Never a dull moment at our house. Including during dinner. - SahmReviews.com

While Scott and I choose to make (some) frugal choices now, there was a time when watching our pennies was a necessity. I shopped with coupons and stretched each paycheck as much as possible while making a lot of ground beef meals. The goal was to pay off the credit cards. As a young couple, money was a concern. At the time, the only way to get a lower interest rate on a credit card was to open a new one when a better offer arrived in the mail. The introductory rate was exceptionally low and by continuing to pay the “minimum balance” we were accustomed to, we were able to apply what we were saving in interest directly to the principle. We surfed our credit card balance regularly to take advantage of the float and promotions and with each new card, we closed out and cut up the prior card. Before we knew it, our credit card debts were within reason and we were able to pay off our credit cards every month.

While our credit card strategy helped us dwindle the debt, the day-to-day spending was also a concern. The one place that I was able to feel like I was really winning was at the grocery store. Thanks to manufacturer and store coupons, rebates and promotions, I was able to stock up on prepackaged foods and household goods then watch the weekly sales for produce, meat and other perishables. Cereals were a big one for us because we could multi-purpose those products into recipes other than just breakfast. Desserts, meatloaf and more. Another staple was Hamburger Helper.

And it still is.

So many choices for an easy dinner. - SahmReviews.com

Why do we still buy it? Aside from the fact that it is an easy family dinner, only uses one pan and is affordable, we like the taste of their ground beef meals. There are a variety of flavors that utilize beef, but also have chicken and tuna options as well. We regularly find coupons for Hamburger Helper, but there is currently a rebate that really stands out: Free Ground Beef. It’s really easy to take advantage off. Visit your local grocer, purchase three Helper products (Hamburger, Chicken or Tuna) along with ground beef then send in the rebate form to receive a check for the purchase price of 1 lb of ground beef.

Free ground beef! Purchase 3 Hamburger Helper products then send in the rebate. - SahmReviews.com

Of course, the economics of the product is only part of the benefit, There are a lot of flavor choices for easy preparation as well as several that can be a base for something else. While we enjoy the Four Cheese Lasagna by itself topped with a little garlic salt and Parmesan cheese, we purchased a hashbrown variety that we’ll add to some scrambled eggs and use to make breakfast burritos. The combinations are limited only by your imagination. Want to add some vegetables? Do. Like some fresh cheese mixed in? Grate it up. Prefer to bake it instead of making on the stove top? Go ahead.

Free ground beef! Purchase 3 Hamburger Helper and ground beef then send in the rebate. - SahmReviews.com  Very few steps to making Hamburger Helper. It's easy and affordable! - SahmReviews.comWhen your 10 year old wants to help with dinner, accept! - SahmReviews.com
As a bonus, Hamburger Helper is easy enough for my kids to help with. I don’t let them drain the grease from the beef but the rest is all stuff they can handle! A meal that is affordable, flavorful, quick (and easy enough for the kids) to make AND offers a rebate to get FREE ground beef – What more can I ask for?

Quick and easy dinner on a budget. - SahmReviews.com

Do you use Hamburger Helper as directed on the box or as a base to create a custom recipe?

26 thoughts on “Stretching the Dinner Dollars

  1. I OD’d on Hamburger Helper as a kid. Now that I’m the mom, I never make it and opt for healthier dinner options. Sorry to be a party pooper here. 🙂

  2. I have been making a lot of Hamburger Helper meals lately because I found them for $1 at The Dollar Tree and a discount grocery store here in town. My kids love them. I cannot believe how far they have come since I was a kid–such variety now. Thanks for sharing.

  3. We can’t eat them due to tons of allergies in our family, but I do sometimes wish that we could have something as quick and simple to throw together as those box meals are.

  4. I almost bought a box of Hamburger Helper today–yes I do like it but Mac & Cheese was on sale! (Yes, I have been known to throw some hamburger in there as well) I have hamburger in the apartment and really don’t need any more right now. Once it goes on sale or I find a coupon-whichever comes sooner I’m getting some Hamburger Helper–or maybe I’ll get the Tuna Helper for a change of pace.

  5. Hamburger helpers is a stable for our Monday dinners. My kids love the different flavors that it comes in, and sometimes we also add our “own” extras into the mixture as well.

  6. My husband has a love affair with Hamburger Helper. He brought it into our marriage with him, and to his boxed love has remained true. 😉 I think it was in college he must have developed a taste for it. I’ve never seen him mom make it. 🙂

  7. Wow! I don’t think that we have these in the UK! I have heard of them but always imagined that they were a device to make hamburgers!! Shows how you take a name and run with it 😉 Will be googling to see if these are available over here as I especially your idea for the breakfast burritos! x

  8. Hi Nicole, Yes, when I we used to buy Hamburger Helper for all the same great reasons – and it was pretty tasty – It’s fun that there seems to always be a new choice for different flavors! And it’s great that you’ve put up the Amazon link to help make it easier for us to purchase at a great price – – thank you 🙂

  9. It’s been a good long while since we’ve made Hamburger Helper. I need to find out if they still make the potato stroganoff flavor. That was my favorite!

  10. My son likes Hamburger Helper. I always add extra pasta and some vegetables to it to make it go further.

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