When it come to living on a budget, one of the biggest expense can be groceries. It doesn’t matter how frugal you try to be with your grocery shopping, it can still get expensive. And it can happen really fast.
The best way to combat an expensive grocery shop is to be prepared before you get to the store. All while buying the budget friendly items that can be used for multiple meals.
It doesn’t matter if you have the space or affordability to create a stockpile. Or if you are simply shopping from pay check to pay check. There are some staples that are great to keep on hand that can help make yummy meals while not taking all your money out of your budget.
I have found that there are some great and affordable go to pantry items that have multiple uses and have become a regular purchase in my grocery shop. The best news is they don’t break the budget. And the even better news, you won’t have to live on beans and rice, as they say, if you are a very tight budget.
Here are 10 budget friendly staple that you should start including and maybe even stockpile of you have the ability to.
Pantry Items
Pasta
Let’s start with one of the one that you most likely guessed would be on this list. Pasta is such a budget friendly item that can fill tummies easily. With pasta costing as little as under a $1 for a bag, it has to be one of the best go to staple to buy. It can be used all year round for both hot and cold meals.
Ways to Use Pasta
- Spagehitti
- Pasta Salads
- Soups
- Chicken Pasta
- Tuna Mornay
Pasta Sauce
Whether a tin or a jar of pasta sauce or pasta bake. This is another budget friendly staple that always seems to be on my list. If I am buying pasta than, you can rest assured that some sort of pasta sauce will be on my list as well. But I don’t always use it with pasta.
Ways To Use Pasta Sauce
- Spagehitti
- Ravioli
- Pizza
- Chicken Pamaigian
- Pasta Bakes
- Dips
- Soups
Rice
Of course rice was going to be on this list. It is such a budget friendly item that can fill up those tummies. But when I tell people about rice they think it is just a side and boring. It is only as boring as you make it. You just need to get a little creative.
Ways to Use Rice
- Stir fries
- Fried Rice
- Soups
- Rissottos
- Casseroles
- Dessets
Lentils/Chickpeas/Bean
I have put these three together because I buy them together. Whether they are in tins or in packets these three are still budget friend. I love using them to bulk up my meals to make things go further. They are filling and healthy, so that is a win win for your budget.
Ways to Use Lentile/Chickpeas/Bean
- Tacos/Burritos/Enchiladas
- Salads
- Soups
- Stews
- Stir Fries
- Chilli
Tomatoes And Tomato Pasta
I always grew up seeing a tin of tomatoes or tomato pasta being in the home. It hasn’t been until now, when I am trying to be more budget friendly and live frugally, that I finally understand why. Tin tomato and tomato pasta have so many uses and should always be keep on hand.
Ways to use tinned tomatoes and tomato pasta
- Taco Sause
- Pasta dishes
- Pizza Bases
- Chilli
- Homemade tomato soups
Tinned Vegetable
I used to avoid tinned vegetable, but since having to work to a tight budget I have discovered the value of having tinned vegetable in the pantry. Even if it is a small stockpile on a week where thing are tighter then usual. They are great by themselves or can be added to recipes. Bulking up meals or adding to them.
Ways to Use Tinned Vegetable
- Cassrole
- Stews
- Salads
- Soups
- Chilli
- Pasta dishes
Stocks
Having Stock cubes or power in my pantry is a must. They help build soups and stews by adding flavour and liquid. In the colder months stock is a pantry item that is always looked for in our cooking. Just try and find the best value for money.
Ways to use stock
- Soups
- Stews
- Casseroles
- Meat Dishes
Cream Of Chicken Soup
Cream of chicken soup is fast becoming my secret weapon in the kitchen. Whether in a tin or in a packet. Cream of chicken soup can have multiple uses in recipes. It is budget friendly purchase for any pantry, with a long shelf life.
Ways To Use Cream Of Chicken Soup
- Chicken Pie
- Shepards Pie
- Pasta Bakes
- Beef Stroganoff
- Soup Bases
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter or a nut replacement butter, for those with alleges, is something I keep in my pantry. Not just for sandwiches either, which my children love. But it is also great for making snacks food that kids will love.
Ways to Use Peanut Butter
- Sandwiches
- Dips
- Protein balls
- Museli Bars
- Muffins
- Snack Bars
Muesli and Oats
Not only are muesli and oats great for a healthy and filling breakfast. They can also be used in a lot of baking and snack foods. This help keep tummies full and kids eating healthy when they are hungry. I used these in lots of my homemade snack food since buying packet snacks just wasn’t as cost effective for our budget.
Ways To Muesli and Oats
- Breakfast
- Muffins
- Protein Balls
- Snack Bars
- Banana Breads
- Pancakes
- Overnight Oats Breakfast Jars
When you are one a budget, it doesn’t mean that you have to live on the same boring food all the time. It just mean that you have to broaden your recipe book and find great, cost effective meals that taste good. Having a stocked pantry with budget friendly items is a big must. It doesn’t have to be stockpiled, some budgets don’t have room to be able to stockpile. Like mine, but I do try and keep a range of pantry items on hand to make meal taste great but go further as well.
Here is the quick recap:
- Pasta
- Pasta Sauce
- Rice
- Lentils/Chickpeas/Beans
- Tinned Tomatoes/Tomato Paste
- Tinned Vegetables
- Stocks
- Cream of Chicken Soup
- Peanut Butter
- Muesli/Oats
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