Saving Money Without an Oven

So, we all know that cooking large batches of food (then saving leftovers to take to work or freeze for later) is the most frugal way to eat. Sometimes this method just doesn't work for my lifestyle:

1.) I'm single and don't really want to eat the same meal every day for a week.

2.) I have a lot going on in my life and simply don't have the time.

3.) Having this...

if you guessed that ONE of my projects was the popcorn ceilings-- you were right!

going on in my house makes cooking large batches of food (or any food) practically impossible!

I had to come up with some system of eating that doesn't require pots, pans, or dishes, yet keeps my budget in check. Where did I find it? Smack dab in the middle of the freezer aisle! Yep, I've stocked up with deliciously cheap microwave meals.

Microwave meals have been my go-to for work lunches for years, but little did I know that they would be such life savers during my renovations. All I need is the freezer (which debris can't get into) and a microwave. The best part is that over the time that I've been eating these meals for dinner, I've saved a bundle over my usual grocery bill. The meals I buy range from $1.88 to $2.99 which apparently was less than my normal meals were totaling up to. I think that the difference is that I have portion control now. With the mass meals, I would end up eating more than one portion of food; I don't have a portion choice now. I've even lost a couple pounds in the process!

There are some downsides to living up the micro life: more preservatives, fewer fresh veggies, more trash (luckily I can recycle the box and plastic at my house), etc. As a quick fix when my house is in shambles, I'd say that this is a winner! It sure beats hitting up the fast food restaurants at $5 a meal (although, using my happy hour trick has been a good choice as well).

My favorite choice? Amy's organic Indian meal... Yum!

What's your favorite microwave meal? Do you have any tips for thrifty eats without an oven?

Stay tuned for details on how I managed to get all of that disgusting popcorn off of my ceiling!