$50 Weekly Menu Plans Across the USA

$50 Weekly Menu Plans Across the USA
$50 Weekly Menu Plans Across the USA

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. SEE OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

3.9 (78.18%) 33 votes

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Over the course of the last year and a half of providing $50 weekly menu plans, many guests and members have written in expressing frustration that didn’t feel it was possible in their areas. We wholeheartedly agree that some areas are more difficult than others and with that in mind, would like to provide extra assistance to those folks who are diligently trying to reduce their grocery bill.

With that in mind, each week we will choose a zip code that has been submitted by a member and provide a $50 menu plan from the weekly sales flyers that are available online in the stores in those areas, as well as any tips, ideas and suggestions for additional ways to save money in those particular localities.

Would you like some Help?

If you’d like to see your zip code featured, please feel free to comment below and include ALL of the following:

1. A Typical Menu Plan for 1 week that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner

2. Your Zip Code

3. Include the Names of 3 Stores in your Area you frequently shop for groceries.

Without seeing what you’re currently eating each week we cannot determine where you need to make cuts/changes in order to save money, nor can we design a menu plan that will work for your family, (nor will we try).

The more information you can provide, the more assistance we can offer.

Failure to include your current menu plan will result in your request being skipped.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. SEE OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

About GB101 719 Articles
Filled with an insatiable wanderlust to see the world, I've dedicated most of my life to saving money where I can so I can afford to see and do the things I want. I dug our family out of debt by reducing our grocery expense to less than $300 a month. You can too!

303 Comments

  1. Hello! And thanks so much for all the great tips!

    I am 22 and have been living on my own since I was 18 and I am still trying to figure out the best way to buy groceries. My boyfriend and I live together and it seems that I cannot buy groceries for less than $500 a month and there is only 2 of us!! We are on a very tight budget as we are just starting out in life. I do clip coupons and tend to save anywhere from $40-$80 but my bill still ends up being around $200 (We get paid every 2 weeks so I shop for 2 weeks at a time.)

    I generally shop at Kroger because they accept my coupons and I tend to save a lot when I use my Kroger card. However I noticed that you do not have Kroger listed as one of my local stores.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated as we are trying to save as much as possible. We have 2 car payments, a house payment, minimal credit card debt, and 2 dogs. If I could save $250 a month (or more!) we would both be thrilled to death!

    Thanks so much!

  2. Fred Meyers & Kroger = Same Store. :cool3: They are owned/operated by the same company. The store flyer prices were from the Kroger/Fred Meyer store located at 43843 Sterling Hwy, Soldotna, AK.

    On your receipt, what is your biggest expense? Meat? Veggies? Fruit?

    Canned Items? Snack Items/Convenience Items?

  3. Thanks for this 🙂

    I am 42 with a family of 4 just like you. I thought I was doing good to get my weekly budget down to $100…I would love to see it at $50. We have recently started budgeting and working on a debt snowball repayment plan to have everything paid in 5 years (including 3 cars and a house).

    My zip is 52761 and I shop mostly at Aldi’s, WalMart and HyVee. I also clip coupons.

    Thanks for you assistance.

  4. I forgot to mention my zip code. I am in AL 35756. We do not have the other store you mentioned here.

    I would say we probably spend the most on convenience items which I am trying to cut back on. My boyfriend can’t/won’t cook (he is def a Mama’s boy!) so I have to have easy items that he can whip up/microwave when I’m not home.

    Thanks for all your help!

  5. I too would love some help. I am spending way too much on groceries and would love to cute the spending back so we can start paying off our debts a lot quicker.

    We are a family of 7 and live in a small town. In fact we only have 3 grocery stores period. :biggrin:

    Vernal UT 84078 Smiths, Walmart and Davis Jubilee (there’s also a Kmart, but I haven’t ever shopped for food there).

    • I too would love some help. I am spending way too much on groceries and would love to cute the spending back so we can start paying off our debts a lot quicker.

      We are a family of 7 and live in a small town. In fact we only have 3 grocery stores period. :biggrin:

      Vernal UT 84078 Smiths, Walmart and Davis Jubilee (there’s also a Kmart, but I haven’t ever shopped for food there).

      Hi crazymom, I am from Rangely and I too would love it if we could be shown how to spend 50 a week in Vernal. If I could do that, I would gladly spend the gas money to drive the 60 miles there. As you know it is the closest place for me to shop, other then our high priced store here.

      • Hi, I would love to get my grocery bill down to 50, I would even love to have it down to 75. I have a family of 6, two of my children are teenagers and eat a lot. I live in a really small area 16863, the three grocery stores in my area are Walmart, shop n save and save a lot. We try not to eat any processed food.

        There is an Aldi’s in the next town but it is a 40 minute drive and with the price of gas I don’t go very often.

        • Hi I would love to get my area on the list, we are a family of four, but our youngest is 3 months old and with the cost of formula, baby food, and diapers…having our grocery bill @ $50 would be life saving!!! The grocery stores in this area are Wal-Mart, Save-a-lot, and Kroger. Zip is 42501. Thanks!

  6. Family of 3 here! Zip code is 38501 and I shop at Food Lion, Walmart, and Kroger. Thanks so much for your help!!!

  7. How about 31410? We have Super Wal-Mart, Publix, Kroger, Food Lion, and Piggly Wiggly. Thanks in advance for your help!

  8. Hi, we have a house of 12 people. We have 1 under two, 2 children, and 2 teenagers and the rest are adults. We are in GA. 31533.

    We shop at Wal-Mart, Dollar General, and Harvey’s. We have a Save-A-Lot and a Big Lots.

  9. I would love to see what you can do with my area in Virginia, ZIP 23860. We have Food Lion, Farmer’s Foods and Save A Lot here in town. I also shop at Kroger and Martin’s which are in 23831. We are a family of four with two adults, a 3 year old and a 12 year old boy who eats non-stop.

    :pie: Any help is appreciated!
    :thankyou:

  10. I’d be amazed to find that happen here! We only have 4 grocery stores lol. Zip code is 28334, stores available are Carlie C’s IGA, FoodLion, WalMart, and Save-a-lot (i think that is what the last one is called)

    • I’d be amazed to find that happen here! We only have 4 grocery stores lol. Zip code is 28334, stores available are Carlie C’s IGA, FoodLion, WalMart, and Save-a-lot (i think that is what the last one is called)

      Actually you have an Aldi store located 22 miles away:

      ALDI Fayetteville, NC
      3447 Ramsey Street
      Fayetteville, NC 28311

      Our closest Aldi store is 27 miles away, but we price match at our local walmart. You can view the Aldi sales flyers (& even have them sent to your house) so that you can bring them into walmart to have the fruit/veggie deals price matched, or alternatively, you can drive straight to Aldi’s for the best deals of your life.

      You can also check into Lee’s Produce Farm for local deals on fruits/veggies

  11. 72908 family of 3
    walmart super center, harps/price cutter, and cv’s family food

    Would really love the help cutting down the grocery bill since there has been changes in finances
    Thanks

    • 72908 family of 3
      walmart super center, harps/price cutter, and cv’s family food

      Would really love the help cutting down the grocery bill since there has been changes in finances
      Thanks

      There is an Aldi store 4.8 miles from your zip code:

      ALDI Fort Smith, AR
      8400 Phoenix Avenue
      Fort Smith, AR 72903

      I would start with checking out the deals there first and apply the meat purchase techniques specified in the eBook to give you time to build up your pantry stock. Btw, the eBook is Free for 24 hrs starting at Midnight.

  12. 96782 .. Family of 5 (soon to be 6!)
    Walmart/Sam’s Club, FoodLand, Safeway are the chains closest to me .. we are also able to shop at any of the commissaries on the island as well ..

    I understand $50 for 5 people may be expecting way too much, but I am currently spending close to $400 a week on groceries, so any help would be nice!

  13. I would love some suggestions on cutting down on the food bill. I live in zip 75418, but shop in
    Sherman, Tx 75090

    Kroger, Albertson’s Sam’s and Walmart

    Thanks for the help.

  14. I would love to know what you could do for my area (89027). I would love to lower my grocery bill. We only have two stores to shop at, Walmart and Smiths. We have a family of four, two kids ages 6 and 3.

    Any help would be fantastic!

  15. Hi…I’m new to your site. I have been trying to work on menu planning, etc for a long time…but, am finding it very difficult for my ADHD brain to figure it out. I know it’s not really that difficult…but…

    Anyway…would love it if you could give me some help for the zip code of 41042. I shop at Kroger the most and sometimes Meijer and Super Target.

    Thank for your time!! :0smile:

  16. I am in San Antonio, TX zip code is 78255. There is only one grocery store here, HEB. We do have a Costco for bulk items. I spend a minimum of $150 a week for a family of 6, usually more. I cannot fathom that a grocery bill could be under $100 a week.

  17. How about Canada? Any interest in doing a Canadian spotlight? I’m mum in a family of 7, in rural Manitoba. R0J 1E0 is our postal code.

    We have a Co-Op (Heritage), Safeway and there is a WalMart (but not a Supercentre, so only frozen and basic fridge foods) Superstore, and a Sobey’s 45km away.

  18. Hello, my name is Emily. I’m 21 yrs old. I’ve been married for around 9 months. My husband graduates from college next month.

    We don’t have children yet, but when we do..I plan to be a stay at home Mom. I’m trying to cut back in all ways possible. I’ve tried & tried to figure out how to do the whole $100 a month thing by making lists/etc (even research) but I still have no clue what I’m doing. Not to mention, I never really cooked before we got married.

    Please help. 🙁 Thanks for your time~

    Emily

  19. I would like to say that in Alaska, one single colored bell pepper is $1.50 on a sale week. Ground turkey goes on sale for $3.99 but is usually over $5.00 per pound. Cream cheese, if you are lucky, you can find store brand for $2.00. On the vine tomatoes are on sale this week for $1.48 per pound, and are normally $3.49.

    a loaf of bread, store brand, goes on sale for $1.67.

    I appreciate the ideas on meal planning you have, but much like the Fredricksburg, VA follower, I too would love some assistance. I shop the fliers, I use coupons, and I still can not manage to spend any less than $130 a week on groceries.

  20. I am in Mt.Gilead, NC 27306 but shop in another zip code area about 19 miles away 28001 there is a walmart,food lion, aldis. Thanks for ALL you do I love this site and you folks are amazing!!:tinyheart:OI there are 2 of us and hubby is diabetic, and we have 2 small fur babies.

  21. I feel like the commenter from Alaska.

    I moved to Vancouver, Canada and am still having sticker shock 6 years later! I am ready to pull my hair out, and could really use some help! We are living downtown, and in one of the most expensive places in Canada.

    It’s really hard to figure out how to feed a family with teenage boys for only $50/week. Milk is $5/gallon, whole chicken is $10 or more, a head of lettuce is $2-$3, beans are $3/lb, and the best price I have found for eggs comes to .42 each. I shop at Costco, and make just about everything from scratch, but I just can’t figure out how to make the food bill last longer when the kids can manage to go through an entire Costco box of oranges AND bag of apples in one week – just on snacking!

    HELP! Can someone do the analyzer for my postal code? (When I tried the do-it-yourself page here, it only takes US zip codes.)

    • We are living downtown, and in one of the most expensive places in Canada.
      HELP! Can someone do the analyzer for my postal code? (When I tried the do-it-yourself page here, it only takes US zip codes.)

      Whoops, you forgot to include your zipcode & vancouver is a rather large place! Unfortunately, There are no cheap grocery stores in downtown Vancouver, but if you head outside of downtown or to the suburbs, the Canadian Superstore is definitely your best bet. They have a location in Vancouver at the foot of Main Street on Marine Drive.

      If you’re looking for cheap fruits & veggies, try to get to Kin’s Market: http://www.kinsfarmmarket.com

  22. 49855, Marquette, MI

    Econo Foods
    Super One
    Walmart, although SuperTarget will be done end of June so that should help!

  23. Like everyone else, I would like to reduce our grocery bill, which runs around $100/week for the 6 of us. There are 4 adults (including 2 male construction workers) and 2 children, ages 8 and 10. I don’t often get to do the grocery shopping here, and those who do, IMHO, waste too much money on things like frozen pizza and snack foods. I’m trying to change some of that by making more foods from scratch, including snack foods, but without the cooperation of some of the others, it is hard.

    Our zipcode is 60559, Westmont, IL, and we usually shop at Jewel, Aldi, and the Westmont Market. The 2 men are BIG meat eaters, and will not consider a meal without meat.
    Thanks so much. Enjoy the site!

  24. I would like help with coming up with different, but simple and healthy meals using my flyers. I’m in Decatur, IL 62526 and I usually shop at Aldi for as much as I can, then Kroger and Cub Foods (County Market affiliate) for sales only.

    • 29204 – Aldi!!!! Any Aldi meal plan would be great!

      Hi Virginia! Currently the $50 Weekly Menu Plans that are shared every monday are written based off what we purchase at Aldi, Walmart, Sams Club & Piggly Wiggly. The majority of fruits/veggies come from the Aldi on Garners Ferry Rd- not far from you.

      The Bulk Meat buys as described in our ebook “The 2012 Family Guide to Groceries under $250 a Month” comes from Sam’s Club & Piggly Wiggly. Sams is on Exit 12 right off 20.

      Basically, All of our Meal plans shared are from your immediate area. :thumbup:

  25. 32055, FL I didn’t see any for Florida so I thought I would post. I am currently trying to eat more at home and eat healthier it’s just myself and my husband so you would think that 50 dollars a week would be easy, I haven’t found that to be true. Stores that are near us Super Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie, Publix, Food Lion. I LOVE the menu planning tools and look forward to the post on Florida!

  26. I live in San Antonio, there are 5 of us (2 adults and 3 little girls ages 5, 3, and 17 months) in zip code 78245 and we have HEB, Wal-Mart and Super Target as well as Costco and Sams Club (we only have a membership to Sams) plus some other obscure stores on the other side of town. Right now I’m budgeted to be spending no less then 100 a week, but I’ve been going way over (closer to 150-200 a week) I’m a bit addicted to grocery shopping. We try to eat as much fresh veggies as possible, there are also several veggie co-ops (bountiful baskest offer about a weeks worth of fruit and veggies for about 20 dollars, for a little extra you can make it a veggie lovers basket, there is also a local farmer who sells about 30lbs of organic produce for $31 bucks, but you have to drive out the the farm and get it, and it’s a random selection of what ever is growing right now) We also limit our grain intake. PLEASE HELP ME!

    My husband is pretty tired of hearing me say “Well, I went over again”

  27. I live in San Antonio, there are 5 of us (2 adults and 3 little girls ages 5, 3, and 17 months) in zip code 78245 and we have HEB, Wal-Mart and Super Target as well as Costco and Sams Club (we only have a membership to Sams) plus some other obscure stores on the other side of town. Right now I’m budgeted to be spending no less then 100 a week, but I’ve been going way over (closer to 150-200 a week) I’m a bit addicted to grocery shopping. We try to eat as much fresh veggies as possible, there are also several veggie co-ops (bountiful baskest offer about a weeks worth of fruit and veggies for about 20 dollars, for a little extra you can make it a veggie lovers basket, there is also a local farmer who sells about 30lbs of organic produce for $31 bucks, but you have to drive out the the farm and get it, and it’s a random selection of what ever is growing right now) We also limit our grain intake. PLEASE HELP ME!

    My husband is pretty tired of hearing me say “Well, I went over again”

  28. I am in Muskogee, Oklahoma. ZIP 74403 or 74401
    I shop at Walmart, Save a Lot and Homeland stores most often.
    I am married with an 11 yr old boy and 14 yo old boy. Every other weekend we have my 3 step-children. 7 yo boy, 12 yo girl and 14 yo girl.

    My youngest son can eat us out of house and home due to meds he is on increasing his appetite.
    Any help would be appreciated. We have an Aldi 40 miles away…would I still be able to get walmart to price match or is it too far??

  29. I live in zip code 41175. We have a neighborhood groc. store “Foodland” . there is a Walmart about 15 mins away and an Aldis a little closer.

    i would LOVE to be able to get a weeks worth of groceries for $50 a week!!! :biggrin:

  30. Hello,

    I would love to see my zip code featured. We live in Dalton, GA. It’s zip code 30720. I usually shop at Kroger and Walmart.

    My grocery budget for a family of 4 is $200.00 a month. We honestly, almost always overspend since I have 1 toddler still in diapers and a baby eating formula and needing diapers too. Those things eat a ton out of our budget.

    Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

  31. hi my name is Stacie and im from Laramie, Wyoming 82070. and im trying to cut my bills in half and need ideas for lunch and dinner (i have two young kids) please help me with idea and meal plans.

  32. i am in West Fargo nd 58078 i’ve been trying to do menu planning for a bit now and could use some advice theres a super target a hornbachers, sunmart , cashwise, and a walmart ( that i NEVER go to o.o ) i have some pretty picky eater in my house one only like poultry and the other seafood and pork. i mainly eat fruits and veges i know i can get our food cost low with planning and timing even if i only have half a pantry any advice and help would be AMAZING btw Love the book 🙂

  33. I was sooo excited when I saw your link on pinterest! I need some serious help. . .

    I have four kids under the age of four, including twin girls that were born two months ago. I’ve had to supplement with formula because i’m not producing enough for both of them and the cost of formula is making a serious dent in the amount I would normally spend on groceries. Because of that, I really need to reduce my spending on groceries wherever possible. I live in Clovis, CA 93619 and I usually go to Food Maxx and Costco.

    There is a Savemart and a Vons nearby but they are incredibly overpriced. Your help would be so appreciated!!! 🙂

    • I was sooo excited when I saw your link on pinterest! I need some serious help. . .

      I have four kids under the age of four, including twin girls that were born two months ago. I’ve had to supplement with formula because i’m not producing enough for both of them and the cost of formula is making a serious dent in the amount I would normally spend on groceries. Because of that, I really need to reduce my spending on groceries wherever possible. I live in Clovis, CA 93619 and I usually go to Food Maxx and Costco.

      There is a Savemart and a Vons nearby but they are incredibly overpriced. Your help would be so appreciated!!! 🙂

      Quickly Looking at your local savemart flyer:

      Here are a few deals I found:

      Peaches .97 #
      Chicken Leg Quarters .68# (10lb)
      Red Bell Peppers $4/1
      Banana’s .39#
      Eggs .69# (another decent protein while nursing)
      Post Cereal $1.77 Box (If you’re a coupon clipper there are recent Post Cereal coupons, making these dirt cheap!)
      Boneless Skinless chicken Breast $1.59 # (Valid on June 26th ONLY)
      Tuna 10/$10 (decent protein while nursing)
      Corn on the Cob 3/$.99 (may or may not be cheap depending on your area)
      Fresh cilantro .33
      Fresh Green Onions .33
      Radishes .33

      Vons Weekly Specials
      Chicken Breast Halves .97#
      Assorted Bone-in Loin $1.67#
      Broccoli Crowns $1.29
      Mango $1 ea
      Santa Maria crisp Lettuce $1.49
      Red Potatoes .99
      Apples $1.49

      Some ideas for easy meals would be:

      Peach Smoothies (for the kids!)
      Jam Breakfast bars– these are easy for little hands to hold
      French toast (cut into sticks) for the little ones
      Banana Muffins
      Peaches & cream Oatmeal (all ages)
      Cinnamon Apple cheeseball- excellent for the little ones to munch on with apple slices, they love it

      Chicken Salad Sandwiches
      evacuation tuna salad– a great one for easy/fast lunch
      Crockpot chipotle chicken (go easy on the spice though!)
      Grilled Chicken Pesto Pizza
      Broccoli Garlic Penne
      Cowboy Pork Chops over BBQ Rice
      Key West Grilled Chicken, Corn on the Cob (makes great leftover wraps)

      When the kids are little like that it’s hard to find the energy to prepare meals. When you have the energy & time, double the meal recipe and freeze the second so all you have to do is reheat.

      If the little ones don’t like tuna sandwiches, add a few chopped grapes to it. As for formula being ridiculously expensive, all moms who have ever bought it AGREE!! You can post the brand of formula you prefer and request coupons in our coupon wishlist forum. Also, some brands of formula can be purchased online at Amazon less expensively than the grocery store using subscribe and save.

      • Wow! Thank you so much for the speedy reply! Those are fabulous ideas and I’m excited to try some of those recipes. It IS really hard to get up the energy to make anything especially when my 4 yr old and 2 yr old refuse to eat it.

        😛 Unfortunately I don’t have any coupons for the cereal which is too bad because we do go through a lot of cereal, but I’m going to try to keep my eyes peeled for future deals. Thanks again!

        • Wow! Thank you so much for the speedy reply! Those are fabulous ideas and I’m excited to try some of those recipes. It IS really hard to get up the energy to make anything especially when my 4 yr old and 2 yr old refuse to eat it.

          😛 Unfortunately I don’t have any coupons for the cereal which is too bad because we do go through a lot of cereal, but I’m going to try to keep my eyes peeled for future deals. Thanks again!

          There is a coupon database with clickable links to printable coupons, there are still 2 left for Post cereal that are active. Just type “Post” or “kelloggs” for various coupons on cereal. I don’t know if it will help in your situation, but when our boys where little if we gave them “jobs” to do in the kitchen helping to make the meal, they would eat just about Anything I cooked. It made them feel like they were the “chef”.

          In fact we even bought them little chef hats that I found for a couple dollars. It’s amazing how kids who hate tomatoes will suddenly chow them down. They can wash veggies, tear lettuce, “measure” stuff, etc. The cereal bars & jam bars are fun for kids to make because they can squish the topping with their fingers.

          congrats on your new babies!

  34. I am in San Antonio, TX zip code 78240. There are only my husband and I with a grandchild thrown in sometimes. My main problem is that my husband has to be on a low sodium, low fat diet. He is also borderline diabetic.

    I have to buy everything fresh or when I do by canned items they have to be low or no salt added. I would like to see a $50 a week menu that will fit in with his diet.

  35. Three Rivers, MI 49094, we have a Meijers, Walmart, and a Hardings in our town. I would love to get your help and advice for lowering our foods bills to $50/week. We have are a family of 5 and we have one teenager, and two preteens so needless to say we are constantly feeding them. My husband and I are tired of walking out of the store with three bags of groceries that cost $100 or more and yet we still have hardly anything for meals/snacks.

    Please HELP!!

  36. I am in Honolulu, Hawaii. Zip code is 96818. I primarily shop at the commissary (the military grocery store) and sometime shop at Safeway. I would like help on planning a menu for a family of 5.

    2 adults and 3 children ages 7, 5, and 3. I go grocery shopping every 2 weeks and spend close to $350 each time. I would love to spend less than $200. Please help.

  37. I am in Provo, Utah and my zipcode is 84604
    the grocery stores are Smith’s, Walmart, Costco, and Fresh Market.
    But I usually just shop at walmart.
    I feel like I’m spending wayyyy too much money on groceries and it’s only my husband, myself, and our 2 year old. We spend a little over 300 a month…that’s 75 a week for a family half your size. Please help!

  38. I’d love some help, not sure if you can help us Canadians.
    My postal code is E3B 5A3.
    Grocery stores in the area are: Atlantic Superstore, Price Choppers (small one), Sobeys, Costco (Wholesale Club Store).
    We also have Giant Tiger, Zellers, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Wal-Mart (but does not have fresh fruit/veggies section – only freezer section, dry food section (cereal, cookies, pasta etc), and of course cleaning and paper products

    I normally spend $100 – $125/week for a family of 2 and can’t imagine spending only $50/week. Our produce and meat prices are high here. I make most all of our meals from scratch (including baked goods). I don’t buy much for convenience foods, but do purchase some snack items for hubby’s lunch.

    We both take our lunches every day and eat 99% of our meals at home – we may eat out once a month.
    We are over an hour’s drive from the nearest US town (Houlton, Maine) which doesn’t have any of the large American grocery chains, other than Wal-Mart and we rarely get up there.

    I planted a very small garden this year but our growing season is very short and doesn’t start to produce anything until mid-July. Hubby is a meat and potatoes guy, and isn’t big on veggies, but I love them. I planned a cherry tomato plant, zucchini, pumpkin, green onions, garlic, 2 red pepper, 2 green peppers (one has now died). I’ve planted peppers in the past with very little success – the 3 surviving pepper plants are a long, long way off from producing fruit (probably mid-August).

    If I have any success I’ll plant more next year.

    Any suggestions for cutting back on the grocery budget would be awesome!

  39. Hi, we live in St. Charles, MO 63303. I’ve just recently stopped work to be a stay at home mom for our 3 kids (6,4,1yo). I’m trying not to be too overwhelmed with attempting to cut our budget down with me not working. We do have picky eaters and allergy to onion and dairy that makes menu planning tough.

    Not to mention still needing to make some babyfood yet. I’m so tired of plain chicken and veggies! We shop Trader Joes, Schnucks, Shop n Save, and a local produce market when open and a local meat market. Would love help with shopping,planning the menus for the week and meal ideas.

    loved the book, it got me here! Made the granola bars last night- yum!

  40. I am in a very small town in NC, we have Aldi, Food Lion and Walmart. Our zip is 27306. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. there are only 2 of us and 2 small furry babies, we have alot of our own meat like venison and wild hog, thanks to hubs hunting skills.

    I don’t buy junk food except popcorn and fritoes(for frito pie) We are on limited income and need your help. Thanks. p.s. Our Walmart doesn’t price match Aldi.

  41. Hi,

    I am a military wife living in Oklahoma City (73112). We are about to have a baby and are going down to one income here in a little over 5 weeks:scared:. ANy help would be greatly appreciated. 🙂 We shop Aldi, Walmart, and Homeland.

    Rebecka

  42. I live in Tucson Arizona and I mostly shop at Safeway. They usually have wonderful sales and deals but I still find it hard to get what I need for under our weekly budget of $100.00. My zip code is 85750. Can you help me?

  43. Got a big challenge for you. I am in the Washington DC area, which has some of the most expensive prices all around.

    My zip code is 22301.

    I generally go to Shoppers Food Warehouse; Giant or Trader Joe’s

  44. Hi

    We are a family of four, two adults and two children (ages 5 and 22 months).We live about 20 miles south of Boston, MA. We are on a limited budget of less than 500 max a month for groceries. We don’t even spend that most months either. I spend the majority of our budget (between 2-250 max) at one store, I get all my meat, staple items and fruits/vegetables there.

    The rest of the money goes to if we see something we want, something is on sale etc. My husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. He will eat certain vegetables like corn, peas, green beans. Fruits are far and few between.

    We don’t have any allergies. I am trying to stay away from processed foods, prepackaged foods. I’d rather make my son’s snacks for camp rather than buy a box of granola bars. I do clip coupons but I’m bad at remembering to bring them or letting them expire.

    We do eat a lot of leftovers. I tend to make double batches of food so my husband has something to take for lunch the next day. We do get WIC, so I don’t count cereal, or eggs in our budget. Milk, and cheese yes because we go through a lot a month.
    Zip code is 02370
    Pricerite, Stop and Shop, and Walmart are the three main stores I shop at.

    Pricerite is where the majority of the money goes. Stop and Shop is the other store I shop at, mainly for gas points (I had 1,000 gas points and saved a dollar on my gas, only paid 2.36 a gallon, and I didn’t spend but maybe 200 max. Love gas point deals, and spend $50 get 300 gas points coupon).

    Thank you.

  45. Hi, I would love some help on cutting grocery expenses. I live in a small town in Meigs, GA. The zip is 31765. We are a family of 5.

    I shop mainly at Harvey’s, but there is a Piggly Wiggly, Winn Dixie, IGA in close by town. Any sugguestions would truly be appreciated.

    Thanks 🙂

  46. Hello!

    I am a stay at home mommy of 5 & have recently been diagnosed w/Rheumatoid Arthritis & Fibromyalgia.

    On a normally bi-weekly basis, I spend almost $300 on food & necessities. With my increasing medical expenses, I am in real need of a budget plan!

    Please help!! I shop between Walmart, Meijer & Kroger & am in the 43123 area.

    Your help is MUCH appreciated!!

  47. I’m in Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233. We have Wal-Mart, Winn Dixie, Publix and we are supposed to be getting a Rowes soon…

    I’ve managed to get our grocery bill down to about $125 a week. That is for 4 adults and 1 toddler and includes diapers, paper goods and personal care items.

    My dearest MIL still insists on buying packaged cookies and convenience foods (for nights when she has to cook).

  48. I am Jolene and live in Westerville, Ohio, and would love some help. My zip 43081. I normally shop at Kroger, Walmart, and Marc’s, and Carfagna’s cleve meats. Thank you!

  49. I just joined the site today and I am looking forward to any tips I can get for my grocery bill. I live in New York, on Long Island..things are pricey, my zip is 11950.

    Also I find that we don’t get some of the coupons in our paper that are available in other parts of the country (I have a couponing friend in Florida) and also when I am upstate NY there are better coupons than here.

    Thanks! :0smile:

  50. Could you take a look at 73134, OKC,OK. Recently purchased our first home and would love anyway to save money! We shop at super target wal-Mart and homeland. Thanks!

  51. hello! We are a family of 5 living in South Bend, IN 46637. I always shop for sales but I can’t seam to spend under $500/mo on groceries. I do make everything from scratch, but with 3 kids under the age of 5, my kitchen time is limited.

    Also, we don’t have much sun in our yard, so our small garden just doesn’t grow anything.

    My husband and I have to keep our carb intake low and protein high (no rice, potatoes or bread). I make a lot of nut bars. 🙂 My kids eat tons of fruit. I shop at Aldi, Meijer, Kroger and Shelton’s farm market (but most things there have to be bought in bulk).

    We are living off of one (small) income and 1/4 of our budget is currently being spent on food. I wish we could just follow your menu plans but they are to high in carbs for us. 🙁

    Any help would be amazing! Thank you for doing what you do. You are so encouraging.

  52. Hello! I live in La Grange, KY 40031. I’m not a good cook, just recently choose to drop from work to stay at home to take care of my now 16 months old triplets. I don’t think the daycare would worth it!

    Anyway, I find it’s hard to find good healthy menu for my babies. We do garden but with 3 babies we barely have time to plant anything this year 🙁
    I mostly shop at Kroger, Walmart and Sams. I have been trying to make it $50/week with no success. Last time it was $200/2 weeks .. and I think it’s not bad but still.

    Since I’m not working, we lost almost $50,000 income :'(
    My kids eat pretty much anything, I just have to adjust a little bit to make it more chewable and cut in little pieces for them. We’re going thru about 3 gallons of milk every week (only $2.09 from Sams yah!) I try to feed them a lot of vegetable, low sugar and low sodium, just to build healthy life style for them.
    Thank you!!!

  53. I am in Broken Arrow, OK (Tulsa County). My zip code is 74012. Three grocery stores in our area arw Walmart, Aldi’s, and Reasors. Groceries are our largest weekly expense.

    To be able to spend less on groceries each week would certainly help stretch our budget dollars.

  54. Hi my name is margie. I live in Pensacola fl. 32505. The grocery store that we have here.

    Are publics,Winn dixie,Walmart,Save a lot and sams. These are all I can Remember right now.I am a teacher asst.sub . Which means I dont get paid for the summer. Right now its just me and my husband. But at any time one of my three kids and their families drop in.So I cant say no to fixing them dinner.I really like to get my groceries down to fifty a week.

    Hope you can Help me. Thank you.

  55. We live in Hazlet, New Jersey 07730. The three stores I frequent most are: ShopRite, PathMark, and Aldi. My husband and I are both retired and have limited income. I really need to get my grocery bill down to $200 for the month so any help would be greatly appreciated.

    We are not big fish eaters, pretty much meat and potato folks but that’s not really possible now. We have a Best Markets that opened recently and I do shop their sales for fruit and vegetables (sometimes their meat is priced right too).

    Thanks in advance!

  56. zip 42754 family of 6 shop at Save A Lot and Walmart. My kids are picky eaters and my husband too. I spend approx $125 week.

  57. Zip code is 61115 and we typically shop at Aldi, Logli, and Woodmans. Also shop at Sams Club.

    Just had a baby girl and hoping to learn to save money so I don’t have to go back to work.

  58. I am new to your site, and I need help!! I plan our meals on Sunday for the following week. I need to stay at $100/week, but I always go over! Our zip code is 65401.

    We have ALDI, Wal-Mart, Country Mart, Kroger. I usually shop at ALDI, Wal-Mart and occasionally at the farmer’s market for fresh veggies and fruits. I’m getting ready to student teach, therefore, no income coming in from me for 4 months! I would love to cut our bill to $50/week.

    I have a husband, 13 year old step-son, and 12 year old triplets – 2 boys and 1 girl! Any guidance and direction is truly appreciated for this family of 6! Thank you for your time.

  59. hi i am in wymore,ne zip code 68466. but i shop in beatrice,ne zip code 68310. i have a hubby and 2 children. ages 2 and 1.

    i’ve tried plenty of times to cut my budget down but it never works. so please help 🙂 The stores i mostly use are sunmart, walmart, and hearland foods. and occasionally i will travel into lincoln or omaha and go to sams club. Thanks!

  60. I would love to see this for my area! I live in 75150, and we have Albertson’s, Tom Thumb, and Kroger. Thank you!

  61. I am in the Claremore, OK zip code 74017. Our main grocery stores are Reasors, Walmart and Homeland. We have a Sam’s Club in Tulsa for bulk items…I just stumble across your website and am very impressed.

  62. 37343

    Aldi Hixson Pike Hixson, TN
    Bi-Lo Hixson Pike Hixson, TN
    Publix Hixson Pike Hixson, TN

    Hello,

    We are a family of 3 and our story is a little involved, so I apologize in advance… 🙂

    We were living in Southern Alabama and surviving fairly ok. We were not doing well by any means, but we were surviving…

    At any rate, our Daughter entered her Junior Year in High School and began getting regularly bullied. The school was unwilling to take any real steps to intervene, so friends of ours in the Chattanooga, TN area invited us to pack up and move up here. We did so and have been here since December of 2011.

    Since moving here, my health has deteriorated to the point that I am now on renal dialysis 3 days a week. I receive $465 a month in SSI, and up until this month, we received SNAP benefits as well.

    My Husband has struggled to find work for months and months. This is a beautiful area to visit, but unless you have a degree, moving here and trying to find work is a nightmare.

    He finally found what we hope will be a lasting job and has been there for about a month. He is making $10.50 an hour and gets approximately 34 hours a week.

    His job, combined with my SSI has now disqualified us from receiving any SNAP benefits.

    We are moving out of our friends’ house as of October 1st. We aren’t sure yet where we will be living, but the ‘cheap’ rent in this area for a 2 bedroom in a fairly safe neighborhood starts at close to $500 a month, nothing included.

    I did a long-term projected budget and taking into account our bills (living without cable or satellite TV or any other frills), we will have between $50 to $150 a week left-over. Out of that money, I have to find a way to feed the 3 of us.

    That in and of itself is a challenge, but with my health issues and special diet included, it gets even more difficult.

    I have to avoid foods that are high in Sodium and Phosphorus. I’m luckier than most renal patients because I don’t have any Potassium or Fluid restrictions yet, but the Phosphorus restriction makes things challenging.

    If you can provide any sort of hints, tips, or even a weekly menu plan, I would be forever grateful.

    I’m a planner, so even though we’re not moving until October 1st, I’m already trying to work out a menu plan.

    Thank you!

    Julie M.

  63. Hello We live in Rockville Md 20853, use stores such as Traders Joe, Safeway, Whole Foods. Nearby stores : Sam s Club, Harris Teeter, Food Shoppers Warehouse..

  64. I’m Bethany P. and I live in Tacoma, WA (Zip code 98407) There is a Safeway, Albertson’s and Fred Meyers in the area that I shop at. My son has WIC, so we get stuff like whole grain bread, 3 1/4 gallons of milk (total), one dozen eggs, 1 lb of cheese, $6 in fresh produce, 36 oz cereal and 18 oz peanut butter. It helps keep the grocery bill down, but I spend about $100 a month on my family of 3.

    I plan my meals, resist the impulse buys, and buy generic brands, but I can’t seem to lower my bill. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

  65. I live in Douglass Kansas 67039 Alidi, Dillons, Walmart, Target. We are a family of 6 (with regular guests) currently spending $450 a month. Suggestions greatly appreciated!

  66. I live in East Liverpool OH. The zipcode is 43920. I currently spend over $100 a week on groceries. I would love to see how you could plan a $50 a week menu form my area stores.

    Giant Eagle, WalMart, and Aldi. Thank you so much. Shanley

  67. I live in Gretna, NE 68028. You can also use Omaha, NE 68130. Baker’s (Kroger/Dillons), Hy-Vee, Walmart, Target, Aldi, and Super Saver. Just a family of 2 for now, planning a wedding and looking to save here and there to put more money towards our wedding.

    Any bit helps!

  68. I live in Lake Elsinore, CA. My zip code is 92532. The nearest grocery stores are Stater Bros. and Vons.

    Super Target, Ralphs, and Albertsons are about 20 minutes away in the next city over. I have a family of 4, and I can never seem to get our grocery bill under $130. I am a stay at home mom, and my husband is the hardest worker I know. Any help you could give us to help alleviate some financial stress would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you so much!

  69. I live in Newtown Square, PA zip code 19073. I shop at Wegmans, Trader Joes and Acme.

    We have 2 adults one child. We usually spend about $75-$80 a week. We are going down to one income and would like to reduce our grocery bill.

    Thanks,

  70. We live in Auburn, WA. Zip code 98092. We shop for a family of 5. 2 adults, & a 14, 10 & 6 yr old.

    We shop at safeway, Albertsons & Wal-Mart. We could use help getting the budget closer to $200 than our usual $500

  71. My average grocery bill runs $500 every two weeks. Obviously I need help. My zip code is 93551, and the stores that I shop at most frequently are Walmart Superstore, Costco and Albertson’s.

  72. This sounds REALLY good but I’m at a loss for how to actually plan the menu. I am a subscriber to emeals which gives you a menu plan for the week, dinner only, which runs about $80 a wk. I would LOVE to learn to do this for myself. Do you think you could high light my area to give me a jump start?

    I live in Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 and have several stores available to me. My picks are Publix, Wal-Mart, BJ’s and Sweetbay.

  73. I am in Portland TN, 37148. I am a mother of four so there is 6 on daily basis but sometimes up to 9 people. I am gotten my budget down to $100 to $150 each week but would love to get it down lower. I just started a menu planner, daily spending list, and budget on a very large earseboard that I put in my kitchen to try to keep me on top of things.

    Any helpful ideas and tips would greatly be appreciated. I have in my town is Food Lion and H G Hills. In the next town over which is about a 30 to 40 minute drive I have Walmart, Publix, and Krogers too. Please Help!

  74. I have recently relocated to farmington, ny from Ca for a better life for my children. I have a family of 4 and I am the only provider. Seeing this, I have a limited income and though one day hope to have a garden I do not at this time. My stores that are here are Aldi, Super Walmart, Wegmans, and Tops.

    I would love to get my grocery bill as low as possible.

  75. I would love to see any suggestions for my area! My family and I moved to Maui 4 months ago and have been spending almost $200 a week on groceries. My zip code is 96753 and I shop at Safeway, Times Supermarket, and Foodland. Thanks so much.

  76. I live in Carey, Idaho but shop in Hailey, ID, zip code 83333. I have a family of 6, 2 adults, 1 teenage boy (who is bigger than my husband), and 3 little girls- 10,7,5. This is a resort area and is very expensive. I have tried couponing but with working full time and having 4 kids with very busy schedules it was just taking too much time.

    The grocery stores that are here are Albertsons and family owned Atkinson’s. I try to buy generic when I can and make most everything from scratch. I do grow a garden and can all of our fruits, vegi’s and preserves. I currently spend about $500+/month.

    If you could help me cut this in half I would be greatful.

  77. I live in northeastern Washington zipcode 99141 and would love help reducing my grocery bill. I have 3 children..a son who is almost a teenager along with their friends a few times a week. i am a stay at home mom living on my husbands income. We live in a depressed area with high gas prices- 4.00- a gallon with the nearest 3 stores, Rosaurers, Safeway and Walmart, 8 miles away.

    I can’t seem to spend under 120 a week because I always need the basic staples such as cheese,milk,eggs,butter,bread…things on hand. By the time that expensive stuff is purchased it leaves very little money to purchase meat and produce. I clip coupons but find it inconvenient to have to buy 2 or 3 of one item to get a deal. Help!!

  78. I would love some help gettin my grocery bill down to $50 a week! I mostly shop at Walmart but we also have a Smiths and Kents grocery store. Any help would be great!!

    Hannah024
    Brigham City, UT 84302

  79. 91355 suburbs of Los Angeles…

    Sprouts
    Trader Joes
    Ralph’s
    Vons
    Smart and Final

    Feeding family of 6 (2 adults, 2 teenagers and two kids). Two of those have gluten intolerance…I can get Brown Rice Pasta at Trader Joes for 1.99 (cheapest around). And Udi bread at Sprouts for 3.99/loaf. We do not have a Sams membership or a Costco membership.

  80. Hello I live in orange lake Florida our zip code is 32681, when you put pur zip in it will show you the closest places are in Ocala Florida (that is were we have to go to shop) and we would love to start living more frugal I am a stay at home mother of 2 sweet homeschooled children and this would be such a great help for our family we have already started to use all of your awsome ways to make things your self insted of buying them and let me tell you …. That was a blessing in its self, I get on this site every day I love it.
    Okay I will not go on any more,lol.. we do shop at : Save-a-lot , Aldis , wall-mart, we also try to get the sales if i know a baout them at walgrees , sweetbay and cash and karry and cvs.
    Thank you so much and bless you for helping so many ppl:)

  81. We will probably be a tough one! We are in marlin, TX 76661. We only have an HEB and a Walmart with very few food items (not a super wm). It is just my husband and I, our little ones dont eat enough to count ;).

    We are both participating in the area wide Biggest Loser competition, so nothing too fattening. Can you help?

  82. 99337 We live in in the PNW but in the Eastern side of Washington where it is desert. I am always trying to trim the budget. We have 5 kiddos ranging from 3-12. The first 4 are boys and the youngest a girl.

    I tend to shop at Winco, Walmart, and sometimes Costco. Though we have an albertsons and a Yoke’s near, they are usually too pricey. I cook 99.9% of all the meals at home except now with the kids going back to school we will likely go back to school lunches unless I come up with a less expensive option.

  83. I am in Lubbock, Tx zip code 79423. We are a family of 2 now but may be growing to 4 if my son and his girlfriend decide to move in next month. Even with 2 of us it’s hard to get the budget at $50 as I’m trying to lose weight. I don’t eat alot of “convenience” foods and I don’t try to make biscuits, pancakes, desserts (very often).
    We have Walmart, Target (not super), United &United Market Street, Lowe’s Market and I do have a Sam’s membership.

    I just found your website today and am really enjoying reading!! Thanks!!

  84. I live in Howard, PA zip code is 16841. There are two grocery stores, Weis and Walmart and two discount stores, Dollar General & Big Lots. I have tried unsuccessfully to create menus based on their flyers. Help.

  85. I am in Buckeye Lake Ohio, but we do most of our grocery shopping in Heath Ohio. Stores in the area that we go to are Aldi, Walmart, Kroger, Giant Eagle and Carnival (there is also a Meijer on the other side of town and if it would be cheaper I can go there). We shop mainly at Walmart and Aldi but I can go to any of these stores as they are all rather close to one another. We also do not eat a lot of Beef (me none at all, but if the rest of the family has it I substitute or just don’t eat the beef).

    We have a very limited budget and I need help with this really bad. I have a family of 5, two adults, a 14 year old, 10 year old and 4 year old.
    Thanks so much!
    Holly Jo

  86. I am in zip code 26041. We are a family of 5. Local stores include: Wal-Mart Super Center, Save-A-Lot, and Kroger (which I don’t usually shop at because their prices are a good bit higher than the others) I also have a Big Lots here, which is where I sometimes go for Breakfast cereal and snack food items. I tried the whole couponing thing only to find that in order to be really successful, a great deal of time needed to be put into it. Time I just don’t have.

    🙁 I’m still hovering around $150 a week. Let me tell you, I’ve tried doing a meatless day once a week, too, but my husband is not having it. LOL! He’s a meat and potatoes guy and there’s no way around that!

    🙂

  87. 68136 – My husband suffers from a chronic medical condition which causes him to be unable to work much. Then I lost my job…we have 2 bottomless pits, ages 7 & 9. I mostly shop at Walmart (so I can price match), but nearby is Fareway & Hy-Vee. Any help is appreciated.

    Thanks for this great site – definitely a wonderful resource!!

  88. San Diego California, specifically Vista 92083. We have all the major grocery stores here, but I prefer Stater Bros and Sprouts.my grocery budget for a family of really 5 adults is $600 a month. I would love to see that go down. I don’t coupon (too much time), but I do realize the supermarket tricks and try to avoid them.

    I love shopping loss leaders, but I try to buy organic when possible, trying to buy organic only when it’s on sale. I am pretty good at setting up a weekly menu, but my bill needs to come down. Please help.

  89. We are a family of 5 w/ 3 young children, 2 of which are pretty picky. I do believe we could cook for a week for cheaper than we are, but my children wouldn’t eat it. Is there a way to cook for less that is kid friendly? Our zip is 28138, and we shop at Wal-Mart, Food Lion, or Harris Teeter.

    Thank you.

  90. I am in Buffalo, NY zip code 14225. We have Wegmans, Tops, Walmart, and Price-Rite. I spend $120 per week for a family of four(2 adults and 2 kids)

  91. I have a family of 4. My husband and me and then we have 2 boys ages 4 and 5 months. It’s almost impossible to spend less than $90-$100 a week just for us to eat. He works in construction and packs lunches daily and eats breakfast every morning before leaving.

    I would love to know how to spend such a small amount in groceries a week. We have been trying to eat healthier, and the food that is better for you is so much more expensive than the regular junk food. We do most of our grocery shopping at Food Gian, Win-Dixie and Wal-Mart super center. We are in the 35133 zip code.

    Thanks!

  92. zip code is 39475.
    local store: ramey’s, family dollar, freds, dollar general
    about 15 miles away we have winn dixie, wal mart, target, sack and save, corner market, also Sam’s Club but I don’t have a membership of my own.

    I spend about 120.00 per week for four people but I know I can do better than that. I prefer to shop in local stores to support our local economy but will go to the others.

  93. i would love some help!! 13090
    stores:
    wegmans
    price chopper
    tops
    (also in the area: aldi, target, walmart (not supercenter))

    THANKS SO MUCH!!

  94. I am a single mom with a 19yo girl 16yo (garbage disposal) and a 14yo girl that eats none stop also. I am on a very limited budget and tend to make sure i have have enough money for food and am always late on rent (can’t allow the babies to be hungry). I am in need of major help with the $50 week grocery bill–zip code is 33971–I am starting a garden with a lot of the veggies but wont be ready for awhile. I am completely confused on how to get started.

    I already do the coupon clipping, binder and all. If anyone could help a lost soul get started that would be great. Thank you for all your help and comments. maja4babies

  95. I would lave to see what you can do for my family . last month we spent $1200 on food . my zip code is 94558 . i shop at walmart and luckys

  96. I live in Draper UT 84020. Stores I frequent are Walmart, Smiths, and Sam’s Club …. any help planning menus and saving money would be welcomed. Shelfish/fish allergies in the house so we usually stay away from fish 🙁

  97. We live in Sterling, CO 80751 and recently moved here from Las Vegas, NV. Sterling has only three stores to choose from unlike millions in Las Vegas. I am having a hard time trying to keep our monthly grocery budget in perspective and I am in need of help. We are a family of four (with a 5 yr.

    old and 2 yr. old that eat and snack all day long). I love to keep things as healthy as possible and would rather my kids snack on fruit and veggies then anything else. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    We shop at Walmart and SunMart.

    Thank you!!

  98. my zip is 35054. in alabama. my husband and I live on a fixed income. any kind of help would be wondeful.

    we have walmart publix winn dixie . thanks
    ;):

  99. I have a challenge for you.

    96743- Kamuela, Hawaii

    Here on the Big Island of Hawaii, groceries are outrageously expensive. The weekly bill for my husband and I is at least $150, and we shop at farmer’s markets to save. We’d love your help!!!

    • I have a challenge for you.

      96743- Kamuela, Hawaii

      Here on the Big Island of Hawaii, groceries are outrageously expensive. The weekly bill for my husband and I is at least $150, and we shop at farmer’s markets to save. We’d love your help!!!

      Hi sorvis, I realize this is old but I didn’t find a response to your query. Just wondering if you figured it out because I live in Hilo with lots of kids that eat like locusts.

  100. I live in Tucson Az. My zip is 85710. Basically, the nearest stores to us are Fry’s Food and Drug and Sprouts Market. We also have Albertsons, Safeway and Walmart Neighborhood Market somewhat close by, however, we don’t shop at those places unless we happen to be RIGHT there as they are out of the way and we don’t have a car.

    Your help would be awesome, as we are on a VERY strict social security budget that has been reduced by $69.00 starting Oct 1. Literally, after bills, laundry, and household items we will have $261.00 for groceries. Thats WITHOUT spending any money on nonessentials. Its just my teen daughter and I.

    She is prediabetic, and I and type 2…on a low sodium diet. Basically processed foods are out. If you have ANY advice, tips, tricks etc…by all means, PLEASE shoot them our way. 🙂 God bless!!!

    I forgot to mention that old mother hubbards cupoards are bare, so going to a reserved stock pile isn’t an option. 🙁

  101. Hi I’m new to the site. Needing some help getting our grocery bill down.
    Zip Code: 40223
    Shop at Meijer, Kroger (we get an employee discount on Kroger brand items), and Walmart.
    We are a family of 2….soon to be 3.
    Thanks so much!

  102. Hello! My name is Ellen and I need your help in zip code 32055. Stores available to us are Wal-Mart, Winn Dixie, and Publix, which is the most convenient. My home was destroyed by a tropical storm this summer.

    Now my husband and I are living with my parents. One of my brothers, who is presently unemployed, also lives here. My other brother, a single parent struggling to make ends meet, and his two children are constantly in and out, consuming as they go. They eat dinner here 2-3 nights a week and one child eats here an additional 2-3 nights a week and often packs lunch for school the next day.

    As a result of time missed due to the flood, my husband recently lost his job. My father also recently had a stroke and has been instructed to follow a strict diabetic diet, which is a paramount concern in our grocery shopping. His health did not allow him to plant a garden this year, and ours was flooded. Right now we are tight on money with lots of hungry people to feed.

    Please help us! You will be a miracle worker if you can fed this bunch for $50! Right now my mother and I are each spending over $400.00 per month on groceries. We also have a commitment to our church to bring one covered dish to feed 30 on Sunday.

    It rotates between meat, veggie or salad, bread, starch and dessert – for example, this week we have veggie, next week we are off, the following week we have dessert. I wouldn’t expect that this could be fit into the $50 but any tips on how to keep this up on the cheap would be greatly appreciated.

  103. I am in Rogersville, TN 37857. We shop at Walmart, Food City, Save-a-lot, Super Dollar. I love the site and I just started looking around. Help is much appreciated as I share all my tips with friends and family that do not have access to the internet.

    Thanks in advance.

  104. I’m in Richmond VA, zip code 23238. I shop at Martins, Kroger and the farmers market. I’d be happy to do anything to get my grocery bill down to $500 a month! I have a 9 and 12 year old and my 9 year old is picky.

  105. I live in Cedar Park, Tx 78613. I have several members of my family who receive food assistance. They constantly struggle to get from month to month. They each receive about 100.

    00 a month but are only feeding their selves. One is gluten intolerant and is a big coffee drinker and does not eat pork. The other will eat all foods and does not have special needs. Any help would be welcomed.

    We live close to each other so they could combine and split some things. I am able to contribute some to their monthly needs but not much.

  106. Help, help, please help 🙂

    We live in Easton, PA. Zip code 18045. We have a newly reduced food budget of 100/week to feed a family of 6 and it is just about to do me in!! Grumpy kids because we don’t have all the things to choose from that we usually do, grumpy mom because I feel bad about it.

    It would help so much to see menu planning through your eyes to give me a fresh start. We generally use Giant, but we also use Weis and occasionally Wegmans or Aldi’s.

    Thanks,
    Bonnie

  107. We live in Phoenix, AZ and for the next few months we’re going to be on a very restricted grocery budget. My husband just had to start a doctor supervised weight loss program so that’s eating up most of our grocery budget. I need to seriously cut back on spending on groceries for the rest of the family. Zip is 85016.

    I generally shop at Fry’s(Kroger), Safeway, and occasionally Basha’s.

  108. as i am reading all the places people live i see no one is from vermont. we live in a very very small town and we only have 2 stores to choose from in the next town over which are price chopper and hannafords. new one coming to a town next to ours called tops but i know nothing about them. our zip code is 05680.

    i have 4 sometimes 5 when daughter is home from college. my 4 include me,husband, daughter 13 and son 14…..very hungry active teens…..would love the help….i do try to use coupons and shop sales but just have not been able to go below 100 a week which includes everything that a house needs to have…..thanks

  109. Hi! With three kids and a husband I am finding it hard to stick to a decent grocery budget and would love any help I can get. Below are the zipcodes for Great Falls, MT and 4 stores we shop at frequently (Smith’s being the main one). This is a great site!

    Thank you!

    Zipcode: 59405 and 59404
    3 stores: Smith’s, Walmart, Walgreens, Albertsons

  110. I live in a small town and have a few larger towns near by. We are a family of 4 with 2 dogs. I would love to figure out how to do the $50. a week groceries but just havent been able to get there.

    My zip is 62445 and the main stores in our area are wal mart, aldis, save a lot, and martins IGA. I havent seen any menues for the Illinois area so this would be helpful. Thanks!

  111. I live in Kennewick, WA 99336. We have WinCo Foods, Wal-Mart and Costco. I spend almost $500 in food a month for 2 adults and a 3 year old people. Its insane!!

  112. My zipcode is 68164, and I shop at aldi’s , bag n’ save, baker’s, Hy-vee. I used to be better at planning out our meals but don’t know what happened to my brain after 2 kids and many moves. Everything just seems so overwhelming. We are a family of 4 and growing and need to keep our grocery bill down badly!

    Thank you for any help! Sorry I wasn’t sure where to post first, so I might have posted it somewhere else also.

    Oh, yes and we also have a costco my mom is a member to. Thanks!

  113. Hello there! I was wondering if you could assist me I live in Gardnerville, NV 89410. We have a Smith’s and a Scolari’s and in January we will have a Walmart. I have recently lost my job and am in desperate need a lower grocery bill for the 5 of us.

    Please help. Thank you

  114. Hi, I was wondering if you could help me. We have 2 adults, and a 12 yr old dd. We live in Citrus County Florida, our zip code is 34434. I shop at Publix, Walmart, and Save A Lot.

    Thanks!
    Julie

  115. Richmond,VA 23231

    I shop at Martins, Krogers, Food Lion, sometimes Sams club. We need help! We are a family of three. My little one is 18 months old but I swear he can eat as much as I can, lol.

    I went to school to be chef so I have a super hard time with doing simple recipes and not spending my entire paycheck on groceries. I need a plan! Since my babe was born I don’t work as much because of the expense of childcare. So our money is less but would be even more so if I tried to pay for childcare.

    I want to help lower our bills as much as I can so I don’t feel like a burden. Hope to get a reply soon.

  116. I live in Manchester, CT 06040. I frequently shop at Stop & Shop, Shop Rite, Price Chopper & Big Y. I have recently been able to reduce our grocery bill, but not down to $50 a month! Would love some help with this.
    Thanks
    Amy

  117. I am in Bay City, Texas 77414. There is only HEB and Walmart here. We do have a couple of drug stores–Walgreen’s and CVS, but selection at those is very limited. I would love to lower my grocery bill.

    There are three adults–no children in my family. The sales for HEB here and in Houston are NOT the same. No competition means higher prices for us.

  118. Hi I am in Denver my zip is 80207, I have King Sooper,Walmart & Sams. There are 3 adults and one child in my home. I would like to have some help saving $$

  119. Hi, I live in a very small town called Eden in North Carolina….my zip code is 27288. The economy is horrible here and everything is going up but wages. My husband is on medicare and I work at the local hospital in supplies making a little more than minimum wage…can you help us get groceries for $50 or less….right now we spend about $100 a week!!!! The only stores we have here are Food Lion and Wal-Mart….there is a Sam’s Club about 45 minutes away…thanks, Trisha

  120. Hi…so excited to be a member of your site. Just stumbled across this and it seems to be an answer to my prayers. I do some menu planning now but would love to shrink the grocery bill. If you could please help me, I would greatly appreciate it.

    My zip code is 42445.

    I shop at Walmart
    and a local grocery store Hancocks More for Less.

    Thanks again

  121. I haven’t noticed any help for the pacific northwest yet, so hoping I’ll see some tps for our area soon. I’ve budgeted $100/wk for a family of 7 (2 adults and three young men growing like weeds and 2 girls. It’s a struggle and the food seems to disappear before the week is up. My top stores are Trader Joes and Fred Meyers.

    But other stores are available, I really try to feed my family hormone free and fake foods. Winter is harder without my garden and we no longer have chickens. Miss the fresh eggs! Please help us eat healthy and keep money in our pockets.
    Zip 97404

  122. I am new and very excited to find your site. I cook for 3 adults and 2 children. Usually spend about $150. Shop at Wal Mart, Rouses and Winn Dixie.

    My zip is 70118, New Orleans.

  123. Hi! I just got married and my Husband and I really want to keep our grocery budget around $50 a week, especially since we are still in school. We live in upstate South Carolina. Our zip code is 29651 and we generally shop at Bi-Lo, Wal-Mart and Publix.

    Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

  124. Good Day. I am new to your site and would love some help in AZ. 85119. I typically shop at Fry’s, Walmart, and the local veggie market.

    I can’t seem to feed our family of 4 for less than $500 month. Help!!

  125. I’m a single mom having to do some budget readjustments after 3 years of mandatory furloughs and now reduced monthly income. It seems with each year my income takes a hit but I am remaining faithful and doing what a need to in order to make my dollars stretch. I would love to get a sample menu list for my area which is zip code 80017.

  126. Hi, I would like some help for the 70345 zip code area. I shop at Wal-mart, Frank’s SuperValue at Bon Service Shpping Center in Larose, LA, and at Rouse’s Supermarket. Thank you

  127. I’m in Greencastle Pa close to Hagerstown Md and Gettysburg Pa. I enjoy shopping at Amish bent and dents and farmers markets espically in the summer. I grew a decent garden last year and canned a bunch of food so that helped. I can get great deal on local milk 3.50 gal cheaper than the store down the road from me also they sell eggs there for 2.00doz.

    Our family also has food allergies Gluten is a big one but some other things as well so we make much of our food from stratch(Gluten free food isn’t cheap). When getting Groceries I will shop at Aldi’s Save a lot are @ 15-30 mins away so I loose money with gas going there.. Sunnyway (great Value), Food-lion Giant/Martins, and Wies are closer. We have a family of 6 with 2 teens.
    thanks
    Gin:lol:

  128. My zip code is 06010. I shop frequently at Shop Rite, Price Chopper and Aldis. I occasionally go to Stop and Shop or Big Y. I am also a member of BJ’s.:tinyheart:

    • My zip code is 06010. I shop frequently at Shop Rite, Price Chopper and Aldis. I occasionally go to Stop and Shop or Big Y. I am also a member of BJ’s.:tinyheart:

      I would like to be put on the list for checking menus for $50/week in the Bristol, CT area. Thank you.

  129. I am the mom in a family of 7. We have five very hungry boys eating us out of house and home. The Mr has been laid off for four months and we need grocery budgeting help! Any ideas are welcome.

    We live in Franklin PA (16323) and generally shop at Aldi, Giant Eagle, and sometimes sav a lot and walmart. There is also a shop n save in town but I haven’t been there in years.

    Thank you for your consideration.

  130. I am new to your site…we eat mostly organic food. Zip code 10990 (NY)
    shop at BJ’s, Shop Rite & price chopper. Do any of your food plans covered Whole, non-processed organic foods?

  131. Opps forgot to add half of the 4 in the house will not eat veggies like onions, peppers, mushrooms

    So again 54880

    And shop at Walmart and Super One Foods

    Thanks
    Super One Foods
    Walmart

  132. Hi
    I’m in Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 and have a family of three. Two Adults and one Teenage boy that eats constantly. I shop at Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart, Sack n Save, Times Supermarket. They have Sam’s Club here but I haven’t joined because I don’t know if it worth it.

    I am a life long Vegetarian so I will make meat for the guys and my meal will be the sides. Unless I cook with a meat substitute like veggie crumbles in place of browned ground beef. Also there are food allergies to peanuts (my son) and I am allergic to raw carrots (I know odd but cooked ones don’t trigger anything), black beans, and all melons (I miss them so much!) But Strawberries and other high risk fruits and veggies are not an issue.

    Back on the mainland I was a big time coupon user and I normally got 50% or more off my bill. But here if I break 10% I am ecstatic.
    So please help paradise is expensive!

  133. Hello, thank you for a wonderful site! We are a family of 3 soon to be 4 and we need a lot of help.

    We live in zip code 33914 and would love your help.

    Shop at:

    WalMart, Publix & SweetBay.

    Thank you very much! :):dinner:

  134. Hi, I live in New Jersey with husband and 5 kids still at home. I try, try, try to cut the food budget down, but nothing seems to work. Any help in the 08873 zip code area would be appreciated. I generally shop at Stop & Shop, Shop Rite, and Walmart.

    Looking forward to exploring this site more. Thank you.

  135. Hi I’m new to the site, our only 2 stores near us are Leyo’s in Coalport, PA 16627 and the Dollar General in Irvona, PA 16656. I try to use the Dollar General’s $5 off $25 purchase coupons and any other coupons that match up with the stores’ sales, but other than that, we are on a budget of $268 a month for 5 people (three are teen boys.) Any other stores are 40 minutes away, which is $18 worth of gas and comes out of our food budget. HELP! thank you

  136. Hi I live in Fort Wayne ,Indiana on a very limited budget with 3 teens still at home. I would appreciate any help. My zip is 46825 and I shop at aldi’s, kroger and gordons food service. Thank you!

  137. I would love to see if there’s a way to cut back on my grocery bill in my area. Missouri City, TX 77459. I usually shop at HEB or Kroger. There’s also Randall’s and Walmart.

  138. I currently live in Asheboro NC 27203 & usually shop at Aldis, Walmart & Occasionally Lowes Foods. I’m super excited about cutting my grocery bill, again!!

  139. My family of five resides in Pineville, LA area code 71360. Our crew includes 2 adults, 2 elementary age children and a one year old. I shop at Super One, Walmart, and Kroger and have been trying to follow your advice using only $50 a week. I did pretty good the first two weeks but completely flopped on week 3!

    I would really appreciate your help with prices in my area! Thank you!

  140. Hi, my name is Michele and I am new to your site. Your estimation is correct on your book advertisement. We do average about $700 a month on groceries. It is killing us!

    We have recently gone from a family of 5 adults to a family of 4 (1 daughter moved into her own apt) yet, our grocery bill still hasn’t gone down. We are limited to very few places to shop in my town. I usually do the bulk of my shopping at Walmart, some at Piggly Wiggly, and we do have an Ingles – but I rarely shop there because their prices seem so high! My zip is 30286.

    If I could even cut my bill in half it would send me over the moon with joy. I also work full time as an optometrist, so weekday meals usually have to be quick or crockpot. Thank you so very much for your help. I’m excited to see this work.

  141. I’m new to the idea of having a budget all together so any and all advice is welcome. I’m due June 30th with my first child and my family will be down to one income so it is extremely important that we save in every area. (baby expenses coming)
    Zip code is 75067
    *We mostly shop at Walmart and Aldi …we have been considering joining Sams club but don’t know if it would help or not. I’m also open to any other places such as target, farmers markets, sprouts and tom thumb.
    **We buy mostly ground beef, frozen breakfast food, and fresh produce.

    (I’m a big snacker oppose to 3 meals a day – husband eats 3 meals and snacks)
    *Our last grocery trip we were able to spend $103 down from $150 we did this by doing a meal plan but like i said we need to save as much as possible.

  142. It would be great to have some help cutting down our grocery bill. We live in zip code 59901. Super One Foods, Smith’s, Wal-Mart are the main grocery stores we shop at. Thanks!

  143. We are trying to gain control over our budget once again and would love some help! I’m in Palm Coast, FL and our zip code is 32164. I’ve never been able to get our budget below $400 even when I was couponing (and most of what we bought was horrible for us) and lately we have been upwards of $700! We are a family of 4.

    Two adults and two boys age 7 & 5. I try my best to buy all natural products and/or organics if I can. I shop at Walmart Super Center, Super Target, & Publix. We also have a pretty good farmer’s market I can go to.

    Any help you can provide would be so appreciated! Thanks!
    Stacy

  144. Hi, I’m in Spanish Fork, Utah–that’s 84660.
    Great site! I shop at Macey’s, (that’s an associated food store), also there’s Smiths, Fresh Market (also associated food store), Walmart and Costco.
    Thanks!
    Natalie

  145. S.O.S from 06058 Norfolk Connecticut.

    I’m pretty frugal but after recently relocating, our family is finding it hard to tap into local resources to maintain our “more for less” mindset even with coupons.

    Stores close (nothing in the area)

    Stop & Shop
    Price Chopper
    Walmart
    Big y

    Thank you!

  146. I would love to see the Baton Rouge area here. 70817. We have Walmart, Target, Albertsons and Winn Dixie in my area. I try to avoid the big stores, but the others are so high!

    Nobody in my area offers double coupons and my husband is a big meat eater. Help!:crying:

  147. I love the idea of only spending $50/week but I doubt it possible since I have a family of 7. I do want to see if you have any tips that I am not aware of as I feel like I have exhausted them all. Thanks!! Zip 64133(KC, MO)

  148. I’d love some suggestions here! Our zip code is 84321 (Logan, UT) and I commonly shop at Smith’s Marketplace, Walmart, and Macy’s. I’m so excited about this idea and look forward to implementing and practicing! :blushing:

  149. With just becoming newly unemployed after 13.5 years at the employer, I am looking for any way possible to cut our budget dramatically.

    I am in zip code 54220, Manitowoc WI and our main grocery stores are: Festival Foods, Wal-Mart Super Center, and Copps Food Center.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks.

  150. Hi! I am loving this idea, just wondering what ideas you have for 99301 WA – I typically shop at Winco or Walmart since those are the two closest to me. You are amazing for posting all of this!:0smile:

  151. I would love suggestions for zip code 52577

    We only have three stores in our town
    Hy-vee, Wal Mart and Fareway

    Hy Vee and wal mart price match everthing, so I utilize that a ton for things that I had planned for my menu. But i am still always open to saving as much money as i can grocery shopping

    we opted into a CSA this year for 25 weeks to try and help cut the groceries down for cheaper produce I have three children 2.5 years apart and I honestly just havent kept up with my last two gardens so this is a way to get fresh produce for a heck of a lot cheaper.

    But I would love any and all tips!

    Thank you so much!

  152. I am in La Porte Indiana. We have a Walmart, Krogers and an Al’s supermarket along with an Aldis here in town. the zip is 46350 and the site for Al’s is http://alssupermarkets.com/
    I try to shop Aldis and my local orchard when i can but im not getting somethings right. I have tried coupons and some were just stuff i dont use (brand dose not matter to us).

    I have two kids at home one 19 and pregnant and one 15 (boy in wrestling eating me out of house and home). would love to trim my budget down the most expensive items are meats. I have gone to meat markets but sometimes its just too much to drive there when im working most of the week.

  153. Hello there! My live-in boyfriend of four years just discovered your website. I’ve been perusing it today, and so far I am definitely impressed! Your budget sounds perfect, as that is exactly what we would like to spend on food a week.

    To make our lives harder though, we do enjoy eating fresh, healthy food with lots of vegetables, fruits, and fish. I know it can still be done for a fair price; it just makes things more difficult. We definitely need it though, to support our active lifestyles and, one day, active children!

    My zipcode is 83843 for Moscow, ID. Our main two shops of choice are the local food Co-op and Winco… but you can throw Safeway in there too if you choose this town. (I don’t know if you even can; not sure they have fully functional websites)

    Anyway, thank you so much for this entire website! I’m getting to work creating a budget and meal plan for the two of us now.

  154. zip code 29456 . We are a family of 4 Adults and with food cost rising every time we blink it is time to try and cut cost. We shop at Bi-Lo , Piggly Wiggly , Food Lion and of course Walmart and Sams. Thanks :chef:

  155. Englewood Colorado, 80110
    Kingsoopers, Safeway, Walmart

    We have a large family with many dietary restrictions. We only eat organic meat, organic produce, and avoid dairy and eggs. That proves very difficult to live on a budget of under even $200 a week for food. Can you help us???

    I sure hope so! As our 6 growing kids eat more and more, we have less and less money! :drool:

  156. 65802 Springfield Mo
    family of 3 I am getting ready to have surgery in August.
    With so many doctors appointments I have been getting around ten hours a week.

  157. This is such a great site! We are really struggling with lowering our grocery bill. We are scratch-made foodies, eating as close to Paleo as possible. We have a Type 1 diabetic child, so we concentrate more on meat and veggies than carbs, and carbs (noodles, rice, etc.) are the cheaper grocery items. I do my shopping at Grocery Outlet, Walmart, and Winco Foods here in Spokane, Washington.

    I live in zip code 99223, but the stores are in Spokane Valley. Thank you for any information/assistance you can provide!

  158. 83401 would LOVE some help for their area! stumbled on this amazing site this morning, thanks to pinterest, and shared it with my bestie! we shop primarily at WalMart, Winco, and Smith’s

  159. Wow! What an amazing site to stuble across! I thought I was doing pretty good feeding three (me, my husband and an 18 mo old) on $60.00 a week, but boy was I wrong! If a large family of teenage boys PLUS their friends can do it on $50.00 a week I can do it for MUCH cheaper!

    YAY budgeting!

    I would like to know more about my zipcode…75287…Kroger, Sprouts and Trader Joes are my top places to shop 🙂 Thanks!

  160. Hello. I live in the very small town of Castlewood, VA (24224). There is a Walmart and Food Lion 15 minutes away. We do most of our shopping in Bristol, VA, since we go to church there every Sunday, usually at Walmart and Sams. There is also Food City, Food Lion, and Kroger in Bristol and Abingdon, VA that we could get to if necessary.

    I feel like we are drowning in trying to work on menu planning and budgeting and would love to see some help for this area. Thanks so much!

  161. I’d really appreciate any help! Our gricery bill is out of control!
    My zip is 98501, I shop mostly at Safeway, sometimes Walmart (the one in lacey is a bit of a drive)… I can never find anything at Fred Meyer (Kroger’s) so I hardly shop there.

    Safeway was the only option in my previous town- it’s become my comfort zone 🙁

    Thank you so much for your time!

  162. I have been following you and making progress with reducing our grocery budget. This past year has been more of a challenge with some changes we have faced in our family. I was wondering if you could help. This may be a different request than you have had in the past.

    Our boys have grown and are moving on. Over the past 1 1/2 years the number of people I need to cook for has decreased from 6 (with my oldest and his daughter) down to 4 and then down to 3 at times.

    We have our middle son who lives with us, works part time and drives to take classes at Ohio State University. Our youngest son goes to Mercyhurst NE in the town of North East, PA which is near Erie, PA. When he is gone to college I now only need to cook for 3 when he is gone (however still need to factor in his cost of groceries).

    Since my youngest son does pay for the meal plan and because he and his roommates live on campus in a townhouse, they have a full kitchen to make meals. We would like to reduce the amount that my son and we spend on his meals while he is away while also keeping our budget in line. Because he can eat a limited number of meals in the cafeteria, we only need to supplement when the cafeteria is closed (they won’t be open for the athletes who get to campus a week early), he needs a break from cafeteria food, wants supplemental or late night snacks, or has used all of his meals up. We will be taking our son up to PA in mid August and plan to help him stock up.

    Therefore, I was looking for a little help in his area and ways to still keep our costs as low as possible around $50 a week in these two areas.
    The zip code where we live in Johnstown, Ohio is 43031 (however I work in Columbus and can be flexible at where I purchase groceries on my way home from work) In our 43031 area we have many stores available including: Kroger, Aldi, Meijers, Giant Eagle, Walmart.

    Our son lives in Northeast, PA (near Erie, PA) and his zip code is 16428.
    In the area where my son attends college at 16428, I am only familiar with Walmart (as that is where we shopped for him to get him started last year). We try to stock up for him at the beginning of the year so he only needs to buy a few items during the year.

    Thank you for any ideas or suggestions you may have to help make this an easier transition this year.

  163. please provide information for my area

    Colorado, 80260

    Safeway, King Soopers, & Albertsons are my local grocers

  164. Thanks for all the wonderful work! We are a family of 4 with 2 teens. I would love to get our groceries to $50 a month but it doesn’t seem possible for our area. What do you think?

    Our stores are Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs and Fresh and Easy.

    Thanks!

  165. I would love to have help figuring out meal planning on a budget in my area. Zip code is 48152. I shop mostly at Kroger, but also Meijer, and I’m willing to try another store if it saves money.

  166. I have 7 children, ages 18-2 and have very limited income to spend on groceries. We live in Commerce City, CO zip code 80022, a suburb just north of Denver. I usually shop at King Soopers (Kroger), Walmart and Safeway.

  167. I’d LOVE to decrease my grocery bill to $50 a week! My husband is a celiac so I have to buy gluten free products
    Three grocery stores in 76039 & 76040, Euless, TX
    Aldi
    Albertson’s
    Kroger
    I shop at Whole Foods in Arlington, Tx for GF I can’t find at Kroger.

  168. My zipcode is 66104. I usually shop at Aldi, Walmart and Price Chopper. I would love some help with my weekly shopping and budget.

    Thank you!

  169. (72032) Kroger’s, harps, and Walmart. i have a family of 4 and both my boys eat a lot, i have always tried to get things that are on sale and cook things that are healthy. I would love your help.

  170. Hello,

    I live in Redmond, WA (98052) and am convinced that $50/ wk is just impossible.

    It is just my husband and I and I can’t seem to get out of the store without spending close to $200/wk on grocery and household stuff combined.

    We eat b-fast and dinner at home and pack our lunches.

    Our biggest expense is meat/lunch meat & cheese.

    I mainly shop at Fred Meyer, but occasionally stop at Albertsons or Qfc.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I am spending way too much, but look at the receipt and can’t figure out how to fix it.

  171. I live in a rural area and its always difficult to determine if driving the extra 25 miles one way is worth the savings for bigger and more store options. Here locally (within 10 miles) we have a walmart and some local food chains – Shop -N- Save and Plumb’s. If I travel 25 miles one way I can reach Meijers, Target, Sams Club, Aldi’s, and several other options. However with the prices of gas it seems pointless once factoring in the time and effort to travel further for a few extra dollars here and there.
    We will soon be a family of 4 struggling on a small income.

    Here is my zip code: 49412. I would love your help as several families battle living in a rural community.

  172. I shop in 75287. We mostly just use Aldi and Walmart (where I price match any great sales ads), but we’ll occasionally go to Kroger for the convenience/sales promos/coupons and to use our WIC benefits. I’d love any help with skimming the budget as we’re on a one income family of (soon-to-be) 4 on a very slim budget.

    Thanks so much for what you do!

  173. *I just posted, but forgot to put that my daughter has a milk allergy. She can’t have anything with milk or milk derivatives. We usually try to give her almond milk (or another milk alternative if there’s a great sale), calcium fortified orange juice, or just try to get her calcium another way.

    Thanks again for all you do!

  174. I’d love some tips! I have a family of 4. My 9 year old has severe food allergies so it maked things a tad difficult. Our zip is 20110.

    I shop at Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Super Target.

  175. Hi! I have a family of 5-2 adults, a 9 year old, 7 year old and 3 year old. Our zip is 70809. I see you’ve never featured Louisiana at all so it’s time:).

    I shop at Sam’s and Wal-mart every 10 days, price matching using weekly ads that come in the mail on Tuesdays from Hi Nabor, Winn-Dixie and Albertson’s. Walmart is cheapest overall, and I mostly price match chicken and produce and clip a few coupons. We eat mostly whole foods and very little pre packaged processed stuff.

  176. Hello,
    I just recently found your site and it’s fantastic! I noticed that you don’t have any spots in Wisconsin. We’re in 53212 and regularly shop at Pick-N-Save or Metro Market (Roundy’s Stores). We do like to shop and are members at the local co-op, Outpost and there is also an Aldi, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods near by.
    Thank you!!

  177. Zip code 40065, stores are Wal-Mart, Krogers and Save-a Lot. A family of 4 with picky eaters. Lover of fruit and basic veggies. We raised green beans, potatoes, and tomatoes in the garden this year and our chickens are just starting to lay this week.

  178. Hi. I have a family of 4 and I currently spend about $150 per week on groceries, household supplies, and dog food combined. I would love to have a meal plan for my area. My zip code is 39120.

    The stores I shop at are Southside Market, Wal-Mart, Dollar General and Family Dollar. We do have chickens so I don’t purchase eggs. I’m looking forward to your response.
    Thanks.

  179. We live in Staten Island, NY. NYC is expensive in general. While we go to New Jersey to check Aldi’s, Walmart& Wegman’s most weekends, I still feel like our grocery budget is floundering some months! I also shop at Trader Joe’s.

    In between, I pick up stuff “wherever is convenient”. I have 2 teens, one a vegetarian, 2 adults, one a carnivore, a toddler& I’m trying to do as much whole and organics as I can squeeze in. (lots of green smoothies) zip 10307

  180. What about charleston,sc? My zip code is 29414 and we go to walmart, target,and bilo!!! I would love to know of a 50 weekly menu. My family might eat this and only this every week:) thank you so much!

  181. Hi, I am a new member and I am very new to menu planning. I would like to see something for Indianapolis, IN; zip code 46222. We mainly shop at Kroger, but we also use Aldi and Save-a-Lot. We are a blended family of five; four adults and one little guy who will be two in January.

    Thanks,

    Amber

  182. Hi, I eally need help pairing down my budget. Family of 2 in zip code area 61938. Aldi’s , Walmart super center and conty market. Any help or suggestions would be most helpful.

  183. I need help with our food budget as our finances have dramatically changed. Have a family of 4 two children 7 and 8 . We live in Naples, FL 34120 we usually shop at Publix, Sweetbay or Walmart . Thanks!!

  184. I’d like to see the Pacific Northwest featured. I live in Central Washington State and I am in the zipcode 98902. We have 3 major grocery stores in our area and they include Safeway, Fred Meyer & Albertson’s. I love your menu suggestions and some help for my area would be greatly appreciated.

    🙂

    Thanks, RJ

  185. Hi, I really like your website.
    Would you please include my zip code? 82009
    I shop at King Soopers, Albertsons, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Safeway.
    Thanks

  186. I currently live in Belen, NM. The zip code is 87002. There are 5 of us, myself, my husband, our 18yo son, 12yo son, and 11yo daughter. We shop at Wal Mart for everything because, other than Lowe’s, there are no other grocery stores unless we want to go to Smiths or Albertson’s in the next town.

    We are currently spending about $800 a month using another site that does all the planning for me. I would really love it if you could give me a starting point on how to begin getting my budget under control! Thank you!

  187. 20032? My husband and I live in Washington DC, and although we receive $200 a month in foodstamps, we can’t seem to make it stretch longer than 3 weeks!! It’s so frustrating because I try to make everything from scratch and coupon clip but it never seems to work! Another major issue is that living in DC, food is expensive enough.

    Living in the worst part of DC though?? Prices are considerably higher over here because the grocery stores have to make up for theft losses. We normally shop at Giant, Harris Teeter, and Safeway. Help???

  188. I live in Massachusetts 01844
    I have Market Basket and I shop
    at Big Lots and Target, Walmart and the Dollar Tree.
    I would love your help. My husband is a pastor and we are living on social and have an 18 and 20 year old son and daughter at homewith company from time to time.
    thank you

  189. I shop in 06359 (Stop & Shop) 06351 (Aldi’s) 06374 (Big Y) and 06360 (Shop Rite)

    I’m always looking for ways to save money and stock up too! I occasionally shop at Bj’s WHolesale Club

  190. We are on a very tight grocery budget with $50 for a family of 2 per week. We live in zip code 30528 and have an Ingles, Wal-Mart and IGA to shop at. We seem to be having a lot of trouble staying within our budget but have got to be able to. Please help!

  191. Hi I’m new to the site and I would love some help with menu planning for a family of 2 adults 1 teenage boy(nephew) 1 toddler and a newborn. My zip code is 23462 and the 3 store I frequent are Wal Mart, Farm Fresh and Harris Teeter. I will occasionally go to Kroger or Food Lion if that helps as well. Thank you a bunch.

    🙂

  192. Hello, I am in Jefferson, OH. My zip code is 44047. There is a Thrones Bi-lo here in town, a Golden Dawn, and 25 minutes away in Ashtabula there is a Giant Eagle, a Wal-Mart, and an Aldi. Would love to make menus from here in town!

  193. Hey!!!
    We live in Katy TX 77494. We have a family of 6. I would like to say how thankful I am for all different things people can share due to the internet. I do not posses the gift of budgeting or the gift of menu planning so I am very excited to beable to get some help.

    I hope to help others around me as I learn.

  194. I live in rural Northern MI 49657 I generally shop at Meijer and recently opened Aldi’s. I see MI only has 2 zipcodes represented and none are in Northern Lower Penn. So it would be nice to see us represented.

  195. New to your site and just tried the Laundry sauce yesterday. Look forward to using it this afternoon. Would love some suggestions with reducing our weekly grocery bill. I’ve tried lots of different things and found that planning meals for 30 days (though often not that organized) can save us a lot of money.

    However, my guess is that we spend around $130 on average per week.

    We live in zip code 55379. I shop mostly at Cub Foods, Rainbow Foods, and Aldi’s. Also have a Super Target and Walmart nearby. So lots of choices.

    We are a family of 5. The kids are ages 1, 6, and 8.

    Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

  196. My challenge is to see if you can get our budget anywhere under $100. $50 is a stretch. We feed 10 daycare kids breakfast, lunch, & snack plus our 6 family members 5 days a wk. 7 suppers for 6 and Sat.

    lunch for 6. Sun. lunch, we take 30 pbnj’s for church pot-faith meals. We shop WalMart and Sam’s Club usually.

    We have Braum’s, Harp’s, Aldi,Target, Walgreens, and Dollar General. We have no time to go to multiple stores. Can you get our budt get under $100? It’s a challenge!

    We also have Amazon free Prime shipping for shopping. We don’t eat much meat, and mama doesnt eat many carbs with fat nor fat with carbs (dieting). Are you up for this? Oh, and daycare has to follow USDA food pyramid.

  197. I would love to know more. We are a family of 4 and have Kroger and Walmart in our area. This is our zip code 38732
    Thank you
    Jessica

  198. Can you do Arizona?

    Gilbert, AZ 85296

    Frequent Stores
    Sprouts
    Wal-mart
    Target

    I have a family of 5 with wheat allergies so menu planning is a serious challenge! Thank you!

  199. Need help in las vegas NV family of 4 trying to eat healthy but feel like i’m over whelmed with spend spend in vegas attitude.

  200. My grocery bill right now for a family of 4-5 (one college kid who still frequents home for meals) is about $1,100 a month. This includes clipping coupons and doing away with most snacks. We shop local organic produce for only what is in season, it is close to the cost of say, a Wal-Mart. We buy our grassfed beef and lamb from a local farmer, in bulk, for less than the grocery store.

    (roughly $5 per pound, including processing for the beef, and roughly $7 per pound for the lamb. Here in these parts grocery store beef ranges from $5 to $16 per pound depending on the cut. So to get it all for just over $5 is a bargain. Lamb, here ranges, but just ground lamb is $8.99 per pound.

    So to get it for $6.99, and grassfed for both, to boot, is a deal).

    I have to purchase boxed juices for my youngest, no thermos’ allowed, and nothing with screw tops. My only other convenience foods I purchase are dry cereal, because all my kids will eat it every day for breakfast, whole wheat crackers, granola bars, pretzels, top ramen, and uncured natural hotdogs. (I know, I know… top ramen…

    but I have one kid who can eat it at school, and loves it – makes a cheap and easy lunch.)

    Northern Nevada 89523

    Winco
    Save-mart
    Safeway
    (target or Wal-Mart for some sale items)

    • Hi! I’m in south reno and came across your post. I’m feeding a family of 6 and I have found that even though it’s not at $50 a week I’ve got it down to about $80 a week by doing a monthly menu. I know what we are eating every night and buy the quantities I’m going to use. I buy for the month and then only shop for fresh things that won’t store for weeks.

      Milk, bread and fresh veggies. I hate winco! But I can get certain things cheaper there than at Walmart or Smith’s. I do case sales at Smiths they usually have it 4 times a year and I stock up on veggies like beans all kinds, corn and tomatoes.

      Also when they have case sales you can get ramen for around $3.50. My kids love that also. I do some coupons so I get most of my little kids cereal and juices for cheap and I buy larger quantities while it’s on sale and I have coupons for them! I’m still working to get it lower with boys ranging from 7-15 they can eat!

      Btw where are you getting the fresh meat from?

      My grocery bill right now for a family of 4-5 (one college kid who still frequents home for meals) is about $1,100 a month. This includes clipping coupons and doing away with most snacks. We shop local organic produce for only what is in season, it is close to the cost of say, a Wal-Mart. We buy our grassfed beef and lamb from a local farmer, in bulk, for less than the grocery store.

      (roughly $5 per pound, including processing for the beef, and roughly $7 per pound for the lamb. Here in these parts grocery store beef ranges from $5 to $16 per pound depending on the cut. So to get it all for just over $5 is a bargain. Lamb, here ranges, but just ground lamb is $8.99 per pound.

      So to get it for $6.99, and grassfed for both, to boot, is a deal).

      I have to purchase boxed juices for my youngest, no thermos’ allowed, and nothing with screw tops. My only other convenience foods I purchase are dry cereal, because all my kids will eat it every day for breakfast, whole wheat crackers, granola bars, pretzels, top ramen, and uncured natural hotdogs. (I know, I know… top ramen…

      but I have one kid who can eat it at school, and loves it – makes a cheap and easy lunch.)

      Northern Nevada 89523

      Winco
      Save-mart
      Safeway
      (target or Wal-Mart for some sale items)

  201. Trying to post a comment, so hope this goes through. 64085, 64024 Missouri. I have a family of 7 and the only stores in my area are Wal-Mart, Aldi’s and Price Chopper. Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks.

  202. Hi I love what I have read on your blog so far! I am 22, living with my boyfriend and we are always looking for ways to cut costs on everything. Groceries seem to be the thing I struggle with the most.
    Zip code: 82435
    The stores are limited in this small town, my only options are IGA Food Basket and Blair’s Supermarket.
    Thanks for what you do!

  203. Hello, I’m amazed how you’re able to keep your shopping bill so low… I have such a hard time! a feature with the zip code would be wonderful!! my zip code is 47909 (Indiana)

    Walmart, Payless/Kroger, Aldi’s
    however we also have a Super Target, Marsh & Meijers

    Thank you!!!

  204. I live in Roanoke, Va 24017 zip code. I shop mostly at Kroger, Roanoke Food Coop, and Fresh Market, and the Piggly Wiggly. Any help would be great.

  205. Helpful site! Thank you!
    Shopping for just the 2 of us now. Zip code 76182 (N. Richland Hills, TX)

    Walmart
    Sprouts
    Market Street
    Kroger

  206. I need some seasonal shopping help. I saw that NC has 2 $50 helps but was wondering if you could do one for my area. Zip is 27013.

    I currently shop Aldi, Walmart ,Food Lion, Super Target and IGA I mostly shop the Aldis and Walmart in Moorseville, NC (28117) just like them better and I use walmart pharamacy….

    Winter months are a little harder for me to save in. So if you would do winter meal plan that would be great. I have a family of 6 to feed so I kinda figure I may go over $50 weekly but even $100 a week would be great.

    Thank you
    LadyHeather

  207. I live in Cleveland NC 27013. A very small town.I am feeding a family of 6. My family isn’t really picky but I have one child who doesn’t like seafood at all. I was wondering if you could do a winter weekly budget for me.

    I find it harder to save grocery wise in the winter months. I tend to want meat more then. As I am feeding 6 I know my budget may go over $50 but even under a $100 would help.

    I shop Aldis, Walmart and Food Lion in 28117 mainly, Mooresville is pretty close to me. I also shop , super Target. I also have a neighborhood IGA I shop only for sale items once in a while.

    Thank you
    Heather

  208. Hi! I am a soon-to-be divorced single mom and am trying to cut back wherever I can. My zip code is 40222 and I live in Louisville, KY. I frequently shop at Kroger and Walmart depending on sales and that I get a fuel discount at Kroger.

    I would love to hear and welcome your recommendations. Thank you for your time!

  209. I would love some advise for zip 04572 we don’t have access to many stores and only recently got a Walmart that carries all groceries. the most common store Hannaford, now we have a walmart and then there is Shaws all of them are 20 mins away at least 🙁 Thanks for the tips!

  210. Hi, I am new the this site. I have been navigating my way through and happened upon the menu planning link. I have tried to cut my meal budget by going through weekly ads and coupon databases, but am still unable to minimize my budget.

    With the cost of living increasing, and our oldest child entering college (added cost of tuition), I am finding it difficult to not only cut costs in my grocery budget but across the board.

    It would be greatly appreciated if you could try to put together a meal plan for zip code 19134. I shop at Save-A-Lot (have Aldi as an alternative), Thriftway and ShopRite.

    Your time is greatly appreciated.

  211. Hello,

    I live in 30114 zip code in Georgia. I almost always shop at WalMart because we are on a budget and I go to the store after I get off work, 10pm or later.

    We are getting an Aldi’s soon! Woo Hoo!

    I don’t clip coupons due to time restrictions and the fact that I make almost everything from scratch and we eat only real food. We tend to spend a lot on meat, dairy and fruit veggies. We don’t do bread, pasta or rices very much at all.

    Thank you for any help you can give me!

  212. I live in Alexandria, La zip is 71303. I spend over $175 sometimes $200 a week on groceries for a family of 4. Me, my husband, 7 year old and a 2 year old. It is ridiculous!

    We have a Kroger, Super 1 Foods, Sams Club, Walmart, Albertsons, Macs Fresh market. Please help I need to start saving for college and these grocery bills are killing me!!!!

    Thank you!

  213. We are a family of 4 (sometimes 5). 3 men and me (I am badly out numbered!). We live in Sonoma, CA 95476. Closest grocery stores to me is Lucky’s & Safeway and there is a Food Maxx about 20 miles out of town.

    My food bill is now around $1,000/month (my husband insists on meat every night). ANY help at all would be appreciated!

    Thank you!

  214. Hi, I just found your site on Pinterest and man do I need your help. I just started working and even at a dual income, I’m finding a really hard time staying in budget. We’re just a family a 3, but sometimes shopping can get a bit pricey and I want to stay in the $50 range. Our zip code is 92058.

    Normally I would shop at the commissary on base, my husband is a marine, but the prices are most of the time cheaper out in town. I shop at walmart, sprouts, and sometimes albertsons. I could really use your help. Thanks so much!
    ~Katy

  215. Hi! I love your site! I am new to this site but I have been trying to plan my meals and budget finances for years now. It’s just my husband and I in the home along with 2 dogs and a cat.

    It’s gotten to the point that we are living off of turkey sandwiches, spaghetti o’s, cereal, and ramen noodles because planning 3 meals a day plus snacks was getting to be around $300/week and I just can’t afford that (that was making cheap meals, at least ones I thought were supposed to be cheap and not very tasty either). Nothing seems to be affordable around here. Meat, fresh fruits and veggies are the most expensive. Animal food is $60 per month, no changing that unless I can find coupons (which I do from time to time and I am constantly looking for them) This poor eating is having a huge affect on both my husband’s and my health and it’s got to change.

    I only have 2 stores near my home that I can shop at, Ingles and Walmart (any other stores are an hour or more one way from my home). My zip code is 29661. Thank you so much for your help and I look forward to imporving our eating habits and getting our budget under control. :rock:

  216. Hi, I’m new here and I really want to cut back on our grocery costs. We are a family of 6 and often have 1 or 2 friends over as well. Our gorcery bill per month is well over 1k. I’m crazy when it comes to my pantry.

    If it’s not full I’m not happy. I’d love to get our bill down to half of what it is now. We typically eat the fastest thing I can cook because I deal with severe chronic pain. So it’s mainly things like spaghetti, boxed foods, frozen stuff (lots of pizza lol).

    Sometimes when I’m not feeling so bad, I’ll cook something bigger like lasagna. I also love my crock pot and I have plans on buying an electric pressure cooker. My zip is 71291, and we have a Super Walmart, Sams Club, Brookshires, Super 1, Macs Fresh Market…all of these are withing a few miles. I also have the typical pharmacy chains (ie.

    walgreens and cvs). I’d really love some help! I wanna buy a hottub! 😀

  217. I live in New York City, NY. My zipcode is 10002. Three stores in my neighborhood are: Keyfoods, Fine Fare and C-Town. We use to have access to Pathmark however it has closed down.

    I find that the local grocers charge more now because they know we have no where else to go. I also am a member of Cotsco.:thankyou:

  218. Hi there,

    I had to quit my job and I am looking as to ways to save money. I came across your site and am thrilled. I live in the UP of Michigan and close to the boarder of WI. Our grocery bill is out of control.

    We go to our local grocery store and get 2 bags of staples such as bread, meat, milk, eggs and it is always over $50 :unsure: for only 2 BAGSof food. I even buy my items on sale each week. Looking at the flyers to see what would be the most cost efficient meals for the week. I make a list of items that I could purchase at our next trip to Iron Mountain, MI *Walmart and we purchase most of our staples there at least once a month or every two months.

    Our zip is 49935. My other half hates eating left overs unless I incorporate it into a different dish. (picky man:ohmy:)

  219. HI – I am new to your site. I have been starting a food budget and right now I have 300.00 every two weeks for 3 of us (me, my husband and a 8 year old daughter). This seems extremely high. It would be great if you could provide help for zip cod 49453.

    I shop at Meijer, ALdi, Save-a-lot and Wal-mart. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

    Right now I dont really plan, I kind of go to the store daily for what I need for dinner…very expensive!

  220. I am new and looking for ways to cut my budget. I would like some suggestions.

    I shop at shoprite, Giant, Wegmanns, and target. I lain
    Live in 21015. Weekly staples include eggs, milk, cereal, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumbers, bananas, whatever meat is on sale. We eat leftovers for lunch.

    Dinner is Chinese fried rice, cabbage with vegetables and meat. Chicken, soup, roast, and others. Any suggestions would be appreciated .

  221. zip 30016 Family of 5.
    Breakfast for myself (im on a low carb diet) is always 2 eggs and bacon or sausage fresh fruit. Everyone else is a rotation of eggs, oatmeal, and waffles (made with one banana and 3 eggs)
    Lunch is either canned soup, tuna lettuce wrap, chicken salad wrap, cheese quesidilla, or eg salad.

    Dinner is rotation of Tilapia, meat loaf, soup, white chicken chili, enchiladas, baked chicken breast 2x, campbells chicken pot pie, pork roast, chicken broccoli alfredo (no noodles), beef veggie soup, burgers, and canned soup.

    I also keep fresh fruit, canned fruit in natural juces, granola bars (for hubbys sack lunch), yogurt block cheese.

    I mainly shop at Aldi’s. Publix, kroger and walmart only for things aldi doesnt have. I usually spend around 250.00 bi weekly.

  222. Hi I live in Hazlet, NJ, zip code 07730
    The three stores I shop in are Shoprite Stop and Shop and Pathmark
    There are 4 of us 2 adults 1 teen and 1 Child
    We generally eat chicken, cheese and parsley sausage, pork and macaroni
    cereal and frozen breakfasts like eggos, both my kids eat lunch in school and I usually bring what ever is left over for lunch the next day. But it seems like we are going to the grocery store every 2 days and are spending at $150 to $200 each time we go. I could really use the help on how to save some money on food shopping and prevent myself from going so often and buying junk when I go.

    Thank you for all your help

  223. Hi I live in Homestead, FL in Miami zip code is 33035. We are a family of 5 and my daughters have breakfast in school, Husband is not a breakfast person and I buy my breakfast out usually at Subways because they have a breakfast meal for $3.21 with tax

    Lunch the daughters eat at school, I usually eat left overs and husband eats out

    Dinner is usually ground beef, steaks, chicken, and seafood with rice , beans, salad and something else (Hispanics lol)

    Snacks we all have cookies, cupcakes, cereal, yogurts, fruits, ham, cheese etc

    I spent about $600 to $700 a month on groceries

    I have Walmart, Publix and they are opening a Aldi soon

    Please help me !!! Thank you for all that you do.

  224. zip 36109 Frequented stores: Gunter-Maxwell annex commissary, publix, winn dixie.

    Breakfast consist of cereal, oatmeal or pop tarts
    Lunch-lunch meat sandwiches, or leftovers
    Dinner- roast carrot, potato; beef stew; chicken dumplings; chicken fajitas; chili; spaghetti

    apples, carrots, and bananas are always on hand for the kids to snack on.

  225. Forced to quit work to care for my 22 yr old son who has Ewings Sarcoma and had to move back home, our food budget needs HELP! We are a family of 5. Three of us have Celiac diseae, so our home is gluten-free. We try to stay away from most processed foods.

    Breakfast consists of green smoothies (made with dark greens, frozen fruit, coconut water and variety of whatever is on hand), alternated with eggs/sausage, occasional gluten free pancakes or cereal. Lunches are primarily leftovers from dinner, salads, or soup (primarily homemade). Dinners consist of a baked/broiled/roasted/grilled meat/fish and a variety of frozen/fresh vegetables, baked potato or sweet potato, or beans. We usually have a gluten free pasta dish about once every 6 weeks.

    I use fruits to make desserts with freshly whipped cream or the occasional vanilla ice cream. Currently spending about $1000/mo. Shop at Sam’s, Wal-Mart and Kroger at 38305. Aldi’s has just opened, but haven’t yet gotten to go over there.

    Thank you for all you do!!

  226. Hi, I have a family if six to feed. 3 growing boys are in that mix! Typical breakfast is cereal, lunch is left overs or canned soup with a sandwich and dinner are thing like roast, chicken and anything I can think to crockpot. Zip code is 89521 and the 3 stores are smiths, Walmart and winco.

    I also coupon but my bill is still high. I usually plan a monthly menu and shop for the month only to pick up a few things we run out of or have to have fresh. What ideas do you have for my area?!? Thanks!

  227. My Zip is 32503, Pensacola, FL!

    Our grocery stores are: Walmart, Publix, WinnDixie, Grocery Advantage and Grocery Outlet.

    We have a family of 5, which includes, My husband, my self, my 29 yr old brother in law and my two kids aged 12 & 5.

  228. I would love to see my area featured! Here is my info:
    Monday: Cereal w/ milk; Macaroni and cheese with carrot sticks, Penne Pasta w/ mushroom sauce
    Tuesday: Toast w/ peanut butter and banana; cheese quesadillas with apple slices; Chili w/ cornbread
    Wednesday: Oatmeal w/ raisins; leftover chili ; Ham and cheese crepes w/ fruit (strawberries, banana slices, and grapes)
    Thursday: Cereal w/ milk; peanut butter and jelly sandwiches w/ applesauce; Stir Fry (with ham, broccoli, carrots, green peppers, onions)
    Friday: Toast w/ peanut butter and banana; Tea sandwiches (English muffin topped w/ cream cheese, cucumber, tomato) w/ boiled egg; meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes and green beans
    Saturday: Pancakes w/ scrambled eggs and bacon; BLT sandwiches w/ apple slices; Chicken and dumplings
    Sunday: Oatmeal w/ raisins; Grilled cheese and tomato soup; Sausage, mozzarella and polenta bake w/ salad.

    Snacks: chips and salsa, cheese sticks, graham crackers, grapes, apples, carrot sticks, bananas
    Drinks: Orange juice or coffee with breakfast. Iced tea, milk, or water with lunch and dinner. We also buy Almond milk at Aldi as one member of our family is lactose intolerant.

    Zip Code: 61761
    Frequently shop at: Aldi, Meijer, Kroger

    We are a family of five – two adults and three children ages 9, 7, and 4.

  229. I live in Cincinnati OH in the 45212 area. I have Kroger, Walmart, and Meijer very near. We are a family of 8 on a tight budget and really could use some help planning and saving. Our menu is pretty open and can adjust accordingly.

    We have a child with a nutritional disorder and he has to 6 meals a day…. Our budget is around $600-700 monthly. Thank you Misty

  230. 31 yr old from Bangor Maine 04401 I have a family of 3, a little boy 3yrs old, picky eater and a picky eater husband. We shop at Hannaford, Walmart and Target. We also have a Save a lot in Brewer. Our weekly meal plan is pretty much the same and boring.

    Breakfast is usually cereal for the kiddo, coffee for me and hubby drinks a carnation instant breakfast. Lunch for hubby is 2 ham and cheese sandwiches, I either don’t eat lunch or it’s one of those $1 freezer meals or left overs if I remember to get it out of the fridge. Dinner is pasta, a meat and a veg. and fruit. Finding a veg my family will eat is hard.

    my son will eat tomatos, corn, some cukes and carrots but other than that it’s hard. hubby is a meat and potatos guy likes peas and corn neither that great for you but he will eat green beans but not string beans. He can’t have peppers or onions, which is hard as I love both! I want to mix it up but difficult.

    We also like waffles and bacon on the weekends! Snacks are usually popcorn and crackers. We need the most help buying meat it is so expensive! Thank you!!

  231. Hi! I’d love to see my area featured. The zip code is 98273, and I’m currently feeding two adults and a toddler. We shop at the Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Walmart, and plan to add Costco into the mix soon.

    I cook all of our meals, but can barely get our groceries for $150/2 weeks. I don’t think I’m really buying too much, because we are always nearly out of food by the end of the grocery period.
    We try to eat a high protein, lower carb diet, though bread and some other healthy carbs are usually included as meal filler for my daughter. I wait to decide on which veggies or fruits I’ll incorporate into the meal until I see what the locals have on sale, and my husband takes leftovers to work for lunch.
    Here is what a weeks menu looks like for us.

    Monday: Breakfast – milk, oatmeal (regular rolled oats cooked stovetop/microwave) Lunch: Egg salad wrap, P. B. &J, Dinner – Chicken (leg quarters), Olive and Orange salad, single serving no bake cheesecake

    Tuesday: Breakfast – milk, plain greek yogurt with fruit. Lunch – Egg salad wrap, piece of fruit. Dinner – Lettuce wrapped turkey sloppy joes, optional bread, low carb applesauce cake

    Wednesday: Breakfast – milk, oatmeal. Lunch: smoothie (cottage cheese, fruit, protein powder, almond milk) Dinner – honey lime chicken skewers, vegetable kebabs

    Thursday: Breakfast – milk, plain greek yogurt with fruit. Lunch: P. b. & j, egg salad.

    Dinner – Balsalmic Bruschetta chicken, apple&sweetpotato hash

    Friday: Breakfast – milk, oatmeal. Lunch: P. B. &j, Egg salad wrap.

    Dinner – pizza

    Saturday: Breakfast – milk, baked oatmeal. Lunch: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Dinner: Taco salad, low carb brownies

    Sunday: Breakfast – milk, french toast. Lunch: Salad. Dinner: Broccoli Stirfry

    Snacks: apples, peanut butter &celery, peanuts, cheese, crackers

    I realize that choosing to eat more protein and fewer filling carbs may be driving our costs up, but am anxious to hear any tips you may have!

    Thanks!

    Elizabeth P.

  232. I hope you’re still helping people with menus. Here is my meal plan for a week.

    Dinner:
    Bourbon chicken over rice.
    Cheesy broccoli and rice casserole
    Spaghetti
    Chicken Curry
    Leftovers
    Shrimp curry
    Chili

    All those are made with a side dish and I’m big on making everything from scratch.

    Breakfast:
    Pancakes
    Granola
    Muffins
    Smoothies
    Sausage egg bake
    Cereal
    Breakfast burritos.

    Lunch:
    Leftovers
    pb & J
    Some type of sandwich
    soup

    My zip code is 97203

    I usually shop at Walmart, Fred-Meyer, and Winco.

    Thank you for any help in advance :).
    We eat a lot of chicken and fish in our house.

  233. I need help! I am in Haslet, Tx and recently a stay at home mom. I have 2 kids, 2 and 5 and a husband who loves junk food. I try to buy healthy for the kids and I, lots of fresh fruits and veggies.

    I’m apart of a meat co op so I get grass fed beef and free range chicken for same price at the stores. I spend about $200 a quarter on that. But I still spend almost $600 a month on food! I mostly shop at Walmart bc it’s the closest and I try not to completely waste my gas shopping around town.

    We also have a costco by us. Some other stores a distance away are Aldi, Sprouts, Super Target, Kroger, and Albertsons. A typical menu for us is cereal, eggs and waffles for breakfast, lunch is peanut butter and honey sandwiches, salads or protein shake for me. Snacks include fruit snacks, chez it’s, watermelon, apples, popcorn, pineapple, strawberries.

    Dinner can range from spaghetti, ready made pulled pork sandwiches, frozen pizza,steak with beans, grilledchicken with corn,

  234. Hello! My zip code is 32226-Jacksonville, FL and we usually shop at Walmart, Publix, and Sam’s.
    Our typical menu for a week is: Waffles and cereal interchanged and a breakfast I make.
    Lunch: either pizza rolls, chicken nuggets, or sandwiches interchanged.
    Dinner: Spaghetti, tacos/taco salad, chicken breast with a starch and a vegetable, breakfast for dinner, chicken sausage and a vegetable, pork chops, hamburgers/hot dogs, etc.
    We try to buy as cheap as possible. And we are NOT interested in couponing. I just took over cooking and stuff because I just quit my job to stay at home full time.

    We homeschool our 3 teenage boys.
    Your help would be much appreciated!!
    Thank you for this site!!
    Stacey

  235. Family of 2 adults, 1 kid – zip code 15217 (Pittsburgh, PA)
    Giant Eagle
    Target
    Aldi’s

    thank you for all you are doing to help everyone! :thumbsup:

  236. Hello, I am new to the site. I did introduce myself in another forum on this site. Check me out there.
    My zip code is 42122
    Shop mostly at Aldi, Meijer and kroger and walmart if I have too.
    Breakfast
    Cereal, baked oatmeal, scrambled eggs, homemade frozen waffles (choice for the day)

    Lunch
    1 PB & J, chips and apple
    2 Tuna macaroni salad
    3 Mac and cheese and green pepper slices
    4 Rice and Zucchini
    5. Chicken nuggets and green pepper slices (only veggie my son will eat)
    6. Left overs

    Dinners

    1 Spaghetti and bread sticks or garlic bread
    2. Breakfast for dinner (per my son’s request) Homemade waffles and I make a double batch to freeze
    3. Grilled cheese and tomato soup
    4. Tator-tot casserole
    5.

    Pork tenderlion baby potatoes and corn
    6. Pizza (this week frozen) but I make homemade most of the time.
    Thanks for any ideas
    Kids start back to school next week so I will need to figure out good lunches to pack.

    Sonnet

  237. i would love some help! i have a family of 6, one diabetic, one is allergic to peanuts, 2 are trying to lose weight (we each eat about 1600 calories a day)

    zip code is 12538
    we shop at aldi, price chopper, and although we like adams fairacre farms, we never seem to go there. i also get an employee discount at rite aid. (better of the sale price or the discount, but not both)

    typical meal plan for breakfast is eggs, oatmeal, and my hubby loves his cereal, although we’ve stopped buying it so much for the kids.
    lunch is leftovers usually, or find what you can.
    dinner, we have a 4 week, rotating meal plan. (no repeats in a month!)

    things we typically make:
    chicken broccoli stir fry (uses Italian/cubanelle/frying peppers NOT bell peppers)
    apricot glazed pork chops
    asian marinated pork chops
    ziti
    lasagna
    caramel apple pork chops
    cube steak
    chili
    lemon chicken
    italian chicken
    beef stew
    meatloaf
    chicken parm
    chicken marsala
    steak
    sketti
    chicken pot pie
    beef pot pie
    tacos
    pot roast

    we HAD a big crockpot, but it cracked, we still have a small one that we can make the chili and beef stew in, but no more chicken in the crockpot 🙁

    we currently spend approx 100/week INCLUDING toilet paper and other toiletries. we just started making our own laundry soap.

  238. I live in a small town where cost of living is extremely high. I have a family of four with two teens. Breakfast usually consist of eggs, cereal or bagels, lunch: pizza or sandwhiches and dinner veggies with chicken.

    My zip code is 81650 with the three stores being:

    Super Walmart
    City Market (king soopers)
    Family Dollar

    my grocery bill is killing me every month, please help

  239. Hello, would appreciate any help for the zip area of 32571 Pace, Florida. I mostly use Wal-mart and Walgreens. Being disabled and retired our income is so limited. There are other stores around but Walmart will price match and I don’t like store hopping, I don’t think it would be saving then.

    Thanks and have a great day.

  240. Hello I love your site, new to meal planning and would like some help
    ZIP: 30047
    Stores: Walmart, Pulbix and Kroger
    Typical weekly plan

    Thanks for your help

  241. Hi I’m having a hard time with the $50 a week meal plan. We’re a family of four, with two of them having very big appetites and are very picky eaters.
    Breakfast time is challenging because my daughter has school, husband has work, and they both hate cold cereal. I don’t care for processed food, but I need something quick or something I could make ahead of time.
    Lunch time is usually peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which drives me crazy but its the only thing my kids seem to eat.
    Dinner consists of either chicken, chicken, or chicken. I would like to eat more fish and lean pork but we end up paying so much.

    Same goes for trying to afford a week’s worth of assorted fruits and veggies. In the end our monthly bill comes up to $600.
    My zip code is 48045
    Our closest stores are:
    Aldis
    Save a lot
    Value Center Market
    I hope this was thorough enough I really need the help, thank you 🙂

    • Hi,

      We are a family of 4 each with unique tastes, needs and wants so I will break us down for you.

      Dh 55, big meat and potatoes man, favorite meat is pork, won’t eat tomatoes or tomato sauce, hates leftovers but is sometimes tricked into eating them. When I say he is a big eater I mean if we are having hamburgers he will eat 2-1/4 lb burgers plus sides and complain I didn’t make enough.

      DS8 is another big meat eater and big eater most of the time. He likes almost ever meat at one time or another as long as it is not overcooked. Dad overcooks a lot. He refuses to eat any tomato products.

      He will not eat any mixed together foods. I accomodate this by seperating his portions out before mixing. Example if we are having tuna casserole he is served egg noodles, tuna, peas, and one bite of the casserole the way it is supposed to be. Iinsist he eat one bite of what we are having.

      He likes some fruits and veggies but in particular ways for example only corn on the cob will do. He often goes on kicks where he wants one food over and over. The current kick is tortilla pizzas.

      DS4 is the easiest by far. He will eat almost everything as long as it is not overcooked. He especially loves to dip things or eat them in tortillas. On the rare occassion that he doesn’t like something.

      The next meal I can simply warm a tortilla, put the disliked food, salad, salsa and cheese in it; warm it to melt the cheese and serve him a tortilla and he will scarf it down.

      I am 45. I like a large variety of foods excepts pork (I like cured ham, sausage and bacon), dark poultry and any overcooked meat. I am the only one who does not like pork in the house. depending on sales pork may be served up to three times a week.

      When pork will be on the menu I make something the night before that will provide a sutible leftover for me. Or I will eat dinner at work.

      I have recently returned to work as dh quit work due to a bad knee. Our food only budget went from $600 (some of which I spend on food storage) to $200 per month.

      We live in Smithfield, Utah 84335.

      I do most of our shopping on Wednesday’s at Lee’s in Smithfield. I shop there on Wenesday because milk is $1.88 per gal as opposed to $2.98 to 3.98 every other day. We go through about 4 gals a week. Rarely I will shop at Wal-mart or Maceys.

      I rarely coupon because I usually get better deals on off brands alone then on name brands with coupons.

      I really dont make a menu but a typical week looks something like this.

      Mon-fri

      Breakfast choice of egg dish, hot cereal, cold cereal, or whatever they will accept.

      Lunch usually left oversfrom night before or a breakfast choice

      Dinner meat, pasta/rice or potato side, veggie

      Snacks Melted cheese, tortilla pizza, cereal or yogurt or fruit

      Sat and Sunday is basically the same but on one or both days I will make a “Denny’s Style breakfast” with meat, eggs, potatoes/grits/hominey, toast/french toast/waffles pancakes, fruit etc..

      Your insite is appreciated

  242. Hi! Just discovered this amazing site and trying to learn how to do this. My husband and I have a 15 month old and a s second baby due in August. With being pregnant, it makes meal planning more challenging thanks to nausea and food aversion, not to mention being careful to avoid Listeria.

    My family has been spending $500 a month on food, not including eating out a couple times a week! I could definitely use some advice. My zip code is 99011. I usually shop at Walmart.

    There is also Yokes and Fred Meyer nearby as well as a number of other places. Because of my fussy toddler, I try not to visit more stores than I have to.

    Typical breakfast is a Slimfast for my hubby and scrambled eggs, Cheerios, oatmeal, and/or fruit for me and the toddler.

    Lunch is generally leftovers or sandwiches, though I have to be careful with the pregnancy to avoid refrigerated meat and such.

    Snacks are carrots and celery, fruit, cheese, hard boiled eggs, toast, almonds, and sometimes chips, pretzels or popcorn.

    Dinner this week is:
    Spaghetti and meat sauce
    Tuna pasta salad
    Crock pot whole fryer chicken and veggies
    Roast turkey breast, mashed potatoes, and green beans
    Chicken noodle soup made from leftover whole fryer
    Salad with egg or reheated leftover meat
    We’ll probably eat out once

    This dinner plan is more frugal than I’ve been in the past because I been trying your site’s advice this week. Also we usually by a dozen of Wal-Mart’s flavored waters and maybe a box or two of Diet Rite soda, mostly all for my hubby. We also by toddler snacks and fruit/veggie pouches often. I’m also kind of a picky eater.

    Sorry for the overload of information! Thank you!

  243. Hi…just found your site.I am trying to cut down on my spending,especially on food.I have 100 to 150 available to spend on food for two weeks.There are just two of us, I have a diabetic to cook for . He is 67 and used to old fashioned meat and potatoes type of meals. He was a good cook, but due to a stroke he can no longer do that. I unfortunately am not a good cook and would like to do anything but cooking.

    I am trying to be a good cook and serve meals that did not cost a lot. Most of our meals include meat and we eat very little fruit and veg. I live in charleston, Il, zip 61920.I shop at Wal mart, save a lot, and ruler. Would appreciate any help I can get..thank you.

  244. Springfield, Mo 65804 family of 5. We barely making it let alone there are many days my husband and I won’t eat just to make sure our 3 kids can eat. So I could use any and all help I can.

    I forgot to add I am new to menu planning and couponing. I’m just now starting both to try and help my family.

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