Tag: budget | zests.ai

#budget

ArcaneLotus

Stretching $50 SNAP for a Month......

Did a deep dive into my monthly budget and realized SNAP only covers $50, so I had to get creative. First time shopping at Lidl, and I managed to get almost a month’s worth of pescatarian groceries for $70. Had to skip all the extras and stick to basics—lots of frozen veggies, rice, and canned fish. It’s wild how much you can save if you really plan and stick to your list. Once I’m back to work after PT, I’m definitely upping my food budget and maybe grabbing a deep freezer for bulk deals. #Healthy eating #budget eats #lidl #Food

DoodleDynamo

Every family should learn to use a slow cooker! It's a huge help!

Working full-time while my wife’s pregnant meant takeout was eating our budget alive. One month, I just started hitting Aldi with a strict list and grabbed slow cooker staples—chicken thighs, canned tomatoes, beans and potatoes, and veggies as well. Tossed everything in the crockpot before work, and dinner was ready when I got home. And the taste is rather great, if you use some tasty sauce like curry and tomato pasta, or just black pepper. No more last-minute pizza runs. We cut our food bill by $300 that month, and I barely spent 20 minutes prepping each night. #Quick meal #Kitchen tools #budget eats #Food

Richard Figueroa

A dessert I always make when I'm on a budget.

Cook some rice, add sugar and cinnamon, then top it with milk. That's it. #Dessert #Budget eating #Recipe

GildedGust

Tips for $100 Outdoor Bash: Grilling and Chilling with Stretching Every Dollar

Sticking to a $100 budget for an outdoorparty is a challenge, but it’s totally doable. Bulk packs of ground beef and hot dogs from warehouse stores are a solid move, and I always grab buns when they’re on sale and freeze them ahead of time——Freezing is forever! Corn is cheap and filling—just toss it on the grill with a little butter and salt. For sides, pasta salad and potato chips go a long way and don’t break the bank. Watermelon is usually affordable and feeds a crowd. Cake? Box mix and store-brand frosting work just fine. Leftovers mean easy meals for the next few days, which is a win in my book. #Budget eats #BudgetBBQ #GrillPartyIdeas #Outdoor party #Food

MystiqueMelody

got hit with a $450 cleaning fee at avis—seriously?

I just dropped off my Avis rental after six days—nothing fancy, just a basic sedan. I figured I’d grab a coffee and come right back to rent another car since my plans changed and I needed wheels for a bit longer. When I got back, the desk agent tells me they need to close out my last rental and, oh by the way, there’s a $450 cleaning fee for pet hair. Pet hair? I don’t even have a pet with me! I ran back up to the garage, snapping photos of the car from every angle. It looked just like when I picked it up—maybe a little dust, but nothing crazy. I even asked the manager to come check it out with me. He barely glanced inside before launching into a story about his allergies flaring up the second he opened the door. Honestly, I was fuming. If I hadn’t come back to rent again, I probably wouldn’t have found out about this charge until it hit my credit card weeks later. I spent the whole day calling Avis, getting bounced around, and finally the site manager calls me back and says, as a “courtesy,” he’ll drop the fee to $150. Still for pet hair I never saw! It’s not the first time this has happened, either. Last time I rented from Budget, I got a random tire repair charge months after I returned the car. When I called, they said it was meant for someone else. How are we supposed to trust these companies when they tack on fees like this? Has anyone else run into these surprise cleaning or repair charges at rental car places, especially Avis or Budget? #rentalcarwoes #avis #budget #Travel

Richard Figueroa

Just started my career, I’m more budget-conscious eating !

Moving out right after graduation and juggling DoorDash gigs means every dollar counts. Sticking to a $40 weekly grocery budget is super tight, but it’s doable with a bit of planning. Shopping at discount stores like Aldi or Walmart helps, and I always check the weekly flyers for deals before heading out. Bulk buys like rice, pasta, and oats stretch a long way. Eggs are super versatile and cheap, and canned beans or lentils are lifesavers for protein. Frozen veggies are way more affordable than fresh and last longer, so there’s less waste. I skip pre-packaged snacks and grab bananas, apples, or carrots for quick bites. Rotisserie chicken can be split up for multiple meals—sandwiches, salads, or wraps. The trick is making a list and sticking to it. I’ve noticed that prepping a big batch of chili or stir-fry at the start of the week means I’m less tempted to buy extra stuff midweek. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done and keeps me from running out of food before payday. #Meal preparation #Budget eating #Meal deal #Food

PolishedPuma

$0.50 Veggie Stock for 7 Days ！

Veggie stock is one of those things that just makes sense when you’re trying to cut down on grocery bills. Here's my kitchen saving tips: Every time veggies get chopped, all those peels, ends, and scraps go straight into a freezer bag. After a week or two, there’s enough to fill a pot. Add water, a few peppercorns, and a bay leaf—maybe 50 cents total for those—and simmer for an hour. The result is, enough stock for soups, risottos, or even to cook rice for the whole week. #Kitchen hacks #Budget eating#ZeroWasteCooking #HomemadeStock #Food

DreamyDune

$4.98 Dinner for Two in 20 Minutes

Last night, picked up a pack of discounted chicken thighs, a bag of frozen mixed veggies, and a box of instant rice—all for under five bucks. The trick is to check those clearance stickers and never skip the frozen aisle. Cooking at home doesn’t have to mean bland or boring, either. Threw everything in a pan with some soy sauce packets (leftover from takeout), and it came out way better than expected. No need for fancy ingredients or hours in the kitchen. It’s all about working with what’s on sale and stretching it. The best part? #Quick meal #Budget eating #Share my meal #Saving money #Food

Julie Garcia

Save $10 a Month: Regrow Scallions Fastly at Home🏠

Every time scallions end up in my cart, I cringe at the price for such a simple ingredient. Here’s my trick that’s saved me more than a few bucks: don’t toss the roots! After using the green tops, I stick the white roots in a glass of water on the windowsill. Within a week, they shoot up fresh greens. It’s almost like getting free food out of thin air. If there’s a sale on scallions, I’ll grab a couple of bunches, chop what I need, and start the regrowing process with the rest. It’s not just about saving money, but also cutting down on waste. Grocery bills can be brutal, but little hacks like this make a difference over time. #Food knowledge #budget wating #savemoneytips #kitchenhacks

Kelsey Cohen

We remodeled our bay area home on a budget!

After 7 months of planning and work, our small-budget remodel is finally done, and it was all worth it! Here’s how we pulled it off: 🏗Permits: 3 months waiting, then 4.5 months of construction. No designer—just a sketch and a structural engineer for permits. 🏡DIY savings: We saved thousands by making custom range hoods and crown molding ourselves. The labor was tough, but totally worth it! 🛍️Smart shopping: Pre-made cabinets from LUSSO and final sale flooring from Luxor Floors helped keep costs down. 💰Final cost: Just over $100k for the whole project, including labor and materials. Couldn’t be happier with the results! 🙌 It wasn’t easy, but this remodel shows you can achieve a big transformation on a smaller budget! 💪 #HomeRemodeling #HomeRenovation #budget

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