Keeping your kitchen stocked with frugal staples is an easy way to help you save money on groceries. By having the following ingredients on hand, you'll be able to make a variety of inexpensive meals and always have a frugal base of ingredients to use when creating your meal plan. © Comugnero Silvana / Dollar Photo Club 1. Dried Beans. Dried beans are far less expensive than canned beans –preparing your own is definitely worth the effort! To save time when preparing, cook dried beans in the slow cooker and store in the freezer for future use! Or here's how