This is going to feed a family of 5 for 1 week living in an extended stay motel. I had to buy more processed foods than I usually like because I only have access to a microwave and a 2 burner stove top. What can I do better or is this as good as I can do? Houston Texas
by poechris
6 Comments
If you have spare time and a tight budget, you can save money buying veggies that are not prepped in bag and prep them yourself. I also tend to shy away from frozen prepared foods, as those have shot up on price recently. Finally, if you’re willing to bake your own desserts, you’ll save a bundle. Flour and sugar are pretty cheap!
Oh, and buy the big bags of rice!
Edit: sorry, I missed your description!! You did well under the circumstances
I would shred or chop my own cheese from blocks.
They stay good for longer, taste better and are not longer with wood pulp so you get more product.
Good luck.
Oh the explanation fits. I usually get on to people for buying prepreped salad kits, but for your situation it makes sense.
If you will be at the motel for a month or longer I would pick up a crockpot from Walmart for under $30 usually. They are versatile and can reduce your grocery bill by at least $20 a week depending on how often used.
Potatoes and corn both can be cooked quite well in the microwave–might be an easy way to have baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, and corn on the cob, which are all pretty filling but cheap meals.
We are living on the road and are constantly in and out of airbnbs and hotels. We recently bought a $10 waffle maker at Walmart. Once every week or two we make a big batch of waffles and put them in the fridge. Pancake mix is pretty cheap. So for about $2 we can make a 2 gallon ziploc FULL of waffles. Pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds and you have an easy and cheap breakfast. It’s so much cheaper then buying the frozen ones. I like to wrap them with Sausage links, or with fruit and nuts/nut butter on the side. Recently put applesauce and cinnamon in the batter for a little extra flavour, they were so good and didn’t need syrup. No other advice – other then I feel your pain.