Feed Your Family of 4 on just $99 / week!

Meal planning and grocery budgeting.  The bane of everyone's existence. Groceries are the most flexible spending category when it comes to budgeting so it is the area we all work at being the most frugal in when trying to save money.  And yet. It seems so tedious sometimes. 

I've created a week's worth of meals that will feed your family for $99, including all breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and a couple of snack items too.  Whether you're on a tight budget or just looking to tighten up the wallet a bit, hopefully this meal plan will give you a starting place!  

*Your costs may likely be lower than $99 for the week if you already have a few of the items on hand such as pancake mix and salad dressing.

*The estimated costs are based on my mid-west existence at stores like Kroger and Target.  If you live elsewhere or shop at pricier places, obviously, your expenses could vary.  

*Likewise, if you can get these items at an Aldi near you, you may spend EVEN LESS than $99 to feed your family of 4 this week!

Ready to meal plan and save money?  Here's what we have:

Oatmeal ($2 for a container that has 30 servings)

Banana (.25 each. $7 for the week)

Breakfast Costs: $9 total

Oatmeal- $2 for large container

Bananas- $7 (.25 each, x 28 bananas)

1- PBJ, celery sticks, pretzel sticks

2- PBJ, strawberries, yogurt

3- PBJ, hard boiled egg, yogurt

4- PBJ, yogurt, pretzel sticks, apple slices

5- PBJ, strawberries, yogurt pretzel sticks

6- PBJ, apple slices, celery sticks

7- PBJ, apple slices, yogurt, pretzel sticks

Lunch Costs: $23 total

Yogurt- 3 lg tubs at $2 each=$6

Pretzel sticks- $2 

2 loaves bread- $2

Jar PB- $2

Jar Jelly- $2

Bag of apples- $4

Eggs- $1 

Celery- $2

Strawberries- $2

1- Whole roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, frozen peas

2- Spaghetti with sauce, garlic bread, organic salad w/ dressing

3- Soup, grilled cheese

4- Baked potatoes, baked beans, frozen broccoli

5- Frozen pizza, green beans, baby carrots, fresh or canned peaches

6- Pancakes and scrambled eggs, fresh oranges

7- Tacos, frozen or canned corn

Dinner Costs: $52.50 total

Whole chicken- $5

Bag of potatoes- $3

Frozen peas- $1

Spaghetti- $1

Spaghetti Sauce- $2

Garlic bread- $2

Organic Salad- $3

Salad dressing- $2 (you may already have)

Soup (2 cans)- $2

Bread for grilled cheese -$1

American cheese slices-$2

Baked beans- $1.50

Frozen broccoli- $2

Frozen pizza- $4

Green beans- $1

Baby carrots- $1

Peaches- $2

Pancake mix- $2 (you may already have)

Scrambled eggs- $0 (use the remaining 8 eggs from the $1 eggs you bought for lunch)

Fresh oranges-$3 (about .75 each)

Ground beef- $3

Taco Kit- $3

Sour cream- $1

Tomatoes- $2

Taco cheese- $2

Frozen corn- $1

Now that meals are planned for, there are a few extras you may want.  Sure no one needs coffee but really?  Let's try to work it into the budget.  Along with creamer. If you're able to drink your coffee black, more power to you.  But I've gotta add some vanilla creamer.  Also included are string cheese and popcorn in case someone in the family needs a snack between meals.

Grocery Extras Total: $14.50

Milk- $3

Coffee- $4.50

Creamer- $2

Popcorn- $2

String cheese- $3

Grand total of all groceries for one week for a family of 4: $99!

Honestly when I started planning this post, I was just trying to be under $110.  And it came out even less than $100 to feed our family of 4!  Humbling (we can definitely be spending less than we have been!) and encouraging (holy smokes, we can really lower our food budget and free up money for other things!).

Here's your free printable meal plan and grocery list for this $99 meal plan!