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!
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
Taco Salad, Corn, Apples, Chips and Cheese Dips
1 lb. ground beef @ 2.29 (I’m crossing my fingers that I find it on sale or clearance, but it’s been so long since we had beef that I’ll pay this price anyway)
taco seasoning @ free
tomato @ .60
tortilla chips @ .25
cheese and generic rotel for dip @ 1.18
lettuce @ .11
1 can corn @ .54
2 sliced apples @ .80
Total Cost $5.77
Chicken Helper @ .66
2 cups milk for helper @ .14
2 apples @ .80
carrot sticks @ .40
4 slices of toast @ .16
ranch
Total Cost: $2.16
1 lb salmon @ 4.99
1 cup broccoli @ .64
mashed potatoes @ .50
1 can pineapple @ .76
Total Cost $6.94
1 Adult Meal @ 5.79
1 kids meal @ FREE (kids night)
1 spicy chicken sandwich @ FREE (from coupon calendar)
Total Cost: $5.79
Average cost of the meals we’re cooking this week is $5 even.
This post is part of Meal Plan Monday over at OrgJunkie.
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Food is very expensive in my country. I wish we could get such bargains here. The suggestions are great. By the way, yesterday I made a Macaroni and cheese casserole as part of the special meal for more birthday celebrations for my mom. Take care and have a good week.
Hi Judy,
Someone else has mentioned a mac and cheese casserole recently, I’ll have to put that on my list to try! Thanks for stopping by!
Your menu looks great! What night is kids night at chick fil a? We just had one open up.
Thanks Mamie! It has been Tuesday night at all the Chick-fil-a stores I’ve ever lived near, but I have heard there are some that do Thursdays. Don’t forget the kids can trade their kids meal toy for an ice cream cone instead!