14 "Low-effort, High-Reward" Meals To Prepare When You Want To Save A Little Bit Of Cash

    "It makes a solid $0.30 dinner."

    I'm someone who really enjoys eating at home — especially due to my always being money-conscious. However, with grocery prices being so high, sometimes buying ingredients and making an entire meal can get kind of pricey. I came across this Reddit thread where people were sharing their low-effort, very inexpensive meals they whip together when they're either trying to save a dollar or are short on cash. Here are some of the concoctions people shared.

    Person carrying an empty shopping basket in a grocery store aisle

    1. "Ramen noodles."

    A bowl of instant noodles with broth

    2. "Hotdogs, baked beans, and rice. I've heard it called several names, but my parents called it 'beanies & weenies.'"

    u/esoteric_enigma

    3. "American style goulash with hamburger, tomato sauce, and elbow macaroni. I am fully aware this is totally inauthentic from the Hungarian version, but I don't care, it's good

    u/llcucf80

    "My grandmother threw in corn and sometimes peas. So good."

    u/PenniesByTheMile

    4. "Toast bread, smash it down, put on pizza sauce and cheese and broil for personal pizza."

    Two slices of bread toasting in an open toaster oven

    5. "Frying hotdogs in corn tortillas like taquitos."

    Hot dogs boiling in a pot on a stove

    6. "Microwave noodles and a random collection of meat and veggies left over from other things aren't enough for a full meal."

    u/CinderrUwU

    7. "Noodles and nothing got me through college. Boil some pasta, and add a spoonful of butter and some leftover parmesan packets from a pizza delivery. If I were feeling adventurous, I’d throw some red pepper flakes in there — a solid $0.30 dinner.

    u/waffler71

    8. "Poor Man's Stew. One pound hamburger cooked in a large electric frying pan with 4-5 potatoes sliced up into chunks. Sprinkle in salt and pepper. It feeds four people for $10 or one person for three days."

    A hamburger patty cooking in a frying pan on a lit gas stove

    9. "Polenta with boiled potatoes with butter and a slice of cheese."

    u/oldmanout

    10. "Many nights in college I could only afford tortillas and cheese so I would make myself quesadillas. It’s still a go-to for me when I can’t think of anything else to make."

    Grilled quesadilla with melted cheese on a red plate

    11. "Spam and couscous! I also love heating it for leftovers, even though I've had coworkers act disgusted when I tell them what it is."

    u/indistrustofmerits

    12. "Kraft mac and cheese with tuna and broccoli mixed in."

    A pot of creamy macaroni and cheese being stirred with a wooden spoon

    13. "My grandmother's cheese spaghetti. I grew up in Puerto Rico. I don't know where she got this recipe, but she would make regular spaghetti, add in some tomato sauce, and butter, and use Kraft cheese slices, and that was the bomb."

    u/Ok-Catch-5813

    14. "I buy chicken sausages, chop them up, and cook them with eggs. Best combo."

    u/joeycraig

    Do you have an easy, inexpensive meal that you like to whip up? If so, share it with me in the comments below!