Grocery shopping is either something that you absolutely love to do or something that you absolutely hate. Not only can it be time consuming but it can also put a serious dent in your budget. Fortunately, we put together a small list that consists of a few foods that are both affordable and filling. What do we mean by that? Well, basically, foods that are filling are those that keep you full for a longer period of time in comparison to other foods. How cool is that? We think it’s very cool! Ready to check out what foods those are? Okay, let’s start!

Rice

Rice is a very affordable food that will fill you up like few other foods can. The type of rice that you buy is up to you but we think some of the tastiest rice on the planet is yellow rice. Brown rice is also good but if you want something more traditional, white rice may be your best bet. It can be seasoned however you like and you can eat it as often as you want. Why? Because rice doesn’t harm you nutritionally aside from the excess carbs.

Oatmeal

Not only is oatmeal mega cheap but it’s good for you and packed with fiber. Fiber essentially keeps your digestive system in check and has no trouble at all holding you over until lunch time. Have some oatmeal every morning for breakfast either with water or milk and your body will forever thank you. Trust us on this one. Oatmeal is some good stuff!

Bread

Bread is pretty common in most households and for good reasons. It’s been around for thousands of years and while it isn’t the greatest thing to eat in the world, it’s very filling for those of you on a set grocery budget. You can make grilled cheese, sandwiches, or plain toast. Either way, bread has no trouble keeping you full for as long as you need to be.

Water

Okay, so this one isn’t exactly a food but it works nonetheless. If you’re feeling hungry and don’t wanna dive into your pantry, have a glass or bottle of water. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and see if you’re still hungry. Sometimes we have hunger pains (or what we think are hunger pains) and it turns out that our bodies are just thirsty. Don’t have the extra money to buy bottled water? Try making a one time investment into a water filter.

How are those for cheap but filling foods? Adding these 4 items to your grocery list will definitely cut down on your spending without starving you to death. Best of all, you can literally find all of these items at any grocery store on the planet. If it works out well for you, you may want to invest in a rice cooker for the rice but everything else is pretty much self sufficient. Need a recommendation for one? We like Rival rice cookers which will run you around $20. As far as water filters go, all of them are pretty much the same. So, with that being said, we hope that this list helps you save some serious dough in the store!