It is time for another round of cheapskate lowcarb!

[mrsezova]

If you do find anything you love at the dollar stores, big lots. etc... buy em up. I learned they don't stay on the shelves very long and they don't usually have them again once they are gone. I learned this the hard way.

[joneswoman]

Today, I went back to the salvage store and the bars including Atkins advantag bars are only .05cents. cant you believe it.

[veronicac]

i bought a pancake mix 2for 1.00 taste nasty i guess you get what you pay for!

[3shewolf8]

I am so glad that I looked a this thread!! I am making the tuna muffins today!! And the meatball recipe in the crock pot is an awsome idea!! I love to make things on the weekends to use for work lunches all week. I make a bunch of meat and put it in those small bowls in single servings and also when I clean my romain lettuce, I bag that in single serving baggies for quick salads to grab for work. I am also going to buy the gallon jug of mayo today, I use a ton of it, and usually buy 2 jars a week, I don't know why I didn't think of the gallon size before!! I love buying beef ribs and using my rotiserri (I know wrong spelling) to cook them. It takes forever to eat them, so I get full off of about 4 ribs coverend in seasoned salt and real butter!! NO CARBS!!

[prickelypear]

good food and travel are priorities to me one of the ways I save money is to save it other places. I shop at thrift stores and yard sales then spend my money on good food and travel!

I love spending money on good food so I cut other things

[Krislee]

As far as cheap goes....egg salad is always good...wrapped in a big lettuce leaf...like alot of others I buy a turkey every once in a while...use it for a meal and the rest lasts me quite a while....I've done this with large roasts too...saurkraut is a real good idea, cooked on top of the stove with sausage or in a baking pan with pork sirloins (which are usually very cheap)...corn beef brisket with cabbage is kind of pricey, but you will have leftovers. I think preparing things you can use again the next day or two is the best way to save money. Another good thing to do with red cabbage is to fry up about 6 pieces of bacon then crumble it, put it back into the pan with about 1/4 amount of the bacon grease, chop up your cabbage and fry it....so so so good!.....stuff peppers with burger or sausage mixed with ricotta cheese, you don't need much cheese and ricotta cheese isn't that cheap.

[KatieM]

I look for pork on sale. I live in Texas and for some reason we can get pork on sale around here all the time really cheap... we are also in the town where a big chicken producer is, so we get really great deals on chicken. I buy in bulk when the prices hit a certain point.

I agree that the biggest freezer you can afford is a wonderful investment.

[dollie]

I think that is how you spell it

Might sound gross but here goes........


line a cassarole pan with cabbage cut into pieces place entire kielbasa on cabbage and cut 1/2 onion into pieces and top keilbasa. put about 5 tbsp water in pan . bake for 30 mins at 350....... yummmmmmmmmmm and cheap. watch your portions though, keilbalsa has a couple grams carbs per serving........

delish

[3shewolf8]

I just made low carb soup. It is cold up here in Michigan, and I love soup. I bought some stew beef (very, very cheap) browned it in olive oil. Added 1/2 head green cabbage, cooked down, then added 1 can of beef broth simmered until all was tender, added about 1/4 stick of real butter. Holy cow!!! It is wonderful!!! and Very low carb!

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by Beaglesaroo

I totally agree with this!

We just recently restocked on our spice cabinet.....got the regular McCormicks and the other "top" brands....then, while wandering through the store I noticed in the Mexican foods section the exact same spices, although the brand name and label was completely different. And the price difference was incredible too!

I've been using Mexican brands for things for years since living in sunny San Diego for a long time! Want a good cheap salsa? Herdez brand Salsa Casera is excellent! Spciy and lc. 1 carb for 2 TBSP. They now have the nutritional labels on the cans (didn't used to) so I was thrilled to know I wasn't cheating! They also have green (tomatillo) sauce and ranchero. But the casera is what I use with a lottle sour cream for dressing on my taco salads!

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by KatieM

I look for pork on sale. I live in Texas and for some reason we can get pork on sale around here all the time really cheap... we are also in the town where a big chicken producer is, so we get really great deals on chicken. I buy in bulk when the prices hit a certain point.

I agree that the biggest freezer you can afford is a wonderful investment.

Katie - where in East Texas? NEar Pilgrim's Pride plant, I guess, huh? I'm in the Tyler area! And I agree...pork butt roasts here are super cheap! I always have one or two of those in the freezer. Sometimes I slice them up and fry them as pork steaks - especially if you manage to get the boneless ones! Also good on the grill. I can usually get a good one for 99 cents a pound at Super One.

[MissBoop]

Dana Carpender's Heroin Wings (named that b/c they are SO addictive)

Ingredients
4 lb chicken wings
1/2 cup butter
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp dried parsley
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper

Directions
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the wings up into
"drummettes". (Freeze the pointy "tips" for soup -- they make great
broth!) Then combine the grated cheese and the seasonings. Line a shallow
baking pan with foil. (Do not omit this step, or you'll be
scrubbing the pan FOREVER!) Melt the butter in a shallow bowl
or pan.

Dip each "drummette" in butter, roll in the seasoned cheese, and arrange in
the foil lined pan. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees

[kaoszone]

If you've got a freezer, you can buy half a hog for about half the cost of beef. We have a friend who raises them and we end getting about 100 lbs of pork for about less than $100, all processed, packaged and frozen for us at the local butcher. Buying it this way means the butcher will package and cut it for you however you like, so we can get 6 porkchops to a package etc.
A thought...

[Nana Lee/MA]

Originally Posted by MissBoop

Dana Carpender's Heroin Wings (named that b/c they are SO addictive)`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
(Freeze the pointy "tips" for soup -- they make great
broth!) Then combine the grated cheese and the seasonings. Line a shallow
baking pan with foil. (Do not omit this step, or you'll be
scrubbing the pan FOREVER!) Melt the butter in a shallow bowl
or pan.

Dip each "drummette" in butter, roll in the seasoned cheese, and arrange in
the foil lined pan. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees

Per your comment on using foil to line pan. I was TIRED of having to do this, plus all the foil I was using. So, when I'm doing something messy like this I use disposable foil pans! Just this week they are on sale (BOGO ) at a local supermarket. I stock up on the sizes I know I'll use over the next few months. By the time I run out of pans, they're on sale again!
I like your idea of freezing the tips to add to my stock pot. Thank you.

Lee

[greenjewel]

I bought a lb of almond flour at Whole Foods for over TEN dollars. whew!
Then I went to my local Trader Joe's and they had it for only $4.29 a lb!

I bought two at TJ's and returned the overpriced one to Whole Foods.

That's cheap eats!

[LunaAshling]

Here is an old thread that got bumped in the Century Club....

Cheapskate Tips!

It's not all about food but a good read anyway!!!!

[Brie727]

Wow, a lot of you guys have great ideas... I was just gonna say that I eat Cool Whip right out of the tub (Not the whole thing!) for a snack if I'm craving something sweet...haha. Sorry? Oh and I live off salad topped with tuna fish and Carb Free Italian Dressing. I know, I'm boring....

[Yellobrix]

Having a big deep freeze the best friend of any family on a budget. One thing that I have learned is that aside from cost, having options on hand is an important part of sticking to the plan. Anyone can look up OAMC on the net and find basic hints on preparing large amounts of food to freeze for later. (OAMC = Once a Month Cooking) Basics = buy in bulk, fully or partially prepare. I buy meats in bulk. Prepare several meat loaves and freeze them in the shape of the container that I'll later use to cook them. Brown lots of ground beef and portion out for chili. Sautee chicken tenders in butter & natural soy sauce -- these are great to thaw later for chicken salad, or diced on a bed of spinach, or served hot w/veggies.

Shredded cheeses freeze well.

I also look for veggies on sale or in the clearance bin. Since I intend to dice & freeze things like red peppers so that I can later cook with them, the fact that they're at the end of the grocer's shelf life isn't material to me. Frozen veggies on sale are great, too -- my local grocery often has a "ten for $10" sale, so I really load up the freezer!

A word on eggs -- it's easy to rely on eggs because they're inexpensive & quick to prepare. But lots of eggs gets boring. I use them as a "secret ingredient" to pack in the protein & fat they provide without having the taste of eggs. For example:

place a bag of frozen spinach in a baking dish -- one layer then top with fresh grated parmesan. Add remainder of spinach + second topping of parm. Whisk together about 1/2 cup heavy cream, salt, and 3-4 eggs. Bake covered until egg mixure is set. Covering the dish lets the spinach steam and keeps the top from getting too brown. Sorry, I don't use a timer, so I can't say how long! But this was yummy & cheap!

[Jill-O]

I shop at BJ's club and stock up on the staples there. I rarely get out of there without spending $300 or so, but I have A LOT of food that lasts a long time when I leave. I by the Tyson's chicken mentioned here, Bubba burgers, cheese, Diamond Smoked almonds (YUM), eggs, heavy cream, canned tuna, etc., etc. I am such a "nester" that having a freezer full of food and a stocked cabinet just makes me feel at peace.

[nina_2021]

Hi all!
My tips are really simple. Buy in bulk! i am one person and I buy chicken, steaks, pork in large amounts-once every few weeks- and buy frezzer bags. I then put a serving in each bag and freeze. It also helps me control portions.

Also, since I dont have a superwalmart or any of the other discount places near me, I go to the grocery store (wegmans) and always check the freezer section for fish. The reality is that a lot of the fish sold is thawed out to look pretty in the window and is not all that fresh. So, I prefer to buy the kind that is frozen right after cleaning. Yesterday I bought individually packed salmon steaks for $4.49 a bag. Each bag has 8 steaks in it. since they are individually packed, its easy to defrost a little at a time and again control my portions.
For veggies, I head to the farmer's market and buy what is in season. Its fresh and it often cheaper than the grocery store.

Try breaking things up and putting them into freezer bags, you'll be surprised how little you waste and how much money you save.

[greenrn]

I watch the sale papers and then Walmart's will Ad Match all other sale papers in the area. Just be sure to take the sale flyer with you!

[LunaAshling]

Just wanted to remind everyone that June is almost here and many farmers markets and "U Pick Ems" are open or opening.

They can be a sourse of great deals!


And now is a good time for a garden... or at least a couple of pepper plants in a container!

[tfaith7]

I don't know if anyone has posted this tip yet but here it goes ...
We buy a cow. (Yep, we really do.)

This may sound a little weird but I grew up in the country so makes sense to me

My parents & I buy a cow once a year from a local family who raises them & have it *prepared* and then stick it in our deep freeze (they get half, we get half). Half a cow lasts my family of four about one year, though I have to admit the steaks get eaten pretty fast. It's not that expensive ... I think last year we paid about $320 USD??? Anyway, it's great meat, mostly grass-fed and no pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, etc. Good, cheap and healthy. If you live somewhat close to any rural area, check with the local 4-H and you may be able to find a supplier. We've been doing this for more than 10 years and the beef is fantastic!

[lmatkins]

I haven't seen Krogers or Giants do this, but Food Lions will often times drastically mark down their prices for chicken and steak right before the "sell by date". I've gotten 2 large ribeye steaks for 4 dollars! Chicken is super cheap too, normally a package of 3 chicken breasts is about 6 dollars, but I get it for $3.

You can freeze the chicken or steak if you buy it right before the sell by date and it will last for weeks. But what I usually do is just buy one or two packages, and then cook it immediately. It'll last a lot longer cooked in your fridge Plus it's nice because you've got food already made!

Also, chicken drum sticks are SUPER cheap, you can get a whole package of them for $1.50 regular price!!! I LOVE chicken drum sticks, and we can have them on atkins. I find they're much more tender!

You can make a low carb chilli - I remember somebody posted about it before on another thread - something like Texas style chilli which doesn't have the beans in it. It sounded wonderful! Chilli and all of those kinds of one pot dishses always go a LONG way and can last for days!

Fish is oftentimes relatively inexpensive, but I find that it doesn't fill me up or go as far as chicken or steak.

You could also make a large pot of soup - you can make a cream based soup or a chicken broth based soup. Just add chicken or crab or lobster or beef and add some of your favorite legal veggies

Omlets are SUPER cheap too - a 12 pack of eggs isn't more than $1.50. The cheese and whatever else you put on it won't add up to too much.

I'm a graduate student so I definately understand a budget. I get paid $1,000 a month on my GTA stipend, $500 of which goes to rent and utilities, and of course about $120 in gas, so you're not left with that much. I like to put as much as I can in savings at the end of the month so I try to stay under $200 for the month.

[Sadler_Girl]

Also when chicken thighs go on sale for 59-79 cents a pound , I buy them and debone them and use instead of the bonless breasts.
I buy soup stock in sted of stew meat it is rougher cut and needs alittle trimming , I save more than half doing the work myself. Plus I get all the cubes the size I want.
I can make soup or kebobs or simmer and shred and make bar be que beef.

[Nana Lee/MA]

Originally Posted by Sadler_Girl

Also when chicken thighs go on sale for 59-79 cents a pound , I buy them and debone them and use instead of the bonless breasts.
I buy soup stock in sted of stew meat it is rougher cut and needs alittle trimming , I save more than half doing the work myself. Plus I get all the cubes the size I want.
I can make soup or kebobs or simmer and shred and make bar be que beef.

I don't understand what this is: I buy soup stock in sted of stew meat it is rougher cut and needs alittle trimming ,

[Sadler_Girl]

Soup stock is more chunky instead of small even peices of stew meat. Sometimes the chunks in the pack are huge like a mini roast for a kids size.
Not all even and uniformed like stew meat. Plaus it is usualy a little more fatty so you may have to trim a little.

[dmac085]

Bulk meat shopping and my Foodsaver. I have the small one and it's the perfect size for one or two portions. It's great for resealing and getting the air out of bagged salad too.
I'm going to try the OMAC thing too. I procrastinate with packing lunches and having things ready to make dinner and that would definitely help.

[eshlemania]

I like to get small boneless pork shoulder roasts. Very yummy. I put it into the crockpot, knife holes in the roast and pour 1/3 C liquid smoke on holes and over roast. Cook on low till tender-8-12 hrs. Get it out and pull in apart. Eat as is, add low carb bar-b-q sauce or use meat for burritos or quiesedias (meat and cheese foldovers)> Very yummy. the meat costs about $1.60 a pound at Walmart.

Bev

[meowville]

[QUOTE=lmatkins]I haven't seen Krogers or Giants do this, but Food Lions will often times drastically mark down their prices for chicken and steak right before the "sell by date". I've gotten 2 large ribeye steaks for 4 dollars! Chicken is super cheap too, normally a package of 3 chicken breasts is about 6 dollars, but I get it for $3.

You can freeze the chicken or steak if you buy it right before the sell by date and it will last for weeks. But what I usually do is just buy one or two packages, and then cook it immediately. It'll last a lot longer cooked in your fridge Plus it's nice because you've got food already made!

i live in mn and my closest grocery store is a coburns, which overall tends to be one of the more expensive stores, however they have an awesome discount meat bin. i have gotten whole chickes for $ 0.29/lb, hamburger for $0.99/lb sometimes 75% lean, sometimes 80%, and rarely 90% lean in either 1 pound or 3 pound chubs, hot dogs for $0.50/a pack plus lots of other meats. the hamburger sometimes i freeze raw just as is or in meatloaf shape with the spices added. i also cook some up with garlic, onions and peppers to use as a start for spaghetti sauce, for pizza topping, for making tacos or sloppy joes. i do occasionaly get strange looks for buying 20-25 lbs of hamburger at a time, but oh well. my sister can't get as good of deals on meat as i do so i usually pick her up some as well as for dh and i.

i too am a bit of a nester. dh claims that i have a surplus at home that would rivel the local food bank-- not quite, but i too feel more comfortable just case being stocked up at home.