Meal Planning

A new goal of mine is prepare as many meals at home as possible. We only eat out once or twice a week, but even that is too much for our budget. I have been trying to plan meals around what is on sale at the supermarket and what I have stockpiled in the pantry. Over the past week, I have been able to prepare 3 dinners that cost LESS than $5 for our family of 5.

#1) Shepherds Pie
1.5 lbs. ground beef ($1.47/lb @ Harris Teeter) $2.19
2.5 lb red potatoes ($1.99/5 lb bag @ Aldi) $1
2 cans of sweet corn (2/$1 @ Aldi)
TOTAL cost: $4.19

#2) Rotisserie Chicken ($3.97 @ Harris Teeter)
Knorr Chicken Flavored Rice Mix (pantry stockpile item, paid $0.25 X2) $0.50
Earthbound Organic Salad ($3.99 @ Harris Teeter, on sale B1G1, used $0.75 coupon, doubled) $0.50
TOTAL cost: $4.97

#3) Taco Night
1 lb ground beef ($0.99/lb @ Harris Teeter) $0.99
Shredded cheddar cheese 8 oz ($1.97 @ Harris Teeter) $1.97
Taco Shells ($0.99 @ Aldi) $0.99
Yellow Saffron Rice (pantry stockpile item, paid $0)
Peach Slices (peaches were $0.35/lb @ Walmart) approx. $1
TOTAL: $4.95

I'm hoping once the kids are back in school, I can devote even more time to budget meal planning, and maybe even make and freeze some meals to use after the baby is born.