Everyday Cheapskate: Tasty Ways to Stretch Your Budget with Thrifty Meals

These days, grocery prices can make you feel like you need a financial adviser just to navigate the supermarket aisles. But instead of cringing every time you see the price of your favorite items, there's a better solution -- thrifty meals that don't sacrifice taste or nutrition. I'm talking about meals that fill us up, make us smile, and don't break the bank. So here's how you can stretch your grocery budget while keeping your family happy and your pantry full.

SHOP SMART AND PLAN AHEAD

The best key secret to thrifty meals is planning. It's not glamorous, but it works. Before you even step foot in the store, take a few minutes to know what's on sale today. Consider what's already in your pantry, freezer and refrigerator -- sometimes the ingredients for a great meal are already lurking behind the ketchup. Then, focus your shopping list on what you truly need, especially sale items or seasonal produce, which tend to be cheaper. The key is to avoid impulse purchases (fancy cheeses are ridiculously tempting) and stick to your list.

Thrifty Tip: Plan meals around ingredients that can stretch across multiple dishes. For example, a whole chicken can be roasted for one meal, then shredded for sandwiches, salads or soup later in the week.

COOK ONCE, EAT TWICE (OR MORE)

Speaking of chicken, cooking in bulk is a game-changer. You not only save time but stretch your ingredients further. Make large batches of meals that can be repurposed. A big pot of chili can be tonight's dinner, tomorrow's nacho topping and Friday's baked potato filler. Leftover rice? Turn it into stir fry or fried rice for a second meal. Beans can work as a side one night and a taco filling the next.

Thrifty Tip: Invest in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. These amazing kitchen devices let you make big, flavorful meals with minimal effort, and often from cheaper cuts of meat or dry beans.

GET CREATIVE WITH LEFTOVERS

The art of transforming leftovers into something new and exciting is a skill worth mastering. We're not talking about reheating last night's dinner and calling it good. Turn leftover roasted veggies into a delicious frittata or use extra spaghetti sauce to make a baked pasta dish. Even the little odds and ends can be transformed -- like making a "clean out the fridge" soup or stir fry.

Thrifty Tip: Keep a "soup bag" in your freezer. Anytime you have leftover veggies, toss them into the bag. Once it's full, throw it all into a pot with some broth, and boom -- dinner's served!

GO MEATLESS

I'm not saying you have to give up meat entirely, but cutting back on meat can save you a ton of money. Meatless meals can be just as hearty and satisfying, and there are so many options now that make skipping the meat easy and delicious. Think black bean tacos, chickpea curry or mushroom risotto.

Thrifty Tip: Eggs are a fantastic and cheap source of protein. Scrambles, omelets or a simple frittata with whatever veggies you have on hand can make a great meal.

MAKE IT FROM SCRATCH

I get it -- sometimes it's easier to buy premade meals or mixes, but they often cost more and usually aren't as good for you. Cooking from scratch doesn't have to be time consuming, and you don't have to be a master chef. Simple things like homemade pizza dough, soup or pancake mix can be made in larger batches and frozen for future meals. You'll not only save money but avoid all those sneaky preservatives and additives.

Thrifty Tip: When you bake, make a double batch and freeze half for later. Homemade bread, muffins, and even cookies can be frozen and thawed when needed -- better than store-bought and way cheaper!

USE YOUR FREEZER LIKE A PRO

Your freezer is one of the best tools for sticking to a budget. You can freeze almost anything -- leftover meals, bread, sauces, broth, veggies, even fruit that's starting to go soft. The key is to freeze things before they go bad. Overripe bananas? Freeze them for smoothies or banana bread later. Bought too many veggies? Blanch and freeze them for soups or stews.

Thrifty Tip: Label everything in your freezer with the date so you don't forget what's in there. There's nothing worse than a mystery container of something that might have been dinner six months ago.

EMBRACE 'POOR MAN'S' MEALS

Back in the day, meals like casseroles, stews and pot pies were staples because they stretched ingredients and filled people up on a budget. These dishes are still great for stretching your grocery dollars today. Plus, they're often one-pot meals, meaning less cleanup!

Thrifty Tip: Try a potato- or pasta-based dish, like shepherd's pie or baked ziti. These ingredients are cheap, filling and easily jazzed up with whatever veggies or meat you have on hand.

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Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."