Not long ago I read an article on cracked with a similar title. It had suggestions like fry your biscuits for doughnuts and freeze your skittles, but I've been short on cash before and you aren't buying skittles if you are truly broke. Here I have the real scoop on how to use what you have in the kitchen when you can't afford to make a run to the store.
1. Ramen noodle delight...
For about a dollar and a half you can buy 14 packs of ramen noodles, which is an entire weeks worth of food. After they come to a boil and are ready, drain the water..add in a can of mixed veggies at about 60 cents a can, and stir in the flavor packet...instant Chinese! You can also buy a pound of hamburger meat and add in a meat ball or two to your dinner. On pound makes about 10 small meatballs and costs about 2.50. This will get you an entire week of meals for about 13 bucks. Now if that isn't a hack I don't know one! I lived off this meal for about a year with different variations like...beans or maybe a can of tuna or even different sauces.
2. Cheap and I mean cheap bread...
You can go to the dollar tree and get corn meal for a dollar and instant pancake mix for a dollar. Use the pancake mix for flour and you don't need the other ingredients! With the amount you get at the dollar tree you can make about 3 pans..which is a ton of bread. It's great for breakfast with a bit of syrup.
3. Interchangeable ingredients...
Milk, mayo, sour cream, water, heavy cream, butter
If you need one of these ingredients you can usually interchange them or mix them together to get what you need. It all depends on what you're making but I would often add a teaspoon of mayo to Mac and cheese because that was all I had. It actually tasted better! Same for potatoes! Make what you have work..if you are substituting water for milk be sure and add some dairy product or mayo to give weight and texture is the main thing.
4. Sometimes McDonald's is cheaper.....
Seriously it's a buck for a burger. Buying the ingredients costs more.
5. Italian.....
Spaghetti is one of the cheapest dishes you can make and it can feed you for a week off of one pot!
One can of sauce is a dollar
Two boxes of noodles 2 bucks
you can go cheaper and take tomato paste (35cents a can) and add water, but I do not recommend it.
Annndddd...you just ate for a week!
6 Tea.....
The cheapest beverage besides tap water. A gallon costs pennies and if you leave out sugar (waste of money!) it is actually good for you.
7. Soup...
2 onions diced, chopped...whatever
boil them in water and add in canned veggies
a huge pot of this is about 5 bucks and will last about 3 days.
So that is pretty much what I lived on when I was out of work and on average I spent about 15 bucks a week on food. I did gain weight though, eating carbs day in and day out isn't healthy. I don't think my body has recovered two years later, but you can eat and eat well if you know a few...hacks. :) I may add more later, I've forgotten a few of my hacks lately because lucky for me i don't have to eat off of 15 dollars a week anymore but if i had to, I know the tricks.
