Eat for Cheap!

That's A Spicy Shrimpa!

The only expensive part here is the shrimp. Everything else is probably hanging out in your pantry or in your spice cupboard up against the back wall. The picture and the recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman who my wife is in love with. If I was a horse-riding, Wrangler-wearing, shrimp-cooking, cow-wrastling woman I’d probably be more popular around the house.

NPR's Chilean Dal

NPR held a contest to find the best recipe whose ingredients were less than $10. This one clocked in at $5.53. It makes a ton and is really really really good. Dig out $5.53 and give it a shot.

Red Hot Chili (no peppers)

I will go to blows with anyone who says this chili is not as good as a chili that simmers for 40 hours. Here’s the breakdown:
Two cans kidney beans
One can tomato soup
One pound ground beef
One onion (chopped up)
Brown the beef and then throw everything else in the pot. Let it simmer for awhile, then add some chili powder. Now prepare to impress your dates with your chili making abilities.

Free Lemonade

Next time you go out to eat, save money on drinks by ordering everyone water, and then ask your server to throw a couple of lemon slices into each glass (or if you’re in the south they’ll do this without you even asking). Squeeze the lemon into the water, stir in a couple of those sugar packets that are already at the table, and enjoy your free ghetto lemonade!

Ground Beef + Potato

This was a staple in my childhood home. Ready for the recipe?
Slice two potatoes
Put sliced potatoes in a pan
Cook potatoes
Add one pound of ground beef and brown
DONE!
To make it a little fancier feel free to use ketchup.
source

Homemade Dog Treats

I understand this isn’t a recipe that you’ll probably whip up and enjoy, but you’re dog will 100% love it. My dog (pictured above) loves her homemade cookies. The recipe makes a ton with minimal ingredients. Trust me, the dog will never know these aren’t store bought.

Get Your Bake On

Making your own bread will save a ton of dough (how witty is that?!) while also helping your health. For the same price as a loaf of bread you can buy a bag of flour and make hundreds of loaves.
Okay, maybe not hundreds, but it is definitely a better deal. And it’s easy. I officialy made my first dough from scratch yesterday and it turned out great. Get some yeast, get some flour, and get over here for some easy steps on creating the magic first loaf.

Thai Pizza

What do you get with your leftover Shrimp and new found skill of bread baking? Thai Pizza is what you get! The only thing you’ll probably have to buy is a can of coconut milk. Hopefully the rest is hiding in your pantry next to the unused worchshire sauce.
Get the full recipe at What the Whisk’s blog.

Hard Boil These Guys

I used to hate hard boiled eggs. I now love everything about them. Eggs are pretty cheap so using the hard boiled ones as snacks equals healthiness and cheapness in one punch.
If you’re not sure how to boil water and then insert the eggs, check here for a step-by-step.

Join Groupon!

Groupon (http://Groupon.com) is perfect for people who want to enjoy restaurants, but can’t afford them all the time. It offers special deals, 50% off or more. Right now it’s in Chicago, Boston, NYC, and Washington DC. But launches in San Fran tomorrow and Atlanta and LA very soon.

Even though you’re saving money, you still deserve to go out and try a new restaurant once in a while!!

Um I don’t work for them or anything. Maybe. But really even if I didn’t, I’d still be obsessed.