I have read countless posts on budgets, money managing, freezer meals, and people who food shop and spend very little money. I usually read them, feel inspired in the moment and then do absolutely nothing about it. I try to set a food budget, but it never works out. I even clip coupons, shop at different stores, buy things on sale and still I spend a crazy amount on food!
We eat super healthy, entertain a lot, and I blog recipes. All of these things make it really hard to stick to a budget.
As I was making my shopping list this week I decided to challenge myself. I decided that I would try to create 5 dinner meals and only spend $50 for our family of five. Even as I wrote it down I laughed out loud. What would I do the other 2 days of the week? I thought one day of leftovers and one day breakfast for dinner! OK, maybe I can really do this!
Some of the staple things I already had in the fridge or pantry like milk, butter, eggs, homemade dressings, and oil.
I am so excited that I really only spent $50 on 5 dinners this week! I can now join the many bloggers who post about creating great meals on a low food budget! Whoo Hoo!
The key things I found that I needed to be successful in this challenge were:
1.Make a list of food by day and be specific about what you need. Remember to bring your list with you. 🙂
2.Places like Aldi, Target, and Walmart have better prices on food than the leading supermarkets. I still shop at Trader Joe’s because I love it there!
3. Use coupons when you can. Sometimes the store brand still ends up being cheaper. It’s always best to check.
4. Bring only cash. This way you guarantee that you will not go over the amount you budgeted.
Here’s the 5 meals I created with $50:
Monday:
Salad-romaine lettuce, red cabbage, cucumber, carrots, celery, and tomatoes with {homemade Catalina dressing}: see price below
Whole Wheat Pasta With Meat Sauce-1 box of pasta, ground turkey, and 2 jars of organic tomato sauce. Fresh herbs from garden. I already had garlic. Served with warm Italian Bread.
All Food bought from Aldi: $ 9.00
Tuesday:
Salad: see price below
Grilled Chicken: marinated in homemade Italian dressing.
Rice Pilaf
Roasted Cauliflower: with a fresh squeezed lemon and fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
All Food bought from Trader Joe’s: $7.50
Wednesday:
{Chili}: ground turkey, jar of salsa, crushed tomatoes, beans prepared from a bag.
Brown Rice
Corn Bread: bought a bag of Goya corn meal, and all other ingredients I had at home.
All ingredients bought from Target and Aldi: $ 10.00
Thursday:
Salad
Grilled Teryiaki Salmon: 1 lb of Wild Alaskan Salmon with a 1/2 jar of Teriyaki Sauce
Roasted Potatoes: with fresh herbs and canola oil
Ingredients purchased from Trader Joe’s and Aldi: $11.00
Friday:
{Corn Chowder}–some ingredients left over from salad, corn and potatoes. All other ingredients I already in the fridge.
Biscuits: made from scratch with ingredients already in the pantry.
Ingredients purchased from Aldi and the farmer’s market: $ 3.00
*All vegetables bought at a local farmer’s market and made enough salad for 3 days with some vegetables leftover for the corn chowder: $ 9.50
Did I mention that I am very excited about accomplishing this! 🙂 I am ready to take on another week on planning 5 dinners for $50!
