August 07, 2025

Greetings!

If you've ever stared at your pantry and thought, What can I make with this? — you're not alone.

There's a name for meals like that: struggle meals. They're the low-cost, made-from-whatever-you-have kind of dishes that fill you up when money is tight, the fridge is nearly empty, or you just don't want to waste food.

They might not be fancy, but they get the job done and surprisingly, some of them are downright delicious.

FYI I write another newsletter called The Daily Recipe. If you want some tasty ideas that are usually quick and easy, subscribe to it by Free Daily Recipe Newsletter

Be Well,
Anisa

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Struggle Meals That Actually Hit the Spot

Peanut Butter Ramen
Cook instant noodles and stir in a spoonful of peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic powder, and a splash of hot sauce (Sriacha is the best!). It turns into a creamy, savory bowl that feels far more filling than it should.

Fried Rice with Whatever You've Got
Leftover rice, an egg, some frozen veggies, and a dash of soy sauce is all you need. Toss in leftover meat or chopped hot dogs if you have it. Fry it all up in one pan and you're set.

Tuna Melt Tortillas
No bread? No problem. Mix canned tuna with mayo, mustard, or relish. Scoop it into a tortilla, top with a slice of cheese, and toast it in a pan like a quesadilla. Simple, warm, and satisfying.

Pasta with Breadcrumb Topping
Out of Parmesan? Toast some breadcrumbs in butter with garlic powder and sprinkle over plain pasta. It gives the dish crunch and flavor, and it costs next to nothing.

Garlic Rice
When you are as broke as a joke, and you open the pantry to find only a box of rice, what can you do? You can add roasted garlic to it and make a simple dish that is so good, you won't be able to stop scarfing it down.

In Closing...

Struggle meals remind us that good food doesn't have to be expensive. When you're working with what you have, every dollar goes further — and you might just discover a new favorite dish along the way.

This is also a good habit to ensure you are using food instead of wasting... Bon Apetit!

Try This Instead

Instead of: Ordering takeout when you're low on groceries

Try This: A quick pantry meal made with leftovers, eggs, or a can of beans

You Said It, We Saved It

In response to the May 18th issue on Credit Score Fixes:

"Just wanted to say thank you for this one. I didn't realize how much paying down my highest-interest card first would help. My score went up 18 points in two months!" – Roger, AZ

Marci in Ohio: "I checked my credit report and saw a closed account still listed as negative. Turns out it was scheduled to fall off next month. Felt good knowing it was almost over!"

Jake from Missouri: "After my Chapter 13 was discharged, I sent letters to the bureaus and got it removed in 7 years. Worth the effort!"

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