Grocery Shopping When You’re Broke: 6 Staples That Stretch Over the Most Meals
Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze followers often live by the “rice-and-beans” credo when they’re paying down debt. But they are really talking about lowering grocery bills and also eliminating unnecessary purchases in the short-term to build wealth for the long term.
Even Ramsey clarified in a TikTok video, “When I say ‘beans and rice, rice and beans,’ I don’t actually mean only eat rice and beans.”
We talked to shopping experts Erica Sandberg, money expert at BadCredit.org, and Heidi McIndoo, registered dietician at FoodieMomRD, to find the most nutritious pantry staples that stretch across multiple meals – no rice and beans or packaged ramen required!
Read More: I'm a Frugal Shopper: 4 Things I Never Waste Money On
Find Out: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking
1. Pasta
Our experts agreed that pasta is an easy staple to stretch. Eat it with a jar of sauce and a protein source like lean ground beef or shrimp.
Sandberg shared an easy family recipe that uses pasta and whatever else you have on hand.
“Boil extra pasta, then add more sauce, some cheese, bread crumbs and vegetables, if you have any on hand. Throw it in the oven for a filling pasta bake,” she said.
Keep Financial Literacy Month going — learn how the MoneyLion app helps you track, manage and move your money in one place.
2. Salsa
A jar of salsa adds a spicy twist to meals, whether you’re dressing up leftovers or cooking a crockpot dinner. “Staples like salsa and pasta sauce can create a variety of meals,” McIndoo said. “When these items are on sale, get a few jars if you can.”
She suggested a one-pot dish that uses your protein of choice, salsa, seasonings and pasta or rice. She also said salsa and cheese can dress up scrambled eggs or turn leftover meat and veggies into a lunch you look forward to the next day.
3. Potatoes
You can buy a 3-pound bag of potatoes for less than $3 in most places. Top a baked potato with salsa, or leftover chili, or cooked frozen vegetables and shredded cheese for a delicious lunch packed with vitamin C and potassium.
“Potatoes are always great to have around,” Sandberg said.
She shared another recipe from what she called her “broke college student days.”
“I shredded a potato, chopped an onion, scrambled one egg, put it together and fried it,” she said. “It was a creative way of getting your stomach full and getting a little bit of protein. You can also add seasonings to change the flavor.”
4. Lentils
You can buy lentils in bulk and use them in soup, salads, or as a filling side dish. You can store them in their original containers for up to one year, or in airtight containers with moisture absorbers for up to three years, according to CountryLifeFoods.com.
“Lentils are absolutely amazing – super high in protein,” Sandberg said.
5. Concentrated Beef or Chicken Stock
McIndoo recommended concentrated beef or chicken stock like Better Than Bouillon, which costs less than $5 for 38 servings on Amazon. If you’re running low on food, you can make soup from random vegetables and a hearty broth base.
6. Eggs
Although people continue complaining about the price of eggs, as of March 2026, the average price for Grade A large eggs was down to $2.35 per dozen, compared to $6.23 per dozen in March 2025, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED). With 6 grams of protein per egg, they deliver a lot of nutritional bang for the buck.
“Toss leftover meat or veggies with scrambled eggs and cheese in a pie dish for an easy frittata,” said McIndoo, noting that eggs are one of the staples that can help “turn boring leftovers into delicious ‘nextovers.’”
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion:
