From the article: Mexican Food on a Budget- Cheap Ways to Create a Delicious Menu
What little tips and tricks do you have to make your dollar stretch, while still being able to enjoy your favorite Mexican recipes? Share your Best Tip
Saving on Spices and Chiles
- I purchase spices in bulk buy buying the bags off the shelf in Mexican grocery stores. I refill spice containers over and over from this and save about 75% or more over purchasing new full containers. Also, stores such as .99cent store and Big Lots! have incredible deals on spices. Just make sure to watch the expiration dates. .99cent store has wonderful large bags of fresh chiles in the produce section...Anaheim, Jalapeno, Serrano and more can be had for .99cents for a giant bag...we core and freeze most of them in a zip lock and when we need them, they are easy to slice and chop directly into recipes or on top of cooked food.
- —Guest Cindy Meitle
Cut the meat cost
- I like to visit local carnitarias or the smaller "mom and pop" markets in my area where I can get a much better price on meats. Or sometime I cut the meat down in a receipe or eliminate the meat all together substituting with more beans and meat "flavorings".
- —Guest lynn lindley
Watch the Sales
- I love to check the weekly advertisements for my local grocery store. Most products used in Mexican cooking have a long shelf life and are great to stock up on when they are on sale.
- —ajb4clb
