A report on how this family of 3 ate frugally, for $37 a week, for a full year. If you're looking for cheap meal ideas or cheap dinners, read these tips!
If you're reading this, you may be in the same position I was back in 2013. A new mom, transitioning to stay home with her newborn, and suddenly realizing you can't breastfeed and have to put your baby on formula, an expensive and unexpected expense.
On top of all the emotional aspects of having a new baby, you now have to figure out where the money for the formula will come from and how you'll make it.
This was an unfortunate reality for me and John after we had Allison, and we decided to take the money out of our grocery budget of $60 a week. We were left with $37 to live on for food and household items, and I wondered how we'd do it.
It wasn't perfect, but we survived, and I want to outline exactly what we did for that entire year in hopes that I can encourage someone who might be in the same situation.
A few things to note before you read on:
Did we buy organic food? No.
Did we eat “clean”? No.
Did we at least try to eat healthy? Depends on what you call healthy. Keep in mind we were dealing with our first baby and all the hormones and depression that can sometimes go with that, so I ask that you read with an open mind and know that we're much better now and can see what we eat in my grocery hauls on Youtube.
Most of the meals we made can be found in my new "Emergency Meals" e-book, which you can find here at a special discount!
cheap foods we Bought and Ate
The two main stores we shopped at during this time were Meijer and Aldi. Aldi was our heavy-hitter, where we bought most of the essentials, and Meijer was for the great coupon deals.
Here were some of the items that made its way into our grocery list most weeks:
Pasta: I only bought pasta when it was less than $1.00 per box. My stock-up price was 50 cents, and I would buy 4-5 boxes at a time.
Salad dressing: Our main vegetable and side item was salad, with cheese, croutons, and bacon bits (See above question about whether we ate healthy). I could get Kraft salad dressing for less than $1.00 after coupons, so it made for a cheap option.
Lunch meat: I distinctly remember one week where John said, “You have $18 this week for food. Can you do it?” Meijer had a Buy 8 Items, Get $8 off sale so I bought a lot of deli ham and bologna for something like $.69 each, along with boxes of Velveeta shells and cheese for $.99. We had macaroni and cheese, sandwiches, and wraps all week, but I was under budget!
Salsa, sour cream, enchilada sauce, tortilla shells: We ate a LOT of simple Mexican food, which consisted of any/all of the previously mentioned items as well as rice and home-cooked dried black beans. We'd eat them as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, or just a regular burrito bowl.
Kraft macaroni and cheese: Yep, I said it. We ate Kraft macaroni and cheese. It's still one of our favorite brands and we'd eat it as a complete meal, sometimes adding cut-up hot dogs.
DiGiorno pizza: If we could get these for under $5, I’d buy a few for the freezer. These were great cheap meal nights!
Fruits/veggies and baby food pouches: I made Allison’s baby food, using simple fruits and vegetables, and froze the puree in ice cube trays. When she refused purees on a spoon, I bought the pouches instead and gave her one a day. I found that Beech-Nut is the cheapest at $.88 each at Wal Mart.
Here were some of our staples at Sam's Club:
Chicken breasts: We bought them at $1.88 per pound, in approximately 5-pound packages, and froze some for future use.
Chocolate chips: We'd buy a 4-pound bag and use them in pancakes and waffles.
Pancake mix: I know it's cheaper to make your own, but for $5.00 we got a lot of mix and it lasted us quite awhile.
Ground turkey: I can’t remember when we started to buy this, but we started using this instead of ground beef. $2.59/lb as opposed to $2.99+/lb.
Shredded cheese: We'd buy the 5-pound bags of cheese and froze them into 1-pound bags.
We had to be careful when we bought things at Sam’s. Most things were $10+, so one item would wipe out half our grocery budget for the week. I used Swagbucks when I could, taking surveys here and there to get extra gift cards, but I only got around 2 $25.00 gift cards that entire year.
Cheap meals We Made
Dinner (Lunch was always leftovers)
Slow cooker caesar chicken sandwiches
Crock pot chicken and stuffing
Three cheese macaroni with tomatoes
Cheese quesadillas
Burrito bowls (rice, black beans, salsa, sour cream, cheese, jalapenos)
Nachos (Same as above but with tortilla chips)
Breakfast
Cereal (from Aldi, or large bags at Meijer)
Piece of sausage on toast
Chocolate peanut butter overnight oats
Pancakes/Waffles (Bought a bulk bag of mix at Sam's, made big batches and froze the leftovers)
How We Finished Out Strong
Allison was born in October 2013, and in April 2014 we got enough money from our tax return to make a big GFS (Gordon Food Services, like Sam’s but mostly restaurant quality food/items) and Sam’s Club run.
We bought household essentials: paper towels, tissues, toilet paper, freezer bags, etc. We also bought food for a month’s worth of meals.
I used this $5 Dinner’s monthly menu for Sam’s Club. (Note: It looks like this menu is now only for purchase and no longer free.)
All the paper goods lasted us almost 6 months, which was when we were able to finally up our grocery budget!
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't you qualify for food stamps?
To be honest, we didn't check. We were still navigating the basics of budgeting and probably COULD have kept our grocery budget the way it was and found the money for the formula.
I think a lot of this situation was just trying to see if we could actually do it. If we were in dire straights, we definitely would have taken advantage of food stamps and the local food bank.
By the way, there is no shame in accepting assistance. That's why it's there! If you need it, take full advantage.
How did you figure out the cheapest store?
Because I'd done most of my grocery shopping at Aldi already, I knew that was cheapest for a lot of my pantry staples.
There were a few items I knew I could buy cheaper elsewhere when on sale. I'd check the Meijer and Kroger ad for sale prices, and their apps to see if there was a free item to clip. Kroger had a freebie Friday during that time, and I took advantage!
I also found a couple discount stores in my area- mainly bread outlets. I could buy loaves of bread and other bread items for 50 cents each. It was a great way to stock up my freezer.
Are you eating healthier now?
Our weekly budget has increased significantly since then, which has allowed us to buy more whole foods.
We're not perfect (Nobody is), but now I try to include fruits and vegetables in our everyday meals. I still search for the best deals to get the most out of our money!
How important is planning your meals?
SO important! Meal planning has saved my family so much money in the long haul. You need to know what you're eating for the next few days/week, and that means making a shopping list and sticking to it.
Even when John lost his job and we lowered our budget to $30 a week, we still did weekly meal plans because it meant we saved money.
How we survived
I prayed constantly. I didn't think we could continue this for a full year, but little things happened that I just knew was God at work.
If we needed to buy something we were almost out of, it would magically be on sale the next week, or it would be the off week that we didn’t need to buy formula, or I somehow had enough Swagbucks to get a gift card to use at Sam’s!
We were never in need, and we got through it, and we were still faithful.
If you're in a similar situation, remember that you WILL get through this. Times will be tough. You'll probably cry because you just want a little extra money for groceries.
I've been there, multiple times, and there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep praying, keep doing your best with what you have, and you'll make it through your situation with an inspiring story to share and a better understanding of how you can survive on a shoestring budget.
Jaime is a Nutrition Coach through the ISSA and professional writer. She has 4 years experience coaching and 9 years experience in writing. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.
Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.
Jaime, I just love your post and how gracious you are in your comments! Definitely a good example! Keep up the good work and God bless!
Thank you for your kind words, Grace! I'm so glad you enjoyed this post. =)
Just came across your article and could cry knowing there was someone it there in the same situation we were in with our first child. Aldi was a lifesaver! My first birth is now 4 and we have a 10 month old now. I was just thinking the other day how different things are (financially) with #2. No stress about being able to afford diapers and formula....we just buy them when we need them...and I'll never take it for granted! Having been in a much different spot in life with #1 was truly humbling. Thank you for sharing your experience and strategy to get through it.
Thank you, Lauren! God saw us through some wonderful and tough times, and it's always good to look back to see what we've learned since then. =) I still love Aldi!
Jaime, I remember those days 19 years ago when we had our first baby. Unfortunately for my family we live in an area that only has one chain grocery store, one discount chain store, Wal-Mart, and local stores. We do have a food co-op but the prices are more expensive than the grocery store. We have a family of six, about to drop down to having only five in the house, and I am always looking for ways to lower our grocery budget. I would love to see posts by bloggers that did not include coupons or places like Aldi. We do not even have a Costco closer than a two hour drive from us. This is not to insult your post, but I would love to see what somebody could get for say $50 a week without coupons or Aldi's or discount bread stores. Out where I am at the cheapest cost for ground beef is $4/lb. chicken is typically $2+/lb., and pork is usually around $3-$4/lb. Fruits are rarely under $2/lb. unless it is bananas. Veggies we can get for around $1/ea. or $3+/lb. I am trying to learn about canning and what can be frozen, so I can buy things in season and freeze for later. Our grocery store does do the discounts on meat when its reached its expiration date, but they never go about 20% off. Still, your post has made me feel better about the occasional boxed meal that I will feed my family when money is tight, there is nothing wrong with this, and I also want to commend you on your responses to those posts.
Thank you, Karen! I understand about needing to shop at non-Aldi stores. I'm sure there are some bloggers out there who also don't have discount stores in their area! But, you've given me an idea to stop by my local Wal Mart to see just what I can buy with a smaller grocery budget. =)
Thank you! Our family has hit a point where we have to start cutting costs drastically and it seems that groceries are one of the few ways I can control. We have accumulated some debt (most of it our own fault for living beyond our means) that needs to be paid down as soon as possible. This post reminded me that short term sacrifices can lead to better places. When my son was little we were also in a similar situation financially and I can remember when we went to Save A Lot and bought the boxes of mac and cheese for 25 cents each and I had canned a bunch of green beans from a garden we had raised at my parents house the previous year. Needless to say we ate green beans and mac and cheese for what seemed like an eternity. Definitely not healthy or organic, but we were fed and we survived. I appreciate your kindness and grace with the commenters who were less than nice about the health aspect of your meals. You have reminded me what is truly important in life and for that I thank you! This season in our life will soon pass, but for now it is blog posts like this one that give me new ideas to help us survive and thrive! Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Thank you, Belinda! You gotta do what you gotta do to survive; and although it's not always ideal, your family's getting fed, and that's what matters!
Thank you for this post. We are a family of six and have never been like this before. So I am trying to do my best with what little bit we have since we are a one income family now. I found this article so useful and will be implementing some things when I plan out my next grocery haul.
Your last couple of paragraphs is where I have been this past week. Trying to find out where we would get the money from to feed our family until payday. We shopped on $30, although I didn't get a lot, we will be eating this week. Thank God for placing items we needed on sale or having some items discounted, my many of coupons that Kroger keeps sending me. I don't know how we got through this week. So thank you!
Thank you for sharing this, Astrid! God is so good; sometimes when we can't even fathom how we'll survive, God makes a way. I'll pray that you can find peace in this situation and will be in a better place soon!
Thank you for this post! You are open and honest about what you were able to afford/ not afford, and that is so inspiring. I am going to try to implement some of your ideas. We are a one-income family of 8, trying to make a small budget work with hungry mouths to feed. I think your reliance on prayer and God is the most remarkable thing! I too have been praying a lot recently, and it seems Our Heavenly Father never runs out of personally unique, creative ways to take care of us. I have experienced this firsthand. Thank you for sharing your family's story.?
Thank you so much! Sometimes it's a struggle to feed 3. I imagine feeding 8 gets really creative! =) God definitely takes care of us when we need Him!
Thank you for sharing this. My husband told me this week our food budget is $39.00 per week. We are a family of five (three small children). We are hoping to pay off our car by the end of the year. It seems impossible right now. I went to Aldi today and felt defeated to be honest. I know that "this to shall pass," but it seems like such a struggle. Thank you again for sharing your experience.
I'm so sorry that you have to go through this too, Christine. It's a struggle for sure, but I know the freedom of having no car payment is so worth it!
Thanks for sharing. You did a great job.
Thank you, Pam!
I think this a great testimony to the things God can do for us if we just believe in him and trust him I've also had times like this also going to thrift stores for school clothes for 6 kids and God made sure we had what we needed
Thank you! God is amazing and has seen us through many times, even after this happened. =)
In our state we have mobile food pantry trucks that give out free food also you can find a few Amish bulk food stores around the state that have great prices on oats, flour, spices and much much more.
You can buy small amounts at bulk prices for a variety of food and not have to spend your whole budget on two or three 10 - 25lb bags of food.
Good advice, thank you!
I'm sure you've heard it a thousand times, but that was incredibly... moving? touching? inspiring? I'm not really sure what to say it is, I just know I am almost in tears at your strength. I hope you all are doing well, thank you again for sharing this.
Thank you so much! I'm happy to say we're in a better place now, in regards to finances and eating better. =)
Congratulations! Your post was my feature pick at #ThursdayFavoriteThings this week. Visit me at https://www.marilynstreats.com on Wednesday evening and to see your feature and grab your badge! All hosts choose their own features from the comments left on their blog so be sure to return to my blog for your badge. I invite you to leave more links to be shared and commented upon. Please don’t forget to add your link numbers or post title so we can be sure to visit!
Great blog, just curious why buy formula? A few commentators here also mention formula, I would think if the budget is tight breast feeding which is healthier anyway and free would be an obvious choice. Not judging, just curious since it's not just you but lots of mom's commenting on here that specifically mention formula. Thanks and great work here!
Thank you, Kate! I tried for 2-3 months to breastfeed Allison, and unfortunately it just wasn't working. Lactation consultants tried to help but I just couldn't make it happen. In order to save my sanity as a first-time mom (and try to conquer that post-partum depression), we decided it would be best to switch to formula. =) If I were able to breastfeed, I definitely would have!
Ok, I NEVER leave a comment but I am so very inspired by this article that I just had to write something! Thank you so much for this, my husband and I have 2 small daughters (2.5 yo and 6 mo) and we are up to our eyeballs in debt. I've always tried to stick to a strict budget but it's hard, I'm in Australia where (as another person commented) we don't have coupons or much competition between supermarkets. So groceries are EXPENSIVE here. Anyway, your article has given me so much inspiration and some great new ideas. And I love that you leave your trust in God and that He will provide - I'm such a worry wart but remind myself every day that God will make sure we have what we need to survive! Having young kids and being constantly sleep deprived makes it so hard to make things from scratch, your menu is perfect for families especially those with young kids, and is A LOT better than eating at fast food restaurants. You have a wonderful balance of foods that are easy to prepare when running around looking after a baby/toddler which involves nappy changes, nappy explosions, feeding, entertaining, constant loads of laundry, dishes, crying (baby AND me at times!), nap times, baths etc etc. I'm also a paediatric nurse (on mat leave right now) and look after lots of mums and bubs with feeding issues. I love the saying 'fed is best' - I know so many mums who have tried so hard to breastfeed but simply can't and end up with postnatal depression because they feel like failures, which is so far from the truth. Formula is excellent these days, so expensive but very well formulated for what bub needs. I've been very lucky that I've been able to breastfeed but I wouldn't hesitate to get formula if needed - much more important that baby is well nourished and thriving! Sorry for the long post but just wanted to say thank you for 'keeping it real' for busy families, it's a lot healthier than snacking on lollies and chips all day and gives me hope that we will get this debt under control in a timely manner! God Bless!
Thank you so much! That's really inspiring to hear. I've heard Australia is super expensive, but it really sounds like you're doing an awesome job! =)
That sounds familiar to me. We too had to do the same things, We ate deer meat for the first year after our son was born and salads with every meal, carrots, lettuce, apples, imitation bacon bits and salad dressing. Lot's of spaghetti and canned green beans that I canned the year before, navy beans and homemade pizza with sauce, pepperonis, and cheese. God always made sure we had food to eat. It may not have been what we wanted but our baby came first, diapers formula and such is expensive. We survived and we do talk about it from time to time and smile at each other.
Thank you for sharing this, Lilly! They were tough times but you're right, God always provides.
you know, we are now in a place where we shouldn't have to spend so much on our grocery bill, our kids are grown and out of the house. There are just two of us.... and we still spend waaay to much! I remember when we had such a small income really small, when we were first married and my husband who had been in a car accident 6 months prior to our wedding was not working. I was the only one now this is way back in the early 80's so living on $30 a week for groceries wasn't a hardship! but when I became pregnant with my second son and now I wasn't working, that made things alot harder! aldis was a godsend! and I rebated. now it means something totally different but in the 80's you could really save big on using the upc codes off of your labels. I would wait until I had enough to send in to get a book free! as well as getting alot of items totally free by following directions for the rebate. I am a reader and that was my obssession! anyway, I think that you have done exceptionally well and I know that your ideas are worth using! thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing that, Dorothy! Aldi is still our life saver. =)
Absolutely blown away at your faith in this trail of your life. God is good! I've been trying to cut back on my grocery bill so this post popped up on my Pinterest...so thankful I came across your blog!
Thank you so much, Megan! I appreciate that. =)