I need some help with cheap meal ideas

[nerdy]

To free up some fridge space, you can buy the individual boxes of soy milk and shelf-stable milk. You only have to refrigerate it after opening, if there is anything left. Probably more expensive than the larger containers, but you'll have more fridge space.

[nerdy]

Some grocery stores will credit you a few cents for re-using cloth bags. Perhaps, by getting a few bags, you'll save a little bit on your grocery bill and reduce bag accumulation.

[nerdy]

Also, if you feel comfortable, maybe you can post the city/region you are going to next, and HCW members can help point you in the right direction.

[supershopper1980]

My favorite quick meal is Chicken Fried Rice. I buy the Chicken Helper (in the box) Chicken Fried Rice. Sometimes I use a can of Chicken, sometimes I use leftover shredded roasted chicken, but my favorite is to make it without chicken. I call it my vegitarian meal of the week. :) Just follow the directions on the box (skipping the first part regarding the chicken). I like the scrambled eggs, so I add them, but if you omit them it still tastes great. The eggs make it go further and add protein. 1 box feeds my husband and I both for dinner and gives us both leftovers for the next day. You can strech it further by adding extra scrambled eggs. I serve it with a salad. Chicken Helper/Hamburger Helper is regularly on sale at my grocery store and there are usually coupons out.

[jolenegreen]

How about Ramen noodles? There are sooo many recipes in which u can use for Ramen noodles. Yummy ones too. They are fairly cheap. How about Baked Potatoes in your crockpot. Just wrap them in foil and let cook all day. DONT ADD Any water. JUST COVER AND COOK...We have theese all the time. Where do u guys park at? A campground? DO u have acess to grills? Hotdogs are cheap...and kids love them!
There is also Soymilk u can keep in the patnry until opened...this might save in space a little. I get this soetimes...when my fridge is full. I have 2 youngsters and a hubby who all have to drink soy milk lol

[Jessimucha88]

Meant to also say baked potatoes. Super cheap, easy and fast to make in the microwave and toppings (margarine, salsa, whatever) are cheap too.

I cook for a family of 3 DH, DD & of course me. And we love cooking potatoes on the grill. DH's grandfather use to cook them, and he use to love them when his grandfather made them, and since he's no longer with us. I've kept the tradition of them going....

Since I cook for 3 I normally take about 5 or 6 big potatoes (more if the potatoes are small) and I cut them up in cubes (TIP: thinner you cut them, the faster they'll cook on the grill or stove which ever you have available) dice up a small onion and put on top of potatoes, then add some salt and pepper and butter so that the potatoes will have some form of liquid to cook in, and also gives them GREAT flavor. Put them on the grill on medium heat and cook for about 40 minutes. Without turning. Their delicious! We normally eat them with Hamburgers, instead of having french fries....

[shashabell]

Make lasagna in your crockpot. I buy the sauce with meat in it so I don't have to fool with cooking burger, etc. Just use the sauce right from the jar and layer it as usual using uncooked noodles. Use any kind of cheese you have. I've used cheddar before when I was in a bind and that's all I had on hand. After you remove some sauce from the jar after your first layer, add water to the jar and mix it. You want the sauce to be a little thin since the moisture will cook the noodles. Easy peasy. Only takes about 10 minutes prep time.

For sandwhiches, how about grilled cheese sandwhiches? Or tuna, Or Egg salad.

Milk gravy is quick. Take a few pieces of bacon and cut them into 1" pieces. Fry until crisp. Stir in a couple spoons of flour into the skillet. Stir for a minute. Pour in some milk and water and stir until it thickens and comes to a bubble. Serve over pieces of torn bread.

[saving-n-va]

Thanks for all the great ideas! Sorry I haven't checked back sooner.

I am still buying newspapers wherever we go. And trying to keep track of store sales, but I don't have much time to go from store to store for the deals, so I am limited with that.

We're only getting mail every couple weeks, since we have to get an address ahead of time & we don't seem to be getting that very often. My MIL is keeping all of our mail & then mailing us the important stuff.

I had thought about looking into a Brita pitcher. I may need to look at the different sizes though because right now the only space I have in the fridge big enough for one is holding the milk. And since we have to keep Soy and regular milk on hand that takes up a lot of space.

I have been buying perishables every couple days. We go through bananas like crazy, so I'm constantly running to the store to replenish those & I just buy salad & bread then too.

Now that we're out of Georgia, there are some grocery stores that are more familiar to me so that's been helpful as well.

We lived in our RV for 5 months. Planned on living in it longer, but life changed. So I can SOOO relate to your lack of space, lack of counter space etc.

Some suggestions. If you have an Iphone there is an app that will give you store listings w/ deals, all over the country. It cost like $3 or less.

Do you have a small side-by-side type fridge? I'm trying to get a feel for how much room you have. I could fit a good 5 lbs or more of meat in mine.

I'd say plan your meals around the sales flyers (look them up online). Look for farmer's markets along the way. Ask the pastor's wife of whatever church you are at where she shops, where the best place to get produce etc is.

As far as cheap meals. if you have a grill, foil packets are fun and cheap. Meat, veggies and seasoning. Casseroles are a cheap, easy meal. And if you have leftovers you can have them for lunch the next day. I had a convection oven, not a regular oven, so it was small, but it worked ok.

Any of the Fix it and Forget it cookbooks would be good for your situation.

I would just keep the meals simple, especially since you have kids.
We stretch our meat - only use 1/2 to 3/4 lb in pasta sauce or "helper", chicken shredded or strips seem to go farther (again use 1/2 to 3/4 of recommended amt in a recipe).
A few quick easy meals: tacos, burgers and salad, baked potatoes topped w/ chili or veggies w/ cheese sauce, chicken nuggets (homemade), chicken and rice,, meatloaf (can be made in crockpot), beans and rice makes a cheap meal too.

Hope that helps.

[belinda2]

This is an old thread but wanted to add for anyone interested a follow up for left over roast. I will cut up a couple of potatoes into bite size pieces toss with Pam and nuke until almost done. Drain a can of peas and carrots and add to roast with it's left over juice and nuked potatoes. Beef stew is the result.