How I Feed My Family of 6 for Less Than $50 a Week

Don’t believe the depictions of modern American life on television or social media. People are struggling to afford basic necessities. A steadily rising cost of living and the disparity between inflation and wage increases makes things difficult. Plenty of Americans find it hard to afford fundamental things like food. These days, it’s all too common to walk into a grocery store for a couple of items and walk out having paid over a hundred dollars. Luckily, there are some great tips online to help those struggling with money. There’s more than one way you can craft a food budget that keeps your family fed without breaking the bank.

A few years ago, Reddit user u/madpiratebippy laid out a comprehensive guide to feeding a family of six for less than $50 a week. Inflation has undoubtedly gone up since then, hampering the purchasing power of a small budget. This Reddit user’s strategy, however, still holds firm. In fact, they spent less than $100 a month to feed a family of six adults. Factoring in the rise in inflation, their plan still provides a steady rotation of meals for less than $50. It seems almost too good to be true. As such, let’s take a deeper look at u/madpiratebippy’s extensive budget meal-planning strategy. It won’t be flashy but it will keep you and your family from going hungry for weeks at a time. (For budget travel, discover what airlines to use and avoid when traveling in coach and economy class. )

To write an article about feeding a family of six for less than $50 a week, 24/7 Tempo relied heavily on Reddit user u/madpiratebippy’s comprehensive budget meal plan . Next, we organized this Reddit user’s information in an accessible way. After that, we confirmed aspects of our research (especially in terms of food costs adjusted for inflation) using sites like Wal-Mart.com and Sam’s Club .

Where to Shop

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With a shoestring budget of less than $50 a week, you probably won’t be able to shop at gourmet food outlets like Whole Foods. Their prices are simply too high. You could walk in there with $50 and come out with less than one meal for a single person. If you are working with a low budget, chances are you will have to shop at more affordable, discount food outlets. Places like Wal-Mart, Grocery Outlet, and Smart & Final offer sizeable quantities of food at lower costs than competitors. While $50 might not get you much at Costco, a slightly larger budget could go a long way at this type of bulk retailer.

As Reddit user u/madpiratebippy puts it, location matters but it’s not the be-all and end-all of shopping on a budget. The user, who lives in rural Texas, suggests aforementioned places like Wal-Mart to get the best deal on a budget. They also suggest visiting more niche, bulk retailers like Restaurant Depot. Luckily, this restaurant supplier has locations dotted all around the United States, particularly in regions running from the Rocky Mountains to the West Coast.

While your town may only have a Wal-Mart, it could help to do some research on where to find the closed Restaurant Depot or a similar type of commercial food retailer. Since Restaurant Depot is open to the public and doesn’t require a paid membership like Costco, it can help your money go further. As u/madepiratebippy said, “The bags of beans there are larger, higher quality, and cheaper than Walmart. If you can go, I super recommend it. I think the last time I went I got a 50lb bag of pinto beans for around $13.”

When attempting to feed a family of 6 on less than $50 a week, you’re going to have to go substance over style. The types of foods you can afford will likely come with simple, unadorned packaging. They will also likely be store-brand as opposed to name-brand. Do your best to avoid any flashy, shiny packaging. While not a hard and fast rule, these fancier products will likely take up a lion’s share of your meager food budget.

Food Fundamentals

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When it comes to spending your $50 budget, it’s important to know what to look for. You’re going to want to have an eye for bulk and simplicity. Start with the basics. You’re going to want to buy a 25 lb sack of flour, a 25 lb sack of sugar, a 20 lb sack of pinto beans, and a 20lb bag of long grain enriched rice. Reddit user u/madpiratebippy purchased all these items from the Great Value brand for less than $15 each. Inflation has gone up since they made their post, however, great prices can still be found for most of these items. For example, a 25 lb sack of Member’s Mark All Purpose Flour can be currently had from Sam’s Club for under $10. Better yet, the 20 lb sack of pinto beans and the most costly item is currently available at Wal-Mart for less than $15.

Now that we have gotten our starches and base ingredients out of the way, let’s turn our attention to fats, protein, and fiber in the form of vegetables. U/madpiratebippy recommended a 4 lb bag of lard, 64 oz of nonfat dried milk for baking, 10 lbs of frying chicken leg quarters, a 5 lb bag of russet potatoes, a 3 lb bag of yellow onions, and 1.25 lbs of fresh garlic. Currently, an 8 lb tub of lard will run you as low as $15. Items like the hefty bag of frying chicken leg quarters have surprisingly not been touched by inflation too much. Currently, a 10 lb of frying chicken leg quarters costs $8.72 at Wal-Mart. (Note: these prices are subject to change.)

Fundamental Enhancers

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Luckily, the other items on this basic list don’t cost too much these days either. Potatoes are a must for carbs and healthy starches, plus they keep you fuller longer than other similar food items. You may be wondering why large bags of yellow onions and garlic are necessary on such a small budget. As u/madpiratebippy put it, “ If you are eating a really pared-down diet like this, you will NEED the garlic and onions. ” That’s because such a basic diet, while filling and nutritious, will get incredibly boring and stale after just a week. By implementing aromatic vegetables like yellow onions and garlic, staples of classic French cuisine, you’ll boost the flavor profile of your meal plan and likely enjoy it more.

By u/madpiratebippy’s estimate, a basic shopping list with all the aforementioned items will cost you between $75.15-100.00. While it may seem like far more than $50 per week, this staple list provides a surprising amount of food for an entire month. Since most people need about a pound of food to feel satiated, this 113 lb list of food will likely be enough to keep a large family well-fed for weeks at a time. It may not be fancy, but it will likely do the trick. Plus, desperate times call for desperate measures. With this meal plan, your meager meal budget may not feel so desperate after all.

Extra Items

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If you check out of the grocery store and realize you have some money left over, however, there are other quality items you can buy to boost your shoestring meal plan. Given the small amount spent on bulk fundamentals as outlined above, you will likely have some cash left over. Your best bet is to use this for other food items that will spice up your meal plan. This includes sauces, snacks, and other taste enhancers.

Some good, low-cost items to buy with extra cash are cheddar cheese and other types of beans like black beans or lentils. Lentils might be your best bet here. More than any other bean or legume, lentils contain surprisingly high levels of protein and fiber. They are also a great source of B vitamins, iron, potassium, and folates. Beyond that, look for other low-cost big bulk items. These include cheap, large packages of steel-cut oatmeal, cans of tuna, canned tomato products, and the biggest box of eggs you can find. With eggs, for example, you can get a 60-count box of eggs from Wal-Mart for under $15.

They provide a great source of protein and Omega vitamins. While we suggest buying in bulk, not all items are cost-effective when buying at a large scale. A 24-pack of tuna cans runs about $38 on Amazon. Single cans, however, can be had from Wal-Mart right now for less than a dollar each. This means you can easily buy 10 cans of tuna for under $10. They are a great source of protein and even a single serving will leave you feeling full. Other cheap sources of protein include bags of bacon bits or ends. (Note: these prices are subject to change.)

Snacks, Sauces, and Sales

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Snacks may seem like a luxury with a small budget. For the most simple budget, they probably are. That said, they can help fill in the gaps in your meal plan. Items like popcorn are usually pretty cheap and help you feel full without requiring much in terms of calories. Even adjusted for inflation, a 50 lb bag of popcorn costs under $40 on most online retailers.

Popcorn can also be implemented into larger dishes. As a rule of thumb, you should try to find items that provide the most filling and calories at the cheapest price. Plenty of food items out there like chips, crackers, and cheese puffs come pretty cheap. They do not have great nutrient profiles or work well with other dishes. If you have some extra cash, however, they can make all the difference. These items can go a long way in supplementing a healthy meal plan and keeping a family of six full, week over week.

In terms of spices and sauces, there are some good items out there that will fit into your budget (especially if you have some cash left over). Sauces like soy sauce, fish sauce, mirin, pepper, hot sauce, bay leaf, and vinegar are recommended. They will pair nicely with most dishes, increasing their flavor profile for an affordable price. This extends to things like curry paste or even fresher vegetables. Plus, a booster like bullion can be had for cheap and will create much tastier, heartier dishes when implemented correctly. You also might want to buy some butter while you’re at it. Butter is the secret ingredient to most tasty restaurant-style food and can improve even the most meager dish by leaps and bounds.

Even with all those things in your shopping cart, you may require extra items. Olive oil, for one, is a must for making most foods, especially when cooking with pans. Most people already have items like baking soda, baking powder, salt, pepper, and vanilla in their kitchen. If you don’t have these items, however, it might be wise to swap out something like popcorn for baking chemicals. This will make your meals come together much easier.

Beyond that, a discerning eye for deals and discounts can go a long way when wandering through the supermarket. Often, fresh vegetables will be on sale. If it can be had for a cheaper than usual price, it might be worth buying. This also goes for different types of meat. As a rule of thumb, you should try not to pay over a dollar per pound of meat. It might be hard to find such deals these days, but you still have a good shot. Even though Safeway is typically more expensive than other grocery stores, this retailer usually has the best sales on fresh meat.

How to Cook

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The items listed above may seem like they provide for basic eating needs and not much else. Fortunately, these simple items can be combined in a multitude of ways and produce meals with variety and flavor. No one wants to eat the same thing every day for weeks. Breakfast can be a bit of a toss-up. Many people don’t eat breakfast. That said, the Reddit post recommends something fiber-dense like oatmeal topped with butter, syrup, or sugar. This keeps it simple and nutritious while providing some sweetness to start your day with. They also suggest pairing leftovers from the night before with some rice or other carb-heavy food for lunch. It’s a pretty basic mid-day meal, but it’s also the most cost-effective. Whenever you can spread food out over multiple days, you should. It will make your small budget extend even further than expected.

When it comes to dinner, however, things can get more interesting. This Reddit user recommends taking some of the discount meat you’ve bought and splitting it up so it can feed more people than usual. They suggest some interesting but simple dishes like pinto beans and rice with cut-up sausage links over the top. Another option is some kind of homemade taco or burrito using beans, homemade tortillas, cheese, and chicken legs shredded to cover multiple plates. Other great options include baked potatoes with sour cream, cheese, and bacon bits sprinkled over the top. All of these meals will cover basic nutritional needs, extend protein farther than usual, and come at an accessible price per plate. (If you’re pursuing a budget lifestyle, discover what it takes to live off the grid. )

Extending Your Supply

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Beyond that, u/madpiratebippy suggests some tips for making even scrap food serve a purpose. For the budget-conscious consumer, soups are a great way to make food extend multiple days. While u/madpiratebippy recommends soup meals, they also suggest taking all the bits and pieces not used in previous meals and combining them. From there, they take the mixture of old vegetables and meat scraps and put it on the stove with water. Once rendered down, this mixture becomes bone or vegetable broth. This can be used to add more depth of flavor to most dishes without costing you extra money. Popcorn, too, can be ground down and mixed with wheat flour to create tasty dishes like muffins, johnny cakes, or cornbread.

These meals might appeal to you at all. Perhaps you’re a more advanced cook and expect to do a lot with the most basic ingredients. Remember, these are just entry-level recommendations. There are a ton of resources online or even at the library for different meal ideas. The right recipe can transform your simple ingredients into enviable dishes. If you’re so inclined, sites like Julia Pacheco and Taste of Home provide great, comprehensive recipe lists for those on a budget.

Vitamin Conscious

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While the items listed above cover most of the nutritional base, there isn’t much in terms of vegetables. With the noticeable lack of vitamin C, the last thing you want to get is Scurvy. Eating these meals too much will definitely make you deficient in Vitamin C. As such, try to find the cheapest green vegetables available at your supermarket. Take note of the seasons and how this affects fresh produce. In the winter, for example, vegetables like turnips, kale, and cabbage are cheap. In the spring, vegetables like lettuce will likely be on sale.

Remember that these strategies cover the just basics of feeding a family of six for less than $50 a week. It’s always wise to keep a watchful eye on the sales and discounts being offered by your preferred grocer. You may not be able to afford fancier stores on your budget, but that doesn’t mean those places won’t offer great deals once in a while. When shopping for the fundamental foods listed above, always check to see what fresh produce and meat are available for cheaper than usual. This can fill in the gaps and ensure proper nutrition across the board.

Plus, if you consider yourself to have a green thumb, you can always plant your own vegetables. This, no doubt, is a more long-term investment because carrots don’t magically pop out of the ground the moment you seed them. That said, growing vegetables year-round is the type of strategy that will pay its dividends in the long term. It may take a year, but once they can be harvested, homegrown vegetables cost nothing and usually taste better than their store-bought counterparts.

Learn to Love Cooking

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Keep in mind, that working with less than a $50 food budget means you won’t be buying a lot of prepackaged food. It will mean, however, that you will be doing a lot of baking and cooking from scratch. Be sure you have all the cooking utensils you need like baking pans, rollers, pastry sheets, and large pots.

For someone used to ordering all their meals premade, the idea of cooking for every meal sounds like torture. Indeed, it may require more time and effort, but it will be all the more rewarding. With the items listed above, you can easily make fresh bread every day if you desire it (including yeast). Paradoxically, feeding a family of six on less than $50 a week may offer luxuries that people with bigger budgets don’t account for. It won’t be easy, but it can be done. Plus, you will become a great cook in the process. (If you’re eating out, learn how much to tip in these 20 common scenarios. )

The post How I Feed My Family of 6 for Less Than $50 a Week appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .