Eating What You Want on a Ramen Noodle Budget

There is no question that the cost of Ramen noodles, plus their volume is unbeatable.  Its pretty hard to argue with five packages for $1. not to mention feeding a family of 4 on one alone.  To get by a week or two, it is definitely an easy quick fix, but face it, being broke doesn’t last a week or two. So how can you eat well without spending tons of your precious dollars at the supermarket?  Planning is key. 

1. Take note of what you have.  Before you think about what you’ll make in the coming weeks, consider the ingredients you already have.  The opened package of brown rice in the pantry, the carrots in the back of the crisper drawer in the fridge, or the chicken breast in the freezer all stored in their separate areas  may not seem like dinner, but combined, make a powerful meal.  Sounds some what boring to you?  Take note of the contents of your spice rack and fresh herbs and step the flavor up a notch.
2. Plan out your meals for the next two weeks.  Since there are only 2 of us, most of the meals I make end up with leftovers, and quite a few of them.  So two weeks, ends up being more like a month’s worth of dinners, plus a few lunches in between. As you plan, consider items like soups, casserole-like dishes, lasagnes, and other choices that you will actually enjoy more than one time.  Based on the few items I already have, here is my menu:  Potato Lasagne,  French Onion Soup,  Rolled Pork Roast & Veggies,  Tomato Salsa CousCous Salad,  Loaded Baked Potatoes,  Crispy Chicken Tenders,  Homemade Pizza,  Chicken Taco Salad,  Annie’s Rice Salad,  Pork Calzones,  Crushed Pea & Bacon Risotto 
3. When choosing a menu, try to pick recipes that don’t have 16 different ingredients.  Elaborate recipes will only be difficult to prepare and utterly time consuming; two things that defeat the whole purpose of this article. Items like lasagnes that have many ingredients may actually work in your favor, giving you leftovers for more than just a day.  Great tip: Wrap your leftover lasagne individually and tightly and put in the freezer. Next time you’re in a pinch, defrost, remove the wrapping and pop directly in the oven until heated through. 
4. Don’t underestimate the power of a soup.  The Beef Tortilla Soup recipe I posted here is a great example of a hearty soup that will give you the nutrients you need plus be enough food to fill you up. A potentially lighter soup could be accompanied by a grilled piece of meat, or simply paired with a dish as your side option.  This is a great idea if you want to bring some of the soup to work with you for lunch the next day. 
5. Make your shopping list based on the menu you have put together.  This week, I am planning to make my French Onion soup. I already have stock, thyme, and bread so all I’ll need to get at the store are onions and swiss cheese.  Swiss tends to be an expensive cheese on the west coast, so maybe I’ll change up the recipe a bit and use the brie or Monterey jack cheese I already have.  I’ll need to buy some onions, which I’ll choose to get from Costco (or other bulk club) because a 20 pound bag costs $4.99 versus the 5 pound bag at the market that cost $3.99. Not exactly a good deal). Extra Dish Tip: I also already have some cream cheese and sour cream from my last supermarket trip. So I can make my homemade onion dip by sautéing some onions with thyme and blending with the cheese and cream. Voila, instant snack!
6. Figure out ways you can double up.  On my menu this week, I am going to make breaded chicken tenders and, later, a Taco Salad.  Since I’ll be making 4 breasts for the tenders, I’m almost certain that I’ll have at least one piece left over. Why not add that chicken to the taco salad, adding protein and fat to our diet in small, yet substantial quantity.  I’ll also be making a homemade pizza, which yields at least two full pizzas.  Since I’ll only need to make one pizza, the other half of the dough will make awesome calzones another night.  With the pork roast left over, plus a few slices of cheese, this meal didn’t cost us anything extra. 
7. Stick to your plan. As much as you love to get that fast food fix, do your best to stick to your cooking plan.  If you work late one night, you’ll be glad to have the leftovers ready (probably better the second time around anyway).  Every time you get the urge to buy out, take those $5 to $10 and put them in an envelope or jar.  See how much you have at the end of the month and celebrate with a much nicer, well deserved meal. 
8. Take your time while you shop.  The best part of saving is having an open mind when choosing brands and taking your time to pick from various items on sale. Every single item on my receipt is a sale item, from sponges to frozen peas. Even toothpaste, I’ve switched brands this time so that I could get one tube for $1. instead of $4.  Doing this allows me to spend $130 on food and other needs for the next 2-4 weeks. When you’ve become more financially stable, you can resume your brand loyalties and purchase with a little more freedom. 

Here is my market list:  onions,  potatoes,  peppers,  spinach,  green beans,  peas,  mixed greens,  canned tuna,  Italian sausage,  chopped meat,  chicken breast,  whole peeled tomatoes,  bacon,  apple juice,  milk,  orange juice,  panko crumbs,  swiss cheese,  cheddar cheese,  sourdough bread,  eggs,  bagels,  cereal,  toothpaste,  sponges,  toilet cleaner,  body soap

After a few impulse buys, like fruit, popcorn kernels, foil, and some extra bread, I spent $73.87 at the market and $58.03 at Costco for a total of $131.90.  That’s $32.98 per week and $4.71 per day! Having saved so much this month, we can make extra visits to the Oceanside farmers market or super market for our perishables, like fruits, vegetables and milk. Keep it to $10 or $15 more a week for those items and you’ll be set.  

Stay tuned for these recipes and more tips to come!

Stay positive and keep cooking!