What to cook this season with limited budget?

The way i see your foods for this season, is already enough to be festive. Since you already have the macaroni salad, there's no need for a fruit salad. Actually, spaghetti and macaroni salad already have costly ingredients. The foods to be prepared for the season really depends on the budget.

since I am a solitaire this christmas day, I am planning to cook only one recipe which is pancit guisado ( bam-i in visayan ). It can be eaten without a partner (rice etc.). I'm gonna cook and amalgamate it with a bihon or a sotanghon, a few chops of cabbage or a chinese pechay( also called as "kinchay"), chops of fried pork liver and shower it with few drops of pepper and that's it. This only costs 120 pesos and even below.

In Winder, I always make a legume dish once aweek. I make them from scratch, soaking them overnight instead of buying expensive cans. I buy a kilo (about 2 pounds) and boil them all at once to use less gas. Then I add the other ingredients to the amount I need and freeze the rest. I boil the legumes without salt lthough I might add some milk to lentils and a bone to beans and chicken peas.

One of my favorite items to make that you can use for more than one meal is baked beans. Macaroni and Cheese you could make up then add tuna or chicken as you eat it. Tuna salad is also easy to prepare. I like Egg Salad and make that about once a month then have toast and egg salad either for breakfast or lunch. If you need any recipes let me know I had to cook for 7 people when my children were home. If I know what your budget is, I can suggest some other things. But those above are pretty cheap and basic. One of my favorite meals is Chicken and Dumplings. Unfortunately I don't get to make it much because my husband prefers noodles but after the holidays I am making some and will make him some noodles and chicken. Let me know if you need any recipe ideas I love to share!

I think you could buy some vegetalbe and reduce some animal food such fish or chicken lollipos.I think animal food only one is enough.Some popular fruit is necessary.

How about making your own bread. You can save twice the price of the store bought one,I do make my own bread since 4 years now and you can't beat the taste it is wow to be able to eat it fresh, and it smells so good.

I'd rather prepare, pancit canton, lumpiang shanghai and if you know how to make the fish lumpia, it would be cheaper also but tastes good really. I'll just also prepare macaroni salad for the dessert and have some extra fruits which will last also until New Year. Prepare juice instead of sodas. Happy Holidays!