Ha Ha! Now I KNOW you can do better than this! On the Today show this morning -- a budget buster...

[mama22qts]

So here's this chef who has a 4 lb chicken and assorted veggies, spices, grains, etc. He brags that he can make four meals out of that one chicken, and that they are affordable meals.

Ummm the total bill was $27!!!!!

ok and the chicken meals were really only enough to feed two, maybe three at a time. And I saw the dishes so I know you'd be hungry at the end of the meal if you split it three ways!

Anyhow, if you figure on the high side, that's 3 servings and four meals, so total of 12 meals. For $27. Man, oh man, if that's being frugal, we're in for some TROUBLE!

[Cynthiabutterfly]

Even without coupons I could do way better than that. the 10lb bag of chicken here (leg quarters) is regular price $6.90. Onions for .50/lb and some potatoes $1.99 for 5lbs. Add in a bag of rice $1.19 2lbs and you've got at least 4 meals for 4 people that will fill you up and I've only spent $10.
Salt and seasonings are all either already stocked or you can get salt for .33 and seasonings are 2/$1 at the dollar store.

OT: That KFC commercial where they show a mom and 2 kids trying to get chicken and ingredients and they can't do it for less than $10 so they go to KFC instead - that ticks me off.

[Liz]

Even without coupons I could do way better than that. the 10lb bag of chicken here (leg quarters) is regular price $6.90. Onions for .50/lb and some potatoes $1.99 for 5lbs. Add in a bag of rice $1.19 2lbs and you've got at least 4 meals for 4 people that will fill you up and I've only spent $10.
Salt and seasonings are all either already stocked or you can get salt for .33 and seasonings are 2/$1 at the dollar store.

OT: That KFC commercial where they show a mom and 2 kids trying to get chicken and ingredients and they can't do it for less than $10 so they go to KFC instead - that ticks me off.

Not around here. Onions, $1.50/lb, $3 for 2 lbs of rice, chicken quarters $1/lb, potatoes run about $5 for a 5 lb bag. I refuse to buy food at the dollar store.

And seriously, 4 pounds of chicken across 4 meals, that's a pound per meal including bones. No wonder people are fat, there is no concept of portion size. 3 ounces is a serving of meat.

Its just so lovely how everyone complains on this site about others, if someone shows how to save money but its not as good as the poster thinks it should be.

[mama22qts]

Not around here. Onions, $1.50/lb, $3 for 2 lbs of rice, chicken quarters $1/lb, potatoes run about $5 for a 5 lb bag. I refuse to buy food at the dollar store.

And seriously, 4 pounds of chicken across 4 meals, that's a pound per meal including bones. No wonder people are fat, there is no concept of portion size. 3 ounces is a serving of meat.

Its just so lovely how everyone complains on this site about others, if someone shows how to save money but its not as good as the poster thinks it should be.

Portion size of 3 oz is not based on bones being included in that 3 oz. You'd measure out approx 1/2 breast per person. Bear in mind that there were **12** meals coming out of that chicken. How much meat will you get?

As for the veggies -- they used 20 green beans (yes, I know, but the show said 20!) so $1, 2 cloves garlic .10 cauliflower $2? 1 tomato ($1) 1 onion ($1 or so, without any coupons...) rice 1 lb ~ $2, potatoes $2/ 5 lb bag regular price.

Even if the chicken was free range, $2.50/lb ~ $10. Figure in another really generous $4 for all the pinches of spices used

I'm still only at $22 and I've overestimated every item that I buy here.

[derketchup]

Good god that's bad. I can serve 13 cups of organic soup for less than $2! And that's not even with coupons!

[derketchup]

Also, there are videos of depression-era cooking on YouTube here: YouTube - Great Depression Cooking Ep:1 - Pasta with Peas

[mama22qts]

PP, it's not that I'm trying to be critical of anyone's efforts. It is frustrating that the folks who are most affected by this economic downturn are being told that $27 for 12 meager meals is being frugal and that they are doing a good job if they can do that.

That kind of 'saving' is not going to help our families out.

[nurseannette]

Just curious, what's wrong with food from the dollar store?

[derketchup]

Just curious, what's wrong with food from the dollar store?

There have been issues in the past with toothpaste marketed for countries with no fluoridated water being in the dollar store. They had several times the US limits of fluoride in them.

I'm not sure if there have been specific food issues with dollar stores, but I would exercise caution when buying foods from one.

[mama22qts]

Yeah, I love the dollar tree, but unless it's a candy bar or a pepsi I don't buy food from them. Sad, I know.