|
Cheap Meal Ideas
If you are finding money a bit tight before pay day, are a college student, or just someone whose outgoings seem to always exceed their income, one of your main worries is likely to be how to feed yourself on a budget. Here are some money saving ideas for meals.
• Lasagne – Value lasagne sheets cost next to nothing. Make your own white sauce and layer it with tomato sauce made from tinned chopped tomatoes, frozen vegetables, (sweetcorn, onion, etc) and some herbs. If you'd prefer meat with your meal, also use a little mince.
• Sausage and mash - with or without baked beans or gravy.
|
|
• Toad in the hole – Apart from the sausages, your only expense is flour, egg and milk which are all very cheap.
• Spaghetti bolognese – mince can be bought very cheaply and you can also use meat substitutes such as Quorn. Value/basic spaghetti only costs around 16p at some supermarkets.
• Omlettes – plain, cheese and ham, Spanish style (with potato and onion)... there are a lot of options for making eggs a little more interesting.
• Chicken curries – A jar of korma sauce, lots of rice and some chicken is a fairly economical option for feeding a family, especially since there is often enough leftover to freeze for another night. A tin of coconut milk (about 70p) will make it even tastier if you can afford the extra pennies.
• Vegetarian curries - Go vegetarian for a cheaper alternative. Lentils with spices, vegetables (whatever you have in the cupboard) and rice makes a very cheap and nutritious meal. Or if you're feeling lazy, a jar of masala (about £1.30) and a tin of chickpeas (about 40p) makes a tasty chana masala and will make enough for two nights.
• Pasta – Pasta is always a good option for a cheap meal as it is filling. Macaroni cheese (cover the pasta with homemade cheese sauce and put in the oven for half an hour) and pasta bake with tuna and sweetcorn are two of the cheapest options.
• Jacket potatoes – A cheap and versatile meal. Jacket potatoes are a great way of using up leftovers such as curry or chilli con carne, if there isn't quite enough to make a complete meal.
• Shepherds pie – This meal also has the benefit that it can be frozen, so there is no waste.
• Egg, chips and beans – For healthier chips, slice your potatoes and brush them with egg white and spices. Cook in the oven at 190C, tossing them after 15 minutes so they cook evenly.
• Stews and casseroles – This is a good way to use vegetables which are passed their best and leftovers of meat. Cook in bulk and freeze the leftovers.
• Pizza – homemade dough is simple to make and costs pennies and a tasty topping can be made from a tin of chopped tomatoes, herbs, chopped onion and/or garlic and some grated cheese.
• Pancakes – Just flour, egg and milk. Can be made sweet or savoury depending what you have left in the cupboards.
• Noodles – toss in whatever vegetables you have left and do a stir fry.
• Fajitas – Fill with beans such as chickpeas or kidney beans, spices, herbs and some rice.
You may also be interested in my 'Saving Money on Groceries' article.
|
|
|
|
|
