I don't usually plan for that long, but our shopping trip on Saturday got a little out of hand and we overspent on our grocery budget. I felt sick about it so I decided that I would make things stretch for six weeks instead of four. With the addition of a couple of more gallons of milk, a few more dozen eggs, and very few odds & ends, we should be able to do it!
I was challenged by someone to list my costs for each meal. I can't really do that for breakfasts and lunches because I keep things stocked for breakfast and lunches are typically whatever we happen to have on hand, but I did my best with dinners. We were gifted with well over 100 lbs. of potatoes, we have plenty of chicken, winter squash, rice, oatmeal, home canned green beans & fruits & beet pickles, and we have carrots in the garden. Here's what I came up with for a menu plan:
For SIX weeks
Breakfasts are all the same: choice of eggs, oatmeal, farina, pancakes or waffles, smoothies.
Lunches: baked potatoes with various toppings, leftovers, sandwiches (PB & J, tuna, egg or chicken salad, cheese).
Dinners:
Week 1:
- chicken & sausage jambalaya - 50¢ for sausage, 88¢ for Rotel, 35¢ for 15 oz. tomato sauce, 1/2 green pepper 35¢, 1/2 bunch green onions 65¢. everything else on hand. Total $2.73. Feeds 8.
- copycan manwich, scalloped potatoes, steamed broccoli - $1.49 for ground turkey, 15¢ for 8 oz. tomato sauce (homemade buns, free potatoes). Everything else on hand . Total $1.64 Feeds 8
- Hawaiian chicken, rice, green beans - had to purchase 1 can pineapple for $1. Everything else on hand. Feeds 8
- Redneck casserole, tossed salad - 1 can baked beans $1, 1 pkg. hot dogs 89¢, 1 bag tator tots $1.79, 1 cup cheddar cheese 85¢, 1 head lettuce $1.09, everything else on hand. Total $5.62. Feeds 8
- Taco salad - 1 head lettuce $1.09, 2 tomatoes approx $1.50, 2 cans black beans $1.18, 8 oz. shredded taco cheese $1.69, 99¢ for 1 bag nacho cheese chips, everything else on hand. Total $6.45 Feeds 8
- Broccoli cheese soup in bread bowls - didn't have to buy anything, have everything on hand. Total $0 Feeds 8
- Spicy chicken fillet sandwiches, potato salad, fruit - 1 tomato approximately 75¢, 1 cup Miracle whip 45¢, 4 eggs 33¢, (homemade buns), everything else on hand. Total $1.53 Feeds 8
Throw in 2 gallons of milk @ $2.59 each
TOTAL FOR WEEK 1 - $24.15
Week 2:
- Rosemary chicken & potatoes, green beans - everything on hand. Total $0 Feeds 8
- Beef stroganoff over homemade noodles, glazed carrots - beef $2.55, 16 oz. sour cream $1.00, everything else on hand. Total $3.55
- chicken & rice casserole, green beans - 1 can cream of chicken soup 69¢, 1 can cream of celery soup 69¢, everything else on hand. Total $1.38
- Acorn squash with sausage & apple filling, dinner rolls - 1 lb. pork sausage $1.99, everything else on hand. Total $1.99
- Meatball mushroom stew in bread bowls - 1 lb. ground turkey $1.49, 2 cans cream of mushroom soup $1.18, 2 cans mushrooms $1. Everything else on hand. Total $3.67
- Tuna melts, BBQ chips, beet pickles - 2 cans tuna $1.18, 1 bag BBQ chips 99¢, everything else on hand. Total $2.17 Feeds 8
- HALLOWEEN MEAL of pizza mac o'lantern, bat wings with artichoke dip, spooky eyeball eggs, ghost cupcakes - 2 boxes mac & cheese $1.32, 1 lb. ground turkey $1.49, 1 jar spaghetti sauce $1.19, 1 dozen eggs 99¢, 1 cake mix 89¢, everything else on hand. Total $5.88
Add 2 gallons milk @ $2.59 each
TOTAL FOR WEEK 2 - $21.23
Week 3:
- chicken & sausage jambalaya - 50¢ for sausage, 88¢ for Rotel, 35¢ for 15 oz. tomato sauce, 1/2 green pepper 35¢, 1/2 bunch green onions 65¢. everything else on hand. Total $2.73. Feeds 8.
- hamburger goulash, veggie sticks - 1 lb. ground turkey $1.49, 1 can diced tomatoes 35¢, 2 cans tomato soup 98¢. everything else on hand. Total $2.82
- Spicy roast chicken, potato & olive cheesy casserole, peas - 1 jar green olives $1.98 (won't use them all), 1 bag peas $1. Everything else on hand. Total $2.98
- Macaroni pie with mushroom sauce, green beans: 16 oz. cottage cheese $1.50, 8 oz. shredded cheddar $1.69, 4 eggs 33¢, 2 cans cream of mushroom soup $1.18, 2 cans mushrooms $1, everything else on hand. Total $5.70 makes 2 pies
- chicken alfredo, tossed salad with Italian dressing & homemade croutons - 1 pkg cream cheese 99¢. 1/2 head lettuce 55¢. Everything else on hand. Total $1.54 Feeds 8
- Ranch lentils, shredded carrot salad - 1 lb. ground turkey $1.49, everything else on hand. Total $1.49
- Chicken strips, oven fries, peas & carrots - 6 oz. hot sauce 40¢, 4 eggs 33¢, 1 bag frozen peas & carrots $1. Everything else on hand. Total $1.73
Add 2 gallons milk @ 2.59 ea.
WEEK 3 TOTAL - $24.17
Week 4:
- Wet burritos - 1 lb. ground turkey $1.49, 1 can refried beans 55¢, 2 tomatoes $1.50, cream of chicken soup 69¢, 8 oz. taco cheese $1.69, everything else on hand. Total $5.92 Feeds 6 to 8
- Bruschetta chicken bake, green beans - 1 box chicken stuffing 60¢, 15 oz. diced tomatoes 35¢, everything else on hand. Total 95¢
- chili dog casserole, veggie sticks - 2 cans chili $1.98, 2 pkg. hot dogs $1.78, 8 oz. shredded cheddar $1.69. Everything else on hand Total $5.45 Feeds 8
- chicken pot pie with biscuit crust - 1 can cream of chicken soup 69¢, 1 can cream of potato soup 98¢, 1 bag frozed mixed veggies $1. Everything else on hand Total $2.67
- Beef stew in bread bowls - beef $2.55, everything else on hand. Total $2.55
- Shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches, potato salad, carrots - 2 cups Miracle whip 90¢, everything else on hand. Total 90¢
- Vegetarian meatloaf, baked potatoes, green beans - everything on hand. Total $0.00
- cheesy potato soup, apple/blueberry muffins, squash or broccoli - everything on hand Total $0.00
Throw in 2 gallons milk @ $2.59 each
WEEK 4 TOTAL - $23.62
Week 5:
- Oven fried chicken, oven fries, corn pudding or squash - everything on hand, total $0.00
- chili - 1 lb. ground turkey $1.49, 2 cans tomato soup 98¢, 1 can diced tomatoes 35¢. Everything else on hand. total $2.82
- sesame chicken, rice, glazed carrots - everything on hand. total $0.00
- lentil vegetable stew, winter squash, dinner rolls - everything on hand, total $0.00
- one pot chicken & veggies - 1 pkt onion soup mix 40¢, 1 can mushroom soup 59¢. Everything else on hand. Total 99¢
- tuna melts, oven fries, veggies - tuna $1.18, 1 bag frozen veggies $1. Everything else on hand. Total $2.18
- chicken tortilla soup - 1 can Rotel 88¢, 1 can diced tomatoes 35¢, everything else on hand. total $1.23
Throw in 2 gallons milk @ $2.59 each
WEEK 5 TOTAL - $12.40
Week 6:
- beef roast, potatoes, carrots - beef roast $4.80, everything else on hand. Total $4.80
- teriyaki chicken, rice, steamed broccoli - 1 bag frozen broccoli, $1. Everything else on hand. Total $1
- porcupine meatballs, mashed potatoes, green beans - 2 lb. ground turkey $2.98, 2 cans tomato soup 98¢, everything else on hand. Total $3.96
- THANKSGIVING DINNER we take green bean casserole, dinner rolls, pies, pumpkin cake roll - 1 can cr of mushroom soup 59¢, french fried onions 99¢, 1 pkg. cream cheese 99¢, 3 cans pumpkin $3. Everything else on hand. Total $5.57
- pigs in a blanket, oven fries, veggie sticks - 2 pkg. hot dots $1.78. Everything else on hand Total $1.78
- chicken paprika, homemade noodles, peas & carrots - sour cream $1.19, 1 bag frozen peas & carrots $1. Everything else on hand. Total $2.19
throw in 2 gallons milk @ $2.59
WEEK 6 TOTAL - $21.89
NOW, when I say "everything on hand", that means that I have the supplies on hand to make the rest. Free potatoes, squash, apples, carrots in my garden, homecanned goods, homemade buns, pasta, & tortillas, things already in the freezer & pantry, salad dressings from scratch, bulk rice & oatmeal, etc. I also have all the chicken (whole or parts) I need thanks to raising 102 hens this summer. To keep my supplies stocked cost me:
$16.69 for a 50 lb. bag of flour
$ 2.19 each for 2 4lb. bags of white sugar
$ 1.49 for a 3 lb. bag of onions
$ .99 each for 2 bottles of ketchup
$1.79 each for 2 jars Miracle Whip
$ .69 each for 10 boxes margarine
$ .99 for one bunch celery
$ .99 each for 12 dozen eggs
GRAND TOTAL $175.35
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