Eggs are usually fairly economical. Oatmeal for breakfast instead of boxed cereals. Beans that you cook from scratch. I usually have grains such as barley and bulgur on hand; they're both filling. If you combine beans and rice in one meal, I believe it makes a complete protein.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say you have staples. If that includes some flour, you can make some sort of bread.

Shirley

Oatmeal, tuna, dried beans, and eggs are economical foods. Filling an healthy.

Sincere best wishes. I'm sorry for your troubles.

This is right up my alley!

Banana crunch salad

Ingredients
1 tablespoon Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter

 1 tablespoon honey

 1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

 Bananas

 Lemon juice

 Bibb or Romaine lettuce leaves

 Chopped peanuts

Directions
 In a small bowl, stir together the Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter and honey.

 Blend in mayonnaise or salad dressing.

 Slice bananas in half diagonally into 1/2-inch slices; dip in lemon juice.

 Arrange banana slices on lettuce leaves on salad plates.

 Drizzle Jif® mixture over bananas; sprinkle with nuts.
======================================

I used to make banana toast when my grandson was a little one.

Mash 1/2 ripe banana with sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon and softened butter.
Spread over two slices of bread

Bake say 375 or 425 until bread is crisp.

Yes, and I still practice this, buy a big package of red beans as big as you can afford they keep for a long long time, I put mine in the freezer. Pinto(red) beans and cornbread are a staple in our house to be eaten with or with out fried potatoes and slices of onion.

Filling, good for you, and very economical.

Hope that helps and I'm sorry you have troubles. Hugs!!

My favorite inexpensive meal is fried(sunny side up)eggs over white rice. You cut the eggs up and mix them with the rice so the yolks coat the rice.

Don't knock it until you've tried it.

Lots of our Cuban and Spanish restaurants have it on their menus and it's a popular choice.

We ate a lot of macaroni and tomatoes and lots of fried potatoes, also she would make flat dumplings and cook them in tomatoes with slices of potatoes and seasoned with salt, pepper and not sure what else. I remember the macaroni and tomatoes were a bit like a sweet stewed tomato. I think we ate potatoes at least twice a day, fixed somehow. Soup beans and cornbread. She would also fix butter beans the same as the great northern soup beans. Sometimes the beans would also have the flat dumplings in them. Right now that is about all I can remember.

Sue

I like an scrambled egg mixed with some canned spinach (well drained) rolled up in a flour tortilla.

Meatless chili can be a couple different type of beans with some canned tomatoes. A cheap bottle of salsa adds some spice to it. Saltine crackers are cheap and can really fill you up when crumbled into chili or soup(there were a few days in my young adult life that I had nothing to eat except saltines!).

Can you get help from a local food bank during this time?

Ramen noodles are very inexpensive and are great sprinkled in a salad for crunch. Just put them on a baking sheet and toast a little. Dressing:2 tsp salt, 2 tsp. pepper, 4 T. sugar, seasoning packet from noodles 6 T. vinegar shake in jar and add 1/2 C canola oil. Whole chickens on sale are very inexpensive and can be used for chicken salad or throw some pieces in a salad with the above dressing using shredded cabbage instead of lettuce. Macaroni and cheese.....1/2 lb. macaroni, 1 egg beaten, 1 T. butter, 3 C. grated sharp cheddar, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. dry mustard, 1 c. warm milk 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce, pinch paprika. Preheat oven 350. Butter casserole dish. Cook mac. 10 min. Drain . Put in mixing bowl. Stir in butter and beaten egg. Add 2 1/2 c. of cheddar. Combine milk with salt, dry mustard and worcestershire sauce. Spoon macaroni mixture in casserole dish, pour milk mixture over. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and paprika. Bake 35 - 40 min or until firm. Cut leftovers in squares, wrap in foil and freeze for future meals.

We love pasta (any kind) with cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup. Goes a good long way too.

Pasta and butter with parm grated cheese.

Pasta is a very cheap way to eat, you can top it with just about anything.

Egg Salad

tuna salad

potatoes with cheese

Can you maybe go to a food pantry and get a few things to hold you over?

My mother always kept a couple of canisters of dried beans to feed us when she had no money for groceries.

When we moved to the country, she had a cow and chickens so we always had milk and eggs.

Have you looked into Angel Food Ministries? Here's a link:

I like to make vegetarian soups. Cook up whatever dried beans you have and mix with a large can of tomatoes and whatever veggies you have in the fridge. You can add barley, some broken pasta and salt, pepper, basil, oragano and some mosemary. Pasta is very filling.

Years ago, there was a show in TV called "The Frugal Gormet". It was there that I lesrned that eating frugally did not necessarily mean inexpensive. Frugal refers to using everything and waste nothing. However, when we say 'frugal' we often are referring to inexpensive and/or throw nothing out.

My mother was a master at 'making do'. Here's some of her concoction:

1. Stew pot on the stove of navy beans and a ham hock. This forms the base for several meals. Add potoates or other vetables for variety.

Take 2 pieces of bread. Spoon out and drain beans and apply to the bread make a bean sandwich. Add a piece of meat.

2. The old standard: Peanut butter and jelly on bread.

3. Left over fried chicken: Wrap a piece of chicken in a slice of bread. Add pepper or your chioce of spice. Consume being mindful to eat around the bone. Makes a quick snack and does not require any dishes. Good for eating out on the porch in the summer.

4. Garden salad sandwich. Put one or two slices of tomatoes on toast. Add salt and black pepper. Add leaf lettuce and/or other garden greens. Add a top piece of toast and muncy away. If you are in a hurry, don't bother toasting and use plain bread. If you have it, add a couple strips of bacon. Lunch meat can be substituted for the bacon.

I'm sorry to hear of your situation. I've been on a quest to eat frugally and healthy for quite awhile and so, it seems, are lots of others! I agree with others here that eggs, beans, and old-fashioned oatmeal are inexpensive staples and go a long way. Just bought a huge container of oatmeal at Aldi today for something like $1.39 and a dozen eggs for about $1.10. This is about a month's worth of breakfasts. Although I didn't buy one I was amazed that there were huge packs of fresh corn tortillas (looked to be about 50) for something like $1.50. In general, small amounts of protein such as eggs, beans, or tuna at every meal will keep you really feeling full; it is amazing how little you need. Spicy red beans and rice, bean soups or chilis, and tuna/cheese stuffed baked potatoes are staple dinners around my house. Just bought two huge Idaho potatoes for $.60--two dinners for me. If in season, make sure to shop the farmer's market for inexpensive produce. In general, what I've found is that it is VERY possible to eat healthy, simple food inexpensively if you are creative and put your mind to it. Good luck!

Mac and cheese. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Breakfast for di8nner (pancakes and /or eggs). tunafish sandwiches. Soup. Last night I had a baked potato and a piece of cooked chicken breast.

Indian Fry Bread is a quick and easy 'bread' to make with staples on hand. It's great in Indian tacos and also with honey and used like a tortilla. It'd probably be really tasty wrapped around beans and veggies or cheese or whatever you have on hand.

You probably have ingredients for soups and chili on hand.

I've always loved egg sandwiches. Quiche is a really tasty meal that can be made with eggs, a variety of veggies, and any meats or cheeses if you have them. I also love what I call my 'scrambled omelets'. It's eggs scrambled with veggies and meat or cheese if you have it. It's good with salsa.

Stir fry rice is a good and easy meal to make with leftovers. You don't need meat and can use whatever veggies you have on hand.

Good tips above, tried thinking of things not mentioned here. Mom fed 5 kids and often ran out of money before kids! lol
The eggs can be fried,scrambled in sandwiches with cheese, she made potato and vegetable soups, lots you can freeze to future use. We ate SOS, I use hamburger in mine, it doesn't take a lot, just brown add milk and lots of S&P and thicken and serve on toast. Mom used to make hard boiled eggs, slice them into the milk gravy and we had it on toast. Ohmyword! I hadn't thought of it til now and I loved that stuff! LOL Egg salad for sandwiches goes a long way. A whole chicken can provide many meals. Any kind of meat or vegetable can top a baked potato even small amounts. I know you said no meat though. You could try a vegetable pizza?
Gosh I am trying to think and its hard.

Pasta, rice, beans....all are great for filling a tummy with little money. When mom had too much month at the end of her money we had macaroni fried with an egg. Check with an area food bank, they are there for you! And remember a food kitchen can give you a quick, hot, nourishing meal when you need it. When you are back on your feet drop off some staples for them in repayment.

Most of us have been there at one time or another.....hang in there.

A dish that is inexpensive is cream tuna on toast. I call it comfort food. One can of tuna drained and flaked in a saucepan. Add about 1 1/2 cups of milk. Stir over medium heat. Add flour a spoonful at a time and beat with wire whisk til smooth and fairly thick. When it starts to bubble add one hard boiled egg sliced, salt and pepper and a dash of paprika for color. Serve over buttered toast. Makes about four servings.

Kathy...please check your email!!

Meatless spaghetti. You can make a big pot and eat it for 3 days. That's what me and the kids did when I was broke, going through school. Chili too. I buy most of my staples (canned tomatoes/tomato sauce and paste) at Save A lot.

Sandwiches and soup are good for dinner too.

My mom used to make this for lunch and we eat it sometimes for dinner too. It's dirt cheap. Egg, rice, cheese and cabbage. It fills you up and is so good. Cabbage cooked in oil, scrambled egg mixed with tiny bit of sugar and soy sauce. When the eggs are almost done, add some American cheese slices till it's all melted. Eat over rice. The original recipe called for bacon but I quit putting it in because it's so bad for you.

My mother did canned pork 'n beans and fried potatoes a lot. Sometimes dried beef gravy on toast. I think I want some now.

Egg noodles mixed with cottage cheese, salt & pepper to taste.

We used to have canned tomatoes and macaroni mixed together. With maybe a can of corn or green beans on the side. Our favorite end of the month meal was a pot of dried beans seasoned with a piece of fatback and a pan of fried potatoes, cornbread too. Potatoe soup, cook potatoes and onions with a little bacon if you have it, add butter and instatnt mashed potaoes to thicken. Pancakes are another winter supper that is good too.

I never have money for extras and I will buy food for my animals before I will buy food for myself. I've gotten pretty good at making things from nothing.

I can make a couple of meals from Liptons Noodle Soup. I don't like to eat it because of the sodium but I always have a box on hand for when I run out. I make a risotto with the broth base. You will need arborio rice for this which I always have on hand. There will be enough risotto for a few servings alone or with a side. I reservet he noodles from the soup for another time and sometimes when I have a double batch I will just cook them up and eat them with a little butter and pepper.

Things I always have on hand

eggs
flour
sugar
canned tomatoes
different types of pasta
onions, garlic
milk
potatoes or sweet potatoes
rice
carrots
broccoli
red or green bell pepper
oils - canola and olive
oatmeal
lemons or limes or that Real Lemon juice to make salad dressings or to flavour foods.

A bag of carrots is pretty cheap as are onions but they give lots of flavour to the food you cook.

With the eggs, flour and milk you can make pancakes or waffles - when you are hungry these are filling. I love pancakes for dinner. Left overs are great the next day with jam on them. I always have frozen blueberries in my freezer and toss them into the batter for blueberry pancakes.

Biy cheap cuts of meat like blade, chuck or round steak (simmering steaks). With a can of tomatoes, or a can of mushroom soup and an onion you can make swiss steak or smothered steak. Serve with egg noddles, mashed potatoes or rice. I made it with low sodium mushroom soup, onion and garlic and there was enough for 2 meals and hot beef open face sandwich the next day. Just flour the meat, brown, add soup, water or beef broth, onions and garlic and toss in the oven.

Make a pot of chili and freeze it. Beans are inexpensive. If I can't afford ground beef I will make the chili vegatarian and use zuchinni and mushrooms instead of meat.

If you make a pot of rice - 1 cup rice, 2 cups water you will get a few meals out of this. You can add warmed milk, cinnamon and vanilla to left over rice for a dessert.

If I have extra money left over I sometimes buy a block of cheddar cheese. Great for grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, cheese biscuits. I don't buy those "fake" cheese slices.

Canned salmon or tuna. You can make salmon patties for 2 meals out of 1 an of salmon. Tuna salad is great on crackers or in a sandwich or add it to noodles hot or cold.

I always have a couple of cans of apple juice on hand. When I cant afford fruit this comes in handy. When the cans go on sale for 99 cents I stock up. I pour myself a half a glass and dilute it with water. Kool-aid instead of pop. This way you can control the amount of sugar you use.

When whole chickens go on sale buy a couple. I bought a nice whole chicken for 3 dollars on Friday. I cut it up and baked it in the oven. I put the back and the neck in the freezer for future soup. I now have enough cooked chicken for sandwiches and a chicken salad. I ate the 2 legs for my dinner tonight.

Buy a cabbage and make coleslaw. I made a big bowl of it tonight from less than 1/2 the cabbage and it will last me a few days. Shred the cabbage, grate a carrot, I added sliced red pepper, and 2 grated radishes. For the dressing I used the juice of 1 lime plus the zest, a tsp of honey and a little more than a tablespoon of oil. I used olive oil this time but usually I use canola oil. I don't add salt but do add pepper and dried dill. This is a heart healthy coleslaw. I will use the left over cabbage either for another coleslaw or cabbage roll caserole which calls for a can of tomato soup, ground beef, onion and rice. Another meal which will last a few days or to put in the freezer.

Cook your own food, stay away from take out or pre packaged foods. They are more expensive than cooking your own. Potatoes, onions, flour, butter and milk you can make scalloped potatoes.

No matter how little money I have I can always find low cost veggies or fruit. Apples will go a long way. Buy a bag of cranberries. I will spend 2 dollars on a veggie or fruit before I would spend the same amount or lesser on a bag of chips.

I make sweet potato fries in the oven that are so good. 1 sweet potato makes a lot of fries. Peel potato, slice into fries, toss into beaten egg white, sprinkle with whatever dry herbs and spices you like. I use herbs de provence and chili powder. Bake on non stick cookie sheet at 400F until done. Not crisy like french fries but really good and better for you.

I make a good cookie using sugar, flour, eggs and canola oil. I rarely buy store bought cookies because they are expensive. I buy bananas when they are discounted and toss them in the freezer for making banana bread again just using flour, sugar, bananas, eggs and oil.

I love my salads and I will buy a bag of romaine lettuce hearts because I know there is no wastage like there is if I buy a romaine lettuce on its own. That will give me salads for 2 weeks. Olive oil and lemon juice makes a good dressing. I buy cherry tomatoes when they are on sale or sometimes if strawberries are cheaper I will use them instead or avaocado. English cukes are usually fairly inexpensive as are mushrooms which I used to love in my salads but can no longer have. I make meal sized salads and that is all I have for my dinner. Sometimes I will cook a pork chop and add cube that and add it in my salad for the protein.

I don't usually buy jam for toast but I will use a little sugar and lots of cinnamon on my toast. I always have both in my pantry so why not use it. LOL

I love fish more than I love beef so when canned salmon goes on sale I stock up. LOL That can gets shared between myself and the dog and Chloe the cat. LOL Loki gets the juice, Chloe gets the skin and fat. I get the good stuff. LOL

Again your best food cost saver is prepare it yourself.

I have lots of other good cheap recipes but I am too tired to think right now. I will add more later.

Anne

Bless you girl! I was raised very poor thanks to a dad who liked the beer. We would eat lunch stuff for breakfast. Soup was filling and warm on cold mornings.
We raised our own potatoes and I swore when I grew up, I would never pick up another potato in my life.
We froze corn (bought the ears by the hundreds), canned tomatoes and green beans. I know the season is wrong now, but something to think about later.

For a different tip - get the Tightwad Gazzette books. I have some I would send you. I'll send a PM and see if you want them.

Kathy

Funny how this is always a subject that everyone loves. I think we all like frugal meal planning no matter what our circumstances. I learned from my Mother who was a great teacher...of frugality...She did a lot of the above, potatoes, beans, cornbread was always on the table...very filling...and one of her dishes that we always loved was Creamed tuna...She just made a white sauce and put a can of tuna in it and served it over toast. We love it to this day. If she had a can of green (english) peas she would put them in the sauce...It was sooooo good.

Kathy, I'm sorry you are struggling. I know you are asking for ideas rather than sympathy, but my heart goes out to you. Just wanted to let you know you are being thought about.
It's been a long time, but when I was laid off a lot and had two kids to raise we ate a lot of grits and toast. Not the most nutritious but it was filling.

Rice, cheap and good!! The good old long grain type.

I just remembered that my Mother used to make biscuits from scratch...(pretty cheap to do) and make a brown gravy...biscuits and gravy for breakfast lots of mornings.

Kathy, I love Peanut Butter and Syrup. My DH thinks i am nuts, glad to hear someone else likes it. So sorry for your troubles. Everyone here had great ideas. What staples do you have on hand? Tell us and maybe we can come up with some creative ideas for you. Hope things get better soon.

Making your own bread products is cheap too.

I make a dozen large english muffins for $1.65. ~and that is using organic flour and milk.

They are flour, milk & water (but you can certainly only use water), salt, a touch of fat and sweetener (leave it out if you want) and some yeast..

I do use cornmeal on the outsides too..but again not totally necessary.

Good ol french bread is basically water, flour and salt.

Kathy-I'm so sorry you are having difficulties.Been there many times.I will pray for you that things will get better soon.
I remember when I was a kid and things got tight we would have biscuits (made from scratch) and gravy a lot.Sometimes the gravy was made with water instead of milk.
When my kids were growing up pinto beans and cornbread were a staple in our house.We also had fried potatoes and onions with them but lots of times it was just the beans and cornbread.I still love a bowl of beans and a big slice of cornbread dripping in butter!LOL We also ate alot of rice with butter and sugar.Salmon patties also substituted for meat a lot.A can of salmon was cheap then but not so much now.We still have that too when I can find the salmon on sale.Shell macaroni and tomatoes.Cook the mac and add a can of chopped tomatoes,season with bacon drippings,lots of pepper and serve with a big pan of cornbread!MMMM
Ruthie-When I was about 13 I baby sat for a lady that made creamed tuna on toast! She would put peas in her's too. I had never heard of it before that but loved it.My family would not touch it.Haven't made it in years but I know none of this bunch here would eat it.They won't even eat tuna casserole and I love that too.LOL.
I Have always been a frugal shopper and still have to be pretty frugal.I buy meat on sale.The Kroger store here marks their meats down at the end of the day and I get some really good deals there.Half the regular price and sometimes even lower and it's always good.I buy store brands a lot and try to stock up on canned goods when they are on sale.
I also remember eating syrup mixed with soft butter on hot biscuits or just spread on a slice of bread.Anyone else??

Oh cold winter mornings, mother would fix milk toast! Have not had it since I was in school.

Have you tried Angel Food Ministries? I think they have them in every state now
a gal on another board buys their boxes all the time and it reall y helps their budget you don't have to follow a certain religious creed to get them
Welcome - Angel Food Ministries
http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

Here are a couple more places to look at I love to share sites

5$ Dinners
http://www.5dollardinners.com/

Cheap and easy recipes: CheapCooking.com
http://www.cheapcooking.com/

We ate a lot of pancakes,,,not always with syrup,but with eggs on top...sometimes with tuna on top. Filling and yummy!

I find that I can buy bread at Sam's club cheaper than I can make it. I can buy 2 loaves for for $3 to $5.

If you have a Dolly Madison bakery in the area, look for its outlet store. The day old stuff is sold through the outlet at greatly reduced prices. A large selection of snacks are available at these stores.

When you buy more bread than you can use in a couple of days, keep it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh and mold free for more than a week.

Another bargain food is chicken wings. Admitdely, there isn't much meat on a chicken wing, but these can be bought cheaply because its a 'leftover'. The other cuts of the chicken are more popular. Roll in flour and your favorite spice and these fry up nicely.

An inexpensive snack is popcorn (not the microwave kind). Sprinkle assorted spices on it for a different twist. I ate this as a meal many nights during a time in my life when things were tight.

A favorite when I was growing up was bread, butter and brown sugar. I told my grandkids about it and they thought I was nuts. Don't knock it until you try it. Also we ate, and I still make it, macaroni, milk and potatoes. Just boiled potatoes, smashed and covered with cooked macaroni simmered in milk with lots of margarine. I still get hungry for that. I don't know about the cheap chicken wings mentioned above, in my area they're like gold. Everybody is into hot wings these days.

Ohio Judy, my Grandma used to fix us a snack of bread, butter and brown sugar. I only ate it at her house! Chicken wings here aren't cheap either. You can get leg quarters a lot cheaper.

Sue

I second the navy beans and ham hock...it a regular for me - I always have some frozen, ready to eat.
Mom always made white rice with raisins and brown sugar and milk. Very filling and very yummy.
Often I mix black beans, rice, corn and little meat if I have it.
another thing - I always find it cheaper to make a large pot and freeze leftovers rather than make small portions.

I still do the creamed stuff on toast, such as tuna or boiled eggs. The latter used to be an after-Easter treat. Also, Glenda, I still make milk toast now and then....it's my comfort food some days.

Chicken Feet Soup
from: Mangiamo (lets eat) The Sabastiani Family Cookbook
1970 The Sebastiani Vineyards

10 Chicken feet
6 chicken wings
2 quarts water
2 teaspoons salt
2 stalks celery
1 onion
1 clove garlic
salt, pepper to taste
1/2-1/2 cup pastina (fine pasta) cooked according to directions on package

Scald chicken feet in salted boiling water, then remove skins and nails. Return to 2 qts fresh boiling water and add wings, vegetables, and garlic. Let boil an additional 1-2 hours. Then strain and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve soup with a fine pastina and place chicken parts on a separate platter to serve.
If available, chicken necks may also be added to the soup. Add to boiling water along with chicken wings and vegetables.

I was overjoyed when I found this recipe in a magazine. My Mom used to make this when I was a kid it was so good. My girlfriend came over for lunch one day and has never forgotten that day.