Cheap eats by way of bulk, clearance and sales

Grocery prices are soaring, and it can be hard to keep your food budget under control. A couple of weeks ago, my girlfriend shared her struggle with the rising costs and making affordable at-home dinners. I shared with her that my goal for our family of five is to keep each dinner under $10, but most fall into the $5 category. Of course, sometimes we splurge, but I can regularly hit this mark by buying in bulk, shopping the sales, and looking for clearance. Dinners don't always have to be fancy. Sometimes, quick, easy, and cheap are OK to serve, too. If you've exhausted your monthly grocery budget, here are a few of my favorite cheap family meals under $10 to get you through the month. Best of all, they are kid-approved. Pasta Any pasta meal can be served on the cheap, especially if you decide to forgo the meat. Just a box of pasta and sauce can cost you under $3. Add a box of frozen garlic bread for a couple of dollars more, or save by making your own. If you find a pound of meat on clearance, clear your previous dinner plans and make it pasta night instead. Quesadillas This Mexican cuisine is a family favorite, and I usually make it at least once a week by request. I can easily make it with leftover chicken, spices from the cabinet, tortillas and cheese. I often grab a small can of green chilies or add a couple of pickled jalapenos for those in our family who like a little spice. Scour your fridge to see if there are any leftover veggies to help bulk up each quesadilla. Pancakes and eggs A large box of pancake mix and a syrup bottle can cost under $5, and I can use it for multiple meals. Since this meal can be made cheaply, adding fresh fruit easily keeps your price down. Best of all, pancakes are always a kid's favorite. If you want to add protein, pair this meal with eggs for about $2 more. Homemade pizza Sure, you could pick up some pizza somewhere fast and quick, but making it at home easily saves my family about $40. You can make your own homemade dough on the cheap or grab some ready-made dough for under $1.50 at Aldi. After adding some pepperoni, sauce and cheese, you can easily make a pizza for under $3 each. If you involve your whole family, you can turn pizza night into a family night. Chili All the ingredients are inexpensive, so I can whip up a pot of chili for very little money. Best of all, this meal is packed with protein. Any beans will work, but grab a pack of dry beans if you want to make it as frugal as possible. You can substitute ground beef for ground turkey or leave it out entirely. Canned tomatoes are often on sale, and you can add inexpensive vegetables such as onion and green pepper, too, if you have some on hand. Toppings are optional, but they sure do make the meal. Making dinner doesn't have to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money. Use your leftovers to save you time and cushion your budget. Next time you think about eating out, try one of the quick and budget-friendly options above. This week's deal Here is a deal that you can get this week at CVS.Buy 2 select Garnier Fructis Hair Care Products 2/$8 Use the $3/2 select Garnier Fructis Hair Care Products digital manufacturer's coupon (found on the CVS app or website)Pay $5Get back $3 Extra Bucks*= $2 total – just $1 each!* Extra Bucks can be spent like cash in the store. Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at couponingwithrachel@hotmail.com.