The holidays are coming up and we’re going to be spending more time indoors with family and friends. We all know one of the best things to do with loved ones is share a meal, especially during the holiday season. But continued inflation and the rising price of groceries doesn’t mean you can’t host and entertain this year or that you have to skip the very snacks that make the long winter bearable.
Instead, it might just take a little adjusting and creativity. Thankfully, there’s a TikTok creator showing you how it can be done affordably.
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She suggests being flexible and creative.
“I try to share meals that are prepared in under 30 min that are under $10 to make,” said Rebecca Chobat, who goes by @dollartreedinners on TikTok. She teaches her 1.5 million followers about the ways they can cut costs buying from their local dollar store. She’s found that many dollar stores have “quite a decent grocery selection.”
On her page, she’s posted recipes that feature kitchen staples such as pasta, smoked sausage, frozen vegetables, dried beans, rice, and instant mash potatoes, Good Morning America reported. What the dollar stores do lack is fresh produce and meat. Still, Chobat has been able to make things work. As an authority on dollar store cuisine, she has some ideas for Thanksgiving.
For holidays, she does $20 meals.
“They have stuffing mix. They also have this roasted turkey gravy mix which is so good. Canned canned yams are cheaper here,” she shared. Chobat challenges herself by making a themed $20 meal for the holidays. The meal includes an appetizer, entree, two sides, and dessert.
Chobat has learned that with making these affordable meals you have to know how to be flexible and pivot, such as when she had to serve ham instead of turkey for Thanksgiving because the store was out. Inventory can be tricky, but for those looking to save money, it can be a lifesaver.
The mom makes everything from cheesy spaghetti to Chipotle-style bowls.
Chobat has shown fellow TikTokers how to make their own Chipotle bowls at home. She made six for $32.21, which is much cheaper than buying them from the restaurant chain. She also makes charcuterie boards and bacon-wrapped pineapple skewers.
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More than just affordable, many of her ideas are accessible as well.
After a series on no-cook recipes, one person explained why Chobat’s cooking hacks are so necessary. “Thank you so much,” the commenter wrote. “I don’t have consistent access to water or a kitchen so these are so helpful.”
Chobat responded to the comment with a video saying that although her videos often highlight price, it’s not the only factor to consider. “Every single recipe I share, I have to make a conscious decision about ‘Do I show what is cheap or do I show what is accessible?’” she said.
