Good family dinners on a grocery budget that's already stretched.
Budget recipes, honest grocery tips and simple planning tools for US households. Plan the week, shop with a list, cook once and eat twice.
THE STRETCH PLAN
Sample week, family of 4
- SUNPrep: rice, roast veg, chili
- MONTurkey and bean chili
- TUEBlack bean burrito bowls
- WEDSheet-pan chicken thighs
- THUEgg fried rice (leftover rice)
- FRILeftovers night
SHOPPING LIST24 ITEMS
REUSED INGREDIENTS9
FREEZER PORTIONS MADE3
Every ingredient planned for. Nothing bought for one recipe only.
Recipes that stretch
All recipes-
Black bean and rice burrito bowls
Pantry beans and rice turned into a build-your-own dinner everyone likes.
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Sheet-pan chicken thighs with potatoes and carrots
One pan, bone-in thighs and whatever root vegetables are cheapest this week.
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Lentil and vegetable soup
A big, filling pot that freezes well and costs very little per bowl.
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Pasta and beans in tomato broth
An Italian-style pantry dinner: small pasta, white beans and tomatoes.
Which size is really cheaper?
Our unit price calculator compares up to four package sizes or brands per ounce, pound or count.
Open the calculatorThe free Pantry Price Book
A printable price book, weekly meal plan pages and a pantry staples list. No email needed.
Get the free PDFThe 28-day challenge
Twenty small steps over four weeks to spend less at the store. Track it with a free account.
See the four weeksGrocery and kitchen tips
All tips- Plan first, then shop
A weekly plan and a list built from it is the single biggest grocery saver.
- Reading unit prices
How to tell which size or brand is really cheaper, in a few seconds.
- Store brands, sales and stocking up
When store brands make sense, how sales cycles work, and how much to stock up.
- A budget pantry, built slowly
The staples that turn into dozens of cheap meals, and how to build them up over time.
- Batch cooking without the burnout
Cook once, eat two or three times, and make busy nights cheaper.
- Using your freezer to save money
What freezes well, how to thaw safely, and how long food keeps its quality.
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