Since I originally made my $200 per month meal plan 10 years ago, prices have dramatically increased, but you can still feed a family of 4 for under $350!
The grocery list below is what we typically buy in a month, there are some items that are not used for the recipes above but would supplement your meals and snacks. The list assumes you are buying full containers even though there would be leftovers of some items to carry into the next month, so it’s possible to spend less. The prices are based on Aldi prices, but with 10-15% added to account for other grocery store prices or your cost if you choose to use grocery pick up or delivery services (additional charges may apply for delivery fee and tip.)
To save more money, you could substitute beans for some of the animal proteins or choose lower cost snacks.
Basic Meal Planning
How to spend less than $350 for your family
of four for a month
By Kolbi Ward
|
Name of Main Dish (without sides) |
Number of Meals Recipe Makes |
Times to Make in the Month |
|
Meatball subs |
1 |
1 |
|
Lentil loaf |
2 |
1 |
|
Spaghetti |
2 |
1 |
|
Steak and potatoes |
1 |
1 |
|
Chicken and
dumplings |
2 |
1 |
|
Chicken pot pie (9x13
pan) |
2 |
2 |
|
Chili |
2 |
1 |
|
Tomato and
bean pasta |
2 |
1 |
|
Chicken alfredo |
2 |
1 |
|
Potato salsa
chicken |
1 |
2 |
|
Frittata |
1 |
1 |
|
Salmon nuggets |
1 |
1 |
|
Salmon |
1 |
1 |
|
Fried shrimp |
1 |
1 |
|
Vegetable bean
pasta |
2 |
1 |
|
Chicken and veg pasta |
2 |
1 |
|
Chicken curry |
2 |
1 |
|
White bean chicken chili |
2 |
1 |
|
Jambalaya |
2 |
1 |
|
Name of Snack |
Homemade or storebought or Both |
Number of Recipes Made or Packages Purchased |
|
Hummus |
Both |
1 SB or 2
HM |
|
Tuna Salad |
HM |
2 |
|
Chips – pita, tortilla |
Both |
3 |
|
Pretzels |
SB |
1 |
|
Granola |
HM |
3 |
|
Peanut butter |
SB |
1 |
|
Trail mix |
HM |
2 |
|
Cereal |
SB |
2 |
|
Bean dip |
HM |
2 |
|
Cookies |
HM |
2 |
|
Bread/biscuits |
Both |
3 |
|
Fruit |
Fresh & dried |
20? |
|
Oatmeal Packets |
HM |
2 |
|
Pumpkin muffins |
HM |
2 |
|
Yogurt |
SB |
1 |
|
Frozen vegetables |
SB |
1 |
|
Frozen fruit |
SB |
1 |
|
Crackers |
Both |
6 |
|
2.19 |
flour |
|
1.65 |
baking powder |
|
0.72 |
baking soda |
|
0.59 |
salt |
|
0.89 |
yeast (3 pkg) |
|
9.05 |
shortening |
|
3.25 |
gal cow milk (1/2 gal soy or oat 2.25-3.00) |
|
8.10 |
eggs (2 dz) |
|
8.00 |
old fash
oats (2) |
|
2.09 |
sour cream |
|
8.00 |
olive oil
3.15-8.79 for 17 oz |
|
3.45 |
vegetable
oil |
|
4.19 |
shredded
cheese 16 oz (dairy free 8.00) |
|
1.95 |
bouillon cubes |
|
3.79 |
yogurt 32 oz (0.75 6 oz) |
|
1.69 |
brown sugar |
|
1.65 |
powdered
sugar |
|
2.11 |
sugar |
|
4.29 |
honey 12 oz |
|
2.65 |
jar alfredo sauce |
|
2.00 |
seasonings |
|
|
|
|
11.49 |
steak (1.1 oz grassfed ribeye) |
|
3.79 |
ground beef
(1 lb) |
|
13.45 |
salmon (8
filets – 2 lb) |
|
7.00 |
med. shrimp
(12 oz) |
|
4.00 |
andouille sausage |
|
25.00 |
whole chicken 2 -2.00-4.00/lb |
|
3.58 |
chick thighs(6 thighs) 1.79/lb (3 per lb) |
|
5.49 |
deli
meat |
|
|
|
|
1.89 |
pretzels |
|
7.00 |
cashews 16 oz |
|
2.15 |
peanuts 16 oz |
|
3.59 |
peanut butter
40 oz |
|
4.49 |
hummus |
|
3.85 |
raisins |
|
3.29 |
mixed dried
berries |
|
1.99 |
tortilla chips |
|
2.75 |
pita chips |
|
10.00 |
coffee |
|
1.75 |
shredded wheat |
|
1.32 |
peanut
butter crackers |
|
2.00 |
potato
chips |
|
2.19 |
cheerios family sz (honey nut 4.79) |
|
3.19 |
rice cakes |
|
2.45 |
straw preserves |
|
7.00 |
crackers (5 boxes) |
|
3.89 |
guac
4 pk individual |
|
1.99 |
carrots (2 lb) |
|
1.55 |
celery (1 lb) |
|
2.75 |
onions (3 lb) |
|
4.00 |
potatoes (5 lb baking 5.19/ russet 3.25) |
|
2.95 |
mini bell
peppers |
|
2.39 |
green bell
peppers (3) |
|
3.25 |
red/orange/yellow
peppers (3) |
|
2.69 |
avocado
bag |
|
1.99 |
cauliflower
head |
|
2.19 |
tomatoes
(5 on vine) |
|
2.55 |
limes
(1 lb) |
|
4.29 |
lemons
(2 lb) |
|
2.50 |
grapes
(1.60-2.20/lb) |
|
8.00 |
apples (gala 3.85/3 lb, granny 4.29/3 lb) |
|
4.95 |
pears
(3 lb) |
|
3.75 |
mandarin oranges
(3 lb) |
|
4.40 |
bananas (20) |
|
0.85 |
cilantro |
|
5.39 |
spring greens
(16 oz or 2.75 5 oz bag) |
|
1.49 |
garlic (3) |
|
|
|
|
5.00 |
pasta (5 lb) |
|
1.00 |
spaghetti (1 lb) |
|
1.88 |
rice (5
cups) |
|
1.00 |
lentils (1 lb) |
|
|
|
|
2.99 |
frozen mix
veg (32 oz) |
|
5.00 |
frozen CA blend veg
(5 pkgs) |
|
4.00 |
frozen juice
(2) |
|
3.50 |
frozen strawberries
or mixed berries |
|
1.00 |
frozen corn |
|
1.00 |
frozen peas |
|
|
|
|
1.89 |
loaf bread |
|
1.65 |
hoagies/rolls |
|
1.50 |
sand bread |
|
|
|
|
3.20 |
can beans
(4) black .79 kidney .85 |
|
2.55 |
can chili
beans (3) |
|
1.45 |
can pumpkin |
|
3.00 |
can tuna (3) .85-1.55 |
|
1.05 |
refried beans |
|
1.89 |
baked
beans 28 oz |
|
0.75 |
can black
olives |
|
0.79 |
tomato paste |
|
3.56 |
can diced
tomatoes (4/14 oz) |
|
2.90 |
can crushed
tomatoes (2/28 oz) |
|
1.96 |
tomato sauce
(4 8 oz) |
|
|
|
|
329.32 |
TOTAL |
