Cheap Groceries for One Week

Have you found yourself short on money for groceries for a week? Here is a week's worth of inexpensive meals. You may not feel like eating what is on the menu, but it is what we often need to do. Our wants and needs are at war these days due to the economy. Isn't it about time we cut back anyways? Seriously. Even though following a budget and a menu for the week is no fun, I have to say that I am actually feeling better (even though I am not promoting any of these meals as "healthy") due to eating less. We could all stand to trim our budgets and our waistlines.

The cheap grocery list for one week is based on two adults. You can modify the numbers to suit your particular situation, and you can even modify the menu and just use my menu as a guideline to get an idea about cheap substitutions.

Also, do watch your newspaper for ads where you typically shop and take advantage of the BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE items (just divide the cost by 2 of what they say the item is usually priced at, and as long as that number divided by 2 is less than what you would normally pay for one, it is worth what you are paying). I know that some stores raise the regular price before they advertise a BOGO, but you are still coming out ahead if the price for 2 items divided by 2 is less than what 1 would normally cost you. You can pick up 10 or so items on the BOGO and plan meals around those items. Think multiple uses - -like, if you get a BOGO pasta, get 1 box of spaghetti noodles AND 1 box of ziti (if your store has varied pastas on BOGO), for example. Then grab a 3 lb. jar of pasta sauce, and plan to use it 3 times - with the pasta you are purchasing on BOGO. Just an example.

Emergency Groceries for One Week

All of the following items must be the cheapest you can find. No name brands, if at all possible. Also, please get the items at Aldi's if you have one in your area (it is dirt cheap to shop there, and your money goes much farther - - take your own bags and don't forget a quarter so that you can get a cart - - you will get your quarter back on your way out), or go to Walmart - unless you find the items or similar items for substitution on sale at your regular store.

Hopefully, you already have some of these items at home. If not, you'll have them for next time.

NOTE: We do not plan for breakfast in our house, but I have included eggs here for that purpose. You can also make some toast. If you do not like eggs, you can substitute cereal or oatmeal for it. Also, for lunch, we do not ever buy lunch when we are at work. That is what the peanut butter and jelly is for. You can take a piece of fruit as well.

1 dozen eggs
2 lb. bag of frozen broccoli
1 jar of peanut butter
1 jar of jelly, if you wish
2 loaves of bread (for sandwiches and toast)
3 lbs. of pasta (spaghetti and macaroni and one other box of your choice)
3 lb. jar of pasta sauce
1 can of No-Bean Chili
2 cans of green beans (or any other canned vegetable)
2 cans of corn (or any other canned vegetable)
1 can of peas (need for a recipe)
1 can of tuna in water
2 boxes of macaroni and cheese
1 can of refried beans
1 can of tomato soup
1 package of soft flour tortillas
1 head of iceberg lettuce
1 small jar of mayonnaise
1 bag of apples, mixed fruit, or oranges
1 can of pork and beans
1 package of American Cheese

DRINKS/DESSERTS: If you absolutely cannot handle drinking water with dinner, purchase some generic Kool-Aid for mixing up in water, or you can purchase juice on BOGO, and do a half juice, half water mix over ice for each glass. For one, juice isn't cheap. Secondly, juice is high in sugar and calories. Lastly, mixing it with half water over ice in glasses stretches the bottle of juice, and it will last longer - which is the goal here.

If you must have a "sweet" after dinner, purchase enough boxes of generic Jello-O to get you through, or eat a piece of fruit.

Feel free to mix and match or use substitutions, but you will get some ideas here.

DINNERS FROM THE ABOVE LIST:

Grilled cheese and tomato soup - Have some broccoli for your vegetable

Macaroni and cheese and mix some broccoli in with it (Cook broccoli and mac and cheese as usual before mixing)

Bean burritos (Add some taco mix to heated refried beans and place on heated up tortillas - Add lettuce and some cheese, lightly, if you wish) NOTE: You can also stretch the recipe by adding cooked rice, if you have it, to the refried beans

Macaroni and cheese (Mix in the no-bean chili) - Open a can of veggies or use some broccoli as side vegetable

Egg salad sandwiches with lettuce (if you kept the eggs on the list)

Deviled eggs are nice to make up and eat, too

Have breakfast for dinner (use eggs and make some toast)

Use the pasta and pasta sauce for 3 meals - - the pasta sauce will keep on the top shelf of fridge once opened for approx. 10 days, if necessary - Have corn or green beans on the side as vegetable


RECIPES FOR REMAINING FOODS ON ABOVE LIST:

Depression-Era Meal (right from my grandparents to your table - it is a childhood favorite of mine)

Turn on your broiler
Place 6 slices of bread (less or more depending on your needs and appetite) on broiler tray
Spoon portions of pork and beans on each slice
Place a slice of American Cheese on each

Optional: Grandparents placed a slice of bacon (sliced in half to look like 2 slices) on top of each, but I do not have bacon on the list as bacon can be a high-ticket item unless found on BOGO - - Buy the bacon if you wish to use it for this recipe and then use it for breakfast or bacon sandwiches)

Broil until bacon is cooked, if used. Otherwise, broil just until cheese is melted. You will be amazed. Kids love these, too!

Tuna Mac

Boil macaroni noodles (as much as you need - you should have the 1 lb. box on list above for this recipe)

Drain noodles and return to pan

Mix mayonnaise into the noodles to coat them well and evenly

Drain peas and tuna

Mix in peas and tuna (You may wish to add peas slowly - -I have found that half a can is adequate)

Eat warm. You can also make up a good amount of this recipe and keep on hand in the fridge for lunches or cold meals. It tastes good warm or cold.

Any extra items not specifically mentioned here are for you to use as you wish. Use vegetables as side dishes, as you wish. Use fruits for desserts or in between snacks.