what is budget bytes?
There are two things that I will readily admit to: I am broke and I love to eat.I'm not "cheap" because I do appreciate quality; I just like to be able to have my cake, eat it, AND pay my bills on time.
Balancing your budget and meeting all of your wants and needs is tough. If you haven't already calculated how much you spend on food every month (groceries, eating out and impulse snacks and drinks) you are probably in for an eye-opener. Next to rent or your mortgage, food is probably one of your largest bills. Fortunately, it is also the MOST malleable category in your budget!
We all know that eating out can be expensive, especially if you like good, quality food. Even fast food these days is not exactly cheap (a full fast food meal can cost between $6-$10 dollars... I can eat for almost two days for the amount of money). Cooking for yourself can also be very costly if you don't know what you are doing. Newbie cookers beware! That's why you need me.
The recipes in this blog are SIMPLE, QUICK and SATISFYING. This blog will probably be most useful for those who do not normally cook or have been too afraid to try. I serve up the classics and show how easy, satisfying and inexpensive they can be. If you are a chef or have been cooking for years then, yes, this blog may seem elementary. BUT there is a whole generation, no, a COUPLE of generations that have grown up without simple home cooked meals. Lets bring back the lost art of cooking!
In short, I don't believe that eating for pennies a day has to mean eating Ramen Noodles 100 different ways. In response to a recent financial crisis of my own, I have begun to run cost analysis on all of my favorite recipes. The results have surprised even me. In this blog I will post recipes along with their cost analysis, prep time, pictures and alternate preparations. As a reader I invite you to post comments on the recipes and discuss with others ideas for recipe alterations or anything else.
So, lets do this. Lets all stop wasting our money on mediocre food that someone else just put in the microwave then handed over to us. Make something delicious. Make something that fills you up. Make something that you are proud of. Make something that still leaves you enough cash to buy something else that you REALLY need or want.
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80 comments:
Hey Beth! I can't seem to find a way to contact you other than by posting a comment on here. My original Health & Beauty website has evolved into something much bigger and can be found at http://FL-HealthClub.com
I wanted to share this with you because I am featuring your posts in the recipe section. Everything should be pinging back to you. If you have any issues, please let me know. I really enjoy what you are doing and love your blog! Hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Tommy Grobmyer
tom@fitnesslifestylehealthclub.com
AMAZING blog (found it on consumerist.com)! I love your honesty; I too am broke and love to eat. I also love to cook! keep up the great blogging and I'll keep checking back.
Glad I found your blog, I love it.
I am so happy to have found your blog (through tastespotting.com). I can't wait to try some of your recipes. I am a newly wed, and we are in serious budget mode. I think your website is really going to help!
I'm really glad that I found your blog through tastespotting! After I graduate college and get my own house, I'll follow your blog so that I can cook at a low price! Yayyy~
My dad just introduced me to your sight. Very impressive. Can't wait to start cooking with your recipes!
Great blog! So glad I found it. I am always looking for more ideas on how to save!
I love your blog!
Can't wait to make your Chipotle Peach Salsa! It made my mouth water just looking at the picture! I'll be sharing it with members in my club:
www.salsapreneurship.weebly.com
-Luke
I just found your blog! I love it!! Keep it up!!
I just had to comment here.
For starters, I love what you are doing. I sincerely did not know what to expect when my friend linked me your site.
Little did I know it would mean saving more that 60% of my grocery budget so far this month (245$ saved). We didn't even realize how expensive the chain store near our house was, its just where everyone went so we did too. Our average month for grocery bills was at least 700$...yes, you read that right, for just myself and my husband and NO we are not 300 pounds each! We were just sheep wandering down aisles all willy nilly, bah!
I didn't know that not one single serving of leftovers would be wasted. My usual 'cleaning out the fridge' before grocery shopping was depressing to say the least and expensive to boot.
I wasn't prepared for dinner excitement. Instead of 'bah, lets just order Chinese or go out for wings' coming from either of our lips, it was 'I can whip this all together in like 20 minutes, lets just do that k' with no grumbles from the husband since each night the variety of what we have been eating keeps it all very fresh and fun. Even having to adjust things to make them gluten free, hasn't stressed the recipes at all and has translated exceptionally well.
I had no idea that any of these things were even possible.
I probably sound like a crazy person, but honestly I am just basking in the glow of a bank account not drained for food we were just throwing away, in the excitement of not making needless trips to the store, since everything was here and ready to go with very little planning required.
This may sound outdated, but feeding my husband and keeping him interested in our meals together is really cool and surprisingly satisfying. In six years of marriage, these last 10 days of cooking together and getting constant compliments have been freakin sweet! Don't get me wrong, I am not a kitchen failure by any means, and I am a baker by trade BUT sometimes you just aren't inspired and it shows in what you serve.
I have passed this on to a few friends and my sister and mother. I can't wait to hear how they are doing with your help Beth.
ok, this is officially too long, lol.
Thank you again, as long as you are posting I will be reading and cooking up a storm :-)
Excellent Blog Thanks!
Ok, day 28 or 4 weeks, or however you like to say 'month' lol has come gone and I am still a little awed at how it all happened.
For starters, I now have what i jokingly refer to as 'Beth's Bounty' printed off and put in a nice folder for keeping all the recipes I have made from the site happily together. I will be making up one to give to my mom too!
Also, I have not made exactly 28 meals, as in a meal per night. I say this because so many recipes made a small feast that I and my husband got tasty leftovers, sometimes for a few days if he was out of town and I forgot to halve a recipe lol.
(the marinara and meatballs..yeaaaaah I ate that for like four days. I really don't ever get sick of it)
Oh and a sidenote of epic proportions. The split-pea with ham soup, got the biggest compliment I had heard in years and I quote 'You always make really good soups hun, but THIS one, is the best soup you have made for me, ever.' I will not forget that comment anytime soon <3
Ok, now for the nitty gritty. Usually spent in 28 days;
175$/week x4 weeks = 700, But a number that needs to be factored in is what we spent on average eating out!!!
That one is even more alarming;
80-125$/week x4 weeks = 320-500$ OH-EM-GEE!
Now making up a shopping list using recipes we wanted to make for the next week, and If you have read above its outlined. made life so much easier! If you aren't doing it, you need to be! We wandered into a walmart bored the one day and had half filled a cart with random food stuffs that we didnt even need, from habit. We still had a ton of food at home and I still shake my head, glad that we both came out of our zombie state and put all the stuff back. We looked in the cart, realized what we were doing didn't make any sense budget wise or just ANY SENSE lol. Plus the cart was just full of bad things or randomness that no meal could have been made from.../sighs at habits. I felt like we got a 'get out of jail free card' when we walked out of there empty handed.
Oops, back to the figures. So at a minimum of over a 1000$ a month, to sometimes upwards of 1100-1200$
(drumroll please)
Final grocery tally was,
324$
/pause for effect
Well, it goes without saying that our account looks as good as the recipes lol. With a savings of over 700$ how could it not
Now, we are not done, I am still going through recipes to make and also, I am NOT out of groceries yet. I wont need to shop for another week at least! So its probably even more of a savings but for now, I think that number is impressive enough no?
Beth, if you lived near us, I would have you over for dinner :-)
Thanks again, and please, keep up the excellent work, this is already trickling down to other family and friends, since I am a bit of a talker when something is as exciting as this.
For anyone who read this far and is hopefully going to head over to look at some recipes, I invite you to try this intelligent and savvy woman's methods.
You have nothing to lose and oh, so much to gain.
Sincerely.
OMG, I wish i could edit things!! Beth pls change that number from 324$ spent for the month to 224$!!! Please oh please!
I guess i was just three happy lol. (I only shopped twice this whole month!)
I LOVE YOUR BLOG!
Just found your blog off of foodgawker. What a fantastic idea to use a budget for your recipes! And they look so good! I can't wait to try some!
Andi
i am ADDICTED to this blog...I read it all day long hoping for another recipe and totally excited about each recipe that I try!
Great ideas! Can't wait to read it all, thanks!
Your dad passed on your blog site to me last week and I'm loving reading thru all the recipes. I'll keep checking back for updates.
I just discovered your site on stumble upon and I am soooo EXCITED to start using your recipes. I am a college student and cooking for one is not always easy. Can't wait to get started, thanks!
Just found this the morning of my grocery store day, my shopping list was almost entirely from your recipes! As a college kid who rarely incorporates healthy eating, I'm excited to make them!
Hey, I love your site! Is there a way you can add the calories as well?
Beth you are a BABE. I'm glad I stumbled on your rad blog!
Come over to my place some time. I'll bacon wrap some pizza rolls and bust out the "nice" mugs to serve some cold PBR in.
My boyfriend and I have made it a point to make 2 of your recipes a week as our summer project. We have yet to be disappointed and we're loving cutting down costs! Loving your blog and loving the fun, quick, affordable dishes!
You have such a great blog! I feel that many people can relate to your food philosophy. Your recipes are easy yet creative and is now an inspiration for my weekly meals. Thank you for being so awesome!
I love your blog! It's my favorite cooking blog. It's sensible and yet, it indulges in good taste. I always find good ideas here, and love the step-by-step photos! Well done!
I'm completely in love with your blog! Great meals, so inexpensive, and all the flavor and awesomeness is still there!
Stay amazing, you have a new fan!
Great website!
Really like the ideas but having a serious problem. Where on gods green earth do you find 1+ lbs if chicken breast for $2.50? None of the chicken recipes work for me because 1 lbs of chicken breast is more like $7.50 on Ontario. This effectively blows the budget.
Am I missing something? Is chicken just that cheap in the States?
Anon- Many, many people have asked me about the chicken prices :) I'm not sure how they compare in Canada but one pound *can* be very pricy here as well. I often buy 5 pounds at one time and then divide them up into one pound portions as soon as I get home. I freeze them and only thaw when I'm ready to use. The price of the chicken breasts when I buy them in larger portions is at least $1 (if not more) per pound. Also, when the chicken is nearing the sell by date they are often discounted even further. Sooo, I swing by the poultry section whenever I'm at the store and if I catch one of these sales, I grab up a big pack of it, take it home and freeze it!
Although the other day my neighborhood grocer had boneless skinless breasts priced at $1.75/lb and it wasn't even a large pack or a sale so I guess that's just the price sometimes!
There are a lot of good vegetarian recipes on the site, just in case you can't find a good deal on chicken ;)
Er, that was supposed to be 'at least $1 less per pound, if not more'
I just found you via Money Saving Mom and I'm in LOVE! I'm an accomplished cook, but your recipes are outstanding. I've already made 2 and am looking forward to trying many more!
I just found your website tonight, and went through the entire thing, bookmarking several pages along the way. It's great, and I'm so glad a friend referred me here!
(I don't comment that often, but I love your blog so much I felt compelled to!)
I love your web site and love to cook. Recently I ran across a recipe for Peanut/Ginger Chicken that meets your criteria for recipes. I would like to send it to you. How would I do that? It is delicious.
I just found your blog and love what you have here :o) I am posting you on my sidebar, so that I won't lose you :o)
Blessings & Aloha!
Love your site. I'm also taken back when people say they can't eat healthy without breaking the bank. You may not be able to buy organic/free-range foods, but people in America can still purchase basic ingredients at a low price. Of course, these recipes require some kitchen time, but that's the fun part of it. I have several recipes that I just love to make...all of them are standards.
You are a girl after my own heart! I too am an accountant and food lover. I stumbled upon your blog from a Pinterest link and am already hooked. Looking forward to reading more!
Just wanted to say that you are doing a wonderful thing and the hungry masses applaud you for it.
I came here from Pinterest and it's one of the many times I'm happy that I just followed a random link. While my husband and I don't live on a very strict budget, it can at times be tighter than we'd like. Most of the things I already do...make menus, shop with a list, brown bag it...however, I do not have a list of recipes that I always go back to. So, thanks for the amazing, simple recipes. My number one tip for saving money on groceries is don't take your husband; and if you do, make sure you have a snack in your purse or you'll spend twice the amount when he starts to get hungry.
Hello! I love this blog because it makes someone like me (who is a broke college student, inept at cooking) a little less intimidating! I am on a weight loss journey and the only question I have is: is everything on here moderately healthy (besides the cookies lol)? Thanks!
Anon - I try to keep things moderately healthy. I have a degree in nutritional science so I guess it's in my blood to want to keep things well rounded, full of fiber and nutrients, and low in saturated fat. That being said, I have my *moments*! ;) Not all of the recipes are healthy (according to my standards, "healthy" is a subjective term). I do have my fair share of comfort food recipes on the blog so you'll just have to use your judgement :)
I love your blog! I found it through another blog I follow (icancookthat.org), and she uses some of yours. LOVE THEM! Thank you so much!
I've been wanting to save money and eat healthier for quite some time, but the few times I've tried to cook healthy meals for myself, the cost for the ingredients went right through the roof! In the end, I just assumed sadly that there was no way to eat well for a low cost. Your recipes and cost analyses have been really eye-opening, to say the least. Thank you so much for this blog, it's exactly what a beginner like myself needs.
Um, your blog is AWESOME! I have made four recipes off it this past week and each one was quick, simple, and DELICIOUS.
I love this site! I just found one of your recipes on Pinterest! Which landed me here! I was wondering where you do your shopping? I was trying to read through to see if anyone else asked. Hopefully I hear back soon!! Can't wait to start cooking!!! Thanks!!!
Anon - My shopping has changed over the past couple of years. When I started the blog I was still living penny to penny so I did most of my shopping at Walmart. I moved to a new city and now have a decent income, so I tend to shop at my local supermarket (Rouses). But, it's always changing because I always shop around for the best deal! Oh, and for the first year or two that I had the blog, I had a wonderful produce market that was open 7 days a week, year round so I had tons of fresh, cheap veggies! But I moved :(
This is a fabulous site!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Just stop eating meat and you will be able to afford organic, cruelty-free, non-toxic, non-gmo, locally grown and fair trade items. For reals.
That was meant for anyone who claims they cannot afford that stuff. Anyhow, to the author....good stuff!
Beth,
Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoy your website and your delicious recipes/creations. I wish to start using QUINOA as an alternative to rice a few times a week; have you experimented with that grain, if so, please share your recipes with us.
Best wishes,
Yolette
Just found your site via a Pinterest user, and I think I'm a little in love right now. Looking forward to trying all of your bean recipes!
Hey Beth, great site! I've been thinking about something like this myself for some time before I found you. So much so that I got a team together and we're building a technology that does this, amongst other things, for online recipes. I'm not gonna shamelessly plug it here because that's not my style and it's pretty rude! Google it, maybe you'll find us eventually. :)
Anyhoo, I really like your content. You're a great blogger. So I wanted to see if maybe you'd be interested in collaborating w/ us some time down the road, once we get our sh$% together? Shoot me an email at [my first name]pwhite at gmail
Hi Beth, could you develop a few more 'glaze' type recipes like the one in honey spice chicken thighs? It is so great since you don't have to worry about marinating and the flavor still comes out strong...plus it is inexpensive.
I'm going into second year university, and in the Fall I'll be living in a house with three other girls - and clearly on a budget. I'll definitely be reffering to your blog often! Thanks so much!
This is amazing--I've spent a good chunk of my day (it's been a slow work day, cut me some slack) wandering around looking at recipes and at lunch I was so inspired that I went home and instead of getting Subway (or, egads! something even less healthy than that!) I made an egg sandwich that I drizzled with a little sweet hot sauce and an avocado which ended up being AMAZING. Seriously.
I am planning to make the mediterranean quesadillas tonight and I am so excited! Thank you for making cooking fun, reasonably priced, and not at all intimidating! Keep it up!!
I love your blog, Beth. I found it through the facebook page for the Tightwad Gazette (you follow many money-saving principles in the book, in case you haven't read it--check it out from your library...I love it--the author crunches numbers and approaches things in a logical way). I was already a tightwad before I found it, but I have made many of your recipes, my family loves them, and have been learning lots of new cooking skills from you. We love the variety. I really appreciate all the effort you go to in crunching the numbers and giving tips for reducing costs even further. Many people out there giving advice for saving money on food never crunch numbers, or if they do, they're still ridiculously high cost. You're awesome!
Hi! I want to thank you for this blog! I often don't like to cook, but I do love to eat! :) And I am even starting to ENJOY cooking with your recipes! The recipes you post have ingredients that are actually already in my cabinets as opposed to ingredients I have never even heard of. And the food is DELICIOUS. :) Thank you so much for taking the time to make this blog-- it is TRULY appreciated! :)
Keep up the amazing work!! Love love love this blog, and have been very enthusiastically sharing it with EVERYONE!!
beth, i am so glad i found your site! like many people on here, i am a broke college student. i've been going through every page bookmarking recipes for the past week. i've never really had to cook for myself before, so i'm really excited that i'll be able to make delicious meals for myself for just a small cost! :]
Love your website! All of the food looks yummy & HEALTHY! Plus the awesome savings?! Count me in! Keep it going! =)
I've been visiting your website regularly since happening upon it 2 weeks ago. I made the baked lemon raspberry oatmeal last night to eat for breakfast this week (delicious, by the way!), and I can't wait to try more recipes. I'm especially stoked about your slow cooker recipes! Thanks for providing such a wonderful resource for those of us who could never be bothered to cook before! I'm excited about the idea of stocking my freezer with wholesome, home-cooked meals for those busy work days. Thanks for making cooking seem so do-able. :)
So happy to find your blog! Im 5 and a half months pregnant and looking to save money before i go on mat leave. I live on an Island in Canada so i thought spending 500-1000 a month for two of us was normal. I bought all my food for next week for $50! I am super excited.
So glad I found this blog through (shemakescents.com). I have been looking for a good budget for my family. I am a stay at home mom with 2 kids and a husband to cook for. I can't wait to try your recipes.
Hi there,
Where do you get your recipes from? They have all been so fantastic!
Lindsay - Most I make up as I go, but on occasion I'll make something from someone else's website. If I do, I'll have it linked and cited. I browse recipes all day long (or so it seems) to get ideas and then just come up with my own version of what I see.
Mmmm just heard about your blog from a lady on babycenter.com and I'm soooo excited to try some of your recipes!! And your step by step pictures are just what I needed!!! yay can't wait!
Just found your blog! I am so excited to see a budget savvy menu that is still healthy looking. I am totally in love with your site and plan on making a recipe tonight! Mmmm
I just wanted to send you a heart-felt thank you for this blog. I'm relatively new to cooking but thanks to you I'm now addicted to trying new and delicious things. As a applied health grad student I like to eat well on a budget rather than living on junk and you website is doing wonders for me!
The design of your website is fabulous right down to the step-by-step photos and the ability to save recipes as PDFs and share them with my friends so easily.
If I could donate to your site I totally would. Long live Budget Bytes! :)
I am so excited to have found this site!! We tried our 1st Budget Bite recipe last night, the tuna and white bean salad. LOVED it! Kids devoured it! Finally a site with inexpensive meals that aren't horrible in the nutrition department. Making the teryaki meatballs tonight and creating a grocery list for 5 others to try next week. Thank you!!!
just came across your site...VERY COOL..you have a new fan...Davo
My daughter made the black bean quesadillas and I love your blog for this recipe alone. Fabulous site that will help lots of people eat well.
Just found your site. Great tips. I really like that you have such a great variety on a budget. It is so easy to get in a rut. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
I'm a college student and everyone is always impressed with what I cook and how I can save my money. I've sent so many people to your site and what's even better is the food satisfies my hungry boyfriend too! Thank you for taking the time to blog all of these recipes!
i hate to cook ... i don't know how to cook ... but following your pictures & your enjoyable wit made me want to try ... lo & behold folks really like to eat my (your) food now when they come to my house!!! THANK YOU & keep adding more :)
Love your recipe ideas. I have only made the banana bread baked oatmeal so far but we all loved it. Can't wait to try many others.
Thanks, keep up the great work!
Okay, I made this today. I am sorry but it reminded me of why NO ONE bakes in a microwave oven! This was nasty! Like another said, it is way to salty. Good try though!
Beth — I stumbled upon you via a post by someone on Facebook. I work with a low income population and am always on the look-out for recipes that are healthy and low-cost. I will be recommending your blog in my next newsletter. And I plan to try the zucchini pizza boats (the recipe link that drew me in) beforehand. It's such a plentiful veggie for anyone with a garden; and a sneaky way to get kids to eat veggies! Thanks!
Helen
I just came across your blog today and I just want to say that I absolutely love it! I just started one myself a few months ago (gourmet tastes for the college buds) about cooking on a college budget - I haven't gotten down to marking the exact price of each meal, but I really love that you do that. Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your page and I am definitely going to try some of your recipes soon!
I'm so happy to find your blog :D thank's for everything
How can I just print your recipes? Without all of the pictures? thanks, Vicky
grandmaapplesauce - When you click the green print/pdf button, there is an option to print without pictures. The green print/pdf button is just below the recipe title (under the first picture) and the option to print without pictures will be at the top of the pop-up window. It says "remove images". Also, you can click on anything in the pop-up window to highlight and delete it, so you can delete the intro and the extra set of directions, if you'd like.
That being said, there is a whole new website coming soon with easier to print recipes! Stay tuned!
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