What are some of your go-to cheap meals?

I too have been spending far less money by buying cheaper cuts of meat. Also, I have learnt that the local supermarkets are reducing items at around 5.30pm and then I will visit and stock up on cheap meat and bread and use this to stock up my freezer or just cook up the night of purchase and then freeze the meals individually so that I have lots of convenient, yummy, cheap & nutritious meals available for when I am in a hurry or just cannot be bothered to cook.

Also, I now come home for my lunch from work as the 10 minute walk either way stops me getting bored and I do not end up buying any magazines or sweets that way.

I have been economising a lot this year too, This summer I grew a lot of my own vegetables, this saved me a lot of money as fresh vesg is so expensive. I will grow even more next year. I also now buy cheaper meats, instead of roast beef for sunday dinner we will have a roast chicken. Instead of steak mince I buy pork and beef mixed mince and its actually pretty tasty. I now try to make cheaper meals like spaghetti and meatballs, cottage pie and meatloaf. I love these meals anyway so I don't mind it too much!

I cut my grocery budget down from $200 per week to $120. My $120 includes food, gas, diapers and formula. We are eating a lot of beans and rice. We have some fresh fruits but not nearly as many as I would like. I find that if I make a little extra and freeze a meal or two in the vacuum bags I have plenty of leftovers to take to work each day. Our meals are pretty simple these days and we are using our leftovers much better.

I basically neglect my taste buds and mix a few cheap combos together. Here are some of my favorites.

Cook minute rice and add a can of tuna. For flavoring you can use barbeque sauce, ketchup, or mayo. Sounds gross but it was a favorite of mine in college. Easy, cheap, and low fat.

Boil some Ramen noodles and some soya balls. You can add the flavor packages to it or just add low sodium soy sauce. The soya balls will take the flavor of whatever you mix it with.

Plain and simple turkey sandwiches. Like you said by the cheaper turkey slices at the grocery store and add lettuce, tomatoes, and low fat mayo if you like. You can use the cheap packets of cheese, as well.

Only by the foods which are on sale. Make sure its not the unhealthy kind either. Even though we are trying to save money, there is no need to disregard our health. It might take a little more searching, but these health food bargains are also available.

Biscuits and gravy is a cheap favorite around our house. Something I like to make:

Some minute rice
some sort of frozen vegetable(green beans or broccoli are my favs)
a can of cream of something soup (mushroom, broccoli, chicken)

cook the rice, add soup and about 1/2 can water and vegetables, cook until vegetables are to your taste.

Spaghetti is really cheap to make and can feed a lot of people. I fry and drain loose hamburger and then mix it with canned sauce - add any extras I have like onions, tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers - basically whatever I have on hand or feel like adding. Add in a bagged salad and some hot french bread and you have a delicious meal with little mess and clean up required. Priced right.
Breakfast is another favorite of ours. Corn beef hash with grits, eggs and toast and you're done. Again super quick, yummy, cheap.

I shop at Wal-mart and Sam's Club. I do find ways to make cheaper meals. I have recipes that use very few ingredients. I go to web sites that have cheap food ideas. I google the words frugel cooking. I use cooks.com, pioneerwomen.com, foodnetwork.com. I also make casserole recipes which I can stretch these meals into a couple of days (there are only two of us). If anyone is looking for recipes please feel free to add me as a friend and I will send you these recipes. Also, I have one recipe that I have created which is a money saver.

We don't seem to get a lot of coupons here that you get in the U.S. I wish I had more coupons to save a few bucks every week. I don't know why we don't get them in our papers here. I have found that I do a big batch of whatever I'm making, and freeze the rest or use the leftovers for lunches.

I've become a big fan of the crock pot, and like you said, you can put in cheaper cuts of meat that come out fantastic.

It is tough these days, and whatever you can do to save some bucks is a good thing.

adelida2233 hi I am not cooking for myself now, but when we still had our apartment, I saved by eating a lot of beans, chili, and pasta dishes like spaghetti, ravioli, and others of that
nature. Beans are always cheap, and spaghetti and pastas are not expensive really either, nor is chili con carne. Rice is always good along with meat added and some veggies and maybe some soy sauce too.

Hello^^ I'm cooking for myself now a days and yes true life and the economy is getting hard,,, for food sometimes i only eat noodles but with some meat pieces and vegetables so it is still good^^V some rice to add also.. soup dishes is alright.