FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Cheap Recipe Blog, saving money on food, affordable recipes, and more.Cheap Recipe Blog FAQ

When Did You Start Cheap Recipe Blog?

I started sharing affordable recipes on Cheap Recipe Blog in September, 2011. Cheap Recipe Blog has existed, currently, for nearly 15 years.

What Makes Cheap Recipe Blog Different?

On Cheap Recipe Blog, I’m giving you the cheap recipe version of many of your favorite recipes. You’ll find many of your favorite recipes on this site, but the recipes are strategically created and developed keeping your budget in mind.

For example: Love BBQ ribs? Me too. But they’re usually quite expensive. But have you heard of country-style ribs? They’re delicious, taste a lot like traditional ribs – but they’re much less expensive. Check out this oven-baked country-style BBQ rib recipe.

Another example: Crab cakes. Super expensive. But when you make homemade crab cakes with imitation crab instead of real crab – you’ll save money and still eat something really delicious.

I’m so glad you’re here: You can count on me to give the cheap recipe spin on many of your favorite foods.

Where Do You Get Your Recipes?

My recipes come from all over the place. Most of my recipes are originals or adaptations on recipes I’ve made before. Others I find in cookbooks. Some I find on other cooking blogs. A few of them are recipes that I have been cooking for years that I don’t know the origin of. Others aren’t recipes at all, but rather meal ideas.

I will note the origin of a recipe whenever possible.

Where Do You Live?

I am a Minnesota-based blogger who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. I am originally from Southwest Minnesota near the South Dakota border and spend a lot of time there.

Do You Work With Local Businesses, Companies, and Brands?

Yes. I work with Minnesota-based businesses, South Dakota businesses, and other companies in the Midwest highlighting restaurants, locally-made products, and other regional attributes. If you are interested in working with a Minnesota blogger to promote your business or brand, please send an email or reach out on social media.

Check out:

Are You On Social Media?

Yes. I regularly post new recipes, money-saving tips, and affordable recipe ideas on the following social media sites:

How Many Recipes Are On Cheap Recipe Blog?

Currently there are more than 600 affordable recipes on Cheap Recipe Blog. Additionally, there are hundreds of meal and snack ideas that that don’t require a recipe to give you more information and ideas to feed you or your family on a budget.

How Many Money-Saving Articles Are On Cheap Recipe Blog?

In addition to cheap recipes, there are 60 articles detailing creative ways to save money on groceries, household products, ingredients, gifts, and more.

Why Do You Focus On Cheap Recipes?

There is great need for cheap recipes. Many people struggle to feed their families on one or even two incomes. Grocery prices rise, year-over-year, due to inflation. Shrinkflation means smaller packaging and more spent on the same amount of food over time.

Many people’s biggest expense is food. My mission is to share cheap recipes that taste really good – to help you cook food that you like to eat without spending a lot of money.

How Do You Figure Cost Per Serving?

I base my cost-per-serving price based on what I paid. I always shop for deals, but typically don’t use coupons. So the price I pay is probably similar to what you would pay if you buy store brands, shop in-store specials, and shop at discount stores like ALDI.

What Are Your Top Tips For Saving Money On Food?

The single biggest impact you can make on your grocery bill is changing where you shop. Switching from a traditional grocery store to a discount grocery store like ALDI can cut your grocery bill by 30 to 50 percent overnight without changing what you eat at all. That one change alone is worth more than any coupon strategy.

Beyond that, the most effective long-term habit is building a rotation of cheap recipes your family actually likes. Once you have five to ten go-to meals that cost under $5 to make, meal planning becomes easy and food waste drops significantly. Think dishes like lentil soup, fried rice, pasta with homemade sauce, and egg-based breakfasts for dinner.

Finally, learn which ingredients give you the most meals per dollar. Dried beans, lentils, rice, cabbage, eggs, chicken thighs, and frozen vegetables are consistently the cheapest calories at any grocery store and they’re genuinely versatile. Build your meals around these and fill in with other ingredients rather than the other way around.

What Are The Cheapest Ingredients To Cook With?

The cheapest ingredients to cook with are ones that are inexpensive per serving, store well, and work across many different recipes. Based on years of budget cooking, here are the most reliable ones:

Eggs are the most versatile cheap ingredient in any kitchen — under $1 per serving and usable for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and baking. Dried lentils and beans cost pennies per serving, require no refrigeration, and form the base of soups, stews, tacos, and salads. Rice and pasta are cheap calorie bases that stretch any meal further. Cabbage is one of the cheapest vegetables available year-round and works raw in slaws, cooked in soups, and roasted as a side dish. Chicken thighs are significantly cheaper than chicken breasts and actually more flavorful. Frozen vegetables cost a fraction of fresh and have equivalent nutrition. Oats are one of the cheapest breakfasts per serving available anywhere.

The key is learning a few good recipes for each of these ingredients so they never feel boring.

What Are The Cheapest Recipes On Cheap Recipe Blog?

While the whole point of my blog is to share recipes that are cheap, some of the cheapest recipes on here are:

Check out this post highlighting the cheapest recipes on Cheap Recipe Blog.

Does Cheap Cooking Mean Boring Food?

Absolutely not! You can eat totally delicious food without spending a lot of money. I know because I do it all the time!

Dive into Cheap Recipe Blog and find some new recipes to try that look appealing to you. As you identify cheap recipes you love, you can start experimenting with variations on those recipes to make them your own/put your own spin on them.

If you start making more food at home instead of getting takeout, going through the drive-through or buying ready-made food from the grocery store, you’ll start saving a lot of money over time.

Can I Post One of Your Recipes on My Own Blog?

If you are interested in posting a recipe from my blog on your own blog/website, I ask that you link back to my original post. Please contact me directly to discuss using one of my photos in your posts.

Have You Published Any Books?

Yes. In 2016, I published an ebook titled: 39 Low-Effort Ways To Save Up To $9,340.67 This Year.

Additionally, I have a featured recipe in The Ultimate SPAM Cookbook.

Have You Been Featured On Any News Sites?

Yes.  I have been interviewed on Fox9 News Minneapolis-St. Paul and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I am a regular food reviewer for Minnesota-based Bring Me The News.

Have You Spoken At Any Events?

Yes. I was a featured presenter at the Minnesota Blogger Conference. My presentation was titled: 5 mistakes even the most experienced bloggers make with their content.

I was a featured speaker at the What’s For Dinner? summit from February 26-28, 2024.

Do You Do Link Exchanges?

No.

Do You Accept Guest Articles?

No.

Budget Cooking Blog Recommendations

  • Good Cheap Eats – Another cheap recipe site featuring affordable and healthy dishes.
  • Bargain Babe – Great money-saving tips, some food-related, some not.
  • Budget Bytes – A longstanding blog featuring cheap recipes with price-per-serving noted.

My favorite cookbooks

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