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, Sweet Peas and Fruit Cocktail
1/2 box macaroni @ .50
cheese @ 1.00
butter and milk for mac @ .10
1 lb. ham @ .76
1 can sweet peas @ .45
1 can fruit cocktail @ .76
Total Cost: $3.57
Garlic Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans and Toast
1 lb. pork chops @ 1.47
3 potatoes @ .80
butter, sour cream, cheese and bacon bits for the potatoes @ .40
1 can green beans @ ..45
1 lb. pork chops @ 1.47
3 potatoes @ .80
butter, sour cream, cheese and bacon bits for the potatoes @ .40
1 can green beans @ ..45
4 slices of bread for toast @ .16
total cost: $3.38
Little Caesar’s Pizza and Apple Slices
1 Hot and Ready pizza @ 5.00
2 apples @ .80
Total Cost: $5.80
Taco Salad, Corn, Apples, Chips and Cheese Dips
1 lb. ground turkey @ 1.67
taco seasoning @ free
tomato @ .60
tortilla chips @ .25
cheese and rotel for dip @ 1.31
lettuce @ .11
leftover corn @ free
2 sliced apples @ .80
Total Cost $4.74
1 lb. ground turkey @ 1.67
taco seasoning @ free
tomato @ .60
tortilla chips @ .25
cheese and rotel for dip @ 1.31
lettuce @ .11
leftover corn @ free
2 sliced apples @ .80
Total Cost $4.74
Chick-Fil-A Carryout and Bananas
1 Adult Meal @ 5.79
1 kids meal @ FREE (kids night)
1 grilled chicken salad @ FREE (from calendar)
2 bananas @ .40
Total Cost: $6.19
Average cost of the meals we’re cooking this week: $4.74
This post is part of Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie.
