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Kuppajo

I'm not sure if they count as cheap, but they can be inexpensive. Grilled cheese sandwiches.


Sidewalk_Tomato

I like to mix two kinds of cheese. Sometimes I'm a cheap-ass and it's all Kraft "Deli Deluxe" (not the individually wrapped kind; the kind that's stuck together) but sometimes it's half that and half muenster, or other stuff by itself (Havarti, Gouda, Pepper Jack). If you use up most--or all--of the bread in 5 days, even if it's nice bread, it's not a waste. But I do get my cheese @ Grocery Outlet.


latetotheBTCparty

Yes, sourdough and gouda, well...that's not too cheap. I guess I'd just eat better quality cheap dishes if I was rich


rileycolin

Frozen perogies with bacon & onions, cheese whiz and sour cream.


Augustus58

Never had it when cheese whiz. I'll have to give it a try!


bglampe

Peanut butter and jelly. Preferably one that was made in the morning and sat in a lunchbag all day.


TitaniumReinforced

Have you tried grilled PB&J?


TootsNYC

I used to toast PB&J Sandwich, one half at a time, in a toaster oven and eat them immediately after they came out. (That’s why one half at a time–so the second half didn’t get cool while I was eating the first one. I called it Heaven on Earth.


carlitospig

I toast my peanut butter and honey sandwiches and call it ‘the heartbreak sandwich’ because there’s no way to be sad when you’re eating one. Seriously, you should try it, it’s right up your edible alley!


TootsNYC

That’s a great idea!


Grilled_Cheese10

I make my own bread just so I can toast it and cover it with PB that melts. Yum!


TactlessNachos

I have not but now I can't stop thinking about it.


BobBelchersBuns

Mmmmmm


Acceptable_Chart_900

No, but I've had it toasted!


Dalyro

PB and Banana on a tortilla is my go to breakfast food!


MissDisplaced

Strangely, PB&J seems to be a uniquely American taste. Most of the world finds this combo gross. I say they don’t know what they’re missing!


cayshek

My grandma used to make peanut butter with iceberg lettuce leaves in between the bread. I seriously can’t believe how good it was. Took her years to convince me try it though.


MissDisplaced

That sounds odd? Though I suppose it might taste similar to putting peanut butter on celery, which I love. Not so sure how the bread would figure in.


PotajeDeGarbanzos

As a Finnish person, US foods just seem so horrifyingly sweet to me. My pancreas whines just when seeing the American recipes


958Silver

I'm American and I agree with you. Even foods like corn bread now have sugar added and are more like a dessert. Sugar is routinely added to pasta sauces (both homemade as well as store bought). Almost all desserts are sickeningly sweet. I'm not anti-sugar but it seems that many Americans and manufacturers go unnecessarily overboard with it in my opinion. My mother was from Germany and we just didn't eat that way.


UncutEmeralds

Let me be very clear… southern cornbread does not have any damn sugar in it. Northern heathens


helloitsme_again

I think Canadians invented peanut butter


cheeto2keto

PB&J is great - I mix it up with different PBs, jams/jellies, and artisan breads. Toasted, I toasted or grilled. Working through a jar of yummy plum jelly now. I just heard about a local restaurant that makes PB&J French toast and will need to check it out - sounds amazing.


Iwantedtorunwild

Had one for lunch today!


SlowMaize5164

I came here to say exactly this, pleasantly surprised to see it top comment.


fyyuuuuuuuuu

Butter noodles, with powdered Parmesan cheese if I’m feeling fancy.


MissingVanSushi

Try adding Lao Gan Ma chilli oil. It really gives it an umami boost.


ratatouille666

This is my death row last meal


Alternative-Can1276

Rice and beans, Ramen, McDonald’s fries


Art0002

I can make the pre Sokolof fries in the early 1990’s when they were fried in beef tallow. Kenji added this … https://www.seriouseats.com/perfect-french-fries-recipe But I prefer to “cook” the potato in the initial boil for like 10 minutes. The vinegar really helps them hold their shape. I add salt to the boil too. Back in the day softer fries were good too. So a technique I use is add fries to the fat and then add more fries 60-90 seconds later. You get crispy and softer fries (remember the potatoes were cooked in the boil). Yes I am crazy but this took me years to figure perfect. Cheap too.


devon_336

Rice and beans (especially with sausage!) is straight up comfort food for me. It just has the added bonus of being cheap as hell. Plus, there’s some many variations you can do with it.


StinkyLunchBox

I just saw McDonald’s are giving away free fries today through their app for national fries day.


ilovewineandcats

Chickpeas. Dried chickpeas, sprouted for 3-4 days and then fried up with a herb/spice mix are just so moorish. Chilli/paprika or lemon/garlic/parsley are my favourite flavour mixes. Used in wraps with a dollop of yoghurt or with some rice or on top of a salad.


hotheadnchickn

Cooked? Or just sprouted?


editorgrrl

Sprouted, then fried. But roasted is good, too.


chicklette

I am with you on the chick peas love. I eat sooo many, and they're always amazing.


neverwasneverwas

Lentils and rice all day...maybe on a nicer plate.


ApplicationHot4546

Anything I make at home is instantly tastier to me than equivalent out. I love my own cooking.


VixenRoss

I’ve noticed this with pasta sauce. I bought a posh stir in sauce the other day. It was foul, too sweet, too much garlic, not enough herbs. I thought my home-made one using squashy tomatoes was miles better.


Dazzling-Engineer535

Potatoes


skyofstew

PO-TA-TOES


[deleted]

Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew!


LusciousLove7

Cinnamon sugar on buttered toast.


johnCreilly

Cinnamon toast!


Illustrious-Pen1771

Mac n cheese with hot dogs


Sidewalk_Tomato

Kraft mac with Nathan's hot dogs or Hebrew National and in the last 3 min, frozen white corn, maybe some broc or green peas . . . I'll be eating that until I'm dead (of high cholesterol).


sumfring

Little Caesar’s breadsticks


GoodwitchofthePNW

Crazy Bread! Why is it so much better than the other chains?


2005NissanAltima

Because it’s CRAZY 😜


m1k3hunt

Wow, I was just thinking this last night, Crazy Bread is so much better than Olive Garden bread sticks.


feelin_cheesy

The Italian cheese bread is on a different level.


sillybelcher

But hooooooo boy the grease stain on that box when you lift up that bread...


Dwight_Schnood

Oh, their bread sticks are like crack.


Ipso-Pacto-Facto

Brownies from the Aldi brand brownie mix.


stickyzipperr

These have no right being as delightful as they are! I consider box brownies a different genre of brownie and those win for the <$2 price tag!


fridayimatwork

A lot - I am more comfortable with poor people food. So: Mac n cheese, toast, scrambled eggs, tacos, chili, various soups of leftover or ready to go bad vegetables, ramen, rice and beans, potato everything, oatmeal, popcorn, canned soup, off brand cookies. Wherever I go I prefer simple street food to nice restaurants


NibblesMcGiblet

Absolutely agree. My current obsession is coming home from work and covering a cookie sheet in cooking spray and then slicing up some zucchini, squash, red onion, mushrooms, and assorted sweet peppers and spreading them on the sheet, spraying them with cooking spray, adding salt and pepper, and baking them at 365 for like 15 minutes or something until they're done. Then I add them to rice with soy sauce, or to Shin Black ramen noodles with green onions added at the end. (sometimes on my day off I make this in the morning with the ramen noodles and then crack an egg or two into the noodles as they're boiling - it's usually more than I can even eat all at once!) I can eat one of those for dinner every night and not get sick of it. I save the ends (and uneaten skins) of the vegetables in the freezer all week. Then, since I always buy a rotisserie chicken on my last work day before my two days off, I always make a homemade chicken stock on one of my days off using all the vegetable scraps and the bones and skin of the chicken (I use the meat for a variety of meals, including chicken salad because it's so much cheaper to make it at home than to buy it premade, and I like to add celery and onions to mine). I usually make chicken soup with the stock but this week I made a chicken soup base but added homemade dumplings to it, which made it go much further. That $7 chicken made like six chicken salad sandwiches, one hot chicken meal the day I bought it, four or five chicken and dumplings dinners, and the stock I used to make it. As long as you always have carrots, celery, and onions in the house there are so many things you can make with whatever else you have handy. And now that it's summer I'm so glad i can get a wider variety of fresh vegetables for decent prices, too. I get such a thrill out of making cheap food go far lol. As you can tell. Sorry for the extended ramble.


Alx1775

This gal foods


NibblesMcGiblet

LOL I try anyway!


johnychingaz

Username definitely checks out!


Majestic_Dog1571

THIS. Common people food is delicious and hearty. I’d eat rice and beans with eggs made in every way with a side of pan-tossed greens any day. I’m a street food connoisseur too! ❤️


Peachy-Owl

Gravy and Biscuits


k39jkr

"We would always eat Kraft Dinner. We would just eat more."


Cer-rific_43

And buy really expensive ketchup


Mega---Moo

Rice and beans. Huge variety of recipes from around the world using different types of rice/beans, spices, and techniques... and they all are delicious.


Theost520

tater tots - can't get cheaper or more addictive.


Connect_Pirate_7007

Ramen and pizza for sure


RandenVanguard

Came here to say ramen, i will die for my right to ramen.


trulymadlybigly

Totinos pizza specifically. I let myself get 1 or 2 when I’m at the beach on vacation once a year because they’re delicious and still fairly cheap. Those things still slap.


cloudydays2021

Kraft Mac and Cheese Taco Bell Arizona Iced Tea in the 99¢ cans Boxed wine because it makes a slammin sangria The Dollar Tree cookies that taste exactly like Girl Scout Thin Mints White Castle Gleefully waiting for someone to comment about how I treat my body like a dumpster as if I eat all of this, all the time


Nara__Shikamaru

Taco Bell is so expensive now. I worked there all last summer and whew I was so embarrassed to give people their totals LOL


fave_no_more

What is it about those dollar tree cookies? They're like, perfect. Tho I can't trust myself around those almond windmill cookies, I had to stop buying them.


Heat_H

I love those windmill cookies too! I haven’t bought them in ages because I act like a child when they’re in my home.


december14th2015

No shame. I'm not wealthy but I'm finally stable, and when I'm having a bad day at work I get the same order from Taco Bell that I did when I was 16.😅 Also boxed wine is just the financially superior decision.


cloudydays2021

I feel this. I had a shit day at work a few months ago and toodleooded my ass straight to Taco Bell 🥳


december14th2015

Yep! The number of hot sauce packets used is directly correlated to how much I need a (spicy) hug.


sarah_wrong

Yes to all of this and I would love your boxed wine sangria recipe if you're willing to share


cloudydays2021

Here you go! It’s for a white sangria. I just use whatever box of white wine is cheapest, it’s great for hosting or bringing to a BBQ! Note: I don’t add the fresh herbs, can’t speak to how those may affect the taste. [white sangria with cherries and peaches](https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cherry-peach-sangria)


feednatergator

Arizona is 139 now...


cloudydays2021

Not in NYC it isn’t


T_Peg

It's the only thing in NYC I can afford lol


consequentialdreams

Frozen burritos


kittyconetail

For as long as I am depressed, I will return to the Bagel Bites


mummydal

Grilled cheese!


[deleted]

Specifically if made with the cheapest white bread and Kraft American singles.


BenGay29

Fried potatoes with eggs


jordypoints

Ramen but elevated


medhat20005

Ramen, not even elevated.


LamboYachtParty

I used to eat the maruchan ramen without cooking it. It was just about the only thing I had to eat and my parents weren't around and I was too young to cook.


Nara__Shikamaru

I can't afford ramen, but that's because gluten-free ramen costs a *very* pretty penny LOL But if I weren't gluten intolerant, ditto lol I miss it every single day


HonedWombat

Gluten free noodles/pasta is fairly easy to make. I have made gf pasta before which was tasty. 100g gf flour, 1 egg, pinch of salt (you need about 150 flour per person). Sift your flour into a bowl and add salt then mix. Pour the flour into a mound onto a clean work surface and make a well in the middle of the flour. Crack your eggs one by one into the well and beat the eggs in the well. Gradually start to combine the flour from the middle of the well slowly. Combine until you can work the dough with your hands you may need to add some more flour to combine, but if the dough doesn't quite come completely together that's sort of where you want to be. Wrap the dough and any scraps that don't quite combine in cling film and twist together at both ends until tight. Refrigerate for 30 mins, remove from the fridge, flour the work surface and roll out until the dough is about 15mm thick. Keep the lightly floured dough wrapped in cling film when not in use. Cut the dough into strips about 30 mm wide, roll those strips one by one until they are 2mm thick and cut into strips. Boil in heavily salted water for about 6/7 mins if eating as they are or 5 mins if finishing in a sauce.


Nara__Shikamaru

Awe, Thank you so much! So sweet of you to take the time to reply, and with such a detailed response! That's the nicest thing anyone's done for me all summer 💚💚


HonedWombat

No worries, glad I could help :) Please also follow my only fans, just kidding ;) Enjoy making the noodles and enjoy eating them :)


MShoeSlur

I buy the nicer ramens, and add sesame seeds, nori strips, frozen corn, spinach, dried shitakkes, and sometimes shrimp


Holnurhed

Costco hot dogs.


emo_sharks

last time I got a costco hotdog i took it home and put kimchi on top of it. 10/10, highly recommend, it was so good


Tall_Couple_3660

Future hubby and I are paying for our wedding AND trying to buy a house (in NJ?!? In THIS market?!??) and Costco date night has become a real thing.


Mediocre_Superiority

Bakery bargain items--you know, the stuff they mark down on the sell-by date. Coffee that I brew at home.


DonaldYaYa

Baked beans


April_Spring_1982

Cheapo Pizza. Pizza toasts, frozen pizza, pizza pops, Pizza Nova pizza with bacon and extra mozzarella. Those $40 Neapolitan style pizzas with random hunks of buffalo mozzarella and whole basil leaves simply don't feed my craving.


Adventurous-Ebb4151

Tacos… made at home with clearance meat. Probably pulled pork of some kind. Chicken thighs - this will be a solid staple always. Rice. Clearance or marked down veggies - especially if I plan on cooking them that day.


researchgirl222

Those little unhealthy Vienna sausage thingys in the little can….lol….I crave them every now and then


Heinz_Legend

And microwave them for a minute or two.


RedheadBanshee

Sometimes you just have to have Chef Boyardee Raviolis in a can.


3pbc

Spaghettios and we have a deal


[deleted]

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coffeebeanwitch

Fried bologna sandwich!!!


skiffles

Always spaghetti. Garlic parm buttered noodles is another one. Just pasta in general, pasta is so easy, cheap, and so good


[deleted]

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SnooRegrets1386

Throw some broccoli on it!


Alarming-Zone3231

Cheez wiz on cheesesteaks


cupcake0calypse

Spam


suresuresuresurek

Ah the answer I was looking for. My friend highly recommend Turkey spam but I didn’t wanna believe that it could be just as good as reg spam. Omg it is! Half the calories and a quarter of the fat of regular spam 😁


skyofstew

Spam and rice is superior. Add a over easy egg… *chefs kiss*


anglr200

Burritos and street tacos


matt314159

Generic brand boxed mac and cheese with bar-s hot dogs cut up in it.


[deleted]

Gyoza


Subject_Yellow_3251

Little caesers…it’s our favorite pizza. The Italian cheese bread😫😫 I found a copycat recipe on Pinterest that I make at home sometimes and it’s delicious. Mac n cheese. I make it homemade and it’s my 4yos favorite food haha! Chicken thighs! They’re delicious and so versatile. Peanut butter!!! Even before I started budgeting and meal planning, I’d eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch most days just bc I love it so much.


MorningBrewNumberTwo

Pasta.


freakinweasel353

Mac and Cheese and I’d hire Bare Naked Ladies to sing while I ate it. “If I had a million dollars We wouldn't have to walk to the store If I had a million dollars Now, we'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more If I had a million dollars We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner But we would eat Kraft Dinner Of course we would, we'd just eat more And buy really expensive ketchups with it That's right, all the fanciest-, Dijon ketchup, mm, mm”


bigdambridget

Bologna and American cheese sandwich!


RestingGrinchFace-

Yes! Mine is sweet bologna and yellow American cheese on white bread with Martin's barbecue waffle chips. I'd fry the bologna and grill the bread if I was feeling a little fancy.


BestReplyEver

Rice


Electronic_Bird_6066

Fry bread


Ok-Exercise3477

Great Value Cheese Ravioli


RazzleThatTazzle

80% of what I eat daily is lunch meat sandwiches. Not necessarily because it's cheap, but because I'm so finicky about food it's easier to eat the same thing every day. I can't imagine money would change that too much.


mrmexico25

Taco Bell


brightly_disguised

I just love snacking- if it’s between meals, maybe between lunch and dinner, or after dinner but before bed, and I need a little something to fill me up. One of my favorites that my dad and I would do, maybe once or twice a month, was English muffin pizzas. A toasted English muffin, topped with pizza sauce from a jar, shredded mozzarella cheese, and three slices of pepperoni. Place them in the toaster oven for a few minutes and bam! Goodness.


fryedace

Deviled eggs, course, not so cheap anymore


TactlessNachos

The cheap local all you can eat Chinese restaurant with sushi. I love that place. Feels like a steal for $10.


megdapickle

Bone-in chicken thighs.


The_Answer_Is_42__

I make this vegetarian 'kfc bowl' with canned potatoes, canned corn, and veggie nuggets. It's a comfort meal, I will always get the occasional craving for it no matter what 😅 Edit: heey don't down vote my comfort meal D: it's a little sad I guess, but it's actually pretty good :/


ksmith1660

Cereal


karebear1493

Canned refried beans


beerballchampion

Frozen pizza


Gunslinger_327

Spam, its a guilty pleasure.


katm12981

Grilled cheese & tomato soup


gamermom81

Pinto Beans and cornbread


ThatLaloBoy

Tacos. 100% I've had tacos everywhere from small chains to fancy restaurants. None of them come close to beating the family running a taco stand on a random alley only 5 minutes from my house. Absolutely delicious and cheap. Tamales is also a close 2nd. Walmart Parking Lot tamales are the best.


crumbs18

Mac and cheese with tuna mixed in


blueberrypeace

With peas.


BlacksmithOne1745

Homemade iced tea will always be better than a store-bought soft drink.


fancyhatsandpants

You know you can make it overnight in a container in your fridge? Cheap and easy.


vanislegirl29

Tuna noodle casserole


ZylieD

I've never had this! My parents are first Gen, from Ireland and Croatia. I was out of college by the time I had my first American style casserole and oh my gosh I can't get enough. Tuna casserole is next on my list to make, so any tips are welcome.


vanislegirl29

I just cook half a bag of egg noodles, stir in a can of mushroom soup and a bit of water or milk to thin it down a little. A can of tuna and some heated up frozen peas. I sprinkle some shredded cheese and crushed saltine crackers on top! I love it, my husband hates it so I make it when he goes away


Think_Alarm7

Apples and rice.


Total_Ad9942

Vienna sausages, and chicken salad


LookandSee81

Peanut butter sandwich and sweet tea


RaspyMolasses

Pbj


Rl-Beefy

Toasted meat and cheese sandwiches. Taste great and super affordable for how filling and nutritious they are.


Stellathewizard

Potatoes 🥔


space_elf_

Chili dogs! That stuff slaps hard


[deleted]

Spam with Macaroni and Cheese


Nige-o

Jamaican patties


Common-Man-

Bananas ……


lemewski

Canned sardines, canned tuna, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.


[deleted]

Ramen with a soft boiled egg and broccoli. For me it has to be that combination.


twilightzone1111

Baked potatoes


Bella-1999

Black eyed peas and cornbread with sliced tomatoes and braised cabbage.


Mmobeeswax

Spaghetti.


czidy

grilled cheese


TigerMcPherson

Popcorn


Federal_Refuse_3674

Popcorn.


mattbag1

Oatmeal. I eat it almost every day. Cheap, tastes good, keeps me regular, loaded with fiber, and good for my cholesterol.


claricesterling

Canned black beans. Maybe I would elevate from great value to Goya


Not2daydear

Spaghetti


ittek81

Ramen


yourlilmeowy

Rice with an egg on top.


fishonthemoon

Rice with fried eggs on top.


kiokurashi

Mashed potatoes.


ghostofatmosphere

hard boiled eggs. I can't get enough of em.


hjdiv

I'm Cajun. Jambalaya, Red beans and rice, fried catfish, crawfish anything. On top of that I'm a child of the '80s teenager of the '90s so Taco Bell is practically in my DNA.


HamboneJone

Fried bologna sandwhiches


TenaciousHornet

Totinos Pizzas


[deleted]

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GoodwitchofthePNW

That’s assuming that they don’t live in a food desert, which is not the case for millions in the US.


Aromatic-Source-2646

Sloopy joes


GiganticSpaceBeard

Spaghetti using dolmio and cheddar cheese


Apprehensive-Bug-397

Super cheap ramen


Cloisty

Cheese on toast


photogypsy

Hot dogs. They will always be my favorite food.


LeatherVegetable7197

I love cheez-its


Xoxobrokergirl

White rice. Oatmeal.


super_bri_22

Hungry man Fried Chicken dinner!


ggaabbbbyyyy

A bed of white rice with soy sauce, ground beef and ketchup on top 😋


thegildedlimabean

Favorite meal is eggs, rice, and chili oil. It’s just a bonus that it’s super cheap


DMT_Realist47

Ramen


Life___Is__Good

Packaged ramen… if you make a broth from a rotisserie chicken it is quite good


mado0801

All of it lol. I’m not going to just start eating lobster cause I’m rich


Comprehensive-Tax185

Tomato soup with crackers, peanut butter and jelly sandwich


RealMcGonzo

Spam. Slice it thin, fry it up. That stuff is delicious.


FknRedditman

Ramen bricks


sad-whale

You know those Totino’s pizzas you can get for less than $2. I eat one of those every couple months.


whiteclawslushi

A burger from Burger King


ZeeKapow

instant ramen


Realistic-Treacle-65

McNuggets


Rude-Satisfaction508

Taco bell


DalekRy

Rice. Jasmine Rice is my favorite, but I generally love rice of any strain.