This week I made 5 dinners for $28 total using one big pot of beans

I had a rough week where money got tight after an unexpected car repair. So Monday I soaked a 2 lb bag of dried pinto beans that cost me $1.89 at the grocery store near my house in Springfield. I turned that into chili one night, bean burritos another, and even mashed some up with garlic for a cheap twist on refried beans. By Friday I still had leftovers to freeze and I felt pretty good about not wasting anything. What's your go-to dirt cheap meal when funds are low?

2 comments

2 Comments

fiona_lane28d ago

That garlic mashed bean thing is a total game changer, and honestly the best part nobody talks about is how dried beans freeze perfectly so you're never stuck eating the same thing five days in a row.

gavinp4428d ago

Used to think those dried bean bags were just for fancy food people or survivalists, but you totally changed my mind with this post. I always grabbed the canned stuff for like a buck a can and never considered how much cheaper the dried ones are. Gonna pick some up next time I'm at the store and try that garlic mashed bean thing you mentioned, sounds way better than my usual ramen and egg combo when money's tight.