Grocery prices are INSANE right now. I know because I cry a little every time I check out.

But I've figured out how to keep our grocery bill around $500/month for a family of four without living on pasta and hot dogs.

Here's how.

The System That Actually Works

1. Meal Plan (But Make It Realistic)

I plan 5 dinners per week. That's it.

Why not 7? Because:

  • One night is leftovers
  • One night is "fend for yourself" or takeout

    • I plan meals I've made before. No experimental recipes during the week.

    My rotation:

  • Tacos (ground beef, beans, or chicken)
  • Sheet pan dinner (protein + veggies)
  • Pasta with sauce
  • Slow cooker meal (throw it in, forget about it)
  • Stir fry

    • Mix and match proteins and veggies based on what's on sale.

    2. Shop Your Pantry First

    Before making a grocery list, I check what I already have.

    I keep clear bins so I can actually SEE what's in there. Game changer.

    Found a can of black beans? That's tacos. Found pasta? That's dinner. Found random frozen vegetables? That's a stir fry.

    This alone saves me $50-75/month.

    3. The One-Store Rule

    I used to drive to three different stores to get the best deals.

    Then I did the math on gas and my time. Not worth it.

    I pick ONE store (I use Aldi, but Walmart or Costco work too) and shop there weekly.

    Exception: I buy meat in bulk when it's on sale and freeze it.

    What I Actually Buy

    Proteins (On Sale Only)

  • Ground beef when it's under $4/lb → freeze in 1lb portions
  • Chicken thighs (cheaper than breasts, more flavor)
  • Eggs (still the cheapest protein)
  • Beans (dried or canned)
  • Rotisserie chicken for 2-3 meals

    • Produce (Strategic Choices)

    Always buy:
  • Bananas
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes
  • Onions
  • Frozen vegetables (cheaper and last forever)

    • Buy what's in season:

  • Berries in summer
  • Apples in fall
  • Citrus in winter

    • Skip the pre-cut stuff. You're paying for convenience.

    Staples

  • Rice (buy in bulk)
  • Pasta
  • Oats
  • Flour
  • Canned tomatoes
  • Peanut butter
  • Bread (I freeze extra loaves)

    • What I DON'T Buy

  • Pre-made meals
  • Single-serve snacks
  • Juice boxes (water is free!)
  • Brand name anything when generic is fine
  • Out of season produce

    • Weekly Shopping Strategy

    Before I Go:

    1. Check what's in the pantry 2. Plan 5 meals 3. Make a list (organized by store section) 4. Eat something (never shop hungry!) 5. Set a budget alert on my phone

    At the Store:

    1. Stick to the list (mostly) 2. Check unit prices, not package prices 3. Buy meat on sale and freeze 4. Get the "about to expire" markdown items if I can use them that day 5. Skip the middle aisles (that's where the expensive stuff lives)

    Meal Ideas Under $10

    These feed my family of 4:

    $6 Taco Night:

  • Ground beef ($3)
  • Tortillas ($2)
  • Cheese ($1)
  • Toppings we already have

    • $8 Pasta Dinner:

  • Pasta ($1)
  • Jar of sauce ($2)
  • Ground beef ($3)
  • Frozen garlic bread ($2)

    • $7 Chicken Stir Fry:

  • Chicken thighs ($4)
  • Frozen veggie mix ($2)
  • Rice (basically free when buying in bulk)
  • Soy sauce ($1)

    • $5 Breakfast for Dinner:

  • Eggs ($3)
  • Toast ($1)
  • Frozen hash browns ($1)

    • The "Stretch It" Method

    I make proteins go further:

    1 rotisserie chicken = 3 meals:

  • Night 1: Chicken with sides
  • Night 2: Chicken tacos
  • Night 3: Chicken soup with the carcass

    • 1 lb ground beef = 2 meals:

  • Mix with beans to make it stretch
  • One pound makes tacos for 4 AND spaghetti sauce

    • Leftover vegetables:

  • Throw everything in a frittata
  • Make fried rice
  • Add to soup

    • Nothing goes to waste.

    Breakfast & Lunch Hacks

    Breakfast:

  • Oatmeal (buy the big container, not packets)
  • Eggs
  • Peanut butter toast
  • Yogurt (buy large containers, not individual)

    • Lunch:

  • Leftovers from dinner
  • PB&J (still a classic)
  • Quesadillas with leftover cheese
  • Soup and crackers

    • Kids' snacks:

  • Popcorn (kernels are SO cheap)
  • Apples with peanut butter
  • Cheese sticks (buy the big bag)
  • Homemade muffins or banana bread

    • What About Inflation?

    Listen, I'm not going to pretend this is easy. Prices are ROUGH right now.

    What's helped me:

  • Being flexible (buy what's on sale)
  • Cooking from scratch more
  • Accepting that some weeks we eat A LOT of beans
  • Freezing everything
  • Not being ashamed of the cheap options

    • Real Talk: It's Not Perfect

    Some weeks I go over budget. Some weeks we eat the same thing three times.

    Some weeks my kids eat chicken nuggets and I don't feel bad about it.

    We're all just trying to feed our families without going broke.

    The Bottom Line

    You don't need to be a master chef or an extreme couponer.

    You just need:

  • A basic plan
  • Flexibility
  • Willingness to cook simple food
  • No shame about buying generic

We eat real food. It's not fancy, but it's good, and everyone is fed.

What are your grocery shopping tips? I'm always looking for new ideas!