$5 Dinners Week of 8/14 We’re Eating Out

My goal is to provide dinner for my family for an average of $5 except on special occasions. We don’t have to eat beans and rice to accomplish this goal!  I shop the grocery sales each week.  Then I plan my menu based on the foods I have already at home (at a great price). I balance more expensive meals with less expensive ones. We typically only cook a main dish 4 or 5 times a week. Each main dish cooked will serve 4-6, and the leftovers will be for easy dinners on the weekend, or to freeze for another week. This cuts down on cleaning, cooking, and meal planning– saving us lots of time!

I’m trying to simplify life a bit this week so I’m planning 3 fast food nights and one non cooking night to help accomplish that.  

Chick-Fil-A Carryout
1 Adult Meal @ 5.79
1 kids meal @ FREE (kids night)
1 8 ct. chicken nuggets @ FREE (from coupon calendar)
Total Cost: $5.79

Macaroni and Cheese, Ham, Honey Toast, Green Beans and Fruit Cocktail
1/2 box macaroni @ .50
cheese @ 1.00
butter and milk for mac @ .10
1 lb. ham @ 1.47
1 can green beans @ .25
4 slices of toast @ .16
Honey @ .10 
1 can fruit cocktail @ .76
Total Cost: $4.34

Shrimp with alfredo sauce and pasta, steamed broccoli, peaches, leftover fruit and veggies
1 lb. shrimp @ 2.50
alfredo sauce @ .80 (I’m breaking my shop from the pantry policy and buying some in a jar this week)
2 cups broccoli @ 1.28
2 peaches @ .52
leftover fruit cocktail and sweet peas @ free
total cost: $5.10

McDonald’s
3 double cheeseburgers @ 3.00
1 mcchicken @ 1.00
1 small fries @ 1.00
2 bananas from home @ .40
Total Cost: $5.40


Dairy Queen
2 kids meals- chicken strips (including ice cream!) @ 6.58
1 jr. buster @ 1.39

Total Cost: $7.97


Breakfast for Dinner: Raisin Bran Crunch with bananas
1 box Raisin Bran Crunch @ 1.00
4 cups milk @ .56
4 bananas @ .80
Total Cost: $2.36


Average Cost for the meals we’re “cooking” this week: $5.16  Since I averaged $4.67 last week I’m not going to fret about being .16 over budget this week and will enjoy the added time with family.

This meal plan is part of Menu Plan Monday over at Orgjunkie.