I love the grilled New England sea food bake recipe - thanks so much for sharing!:happy:

Aldi is a great low cost food store. It is pretty basic and you can't get the number of choices you get in other food stores, but for instance, you can get cucumbers for as low as 35 cents at times, usually they are 49 cents. You can only pay with a debit card or cash. You bring your own bags. You need to check the produce, as it sometimes is past its prime, but they do have a money back guarantee for returns. My Aldi seal whole chickens for 95 cents/lb., which is good.

It is worth the time to Google the closest location near you.

Good luck.

Thanks rduhlir for next week's shopping list! I am going to take the list to the grocery store and use it for next weeks dinners which solves the problem of what to make!

We're also four on $100/week. We started doing this with fairly well stocked pantry so I've been able to wait for sales to replenish the things I use. Currently trying to spend closer to $80/week and saving the other $20/week for an upcoming case-lot sale that will save money (generally canned foods and bagged flour are 50% off). As evident of posts food prices change drastically by location. "$1 a pound for butter on sale" we only get as LOW as $2/lb on sale and that's only twice a year. Currently butter is over $4/lb where I live. We don't use much in recipes that we personally eat (butter on toast uses 90% of our home-use). I do however have a separate grocery expense of baking for the Farmers Market, it's self-sufficient by repurchasing what it uses then it usually covers the $100/week grocery bill for the home.

My favorite ways of purchasing bulk are heavy sales or 'dented-can' stores. There is a fabulous one about 240 miles away in Salt Lake City, Utah. They can have the strangest things.. I bought onion powder, salt-free seasoning (like Mrs. Dash), strawberry Jello, & hot cocoa powder in large bags for $0.99-$1.99/lb. Also purchased 42# of whole chickens for $20 (under 50cents a pound), 50# of good looking yellow onions for $8 (I went in on these with a friend because I can't use 50# quite fast enough). Frozen lunch meats were $1/lb for ham or turkey. Pastrami was $2/lb. Olive Oil mayo and salad dressing $0.99/jar (35 calories a tablespoon.. way nice for dieting). Walnuts were $3.99/lb. We only get down there twice a year but I wish we had excuse to go down more often. Could easily feed a family for under $100/week buying there.

Here's a few recipes I've made recently. My family aren't watching calories too much so these would be portion-controled items for me.

Tuna Macaroni Salad, serve chilled -- Great side dish to prepare ahead of time -- Cost of ingredients $3.54
1 can of tuna (79 cents)
1 pound salad macaroni ($1/lb normal sale $1)
1/2 jar salad dressing ($2/jar normal sale = $1)
1/8 jar mayo ($2/jar normal sale = 25 cents)
1/2 medium onion, diced (25 cents)
2 stalks celery (25 cents.. rough guess)
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste.

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Tuna Noodle Casserole $4.97 -- We normally serve this as the main dish
1# egg noddles ($1/lb on sale)
1 can cream of mushroom (50 cents, sale price)
2 cans tuna (2@ 79cens = $1.58)
6 oz shredded cheddar cheese ($2.50/lb sale price, 94 cents)
1/2 cup sour cream ($1.79 regular price for 24 oz, uses 1/4 of tub = 45 cents)
up to 1 cup of milk (50 cents a cup)
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste.

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Tonight we are going to have baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Vegetables have been a problem for us recently, no local sales and prices are high. All I have ready in the garden are overgrown radishes.. so we've been eating radish greens lately. They aren't terrible but my 7 year old bite into a moth cocoon 2 nights ago now he won't eat the greens.. and I don't blame him.. I've been having a hard time eating them too since that happened. I get about a cup of sugar peas every few days too.

Chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy -- $4.85

Large 5# chicken ($2.50, great sale price)
3# potatoes for mashed (local non-sale price 27 cents/# 81 cents)
1/4 cup milk (13 cents)
2 tablespoon butter ($2.50/lb sale price , 16 cents)
salt and pepper
Gravy -- chicken drippings
1 can cream of chicken soup (50 cents sale price)
1/4 cup Corn Starch (rough estimate 25 cents)
2 tsp chicken bouillon powder (50 cents maybe)

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Last nights meal -- "Chicken Tetrazzini" -- $6.39
It turned out to be pork from leftover roast. Not nearly as good. Here is the original recipe which will turn out much better
1 pound spaghetti pasta ($1 sale price)
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream ($5 for 32 ounces, $1.88)
1/2 medium onion, chopped (25 cents)
2 stalks celery (50 cents?)
2 tablespoons butter (16 cents)
1/4 cup flour (10 cents)
2 split chicken breasts (1# @ $2/lb sale price)
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (50 cents)

Boil chicken breasts in 4 cups of water, diced celery and onions until meat is cooked and veggies are soft. In separate pot start cooking your pasta. Once chicken is cooked dump into a mixing bowl (you can discard those veggies, but I never do.. I just mix it into the dish since we need the veggies). In that pot melt butter and add flour. Mix those together well with a whisk. Once those are combined add to 2 cups of the chicken broth to that mix. Whisk and heat until in becomes a think mixture. Add cream, heat and mix until thick. Mix together the pasta and chopped chicken then add the parmesan cheese last. Combine well and serve. Original recipe called to bake the parmesan cheese on top for 15 minutes or so, but we never do that. Last night I think I added 2 tsp of chicken bouillon powder.. so another 50 cents maybe. But I was using leftover pork and couldn't get the right taste. It worked, it just didn't taste like the original recipe, but it was eaten to a scraped out pot. Last night I only used 1 cup of cream.. it just didn't need the other 1/2 cup.. don't know why. When I use leftover chicken I boil the celery and onion with a tsp of chicken bouillon until they are soft then add the already cooked chicken for maybe 2 minutes then continue with the recipe. If you get the cream on sale and are using leftover chicken/pork you have a very cheap meal.

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Lunch yesterday, for my husband, was pulled pork sandwich. I swear we've been eating that pork roast forever.. I'm so over it. I put the remaining meat in the freezer last night because we need a break. I had jello.

Pulled pork sandwich, $1
6 oz pork roast ($2/lb normally, we raised our own.. but 25 cents-ish if purchase from store)
3 tablespoons Sweet Baby Rays barbeque sauce (25 cents)
Bun (50 cents max)

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Meat is a little different story for us. I did buy some chicken the other day, but normally our meat doesn't come from the store. I should have picked up our beef from the butcher shop yesterday but I was postponed until tomorrow. That's 700#'s of beef. Most of that I will sell at the Farmers Market.. but we'll be set with beef until the next is butchered in the Fall. I raise rabbits for meat, we end up getting a chicken here or there also (they turn into egg-eaters so we eat them right back). Still working on the pigs we raised for meat last year (down to 9 roasts and about 20#'s of sausage to finish). I also have 30# of elk a friend gave us (they didn't want to cut it up) from last December I had forgotten about until I was cleaning the freezer to make space for the beef yesterday. We had a freezer go bad early this Spring, a monster sized. I just cleaned it out good and hit it with sanitizer yesterday. We live in a very dry climate so I'm going to store my dried goods in that (flour, salt, pasta, dried fruit, spices, coffee).. things that can freeze ok because we have harsh Winters.

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My inside lettuce has gone tough, I need to replant that. I also have chives in the house and out in the garden. We have a garden but super short growing season and we've only been able to harvest greens so far. When I think about it I sprout alfalfa seeds for sandwiches too. I can see it would be very difficult to stay to $100/week budget if you worked outside the home, or lived somewhere that did not have frequent good food sales. Cooking food takes a long time, not just in food prep but also in cleanup.. pots, pans, cutting boards, strainers.. all get handwashed here. Bah.

Well, you got me to figure out prices of some meals.. been meaning to do that I'm going to add those to my meal index cards.. might do some calorie workups too. I've done the calorie workup on the tetrazzini before too, though it needs to be tweeked each time I cook since things turn out a little different each time. I just left it with original recipe but it would be slightly less calories because of using less cream.. I just figured it was close enough. It's not a light meal.

i have a recipe for crock pot oatmeal. i don't have the breakdown in cost, but i am sure that it wouldn't be expensive.

1 1/2 cups oats (rolled) or 2 cups steel cut oats
2 cups water for rolled, or 6 cups water for steel cut
cut up apple
chopped nuts
cinnamon
raisins optional

put all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low overnight (8 hrs)

A website I recommend is www.livingonadime.com. One of the founders is dealing with fibromyalgia and is homeschooling her children. The site goes into many things, including food and recipes.

Sometimes I look at the clearance rack at the store (they usually hide it in the back). You can get some things at half- or quarter-price.

Coupons can be helpful, too (just check the dates and the store policy).

Can you grow anything at home? Maybe start a small garden, even if you grow things in a container (the gardening might be helpful with the depression, too).

^ Great site! And I do all of the above things too, sometimes the menu has to change based on what's on clearance but that's OK

though coupons can be a trap when you're on a tight budget if you're not eagle-eyed with them -- use the really good deals but otherwise just go for what's cheapest. sometimes that's a trade off with what's healthiest though.

The garden, even just fresh potted herbs in your kitchen, is so helpful. Lettuces & tomatoes for us go a long way in summer.

I actually have a pre-planned "broke" grocery list that I go through when money is super tight and there's no chance of stretching it on the food. Learned this from my mom and sister who also do it Then if we have more, I can add in other things.

It includes some healthy basics, and I just steel myself to not buy something if it's above the price I have set that I can pay for it.
Some examples:
Boxed rice - $2
Bagged beans - $1 each
Ramen - 6/$1 (I know, not nutritional but at least there's something in the pantry)
2 dozen eggs - $4 (I hardboil one dozen)
Clearance bread- $1
Canned tuna - 4/$3
Peanut butter - $3
Cheap lunchmeat 2/$1
Turkey hot dogs $1
Shredded cheese $2
Frozen veggies $1 each
Canned veggies no more than 2/$1
Whatever fruits are on sale up to $5
A few frozen lunches $1 each
Big bag of frozen chicken breast $6
Lettuce $1
Fresh veggies on sale up to $4
Any fish or meat on a good sale (less than $2/lb)
... you probably get the idea.That all comes up to about $50. It works, even if it's not varied or ideal. You may notice I'm also not the greatest cook in the world, basically we eat chicken, veggies, rice & beans and salads, as well as soups and chili and sometimes tacos. Thats because I can't pull off the whole-chicken or roast thing, although it's a great idea. breakfast is bagels if I have some extra or an egg and toast if we don't. lunch is frozen, or PB or lunchmeat sandwiches. Snacks are fruits or hot dogs or sometimes some baked chips or popcorn. Thankfully usually these days we have lots extra but I keep the "broke" list around anyway.. it still forms the basis for the not-broke list

Excellent idea to have a grocery list that's not only calorie conscious but also budget friendly.... Lots of great tips in this thread!


Additional suggestions...
Mashed cauliflower (Large one makes quite a few servings... I add almond milk, garlic and garlic seasoning - very versatile
Turkey Cheddar Brats (when on sale)
Zuchinni (for zuchinni noodles)
Spray olive oils (when on sale)
Sour cream and cream cheese (can be used straight or seasoned to be sweet or savory - versatile for dips and add ons.
Oatmeal (add a nut butter, honey, protein powder, chocolate chips, whatever!)
Greek yogurt (to make overnight oats with the oatmeal or eat plain)
Flat bread pizza (I found a great flatbread at Walmart, but any low cal one will do. I usually make it with spray olive oil, low fat cheese, seasonings, tomato paste seasoned and thinned out for the sauce, or BBQ sauce, and turkey pepperonni)
Eggs (hardboiled, or "fried" - Can eat as is or eat on a sandwhich or make into egg salad)
Turkey bacon
Chicken - on sale...

Be sure to plan out the meals for the week - planning is key so that you get only what you need and have plans for leftovers. Look at sales, and search on-line - lots of great resources.

Good luck!

Wow...I never manage to get out of the supermarket for under 140 AUD a week...


I will leave you to research the recipes on skinnytaste, but here is a break down of what your grocery bill could be if you plan right.

Monday: Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells (serves 9 with three shells each) $15.70 initial buy
- 1 pack frozen chopped spinach ($1)
- 1 large onion ($0.70)
- 2 cloves of garlic (one head of garlic $0.50)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 28 oz cruched tomatoes ($1)
- 1 Tbsp chopped basil ($2 for a pack)
- 1 15 oz container of ricotta ($3)
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, part skim ($3 for a pack)
-1 egg ($1.50 for a cartoon of medium eggs)
- 1/4 cup parmesan grated parm ($3 a container)

Tuesday: Turkey "Parm" Burgers (serves 4) $11
- 1 4 pack of Turkey patties or 1 lb of ground turkey ($6)
- 4 oz shredded mozzarella (Have some left over from last night $0)
- 4 tbsp spaghetti sauce ($2)
- 4 Whole Wheat hamburger buns ($3)

Wednesday: Sloppy Joes $13.50
- 1 lb Italian sausage ($4)
- 1/2 cup onion (left over from Monday)
- 3 garlic cloves (left over from head of garlic)
- 2 green peppers ($1.50)
- 1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes ($1)
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary ($3 for jar)
- 4 hamburger buns (left over)
- 4 slices cheese ($2)
- 1 cup baby spinach ($2 for a salad pack)

Thursday: Left over night! What ever left overs you have you eat up tonight! If there are no left overs then Breakfast nightt! $8.50
- 8 eggs (already bought the cartoon)
- Bacon or sausage ($5 assuming bacon)
- Sliced bread ($2)
- Strawberries ($1.50 for a carton at Krogers right now)

Friday: Pizza night! $5
- 4 whole wheat tortillas ($3 for a pack)
- left over Shredded Mozzarella
- left over spaghetti sauce
- Mini pepperonis ($2)

Saturday: Italian grilled chicken with grilled marinated veggies! $23.40
- 8 4 oz chicken breasts (4 being saved for tomorrow after gilled) ($12)
- 1 bottle italian dressing ($2)
- 1 pack mini peppers ($5)
- 2 onions ($1.40)
- prepackages lower sodium marinade of your choice (usually about $3)

Sunday: Salad night! $9.00
- Left over grilled chicken
- Baby Spring Salad Mix ($4 for a huge tub)
- Salad dressing
-Carrots ($1)
- Radishes ($1)
- Salad dressing ($3)

That comes to about $86 for the dinners, assuming that you need to buy everything already. But if you already have the herbs, or the spaghetti sauce or the salad dressings then it makes it even cheaper. For breakfasts do cereals (get the bagged ones, they are cheaper), oatmeal, etc... And lunches can peanut butter sandwiches, or lunch meat sandwiches, with fruit and a cookie or two.

All the prices are based on Kroger prices, so depending on where you shop it could end up being even cheaper.[/quote]

you need to plan your meals. the cheapest way is to plan to repeat a meal at least once. plan when to eat your carbs and when to enjoy more protein. plan your steaks for special nights and make whatever you can yourself. use same ingredients for different meals. eg. i make a salad with £2 and i also make bone broth with £1.50p for different meals, i put the salad in the broth with some noodles for ramen and then eat the salad with a chicken thigh for dinner, i could also put some ugu (the Nigerian name for pumpkin leaf) and spinach ..all from my freezer for about £1 a bag....with a table spoon of palm oil and some seasoning and that makes a very nice accompaniment for mash potato. then i could put the same salad and chicken thigh in bread to make a sandwich.

go to the frozen food isle and stock up on berries and vegetables. then get brown noodles, rice and pasta,bulgur etc browse the value isle of the local supermarket, get canned tomatoes, get frozen chicken and turkey sausages and frozen raw meat as well. if you buy them frozen they will make more than 1 serving.
secondly always search the fridge and freezer and try and formulate a recipe with the ingredients before deciding to buy anything.

These freezer meals are nice. you may have to pick through them to find healthy and budget conscience meals but I really love them. Use the recipe feature in MFP and weigh your food if possible. If it is not possible, just measure portions.
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/08/50-easy-freezer-meals.html
http://onceamonthmeals.com
http://nataliehodson.com/11-healthy-inexpensive-freezer-meals/
http://www.lovingmynest.com/learning-activities/freezer-crock-pot-cooking-day/

Pinterest has great suggestions too.
http://www.pullingcurls.com/2014/09/september-menu-plan.html
http://realfoodrealdeals.com/2014/03/27/healthy-dinner-recipes-frugal-budget/
http://workingathomeschool.com/2014/06/15/trim-healthy-mama-cheap-dinners

Great ideas everyone!

Target tuna is much cheaper than grocery store. You can get the large can of tuna for 2.50 If you can buy canned food, paper products, soap, dish-soap etc. at target you will get a much better price

Thank you for posting this!

I found this blogger and there are many social media options to read the recipes.

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2010/01/budget-byting-principles/

This is awesome! Bump for later Thank you to everyone!

Wow, so many great tips and ideas!

This Good and Cheap document has a lot of great ideas for eating well on a tight budget.

Our family is living in a foreign country on a limited income and there are certain things we have come to love! LENTILS (and beans). Lentils are cheap and versatile and taste great in soup, with veggies and with meat. I recommend experimenting with lentil soups. Look up some simple recipes. I really like to make Curry Tomato Lentil soup. It's high in protein and low in fat. You can plug in all your ingredients under "recipes" and it will calculate the calories, etc. Lentils are pretty cheap in most places and so good for you. We even make "Lentil Horchata" for an after workout protein snack.

"Lentil Horchata"
1/2 cup plain cooked lentils
1/2 cup lowfat or skim milk
1/2 cup or more water
1-2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt
ice

Blend and enjoy! It's absolutely delicious, high in protein, low in calories and super cheap!