What groceries should I buy when I’m broke?

When money is extremely tight, the best groceries are usually the ones that are cheap per calorie, filling, and versatile.

Smart “broke” staples

• Grains & carbs: rice, oats, and pasta
• Proteins: dried beans, lentils, eggs, and peanut butter
• Produce: cabbage, carrots, onions, and whatever fruit is cheapest where you live
• Flavor & fat: vegetable oil, bouillon cubes, garlic powder, chili powder, salt

Good ways to stretch meals

1. Use beans or lentils to stretch meals. They’re inexpensive and can be added to soups, chili, rice bowls, tacos, and pasta.
2. Check frozen vegetables. They can be a good budget buy, especially when fresh produce is out of season or priced high.
3. Cook simple foods from scratch when you can. Rice, oats, beans, and basic soups are often much cheaper than convenience foods.

Quick rule of thumb

If you’re very short on money, build your cart around:

• 1 grain
• 1 protein
• 1 cheap vegetable or fruit
• 1 flavoring
• 1 fat

That gives you the most meals for the least cash.

Prices vary by store and area, so check unit pricing and look for discount grocers if you can.