Stretching Your Food Dollar

When we're treating ourselves, we like Mexican food. But a trip to the restaurant could easily cost $50 if you're ordering beverages, too.

Last night my granddaughters visited overnight, so here's how we planned a meal for four. I purchased a large bag of torn romaine lettuce at the grocery store, and then ordered two carry-out orders of blue corn enchilada dishes (each with two enchiladas) from our favorite Mexican restaurant.

Each order came with rice and beans. 

No sides or drink orders.

I brought them home, split them among the four of us, added a simple vinegar and olive oil dressing for the salad, and served water to drink.

Evenings, the cost is $10 for each order ; but during the day it's $7.50.

So about $20 for the four of us; but had we made it lunch, it would have been about $5 less; or less than $4 per person!

Tonight will be on the cheap with some sautéed mushrooms and onions, along with some spinach greens mixed with cooked fetticini noodles and fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Salad greens with oil and vinegar dressing on the side.

(To make it more nutritious, I make sure the vegetables portions are more generous than the pasta.)

Pretty fast to prepare and also inexpensive, but it tastes so good!