A Week Of Affordable Meals To Save Money - A Revisited Classic

[@jenniferstewart1499]

"If you have any lumps don't sweat it...you've got teeth!"Best line ever!

[@lisacalandra2474]

“If you do have lumps don’t worry about it. You’ve got teeth.” Made me laugh. Thanks for keeping it real. All the dinners look delicious!

[@cyclingonplants7444]

Struggle meals for me are split pea soup, homemade baked beans on toast or potatoes, lentil dahl with rice and spaghetti with a vegetable tomato sauce.

[@suematile9078]

Our low cost meals are tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, Hot dogs and baked beans with added molasses, pancakes, homemade French toast, and vegetables soup. I stretch homemade spaghetti meat sauce by using only a half pound of hamburger with a small can of Aldi's mushrooms. This can make six servings for us.Two meals for the two of us and two lunches for me.

[@somersetgirl125]

As a child at the end of the month my mum’s go to budget meal would be egg chips and beans. I do a modern take on that which is frittata (same ingredients - maybe an egg or two more and a bit of onion) - and I throw in anything like leftover bits of mushroom, pepper, sweet corn etc if that’s available. It’s nice with salad but beans would still be good if the salad is all gone.

[@iriswelch3553]

We love a good frittata!

[@gladyschandler6724]

I've made a vegetarian Lasagna- one layer of grated carrots cooked. One layer of grated zucchini also cooked. Make a white cheese sauce & grated parmesan

[@michellewatts4613]

For us, these aren’t struggle meals. These are our type of everyday meals. Struggle meals are pancakes, eggs, baked potatoes with cheese, vegetable soup, spaghetti with marinara sauce, etc.

[@pippamoore9563]

I will have to try the croque monsieur it looked fab x my mums favourite saying was always ' its just as good as Delias' as she was a great improviser of meals x when our kids were small I used to make a similar lasagne but used baked beans instead x kids loved it x I haven't done a lasagne for yrs so maybe I will try your lentil version. I love fish cakes too x they are so easy to make x I think they should bring back domestic science at school as we used to make all low cost meals there and was taught how to budget everything x

[@michellehiggins8980]

The cheap meal I cook most frequently is 'dragon noodles' from Budget Bytes. Noodles with any veg (even just, onion carrot and frozen beans) with a simple sauce (1tbsp soy sauce, 1tbsp sugar, 1tbsp chilli sauce or oil) with a fried egg on top. Also baked beans on toast.

[@agodlyhome]

That sounds so good!

[@shawna620]

l love how you call these "struggle recipes". They all seem fancy to me -- but I guess the point is they have inexpensive ingredients. Thanks for all the great ideas!

[@sheilatyler-c6q]

For my go to meal i do pasta with tomatoes tinned and garlic and herbs and cheese. Served with garlic bread.

[@margaretthompson5491]

great recipes Jane, one of my go to recipes is Cheese ' n ' Tater pie. mashed potatoes with lots of butter and pepper, mix in grated cheese, and soft sauteed onion. In a baking dish , empty a tin of tomatoes sprinkle with oregano , cover with mash and grate cheese over the top into a hot oven til golden brown.. Cheap and very filling!

[@Barneybudgets]

My mum used to make that so lovely.

[@loveconnection1118]

Mmm had that the other day soo good!

[@lexicuryk4414]

My struggle meals are chicken & dumplings (with carrots, celery, & onion) and Fried rice (uses up leftovers & frozen mixed veggies, scramble an egg or two, leftover chicken or turkey bacon- flavoring only) and red beans with onion, rice, & cornbread

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Sounds great!

[@janfoster9583]

My struggle meals: scrambled eggs, hamburger soup with any veg available, ditto chicken soup. Great video and ideas, Jane!

[@sharonbarker7448]

Peanut stir fry with buckwheat noodles, coconut milk if I have some with peanut butter and soy sauce to make satay, otherwise just the peanuts, buckwheat noodles, soy sauce. Love the lasagne and coronation chicken, oh and the crepes.

[@iriswelch3553]

These don't seem like a struggle to me - they all look quite tasty! Especially the galette!

[@margarethoughton6288]

Tuna sweetcorn and mayonnaise pasta hot or cold, easy cheap and transportable for lunches or camping trips. 1 tin of tuna, 1 tin of sweetcorn or frozen (cook in with pasta) mixed with mayonnaise. Cheap, easy and stock cupboard staple x

[@lindajacquot5391]

Good morning from Idaho, USA! Thanks for all the delicious recipes, Jane. The hard part is to decide if it's lentil lasagna or fish cakes tomorrow for dinner for us!

[@TheLongRunwithJoelandChristy]

Great share, Jane. Congratulations on 15K too. 🎉

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Jane, have you tried the latest Social Media recipe sensation? I did it the other day and it is a smash hit! One cup of rice in the bottom of a lasagne tray (or equivalent oven proof dish), place a marinated espaliered chicken on top. (I could not get one easily, so I used chicken legs and marinated them myself.) Pour over with two cups of stock and bake for about 45 mins to an hour in a moderate oven., I cannot tell you how delicious it was! Worth trying. Thank you for the video!

[@gaildurocher6553]

❣️would love to see more of these types videos.

[@FrugalForty]

When funds are low/trying to stretch what I’ve got in the cabinets and fridge- Fry up hot dogs and serve them with mashed potatoes that are really ‘doctored up’. Make the sides fancy! In America we have something called ‘noodle dinners’-they’re about a dollar and they have noodles and sauce/seasoning, you just add water and a bit of butter. I will make this but add a bit of fresh veg that I’ve cooked up with oil and some seasonings-whatever veg is available! If I have a bit of chicken I may add that too. Rice is so filling..I’ll make a pot of rice in the rice cooker-one cup is plenty for me and both of my girls and even may have leftover. Anyway, season the rice with paprika, chili powder, a bit of cumin, oregano, onion and garlic powder. Then do a couple of cheese quesadillas on the side-which is really just a couple of tortillas quartered with a small amount of cheese. Find a can of veg or use some frozen and it’a a meal for us!

[@dawnreynolds2991]

I really like all your week of struggle meals. I always liked Rissoto, but have been intimidated to make it. I do appreciate that you made Rissoto, that you used regular rice, your demonstration on how you made your Rissoto makes it seem less intimidating. I may try to make this dish, and pick up the ingredients next time I go grocery shopping. Thank you so much for a great video.

[@monicaram2379]

Lentil soup, homemade bread and salad.

[@marypeterson1053]

Fried rice.with bits and pieces from fridge and freezer.

[@kazlee9213]

Just made your " Homity Pie " never heard of it before and OMG Jane, it was lush, thank you so much for that recipe x

[@rosemarydoran9907]

My struggle meal is BFD (Breakfast For Dinner). Eggs w/toast and bacon or sausage if I have some. Or French toast w/bacon or sausage. Your meals all looked delicious!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Yummy

[@dawnreynolds2991]

Oh yes breakfast for dinner is a delicious meal.

[@SuzannesSimpleLiving]

My struggle meal is baked potato with grated cheese & salad or baked beans. Or all left overs are put in a baking dish, a tin of chopped tomatoes added and mash potatoes on top and baked. Great meals Jane…😊🇬🇧

[@bria2596]

Glad you reposted - the video is even more valuable today, and I would not have known to go find it. Thanks!

[@howellshq1165]

Love love love your videos 🥰 you have inspired me to give coronation chicken a go!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks very much

[@cherrycross1504]

Cheese and potato pie with baked beans is a family favourite.

[@jasminer7804]

Excellent video! I will try these. Thank you!

[@dianebennett7410]

Rice and beans with salsa

[@mjax8614]

Thanks for this. It was easy to see how the recipes could be adapted for a vegetarian diet/no oven. (Some of the frugal non-veggie meals in other frugal living groups are a bit too graphic for me!). You might have convinced me that I can (try to) make lasagne and croque monsieur. By the way, you have inspired me to have two sinking funds, one for Christmas, one for household/health, whereas in the past I would either have a super frugal month or use "savings". I have tried sinking funds before but ended up labelling them as savings, so it didn't work. My budget meal is burgers made with whatever needs using up.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@gaeylkanter4178]

I enjoy creating struggle meals using what I have and enjoying good nutrition at the same time .

[@jeannebowes2898]

Baked potato bar, breakfast for dinner, and pizza rice were all favs with my children when little. We still have “Pancake parties”! The men love potatoes in any form. When the garden is going, the possibilities are endless.

[@kathiparshall8094]

Struggle meal for us was always pasta and red sauce with either ground beef/veggies/ or leftover chicken all on the side, so you can use the leftover sauce for another meal.

[@goodlifeliving1667]

Enjoyed this video so much you made me chuckle with Gordon Ramsey comments and you have teeth. I'm a stock snob i like stock pots and wine in rissotto. But if you back in UK tesco does bargain red or white wine stock pots for £1.25 for 4. Although quality's of food in France and price seems better. Even aldi / lilds rissotto rice is £1.89 bag.

[@gladyschandler6724]

Great recipe.

[@moreynolds9870]

Hi Jane, great recipes, I don’t eat meat but they can all easily be turned veggie with meat alternatives. Thank you for sharing particularly liked the lasagna. One of my go to, frugal meals that I love is veggie scrambled eggs. I sauté any veg that need using up, with what ever herbs I have, add 2 beaten eggs and scramble it all together. If I’m doing it for breakfast, I’ll add less veg but put in veggie sausage and mushrooms if I have them. Xxx

[@LeAnneTraybsza]

Cauliflower Lentil Curry is one of my favorites.

[@blethersy9206]

I hadn’t realised you could make a white or cheese sauce in the microwave. Thanks for the tip.

[@marie34K]

Struggle meal = roasted potatoes , 1 hard boiled egg , green salad .

[@barbarabruce7648]

I have a couple of struggle meals. Pasta primavera! 80cents for a packet of 500g pasta. $1.20 for a jar of passata sauce. All You do is saute an onion and garlic, add any vegetables you have, I usually use frozen diced vegetables and then season to taste. Serves 5 large servings. Costs $2.50Aus. ie, 50 cents a serve. I make this not because it's cheap but because it's quick and easy on a school night. A good tip is to add lots of dried herbs. My other struggle meal is Beans and mushrooms. Two tins of baked beans, one tin of no salt beans such as kidney, dried sage mixed in, a layer of mushrooms on top and a sprinkle of vegan cheese. In the oven on high until it starts bubbling. Serve with toast. Family favourite and costs about Aus$4 for four servings. $1 a serving. Grilled sandwiches another cheap meal, usually lunch. Our favourite is Avocado ($1 in Australia for a large one) sliced mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes, scant amount of vegan cheese, salt and pepper on bread. Expensive to buy at a cafe, peanuts to make at home.

[@LoriSkees]

One of our favorite meals is hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes. I just brown 1 lb. of ground beef with some diced onion, salt and pepper to taste, add beef broth or bouillon and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Then I thicken it with a cornstarch/ water slurry and serve it over mashed potatoes. It makes enough for lunch the next day. You can do the same with leftover turkey or chicken meat too.

[@andreaarias2085]

Struggle meals for me:. Crackers and tuna salad, homemade cheese and veggie pizza, potato, bacon, and Bell pepper burritos with onion and cheese! Arnold Palmer iced tea!

[@kerryjames4026]

Can't wait

[@eileenkillen1481]

New subscriber from Ireland 🇮🇪 I loved all of your recipes. Thank you for sharing them with us 🙏❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Welcome and thank you

[@luisadias2676]

I will try a few recipes. Thanks for sharing

[@joprent6727]

That looks. Wonderful.. I love lentils... Thank you for sharing ... Cheers from Australia...💐😊

[@jacquelinejordan1588]

Everything looked so delicious. What a great video, we need this right now.

[@patrice1966]

Another great video Jane and Michael! 👍 I have a few low cost budget friendly meals-potato pancakes, vegetable soup with or without beef, split pea soup with drop dumplings, cheesy potato soup with bacon bits and lastly fried potatoes with bacon bit, onions and cheese. I buy the little bags of precooked bacon bits from Aldi because they are inexpensive and add a bit of bacon flavor without the mess of cooking bacon. They are handy to add to scrambled eggs, frittata, quiche, dips and soups.

[@lilybee_]

Our struggle meals are a soup or stew I canned or breakfast for dinner. Thank you Jane!

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Mmmm. Fish cakes looked delicious...lasagna, too. Thanks 👍

[@odiecap62]

If you add some mustard & relish or lemon juice, chopped onions & or pickles (or all) to the Mayo…DELICIOUS!

[@garygnagey3569]

Everything looks delicious!

[@agodlyhome]

Homemade clazones being careful not to add too much cheese and using little amounts of meat and vegetables. The homemade dough make them very filling and I can stretch it to feed a lot of people.

[@samanthahaynes8740]

Just made your rainbow risotto it's absolutely delicious big hit with all the family too please keep these recipes coming thankyou 😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you for the feedback

[@gemmamiller8896]

Those recipes looked yummy. I will definitely be trying the lasagna and the crepes. Although no meat for us. Our budget meals are either eggs, chips and beans, or jacket potatoes.

[@trudyorth6037]

Really enjoyed all of these recipes! Are the lasagna noodles gluten free? Our struggle meals always include homemade soups. Really easy with an Instant pot.

[@gladyschandler6724]

I can probably make it with Quinoa

[@akhiker2495]

Wow- I’ll take cheapskate meals in France any day! Those meals look pretty decadent to me with the white sauce, and I am looking forward to trying them! I’m sharing this video with family & friends. Thank you!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you

[@outintotheworld3331]

Such a lot of recipes which I don't even know yet. I will try the fish cakes at first. We love spaghetti aglio olio with lots of garlic and chili and some cheese we just have on hand when it comes to living on a budget. Thanks for all that inspiration, Jane. Take care, Meike from Lübeck

[@Dingle1234]

My father who lived through the Great Depression said that the farm wives would make oatmeal, spread it in a pan, then cut it into squares and fry in bacon fat, served with brown sugar or syrup. Everyone loved it. They had 3 outfits, 1 for church which the next year became school clothes, then work clothes the next year. This is why you see photos of kids on the prairies with very short pants. Sorry I think that's your word for underwear. Trousers.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for sharing

[@cherylverber7672]

My struggle meal is a tin of Mackerel in spicy tomato sauce some chopped fresh tomatoes add some extra chilli cook down and add to pasta with a sprinkle of cheese. Some great meals there I must try the red lentil lasagne, honestly do you miss the meatiness as I'll be convinced however do you think my carnivore grown up son will approve?

[@katielee9354]

Love these meal plan/recipe video's of yours, thank you. I'm writing them all down. Our favorite mid week frugal recipe to do is 'toad in hole', but we use what ever little left over meat we have & not just the traditional sausages. l got this tip from my' old 'farmhouse fare' cook book l will bulk out the little meat with added onion, herbs etc, into a 'meat roll or meat balls' then pour over a ww2 yorkershire pudding recipe that uses just 5 oz gf sr flour, l egg and milk to mix, then ll pour that over the meat roll etc. l find my yorkies only works in a hot metal oven tin. Then ll make sure oven is full at same time to save gas with some quick freezer cakes/pud recipes as the toad only takes approx 30 min to cook. The little meat with the added milk & egg is enough for one of our daily protein needs. All served with a high protein veg like peas or kale or brussel sprouts that are steamed in a double saucepan, again to save on gas. Served after with a milk rice pudding (oven cooked )for dessert, it covers all the daily protein needs. We always have our rice pudding with foraged seasonal blackberries ( but now grown in our garden ) its lovely, nourishing & its saved us pounds over the years.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks Katie

[@cma250]

Lovely ideas in your video. My usual is rather mundane in comparison but I eat it so often as it's cheap and tasty - (grated) courgette omelette. I'm looking forward to trying your recipes and those from other viewers in the Comments. 🙂

[@carolynparker4468]

Love your budget recipes Thanks for all your great ideas 😊

[@connieseward8773]

Great video as always! These meals look quite impressive. Who would guess that they were so economical.

[@gladyschandler6724]

Those look delicious. In America a grilled cheese & tomato sauce

[@patriciakennedy8233]

Hello, I have been following your channel for several months now, your advice is very informative! I wondered, where you live in a rural area, have you considered keeping chickens for eggs and meat? Thank you for reaching out and helping folks get the frugal lifestyle!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Not something I want to do. Thanks for watching.

[@charlenebrissette3348]

I’m definitely going to make the fish cakes.

[@rachelseibert7882]

Looks so delicious!

[@gladyschandler6724]

Struggle meal for me is lentil soup.

[@marijkevandeneijnden8971]

Love all the ideas!! What kind of bouillon do recommend for the risotto beef, chicken or vegetable? What do you prefer? Love your throw it all in and don't give a ...🤭 Tnxxx, love from the Netherlands

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I just use the supermarket own brand veggie stock cubes

[@sophiawolthof1238]

👍👍👍

[@momof2momof2]

Mmmm I love buckwheat pancakes. I don't think buckwheat is appreciated enough . Maybe because of its name, people think it contains wheat and gluten , which it doesn't, its not even related to wheat. Everything looks delicious. tfs 🥰✝💗🐣🐤🐇🥚💐🌷🌞🌛

[@charlenebrissette3348]

My husband makes the best buckwheat crepes.

[@LoriSkees]

Since you eat gluten free, what kind of bread did you use for the croque monsieur? I avoid gluten as much as possible for my arthritis, but haven’t found a good GF sandwich bread. Plus it’s terribly expensive.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Schaar.

[@LoriSkees]

@@FrugalQueeninFrance I will have to look for it in the US. Thank you!

[@laetitialogan2017]

Hi Jane...You know I love all your videos...do you ever cook on your solid fuel cooker..or bake?...

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Yes I do, not when I’m filming as it would melt my phone

[@laetitialogan2017]

@@FrugalQueeninFrance oh yes indeed..lol...that would be far too dangerous. My mother had a small traditional stove, hot water etc, and the amount of food cooked in it was unreal..love your videos Jane

[@virginiacervantes7988]

👍🌹

[@Poketfullofvintage]

They sure don’t look like struggle meals to me..🤔..