Thank you for being here today!💗 Here’s my NEW emergency grocery budget video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r8CMEyUZpUk.htmlsi=7R3bX0vLitBCVC0K My Cookbook here: www.juliapachecocooking.com/cookbook
Reminds me of when I was uni; many months living on a bag of rice and beans. I would take cooked rice in the mornings and microwave with milk and cinnamon (sneakily taken from my roomates) to make a sweet rice pudding, and then stir fried rice and beans for lunch and dinner with whatever veg was on the giveaway table. Back then, in the UK, if you went to the grocery store as it was closing you could get free bread and vegetables that they were throwing out for free. It was a lifesaver for me.
Here is some variety you can try for budget cooking. First, learn to make Biscuit Gravy. Basically Butter (oil, bacon or sausage grease works fine) flour and milk. This is basically what a chef would call a Béchamel. Use the leftover to make a Mornay (this means adding shredded cheese to it.) Now you have a good cheese dip or sauce to make macaroni and cheese. Only I don't make mac and cheese but Spatzle (a German pasta.) Spatzle only take flour and egg to make and boil for a couple minutes to cook. I use a flat cheese grater to work the batter into the water rather than a spatzle maker.
Easy pasta dish for you mix pesto and cream thru hot pasta top with fried chopped bacon and mushrooms and pecorino cheese 🦘🦘 cheers from Aussie 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘
People don’t realize the power of this knowledge. I miscalculated when my first paycheck would be and once had to live off a bag of rice & a bag of lentils for a week. It wasn’t fun, but I had plenty of herbs & spices, so I at least ate a pretty tasty identical meal 2x a day for a week. But I felt so good about myself at 23 for being able to truly take care of myself & I didn’t ask anyone for money
Oh, wow, been there! Once, when I was about the same age, I had to spend a week eating nothing but Cream of Wheat and peanut butter. Then, at another time in my life, I had to spend two weeks eating nothing but ramen and peanut butter. Financial instability and food insecurity are the worst. SO glad those days are far behind me.
Been there. I try to make sure that I have alternate proteins at home. Beans, certain rice, veggies. Meat prices are so expensive. We have been eating more ground turkey. You keep on trucking.
This reminds me of back in the seventies when my sister and I moved away from home for a job. Our dad had always told us you have to pay your bills first and then what is left you can do what you want. Luckily we went home for a visit and our mother sent us home with some canned goods and a few things. Needless to say after we paid the bills the money was gone. But we had some kidneys beans, thousand island dressing and soda crackers so that was our meals for a few days.
I love these from Julia ❤️ tshe always shows affordable recipes in a pinch.the way groceries are,I'm thankful for all her help with that.😊hv a great day ❣️😊
You're one of the very few people doing these types of videos that actually doesn't add stuff. Meaning oil, seasonings, milk, butter, syrup, to bring the cost up. $1.69 a day isn't bad at all. Great job. amazing video.
@@OArchivesX what about adding the monthly cost of the card though? i’m not allowed a costco card for college because my parents don’t want that extra fee
I have seen people laugh at the suggestion that having a small garden or even a windowsill herb garden actually makes a difference in your budget. But think how a few fresh herbs and micro greens could’ve livened up the tastes and visual appeal of a super budget week like this. If you get creative, you can have a windowsill herb garden for pennies a month or even 100% free.
Absolutely! Well said. Even with a small space, you can always have some kind of garden. A few zucchini or tomatoes would add a lot to a small grocery budget.
Gardening has become such a huge way to save more money lately. I've started my own little veg garden with tomatoes, green onions, and carrots. All from seeds. The tomatoes and green onions are doing good.
You can plant any bean or dry pea you buy dry in the store as well. Green onions will continue to sprout if you leave an inch on them, plant them and keep using the green ends. Many fresh herbs will root and can be planted outside. Regular onions will sprout and regrow but will not get big but may flower and Give you pnion seeds. I grow tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in 5 gallon buckets, beans and peas in the ground. Look for buckets from grocery stores etc. My pea seeds came from the library. Just save enough to mature for planting again. For tomatoes I got Everglades tomato, tiny tomato but with 7 plants it kept us in tomatoes for 7 months. Does it save money yes, time consuming, somewhat. Necessary it today's world and economic situation. I also grow Asian greens, just letting one go to seed gave me hundreds of seeds. I can share them. Use them as microgreens or plant and grow tons of it.
Just a tip... When you arent struggling and want to help those who are: grab basic spices from Dollar Tree or Walmart, even the 2 pack of salt and pepper....donate those to food banks, little food library pantries etc :) it's cheap but definitely appreciated
I admire that you didn’t add in pantry cupboard ‘staples’ like oil. That proves it can be done and enhanced with whatever we might have on hand. I also admire you showed us when you had cuties. Honest and real, thank you.
YES! I get frustrated when I look at extreme budgeting recipes and they're like "and 2 cents worth of this spice" which assumes you have the spice and don't need to buy a 3-6 dollar bottle
Great prepping tips here! 👍 Good to keep a bottle of olive oil or alternative on hand if it’s possible though. You will want a healthy oil around in your pantry in case of an emergency. 😊😊
Cut meat off chicken thighs I used two, buy 1 zucchini and one corn on cob. Cook and season chicken, when chicken is almost done taken corn off the cob add to chicken then add diced zucchini cover until squash is tender it is so good, easy and cheap to make.
I found your channel a couple years ago when my part time job was the only income in my home of 3 adults and pets. We were denied EBT because my part time job paid "too much" but not enough to buy groceries or pay our rent and bills on time. Your channel was a lifesaver. I'm in a much better place now but I'm glad these videos exist for people in situations like mine 2 years ago. Thank you, Julia❤
Thank you so very much for sharing that with me, Erin🙏 I hope you know how much it means to me to hear that my meals have helped you and your family so much. I am so very happy to hear that things have gotten better for you and your family! Your loyal support here means so much to me and I am so happy to have you as my RU-vid friend. Thank you so very much again for sharing that💜🙏
Great ideas for someone like me as a senior on a fixed income. Thank you. I notice every week the groceries i bought previously are higher in price. It is really hard for everyone nowadays. ❤❤
It depends on where you live. My local grocery store still has sales of chicken parts (breasts to wings) at pre-pandemic prices. Ham for Easter was even cheaper than the years immediately preceeding the pandemic. Ground beef, pork cuts, eggs, etc., all go on similar sales. While not all goods are put on sale at pre-pandemic prices, enough goods are that I can still make the same recipes and still experiment. But, I've always shopped sales, used coupons & other rewards programs, so I don't notice inflation on groceries as much as other items, like shoes, clothes, etc.
@@yvonnetomenga5726 The other thing to do when you are in the meat department is look for the reduced stickered meat items first. I once got leg of lamb right after Easter for pennies on the dollar. Always go the Tuesday after a holiday which will give you the best selection of items. I do the same thing in the bakery department.
I’m happy to hear that these ideas will help. Thank you so much for your positive feedback and I agree with you , prices go up every single week. Thanks so much for watching😊
@@yvonnetomenga5726 I have a couple of the stores that I shop their sales ads and use their digital coupons. It has helped me stay stocked up on some foods. And then I have another grocery store I go to, to do my main grocery shopping. It really does help.
Please start a small garden. Use leftover green onions just put in dirt. Start tomatoes from a slice of tomato just place on dirt the same with the end of an onion. All free from what you've already from the store. Also plant jalapeño seeds. Freeze all your over abundance for winter....❤
Amazing! I think I have something like $8 to get me through until Thursday. My stupid internet service decided to take out its payment yesterday, instead of on the future date I had scheduled it. Of course they pretend to not have a clue what happened and won't change it. Aggravators. I appreciate so much how you don't just give the recipes/make the food, you actually eat it! And not just for one day, but the whole week. It really touches my heart that you understand how it is.
Yesica, you are seriously the best🙏 I do hope these ideas help you. And that makes me crazy that they did that to you. So sorry to hear that. Thank you so much for your great support 💜💜💜
NEVER, EVER let any of your bills auto debit your checking account, EVER. I worked at a bank for six years, taking calls from customers who had bills that were debited early, or DOUBLE debited from their accounts.....leaving them overdrawn, with over draft fees, bouncing checks, and without any money at all. If you want your bills to auto debit, then put them on a credit card, and then pay the credit card.
I think it's fantastic that you did all of this using salt, pepper and no oil. You really went above and beyond with showing how to eat on an extremely low budget. BEST of all was that you showed yourself EATING the meals you prepared and giving commentary. Eating on this kind of budget isn't exactly pleasant but it can be necessary. Kudos Julia!! PS. I requested your cookbook for my Mother's Day gift 😊
It definitely can’t be necessary! I had to figure things out creatively when we were first married and had to budget just like this. Thank you so much for your positive feedback and I appreciate all of your great support here, Katie💜💜
If you do not twist while cutting out your biscuits, they will rise higher. When you twist the biscuit cutter, glass or whatever you use, It seals off the edges and prevents your biscuits from rising higher. Plus make sure their edges are touching while baking. Just thought I’d share!😊
@@JuliaPacheco you’re so welcome! I absolutely love watching your videos. At this very moment I’m watching 50 of the BEST Quick and Easy Recipes from 1 yr ago, it has 1,436,268 views with 21K likes. You have came so far and did such great things for so many and we appreciate you.
A few tips if people have bacon or meat with oil in it: 1. Cook the meat up 2. Pour the fat into a bowl and let it harden it room temperature 3. Take the tiniest bit on the back of a spoon and rub the back of a tortilla. If you put it down on the pan it will be crispier. Also: If you mash the cooked pinto beans with some animal fat such as bacon fat and a little salt, it will be more filling for tacos and burritos. A little bit of fat goes a long way with beans.
People often through bacon Grease away .my frugal mom always had a container we'd pour the fat into.. No waste and flavorful food.. .. It's great to teach people how to be resourceful. Like use chicken bones to make soup with food scrap like carrot tops or garlic skin even to add flavor to the broth
We always saved bacon grease growing up, and I now have my own jar. I usually have two old spaghetti or pickle jars going. One to fill and one I'm using. It makes amazing salad dressing with vinegar and sugar, I LOVE to fry my eggs in a tablespoon of it and I even add it to green beans. So many ideas and it goes a long way.
One summer I was laid off. I had lettuce growing in my flower bed. I bought eggs, apples, Budding turkey, navy beans and bacon or ham lunch meat. I made scrambled eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch and ham and beans for dinner.
Please start a small garden. Use leftover green onions just put in dirt. Start tomatoes from a slice of tomato just place on dirt the same with the end of an onion. All free from what you've already from the store. Also plant jalapeño seeds. Freeze all your over abundance for winter....❤
@@ourhannahshouse I would love to but I live in a van. I travel most of the time but have been in one place due to health issues and van issues. Great idea though 💜
@CraftsandMorewithDonnaJackson you could grow green onions and tomatoes in soil in a pot in your van. Just ensure it gets sunlight in the daytime. I hope you have recover well from surgery and wish you all the best.
My husband (our only bread winner) was out of the job for 3 months. He just got his first paycheck at a new gig but we're so behind now! Thank you for this! Going to do this meal plan (plus cheese and seasonings) to help us dig out!
I am so very happy to hear that he has a new job, Emma! I am sure that is a huge financial relief to you right now🙏 I hope you all enjoy these meals and that they help you out. Thank you so much for your positive comment💜💜
My husband always talks about the years when he was young and poor in college and how he mostly lived on beans and rice and pancakes. He sprinkled in some of the cheapest produce like carrots and apples. He still says it was the healthiest he’s ever been, including his entire childhood and teen years at home. Simple food is so good for you and can really stretch the budget!
Thank you so much for sharing that, Megan. And we definitely all could eat healthier and less. I think it’s during those really tough times that we learn that! I appreciate your positive comment and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week💜💜
I have been following you for a VERY long time and seeing how confident and savvy you have become is such a beautiful thing. You charm, creativity, and genuine care for others shows in such a heartwarming and touching way. Thank you forvall you have done for me and your other followers. You are a true gem of a human being.
I’m book-marking these videos for when my food budget is a little tighter at the end of the month. I already have lentils and rice on hand, along with the seasonings. So it will cost me even less! Thanks for sharing and doing this for 1 person…it really shows that it can be simple yet delicious!
Wow, Rebecca. Thank you so very much for all of your kind words and your wonderful support here. That loyalty means the world to me and I’m so very happy to have had you along this journey. I hope you have a wonderful week and thank you so much again for your great support💜💜💜
I read your comment and thought the same thing. I've been following her for a very long time. You can tell she's just like a shining candle out there. She doesn't do it except for the sake of helping others. She has a really nice heart. I've learned some good tips from her over the years.
@@JuliaPacheco I've also been following you many years. You are a really sweet and genuine person. I'd like to say that we'd be friends IRL. Thanks for all the great recipes and keeping it real for people on a fixed income out there
Julia… thank you for being so thoughtful. I am blessed to be retired with enough money to eat but there are so many seniors suddenly raising their grandchildren and the expense and stress is a lot! These recipes can really help these good people!!! Blessings to you and your beautiful family!!❤❤❤
I’m happy to hear that you are doing well, Lorraine. But you are absolutely correct. That would add a lot of extra stress for sure. I do hope that these ideas and recipes help those people who are in need😊
@@JuliaPacheco..another tip for apples not getting dark..Is to put on them lemon..Just take a lemon sliced in half & rub It on the part that has been sliced ..then put it in a container with no water ..which takes the flavor away..
Great video Julia! Young people need to watch this for two reasons: cooking simpler food and seeing how far budgeting your money goes without fast food, snacks and etc.
As a mother, sometimes it's a sacrifice! Sometimes I skip meals so my husband and kids can eat. I end up eating crackers or a deli wrap without bread! I will definitely be trying a substitute for myself. It would make me happy to have something to eat on these days! Thanks Julia!!!❤
Julia you hit it out of the ballpark on this one. ❤ I know so many people struggling right now and this could help get them through to that next paycheck. We usually eat lentils about once a week. Alot of people just dont know how good they are when cooked right.
Thank you so very much, Mandy and I do hope that this helps people who are struggling. And yes! Lentils are underappreciated for sure. Ha ha. You have a great week and thanks so much for your positive comment🙌🏼
This is so important for those struggling. I love how you always give little variation tips too. One thing I do is keep a full spice cabinet( many from dollar tree) so when the budget is tight I can always add those flavors.
Please start a small garden. Use leftover green onions just put in dirt. Start tomatoes from a slice of tomato just place on dirt the same with the end of an onion. All free from what you've already from the store. Also plant jalapeño seeds. Freeze all your over abundance for winter....❤
Please stop spamming your garden comment. Gardening is not as easy or cheap as you're making it out to be. Pots, soil, pest control, fertilizers, soil amendments, etc. are expensive and take time to research. Tomatoes in particular can be very frustrating.
Hi Julia! I love your budget-friendly meals. I think that most of us need inexpensive meals occasionally, especially with the high price of groceries. Your girls are so precious. Your daughter's sweet smile and enthusiastic wave made her the star of this video. Thank you, Julia.
You’re so very kind. Thank you so much for your wonderful words about my girls. They are a handful right now, but so much fun too. I do hope that you can use some of these ideas and thank you so very much for your loyal support every week💜💜
I am a SAHM and have been getting lazy with my grocery budget, causing issues with our finances (walking in to grocery shop with no list!) Julia, your videos are helping me get back on track with careful meal planning. I feel like I am learning so much about the fact that meals dont have to be overly complicated, and you can make great food with basic ingredients!
I am so very happy to hear that my videos are helping you! It’s so easy to do that. Having a list is super important as well as knowing where the good sales are and the good deals. Thank you so very much for the positive feedback🙌🏼🙌🏼
😊 if you boil your finely diced apple in a Small amount of water it will make a nice topping for your pancakes. Even better if you have a few sugar packets. If you have a bulk section in your grocery store the spices are usually a real bargain. I recently needed a seldom used spice and I didn't want to purchase a whole shaker of it. I got a half ounce in a little bag for 28 cents it was more than i needed but much cheaper than buying a larger quantity.
Came here to say the same thing about making a simple apple syrup/topping. I've done something very similar before (though I had cinnamon and sugar) and it was delicious!
My breaky this morning I just stewed down an apple, don't even need sugar although stirring through a pinch of cinnamon at the end (if you have it) does make it extra good ☺️
Agree! This is why I save leftover individual sugar/sweetener packets from co-workers. Additionally, the apple core and seeds can be boiled down and made into jelly as they contain pectin. Just add some sugar packets to the liquid and bring back to a simmer until it hits the gel point and viola, jelly for those biscuits👍
@@JuliaPacheco Cilantro is super cheap too. I was thinking about a pico de gallo. I just bought a bunch for 88 cents so that would have raised you up to around $1.80.
This came perfectly on time! Things have been so expensive! Thanks for creating such wonderful and delicious meal ideas that wont break the bank . You are so considerate. i look forward to your video notification every week and watch before i make my grocery list!
Well thank you so very much. I really do appreciate your positive feedback about this video. I’m so happy to hear that it will help you and thanks so much for being here, Jess💜💜
I think a lot of people eat that way every day in other countries. That looks like pretty normal fare for some Mexican families. Yes, seasoning would have been nice. I'm glad you said this was just for emergencies, when you would have more money later, because the lack of produce would be a real concern for me. With the cost of food today, you did great! I'm at a point now where I am eating up and replacing some hurricane supply foods, mostly canned and dry foods, I'm on a Mediterranean diet, so that should be interesting. Love your videos!
I spent 10 days in Costa Rica on an orchestra tour, and rice and beans were served with every meal... including breakfast. That was new to me, but I really enjoyed them!!
Thank you so much. I appreciate all of that feedback and that Mediterranean diet sounds so good. Definitely very fulfilling! Thanks so much for your great support here and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week💜🙌🏼
Tortillas can be toasted in the toaster so one less pan to wash. Be sure there is no loose flour, which could burn. Spices are available at most dollar stores for cheap. Her cookbook is a fantastic value. The no bake peanut butter bars were a huge hit with my family. They are topped with chocolate-peanut butter layer, so delicious!
Thanks so much for those tips. Good ones for sure! And I sure do appreciate your shout out for my cookbook. I’m so happy to hear that everybody enjoys those peanut butter bars🤗
I make Applesauce without sugar, just adding water and letting my apples cook down. I do add salt to bring out the sweetness and a little Cinnamon when I have it. However, both are optional. Boiling the Apple would stretch it as the sauce can be used on top of the pancakes or mixed in with the batter.
That is a great point! Thank you so very much for sharing that tip about the salt too. Great idea for sure. Have a great rest of your week and thanks so much again, Jill💜💜
Julia is amazing! I would love to see one or more videos on using just a few extra dollars a week to stock up on reasonably priced pantry items. Then with the $7 plus $5?
@@valrollins7148 this. I almost never see RU-vidrs who do these challenges talk about buying two pounds of beans instead of just the one you need for the week if you have a bit of extra money. Used to be buying two or five pound bags was cheaper per pound. IDK how it is lately.
I love these types of videos. I use several of the recipes from the one in 2023 and I’ll add some of these as well. The 2023 video helped my son get through a tough financial time. Thank you for showing people how to survive on little money but still get whole foods that are nutritious and delicious!
I’m so happy to hear that he was able to use that video and that it helped him so much, Kelly. I appreciate you sharing your positive feedback and I’m happy to hear that you have been able to use some of them too. You have a great weekend thank you so much again💜💜
Things are tough for so many people all the way up and down the income levels so this is fantastic. I wish it didn't have to be but you are so appreciated. Always love what you do.
Just a tip; Press N Seal Wrap by Glad is the absolute best wrap for any cut (or uncut) vegetable or fruit you want to store in the fridge and it adds DAYS of freshness. It works better than any other wrap or container. My onions, green peppers, cucumbers, anything! How this is not talked about more blows my mind. I accidentally came across a roll I had from a move from WA state and was desperate for something to help me store some items I had used but couldn't finish. Best mistake ever! I just thought I'd share.
That is an awesome tip! Thank you so very much for sharing that about press and seal wrap. I really do like it to seal bowls, but never thought about it to use with individual items like that. Thank you so much again and I hope you enjoy some of these recipes🙌🏼
You are an extraspecial and beautiful gift to humanity! These meal ideas will inspire so many people. Watching your videos makes me smile and warms my heart because I'm reminded that goodness does exist in this world. ❤
Julia, thank you for reminding us all to be thankful when we are blessed. This is such a good lesson in stretching a buck when things get difficult. LOVED seeing the little one in the video with you! So adorable!! Keep rocking your good work! Blessed week ahead to you and yours! 🙂💗
Thanks so much, Laura. And times do you get difficult! I sure do appreciate your positive words and thank you so much for your kind words about our Macie girl💜💜
I find that if I do an eat what you have day it is a good money saver. The hodgepodge meals clean up the leftovers , every meal doesn’t have to be a meat and two vegetables.
Oh gosh yes. You have to do an eat what you have day esp if there’s a family. I save EVERYTHING. And if it can’t be reheated or used it’s for the chickens and saves on chicken scratch. Even if the kids don’t eat everything it’s recooked into something else for them until it can’t be any more. Otherwise it’s such a waste of money I can’t help but see my hubby’s dollars literally fall in the trash when we clean plates elsewise.
I think people who want variety will struggle with the menu , however this is a nutritional and very economical way to stay safe, satisfied and healthy if you're financially strapped for a while. I think the only seasonings required are salt and pepper plus Baby Rays Barbecue sauce 😀
I used to make pancakes for my then, young sons, that I added tiny fresh apple bits,finely crunched nuts, cinnamon . We all loved em like that. I actually am not crazy about plain pancakes/waffles.
In order to budget better, I have stopped buying any chips and prepackaged items. A jar of peanut butter and cracker along with popcorn - thev old fashion way - popped in a kettle on the stove.. I am surprised that some people pay over 5 dollars for a bag of popcorn when under 2 dollars you can a bag of kernels that lasts a long time. God bless
I really appreciate how you just used exactly what you bought at the store. So many videos like this assume that people have oil. butter, spices, condiments, etc. This is more real and helpful.
I'm dealing with serious illness and my appetite comes and goes. I tend to cook things that can be frozen, but some economy meals are good to have in case the chickens get my lunch.
I am so sorry to hear that you’re dealing with such a serious illness. I’m sure that makes things so very difficult for you 🙏 I do hope that some of these ideas help you and that you’re able to freeze them when you’re ready.
I think this is great! You had a full tummy throughout the week and that was the goal. I personally eat a plant based diet so beans, rice and lentils are right up my alley. 😊
I’ve been a long time fan and I just love how creative you are and how well you can make meals on a budget! Everyone should watch your videos because they’re very helpful and lots of fun! They’re really enjoyable. I think you’re the #1 cooking channel on RU-vid!! Thank you Julia! 😊❤
You are the absolute best! Thank you so very much for being such a loyal subscriber of mine and I sure do appreciate your positive feedback here. Thanks so very much for making me your favorite and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week💜🙌🏼💜
Thank you so very much, Natalie. I appreciate your kind comment. I do hope that these ideas help those who are struggling. Grocery prices are just so ridiculously high right now. Thank you so much again and have a great rest of your week💜🙏
This looks wonderful! Some more ideas for variety: - Microwave a tortilla to make it crispy, smash some pinto beans and tomato on it, then top with an egg for "huevos rancheros." - Cook some onions, tomato, and frozen veggies in a pot until browned, then add minced garlic. Add lentils and the leftover bean broth, which is packed with flavor and nutrients, until it's thickened to a "daal" consistency, and serve over the brown rice. Alternatively, make it thinner with more water/bean broth and have lentil soup. - For breakfast, cook the brown rice in 4 times its volume in water until it's thickened into a porridge. Serve with cooked apple to be sweet or a poached egg to be savory. Or, once nearly done, turn off the heat. Add a little bit of cold water and quickly whisk in an egg. Keep mixing over low heart until it's thickened up into a custard-like creamy porridge. - For the pancakes, if you have a sugar packet from a cafe you can cook the apples in it to make a sweet syrup. If not, cooking them in some water will still make them sweeter and yummier.
You commited to the cause for certain! In my country we use rice but beans are not so imprinted in our daily meals, unless you are vegan/vegetarian. I started to use them more frequently. I always have my spices on hand to use, and when things are good I stock up on useful items to have like flour, pasta, sugar, tuna, tomato cans, canned beans, peas and corn. That way I always can fix a meal. Also garlic, oil, milk, onions, carrots and potatoes. Eggs and parmesan cheese. If you can add some kind of meat and some other fresh produce, great, if not a lot of meals are on the pantry to be imagined and cooked.
Absolutely great tips! I appreciate your sharing what you keep on hand in your home. Thanks so much for that positive feedback and I hope you have a great rest of your week😊
Lentils are very good. We Hungarians often make them into 'főzelék', which is basically stew. Gor an easy version you just have to boil the lentils and thicken it using flour (look it up). We sometimes add garlic, vinegar or lemon juice to it but it doesn't taste sour. It pairs nicely with boiled eggs.
Very interesting! I appreciate you sharing that about your culture and what you do with lentils. Thank you so much for watching and have a wonderful week😊
Your voice is so soothing. I can’t stop watching. We cannot get these prices in Australia. Same food but would cost $50 instead of $20. But bless you anyway
I was thinking the same thing. Rice is like $7! And as a celiac, all the dried beans and lentils contain traces of wheat :( same with items like cheap oats. I'm happy other people have access to such prices.
Julia, We never know when we will need these types of meals. With the world the way it is, we may all be eating like this at some point. Great video. I love the view of the mountains you have at your Walmart. So pretty. 😊
It’s so true! And good for you having kids so close together🙏 i’m exhausted over here too! Thanks so much for your wonderful RU-vid friendship, Kaitlin💜💜
All the positive comments plus how you showed so much grace and gratefulness and excitement throughout. This is uplifting for the spirit too. Thank you.
Thank you so very much. I appreciate that wonderful feedback so very much. Thank you so much for your kindness and support and I hope you have a great rest of your weekend🧡🧡
Good morning! I was waiting for today's upload while making dinner for my church family! Have a great week! Love the budget meals...many of us need this!!
I love love love this video! I love how you constantly remind us in this video that you are staying strictly to the budget of what you bought (even on the seasoning!) Because I know I don't have many seasoning at home and if I were to use something aside from salt and pepper I would have to buy it too I really really appreciate your videos! I'm hoping to be able to buy your cookbook soon!🤍 Hope to meet you one day! I'm in Utah too!
Well thank you so very much, Diana! I am so happy to hear that these ideas help. And I appreciate the positive feedback to you about the seasonings. When you do have a little extra money, try to buy some of those basic seasonings. You can definitely buy the generic brands if that helps! And it would be great to meet you too someday💜💜💜
You certainly took one "for the team" this week! It reminded me of days in college, when I lived off of canned tuna, canned veggies, powdered milk and oatmeal when money was tight (which was often!) Once a week, my girlfriends and I would hit the salad bar at the local Wendy's and fill up on fresh produce! (this was in the 80's.) I wish I had known about dried beans and lentils!
Thank you so much for your feedback, Patti! And I appreciate your sharing your experience in college too. That was a good way to get the produce in🙌🏼🙌🏼
Julia, I am learning so much from you... not only about eating on a tight budget, but cooking tips and recipes as well. I've only been a subscriber to your channel for about a month, and you have quickly become one of my favorite RU-vidrs. Thank you for the hard work you put into making your videos. Also, your kiddos are precious 😊❤
Thank you so very much for subscribing, Michelle! I sure do appreciate your support this past month and your positive feedback means so much to me.💜 I sure do hope that some of these ideas help! And welcome to my RU-vid family!
This is so incredible and helpful for those of us who are struggling. Beans and rice are staples in our house! I love the filming style, with more of you talking to us directly, and showing you and your kids at home.
Another cheap hack for breakfast would be those biscuits, some scrambled eggs (apparently water makes them fluffy), and grabbing a sleeve of whatever cheese you like. You can get a 12 count sleeve of GV brand for $2. Either served as scrambled eggs and cheese and a biscuit or made into a scrambled egg sandwich.
Thank you, Julie. I send your videos to my kids (all grown and three have kids of their own). Plus we are local to you, so the prices are good to know. Thank you again.
My strategy is to keep my pantry and fridge stocked with dry goods, canned goods, and frozen fruits and veggies. Then if money gets tight I just need to buy eggs and meat whatever is on sale.
Julia you are amazing showing what can be done on a budget and you don’t just talk it, you live it for that week. Wonderful that you are so transparent about it and didn’t ‘sneak’ anything in that no one would ever know about.
Great job dear Julia! This reminded me of my younger days when money was VERY tight. My husband and I lived for well over a week on eggs, hot dogs, with leftover bread and hot dog rolls from the grocery store where he was the night security guard. I limit eggs these days because of my age and cholesterol medications, but the beans, rice, veggies with seasonings make for nourishing meals. Good going dear. You scored again!!
Thank you so very much, Pam. You are so very kind and I appreciate your sharing what you and your husband did when you were younger when times were tough. Thanks so much for your great support and I appreciate your positive comment💜💜
Good morning Julia!!! You always have great meal ideas. This definitely gave me great ideas for lunches for me and my kids over the summer. And oh my goodness the girls are growing so fast and are absolutely adorable 🥰🥰 Hope you all have a wonderful week 😊❤
Thank you so very much, Gianna! I do hope that these meals help you this summer. Lunches can be super crazy and it’s nice to have some leftovers for the next day. Thank you so much aFor your kind words about my girls💜💜
Thank you for this. I had surgery earlier this year and will have to have another one. That's so much time off work unpaid, living off my savings account. Now I have some more ideas for groceries besides ramen, PB&J, bananas, and some store brand cereal.
I really do hope that these ideas help you to save money💜 i’m sure it’s tough having so many surgeries and then to worry about money makes it more challenging. I hope you enjoy these ideas and have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
A lot of people can't believe that I spend so little at the supermarket but if you plan ahead it's not that hard to do. I also portion and prep ahead of time. This makes it faster and easier when I get home from work. This system let's me eat healthier and save money for other things.
Another tip: If there's an Aldi's in your area, shop there! Their prices are USUALLY lower than Walmart's. Get what you can there, then go to Walmart for the things you couldn't get at Aldi's
I love these budget friendly meals it helps my son and daughter so much you are absolutely amazing my family sends their love to you and your beautiful family take care sweetheart xxx
I’m so very happy to hear that, Norah. Thank you so much for sharing your positive feedback about these kinds of videos. I’m so happy that they are able to use them💜
Julia you saved me. I have lentils in the house and haven't known what to make. Great. Thanks. Hugs to the girls. Before we know it it will be summer and time for getting out and grilling. See you again soon.
You are so very right, Laura! Summer is sneaking up on us fast. Thank you so very much for your positive feedback and I hope you enjoy those lentils this week💜
Your budget friendly meals look delicious, Julia. And we all have a cabinet full of spices. Thanks for sharing your ideas. Have a super fantastic day. Sending love and big hugs Sherry ❤❤❤PS it was great seeing your kiddos as always. 😊
Well thank you so very much! I sure hope you have a super fantastic day as well, Sherryl. Your positive words mean a lot and I hope you enjoy some of these meals💜💜
Hi Julia ! Thank you for such great budget friendly recipes !! This helps a lot for people like me that’s on a fixed income/ budget. Thank you so much 💜
You are so welcome! I’m so very happy to hear that these ideas will help you, Patrice and I am so grateful for you and your loyal support here every week🙌🏼🙏
I totally love that you weren't shopping based on deals, that you just shopped regular prices in your area, so anyone could replicate this. Would love to see more videos like this, maybe how you stretch meat or how to grow a little vegetable garden with leftover veggie scraps/seeds, just more frugal living ideas. I really liked thst you went over the recipes quickly and showed how you did everything from start to finish. Thanks for all the great meal ideas!!
Thank you so very much for that great feedback and I appreciate your suggestions too, Lily. I do have a lot of other budget friendly videos that you can find here on my RU-vid channel or googling my name, Julia Pacheco budget friendly meals. I hope this helps🥴💜
I admire your ability to do inexpensive, healthy, and tasty. I love the balance on your channel of thrifty meals and family friendly menu with a bigger budget!
A stick of butter lasts for a very long time and can last for many meals. You just grab the stick and rub the tip on the cold pan as if you were coloring it. That thin layer replaces the oil, works well and is delicious. This adds much needed fat to the diet
Hi Julia!!! I like all these recipes. You sure did good with all these!!! I sure will be trying alot of these. My pick is the Lentil meal... WoW!!! I have a box of Bisquick I haven't even opened it yet. Thanks for all these. You came up with some good ideas!!!...Your daughters are getting so...big. They are both so...cute!!! Thank You again for these. I'm sending this to my family so they can make some of your recipes. Take Care my sweet friend...Great Video!!!...🦋
You’re the best! Thank you so much, Diane and I hope you enjoy that meal with lentils. I always appreciate you sharing my videos with your family members and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week💜💜
I like the inexpensive meal ideas, however I dont think I could eat beans and lentils everyday for 1 week 😅 but cudos to you for giving it a go! Quick tip although brown rice is essentially better for you, white rice has a longer shelf life and has less bugs.
I love this video! I used to watch The Quaint Housewife channel and she did many of these kind of videos. It is fascinating how clever it is to plan these ultra low spending weeks. More please!
I just discovered your channel. As someone who works on a school bus and therefore doesn't earn a whole lot, this knowledge is incredibly helpful. You're a godsend, and your kiddo is adorable.
First of all, thank you so very much for being a school bus driver! I feel like our school bus drivers and teachers definitely need our support. I am so grateful for all that you do for our kids! I’m happy to hear that these ideas help and I appreciate your positive comment💜💜💜
@JuliaPacheco we appreciate your support. bus drivers are often the first to report unfortunate things to authorities. Most people don't see that side of bus stops. I'm glad honest, and kind-hearted parents still exist. It's not easy, but it's worthwhile for the future.
