College eating on the cheap
My eldest step-daughter and her boyfriend are living pretty close to the bone financially while he finishes college. Unfortunately, they both have pretty expensive taste in food (apparently he ate nothing but chicken breast and steak growing up) and neither are overly adventurous. They are desperate to cut their food bill, but neither are experienced cooks. I have tons of "cheap" filling meals, but most are just a little too "different" for them. Any suggestions for someone with Cadillac tastes and a Fiesta budget?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
15 Comments:
Hi,
When you say they're desperate to cut their food bill, can you give us an idea of what they're currently cooking/how much they're spending each week?
I think the key for them is to find less expensive forms of protein and then stretch it by using inexpensive but healthy fillers.
For example, do they have access to a Costco, Trader Joes or similar store where they could buy bulk bags of frozen chicken breasts? Although they'll need more cash to buy these, they're usually cheaper than buying a package of 4 unfrozen breasts in the grocery store.
These frozen breast can then be used in a variety of dishes where chicken isn't the sole focus. For example:
* Salad with poached chicken breasts tossed in a light vinegarette, plus carrots, tomatoes and broccoli
* Chicken fried rice
* Pasta with chopped tomatoes and chicken
Or if they really want a chicken dish (which includes an actual breast on the plate), why don't they split a breast between the two of them, then fill up on buttered noodles and peas (a good source of protein).
Also, suggest that they buy whole chickens instead of chicken breast. I find that a whole chicken can easily stretch into 4 or 5 servings. One day they could each have roast chicken, then the leftovers (and bones) can be used to make chicken and rice soup or chicken salad.
If they love beef, what about suggesting that they make a beef stew? They can use less-expensive cuts of beef that will tenderize as it slowly cooks, and potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, etc., will help bulk up the meal.
Chili is another dish that can easily be stretched. They consider making a version that calls for beans and a lot of veggies (including tomatoes, onions and peppers), then instead of serving it straight, serve a smaller portion of chili over noodles or rice.
All of these are dishes that even inexperienced cooks can master. I'll be curious to see what suggestions others have to offer!
chgoeditor at 9:51AM on 08/19/08
One more suggestion:
Make sure they're fully utilizing all of the ingredients they purchase. I know how easy it is to stick leftovers in the fridge, then promptly forget about them, so they go to waste. Or, I'll use part of a vegetable in one dish then end up throwing away the other half because I don't have another way to use it.
chgoeditor at 9:53AM on 08/19/08
Being a professional student and a foodie can be pretty hard. It's important to really watch carefully for deals, particularly on beef. If you have the opportunity to visit the grocery store often, sometimes you can get beef on sale cause it is about to hit its date. If you are going to eat it for dinner that night its perfectly fine meat... just trust your basic instincts if you think it is rancid meat.
Also think of ways to stretch the meat into a balanced meal. The days where I eat a chunk of steak and potatoes are pretty limited. Instead take a piece of steak that probably wouldn't feed two people and make a beef stir-fry with lots of veggies. The main meats I usually eat, frozen chicken breasts and sausage (turkey or pork). I find that if you buy packs of 5 or 6 sausages, that can make about 3 meals for me and my roommate, and they freeze very easily. (I would normally use them in a pasta.)
As chgoeditor mention chili is a great dish for students, making a big batch could cost some, but it easily freezes and makes good leftovers. Also chili is a good way to use up things in the fridge, like the last 1/4" of ketchup, or salsa, or BBQ sauce... it saves you from wasting that stuff and makes each batch slightly different.
My philosophy is to focus on fresher foods, but tend to use pasta or rice to complete my meal because they are cheap and filling. In contrast my friends at a lot of tv dinners and cereals.
jlweber at 10:34AM on 08/19/08
Beans and grains = the cheapest foods. Flavor them with onions, peppers, herbs, etc. and they can provide many a satisfying meal.
KarynMC at 10:55AM on 08/19/08
I just picked up How to Cook Everything Vegetarian at the library and am loving it. I suggest getting them a copy - eating veg is cheaper. I'm not trying to tell you to get them to quit meat - I sure haven't - but cooking a few veg meals a week has helped me cut my food bill, and learning how to cook different vegetables well and different grains has helped me be a foodie while cutting my food budget drastically (~$200/month!, though that also includes being a little more careful about how I shop/cook as well).
Plus, even if they're still eating meat daily, it will help them to use cheaper ingredients (whole vegetables, bulk grains) to make foodie-pleasing meals. It's full of useful information about different foods (everything but meat) and a variety of techniques to help inexperienced cooks get their gears turning. It's not all exotic stuff either, it includes lots of basic recipes and will, for example, have a list of different ways to vary it for more flavor, etc.
I'm not in college any more (graduated spring '07), but I really wish I had started cooking like this sooner, and that someone had sent me this book as well :P Sorry to ramble, I just found this to be a REALLY good resource that is readable and easy to use.
joyyy at 11:27AM on 08/19/08
I'm in a similar situation, and I heartily agree with the stir-fry/pasta suggestions as a simple way to stretch more expensive cuts.
I would also suggest they look into chicken thighs. Even the boneless/skilness versions are much cheaper than breasts, and the meat is so much tastier. They are also available in large bags, individually frozen (and they can buy bags of either at regular grocery stores, of course; don't need a Sam's for that).
It's worth taking a little trouble to learn different cuts of beef, as well, especially if he is so accustomed to it. Depending on your area, skirt steak might be a cheaper option (not where I live). Chuck steaks and parts of the round might not be best for grilling, but are great for stir-fries. Flat iron steaks are delicious, very cheap, but do have that center gristle to cut around.
Another general suggestion is for them to learn interesting and delicious ways to prepare veggies like potatoes, greens, carrots, mushrooms. A tasty but simple potato side dish can go a long way to make a satisfying, budget-friendly meal with a smaller portion of meat. Ditto for side dishes such as rice (pilafs, risotto) and noodles.
Also, when we have really tight weeks, we do some kind of egg-based meal, which is always super cheap. A few eggs cooked to our liking (maybe poached, maybe scrambled) with toast, salad, or stirred into a frittata uses up leftovers and doesn't feel impoverished.
It's also important for us to keep something on hand--in the freezer, usually--that takes zero effort for those nights when cooking feels impossible and calling for delivery (always $20 or more) is so tempting. We are partial to our local grocer's store-brand frozen pizza, but it could be a bag of the Bertolli frozen pastas (which are quite tasty) or a tray of Stouffer's lasagne or mac and cheese. They might be a little pricier than starting from scratch, but as I mentioned, I compare them to the price of take-out, since that's how we use them, and try to keep it to no more than once a week. Also, the ones I listed all use pretty decent ingredients.
renzata at 11:48AM on 08/19/08
I dont know how much people spend on gorceries, but I dont think its that difficult to save on food. I dont eat out, and eat homemade food for lunch and dinner. I usually buy the sale items at the supermarket, and find that its perfectly fine, and goes a long way. I freeze almost everything. If i buy scallions and find that I cant finish them before they go bad, I just cut them up and put them in the freezer. I make a batch of chili and marinara sauce, and stick in the freezer. If I cant finish the rice I've made, I stick it in the freezer in individual containers and just defrost when ready to eat. Left over pita bread about to go stale? I make pita chips. But then again, I only have to worry about myself.
terabithia at 1:57PM on 08/19/08
If their Cadillac tastes extend to omelets, eggs are relatively inexpensive, and a little good cheese or ham makes them really special. Also quick if they are in a hurry to hit the books.
Blue Iris at 3:04PM on 08/19/08
Send them to NYU, because apparently (according to the U's financial rep) NYU students, on the average, only spend $1000 annually on all things outside of tuition, books, and fees.
JacquelineS at 3:08PM on 08/19/08
I was a full time student for awhile, after doing both a Bachelors and Masters degree in one long stretch. It is during these years that I developed a passion for cooking and baking; I learnt how to cook for myself and how to budget for my grocery's. I dont think one needs to resort to eating frozen food and cheap meat. In this case if there are only 2 adults then a budget of $60 will be enough. They will need to stop eating so much red meat - too much is bad for you anyway. Use turkey mince instead of ground beef. Any leftovers can be frozen.
bircham at 7:11PM on 08/19/08
As an ex-professional starving student (13 years of university...) here are my 2 cents:
To really save money:
Eat vegetarian most/all of the time at home
Eat meat (if you want) at other people's houses and at restaurants (for some weird reason veggie entrees are not cheaper there...)
Shop according to the fliers and buy pantry items on sale
Buy no-name or store brands exclusively
Eat fruits and veggies in season
Make large batches of soup/chili/curries/pasta sauces and freeze in portions
Freeze everything freezeable so that there is no waste (incl. milk, bread, pitas etc...)
If you have a friend with a car go with them grocery shopping in a larger supermarket (the small places in student areas are more expensive)
Entertain pot-luck style
Bring your own tea bags everywhere you go - I calculated that this last tip saved me about 300$ a year for over 10 years - 3000$ saved on tea alone!
(Only a small dent in my student loans....)
Good luck!
PeanutButter at 7:14PM on 08/19/08
Everyone has given a lot of good tips! I will second the meat is expensive and that grains are cheap. In addition, eating seasonally should reduce their produce bill. Dinner is fairly easy to cook cheaply, but the leakage comes when you need a snack. It's very easy to be on campus running between classes and you grab a coffee and a scone or a bag of chips. By bringing a lunch and some nuts and fruit, I saved a lot of money. I also make granola and then sneak into the coffee shop and use their milk for my early classes.
blankplate at 7:38PM on 08/19/08
I would suggest that as a gift from either you or the BF's parents, that someone buy these two a Costco or Sam's Club membership. Not sure what part of the country you are in, but GFS Marketplace also has great prices with NO membership fee.
thewrighttaste at 1:56AM on 08/20/08
Chili has saved my budget -- it has mostly beans, but adding beef and a tiny bit of cheese makes it pretty tasty. My BF and I have stretched it even further by serving it in bread bowls. . .
Other than that, I suggest stir fry, which can be made any number of interesting ways.
I've also had luck putting expensive items on my "splurge list," and allowing myself only one or two "splurges" per week.
Skythe at 2:56PM on 08/20/08
Yeah I would investi in Costco or otherwise. Are they 21? happy hours at bars have real good deals, here in Seattle Schmick and McKormicks has this deal that at happy hour you get a 1/2lb steak cheeseburger with all the trimmings and fries for $1.95 (booze not required) but you have to be 21. That is only the tip of the iceberg what is on that happy hour menu for $1.95. Tell them to keep eyes open on weekly sales at various supermarkets. But if they add things such as rice, pastas, ramen or made stews they can stretch it alot further.
pjracz10 at 8:15AM on 08/23/08