Finally made a whole week of meals for under $40

I've been trying to stretch my grocery budget for months and something finally clicked last week. I planned out seven dinners using a big batch of dried beans, a bag of rice, and whatever veggies were on sale at the Aldi on Broadway. Made a big pot of chili on Sunday that lasted three nights, then turned the leftover beans into burritos and a soup. The whole week cost me $38.72 and I didn't eat a single fast food meal, which is huge for me because I usually give up and grab a burger by Wednesday. The trick was soaking the beans myself instead of buying canned, saved like $4 right there. Anyone else got a go-to meal that stretches further than you'd expect?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_elliot15d agoMost Upvoted

Yo that Aldi on Broadway is legit, I hit that spot all the time too lol. Chili is such a cheat code for cheap eating, you can bulk it up with whatever is on sale and it freezes like a dream. I do the same thing with a big pot of lentil soup, just onions, carrots, a bag of lentils, and some broth cubes, it costs like $6 and feeds me for almost the whole week. Soaking beans from dry is a game changer for sure, I never buy canned anymore after realizing how much money I was burning. Your $38 week sounds way better than my $60 average, I might have to copy your chili plan next payday.

angela_allen5315d ago

Well @the_elliot, I gotta respectfully disagree a little because that lentil soup routine gets old fast and beans from dry save money but they take forever to soak and cook. I still keep canned beans on hand for nights when I just need dinner done in 20 minutes, the cost difference isn't that huge once you factor in your time and energy bills.