What groceries should I buy when I’m broke?

Buy groceries that can become several meals, not single-use items. A strong “broke week” grocery list is:

1. Oats — breakfasts, overnight oats, or savory oats
2. Rice — base for bowls, soups, fried rice, beans and rice
3. Dry or canned beans/lentils — cheap protein and fiber
4. Eggs — fast protein for breakfast, rice bowls, sandwiches, or dinner
5. Pasta — easy filling meals with sauce, beans, or vegetables
6. Potatoes — baked potatoes, hash, soup, breakfast skillets
7. Peanut butter — sandwiches, oatmeal, snacks, sauces
8. Bananas or apples — usually affordable fruit; buy what’s cheapest
9. Frozen vegetables — no waste, easy with rice, pasta, eggs, or soup
10. Canned tomatoes or tomato sauce — pasta, chili, soup, beans
11. Tuna, sardines, or canned chicken if affordable — shelf-stable protein
12. Tortillas or bread — wraps, egg tacos, PB sandwiches, quesadillas
13. Onions/carrots/cabbage — cheap vegetables that stretch meals
14. Plain yogurt or milk only if you’ll use it before it spoils
15. Basic seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, soy sauce or hot sauce if you already like them

A simple cheap cart: oats, rice, beans, eggs, potatoes, pasta, frozen vegetables, canned tomatoes, peanut butter, bananas, tortillas, and onions. That can cover breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for several days.

Easy meals from that list: oatmeal with banana and peanut butter; beans and rice; egg-and-potato hash; pasta with tomato sauce and frozen vegetables; bean tacos; baked potato with beans; fried rice with egg and vegetables.

Avoid spending your limited money on drinks, pre-cut produce, snack packs, frozen single-serve meals, name-brand cereal, and ingredients you’ll only use once.