Starting From Scratch | How to Save on Groceries

[@FrugalFitMom]

Go to Gabb.com/FFM to get a huge discount on a Gabb phone or watch - no contract required! New customers only.

[@valeried2941]

4.29 here outside Phila!

[@tiffanywake5070]

Thank you so much for this recommendation!

[@kathybelanger6988]

A great idea for a wedding shower gift is to put together a basket of some pantry basics … my grandmother did that for us and it was awesome.

[@EvelynSaungikar]

My son is moving to his own place this month. I have been shopping sales and setting aside stuff for him, pantry basics like rice, oatmeal, peanut butter. I also made a starter box of rags, rubber bands, washed out yoghurt tubs, bread bags, a notepad made of recycled paper held together with a fold back clip, and an old toothbrush for cleaning. Things you can’t buy, but every household needs!

[@LizaCisneros]

That is a good idea!!

[@anaalves3658]

​​​@@EvelynSaungikar that is so thoughtful and helpful 😊👍 great idea 💡😊 it's kind of like a trousseau.

[@anaalves3658]

That's genius 👍😊.

[@juliamarple3785]

I DID start from scratch at Walmart! Years ago, I left my marriage with 1 small suitcase, $5.00, and blessed assistance from my family. Moved to a remote town where Walmart was about the only place in town. My whole EVERYTHING was from Walmart. I could have been a poster girl. Here I am downsizing from inheriting too much junk and looking to move again. Keeping it frugal and simple. Thanks, Walmart.

[@chelseafailla9887]

I love that you're sharing about the reality of your early days and aren't complaining about it - it just was what it was and you did what you needed to do to make it work and move towards your financial goals 😍

[@FrugalFitMom]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@karmagirl314]

Last year I went to Target after Christmas and I found a gift set of spices on clearance, it had everything seasoning, lemon pepper, garlic and herb, chili lime, and cinnamon sugar seasonings in 3.5 oz jars, I think I paid less than $4 and I thought how spectacular of a deal that would be for someone just starting out building a pantry or learning to cook. I'm going to look out for some more this year on clearance and maybe donate them. I'd be so interested to see a week two or even a week three for these types of videos, where you're starting with the same amount of money to spend but you have incrementally more leftover pantry items to work with, it would be inspiring to see how your options expand week by week.

[@effiecross2008]

I agree, I would love to see this done for 4 week in a row. I bet you would have the beginnings of a pretty awesome pantry by the end!

[@donbirkholz6842]

Today I am eating fried potatoes (free from the garden), Fall Sweet squash (free from the garden), catfish (free from the river), and later on I might have some pancakes with black currant jam (free from the garden). There are some costs such as sugar, flour, oil, fishing license, etc, but not many.

[@anaalves3658]

I have avocados from our garden 😊 butternut squash , lemons and kiwi from my parents garden. In summer we had a ton of tomatoes from my parents garden, I gave them away to friends and family and froze them for pasta sauces 😊.

[@TheUkrainianStar]

You are the best and those the best foods you can get.

[@apriltownsend8463]

Tuna sandwiches are my go-to. 5 pack of tuna for 3.22, mayo for 2.12, a whole white onion for 90c, bread for 1.42, and you can get a jar of pickles for 2.26 be it whole pickles or spears and you can use them to chop up in your tuna AND have a piece on the side of your sandwich. That's 9.92 for a whole week's worth of sandwiches plus a side pickle.

[@3_16]

Mmmm, now I’m craving tuna sandwiches … thanks 😊

[@vickikendricks1605]

Watch out for mercury poison

[@katharinedodson9330]

Our groceries aren't that cheap here.

[@apriltownsend8463]

@ Walmart

[@Munichismybaby]

I just had a tuna and avacado bowl with a serving of cornchips.

[@denisemusicnut]

I love Brussels sprouts! My favorite way to prepare them is to fry a couple of strips of bacon until it is crisp. Reserve the bacon grease and pour it into a 9 X 9 inch baking dish. Add a 2 tablespoons of honey, and one tablespoon of sriracha sauce (more if you like it really hot) and mix to combine. Add a single layer of baby Brussels sprouts, and turn them to coat them with the sauce. Bake at 400F for 10 minutes, stir and bake for another 10 minutes, or until Brussels sprouts are tender and the sauce has caramelized. Remove from the oven and top with the crumbled bacon. This makes two servings, so multiply accordingly for a large family of Brussels sprouts lovers. For the enormous “nose-sized” Brussels sprouts, parboil them until they are softened, drain, pat dry, and then bake them in the sauce as directed.

[@wildshadowstar]

Even though eggs are expensive right now, they are sooooo versatile. You can scramble them, fry them (over easy or cooked completely), as an omelette, and can change the mix ins. Or use in fried rice or cheap ramen. When you’ve got the slightly extra budget, go for shelf stable stuff like pasta, rice, or beans, that way when you’ve got a tight week, you can scrounge up something.

[@christinacody8653]

They’re also a component in breading proteins.

[@susanmilikien3417]

We can’t even get eggs where I live (near San Francisco). Because of the Avian Flu, people are doing what they did with toilet paper at the beginning of the Pandemic. I have 6 eggs, and am being very miserly with them. Gotta save them for Christmas morning baked goods. Of course, I am *craving* scrambled eggs, deviled eggs, egg salad, etc. 😢

[@kylaluv8453]

Don't forget egg noodles. Easy to bulk up meals using egg and flour. Mom often fed a family of 6 with left over chicken carcas, some cheap veggies(usually from our garden) and a batch of egg noodles. For a snack, deep fry some home made egg noodles and toss with salt, or garlic and parm. They are cheap and amazing. I grew up on a farm and quickly learned poor man's meals in the country is way different than poor man's meals in the city.

[@greenpurl8482]

When I first moved to the big city I now call home and was not familiar with any of the grocery stores, I would prepare a spreadsheet with my grocery list and ride my bike to 4 stores, noting the prices at each store. At the last store, I would only purchase items that were the least expensive on the list, then go to the other stores to complete my list on the ride home. I learned so much about the stores this way - where the clearance items were located (if any), how the weekly promotions worked, types of products and brands available and general impressions of the stores. While my core grocery list has changed a bit over the years, I am still aware of where the bargains live and how to improvise where it makes better sense.

[@donnabarton6419]

That's some impressive bargain hunting!

[@anaalves3658]

That is a very smart way of shopping 😊

[@lisaphares2286]

Greek yogurt will be a more nutritious than sour cream and do everything that sour cream can. Put it on your baked potatoes, on tacos, make a creamy pasta sauce with the chicken or add jelly to it to eat as yogurt. 😊

[@barksnbrews]

Agree. I’ve done this for years and I actually like it better than sour cream. Overall, you really can’t tell much difference, I tell people this all the time.

[@anaalves3658]

We use greek yogurt to make the most delicious sauce to go with roasted potatoes, it's easy and delicious, greek yogurt, garlic cloves crushed, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice and a glug of olive oil. And if you make curry also use the greek yogurt 😊

[@TarrynOneil09]

Tortillas & refried beans & a jar of salsa is my go to. Shredded cheese if you can afford it. Easy, simple and cheap.

[@lethiapage4767]

I crockpot a huge batch of beans, seasoned of course however you like them. I use some fresh jalapeno, garlic, couple onions in with some chicken soup base, and my homemade taco seasoning, I have added rice before to stretch the beans. Let it go super long and then puree in the crockpot with an immersion blender. Freeze flat in zipper bags. This is a very cheap and lower fat version of refried beans that works fine for thickening a soup or using in any type of burrito, quesadilla. Etc. Bonus flavor is piggyback the beans in a freshly emptied crockpot that you used for a beef roast, or after batch cooking chicken or bacon. Then the meat drippings end up in your beans.

[@olasarts]

I do rice and beans all the time

[@kylaluv8453]

Yep, my ex and I lived on bean and cheese burros and sopita. Sopita is basically a meatless Mexican goulash. We were vert poor so we had the stripped down version. Pasta, tomato sauce, salt & pepper, water. Key to this dish is toasting the pasta first in a dry pan. And a lot of mexican black pepper. Then add sauce, water and seasoning. Later on, I could afford to add onions, cilantro, chicken bullion, and lemon. Pair it with some beans and tostada shells, a perfect meal. If you want to spruce up those beans, add a bit of chorizo, but chorizo is dirt cheap where I live. My ex husband's maternal family is Mexican. Learned a lot of cheap ways to feed my family.

[@sarahvilleda5095]

You know what cheap making you own salsa.

[@TarrynOneil09]

@ honestly I tried that but it was more expensive. The one I buy is $2 a jar and lasts for 2 meals.

[@lcn706]

You’re the internet mom we all need right now. ❤

[@katrinaheaton6697]

I agree

[@contancesholl3833]

It was so good of you to do this to show young people how to get started. Most don't have a clue. You are such an amazing inspiration. Hugs 🫂

[@elmarko9318]

I would put the sour cream back and buy the plain Greek yogurt. I use it in place of sour cream and mix in some of the jam if you want a flavored version for breakfast. I also have an awesome kielbasa potato soup that uses bean with bacon soup that is very inexpensive that I think you would like.

[@kettleisalwayson]

Starting in January my girls are going to doing some of the cooking which includes being given a budget for whatever they are cooking. Both are teens but one will be leaving home in the next couple of years and I want her to be budget aware.

[@anaalves3658]

Excellent 👌 idea, she will be grateful in the future when she can cook and budget 😊 skills that will serve her well for the rest of her life, well done 👍😊

[@bleghbleghpotato7501]

I've been watching this lady on KZbin for years and her videos are STILL fantastic even years later! Much love Christine ❤

[@graciegee6317]

I would have bought ground beef, tinned tomatoes, an onion and a garlic bulb, which I would make into a basic "bolognaise" type sauce with half of the beef. I would then build meals from that. With add beans & chilli, have with rice. With pasta with some mushrooms. On a baked potato...and so on. The other half I would make in a rich brown stock gravy, add some diced carrots, frozen veg top with mash potato. Make authentic Cornish pasties filled with beef & gravy, diced potatoes, diced carrots, made with home made pastry. Both versions can be bulked out with veg or beans. Both can even be eaten with home made bread or crackers. I think eggs go further if made into omelettes, rather than scrambled or fried, a small amount of cheese or ham or even just some bell peppers or mushrooms, makes a good meal.

[@lmelior]

Ground beef is expensive, so I like to stretch it with brown lentils as well. The fat is where the flavor is, so the cheaper 73/27 ground beef is your friend here in more ways than one! Another decent stretch option from Walmart is their Festive brand ground turkey chubs. They recently dropped back to $1.98 for a 1 lb chub after being stuck at $2.54 for the last couple years. Not as good of a price as they were 3-4 years ago, but I'll take it!

[@tracienielson7183]

@@lmelior My husband stretches the hamburger with oatmeal. If he didn't tell, no one would even notice.

[@Yveswife]

I remember when my husband and I got married. We had very little money, we had this little calculator that strapped to the shopping cart so we would stay on budget. I still only buy most items if they are on sale.

[@jordanhunt6774]

ive saved a lot of money by buying chicken thighs with the bone instead of chicken breast. also making my own tortillas & bread when i can. plus buying bar cheese & shredding it yourself helps a lot!

[@maureenbullis1805]

Tortillas have gotten so expensive! I just started making them from scratch. So cheap and so much tastier!

[@Almost.Sharon]

i honestly love how you reference back to when you and your husband were saving up! it makes everything feel more realistic and it helps us know youve been through it too! maybe one day you can do a video trying your past meal plans or things you would do now if you were on the budget of back then?? that might be fun! unless youve already done it haha

[@wendidawnmoore9844]

When we married in 1989….joe made 100.00/wk. I was pregnant. Had my little sister and brother living with us. Lived in $50.00 a month in food stamps. Shopped multiple stores. Bought 30 lbs of hamburger meat and patted into 1 pounds l, placed in zip lock bags and froze for the month. Lived on hamburger helper and Spegetti (only thing I knew how to cook, lol). After many years of basically the same…Joe hates Spegetti and anything that may resemble hamburger helper. lol. He says whoever invented hamburger helper should be shot (jokingly). Now I’ve retired and he quit his job that made more than my nursing job (but retired from original job in 2018…so we draw a pension). Going back to the beginning but without kids. It’s better than going back to work in nursing. I would rather stay home to take care of my grandchildren and live on love and beans. ❤❤❤❤ thank you for your videos!

[@suzygutierrez8893]

Hi Christine, I have to say that as a wife and mother to 3 boys, I always walk away from your videos feeling inspired. Inspired to follow our budget, and also the great reminder that simple meals are okay! I really enjoy your chill attitude combined with your knowledge.

[@juliannedascendis8678]

These are all great ideas. We are eliminating processed foods and eating cleaner. That means more expensive. My key to economizing is zero waste. I only buy protein and fresh veggies that are on sale, keep my menu simple. The oatmeal idea is great. Eating healthy and affordable is a challenge these days. Thanks for your ideas. Happy New Year

[@theminimalprepper1455]

Have you tried pasta with a jar of pesto and a tub of hummus? It’s so easy! Hummus adds protein and is super creamy! Super cheap when you find the clearance pesto and hummus at Kroger, which freeze wonderfully! My kiddos love it! You can also add some grilled chicken, but I often just keep it as is.

[@kimberlylamantia7794]

I never thought about freezing hummus. Great tip, thanks!

[@smcb2202]

I live in Canada. $54.78 is $78.75. Your videos still inspire me to shop smarter but as for the totals I just can get there in my country. Also, with dietary restrictions in our home I can’t purchase a lot of the cheap food… but I have my goals set for this month and I hope to accomplish them. Thank you for the encouragement!!

[@HeatherBuchanan-x2j]

Nothing better in plain oatmeal than a little coconut oil and a spoon of peanut butter, like a warm bowl of deliciousness 😊

[@lu_to_the_wanna]

Aloha! Your early days were full of commitment to the budget. You two just didn’t go into debt to eat fancy or eat out. It’s hella impressive.

[@allyrooh3628]

We are busy & tired 3 nights in a row every week. I make 2 large meals at the beginning of that & we eat for 4 days. Works for us! Thanks for sharing!

[@anaalves3658]

I have friends that used to make one big meal and eat it for several days in a row 😊. I just can't do it, I will make a bit extra, but it's usually for lunch for one person. I think that it's because I grew up with a stay at home mom that likes to cook.

[@chrism1102]

My most recent "starting from scratch" (at 50) (long story) I discovered the art of making homemade pizza. It's so cheap and so good you don't mind eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And a regular oven and pizza pans from Dollar Tree are all the special equipment you need to make pizzeria quality pizza.

[@plantlady1227]

Instead of Texas toast garlic bread from the freezer section, hit the clearance bread in the bakery - I can usually find French bread for around 60-70 cents per loaf. I take it home and slice it up, slather it with butter, garlic powder and some Italian seasoning, then stick them in a ziplock and freeze them. When I want some garlic bread I pull however many slices out and cook them under the broiler for about 5 minutes and voila! I've also done French toast sticks with the bread - but as you said, eggs are crazy expensive right now!

[@Teresa-wq6gb]

I'm glad you post these videos, and you are a joy to watch. With the price of food today this video may be my meal plan as well for the week. Thank you for taking your time to share your knowledge..

[@vcneveroski]

I scored some great deals this morning at my local grocery store. I went in for milk and a block of cheddar that was on sale for $1.99 with a $1 off digital coupon. I found 1lb. pkgs of Hatfield ground chorizo, ground Italian sausage, smoked sausage links marked down to .99/lb. and meatloaf mix (beef, pork and veal) reduced to $1.95/lb. Its all about how you shop because even though prices have been up my grocery budget hasn't moved. I'm eating a better variety and have been trying lots of recipes I had never even thought of before.

[@anaalves3658]

Those are some amazing deals, I don't live in the USA and we don't have massive discounts on food, but if it's meat and discounted I usually buy and freeze it for another time. I also buy my favourite pasta brand when on sale 😊, I could buy the cheaper no name brand kind, but I just don't like the taste as much, but if the budget doesn't allow for it you got to do what you got to do.

[@graceperez1281]

love brussel sprouts now ,,, I used to HATE them as a kid. I like to bake them in the oven with a little garlic and olive oil or butter. Thanks for another great video, I hope you enjoy the upcoming holidays in good health with your family and friends!!!

[@nolaa.1815]

so glad you emphasized ease. working couples like my family don't have time to cook complex stuff every day. I see a lot of low budget cooking videos where you're supposed to make your own bread and do a lot of other work that I ain't about to do. I really want to see another channel that does these type of videos but gluten free. everyone uses things like pasta, bread, oatmeal that are great for most folks but don't work if you have to eat GF like my partner does.

[@anaalves3658]

It definitely becomes more expensive if you have to take allergies or intolerance into account. Gluten free pasta is usually more than double the price of the store brand, which tends to be the best value. You need to stock up on it when it's discounted. Same thing with the bread, freeze it and use it as needed.

[@xxmegababygirlxx]

This is probably one of your best videos!

[@katv1195]

If your 15 year old has any complaints about the hassles of getting a driver's licence, let him know that - he'd have to be 17 before he could get L-plates where I am in Australia. And then he'd only get a provisional licence for 2 years with rules about how many passengers he could have, P-signs on his car, rules about night driving and having to drive 20% slower than the speed limit on freeways and highways.

[@inkenhafner7187]

And I think it's very good the way you do it in Australia.

[@alisonfraser8231]

Nobody said he complains.

[@katv1195]

@@alisonfraser8231 I know no one said that he complains. But all teens have the occassional small complaint about something. I thought it sounded better than "tell your kid he's lucky" 😁

[@roncardiff6641]

You’re a natural born entertainer! Thanks for your knowledge!

[@MK-px7xn]

I usually get better deals at grocery stores than WM. I will be a a grocery store and scan an items barcode in the WM app and compare prices. Depends on the items but the app definitely comes in handy! Multiple grocery stores are the key. Thx for the video!

[@plantlady1227]

If you have an Instant Pot - you can make your own yogurt super easily from milk. It only requires a couple of tablespoons of starter culture, which only requires a one time purchase of a small cup of yogurt. After that, you can freeze small cubes of the yogurt you make and use that as starter for the next batch. Saves a bunch of money. Also, I have found that brown sugar can be made at home by mixing molasses and sugar. Same with powdered sugar, just grind down regular granulated sugar in a food processor until it's more powdered.

[@CHSwildcats19]

The one thing I would have done differently - if starting from absolutely nothing - is buy some Uncle Tony's 😆 because that is exactly what we did when we started our daughter's pantry after moving her across the country for college ❤ P.S. We are from South Louisiana, if you couldn't tell, lol

[@berthamoreno1709]

Could you make a video of low carb meals for diabetics? I would greatly appreciate.

[@debbiekaten3803]

Sometimes I add about a teaspoon of peanut butter to my oatmeal for more protein! It’s really yummy! 😋

[@Elle_T75]

Another inexpensive option for pasta sauce is to buy a can of tomatoes, throw it in a pot with water or broth and seasonings and let it simmer until the liquid is mostly gone. Then you can blend it for a smoother texture if you prefer. Or, leave it chunky! It's also easy to make your own vegetable broth! Keep a container or ziploc bag in your freezer and add in any veggie scraps from meal prep; onion/potato skins, carrot peels, mushroom stems... whatever you have is fine! Throw all the scraps in a pot of water, simmer for an hour or so, then strain it. A cheap and hearty soup is also easy to make! Frozen veggies, dried beans and broth. I add in a couple of potatoes whole while the soup simmers, then remove them and blend them with a bit of the soup broth and add it back in. It makes the soup a really thick, creamy consistency without adding any cost.

[@mariayelruh]

We didn't use to be big rice eaters and still aren't. However I now buy rice in 20 pound bags when it's on sale. Last January (2024) I got 40 pounds of parboiled for $15 or 37 cents a pound. This week it's on sale for $8.40 (20 lb) so not much higher 42 cents a pound. Because we have it in the pantry it makes for a low cost addition to a meal. Fourteen cents for a cup of rice vs. a lot more for potatoes or pasta. We still have those, but rice is a go to.

[@marieholzwasser9224]

Walmart in my area is actually expensive. Kroger is far better for prices. If you can find the Great Value products that's the way to go; however, our Walmart purposely doesn't stock a lot of those types of things. Sooo you end up buying the name brands at exorbitant prices. Wish we had a WinCo in my area but we live on an island to pickins are slim.

[@Vangirhl]

Are bone-in chicken thighs less per pound? Take the bone out and use the meat for meals and bones and skin for simple stock.

[@tinaking6833]

I did not realize how Brussel sprouts grew until about 2 summers ago when a guy at our local farmers market had the whole big thing of brussel sprouts still intact. I bought it just because it was so cool looking. I have a very well stocked pantry/fridge/freezer, but I still find value in these videos. Thank you for the time you invest into helping others thrive.

[@christengardner1466]

Same I have very stocked pantry and deep freezer mainly because I want to do a no buy year tbh. But absolutely love these kind of videos

[@hannahsox12]

This is such a helpful video! I have a lot of the basics already but still find myself spending $70-90 a week for my husband and I 😢. This plan helped me see the more simple options for meals!

[@rachelr589]

Brussel sprouts are cold weather crops! I grow them in Wisconsin! They taste way better than store bought. But any brussel is better than no brussel.

[@kimberlyharrigan9218]

Another idea with Christmas coming up.... ask parents or grandparents to fill your Christmas stockings full of spices, vanilla extract, and a few extra specialty sauces. Or parents make up a box for young adults out on their own with 3-5 meals that they can eat, but try to make it meal items that are a step above what they can typically afford.

[@Gardeningchristine]

I love breakfast sausage in my spaghetti. It’s sweet, savory, adds the protein that you want, and goes really well with the flavor of the spaghetti.🍝

[@yanak7159]

Awesome videos. I would have bought flour and pack of yeast instead of bread, to bake the bread, make muffins and have variety. You always have great tips 🙌🏻

[@wallashakalla]

Brown sugar and raisins on oatmeal (chefs 😘)! I tried to cook meals that I could stretch out like meatloaf and spaghetti, so we could have them two or more times for leftovers. Goulash became a staple

[@teacherstreet]

Memories! Did so many of those when first married! ❤ from Iowa

[@PumpkinLiz]

Points for Eddie Izzard reference, love that bit!

[@libbyreed8588]

My starter eat kit was as follows. Peanut butter Jelly Bread Rice Popcorn kernels Jar salsa Refried beans Tortillas And a piece or two of fruit if I could afford it. I had a hot air popcorn maker.

[@ChristopherEvans-650]

Looks like much of what I have purchased over the last year. Did bulk buy a 50 lb bag of rice and black beans. Was able to average a bit over $120 a month for 2024.

[@BettyHorn]

Love brussel sprouts! Never had them as a kid. And they will grow in Idaho, you just have to start early enough and hopefully you won't get a spring freeze. I grew them in northern Utah, but the bugs got to eat mine before I did.

[@tinadavis9796]

Amazing Brussel sprouts!! Great basics

[@Forfrodo-m4m]

We can buy sprouts like that here in Scotland every winter . Not always so big a stalk though. Par boil them a couple of minutes, slice then fry with bacon and cooked (fresh not packaged ) chestnuts. Delish.

[@McGiggleBicky]

If you can put apps on you might want to add What Three Words. Brilliant for helping emergency services find you when you don’t know where you are. Helpful for outdoor trails too as EVERYWHERE in the world is mapped into 3sq meters and given a unique 3 word combination! Genius!

[@sharondean774]

I feel ya on the finances when first married. My husband and I got married in 1997… things were so tight. We ate hamburger helper and tonys box dinners…

[@ajsassafrass6883]

One thing I did for my son, who will be 16 soon, is getting him cooking classes. Now he's more interested and involved in budgeting and cooking.

[@flowercatsmeowmeow4744]

I think you did a wonderful job! My friend and I have a $20 Christmas challenge. I chose to buy him food. I bought him meals that he just needs to add the 'luxury' items - ground beef, butter, cheese. But I did it! I got all the vegetables/broths to make hamburger soup, refried beans (dried pinto beans) tortillas, Taco sauce, dehydrated hash browns and spam to make a casserole and even jello with fruit cocktail! All for $20 bucks. Our goal is $50 groceries for the month in the new year. It can be done!

[@MaryWoodworth-d4i]

Tell people if friends or neighbors have chickens the people usually have extra eggs...I give them away but some people sell them and they are usually cheaper and fresher than store eggs

[@EvelynSaungikar]

I make a big pot of veggie chili every month, and freeze it in meal portions. I make it from dried beans. We have it a couple times a week, it’s about 40 cents per serving. Great over a baked potato too!

[@Cookie-sr5ob]

Veggie chili recipe please..

[@meganmanson6488]

I made canned tomato soup, added white rice and leftover Parmesan cheese packets from pizza takeout. Still do sometimes but add half a can of white beans.

[@NothingToNoOneInParticular]

Loved spotty dotty at 12:20 wandering in the background. 💕🐶

[@peggiescraftcafe7117]

All great ideas. And yes I LOVE Brussels Sprouts. tfs

[@mariayelruh]

By shopping sales and stocking up you can have variety at a low budget. We aren't having as much beef in the past but we aren't eating just rice and beans. Aldi a couple of miles from me has the cheapest eggs ($2.15) so I buy 6 dozen at a time when I'm near them. That saves me $6 over closer stores.

[@dianasimplifies]

Wow they are almost $4 at my Aldi. It was cheaper to buy cage free recently which is what I buy anyway but I always check prices

[@wjb-wi6dt]

My mom was a packet kind of cook. I didn't realize until I grew up that it's because she doesn't actually like to cook! It was just what "the mom" in the house had to do, so she went with convenience wherever she could fit it into a tight budget.

[@pauln9549]

Christine, could you please do a video specifically on HOW to season foods? I am learning to cook for my young kids and would really appreciate some insight. Thank you ma’am!

[@verity1234]

If you are starting from a bare pantry I would recommend starting by honestly accessing my cooking skill set. If you have never cooked from scratch start small get the 1 or 2 lb bag of rice (even if it is more per pound) and see if you are really going to cook it. Get things you like and not things that you know are better for you (but will go to waste). Look in unconventional places for pantry staples. At Christmas stores come out with kits - Hot sauce, BBQ packs and spice racks (full of all the spices) Wait for them to be on clearance and store them away. Invest in good cook ware and keep your knives sharp. It makes a difference. 1 nice pot is better than a set of cookware that heats uneven and burns your food.

[@MrsPink64]

We had brussel sprouts in our garden when I was a kid. It’s easier to push down on the sprouts to get them off when they’re still in the ground. They are my favorite vegetable, but I don’t grow them as I can get them cheap.

[@gaylesmith2328]

Another educational video! Thanks!! Just sharing a small local Canadian channel you may enjoy. Adventures in Groceryland. Prices are similar and she uses a lot of math. She does a lot of challenges where she starts with nothing and builds a pantry over time. Thanks for sharing your skills, I am sure you are making a difference to a lot of young people. Many youth are growing up without the life skills needed to make a healthy society. Your reach may start out as just the viewers but that will spread to the viewer's families and on and on.... a better world!

[@Simply_marryy]

Pasta with olive oil and seasonings, beanies and weenies, instant potatoes with chicken were always staples growing up! Also, working BOH in the restaurant industry helped a lot too!

[@reesesbabycakes]

My 1st marriage 34 yrs ago, we were on a very tight budget, I would make $30 stretch so thin the doll-hairs were see through 😂 LOVE Brussels, rest of the family not so much..His friend grows them every year. I never knew they grew like that either until last summer he brought some home. Love your videos.

[@biblechick1025]

I used to cook 2-3 big meals a week and we would have that for lunch and supper

[@whitwhitsworld]

$4 for eggs? Makes me want to go hug my chickens! 😂

[@kimberlyweddel2505]

7 in Oklahoma

[@whitwhitsworld]

@ 😲 WTH are they made of gold? How can anyone afford that, that’s insane!

[@kimbarbeaureads]

Give them a kiss for me. Deviled eggs were a splurge this Thanksgiving.

[@janaimaughan3599]

I’m so grateful for mine. 🐓 Getting more in the spring.

[@jonlouis2582]

$6 and up here in Connecticut at Big Y.

[@kristinbecker3489]

I think we need to see Christine planting brussel sprouts in her garden next year!

[@mepo4460]

Plain yogurt can work double duty as sour cream as well 🎉 freeing up even more budget for those faberge priced eggs lol

[@stormeliz7406]

Love your channel! What a great find. We are staying away from pesticides and bioengineered food. I just saw my Better Than Bullion has bioengineered ingredients. Can you do a segment on this? I want to save but not compromise our health. Signed a mom that used to take the kids to McDonald's 😄 Now I'm a grandma in my 60s. BTW, you are young!!! So much ahead. Appreciate your channel so much.

[@dianebondhus9355]

I grew my own brussel sprouts last summer. They're pretty cool 😁

[@oliviafox6745]

Budget stocking up was similar to your method. Oven stuffer which I cut up, bones made into broth. If pork was cheaper, pork. Oatmeal or corn meal for breakfast. Oatmeal made into granola for my husband. Cabbage, onions and carrots for vegetables. (Stir fry, soup, side veg). Frozen green beans instead of mixed vegs. Flour and baking powder to start instead of bread. (Biscuits, muffins, pancakes, tortillas). Eventually buying yeast when there was some wiggle room.

[@kathleenhill5838]

Thanks again Christine!

[@mariayelruh]

We don't do deli meat, I plan on using the turkey, meatloaf of chicken in sandwiches as part of my meal planning.

[@lindahendricks1868]

I love brussel sprouts covered in butter or cheese. Preferably both. Those are huge. Thanks Christine I love you and your family. Love from Indiana.

[@marygrott8095]

Some other tips; The peanut butter can ve added to the oatmeal for more protein. I agree with the egg purchase because you could make egg bites as a grab and go breakfast!

[@dianasimplifies]

That is the only way I will eat oatmeal 😂 lots of PB 😂

[@jackieo2403]

For more protein add a can of white beans (great northern or cannellini) to pasta sauce, You can mash them to make the sauce thicker or to stretch it or leave them whole as we do. Delicious and adds satiety and fiber!!(very important). Love Brussel sprouts!

[@susanharper2881]

Yes,, I love Brussels sprouts, and I used to grow them. But boy, they are hard to find in the stores. In my area, they can mostly be found in winter around Christmas time.

[@christinabryant5725]

Our house burned in January 11 this year and we did have to start over. We absolutely did not cook from scratch. You provided some excellent guidance in quick foods that are budget friendly and reasonably healthy. We did not do frozen, processed foods that put a deep dent in our wallet.

[@mepo4460]

A head of green cabbage can work in place of lettuce for tacos, especially if it's made into simple slaw. Stir fry? Add some cabbage. Grandpa's infamous chicken bake? Cabbage slaw on side.

[@gmw6337]

growing up we did alot of butter bread with soups... we loved it as kids .... and cheap

[@taranykyforiak1753]

Tuna sandwiches with canned soup can go so far, especially in the winter when you're craving something warm. When I first moved out with my husband we also did lots of hamburger helper for dinner with some veg tossed in.

[@marybratton5514]

Girl, you referenced Eddie! I love you even more now!

[@FAMOFSIX]

Your hair looks really nice thanks for the great advice as always 😊

[@wheatie83]

Very nice video. I moved abroad last year and im trying to cut down on my food costs as well. Number one thing i realized us that you have to eat like the locals. Occasionally i will splurge on cheese to make pizza or mac n cheese

[@randimochamer6284]

OMG… this brought back so many memories!