Cheap recipes for tight end-of-month weeks

When money is tight, food is often the first thing you cut back on. Good news: some of the cheapest dishes are also among the most comforting and nourishing.

The ingredients that go a long way

Pulses like lentils and chickpeas, rice, pasta, eggs and seasonal vegetables make a solid, affordable base. A lentil dhal, a vegetable soup or a homemade pasta dish fills you up without emptying your wallet.

The anti-waste tricks

Cook a bit extra and freeze the leftovers. Turn slightly tired vegetables into soup or a stir-fry. Make a list before shopping to avoid impulse buys. Every small move adds up by the end of the month.

Eating cheap doesn't mean eating sad. With spices and a little imagination, the basics turn into genuinely good meals.