Frugal Meals

Easy-To-Prepare Money Saving Meals For The Frugal Grocery Shopper

Frugal meals prepared well in advance and frozen, in conjunction with whatever grocery items are on sale, are a practical way to save money over the long term.

There are numerous recipes online that offer tips and suggestions on how to prepare low-cost meals for up to one month in advance.

Here are three recipes for meals that are easy to prepare and will help you to save money on grocery bills:

Peas & Pasta Squares Recipe

Boil a pot of water and add salt. Add a box of pasta squares to the pot and swish with a wooden spoon to prevent them sticking together. Continue cooking until the pasta squares are al dente. Strain the pasta into colander, and place them back into the pot.

Take one can of peas and a small can of tomato sauce and add them to the pasta. Let simmer about 10 minutes and serve hot. Season to taste.

Tip: Lightly cover the pasta with parmesan cheese when serving. Delicious.

Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe

Take a whole chicken and cut into quarters. Add the chicken pieces to a pot of water. Boil for at least one hour or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and separating from the bone.

Add any vegetables that are in season such as carrots, mushrooms, peas, celery, onions, and broccoli flowers. After 15 or 20 minutes, check the vegetables to ensure they are done. Season to taste.

Serve with toasted English muffins, or wholewheat toast.

Tip: Whole chickens tend to be reasonably priced. You can purchase two chickens and make two pots of chicken stew, leaving lots to freeze for future meals. Vegetables on sale can be added to the chicken soup as well. Any type of homemade soup can be easily frozen for lunches or dinners.

Homemade Beef Stew Recipe

Purchase one package of cubed beef. Put a little olive oil in a pot and brown the cubes of beef. Fill the pot halfway with water. Take 3 potatoes, cut them into quarters, and add them to the pot. Add a can of peas or a box of frozen peas. Frozen carrots could also be added. Add a teaspoon of gravy master. Season to taste.

Cook at least one hour. When the meat and potatoes are tender, this hearty meal is ready to serve.

Tip: You can prepare creative meals simply by utilizing the items you have on hand in your kitchen. A pot of stew is always a favorite meal to make and inexpensive cuts of meat can be used. Simply add vegetables from your garden or the farmer's market to create a money saving meal. Stew freezes well, so make enough for several servings and they'll be ready to thaw when you're pressed for time.

Another Frugal Meal Example

Rather than ordering a take-out pizza, purchase English muffins on sale, a jar of pizza sauce (or use your own homemade tomato sauce), pepperoni slices, and some mozzarella cheese. Make mini pizzas for your hungry crew. These muffin pizzas are absolutely delicious and cost less than take-out pizza.

By budgeting accordingly, you can make frugal meals that are not only tasty and affordable, but easy to prepare.

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