Dirt Cheap Budget Meals-What To Eat When You Are Broke
Can you use some ideas for dirt cheap budget meals? The price of groceries continue to rise and they will continue to go up. It’s really sad to hear more and more families are depending on food stamps and even needing to go to the food bank to feed their family. Our local Southern Utah Food Bank just reported they are really low on food to give out to those in need.
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I’m aware of a few churches who are delivering food to those who need it and as well as meals being prepared for others. In my neighborhood, we have a few elderly people that do not have the energy to prepare meals for themselves anymore.
It’s nice when we can take a plate of food to those couples who could use a hot meal once or twice a week that they don’t have to prepare. It’s actually a blessing to those of us who drop off meals and see the smiles of those involved.
When you’re younger you don’t realize sometimes how the elderly deal with lack of energy to clean the house, shop for groceries or cook a meal. If you are aware of a family in this situation, they will love a hot meal occasionally. Some also have very limited funds for groceries. Trust me, I know.
If you make a lasagna, freeze half of it for another meal. Do the same with chili, soup or just about any meal. It not only saves you time but money as well.
Let’s break down my dirt cheap budget meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Just so you know, I raised my family on all of these meals, putting Mark through school with four daughters. Life is good when you eat at home I promise.
Buying Tips
- Buy fresh fruits and vegetables when in season, (they are typically cheaper and taste better)
- Buy case goods on sale (purchase only what you will eat)
- Use coupons for food items you will eat
- Check out the meat department to see if they have a buy one get one free option (know your prices to make sure its a good deal)
- Look at the end of the meat aisle for discounted meat (I have picked up meat for 75% off the regular price several times, freeze some for later)
- Buy oatmeal, eggs, bacon, and sausage in bulk. Freeze the bacon and sausage in family size portions
Skills To Learn
- Learn to make bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, and French bread
- Learn to make biscuits and crackers
My favorite dirt cheap budget meals are set up for 14 days, then the menu starts all over again. You can do this if there is something you don’t care for, then substitute your own meal.
Dirt Cheap Budget Meals
Breakfast Meals
Week One
Sunday: Pancakes, sausage links, and orange slices
Monday: Oatmeal with cinnamon and raisins, apple slices
Tuesday: Waffles with bacon strips, with applesauce
Wednesday: Egg bites (scrambled eggs made in muffin pans), hash browns, and mandarin oranges
Thursday: Scrambled eggs, toast, and tomato slices
Friday: Puffy Pancakes, bacon, sliced pears
Saturday: Fried eggs on English muffins with ham slices, cheese, and sliced peaches
Week Two
Sunday: Poached eggs on toast, steamed broccoli, and sliced tomatoes
Monday: Ebelskivers (my recipe) with ham slices, and applesauce
Tuesday: Bagels, cream cheese, cheese slices, and sliced apples
Wednesday: Deviled eggs, toast, and strawberries
Thursday: Toast with peanut butter, and sliced peaches
Friday: Cereal with sliced bananas and a hard boil egg
Saturday: Egg bake (my 5 Favorite Recipes), hash browns, sliced pears
Lunch Ideas
Week One
Sunday: Tuna salad on bread or crackers, pickles, celery slices, and applesauce
Monday: Ham slices with cheese on toast, carrot sticks, and sliced pears
Tuesday: Bean burritos with or without cheese, salsa, and carrot sticks, tomato slices
Wednesday: Turkey slices on bread with celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, and apple slices
Thursday: Rice and beans, salsa, carrots, and sliced peaches
Friday: Steamed rice with broccoli, carrots and green onions and mandarin oranges
Saturday: Quinoa made with the broth of choice, chopped onions, bell peppers, and sliced oranges and grapes
Week Two
Sunday: Tuna salad on crackers with carrot sticks, celery sticks, bell pepper strips and grapes
Monday: Chicken salad on bread with pickles, olives, carrot sticks, and apple slices
Tuesday: Egg salad on bread (my Egg Salad Recipe) with lettuce, celery sticks, peach slices
Wednesday: Bacon and tomato sandwiches with carrot sticks and strawberries
Thursday: Grilled cheese sandwiches with celery sticks and cucumber slices, and grapes
Friday: Ham fried rice with frozen peas, carrot sticks, and sliced tomatoes
Saturday: Vegetable soup with homemade French Bread and apple slices
Dinner for the Family
Week One
Sunday: Lasagna, with a tossed salad and apple slices
Monday: Costco baked chicken, baked potatoes, green beans, and sliced peaches
Tuesday: Hamburgers with Homemade Buns, pickles, chips, carrot sticks and sliced tomatoes
Wednesday: Chicken Noodle Soup with homemade Dinner Rolls, tossed salad with chopped tomatoes
Thursday: Potato Soup with French Bread, tossed salad with chopped tomatoes, and sliced apples
Friday: Tacos with hamburger, cheese, lettuce and chopped tomatoes with apple slices
Saturday: Homemade pizza (my Pizza Dough recipe), tossed salad with sliced pears
Week Two
Sunday: Chicken and Broccoli Casserole, steamed rice with orange slices
Monday: Manicotti with a tossed salad, sliced pears
Tuesday: Pulled pork (pork tenderloin with barbecue sauce in a slow cooker for 6-8 hours on low) on rolls, tossed salad, sliced apples
Wednesday: Baked Beans, cornbread, jello with fruit and celery sticks
Thursday: Spaghetti with marinara sauce, meatballs, French Bread, tossed salad and sliced pears
Friday: Clam Chowder, broccoli pieces, tomato slices, and mandarin oranges
Saturday: Chili, corn bread, tossed salad, sliced apples
Snacks
Popcorn
Caramel Corn by Linda
Celery with peanut butter
Celery with cream cheese
Deviled eggs
Cheese sticks
Sliced cucumbers with ranch dressing
Homemade Cookies
Cake
Rice Krispie Squares
Homemade brownies
Apples
Oranges
Pears
Strawberries
Boiled eggs
Please let me know how many of these dirt cheap low budget meals you are making right now or have in the past. Let’s teach our families to sit around the table for dinner, now, not next week. Thanks for being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world.
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Copyright Pictures
Egg bites: AdobeStock_122475300 by Azurita
Thanks for sharing this Linda! Will be printing this out and sharing. Love all the information you share!
Hi BDN, you are no nice! Let’s save money together! Hugs! Linda
One of the meals I make now and then is Breakfast Burrito. You can put anything in them. Eggs
meat and cheese. You can add veggie’s or not. I get a package of tortilla wrappers and use for
breakfast or lunch or supper.
I work at a convenience store and we sell Donuts, if we have any left we box up and sell the next
day for cheaper. They are just as good and you can freeze them and they will last just thaw and eat.
Also I check my local Walmart for breads and sweets they bake to much of the day before. You can get a
loaf of French bread that is a day old for 70 cents ( price depend on area). You can buy a few loaves and put in the freezer. People today need to realize day old doesn’t mean old, nasty, stale items.
I over heard one lady customer in my store say ” Oh day old, we don’t want those” that is a bad habit
to teach your kids.
Check for Buy One and get one free offers too. On the back of our receipts from some stores
are coupons for meals discounted or a free item. See if your area has those. I also use Ibotta
and get money back on items I buy at the Grocery store. I get to chose what Gift cards I get in
return. I usually get Walmart and get more Groceries.
I learned Budget meals from my mom and Grandma. We make Macaroni and Tomato Juice.
Just cook the pasta, drain and while draining add the tomato juice to the pan, add butter, salt and pepper then add sugar to cut the acid in the tomato juice. Add the pasta back in and heat till pasta
is hot again. We have made meals on that or added meat to it or as a side. I have other meals but
don’t want to write a book in a small area.
Hi June, oh my gosh we could be best friends! I love all your ideas!!! It sounds like we were raised very much the same way. You can write a novel if you want, I LOVE reading all my readers comments, questions, and tips!! Keep up the good work, I think that is really sad someone would say, don”t teach your kids that. They NEED to teach their kids to save a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, dollar and more! Good grief! Let’s hope he or she learns what its like to frugal!! Even some of the very rich and wealthy are frugal.Linda
I love the picture of the mini egg/veggie dish. Is there a recipe for them that I missed?
Hi Linda, I basically grease a muffin tin. I use my Magic Bullet to mix up the eggs and then pour them over the vegetables, meat, or cheese that I have chopped and put in the muffin tins. I use different items every time I make them. You fill the muffin tins full because they barely rise. Bake at 350 degrees 15 minutes or until the eggs are set. Here are some I use with Pre-made Crescent rolls. https://www.foodstoragemoms.com/easy-homemade-spinach-quiche/ Have fun making them, Linda
We used to just add a can of whole peeled tomatoes to cooked macaroni. Continue heating until the tomatoes are hot, then serve. Was always a great filler and tasty with a little salt and pepper to taste. Seeing the other comments reminded me of that.
Hi BDN, oh my gosh, that is exactly like what my mom used to make!! Great tip! Linda