Just realized I spent $87 on ingredients for one meal that was supposed to be budget friendly

2 comments

2 Comments

Oh I feel this in my soul, I've definitely been there with a "simple" recipe that somehow needed saffron and three kinds of fancy cheese. Next time try planning a meal around what's already in your pantry and just picking one or two fresh ingredients, it saves so much money.

jade22619d ago

That $87 stings so bad, I remember making a "cheap" lentil soup once that somehow cost me $45 because I had to buy a whole jar of some obscure spice (just for one teaspoon) and fancy stock. The saffron comment above is so real, those tiny little packets are like gold dust but they're not actually gold, you know? It's so easy to get sucked into thinking you need every single listed ingredient when half the time you can just leave stuff out or swap it. Last week I subbed in regular paprika for smoked paprika and nobody died, honestly the meal was fine. The pantry-first approach really is the only way I keep my grocery bill under control now.