[Migrated, see pinned post] Casual Conversation

I'll focus on food money saving tips. Don't follow them blindly, check if they apply or not to where you live (it varies quite a bit). It all boils down "buy cheaper, when cheaper, and use it well".

1. Bulk preparation saves money twice: one less reason to buy prepared food when in a rush, and you can buy larger amounts of the ingredients when they're cheaper.
2. At least where I live, cost for proteins go like: mutton > beef > pork, chicken > eggs. Focus on the cheaper ones; this doesn't mean you need to eat only eggs, but that if you can include eggs into your dish it'll probably turn out cheaper. [Vegetarians: the reasoning should be the same for seitan, soy protein, tofu, lentils, beans, etc.]
3. You can introduce a lot of variety into your meals, without raising their prices up, by changing the main carb: polenta, rice, potatoes, bread, pasta, yucca, etc. This gives you a bit more of leeway to repeat the protein, so you buy the cheaper ones more often.
4. Even if you don't have a garden, you can grow herbs in old margarine pots in a window. Herbs make do for variety of base ingredients.
5. Deboned chicken is typically more expensive by kilogram of meat than bone-in chicken. Plus check #7 on the bones.
6. If you're OK with offal, it's often cheaper. Chicken liver, cow tongue, etc. can be delicious if prepared correctly.
7. Have a container in the freezer for bones, veg peels etc., that you can use to make stock. Stock + leftover ingredients = soup for almost no cost.
8. Veg oils are pretty much interchangeable - pick whatever it's cheap where you live. Don't fall for the trap that it's "imported", "fancy", "with health benefits" whatever. (For me it's soy oil.) This does not include extra virgin olive oil.
9. Waste not, want not. Have a few recipes just for the sake of repurposing leftovers. For me it's rice/vegs croquettes, vegs/meats omelette, and potato pancakes. Note that rice croquettes can render even overcooked rice into a treat.
10. Banana peels and citrus skins can be made into sweets. No reason to throw them away.
11. Don't go too hard on yourself, otherwise you'll binge expensive food. Also, take nutrition into account; if you reduce costs at expense of your health you aren't saving money, meds are more expensive than food.