Maybe I'm just bitter because my last 'budget' meal plan from a forum turned into a $38 trip for staples that were supposed to last two weeks. But it's like people forget that spices, oil, and fuel for cooking are part of the math. My gas stove eats through a $20 propane tank every three weeks when I'm meal prepping stuff like dried lentils. The real budget win isn't buying bulk, it's knowing what you'll actually eat and not wasting. That's what never gets talked about in those threads, the waste from forcing yourself to eat something you hate.