Please keep in mind that grocery prices change quite often. The prices listed in this post are the prices I found here in Texas at the time of writing January I priced most of the items at my local Walmart, unless otherwise noted.

I simply make enough for two meals the first week and freeze half for the following week. I also always leave one night for leftovers because I find that that works well for us and helps us not to waste food.

Finally, I would consider this meal plan to be for a family of four , though it does feed our family of six since our kids are little. By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with this website in order to receive emails from me. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Note: the majority of the above prices are from my local Walmart, with the exception of the meats which I purchased on sale at Kroger. I try to watch for sales on meat and stock up when I can so that I never have to pay full price.

The best sharp paring knife. Let me know in the comments! Taco Soup — Divide and freeze half for next week. Beef Stroganoff Sandwiches , raw carrots Chicken Alfredo Pasta , salad — Not a cheap meal like some of the others, but you have to have a splurge every so often right?

Fajitas — We use this chicken marinade. Looking for a simple, easy, frugal meal plan to help you well and keep your pocketbook happy, too?

This is the exact meal plan our family uses when we have pennies in need of saving. Even though the numbers have changed , these are still budget friendly choices and will save you significantly on your average weekly grocery bill.

This super frugal meal plan is one way to start getting ahead. You might also enjoy this list of ten ways to save money on a tight budget. Save it to buy some bulk beef, or protein powder, or whatever else you want to buy. I have the perfect answer: SET ONE.

Go through your bills and tally them all up: housing utilities, phone, gas, insurance, internet, TV. Go ahead and call your internet and phone companies and see if they have specials.

I do it every 6 months and either save money or get an increase in service for the same amount every time I call. Amazon Prime is great, too, but you do have to pay for it up front the 2-day shipping makes it my favorite option. Next, subtract what you have in bills from what you have in income.

Doing this is how you figure out what your grocery budget can be. You need an emergency fund. Do something. Put it somewhere and LEAVE IT THERE. Just not by buying something, okay?

It was WORTH IT to save up our emergency fund. We did one week like this a month when we were adopting, too. Are you ready? You can do this! I am making the numbers for a family of 8, so if you have less be excited!!!

Temporary sacrifices are worth it. Gotta love that! Saved money is tax-free income to me. Robin in Illinois. If circumstances have put your family in debt, we can help you create a plan for conquering it. One that is personalized to your family's budget and lifestyle.

We use chicken breasts with the bone in, removing the skin. This saves money and helps us cut down on our portion sizes.

When picking red potatoes, we buy smaller potatoes because they taste better, stretch to cover more than one meal, and cut down on portion control. Green beans are fresh and we usually drink water with all meals adding a straw and ice to encourage the kids to drink it , but we offer milk or OJ too, in small portions.

We use instant brown rice or regular white rice with sausage, which can feed more than four or can be used for leftovers at lunchtime.

We no longer use cheese, croutons, ham, and other additives because they not only cost money but also add more than half of the calories in a perfectly good salad.

A cucumber salad is simple, healthy, and cheap. Fruit slices consist of fresh slices of whatever fruit we find on sale. The chicken pot pie is a simple recipe that uses chicken pieces, frozen vegetables, cream of chicken soup, and instant biscuits.

The recipe saves money because it cooks quickly and because we save vegetables all week for this recipe. For example, if we make corn on the cob and one piece is left untouched, we cut off the corn and add it to a small, thick plastic container in the fridge.

We do this with all leftover vegetables that have not been handled for safety , which would be appropriate for a chicken pot pie. Shish Kabobs i. Our shish kabobs are made with meat we get on sale and loaded with whatever vegetables are in season and cheap.

The rice is either instant brown or regular white, and the pineapples are canned with a sprinkling of whatever berry is in season. You only need a shot of blueberries for them to make a difference in your health, and the canned pineapple is not fresh but cheap and good with the blueberries.

The salad is greens with tomatoes and low-cost, low-calorie salad dressing. The Brunswick Stew is made with a cut of meat bought on sale, frozen the day we bought it and then defrosted. The vegetables for this can be acquired in the freezer container in the same way as above or by using a stockpiling of canned veggies you might need to use.

Today, we got some fresh corn and tomatoes on sale, so we will use those. We use whiting fish unless we can buy another kind on sale, small red potatoes, and steam fresh green beans in the microwave.

Our family has Mississippi Coastal roots and this is a favorite recipe of ours. It can be made with chicken breasts with bone and skin removed by us. The salad is either cucumbers and tomatoes or greens and whatever vegetable we got on sale that week.

This week it was tomatoes. Lunches and Breakfasts: Mom only cooks once daily, so teenagers and husband make an oatmeal packet, cereal, toast, or an egg for breakfast with fruit. For lunch, leftovers or sandwiches can be made with carrot sticks, celery sticks, or fruit. We are a homeschooling family, so we each make a lunch to take with us or to eat at home.

Wouldn't you like to be a Stretcher too? Subscribe to get our money-saving content twice per week by email and start living better for less. Tips for Creating Super Frugal Weekly Meal Plans. by Reader Contributors. Super Frugal Weekly Meal Plans From Our Frugal Readers We got a lot of responses from our savvy, frugal readers for our request for cheap weekly meal plans.

See Sabotaged By Impulse Buys. Weigh everything. A ten-pound bag of potatoes might actually weigh up to 12 pounds and a three-pound bag of apples might weigh four to five pounds.

You get more for your money. However, do not clip coupons for items you do not use regularly. That is a waste of money.

Learn to cook. Homemade spaghetti sauce costs a fraction of canned spaghetti sauce.

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Are your hands full with summer squash? Grilling it is a fantastic way to use it! Join us as we learn all about grilling summer squash. Embark on a quinoa adventure: discover nutritional facts, locate it in grocery stores, and unravel its versatile charm.

Utah State University sites use cookies. By continuing to use this site you accept our privacy and cookie policy. I agree. Close Open search. Close Quick Links. Eating Healthy on a Budget: The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Meal Planning Frugal meal planning is one of the best ways to save money on your grocery budget.

Let's dive in! Define Meal Planning So what is meal planning? Meal planning helps you save time, money, and make healthier eating choices. Types of Meal Planning There are a variety of types of meal planning.

Here are just a few to think about: Weekly Meal Planning: Deciding what to eat for the week ahead. Batch Cooking: Making multiple servings at once for future meals. Meal Prepping: Getting ingredients ready in advance for quicker cooking.

Freezer Cooking: Preparing and freezing meals for later. Once-a-Month Cooking: Cooking a month's worth of meals in a day. Budget Meal Planning: Planning meals to save money.

Emergency Meal Planning: Preparing for unexpected situations. Meal Planning Guidelines and Principles Use MyPlate food groups: Include a mix of protein, vegetables, fruit, dairy, and grains for a well-rounded meal.

Variety is Key: Rotate different foods to ensure you get a range of nutrients. Plan Ahead: Decide your meals in advance to avoid last-minute unhealthy choices. Use a Shopping List: Create a list based on your meal plan to avoid impulse buying.

Minimize Processed Foods: Focus on whole, unprocessed ingredients. Cook in Batches: Prepare extra portions for leftovers to save time and reduce waste. Look at your Calendar: When menu planning, adjust your plan as needed to accommodate changing schedules or unexpected events.

Plan easy meals on busy days. Learn Basic Cooking Skills: Simple cooking techniques can make meal preparation easier. Our online free Create Better Health course is perfect for this! Reduce Food Waste: Start your menu planning by looking through the fridge, freezer and cupboards. Use leftovers creatively and be mindful of expiration dates.

Family Involvement: Involve family members in meal planning and preparation. Keep it Simple: Meals don't have to be complicated to be nutritious and delicious.

Factors to Consider When Planning Meals Here are a few factors to keep in mind when frugal meal planning. Budget Constraints: Be mindful of your budget and seek cost-effective ingredients and recipes that align with your financial goals.

Time Available for Cooking: Consider your daily schedule and choose meals that match the time you have for preparation, whether it's quick and easy recipes for busy days or more elaborate dishes for weekends. Nutritional Needs: Tailor your meals to meet your nutritional requirements, considering factors like age, activity level, and health goals.

Aim for a balance of nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. Available Ingredients: Plan meals based on what ingredients you already have and what's in season. Reducing food waste and using what's on hand can save both time and money.

Portion Sizes and Balance: Pay attention to portion sizes to avoid overeating and ensure your plate is balanced with a variety of food groups to meet your dietary goals. Simple Steps to Follow When Meal Planning Choose a Day: Set a specific day each week for meal planning.

Kid-Friendly Meal Planning Here are some simple tips for kid-friendly meal planning: Involve Kids: Let kids help choose and prepare meals. When they have a say, they're more likely to eat what's served. Finger Foods: Kids often enjoy bite-sized, finger-friendly foods.

Consider snacks like veggie sticks, fruit slices, or mini sandwiches. Colorful Plates: Use a variety of colorful ingredients to make meals visually appealing.

Kids are more likely to eat a rainbow of foods. Hidden Veggies: Sneak vegetables into dishes like spaghetti sauce or smoothies for added nutrition. Balanced Meals: Ensure each meal includes a mix of protein, vegetables, and grains to cover nutritional needs. Refer to MyPlate for more guidance on food groups.

No Pressure: Avoid pressuring kids to eat. Offer a variety of foods, but let them decide how much to consume. Mealtime Routine: Establish a consistent mealtime routine to create a sense of structure and comfort. Many things will freeze, so you could make the 2 portions but split into, say, 3, and freeze the extra for another day.

All the plans are within current Govt. guidelines for healthy eating and most contain significantly more than 5 a day. If there are 4 of you, buy 2 lots of everything on the 2 person plans.

If there is 1 of you, spread each day over 2 days, and if you have one, make use of your freezer for the fresh stuff. Recipes usually include many suggestions for additions and variations, so if you have a larder, you can ring the changes.

If you already have some of the items in your larder, oil and sugar perhaps, can I suggest that you use the money that would have been spent on those things to buy a spice e. cumin, turmeric or ground coriander, or a piece of fresh ginger which can be grated and frozen, or grated directly from the freezer or a jar of ginger and garlic, or perhaps a pot of growing herbs; basil, coriander, mint or thyme; or a bottle of lemon or lime juice, which keeps for ages.

With things like that in your larder, the options for flavouring your food are that much greater. I offer some variations in each recipe that you might like to try if you have the ingredient s available. I give as much detail as I can, to enable you to get as much value as you can while doing your shopping.

Look at the value ranges of the big supermarkets, or try Costco, Morrisons, Lidl or Aldi. Markets are a great source of cheap groceries, always worth a look. I generally do weekly meal plans using Asda as the shop of choice. This is not because it is the cheapest, but because they stock things like lentils, and other ingredients, that Lidl and Aldi do not.

The Meal Plans. To continue to the meal plans — click here Budget meal planning This report says that average spend per person per week on food and drink was £

Do you send out newsletters about your new recipes and ways to save. At the grocery? hanks for your kind words, Marla! I also occasionally with add in fish since Aldi has the frozen fillets for such a reasonable price. And then I add in ground beef or ground turkey whenever I can find it cheap and the same with bacon, sausage and ham.

I love buying a big ham when they are cheap over the holidays and then I cook it up and cut it into bite sized pieces and freeze it in small portions typically 1 to 2 cups. This gives me a nice supply of ham to use in soups or other dishes too. I do the same with turkeys over Thanksgiving.

Yes, I do send out newsletters semi-regularly. I try to share my new posts in the newsletter as well as other tips and ideas that I think my audience of busy, frugally minded moms might find helpful. You can sign up here if you are interested! Your email address will not be published. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Home Welcome!

Pin 1. Share 3. Easy Vegetable Beef Soup. Healthy Double Chocolate Muffins. Next Post: An Easy Secret for Getting More Quality Family Time ». Comments These menus seem to be 2 meals a day?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Get my Instant Pot cooking times chart here for quick reference, or refer to the Kitchen Staples chapter in my cookbook. Six Meals from one pork loin.

Download and print a quick Frugal Meal Ideas reference sheet to post in your kitchen or tuck in your planner! Check out the rest of my helpful printables in the Free Resource Library! Actually I live alone and there is always a question mark for about what to prepare , which meal will best and easy to cook.

Thank you for sharing these Budget-Friendly, Frugal Meal Ideas, amazing ones. Thanks for sharing these Budget-Friendly, Frugal Meal Ideas.

Will love to try these delicious Meal Ideas. Lots of frugal meal inspiration here. Your email address will not be published. Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! About Privacy Policy Disclosure Policy A Word of Reminder Good News Shop My Amazon Favorites! Work With Me Recipe Index. Stay connected and get all the latest.

Roasted Carrot Fries ».