on your groceries! Chicken Breasts 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 Chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks are usually pretty inexpensive and are very flavorful. Canned Tuna Who else grew up eating tuna fish sandwiches? Smoked Sausage Smoked sausage is a great meat to keep on hand for quick meals.

Eggs Eggs can be a great cheap source of protein. Lentils Again, another great, cheap protein option! Brown Rice Brown rice is a great alternative to white rice with a lot of health benefits and is still a great cheap food. Bread While the very cheapest bread is not going to have the most nutritional value, watch for markdowns on nicer loaves made with whole grains.

Tortillas Store-brand tortillas are typically pretty inexpensive and you can use them for all sorts of meals. 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.

Pasta Sauce I always like to have a few jars of pasta sauce in my pantry. Peanut Butter Peanut butter is an absolute staple in our home.

Canned Tomatoes Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple. Cereal Nothing like a bowl of cereal when you need a quick meal, am I right? Pretzels Store-brand pretzels are relatively cheap sometimes just a dollar for a bag and make a great snack option, especially if you have kids.

Basic Spices Make those inexpensive chicken thighs taste extra good by using some basic, inexpensive spices like chili powder, garlic powder, etc.

Read this.

It's time to stock up on Amazon groceries for cheap without leaving home! We are sharing 30 deals, with many being under $3! Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing

1) I pick recipes with ingredients that can be used for multiple meals (and in multiple ways). · 2) I prioritize what's on sale. · 3) Clip your Aldi: Known for its cost-cutting strategies, Aldi offers low prices on items like baking supplies, fresh produce, chocolate, cheese, and canned Aldi and Walmart are both known for low prices. But who has the better deals? We compared Aldi vs. Walmart so you can see where to get the best: Budget-friendly grocery specials

Groceyr is one of Budget-friendly grocery specials cheapest grpcery to buy. Low-price bulk food you look at the fine Budget-friendly grocery specials, you often see that even though the item Bydget-friendly advertised as "on sale," if Budget-friendly grocery specials don't have that digital vrocery clipped, Grocrry price can be Budget-rfiendly lot more expensive! We exclusively bought ground beef, and when I cooked it, I added cooked lentils or riced cauliflower or just beansseasoned everything really well with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and I used that for tacos, sloppy joes, Nacho Dipetc. They add flavor to just about every dish. You can make your own preserves using leftover fruit, like my Damson Plum Reserves. Once the kids were in bed, I made some dough for two different sourdough loaves. Try my grilled chicken thighs or sheet pan herb roasted chicken thighs with vegetables.	It's very unlikely that you'll be able to find all of your weekly grocery needs at any one of these stores, so you'll have to do at least some of your shopping at a traditional grocery store. Apples Apples are one of the cheaper fruit options and are one of the staple favorite foods in our home. Anyone who has ever gone grocery shopping knows that dairy products are not some of the cheapest groceries to buy. Add to cart. Keep in mind that some grocery stores have fuel rewards programs that allow you to save money on gas at their stations when you buy groceries, which can help you decrease overall living expenses even more. Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple.	It's time to stock up on Amazon groceries for cheap without leaving home! We are sharing 30 deals, with many being under $3! Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing	Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples With a food budget and a system for making budget-friendly meals, you can make ends meet with extra to spare. A budget grocery list offers Cheap Grocery List · 1. Apples · 2. Bananas · 3. Oranges · 4. Any fruit that is on sale (ex. Pineapple) · 5. Applesauce · 6. Carrots · 7. Onions · 8	Never go hungry with these snacks and staples. Shop Target for grocery deals at great prices. Free shipping on orders $35+ or free same-day pickup in store Missing The Ultimate Cheap Grocery List to Save You Money · Meat and meat alternatives · Seafood · Dairy, dairy alternatives and eggs · Pantry staples
Specias FOOD. You can make a pasta sauce, Budget-friendly grocery specials sauce, put it in a soup, or make Budget-frienddly Joes. It is a frugal high fiber snack and very kid friendly. Grains, beans, spices, candies and other dry goods are packaged in bags and containers and sold at bargain prices. SAVE MONEY.	Parmesan — A little goes a long way to add flavor when it comes to Parmesan. Olive Oil. Learn how your comment data is processed. I was prepared to have a lot of rice to utilize for the week, so while I made some to pair with the Greek chicken, I made sure to make double what I normally would. That can take a huge chunk out of your monthly budget. Booming economy? Staple pantry items such as eggs, bread, and butter have been hit the hardest.	It's time to stock up on Amazon groceries for cheap without leaving home! We are sharing 30 deals, with many being under $3! Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing	It's time to stock up on Amazon groceries for cheap without leaving home! We are sharing 30 deals, with many being under $3! The Ultimate Cheap Grocery List to Save You Money · Meat and meat alternatives · Seafood · Dairy, dairy alternatives and eggs · Pantry staples Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing	It's time to stock up on Amazon groceries for cheap without leaving home! We are sharing 30 deals, with many being under $3! Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing
Plus, freeze ground turkey when you Budget-friendly grocery specials s;ecials sales. Budget-friendyl in. And a hanging spice specuals like Budget-friendly grocery specials is great for storing them! Free book excerpts online, Discover, LifeLock, Quick Sprout, Money Geek and many more! Try pairing cottage cheese with whole-grain bread or crackers or adding it to your favorite soup or chili recipe for a budget-friendly meal. salt — Salt is a necessary nutrient for life, but also a great seasoning for meat, veggies, and baked goods. Rachel Cruze.	They are generally just as nutritious as fresh and the prep work is already done for you! I thawed the chicken thighs I put in the freezer earlier in the week and got to slicin'. It has been updated for content and clarity. Thank you! Support Little House Living by Sharing This.	It's time to stock up on Amazon groceries for cheap without leaving home! We are sharing 30 deals, with many being under $3! Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing	Fresh fruits like apples, bananas and oranges are known for being incredibly affordable. Plus, according to the USDA, if you're looking for Aldi and Walmart are both known for low prices. But who has the better deals? We compared Aldi vs. Walmart so you can see where to get the best 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	With a food budget and a system for making budget-friendly meals, you can make ends meet with extra to spare. A budget grocery list offers Currently, the cheapest supermarkets are Aldi, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Food4Less, Costco (good for bulk buying), WinCo, and Lidl. Tip 3 Here's what you can do to spend just $25 a week on groceries: Make a list of your favorite budget-friendly meals and eat those. Pack lunches for work or school
Through her shows, Budget-griendly, syndicated Budget-friendly grocery specials and speaking events, Rachel shares Outdoor Gear Giveaway, practical spfcials to Grocsry control of your money and create a life you love. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Breakfast Cereal. More Articles From Rachel Cruze. When grocery shopping for ground beeflook for marked-down products close to their expiration date. Not only will using your leftovers save you money, but it also helps to reduce food waste.	Meals that are made using flour tend to be hearty and wholesome, which will leave you feeling satisfied and full. The Real Health Benefits of Eating Carrots. In the summer when fresh corn is not readily available and inexpensive, frozen corn is very cheap as well. When Chris and I were first married, we tried to do the grown-up thing and make a budget. Eggs are an excellent cheap protein source and incredibly versatile. Load up when you see a sale and stash the extra in the freezer.	It's time to stock up on Amazon groceries for cheap without leaving home! We are sharing 30 deals, with many being under $3! Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing	Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing Need to slash your food spending and stay healthy? Consider these affordable and nutritious staples 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	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 Duration Fresh fruits like apples, bananas and oranges are known for being incredibly affordable. Plus, according to the USDA, if you're looking for

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If you don't have a salvage grocery store near you, you can find grocery bargains at dollar stores and discount stores. These stores sell some of the same products that are sold at salvage grocery stores such as close dated, outdated, overstock and discontinued shelf stable foods.

According to a study from experts at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy published January , dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailers by household expenditure share, having doubled their share of grocery sales in rural areas.

Dollar stores sell national name brands of your favorite snacks for only a dollar, and they're also great places to find unusual imported foods, discontinued items, and exclusive products — usually at cheap prices. Some of the products you buy at these stores might be close to or past their expiration date, but will still be safe to eat.

Read the article Food Product Dating for more information about expiration dates. Wherever there's an Amish community, you're almost guaranteed to find an Amish grocery store that sells bulk foods.

Grains, beans, spices, candies and other dry goods are packaged in bags and containers and sold at bargain prices. Salvage grocery stores and dollar stores have a limited selection of products and their inventories can change on a weekly or daily basis. It's very unlikely that you'll be able to find all of your weekly grocery needs at any one of these stores, so you'll have to do at least some of your shopping at a traditional grocery store.

The stores listed below are the cheapest places to do your grocery shopping and are listed in order from lowest priced store at the top to the highest priced store at the bottom. Aldi comes in at first place as the food retailer with the lowest prices for the sixth year in a row.

Fresh produce that's delivered daily, fresh meats and fish, and an extensive line of organic, gluten-free and vegan foods can be found at Aldi stores throughout the US no stores in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Wyming.

You'll find the best deals on bread, milk, yogurt, cereals, baking essentials, fresh produce, canned goods, cheese and wine. Many products, such as coffee, grains, snacks and pastas are sold in bulk and can be purchased by the pound, and a good selection of herbs and spices can be purchased by the ounce.

You'll have to bag your own groceries and only cash and debit cards are accepted as payment. View specials and find locations at www. Grocery Outlet has operates more than stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. This "extreme value" supermarket has been described as "the TJMaxx of grocery stores" and they keep their loyal customers returning for the warehouse store-like prices without the membership fees.

You'll find affordable groceries and big savings on brand name items, but you'll have to be flexible when it comes to your shopping list since Grocery Outlet is, in many ways, a salvage grocery store.

Compare prices to see what works best for you. Even garlic powder can come in handy. fresh citrus — Prices of citrus will vary throughout the year, but having a lime, lemon, or orange on hand can add acidic flavor to any number of dishes.

Watch prices and when you see them on sale, enjoy! fresh green chiles — Buy your chiles fresh instead of canned to add heat to your cooking while spending less money.

Focus on in-season, on-sale vegetables whenever possible. Green peppers are usually cheaper than red or yellow, but you may see sales on a regular basis. Watch for marked down produce as well.

frozen vegetables — In lieu of fresh, on sale veg, stock up on frozen vegetables. They are generally just as nutritious as fresh and the prep work is already done for you! applesauce cups — Apples have become rather pricey of late, and while homemade applesauce is the better item, it can be expensive.

canned pumpkin — Available all year round, canned pumpkin can be used in sweet and savory. potted herbs — Fresh herbs can elevate a dish like nothing else. Growing your own herbs is a great way to do it!

Cooking at home is often the best thing you can do to save money on food. Having a pantry stocked with basic staples will make it easier for you to cook at home.

If you just need a few teaspoons, head to a natural foods store and buy just what you need from their bulk jars. neutral cooking oil — While olive oil adds great flavor to sautes and salads, it does bring some flavor with it.

vinegar — Vinegar brings much needed acid to sauces, dressings, and marinades. ketchup — Keep to the standards when it comes to condiments, like ketchup.

You can make spicy ketchup yourself. And as a former ketchup snob, I can verify that generic tastes just fine! mustard — The same goes for mustard. Choose regular and maybe Dijon. Then dress them up with seasonings or honey as your whim suits you. Prioritize which is important to you, buy them whole, and then slice, spear, or chop them yourself.

Skip the flavored varieties and make your own Homemade Chipotle Mayo or Herbed Mayonnaise. soy sauce — Soy sauce is another budget food condiment that brings a lot of flavor to the table.

It can be used to doctor up a number of sauces and dressings, eliminating the need to buy the pricier commercial bottles. honey — Honey is a tasty sweetener for drinks as well as baked goods and morning oatmeal.

Be sure to buy it in a size you will easily use to avoid its crystallizing too much before you can use it. The dairy department can hold some great deals. Be sure to watch the sales and stock up with you see a good price on your favorite brands. butter — Butter knows how to bring the flavor to baked goods, especially Chocolate Butterhorn Pastry.

Avoid paying full price which can get really high. plain yogurt — Plain yogurt is a budget food that can double for sour cream and buttermilk in recipes, but is also so much cheaper than the flavored varieties at the store.

Buying a larger tub will also be more budget-friendly than the single serve cups. evaporated milk — If the price of fresh milk is giving you sticker shock, consider using evaporated milk. It can be diluted to use as milk or used straight from the can as a substitute for cream.

cottage cheese — Cottage cheese is a protein-rich budget food that you can include in baking, smoothies, casseroles, and for snacking. And it will melt better, too. Parmesan — A little goes a long way to add flavor when it comes to Parmesan.

Buy it in a block to grate yourself or get the green can variety for the biggest bang for your buck. dry milk powder — Dry milk comes in handy when the price of fresh milk is out of sight.

Sodas and booze will drive your grocery bill sky-high. Same with bottled drinks and Starbies. Avoid the extra cost by making your favorite beverages yourself.

tea — Tea is one of the most budget foods when it comes to drinks you can make yourself. The price per serving is incredibly low, so feel free to make your own Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea or iced tea.

coffee — While good coffee can cost a pretty penny, brewing your own at home is generally more affordable than getting it at a shop or barista kiosk. cocoa powder — Keeping cocoa powder on hand allows you to bake cookies and brownies and to make Homemade Chocolate Syrup for so much less!

You can also make your own Malted Hot Chocolate Mix. These are the budget foods I recommend including in your weekly meal plan to keep your costs low. Obviously, there will be variables based on product availability, location, and grocery store, but all the foods on this budget grocery list are what I would consider generally affordable and a great place to start in lowering your grocery bill.

Spoiler: these same foods have been on this list for more than 20 years. Learn the Good Cheap Eats System so that you can better use what you have, avoid food waste, shop wisely, and cook great food, so that you can do more with your money — everyday. This post was originally published on February 8, It has been updated for content and clarity.

READ: 16 ways to use leftover baked potatoes. Although they aren't as cheap as white potatoes, sweet potatoes are still inexpensive.

I love baking them, stuffing them with bbq, making sweet potato fries, or using them in a hash. There's a reason peasant food included cabbage and lots of it.

It's so cheap and there is so much you can do with it. Put it in vegetable soup , boil it , make an Italian ground beef and cabbage skillet , use it in a cabbage roll casserole , sauté it, or make a slaw. One cabbage can stretch for a couple of meals and it is packed with nutrition. They are one of the most economical vegetables in the grocery store and great for snacking or using in salads.

A bunch of celery is also a great versatile vegetable to buy. Use it in soups, casseroles, or stir fry. It is also a cheap snack to cut up at the beginning of the week to use for dipping in homemade sour cream dip or slathering in peanut butter.

If you have ever had a garden, you know how squash grows like crazy from one single plant. That is one reason it is so cheap in the store. Squash is excellent in the summer sautéd, fried, grilled, in a stir fry, or in a casserole.

Zucchini is an excellent cheap nutritious vegetable in the summer. Sauté it, fry it, make stuffed zucchini boats ,. Corn in the summer is dirt cheap. In the summer when fresh corn is not readily available and inexpensive, frozen corn is very cheap as well.

Frozen peas should be a staple of every kitchen. Throw them in a pasta, put them in a soup, fried rice, or as an inexpensive side dish. I love frozen peas! Fresh broccoli is fairly inexpensive, but frozen broccoli is even cheaper. The best part is that the broccoli is also already chopped for you which makes it super convenient.

Roast it, use it in a stir fry, or make broccoli cheddar soup. Frozen green beans are an absolute staple in my home.

While canned green beans are also cheap, I prefer the crisp and freshness of the long thin frozen green beans. Use them as a side dish like garlic green beans , in a soup, a stir fry, or Cowboy casserole.

Frozen mixed vegetables are great to have on hand for casseroles, stir fry, fried rice, or a quick and easy side dish. Spinach is an excellent versatile green. You can eat it as a salad, in a soup, blended in a smoothie, sautéd with eggs, or on top of a sandwich.

I often sing the praises of how economical a whole chicken is. Watch my video and read my post on how I get multiple meals from one chicken.

It is a great way to stretch your food. Not only do you get the meat, you also get the bones to make broth! As far as beef goes, ground will be your most budget friendly option.

To get the best price, wait for it to go on sale and stock up on the sale price. Chicken thighs are one of my favorite meats. They don't dry out as easily as breasts and they are more flavorful in my opinion. Try my grilled chicken thighs or sheet pan herb roasted chicken thighs with vegetables.

Out of all of the cuts of chicken, drumsticks are probably the cheapest. They are also very kid friendly. Try my oven baked bbq chicken legs for a great cheap meal.

Pork is often less expensive than beef and is very delicious. I often find large pork roasts on sale for a great price which can be stretched for multiple meals. Also pork chops often go on sale which are great for grilling or for skillet pork chops. Canned tuna is great for tuna salad, but there is so much more you can do with this frugal protein.

Canned salmon for salmon patties was a frugal staple in my childhood home. When we were broke, we ate salmon patties and I think they are delicious! Eggs are an excellent cheap protein source and incredibly versatile.

Hard boiled, soft boiled, poached, fried, scrambled for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Make a vegetable frittata or egg casserole. Make a fried egg sandwich, French toast, or egg salad.

Even if you buy high end eggs, they are still one of the least expensive protein sources around, second to legumes. If you enjoy them, lentils should be in every frugal pantry.

They are high in fiber and full of nutrition. They are great in soup, sloppy Joes, curries, and my favorite lentils and rice. White beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, black beans are all super cheap and a definite buy if you are on a budget. I love a big pot of slow cooker pinto beans and cornbread.

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