It’s no secret that even the thriftiest of apartment residents are finding new and inventive ways to cut costs these days. Food is always a constant but obviously necessary expense, but that certainly doesn’t mean you have to resort to eating beans out of a can when it comes to mealtime. With a little bit of creativity and a short amount of planning, odds are good you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy (not to mention fun) eating in your apartment home can be.
Since you’re an on-the-go apartment resident with an exciting life to lead, it can be easy to get swept up in the rush of the day and then be at a loss when dinner time hits. This almost inevitably leads to pricy takeout, or worse the previously mentioned beans in a can meal. Save yourself some anxiety and impulsive spending by planning out your weekly apartment meals in advance; the prep time is usually minimal and can often be done the night before, and leftovers are a great way to get more bang for your buck throughout the work week.
What’s that? You say the closest you get to gourmet cuisine is watching the quickfire competitions on ‘Top Chef’? Fear not, as there are a bevy of easy meals to prepare that will make you the king or queen of your apartment kitchen domain in no time. Despite all of the anti-bean talk, chili is a great way to eat healthy and affordably, and also presents a tasty vegetarian option for the non-meat eaters among us. Other great veggie favorites include potato pancakes, giant salads (get creative!), and black bean burritos.
If you’re more of the carnivore persuasion, casseroles are a quick and satisfying meal for apartment residents on the go. Toss in some hamburger, or get exotic and substitute venison for a change of pace (just don’t tell Bambi). Pasta meals such as manicotti or stuffed shells are a great way to split the difference in terms of pro / non meat eater preference, and the reheat option makes it a great multi-meal choice that can be spread throughout the week.
Regardless of what you choose to prepare, making cheap and easy meals in your apartment doesn’t need to be a chore. Just remember that all of the money you save throughout the week will make rent time that much easier, and odds are good you’ll have enough left over to spring for an extra round of beer when the weekend hits.