Guest Post: Six Frugal Meals

Frugal living requires changes within the entire household. In order to live frugally, one must be willing to change their overall spending habits. One thing to do is to modify your eating habits. Dining out should be done as little as possible. It is acceptable to indulge from time to time, but for the most part, meals should be eaten at home. In addition, you must prepare meals that are inexpensive and plentiful. The following are examples some very frugal meals:

1. Spaghetti
Spaghetti is one of the cheapest meals out there. A plain serving of spaghetti only requires two items: the spaghetti and the sauce. Most grocery stores sell packages of spaghetti for under $2. A generic can of sauce costs about the same amount. If you want to add some flair to the meal, you can add Italian sausage, meatballs, or chicken. The total cost for this meal is under $10. A large enough pot of spaghetti can stretch for three days.

2. Hot Dogs and Baked Beans
There is nothing like hot dogs and baked beans to fill the belly. Beans contain a high amount of protein. They are not only healthy for you, but they also taste delicious. Stores have a wide variety of flavors so you can tailor your meal to your liking. Add bacon for flavoring and maybe even some mustard. Discount \ grocery stores sometimes offer packages of hot dogs for under $1. One large can of beans costs approximately $2. Three packages of hot dogs and three cans of beans can provide you with nine servings. Nine servings can cover dinner for three nights.

3. Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings is a wonderful dish for both beginners and frugal individuals. A large pot of this meal can stretch for approximately 4 days. For chicken and dumplings, you will need one package of chicken, flour, baking powder, and chicken broth. You can manipulate the cost of the meal according to the type of chicken you want to use. The total bill for this delicious dinner is approximately $12.

4. Fried Cabbage
Fried cabbage is a nice alternative to cabbage soup. You can get creative with this meal by adding things such as bacon, potatoes, and onions. How you create your cabbage dinner depends on what you like and how fulfilling you want the item to be. The dish requires a stick of butter and your ingredients. You can prepare in about fifteen minutes and it will stick to your ribs.

5. Salmon and Rice
Any type of fish is always an excellent choice because fish is high in protein. High protein foods tend to fill the stomach more than other items. For this meal, you can go with canned salmon or you can purchase a larger quantity fresh from the seafood section in the grocery store. You can purchase a large bag of rice for approximately $2. Fresh salmon will cost you approximately $4 per pound. People have a tendency of putting more salmon on their plates than is required. It will definitely fill you up and stretch for a decent amount of time.

6. Liver and Such
Liver is very inexpensive and it is also quite healthy to eat. If you are looking for a meaty taste for not too much money, then liver is the way to go. Of course, liver is an acquired taste, but if you and your family enjoy it, you will probably eat it very frequently. Add veggies and potatoes to complete the meal. Bags of veggies and potatoes are very inexpensive as well.

Guest Poster Ginny Arckley likes to write about nutrition, fine dining & Mint.com Promo Deals