Q: I would like to know if your readers have any suggestions for a tight food budget of approximately $20-$25/week for one person? I am able to shop with coupons which should extend my budget a bit. Any tips or ideas, including meal suggestions would be helpful. Thank you so much in advance.
A: Wow–Things are really tight for you, but I think this is doable.
General Ideas
Buy cheaper foods: Keep your overall costs lower by purchasing cheaper foods such as beans, rice, eggs, peanut butter, tortillas, ground beef, tuna, etc.. You may want to shop at a discount grocer such as Aldi or Save A Lot. You can also check local produce stands for good prices on fruits and vegetables.
Buy what’s on sale: Base your meals around the items that are deeply discounted each week at your local store. These items are called “loss leaders” and are usually on the front page of the store ad. (Turkeys during November; hot dogs, corn and watermelon for the 4th of July, etc.)
Freeze some for later: Take a look at my Easy Meal Plans for Chicken (here and here) and Ground Beef (here and here) for some ideas of how to deal with larger portions of meat and still have a varied diet. You probably won’t purchase packages as large as I do, but these plans can help you as a single person.
Find Resources: When things have been really tight for us, I have found that there are many resources available to help with food. Check with local churches to find a food pantry. Connect with another single person to possibly share larger purchases with. Another idea is to cook a double recipe for something and trade a meal with another single person.
Sample Grocery List and One Week Meal Plan
Buy:
1 dozen eggs $2
1 package boneless chicken breasts $6
1 half gallon milk $2.50
1 canister of oatmeal $1.50
1 loaf bread (freeze half) $2.00
2 bananas $1.00
1 16 ounce bagged salad $2.00 (or buy romaine and wash and shred it yourself)
1 package flour tortillas $1.00
1 8 oz. block of cheese $2.50
1 jar salsa $2.00
1 bag frozen broccoli $1.00
1 small jar peanut butter $1.50
Breakfasts:
Scrambled eggs, toast x2
Toast, banana
Oatmeal x2
Homemade waffles x2 (recipe here–assuming you have flour and oil on hand. If not, you may have to eat oatmeal more this week and purchase the flour and oil next week.)
Lunches:
Salad with Italian Chicken (recipe here)
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Sliced boiled eggs, salad
Smoothie made from milk, one banana and 2 tablespoons peanut butter (frozen bananas are best)
Egg Salad (assuming you have mayonnaise on hand)
Peanut Butter Sandwich x2
Dinners:
Cheese Quesadillas (directions here) with salsa
Chicken Enchiladas (recipe here), steamed broccoli x2
Fried Eggs
Salad with Italian Chicken
Scrambled eggs with salsa
It’s not glamorous, but in an emergency situation you would at least have food to eat. Several items will last longer than one week such as the oatmeal, bread, salsa and peanut butter, which will leave room in the budget for other items and a more varied diet in the weeks to come.
I would definitely suggest finding ways to get more vegetables in by buying what’s on sale or checking local produce stands. I have also found that eating more protein in the morning and saving the carbs for dinner helps me to feel better during the day.
Can you help this reader? What suggestions do you have? Leave a comment. 
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Just a note to consider for those of you with college age kids: Our 3 kids and our daughter-in-law and son-in-law are in college in Oklahoma. Since money is so tight, they applied for food stamps and actually got them. I never thought this would be possible, but as long as they have a work-study position or are employed 20hrs a week, they are eligible-even if they live in the dorms and opt for a meal card! All of ours rent off campus because it is cheaper than the dorms, but this really has helped us out. My husband makes way more than the average salary, but when you are helping out kids and both sets of grandparents that money goes out the window quickly.
With left over cold chicken shread it or chunk it (bite size), mix with one can of mixed veggies drained (the ones with potatoes $.50 on sale), a few dashes of pepper and a couple table spoons of mayo. Serve on a crispy corn tortilla like a tostada.
If you have a crockpot use that to cook dried beans for 8 hours, (beans, water, salt and garlic powder. A couple cups of dried beans will go a long way for one person. Eat a bowl of beans, then mash rest to make bean burritos or tostadas for another day. You can add cheese and salsa for a variety.
Don’t add salt to those beans in the crockpot til after they are done. It makes them harder to get soft.
Thanks Kathy.
I too try to spend about $25 a week on groceries. I buy almost all my fruits and veggies at farmer’s markets. I buy meat only when on sale, in larger portions, and portion it before I freeze it. I tried buying a whole chicken for the first time because it was only $5 and found a youtube video to help me butcher it. It was actually very easy and I had multiple chicken cuts to use in different meals. Plus, if you save the leftover rib cages in the freezer, you can make your own chicken stock or chicken soup later. I also buy a lot of pasta and sauce because my local grocer has them buy one, get one free a lot. I like to cook, so that helps me out. I prepare most of my meals on my own rather than buying more expensive, convenient pre-prepared ones. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I have all the time in the world to make everything from scratch. I work 7 days a week. I just pick certain days to go to the store and then prep and portion before sticking the items in the fridge or freezer. When I make a meal, I’ll make a large one so I can save the leftovers and not cook on my busier days. So that is my advice for a $25 a week grocery budget. Happy Shopping!
Our grocery budget is $300/month for 4 people. As for your buy list…we buy our bread a the discount bread store. That $2 bread at the retail store is $.50 at the discount store. We freeze it and use a loaf a week or as needed. But we keep in the fridge so it stays fresh. Works great. We make our own salsa…the equivalent of a blender/pitcher full for about $2. Easy recipe….cilantro, crushed tomatoes, onions, jalapeno, garlic, little salt, pepper. Never use jar again. Lately bananas have been $.49 a pound at target…so we get them there. Otherwise we buy produce at farmers market….much better prices. We usually get eggs on sale for $.99…just have to watch your sale papers. We get 3-4 dozen. They will last us all month. We wait and get fresh chicken for 1.49-$1.69/lb. We never buy the prepacked frozen chicken…way over priced. The rest of your list is spot on. We are a family of 4 living on$2500 a month. We barely get by, but are very careful with our money. I know we can make some more cuts, but as Dave Ramsey says…baby steps to get there. I think you are great and it helps me to keep focused when I read what you are doing with your family to save. Thanks.
Thanks for those tips Virginia. I need to try making my own salsa.
I’m single and I am using the list below for the month. ( I do want to let you know I have a good foundation of good in my pantry. I have bread (frozen in freezer, rice, quinoa, couscous, coconut milk, almond milk, Cheese slices for sandwiches & quesadillas.
Hope this helps!
Love your blog!
Aldi’s Monthly Grocery List(For One Person)
======================================
Items Qty Price Total
Asparagus (Pkg) 1 $1.59 $1.59
Green Peppers (Pkg) 1 $0.99 $0.99
Plums 2 $0.35 $0.70
Nectarines 2 $0.35 $0.70
Cucumbers 2 $0.59 $1.18
Grapefruits 2 $0.49 $0.98
Mangoes 2 $0.55 $1.10
Grapes 1 $1.98 $1.98
Pears (Bag) 1 $1.69 $1.69
Bananas (2.5 lb) 1 $1.00 $1.00
Navel Oranges (Bag) 1 $1.69 $1.69
Mushrooms (Pkg) 1 $1.29 $1.29
Celery (Pkg) 1 $1.39 $1.39
Potatoes (5 lb bag) 1 $1.99 $1.99
Onions (Bag) 1 $1.69 $1.69
Carrots (Bag) 1 $1.29 $1.59
Eggs (Dozen) 1 $1.59 $1.59
O.J. (1/2 Gal) 1 $1.89 $1.89
Juice (1/2 Gal) 2 $0.99 $1.98
Deli Turkey (Pkg) 1 $2.49 $2.49
Frozen-Tilapia (Bag) 1 $3.99 $3.99
Cornish Hen 1 $2.89 $2.89
Turkey Sausage 1 $3.69 $3.69
Bag salad Mix (bag) 1 $1.99 $1.99
Flour Soft Tortillas 1 $0.99 $0.99
Frozen Veggies 1 $1.09 $1.09
Frozen Mixed Fruit 1 $1.99 $1.99
Frozen Meal 2 $1.29 $2.58
Frozen Bean Burritos 3 $0.33 $0.99
Subtotal: $47.12
Sales Tax Rate: 6.00%
Tax: $2.83
Total: $50.01
I have a good foundation of FOOD in my pantry is what I meant!
Thanks so much! It’s great to see ideas from others.
Chicken breasts!? Those are the most expensive and tasteless cut of the chicken! I suggest buying a pack of legs or a whole chicken instead, I can usually find a broiler for $6 or $7. Roast it the first night, eat the legs and thighs the second night, use “scraps” for quesadillas the third, make chicken salad or a sandwich the fourth, and use the giblets for stock or gravy in a fifth night meal.
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