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!
1 lb. pulled pork @ 1.99
2 cans pork and beans @ 1
brown sugar and BBQ sauce @ .20
bread (for buns) @ .32
2 apples @ .80
Total Cost: $4.31
Garlic Shrimp with Alfredo Sauce and Pasta, Steamed Broccoli, Peaches, Toast
1 lb. shrimp @ 2.50
3/4 jar alfredo sauce @ 1.00
2 cups broccoli @ 1.28
2 peaches @ .52
4 slices of toast @ .16
total cost: $5.46
Little Caesar’s Pizza and Apple Slices
1 Hot and Ready pizza @ 5.00
2 apples @ .80
Total Cost: $5.80
1 lb. pork chops @ 1.47
3 potatoes @ .80
butter, cheese and bacon bits for the potatoes @ .20
1 can sweet peas @ .58
1 can corn @ .58
4 slices of bread for toast @ .16
total cost: $3.78
Macaroni and Cheese, Hot Dogs, Honey Toast, Green Beans and Fruit Cocktail
1/2 box macaroni @ .50
cheese @ 1.00
butter and milk for mac @ .10
1 pk. hot dogs @ .88
1 can green beans @ .25
4 slices of toast @ .16
Honey @ .10
1 can fruit cocktail @ .76
Total Cost: $3.75
This post is part of Menu Plan Monday over at OrgJunkie.
I used to be really good at meal plans, but no matter how hard I try lately, I just cannot seem to get it together. I mean, I go to the store with a general idea of what I’m cooking, and a list to match…but I still feel completely unorganized.