There’s still a whole week until payday and you just blew the rest of your food budget on last night’s take-out, which has only left you feeling bloated and groggy in return (thanks, lo mein 🙄). All those vegetables you ambitiously bought at the beginning of the week are still sitting in your fridge, mocking you as they slowly wilt. And those gorgeous recipes you found on Pinterest? They ended up having too many weird ingredients, and you just couldn’t muster the energy after a ten hour work day. You’ve got Instagram taste and a peanut butter budget. I feel ya and I’ve been there. Adulting is hard.
I believe good food doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
I believe you can create meals that you’re proud of, meals that make you feel full and healthy, meals that make you want to brag on social media, meals that will make you want your leftovers (no, really). I believe you can have all of this without spending your whole paycheck, buying a bunch of fancy kitchenware, or spending all day in the kitchen. I believe you can spend less and enjoy more.
The Proof is in the Pudding…
Let’s Do This.
What if you didn’t have to figure it all out yourself. What if someone else already searched, tested, and found recipes that are easy, delicious, AND inexpensive. What if someone took you by the hand and showed you each step of the process, so you could feel confident as you learned. What if cooking at home stopped feeling like a chore and started being something you did for fun?
When you join the Budget Bytes community, you’ll stop being a slave to take-out and become a total boss in the kitchen, all while spending less and eating better than ever.
I’ve Been There.
In 2009 I found myself with a college degree and a mountain-sized student loan debt to go with it. I could barely afford necessities like toilet paper, let alone good food. But food was my passion and having just earned a degree in Nutritional Science, I was not okay with eating ramen noodles for dinner every night. Finding food that would satisfy both my stomach and my wallet became my pet project. I tested hundreds of recipes, I experimented, I failed, I learned, and I simplified my process. It wasn’t long before I was eating better than ever, spending a fraction on my weekly groceries, and making my coworkers jealous with all my drool-worthy (and cheap!) homemade lunches. And now I want to show you how to do it, too.
Now it’s Your Turn…
Budget Bytes has everything you need to finally take control of your food budget. With over 1000 delicious and affordable recipes to choose from, there’s a little something for everyone. Get started HERE.
And if the website just isn’t enough, make sure to check out my book, Budget Bytes: Over 100 Easy, Delicious Recipes to Slash Your Grocery Bill in Half.
Stay in Touch!
I love hearing and seeing your successes, and I’m always here to help when things don’t go as planned. Stay up to date with the latest Budget Bytes recipes, tag me in photos of your creations, or drop me a question or comment. You can find me on Instagram (my fav!), Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Or, shoot us an email at support@budgetbytes.com and someone on our team will be happy to help. We can do this together!
Thank you! I’ve been forcefully retired and money is tight. I have been eating ramen daily. I dress it up but finding recipes like congee! Yeah!
I’ve been using budget bytes since high school! I absolutely love this websitefor cheap meals and helpful tips
Looking forward to learning from you.
Hi looking forward to try recipes
Thanks!
Hello
Looking for some ideas ànd i have ideas to share
I am continuously trying to control our food budget and happy to look at others for good ideas
I need to eat more vegetables
I made the Creamy Garlic Chicken. It was DELICIOUS,and I didn’t have any butter, heavy cream. I Loved it!!!!!! I will be making this again with butter and heavy cream.
Thanks
Can’t what to try new recipes for cheap
I can’t wait to try
Making bean & cheese enchiladas tonight. Looking forward to trying more of you recipes!
These recipes look great
Love these recipes!!!
Great easy receipts that are delicious!
Love, love, love your budget down to earth recipes. This is how people should be eating. Lots of veggies, meat and side dishes. I really enjoy and am glad to learn the freezer foods. Can’t wait to try alot of them. Thank you for caring!
Found your site yesterday when wanting new ideas for a meatloaf. It was wonderful!
Lettuce romaine friends forever I like to cook
Hi, like 2 cook spaghetti.
Cookies I love to cook
Looking forward to being able to create meals on a budget and stock up on pantry staples
Loved the recipe my daughter shared from this site. Looking forward to trying more recipes
Have been cooking since I was little through all of life’s financial ups and downs, and now am teaching the juniors of the house to do the same. I came across a recipe from this site last night and was so excited and relieved to see how the recipes and the whole site are laid out!
I’m primarily joining your site to cook for my firefighter co workers. With food prices being as high as they are. It can be a challenge to find the cheapest meal possible without sacrificing quality for the hungry crowd in Winston-Salem. Looking forward to using your recipes.
This site has changed my life! I used to shop kind of free-form, then inflation made the irresponsibility of some of my choices rather glaringly apparent. Compound that with the reality of creating minimally processed, healthy, meals consistently for my family and you can see how ready I was for the support! Now, I keep certain key items stocked, and my girls select meals from the lineup. There’s a lot of variety, the meals come together quickly, and the emphasis is on minimally processed ingredients. Yay! Thank you!
Getting ready to retire!
Looking forward to budget friendly recipes!
Hey! I learned about Budget Bytes from the Frugal Friends podcast…and they are right; your recipes are great AND affordable!
I am so excited to have found your website! I spend a ridiculous amount on groceries every week. I cannot cook without a recipe, and it is causing problems with my budget.
Hi Beth I by chance came across your page while searching for a quick tomatoey, sausage & pasta recipe for supper and wow I made the creamy pasta tomato, sausage & spinach recipe. And yeah I made it for supper tonight. What a fabulous dish it turned out! Thanks for the Budget bytes much appreciated with love from South Africa
I tried the Spinach Artichoke Pasta. It was delicious! Can’t wait to try more recipes.
Thanks so much, I appreciate that there is consideration for those who are in a budget!
God bless y’all and all the best for the up and coming New Year! 😃👍
Great content! I love to cook and try new recipes but still want to stay on budget! Thanks Beth, you make my life 10x easier. 👍
I haven’t checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend :)
Very interested in saving money and feeding good food to my family.
Just tried your meatloaf recipe, superb! I love the fact that your recipes use a variety of common ingredients that are also budget friendly!
Your site has become one of my favorite places to get recipes from. They are always delicious!
Thank you, Jennifer!
I love you what your favourite make
Love the recipes I have already seen
I can’t wait to try them this month
Looking for a focus on healthy and weight loss.
How current is your meal pricing?
The recipes are only priced at the time of publication. Ingredient prices change daily and can vary quite a bit from region to region and even store to store within one city, so there will never be one price that is accurate for everyone. Despite this, the pricing can still be helpful to identify the ingredients that contribute more or less to the overall recipe price, so you know which ingredients you can cut back on if you need to make it more economical, or which ingredients you can increase to bulk up the recipe without increasing the total price by a lot. :)
I love your recipes and the concept behind them.
Husband has always been the cook. Now I’m trying my hand at things. Had a Mom that was a good cook but a very nervous teacher. As a result it has not been easy for me to get into the kitchen and try. But things have been coming together lately. Success brings desires for new challenges. I have seen a few of your recipes and they look right up my alley.
Hearing this program gave me inspiration to start cooking again. Today is my 70th birthday; this is my best gift!
Vegetarian for over 42 years, Susan
Love new recipes!
I am 79 years of age, on a limited budget.
I am looking forward to recipes for nutritious meals for one, if possible.
Thank you.
Looking forward to helping my eating budget
I’m always looking for good food on a budget.
I took a sample of the meatball recipe and my goodness it was delicious! Can’t wait to try more!
I have cans of crab that I have been wanting to use
I was going to make crab cakes but this looks amazing
I will be making this when my sister comes to get her hair colored by me.
Thanks
Priscilla
Seafood lover
Thank you.
Can’t wait to receive recipes.
Looking to save money and eat healthy. Oldest son is getting married in November and I need to skin down a bit. (40lbs)
Looking forward to having good food at less cost. I’m a senior living on a very tight fixed income. Thank you!!
Looking for great tasting meals at a good price
I keep gaining weight and live/eat off Government Assistance. Which means EBT (Food Stamps) and not very much a month, especially with today’s food prices. I get $200 a month in Food Stamps and have not been able to eat healthy. Help me!
Looking to provide some pre-college teens with budget friendly, but nutritious options.
These recipes are awesome and you guys are the best!!! Thank you!
Everything looks great. Can’t wait to try things!
Family says daily “what are we having for supper?” All I say is the titles of the food we have had prior lately. And the response is “Again!” I want to try to change the routine so the menu of “must goes” is not on the list.
I have tried all the mushroom recipes on this site and LOVE, ALL of them, just to add I never like mushrooms before this. My daughter and I are planning to try all the recipes out by the end of next year and I cant wait.
Would really love to try your recipes they look so good.
Would also like to save money but still produce great tasting food for a family.
Just wanting to be on the newsletter list, please!!😃
Hi Tonya! Just fill out the subscription box at the end of any recipe or on the right side column on any page. XOXO -Monti
Interested if I can really save money and eat healthy
You totally can! XOXO -Monti
I’m always looking for new recipe to try
Sounds yummy
I can’t wait to get started
I’m an 87 yrs old male who leaves solo, cooking for myself is tedious and time consuming, however your recipes have been the best option to make it simple and enjoyable, thanks for offering those excellent recipes,
Thank you so much for the sweet message, Carlos!
My email is elsieb
ucher@gmail.com
Hi Elsie. What is your email for, please? XOXO -Monti
Hi Beth,
I was google searching “Vegetable Barley Soup Recipe” and yours came up. I wanted to make soup for our church’s food freezer where we stock food for families that are experiencing a new baby, health issues, grief or other life events.
I eat mainly whole food plant based, so this recipe really fit the bill. I made it yesterday, and followed the recipe almost to the letter. It was SO GOOD! I am including your recipe and link to your website, so hopefully that will help others find your website and learn your tips on budget cooking, in this time of ever rising food prices.
Thank you so much for what you do.
Ruth
Fantastic!! Thank you so much, Ruth!
With covid I started cooking almost all of our meals at home. It has been tough figuring out new recipes to keep five people fed and entertained, three meals a day, seven days a week, going on two years now. This is my first stop for new recipes and I appreciate all of the great things you have added into our regular rotation. You are a treasure and doing a public service. Thank you!
Iam cook lover and I want to be part of this training
Hi I’m trying to register but your system won’t let me.
I just found you yesterday I believe. I thank you so much. You have a wealth of knowledge and that makes you a blessing. Boy do we need Budget Bytes right now. Sooo many do. God bless you and yours.
I’m excited to try and use these recipes as a truck driver.
I just signed up For your newsletter and I have black bean soup recipe in the crock pot now. I am so looking forward to reading all about you checking your recipes and reading all the information you have thank you so much
I am a high school culinary arts teacher with no chef background. However, I do love to cook and make yummy meals to share with others. I would love to try the beef and cabbage recipe with my students! Please share your recipe.
Hi Sarah, I think you might be talking about the Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry? If so, here is the link: https://www.budgetbytes.com/beef-cabbage-stir-fry/ You can always use the search bar at the top of the page to find recipes you are looking for. :)
When my husband proposed to me I told him that I would only marry him if I didn’t have to cook because I HATE COOKING. Over 21 years later I’m finally willing to learn how to cook because of Covid. However, I’m scared of my oven 😂 😂😂 Hopefully your site can help me love to cook and save money.
your recipes seemed simple and healthy going to try. thanks
Would like recipe for Sticky Ginger Soy Chicken now!
Here you go, Sally: https://www.budgetbytes.com/sticky-ginger-soy-glazed-chicken/ There is also a search field at the top where you can type the name of a recipe or any word to find results on our site at any time. :)
Hi Beth. Love your site!!!
I am a mom of 2 that started a company so i could be a full time mom and help support my family. Now, 12 years later i am budget conscious, health conscious and find every corner to cut so i can spend every extra moment with my children. My friends tease me because i plan, prep and freeze… They tell me i should have a website to share my recipes and tips for saving time and money. Now i do! They may not be my tips and trips but I am definitely sharing your site with my friends.
Hello,
I used budget bytes to start cooking when I moved to college. It was great because the step by step instructions, the pictures and the ingredient breakdowns were perfect for kitchen rookies like myself. Overall, I have made plenty of meals over the last two years and have shared plenty of recipes and the website with my friends. Thanks for all the work that goes into this endeavor.
Thankyou.I have a family of 4,sometimes 5.
Hi
Very usefully recipe post. I like I am so glad. Have you made a Indian recipes.
I love cooking so I happy to lean more
Looking for cowboy caviar dip
Thank you you for the desserts for two !
Can’t wait to try the carrot cake for 2!
Hi, what happened to the Greek Chicken Stew recipe? I was planning on making it again this weekend.
Shoot us an email at support@budgetbytes.com Mike and we’ll get it for ya!
Thanks for the idea of asking for the Greek chicken stew recipe. I made it tonight and my family loved it.
Why are some website recipes not on the app or are hard to find? Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas are not on the app. Also I to had to put in the exact name of Zuppa Toscana in the search to bring it up. It would be helpful if there was a way to log into the website to save recipes to the “cookbooks”.
Hi Jon! We’re working behind the scenes to add recipes to the app all the time. They take more time as we have step by step instructions with photo and voice for each recipe on the app. And yes we don’t have a desktop version of the app unfortunately. But we’re working to have more functionality for our readers on the site very soon.
Hi Jon, the White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas recipe is available on the app. The app comes pre-loaded with 500 recipes, and everything that I published to the blog since the launch of the app is available to download to your app through the app’s marketplace (you can still get them for free). To search the marketplace, just tap the little shopping bag icon on the bottom of the home screen, then tap over to “recipes” instead of “bundles” at the top. That’s where you’ll find the most recent recipes on the website. You can search at the top for “quesadillas” or whatever else you’d like and that recipe will come up. :)
My wife might be going back to university for two years to get her teaching degree. That means the kids and I have to step up our game and one important area is supper. I came across this site and was hooked. I love cooking but haven’t done much since we got married. Your recipes are the best: simple ingredients, filling, almost always use all food groups, quick, and tasty. I’ve been trying them out so we can rate them to reuse. The recipes are not what we’re used to but quick easy and “healthy” is what we will need! They’re easy so the kids can help prep or make them. Thanks very much!
You’re so very welcome! I glad the recipes are serving you well. :)
Hello. I have a question about the money we pay for the App,, Is it ” One time ” ? or we pay every month?
Thank you.Angel.
It’s a one time purchase :)
Is this website based on the American measurement system? I would like to cook some of these recipes however I need to know if I need to convert them to the Australian measurement system.
Yes these are in US measurements. Sorry!
Hello! I’m guessing I’m just missing it, but I don’t see the nutritional information on the individual recipes. Can you tell me where I might find that?
We only recently brought on a Registered Dietician to our team. She’s working hard behind the scenes to update the entire recipe database, over 1500+ recipes, with nutritional information. She’s working her way from the newest recipes back and it takes some time to update them all. Keep coming back and we’ll get to them all soon!
I just found your site and love it. Made your delicious spinach rice breakfast bowl. I teach a college
level class on food and we read a lot about food insecurity, something some of my students
have personal experience with. We’ll be doing some class cooking projects together and we will
definitely be using your recipes. I love how upbeat your website is about saving money on food.
Thanks!
This is amazing Claudia! Thank you for sharing with us.
Love your site, is there a way to sort recipes by cost per serving? Thanks!
Sure is Emily! Head on over here https://www.budgetbytes.com/category/recipes/cost-per-serving/
I have asparagus. How do I search your recipes for asparagus dishes?
Hi Barb! You can head to our recipe index page and search by ingredient at the bottom of the page here https://www.budgetbytes.com/recipes/ and then you can click on the ingredient you have on hand here https://www.budgetbytes.com/tag/asparagus/
You should look into doing a few styles of Succotash – it fits the bill here, being a potentially inexpensive, simple, and versatile dish. I’m actually surprised it didn’t turn up already!
I actually used to have a succotash recipe, but it was super old and needs to be redone, so it’s not on the website at the moment. Thanks for the reminder!
I am not really familliar with some of the ingredients, but the foods sound yummy !
I cannot wait to get started!
I love your blog and recipes. Thank you so much for your work! Question for you, I often struggle to find a good freezer friendly healthy non-pasta meal that I can bring to a new mom, recent widow, sick neighbor, etc. Do you have a couple of go-to favorites? Thanks again!
Soups and stews almost always freeze great! Some of my favorites are West African Peanut Stew or just a basic Chili. :)
Hi. I’m looking for interesting low cost, easy to prep gluten-free, (I’m a diagnosed coeliac) and vegetarian meals to offer both myself, and some friends a more varied choice daily. I also cook for between three to six volunteers at our local food-bank two or three times a week and would like to offer them a healthy vegetarian low cost option as well. I hope you can help? Cheers for reading this. Go well. Kevin.
Hi Keven, you can browse the Gluten-free category and Vegetarian category for ideas. :) Unfortunately we don’t have the ability to filter by multiple categories to find recipes that fit both.
Hi Beth, LOVE your site. It’s awesome and has made it way easier to stretch my dollars. Thank you!
One thing, would it be possible to add a filter category to your recipes for pressure cookers (if I’ve missed it apologies)? I use your app too and would love to see it there also. Thank you!
Hi Kerry, thank you!! I’ve decided not to continue doing pressure cooker recipes, so I did not make a category for it. I think I only have three recipes for pressure cookers. :)
Beth, I’m looking at your recipe for 5 ingredient tomato sauce and spaghetti. I’ve always thought that we should undercook the pasta for a few minutes because it will continue to cook in the tomato sauce. What do you think?
Also, I don’t know how to keep the spaghetti with sauce warm once it’s in the warmed bowl. It seems to cool very rapidly.
Hi Nancy, Yes, you can definitely cook your pasta for the last few minutes in the sauce, if you prefer. That will help it absorb a little more flavor. :) Unfortunately I don’t think there is anything you can do about the rate of cooling. That’s just physics! :)
Hi Beth!
I love all your recipes! They make me feel like I know what I’m doing in the kitchen!
I was wondering, would you ever consider posting a recipe for a steak meal that isn’t necessarily budget friendly but that will be tons more budget friendly than going out to a steak house? I am not familiar with cuts of meats or how to marinate them and what sides to pair them with. I have been craving a delicious steak for some time now but I don’t really have the money to go have a $70 meal for 2…
Thanks so much!!
I’ve definitely thought about doing that! Like a quick tutorial on how to cook steak because it’s really actually quite easy and, like you said, it’s SO much less expensive than going out to eat and ordering a steak! I’ll put it on my list. :)
Just came across your site as I was looking up a recipe my son made for us last week to try it again. It was the Creamy Chicken Pasta. Was wondering if you have made your recipes in an Instant Pot(one of my sons sent me one for Christmas) and have recipe adjustments for it? From what I have seen so far your site looks great.
Thank you! Unfortunately I don’t work with the Instant Pot much. It’s quite specialized so it would take a lot of extra work to test each recipe and adapt it for the Instant Pot.
Love your website! Thank you so much for all you do. Would love to see a nutritional breakdown of each recipe, too. For those of us who need to be budget and calorie conscious. 😊
So grateful for this site, I’ve used it for every single cooked meal in the past year or two. I would love to see a “snack” category in the future!! I eat healthy when I’m using your recipes, but our snacks are always carb-heavy junk food and I’d love to have some better options! 💗
Beth I just discovered your blog, and I’m OBSESSED with it! I’ve spent most of the day looking through your recipes – they are just so no-fuss and fantastic! I can’t wait to start cooking your recipes.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy them! :)
I just happened to come across this site recently. It is one of the best blogs i have come across (not just cooking and/or money-saving blogs)! I had one question — apologies if I missed this somewhere on your site. Have you written up a Top Ten (or Twenty) list of your least expensive meals? That would be fun to see and helpful for folks who are in a financial pickle. Thanks again for your wonderful work!
I haven’t made a round up like that, only because it’s kind of hard to compare apples to apples (like say a dip recipe to a one pot meal recipe), BUT you should definitely check out my SNAP challenge series. :) That’s when I was challenging myself to work with a super low food budget, so some of my most budget-friendly recipes came from that!
Try website:
Very well fit… in the search bar top right corner start typing recipe nutrition calculator… it will pull it up. Plug in recipe and servings and it will give you the info for one serving… it’s amazing 😉
Love your site, and all of the recipes I’ve tried have been fantastic. I am interested in the nutritional information. Is that available and I’ve just overlooked it? Thanks!
No, I’m sorry, I do not have nutritional information.
I recently got married and moved in with my husband. I love to cook but often struggle to decide what to make. I learned of this site from a coworker and I have been hooked ever since. I have loved nearly every recipe I’ve made so far. One of my favorites, especially for when I need a lent friendly meal, is the spinach and white bean enchiladas. We were both amazed by the flavor of that dish. I also love that I can easily find all the ingredients easily and the recipes are not complicated at all. I love that there are so many to choose from. The next thing I need to venture into is meal prep once I convince my husband to take food to work for lunches. I currently take leftovers, which I haven’t made anything yet that was a bad leftover so I see that as a serious WIN! Thank you for all you do and please continue doing it. I tell everyone I meet about this site because it is that wonderful and helpful.
Thank you!! Hearing all of that makes me so happy. :)
Thank you!! Just made the black bean quesadillas. We all loved them. Also the spinach, mushroom, and feta crustless quiche. I love to cook and really appreciate your easy low cost recipes and so have my two hungry boys. Please keep on posting.
Love your recipe ideas. I have only made the banana bread baked oatmeal so far but we all loved it. Can’t wait to try many others.
Thanks, keep up the great work!
i hate to cook … i don’t know how to cook … but following your pictures & your enjoyable wit made me want to try … lo & behold folks really like to eat my (your) food now when they come to my house!!! THANK YOU & keep adding more :)
I’m a college student and everyone is always impressed with what I cook and how I can save my money. I’ve sent so many people to your site and what’s even better is the food satisfies my hungry boyfriend too! Thank you for taking the time to blog all of these recipes!
Just found your site. Great tips. I really like that you have such a great variety on a budget. It is so easy to get in a rut. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
My daughter made the black bean quesadillas and I love your blog for this recipe alone. Fabulous site that will help lots of people eat well.
just came across your site…VERY COOL..you have a new fan…Davo
I am so excited to have found this site!! We tried our 1st Budget Bite recipe last night, the tuna and white bean salad. LOVED it! Kids devoured it! Finally a site with inexpensive meals that aren’t horrible in the nutrition department. Making the teryaki meatballs tonight and creating a grocery list for 5 others to try next week. Thank you!!!
I just wanted to send you a heart-felt thank you for this blog. I’m relatively new to cooking but thanks to you I’m now addicted to trying new and delicious things. As a applied health grad student I like to eat well on a budget rather than living on junk and you website is doing wonders for me!
The design of your website is fabulous right down to the step-by-step photos and the ability to save recipes as PDFs and share them with my friends so easily.
If I could donate to your site I totally would. Long live Budget Bytes! :)
Just found your blog! I am so excited to see a budget savvy menu that is still healthy looking. I am totally in love with your site and plan on making a recipe tonight! Mmmm
Mmmm just heard about your blog from a lady on babycenter.com and I’m soooo excited to try some of your recipes!! And your step by step pictures are just what I needed!!! yay can’t wait!
Lindsay – Most I make up as I go, but on occasion I’ll make something from someone else’s website. If I do, I’ll have it linked and cited. I browse recipes all day long (or so it seems) to get ideas and then just come up with my own version of what I see.
Hi there,
Where do you get your recipes from? They have all been so fantastic!
So glad I found this blog through (shemakescents.com). I have been looking for a good budget for my family. I am a stay at home mom with 2 kids and a husband to cook for. I can’t wait to try your recipes.
So happy to find your blog! Im 5 and a half months pregnant and looking to save money before i go on mat leave. I live on an Island in Canada so i thought spending 500-1000 a month for two of us was normal. I bought all my food for next week for $50! I am super excited.
I’ve been visiting your website regularly since happening upon it 2 weeks ago. I made the baked lemon raspberry oatmeal last night to eat for breakfast this week (delicious, by the way!), and I can’t wait to try more recipes. I’m especially stoked about your slow cooker recipes! Thanks for providing such a wonderful resource for those of us who could never be bothered to cook before! I’m excited about the idea of stocking my freezer with wholesome, home-cooked meals for those busy work days. Thanks for making cooking seem so do-able. :)
Love your website! All of the food looks yummy & HEALTHY! Plus the awesome savings?! Count me in! Keep it going! =)
beth, i am so glad i found your site! like many people on here, i am a broke college student. i’ve been going through every page bookmarking recipes for the past week. i’ve never really had to cook for myself before, so i’m really excited that i’ll be able to make delicious meals for myself for just a small cost! :]
Keep up the amazing work!! Love love love this blog, and have been very enthusiastically sharing it with EVERYONE!!
Hi! I want to thank you for this blog! I often don’t like to cook, but I do love to eat! :) And I am even starting to ENJOY cooking with your recipes! The recipes you post have ingredients that are actually already in my cabinets as opposed to ingredients I have never even heard of. And the food is DELICIOUS. :) Thank you so much for taking the time to make this blog– it is TRULY appreciated! :)
I love your blog, Beth. I found it through the facebook page for the Tightwad Gazette (you follow many money-saving principles in the book, in case you haven’t read it–check it out from your library…I love it–the author crunches numbers and approaches things in a logical way). I was already a tightwad before I found it, but I have made many of your recipes, my family loves them, and have been learning lots of new cooking skills from you. We love the variety. I really appreciate all the effort you go to in crunching the numbers and giving tips for reducing costs even further. Many people out there giving advice for saving money on food never crunch numbers, or if they do, they’re still ridiculously high cost. You’re awesome!
This is amazing–I’ve spent a good chunk of my day (it’s been a slow work day, cut me some slack) wandering around looking at recipes and at lunch I was so inspired that I went home and instead of getting Subway (or, egads! something even less healthy than that!) I made an egg sandwich that I drizzled with a little sweet hot sauce and an avocado which ended up being AMAZING. Seriously.
I am planning to make the mediterranean quesadillas tonight and I am so excited! Thank you for making cooking fun, reasonably priced, and not at all intimidating! Keep it up!!
I’m going into second year university, and in the Fall I’ll be living in a house with three other girls – and clearly on a budget. I’ll definitely be reffering to your blog often! Thanks so much!
Hi Beth, could you develop a few more ‘glaze’ type recipes like the one in honey spice chicken thighs? It is so great since you don’t have to worry about marinating and the flavor still comes out strong…plus it is inexpensive.
Hey Beth, great site! I’ve been thinking about something like this myself for some time before I found you. So much so that I got a team together and we’re building a technology that does this, amongst other things, for online recipes. I’m not gonna shamelessly plug it here because that’s not my style and it’s pretty rude! Google it, maybe you’ll find us eventually. :)
Anyhoo, I really like your content. You’re a great blogger. So I wanted to see if maybe you’d be interested in collaborating w/ us some time down the road, once we get our sh$% together? Shoot me an email at [my first name]pwhite at gmail
Just found your site via a Pinterest user, and I think I’m a little in love right now. Looking forward to trying all of your bean recipes!
Beth,
Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoy your website and your delicious recipes/creations. I wish to start using QUINOA as an alternative to rice a few times a week; have you experimented with that grain, if so, please share your recipes with us.
Best wishes,
Yolette
That was meant for anyone who claims they cannot afford that stuff. Anyhow, to the author….good stuff!
Just stop eating meat and you will be able to afford organic, cruelty-free, non-toxic, non-gmo, locally grown and fair trade items. For reals.
This is a fabulous site!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Anon – My shopping has changed over the past couple of years. When I started the blog I was still living penny to penny so I did most of my shopping at Walmart. I moved to a new city and now have a decent income, so I tend to shop at my local supermarket (Rouses). But, it’s always changing because I always shop around for the best deal! Oh, and for the first year or two that I had the blog, I had a wonderful produce market that was open 7 days a week, year round so I had tons of fresh, cheap veggies! But I moved :(
I love this site! I just found one of your recipes on Pinterest! Which landed me here! I was wondering where you do your shopping? I was trying to read through to see if anyone else asked. Hopefully I hear back soon!! Can’t wait to start cooking!!! Thanks!!!
Um, your blog is AWESOME! I have made four recipes off it this past week and each one was quick, simple, and DELICIOUS.
I’ve been wanting to save money and eat healthier for quite some time, but the few times I’ve tried to cook healthy meals for myself, the cost for the ingredients went right through the roof! In the end, I just assumed sadly that there was no way to eat well for a low cost. Your recipes and cost analyses have been really eye-opening, to say the least. Thank you so much for this blog, it’s exactly what a beginner like myself needs.
I love your blog! I found it through another blog I follow (icancookthat.org), and she uses some of yours. LOVE THEM! Thank you so much!
Anon – I try to keep things moderately healthy. I have a degree in nutritional science so I guess it’s in my blood to want to keep things well rounded, full of fiber and nutrients, and low in saturated fat. That being said, I have my *moments*! ;) Not all of the recipes are healthy (according to my standards, “healthy” is a subjective term). I do have my fair share of comfort food recipes on the blog so you’ll just have to use your judgement :)
Hello! I love this blog because it makes someone like me (who is a broke college student, inept at cooking) a little less intimidating! I am on a weight loss journey and the only question I have is: is everything on here moderately healthy (besides the cookies lol)? Thanks!
I came here from Pinterest and it’s one of the many times I’m happy that I just followed a random link. While my husband and I don’t live on a very strict budget, it can at times be tighter than we’d like. Most of the things I already do…make menus, shop with a list, brown bag it…however, I do not have a list of recipes that I always go back to. So, thanks for the amazing, simple recipes. My number one tip for saving money on groceries is don’t take your husband; and if you do, make sure you have a snack in your purse or you’ll spend twice the amount when he starts to get hungry.
Just wanted to say that you are doing a wonderful thing and the hungry masses applaud you for it.
You are a girl after my own heart! I too am an accountant and food lover. I stumbled upon your blog from a Pinterest link and am already hooked. Looking forward to reading more!
Love your site. I’m also taken back when people say they can’t eat healthy without breaking the bank. You may not be able to buy organic/free-range foods, but people in America can still purchase basic ingredients at a low price. Of course, these recipes require some kitchen time, but that’s the fun part of it. I have several recipes that I just love to make…all of them are standards.
I just found your blog and love what you have here :o) I am posting you on my sidebar, so that I won’t lose you :o)
Blessings & Aloha!
I love your web site and love to cook. Recently I ran across a recipe for Peanut/Ginger Chicken that meets your criteria for recipes. I would like to send it to you. How would I do that? It is delicious.
I just found your website tonight, and went through the entire thing, bookmarking several pages along the way. It’s great, and I’m so glad a friend referred me here!
(I don’t comment that often, but I love your blog so much I felt compelled to!)
I just found you via Money Saving Mom and I’m in LOVE! I’m an accomplished cook, but your recipes are outstanding. I’ve already made 2 and am looking forward to trying many more!
Er, that was supposed to be ‘at least $1 less per pound, if not more’
Anon- Many, many people have asked me about the chicken prices :) I’m not sure how they compare in Canada but one pound *can* be very pricy here as well. I often buy 5 pounds at one time and then divide them up into one pound portions as soon as I get home. I freeze them and only thaw when I’m ready to use. The price of the chicken breasts when I buy them in larger portions is at least $1 (if not more) per pound. Also, when the chicken is nearing the sell by date they are often discounted even further. Sooo, I swing by the poultry section whenever I’m at the store and if I catch one of these sales, I grab up a big pack of it, take it home and freeze it!
Although the other day my neighborhood grocer had boneless skinless breasts priced at $1.75/lb and it wasn’t even a large pack or a sale so I guess that’s just the price sometimes!
There are a lot of good vegetarian recipes on the site, just in case you can’t find a good deal on chicken ;)
Great website!
Really like the ideas but having a serious problem. Where on gods green earth do you find 1+ lbs if chicken breast for $2.50? None of the chicken recipes work for me because 1 lbs of chicken breast is more like $7.50 on Ontario. This effectively blows the budget.
Am I missing something? Is chicken just that cheap in the States?
I’m completely in love with your blog! Great meals, so inexpensive, and all the flavor and awesomeness is still there!
Stay amazing, you have a new fan!
I love your blog! It’s my favorite cooking blog. It’s sensible and yet, it indulges in good taste. I always find good ideas here, and love the step-by-step photos! Well done!
You have such a great blog! I feel that many people can relate to your food philosophy. Your recipes are easy yet creative and is now an inspiration for my weekly meals. Thank you for being so awesome!
My boyfriend and I have made it a point to make 2 of your recipes a week as our summer project. We have yet to be disappointed and we’re loving cutting down costs! Loving your blog and loving the fun, quick, affordable dishes!
Beth you are a BABE. I’m glad I stumbled on your rad blog!
Come over to my place some time. I’ll bacon wrap some pizza rolls and bust out the “nice” mugs to serve some cold PBR in.
Hey, I love your site! Is there a way you can add the calories as well?
Just found this the morning of my grocery store day, my shopping list was almost entirely from your recipes! As a college kid who rarely incorporates healthy eating, I’m excited to make them!
I just discovered your site on stumble upon and I am soooo EXCITED to start using your recipes. I am a college student and cooking for one is not always easy. Can’t wait to get started, thanks!
Your dad passed on your blog site to me last week and I’m loving reading thru all the recipes. I’ll keep checking back for updates.
Great ideas! Can’t wait to read it all, thanks!
i am ADDICTED to this blog…I read it all day long hoping for another recipe and totally excited about each recipe that I try!
Just found your blog off of foodgawker. What a fantastic idea to use a budget for your recipes! And they look so good! I can’t wait to try some!
Andi
I LOVE YOUR BLOG!
OMG, I wish i could edit things!! Beth pls change that number from 324$ spent for the month to 224$!!! Please oh please!
I guess i was just three happy lol. (I only shopped twice this whole month!)
Ok, day 28 or 4 weeks, or however you like to say ‘month’ lol has come gone and I am still a little awed at how it all happened.
For starters, I now have what i jokingly refer to as ‘Beth’s Bounty’ printed off and put in a nice folder for keeping all the recipes I have made from the site happily together. I will be making up one to give to my mom too!
Also, I have not made exactly 28 meals, as in a meal per night. I say this because so many recipes made a small feast that I and my husband got tasty leftovers, sometimes for a few days if he was out of town and I forgot to halve a recipe lol.
(the marinara and meatballs..yeaaaaah I ate that for like four days. I really don’t ever get sick of it)
Oh and a sidenote of epic proportions. The split-pea with ham soup, got the biggest compliment I had heard in years and I quote ‘You always make really good soups hun, but THIS one, is the best soup you have made for me, ever.’ I will not forget that comment anytime soon <3
Ok, now for the nitty gritty. Usually spent in 28 days;
175$/week x4 weeks = 700, But a number that needs to be factored in is what we spent on average eating out!!!
That one is even more alarming;
80-125$/week x4 weeks = 320-500$ OH-EM-GEE!
Now making up a shopping list using recipes we wanted to make for the next week, and If you have read above its outlined. made life so much easier! If you aren’t doing it, you need to be! We wandered into a walmart bored the one day and had half filled a cart with random food stuffs that we didnt even need, from habit. We still had a ton of food at home and I still shake my head, glad that we both came out of our zombie state and put all the stuff back. We looked in the cart, realized what we were doing didn’t make any sense budget wise or just ANY SENSE lol. Plus the cart was just full of bad things or randomness that no meal could have been made from…/sighs at habits. I felt like we got a ‘get out of jail free card’ when we walked out of there empty handed.
Oops, back to the figures. So at a minimum of over a 1000$ a month, to sometimes upwards of 1100-1200$
(drumroll please)
Final grocery tally was,
324$
/pause for effect
Well, it goes without saying that our account looks as good as the recipes lol. With a savings of over 700$ how could it not
Now, we are not done, I am still going through recipes to make and also, I am NOT out of groceries yet. I wont need to shop for another week at least! So its probably even more of a savings but for now, I think that number is impressive enough no?
Beth, if you lived near us, I would have you over for dinner :-)
Thanks again, and please, keep up the excellent work, this is already trickling down to other family and friends, since I am a bit of a talker when something is as exciting as this.
For anyone who read this far and is hopefully going to head over to look at some recipes, I invite you to try this intelligent and savvy woman’s methods.
You have nothing to lose and oh, so much to gain.
Sincerely.
Excellent Blog Thanks!
I just had to comment here.
For starters, I love what you are doing. I sincerely did not know what to expect when my friend linked me your site.
Little did I know it would mean saving more that 60% of my grocery budget so far this month (245$ saved). We didn’t even realize how expensive the chain store near our house was, its just where everyone went so we did too. Our average month for grocery bills was at least 700$…yes, you read that right, for just myself and my husband and NO we are not 300 pounds each! We were just sheep wandering down aisles all willy nilly, bah!
I didn’t know that not one single serving of leftovers would be wasted. My usual ‘cleaning out the fridge’ before grocery shopping was depressing to say the least and expensive to boot.
I wasn’t prepared for dinner excitement. Instead of ‘bah, lets just order Chinese or go out for wings’ coming from either of our lips, it was ‘I can whip this all together in like 20 minutes, lets just do that k’ with no grumbles from the husband since each night the variety of what we have been eating keeps it all very fresh and fun. Even having to adjust things to make them gluten free, hasn’t stressed the recipes at all and has translated exceptionally well.
I had no idea that any of these things were even possible.
I probably sound like a crazy person, but honestly I am just basking in the glow of a bank account not drained for food we were just throwing away, in the excitement of not making needless trips to the store, since everything was here and ready to go with very little planning required.
This may sound outdated, but feeding my husband and keeping him interested in our meals together is really cool and surprisingly satisfying. In six years of marriage, these last 10 days of cooking together and getting constant compliments have been freakin sweet! Don’t get me wrong, I am not a kitchen failure by any means, and I am a baker by trade BUT sometimes you just aren’t inspired and it shows in what you serve.
I have passed this on to a few friends and my sister and mother. I can’t wait to hear how they are doing with your help Beth.
ok, this is officially too long, lol.
Thank you again, as long as you are posting I will be reading and cooking up a storm :-)
I just found your blog! I love it!! Keep it up!!
Can’t wait to make your Chipotle Peach Salsa! It made my mouth water just looking at the picture! I’ll be sharing it with members in my club:
http://www.salsapreneurship.weebly.com
-Luke
I love your blog!
Great blog! So glad I found it. I am always looking for more ideas on how to save!
My dad just introduced me to your sight. Very impressive. Can’t wait to start cooking with your recipes!
I’m really glad that I found your blog through tastespotting! After I graduate college and get my own house, I’ll follow your blog so that I can cook at a low price! Yayyy~
I am so happy to have found your blog (through tastespotting.com). I can’t wait to try some of your recipes. I am a newly wed, and we are in serious budget mode. I think your website is really going to help!
Glad I found your blog, I love it.
AMAZING blog (found it on consumerist.com)! I love your honesty; I too am broke and love to eat. I also love to cook! keep up the great blogging and I’ll keep checking back.