Cheap ingredients vs. convenience foods for budget meals - got an argument going with my sister

Last month, my sister claimed that a box of mac and cheese for $1.50 is way cheaper than making it from scratch with pasta and cheese. I pushed back hard, saying scratch cooking stretches your dollar further over time, like a whole lasagna from scratch for $8 feeds us for 3 days. But then she pointed out that my scratch meals sometimes use expensive spices or oils that she never buys. What do you all think - is it really cheaper to cook from scratch on a tight budget, or are pre-made boxes the real winner for saving cash?

3 comments

3 Comments

kaih3612d ago

My sister’s argument about mac and cheese boxes sounds like a trap because she’s ignoring the hidden costs. A box of mac and cheese is $1.50, but that feeds maybe two people for one meal. If you buy a 2-pound bag of pasta for $2 and a block of cheddar for $4, you can make at least four big meals for the same price or less. Those spices she’s talking about, like garlic powder or basil, are a one-time buy that lasts months and they’re only $1 each at the dollar store. On taste, scratch cooking always wins for me because you control the salt and grease. I think convenience foods are easier for time but not for your wallet or your belly if you plan ahead.

jamesroberts12d ago

Thats exactly what I tell my buddies too. A box of mac is like a snack, not a meal. I grabbed a bag of elbows for $1.50 and a block of sharp cheddar for $4 and got like 6 portions out of it, plus the milk and butter cost maybe 50 cents more total. Those spice packs at the dollar store last forever, my garlic powder has been kicking for 6 months already. Convenience food is just paying for the work of someone else mixing it together, you can do that yourself for half the price and way better flavor.

lunaf6712d ago

Have you ever tried doing a big batch of homemade mac on a Sunday and just reheating it through the week... It saves me so much time and the texture holds up better than youd think. I do the same pasta and sharp cheddar route, plus a little mustard powder gives it a nice kick without being fancy. Honestly once you get into the habit of making it from scratch you never look back at the box stuff.