Meal Planning and Saving Money

Meal Planning this week 10/28/12

All amounts are approximate and will of course depend on what you spent. This is what 7 nights this week looks like for my family dinners.  If you read my tips (here) you know I skimp on meat; so if it says 1lb most likely I used 3/4 lb.  Most meals serve more than the 5 people we have in our family and make for excellent leftovers/Hubs-to-be’s take to work lunches.  Total for the week 37.34 (and remember that inlcudes at least 3 days of lunches for hubs-to-be).  That means the average cost of the meals is 5.33. Divided by 5 (servings, although most meals are more than 5) equals $1.03 per serving! 

 DINNERS FOR THIS WEEK 10/28/12

Sunday: Chicken Casserole 4.65 for 8 servings

1-2cups Shredded Chicken (from rotisserie bought ~$2-4, I always use less meat so $2)
½ bag noodles elbow or similar (.50)
1 can cream on X soup (I used mushroom) $1
½ bag of frozen veggies (or a can of veggies or fresh; whatever you have) .50
Handful of Shredded Cheese ~.50
¼ cup Bread Crumbs ~.15

 

Monday: Spaghetti $5.67  serves 6-8
1lb ground beef (1.89 on sale)
1 box noodles ($1)
Can/Jar of Sauce ($1.25)
Veggies to add (1/2 green bell pepper, mushroom, onion ~1.50)

Tuesday: Mexican Skillet 6.58

2 cans black beans 1.80
1lb ground beef 1.89
1 can corn .89
½ onion .50
Tortillas $1
Handful of cheese .50

 

Weds: Chicken Noodle Soup 3.90 severs 6

3 cups broth (made from rotisserie chicken)
1 cups cubed chicken $2
4 stalks celery .50
2 large carrots .40
½ onion .50
½ bag noodles .50

 

Thursday: Roast with veggies 6.45 serves 6-8
Roast on sale B1G2 $3.50
4 Potatoes cubed 1.25
3 Carrots .60
1 tomato .60
½ onion .50

 

Friday: Hamburgers and fries 5.09 serves 5
5 buns .70
Sliced Cheese (optional) $1
1lb Ground beef 1.89 (this is usually where I would use the ‘extra’ meat from skimping all week J)
Condiments
French fries (frozen) $1.50

 

Saturday: Frozen pizza $5

2 Pizzas Serves 5 $4/10 (2.50 each) $5