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    Home » Budget Meal Plans

    How To Plan Cheap Family Meals On A Budget

    Published: Jan 5, 2024 · Modified: Jan 5, 2024 by Deborah Rainford · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

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    Cheap family meals photo collage using Aldi recipes.

    Welcome to our ultimate guide for creating cheap family meals on a budget! Whether you're feeding a family or looking for ways to stretch your money further, this guide will provide you with practical tips and strategies to eat well without breaking the bank.

    Cheap family meals photo collage using Aldi recipes.

    Setting Your Meal Planning Budget

    Before you start planning your meals, it's crucial to establish a budget. Here's how you can set a realistic one:

    • Assess Your Current Spending: Look at your last month's grocery bills to get an idea of your average spending.
    • Determine Your Budget: Based on your income and expenses, decide on a weekly or monthly food budget.
    • Use Budgeting Tools: Consider using apps or spreadsheets to track your spending.

    Developing a Cost-Effective Meal Plan

    Creating a meal plan that's both nutritious and affordable doesn't have to be a daunting task. Follow these steps:

    • Plan Around Seasons: Potatoes, squash and root vegetables and orchard fruit in autumn and winter. Berries, fruits and tomatoes etc. in the summer. This website, eat the Seasons, is a great place to check what's in season.
    • Use Reliable Meal Plans: A great way to ensure cost-effectiveness is to rely on tried and tested meal plans. For those looking for a guided approach, to saving time and money check out our comprehensive section of weekly meal plans. We've put a special emphasis on our popular £25 weekly meal plans, which are perfect for those wanting to maximize their budget without sacrificing variety and taste.
    • Batch Cooking: Prepare larger quantities of affordable dishes to eat throughout the week. Some great options are homemade pasta sauce, beef stew, or chicken and mushroom pie. These will often yield leftovers when paired with vegetable side dishes and salads.
    • Diverse Meal Categories: Rotate through different meal categories like pasta recipes, 30-minute meals, one-pot meals, and easy slow cooker recipes to keep things interesting and budget-friendly.

    Choosing Budget-Friendly Ingredients

    Incorporate these affordable and nutritious ingredients into your meals:

    • Grains and Legumes: Rice, lentils, and beans are inexpensive and versatile. Use them in recipes like one-pot Mexican rice, red lentil dhal, or vegetarian chilli.
    • Frozen Vegetables: Often cheaper and just as nutritious as fresh produce.
    • Bulk Buys: Purchase items like pasta and canned goods in bulk for savings.

    Smart Shopping Techniques

    Make the most of your grocery shopping with these tips:

    • Coupons and Deals: Always look out for coupons and special deals.
    • Generic Brands: Opt for store brands, which are often cheaper than name brands.
    • Avoid Impulse Buys: Stick to your shopping list to avoid unnecessary purchases. *This is easier said than done, especially if you have little ones with you asking for all the treats. This is an ongoing practice that most of us struggle with weekly or even daily. Just being aware of impulse buys will help to minimise them.

    Easy and Affordable Recipe Ideas

    Remember that breakfast often becomes routine when meal planning, with many sticking to the same daily choices. Here are some budget-friendly recipe ideas for each meal of the day:

    • Breakfast: 3 Ingredient granola with yoghurt and fruit.
    • Lunch: Homemade vegetable soup with bread.
    • Dinner: Stir-fried rice with vegetables.

    Check out our specific posts on freezer-friendly recipes, 45 healthy dinners, and 45 Aldi dinner recipes for more ideas.

    Meal Prep and Storage Tips

    Effective meal prep and proper storage can save both time and money:

    • Plan Ahead: Dedicate a few hours each week to meal prep. Simple tasks like washing and chopping vegetables and batch cooking chilli con carne or meatballs in tomato sauce will save you valuable time on busy days.
    • Use Proper Containers: Invest in good quality containers for storing prepped meals. You don't need anything fancy or expensive. This 36-piece set is glass, making it more durable but also heavier. A great choice for storage at home. This plastic set makes it perfect for taking lunches or food on the go.

    Adapting to Dietary and Family Needs

    Tailor your meal plan to suit your family's size and dietary preferences:

    • Family Size: Adjust portion sizes accordingly. All of the recipes on this website have a button to increase the portion size up to x6.
    • Dietary Restrictions: Substitute ingredients to cater to dietary needs.

    Meal planning on a budget is not only doable but can also be a fun and rewarding experience. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious meals without straining your finances.

    For more recipe ideas, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, and join our exclusive Facebook group.

    For meal planning assistance, check out our weekly Aldi-only meal plans, free for subscribers.

    Craving more comfort food? Visit our sister site, Salted Mint, for easy, delicious recipes with everyday ingredients.

    Head shot of Deborah Rainford

    Meet the Chef!

    Hi, I'm Debs—a Cordon Bleu-trained chef. I help you get incredible dinners on the table fast with fool-proof recipes and meal plans designed for tiny budgets! Easy recipes with step-by-step instructions and tips and tricks I've learned over a 10-year career in professional kitchens.

    Learn more about me →

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessika Pegues

      March 11, 2022 at 2:16 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for such a great meal plan! So many tips and tricks that I didn't even think about! So helpful.

      Reply
      • Roger

        January 30, 2024 at 5:15 pm

        My only criticism is that you have gone to a lot of trouble in publishing low cost recipes for which I applored Aldi but you spoil it by having advertisements advertising “bookies adverting and trying to persuade your customers who are working on a tight budget to spend their money on betting on the horses etc

        Reply
        • Deborah Rainford

          January 31, 2024 at 8:58 pm

          Hi Roger. So sorry about that. I've been careful with what ads are permitted and what are not. I've raised this with my ad network to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. Thanks so much for bringing it to my attention. There shouldn't be any slip-ups in the future.

          Reply

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    Cheap family meals photo collage using Aldi recipes.

    Hi, I'm Deborah! A Cordon Bleu graduate with more than 10 years of restaurant cooking experience. I now focus on helping you create easy, delicious and healthy(ish) budget recipes from scratch using only Aldi ingredients. Welcome to my virtual kitchen!

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