We don’t have to tell you that times are tough, dear Pandas. You likely already noticed how everything costs just a bit more (or, well, a LOT MORE in some cases), and how some food packages at your local grocery stores are shrinking and shrinking. Meanwhile, some food items simply don’t get delivered to your neighborhood anymore and the quality of some groceries might not be the same as before. Welcome to the awful world of inflation, supply chain issues, and financial worries.
High gas prices, rising food costs, and the inflated cost of rent are all making many people look over how they budget things. They’re looking for areas where they can cut back. Drastically. Some choose to change their eating habits but aren’t sure where to begin. Luckily, the internet’s full of unsung, kitchen-savvy heroes who are willing to teach others how to eat well in a way that’s lighter on the wallet.
We’ve collected the very best cooking and grocery-shopping hacks shared by the r/AskReddit community in this thread, so scroll down and be sure to take notes. Upvote the tips and tricks that you found the most useful. And if you’ve got some awesome money-saving cooking advice to share with all the other Pandas, we’re all eyes and ears—drop by the comments and share some of your wisdom.
#1
Less meat overall. Cabbage is super affordable and can be salad, sautéed, or ingredients in stir fry. Eggs - quiche, omelettes, scrambles. Bananas are amazingly cheap per pound and make amazing smoothies and desserts. Soups and stews with leftovers and add rice and beans. Grow your own herbs - I haven’t bought rosemary in decades because the fresh one on my porch is amazing and hard to kill. It can really elevate those on sale potatoes.
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#2
Roasting a whole chicken instead of buying breasts or thighs already cut up. I think I paid $5.50 for a whole chicken and $9 for 4 breasts.
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#3
Soup. I know it’s summer and hot af but I love soup anytime. I always bulk buy staples like diced tomatoes, beans, veggies etc. last night I made tomato basil soup with fresh basil from my garden. Eat some freeze some.
Image credits: vixystix303
Inflation surged to 9.1% in the United States in June, the highest number we’ve seen in some 40 years. According to CNN, there have been price jumps in pretty much every category. Gasoline prices were up almost 60% compared to the past year. Electricity and natural gas costs increased by 13.7%. And energy prices as a whole rose by 41.6%.
However, rising costs also spread to food items, too, rising 12.2% overall, compared to 2021. Eggs, for instance, cost a third more than a year ago, for Americans. Buying butter is just over a fifth more expensive. And we hope you like milk that costs 16.4% more. Chicken’s up 18.6% and coffee’s 15.8% more expensive.
And while it’s barely ever a good idea to compare anything to super-expensive New York, just to see how much of an economic clown world we’re living in, let’s take a peek at the prices there. The average cost of rent in Manhattan in June 2022 was over $5,000. Meanwhile, the median is just over $4,000.
#4
It will sound obvious, but go to the store and see what’s on sale, especially in seasonal items like fresh produce.People often go in with a plan that may have nothing to do with what’s a good price that day.
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#5
Beans beans and more beans.
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#6
Rotisserie chicken from the deli-and it’s already cooked for you. Shred it for chicken tacos, chicken soup, make stock for other soup bases.Eggs-so versatile for a boost of protein. Add to ramen, eat by itself. Very filling if made into an omelet with a side of rice. Dice up into egg salad sandwiches.
Rice-can make fried rice, Spanish rice, jambalaya rice or put into casseroles. However you use it, it will fill you up.
Potatoes-bake ‘em, fry them, shred them boil them, mash them.
Image credits: PeoniesNLilacs
So, to generalize a bit, it’s getting more expensive to drive to the grocery store, buy the food that you want, drive back, cook it, and pay for the roof over your head. (Especially if you happen to be in NYC.)
Things aren’t looking too hot across the pond, either. The BBC reports that more and more Brits have been relying on food banks or food charities to help them eat. Meanwhile, around one in five people said that they skipped meals or cut down on portion sizes just to make ends meet.
#7
1 small chicken is all the meat 1 adult needs in a week. Costs less than £4. I roast and debone it on Sunday, then make meals each evening with it, curry, stir fry, roast dinner etc. Fresh fruit and veg are cheap enough, big 2kg bag of rice lasts ages, porridge for breakfast. Only spent £22 at the weekend for this week's shop.
Image credits: fozid
#8
instead of getting grains/lentils from international food isle, visit an Indian groceries. you will see grains/lentils that you have never seen before and much cheaper. also many of the lentils have high protein contents.
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#9
Really started honing my Chinese dish skills because so much of it is rice (cheap) and few veggies and even fewer meat. Like, a single chicken breast can be a part of a 5-6 serving meal.Also, refried beans for burritos. So cheap, so delicious.
Image credits: Little-Nikas
Jake Butler, from the ‘Save the Student’ organization, previously explained to Bored Panda that choosing to cook at home instead of eating out or getting takeaways is a major way to save cash. You can eat more cheaply and cook healthier food at home. This doesn’t mean that you have to live a life devoid of flavor, though. There are ways to indulge without breaking the bank.
“The good news is that you can easily recreate your favorites at home for a fraction of the price. It's much healthier this way too. Google is definitely your friend here as you can find fakeaway recipes from a number of sites,” he shared with Bored Panda.
#10
Impulse buy meat thats on sale and freeze it. Its a rare day when i pay full (inflated) price for meat anymore.
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#11
I switched to smoothies instead of whole fruits. I can make a combination of fresh and frozen fruits without compromising the flavor since the texture doesn’t matter too much in the smoothie.
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#12
Don’t get stuck on having to use a certain kind of meat and look for what suits your budget. Ground beef has been really expensive so I have been buying ground pork and ground turkey instead. Chicken thigh meat works in most recipes that ask for chicken breast. Watch for sales on meat around holidays.
Image credits: Bluemonogi
“The good news is that the ingredients for most of these recipes aren't too pricey and you can still hunt for bargains to make the dish cheaper. Buying in bulk is always a winner too when it comes to saving money so it's a great idea to get together with friends and maybe take it in turns to make your favorite fakeaways.”
According to Jake, the most important part of creating a fake takeaway (aka a fakeaway) is getting the seasoning just right. “Salt and pepper won't break the bank, but they can make or break a meal. Don't forget that sugar can take a dish to the next level too,” he suggested what to focus on.
#13
We use ground turkey in place of ground beef. Way leaner, and properly seasoned it’s hard to tell a difference. Burgers, chili, tacos, works for all of it
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#14
Ground mushrooms will bulk up ground beef sauce without much taste affect. Just add when beef is almost browned
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#15
I've changed what I'm growing in my garden this year. I'm currently drowning in raspberries and artichokes, all free! I'm going to be freezing most of my blueberries and preserving/canning almost everything else. I've also planted extra onions and squash because they keep for a long time and make an excellent and filling side with dinner. I still have some squash from last season that we are using up.
Image credits: FoolofaTook88888888
#16
Avoid processed foods. Careful shopping to minimize waste. Cheap veggies like potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, etc. Plant based foods like grains and legumes.
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#17
This one might be obvious, but I’ve started shopping online and knowing exactly what I need to cook for the week.I used to go to the grocery store with sort of a general plan, but not knowing exactly what ingredients I need. I would wander around, see something that looked good, and then try to plan a meal around it on the fly.
Now, I’ll come up with a couple recipes, figure out exactly everything I need, and add it all to the cart online. Doing this also helps with not buying snacks or other things I don’t need. It’s a really great feeling to total everything up in the cart and see that I’m only paying $50-60 to feed 2 people for the week.
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#18
I'm intentional about leftover meals. I'll make extra rice one day and then use it to make fried rice [the next day]. At the end of the week, I make a homemade pizza crust and then put whatever leftovers are still in the fridge on top of it. My kids love 'leftover pizza.' It's always fun and different every week. Last week, we made three pizzas and our toppings were tacos, chicken curry, and spaghetti.
Image credits: FoolofaTook88888888
#19
Honestly I've been buying bulk meats and freezing extra for years with a vacuum sealer. I barely noticed the price increases. If I can't get a good deal at the market I just grab out of the freezer.Also trying to reduce meat intake can drastically reduce bills. Tofu is usually like a dollar per lb at costco. And most vegetables are even cheaper. Fill up on healthy vegetables and a more modest serving of meat.
As for vegetables, just buy what's fresh and plentiful and usually on sale.
Also check out farmer's markets and produce stands and look for deals with CSA farmers.
Image credits: Picker-Rick
#20
I'm freezing a lot more stuff and being much more proactive about labeling and using up foods before it goes bad.There are only two of us and in the past I might toss out half a can of tomato sauce because it would go unused after a recipe.
Now everything gets portioned out and frozen on the spot with a label. I've got butter molds that I use to freeze four ounce sticks of broth and other liquids.
I'm also eating at home more for lunch whereas I used to eat lunch out once or twice a week. Now it's more like once or twice a month.
Image credits: speedycat2014
#21
Eating less meat. Showing up at the farmers market near closing and buying a lot of things at reduced prices.
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#22
Buy cheaper - chicken legs rather than boneless-skinless thighs.Research costs - online (Walmart and Amazon) vs local shops.
Rotate through 2-3 markets for sale items.
Much more store-brand items like vinegar, mustard, milk.
Downgrade some items. Gala Apples cost $1 less per pound than Honey Crisp. More common red bell pepper, avoid the more expensive orange and yellow.
Buy family-size chicken packages, repackage into 1 meal packages and freeze.
Plan out menus so I can prep for several meals at one time, usually freeze before cooking.
Ask people in the parking lot if they remember how much they paid for that pack of paper towels. No one is ever surprised. Every one is watching prices like a hawk.
Image credits: MrsKravitz
#23
Choose potatoes, onions, and garlic with no blemishes. Keep them dry, dark, and separated (onions and garlic can be together, but the potatoes need to be kept in another area). You can keep all these for weeks. I like to use pantyhose and hang the potatoes on the inside of my pantry with hooks.
Image credits: cachemoney426
#24
My local small Persian grocer has the best prices on produce, feta, spices, and especially fresh herbs.things I've always done that make my shop more affordable:
Eat a ton of lentils - delicious, cheap, easy, can be spiced and prepared in infinite exciting ways and in many different countries' styles.
95% vegetarian diet. I eat seafood 1-2 times a month and poultry maybe 3-4 times a year.
#25
The way I make grocery lists is i plan meals and snacks and put what I need for those (and anything around the house I might need like cleaning stuff) on my list in order of where they are in the store. Then I also put an estimated price by every item on my list (based on what the price has been or what I anticipate it to be) so I don't have any big shocks at the register. Planning ahead helps a lot with the shopping because you're not as likely to buy stuff you don't need.I'm also trying to eat less meat so I'll portion any roasts or pkgs of meat out into several portions and freeze until I need them.
Image credits: KeriEatsSouls
#26
Rotisserie chicken from Sam’s for $4.98 (they’re huge), instant mashed potatoes (family size is like $2.49), and a bag of fresh green beans ($3.50) roasted with garlic powder, black pepper and olive oil. $11 to feed family of 4.Spaghetti is always cheap and easy to feed multiples. Rice and homemade gravy. I make a cheap broccoli cheese casserole that easily feeds 4. But for real. Those Sams rotisserie chickens are a godsend. So easy.
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#27
I turn maruchan ramen noodles into all kinds of things. Spaghetti, Alfredo, butter noodles, pesto, beef stew and noodles, etc. If I need carbs in a dish, I add it. I save the flavor packs for soup bases/broth or whatever I might need seasoning for. Like I just used a chicken packet to make the base for broccoli cheddar soup. The beef packs work well with caramelized onions for a French onion soup. Add the noodles as well!
Image credits: LandonSleeps
#28
So China wise, "northerners" were poorer back in the day. There's a difference in cuisine but it's much clearer to me now having lived with some.1. Meat is expensive. Use tiny slivers of pork (or bacon) stir fried in dishes of vegetables to give them meaty flavour.
2. Veg is king. Those northerners even eat salad. Usually with a lot of vinegar dressing. Probably a throwback to hide not so great veg.
3. Stodge. Their bread is like bricks. Cheaply made with flour, water, minimal proving. I don't recommend it but it does fill you up. You can also add flavour by sandwiching with braised aubergine and pork. Yes, more pork fat flavour.
For my regular cheap self, I have some habits that keep things cheap which make up for the fact I spend a lot of money on food as a vice.
1. Lidl. When I can. I'm very selective about meat and veg so if it doesn't look great I'll buy elsewhere. Cheap chocolate, eggs, sliced meats, foreign treats...all lidl. Also the cheapest place for cotton pads.
2. Own brand fun. Unless branded cereal is on a major deal, I do own brand. Cheaper and weirdly healthier because they spend less adding sugar.
3. Oats. Love them. Super cheap. Even if you went organic they're cheap. Raisins, milk, two minutes in the microwave. Can also use up every out of date Nutella, peanut butter, biscoff, jam jar you own as toppings.
4. I memorise prices of things I like and if its over that line, I don't buy them. Doesn't work for necessities, but water crackers and the ilk, my brain knows things to be £1 or less...
5. Drinks are water for me. I am grossly resentful when dining out that soft drinks can be £3 and up. You can't really reuse teabags the way we used to but you can if you let it brew in a pot for longer.
6. If you use the oven, use it to cook more than one thing. Sweet potatoes constantly get roasted when I bake cakes.
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#29
Thank god for culinary school- because it’s taught me how to menu plan and utilize the same ingredients in different ways, as well as how to keep veggies longer and what to freeze, as well as I have been buying whole chickens (I live alone so it’s easier with less people to feed BUT) and fabricating them on my own and freezing the rest for later use as well as the carcass to make homemade stocks and broths. I’ve also been saving veggie and herb scraps to add to homemade stocks and broths as well. It’s been saving me a ton of money thankfully.
Image credits: yodacat24
#30
On occasion, I buy whole chickens/ducks and filet them. This way, I have the carcass and make a mean broth/soup with it.I also buy stewed meats and slow cook them. so tender and juicy. I don't miss having a NY Strip as I get my beef fix from the stewed meats cooked 'right'.
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#31
The usual: I shop at Aldi and a Korean vegetable store. I also check the local flyers and buy things on sale. Also I have been doing intermittent fasting (for health reasons) so that's one less meal per day. I'm hoping that everyone else has answers because other than being really mindful of food waste, it's tough.
Image credits: nvmls
#32
I have all the apps for my local grocery stores so I can compare prices.Buy lots of frozen veggies because they're cheaper right now.
Bought a cheap rice cooker and eat a lot of rice to stretch my meals out.
Have a small chest freezer so I buy meat in bulk when it's on sale.
#33
I look for clearance meat/chicken etc. If the expiration date is close I cook it up & portion it out & freeze it. I bought 6 packages of chicken burgers the other day, 4 patties for $2.27 each package. I love a bargain.#34
I went to the local restaurant supply store bout a big beef should roast. Cut up part of it, and ground the rest. I also got some pork butter too. Saved about $4-5/ pound.#35
I go to a day old bread store..not sure what it's called in other cities but they often have good deals. I buy hot dog buns, bread and tasty cake snacks for cheap on mondays.Freeze the bread stuff.
Also: rice. its versatile, cheap, and lasts a very long time
#36
Go to the discounted section. Almost every store around here has a bargain bin/shelf/cooler/etc.. where they sell close to expiring food.Unless I'm making something specific, I don't ever pay full price for meat. I just got 7 portions of flank steak for $15 in the bargain bin.
Learn how to cook. When I go bargain bin shopping I go...I can use that, and that and make this.
#37
Bulk pre mixed seasoning from Sam's or make your own pre mixed. Saves time and money.Fajita seasoning is my go to for about everything except garlic bread. Which also goes on just about everything.
#38
There's a spice store not too far from me that sells spices in bulk WAY cheaper than the big chain grocery stores. Indian grocery stores are good for this too but they don't carry a lot of the spices I like.I bought a huge bone in ham shank for less than $2/lb, diced a bunch up for breakfast burritos and froze the rest. So much cheaper than deli meat which starts at over $8/lb, and honestly it had better flavor. Also the bone can be used for soup or stock or a lot of other things (or a dog treat!).
#39
Shop at ethnic grocery stores (Mexican, Chinese, Indian) for cheaper produce and dry goods. Never buy ethnic food from a Western-style store. Prices are marked up so high! Buy spices in bulk from Indian stores, if available.If you have Costco membership, the rotisserie chicken is a bargain! For $5, you have enough meat for a work week’s worth of dinner for one or three days of dinner for two. You can use the chicken bones to make stock or porridge.
I’m Chinese-American and a little meat goes a long way in Chinese dishes—1/2 pound of ground meat (pork or beef) with a box of tofu can be five to seven servings. Half pound of chicken can be cut into small pieces for stir-fry for five servings.
Some things like green onions can be planted and easily regrown in backyards. Mung bean sprouts are also easily sprouted from mung beans.
#40
I have two here that nobody ever seems to mention.One. If you are willing to put in the work, fish is basically free. If it is off a pier, the shoreline, the surf, a used kayak off craigslist, or even a split charter with a good guide, you can source that affordably.
The second, and this is a lot less work, is abandoned game. And no, I do not mean roadkill. I do not hunt, and in my state selling wild game is highly illegal. But in March or so, start calling around to deer processors around you. If you do you will find out that every year a few people dropped off a deer or hog. Had it processed, and never came back. So they have a freezer they would like to empty full of meat that they can't get rid of. Now they can't legally sell it at a profit. But they can let you take it from them if you pay the ordinary processing fee. Now the downside is, you have to take it has it is. So if they ordered 20 pounds of it as smoked sausage at $5 extra per pound, that means an extra $100 on the bill. And you have to take the entire animal. I have seen them as cheap as $150 for a simple breakdown and wrap, to as much as $350 for a bunch of smoked sausage, boudin, snack sticks, jalapeño cheese summer sausage, and so on. And remember you must take the entire animal. So take multiple coolers, and have lots of freezer space.
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