BEST EXTREME BUDGET MEAL PLAN $20 for a WEEK! // EASY MEALS on a BUDGET

[@FrugalNutrition]

"If anybody deserves treats and luxuries, everybody deserves them." 👏 ☺ you're a GEM, Mindy!!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks!

[@georgekessler3548]

So funny, I was telling my sister-in-law about this channel last night and used those words: "a gem of a woman."

[@DontAssume123]

❤

[@carmenjohnston7019]

As a SAHM I never imagined being in a position where I’d be worried about affording to feed my babies. My husband and I are thankful for your suggestions and budgeting recipes. I found myself crying today just overwhelmed with having to tell my toddler she can’t eat more of a meal because we have to save it for meals later on. We are very fortunate family with no debt and manage to make it by. But this season has been one of the most difficult yet. Thank you Mindy for your encouragement & videos. It truthfully is helping my family re-approach our meal planning/budget ❤️

[@captivated388]

Could she eat some of you or your husband’s food instead? I would starve for my children. Also, if there is a food scarcity problem, check out your local food pantries, Christian help centers, or churches. I hate to think of your baby being hungry 😢 I’m sorry you’re going through that.

[@karlamckinney1374]

@@captivated388 I'd go to the food bank when in these situations

[@cortneyellyn3233]

I found her over a year ago. And I watched her videos for weeks when we were struggling. It’s truly been such a blessing for us too. She has so many ideas and ways to save. ❤ I hope this hard time passes for you quickly.

[@JacindaH]

@@captivated388 I don't know that debt free is something to be proud of when you're telling your child no on food. I would starve before they went without. And I realize I'm sounding judgy...because I am.

[@BrynneC]

@@usatodaywife popcorn is a choking hazard for children under 4, as a heads up

[@lisarobins]

I think this is a very well balanced and nutritionally dense meal plan which would be sustainable indefinitely if money was really tight.

[@kristinafrancis382]

Absolutely thought the same thing. I'm like, what? These are great!

[@slice20]

Exactly what I came here to say.

[@karil6461]

Finally a youtube recipe channel that is both budget & healthish.

[@trackee2024]

Same thought! She always says these recipes are for temporary tight spots, but I think they are great balanced meals! 30g of protein for a pasta dish is well done!! 👏

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

I went back to review just to make sure I wasn't missing anything: carrots, celery, peas, green beans, tomato products, bananas. Maybe not as produce heavy as you would like, Mindy.... but that ain't too shabby, Mindy. That ain't too shabby.

[@abbigailburkes4408]

I really love that you tell people they shouldn’t feel guilty for getting themselves a treat. I can attest to that! Whenever I’m having a tight week or just want to watch what I’m spending I will still always make room for a box of cake mix, a special soda, etc. It seriously makes you feel so much better. Please y’all…get the cake mix and don’t feel bad about it!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks! I agree. Being “realistic” is one of my big motivators when planning videos, and I just think it’s more practical and easier to stick to a budget if we allow a small amount of luxury and fun!

[@michellebrill5328]

Yep, always get cake mix, brownies, jello or pudding.

[@kristyh982]

And mug cakes only need water! 3 tbs mix, 2 tbs water, and 1 min in the microwave (give or take). If you wanna really jazz it up put a dollop of icing after mixing but before microwaving. You get a lava cake

[@darisabatino4966]

@@SeeMindyMom oo9o0

[@LindaC616]

@@kristyh982 although if you take flour water leavening and a bit of sugar and cocoa you can make an eight by eight dish of lava cake and it's actually low fat!

[@karinakissell9565]

Love that you give ideas for a tight budget that isn't just beans and rice. My kids will actually eat a lot of your recipes. 😀

[@Kloops]

Oh thank you so very very much. I needed this. Thank you. I was married for 23 years and never really needed to budget for meals. Divorcing now, I am on a very tight budget. I appreciate your help. I know what I am going to have for dinner and lunch for the week. I struggled for nearly a year of not feeling worthy of going grocery shopping soon after separating because I had been financially abused by him. Even though we didn’t need budget for groceries, he was good at shaming me for some of my choices. Also, it was very depressing to start over. So thank you so very much for your help.

[@donnaa9581]

I’ve started keeping a zip lock bag in my freezer. Any time I chop veggies, I add the peels, skins, and trimmings to the bag. Once it’s full, I simmer it in water along with various spices, then strain the liquid. This makes such tasty, healthy veggie broth to use in soups, stews or any way you want.

[@FantabulousFail]

My vegan friend does this too! I really need to start making my own veggie broth. I love soups for the cold weather.

[@roundtreecumberbatch2012]

This is an old depression trick. I freeze the broth I strain from canned veggies and fruit as well for other uses. Nothing in my home gets wasted

[@FurBabyGrandma]

I have done this for years. I never have to buy veggie or chicken broth. The bones from a whole chicken that I shred off the bone with a bit of those veggies also make a fantastic chicken stock.

[@mariannewakeam6232]

Your budget videos are amazing! With so many struggling with rising prices these ideas are filling and healthy and definitely within reach for most people. Thank you

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you, Marianne. I prayed this morning this video would find some people who are looking for these kinds of ideas. I hope it is helpful to somebody. 😊

[@tammyosborne4374]

I agree these are wonderful recipes and are big help

[@michellek2858]

I recently lost my job and found not only my church, but also the college I am attending has a food pantry.

[@lisamusil8170]

When my husband and I were first together, we both worked full time, I would make 2 big pots of something on Sunday and we would eat leftovers all week. Our grocery bill was tiny!

[@theopkingdom3433]

Mindy, I return to your videos again and again because of your real world, down to earth, recipes. I appreciate that you understand budget cooking. Most people have limited budgets AND time. So yes, scratch cooking can be cheap IF one has time to plan and prep things. Your recipes and ideas are much more friendly to real life. And, I hate to say it, but this is the food reality for many families over a long haul. So I appreciate you showing ways to get those nutrients and proteins into meals that could be empty calories without a little thought. Thanks.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you for the kind words. I do try to be creative and come up with some tasty meals that add a little variety on a tight budget. Thanks for watching!

[@angelicagutierrez666]

My local food pantry gives us pasta and canned veggies and canned tomato all the time. So I only really have to purchase meats and other veggies and breads to go along with it all. ❤❤

[@TaraannBudgetsandSelf-Care]

I try to put aside $5 a week for pantry stables. It helped me feed a lot of other families during the beginning of the pandemic

[@mshea7650]

I thought this was a great idea and I’m going to try it too! I don’t have many spices etc right now but I think it def gives more flexibility if you have more on hand.

[@wplains]

With the pandemic and the high prices, I always bring back an extra package of sugar or flour or pasta. It’s a good way of building up an extra in the pantry. If you can, take flour out of the original package and put it into a mason jar and then freeze it. That way, you kill off the bugs and it’ll last for a much longer time.

[@mshea7650]

I just bought some yeast and some baking powder I found at family dollar..(I never have those on hand..(I usually have e baking soda) I did make the soda bread on New Year’s Eve when I made a ham because I forgot to get rolls lol

[@pandapoof8798]

What I love about these recipes is, for the most part, they're one pot. I'm so excited to try the sausage and gnocchi soup.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad you like them! I try to keep in mind that time is also a precious resource, and we don't always have a lot of time to cook from scratch, or make meals that require a lot of prep. :)

[@trackee2024]

Same! I'm running to Aldi for that super affordable gnocchi, too. 🏃🏻‍♀ I think it's $4 at kroger? Crazy!

[@grannygoes7882]

I volunteer at a community foodback in my town. Anyone is welcome, no questions asked. People drive up in expensive SUV'S and fill it up with boxes of food. Sometimes you wonder to yourself about their situation but the fact is, it doesn't matter. No proof of income or lack thereof, is needed and we always have a ton leftover. Volunteers are welcome to take whatever is left and we still waste some of it. If you are struggling in any way, check out your food pantries/banks. There are almost always more than one, even in the smallest towns. The one I work at doesn't get their food from the community. Almost all of it comes from the government and quite a bit comes from local grocery stores. A new Albertsons just opened in our tiny town and they donate a TON of food.

[@julybailey2326]

I couldn't believe grocery shopping last night for myself and my husband. I bought 2 medium size filets for steak as I haven't had steak in 2 months and was really craving it. I just can't eat a tough steak I'd rather skip it. Anyway 2 pieces for $36. I couldn't believe it😢 my husband and I grew up rather poor and we are also pretty fortunate now that we can shop while not being on a budget but I still find myself adding it up in my head as we are going through the line at the end. It drives my husband crazy. I remember how it felt going to bed hungry and my heart hurts for you folks that deal with this struggle of trying to feed your families. I worked 3 jobs a large portion of my life to keep food on the table. Bless you for making this video. The food actually looked amazing

[@MandalaBunnyhome]

Another go-to for me was adding things to ramen noodles like hard boiled eggs, peas, etc! These are really great ideas, the worst part about a tight food budget is coming to terms with not being able to eat what you want. Having something to look forwars to helps so much, even just a square of chocolate or ice pop. Rice is also a big staple for my family, it's great if you can't have pasta.

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

People tend to get caught up in the traditional things they know, but really you can substitute almost any starch in a recipe. Meat sauce, tomatoes and peppers over pasta? All that works over rice. Chili on pasta, rice, potatoes? It all works. Even topping toast with things you would top pasta or rice with can work.

[@betterlivingonabudget]

If only I'd had YT and the internet back when I was in my early 20s and raising a family! Your channel is fantastic and so helpful to YAs just starting out on their independent lives.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Me, too! YT would have been a great resource. Thanks for the kind words!

[@leighdegenhardt485]

Lol! I meal prepped back then, long before it was a "thing"! I was a single mom and didn't love the idea of coming home after working all day and cooking each night so on Sundays I did batch cooking and froze stuff for later in the week! Still do it now and I'm beyond retirement age! Lol!

[@elizabethjohnsen9856]

Thank you so much for this video. I’m a single mom and i only have a couple bucks to get us through this week. You’re an angel. The gnocchi soup is definitely going to be used!

[@susancarnegie3794]

As a retired person I visit my towns free giveaways to help with my food budget..there is always a snack of some sort in my bag or box..so much appreciated as I have cut a lot of unnecessary snacks from my budget. Thanks for your budget friendly meals!

[@marjoriejohnson4559]

This budget meal plan helped me as I was looking thru today's ad coupons and figured out how I could meal plan like you do. I started with a 5# bag of russet potatoes for 99 cents and &4.79 for 1# of ground beef and will buy some similar items as you to make similar recipes as you. In leaner times I have used a 10 # bag of potatoes for a whole week of meals at EVERY meal for hash browns, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes and soup. Your budget meal videos are a good resource when needed 😊

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad I could help, Marjorie!

[@nickywiedmeier6770]

I agree on the treats! i do budget weeks at least once a month for a week. To save up and have us eat frugally. Making a pan of brownies that week for a couple desserts is a game changer for the kids. It stops all the complaining about the food or making it seem like we are missing out on good food

[@JacindaH]

I've started making my own vinegar with apple scraps, water and about a quarter cup of sugar. It's amazing and can be made with all kinds of fruit scraps.

[@annswann1941]

So glad you mentioned celery & pb! That ‘snack’ would be a couple meals for me 🤣🤣 Like you said these great extreme budget meals aren’t intended for long term so when the budget is better remember to stock up those pantry basics. Great video

[@jeankelly368]

I just found you. Love the budget ideas as I cook for one. Yum.

[@megsdell18]

I love peanut butter and banana. Sometimes I roll it on a tortilla if I’m out of toast. I put a drizzle of honey and cinnamon on it to make it extra yummy! Also, the tuna casserole looks so good, planning to try it this week😊

[@SeeMindyMom]

My son loves PB & Honey in a tortilla!

[@candycake4926]

Yessss!! I'll fold up a tortilla and put it in the toaster/toaster oven and the peanut butter gets so warm and gooey. It's so good!! (You could probably do it in a pan or the oven for a minute as well!)

[@jillgott6567]

Good video. You included a healthy amount of protein, carbs, and veggies per meal. I also love that your recipes are not just rice, beans and tacos which most channels rely on.

[@meganwoehl5277]

Thank you! We are putting an offer in on a house today and I really want to get our food budget under control. When we wrote out our budgets I was absolutely shocked with how much we spend on food. I've finally decided that owning a home is more important to me than ordering out multiple times a week or going grocery shopping and buying junk food. When I wrote my budget out in Excel, I included a section with easy cheap lunch ideas (lots of tuna) since that is where I spend the most of my discretionary money. Now looking for dinner recipes for me and my husband so we can cut our grocery bill down. I want food shopping on a budget to become a habit instead of a short term saving solution. Should help us both lose weight too!

[@dreamweaver3406]

You are fortunate to have an Aldi's close-we don't have one in Nevada/ I have two grocery stores in my town-Walmart and Safeway. I checked the total prices of those items you listed and Walmart was 25.79 and Safeway was a whopping 35.58 for the same items. I only shop Safeway for their specials :-) Thanks for the interesting video. I am a senior citizen with a fixed income and these ideas are great!

[@simplyzulu1426]

Don't know why this video was recommended to me by you tube, but was quite interesting. As an Indian we calculate in grams and kilograms. Most of our products come in 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 grams.

[@maryd1495]

This is the first time I’ve come across your channel, but I absolutely love this video. You have a beautiful way of explaining things without any criticism/guilt or anything like that. It’s lovely to see. This is so helpful. Thank you!

[@emmamcphersonofficial]

In so many of the budget cooking videos I've watched the meals just looks sad. But these all genuinely look so delicious 😋

[@chansofancy]

These videos are so helpful for someone like me who’s paying off a large amount of debt and stopping eating out randomly with my family for the time being. We still will have planned family meals out but nowhere near what we were doing.

[@VashtiWood]

I'm from Australia and I love seeing how different countries (with different policies around food production, import tariffs etc) have such vastly different examples of what's "budget" or "affordable". I think most of you would be shocked at how relatively (compared to Australian prices) "expensive" most of this is! And then there are some ingredients that *you* consider to be a steal of a deal that are cheaper for us every day of the week! It's just fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing. ❤

[@libertyg4402]

Wow, I just tallied this up with my Walmart here in Colorado and it's $35 for these groceries a year later in 2024. Inflation is insane. Mindy I'm binge watching your videos to get ideas to help alleviate the strain on our family's budget. Thank you for your content! ❤

[@FinalFantasyVll]

My bf and I were on a crazy budget between jobs and before we could qualify for ebt. We ALWAYS dedicated a couple dollars to a treat, made it way easier. Made it feel like my budget was not a punishment

[@jessren1618]

Wow these are great looking meals on a budget! Thank goodness my family of 3 gets by month to month even as a nurse it’s tight but we also have our son in private Christian school and I have a long drive for work 2 days a week and work close to come the other 3. We get by but the last few years have been tight because inflation, extra medical bills, insurance increases, all the life things. I have just found your videos and love them and LOVE aldi! Lol

[@nancycarney]

I am always sharing your budget meals with young couples learning how to budget and feed the two or three of them. Thank you for all your videos.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks, Nancy. I hope they are helpful, that’s my goal. 😊

[@chrisharmon5453]

I love that you actually put enough s&p and other seasonings in 👏👏 I watch many other channels and appreciate them all but do get frustrated by the small amount of say pepper they use. As a former professional cook my herb cabinet is super important and I like how you stress it as important to make foods satisfying.

[@owensfolx]

I love you videos. My husband and I (empty nest) don't *need to budget too much-but I love the challenge. And I love to think of all of the good that we could do with the $, or ingredients, that we don't spend, or use. A lot of your content contains useful information on what items could go farthest, in being donated to a local food pantry!

[@kathleenmccandless7553]

I’ve never cooked pasta in the sauce before, so I am totally going to try that!!!

[@HarrisonMartin]

This video came to me at the right spot - I'm losing a roommate and may have to tighten up things for a while and this is actually a life saver

[@soothingsymphonies]

I love you so much Mindy, for reiterating that it's okay to have a treat even if you're struggling. That's something, unfortunately that you run into. People (or even yourself) making you think that just because you're broke, you're undeserving. I love that you do the opposite. You're sweet, Mindy, and man do we need good people and positive content in this world we live in today.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you so much, I appreciate the kind words and the encouragement.

[@rharvey2124]

Thank you for including the prices. Love the Aldi milk chocolate with hazelnut bars (really chock full of hazelnuts)and their white chocolate candy bars. They are $2.49 per bar.

[@joannaazar7396]

That’s amazing. I always buy expensive and way too much food and end up throwing it out. I’m trying to get better. Thanks for sharing ur tips. ❤ NewJersey ❤❤

[@kierstennall4662]

A huge money saver for us over time has been saving veggie scraps (not all-mainly onion, garlic, peppers, carrots, celery) and freezing them to make our own veggie broth! Can do with meats too!

[@GrandmaSandy]

Well, you’ve done an awesome job with this video and I don’t know how you did it but you did it. Hugs and kisses from grandma Sandy and Debbie huge huge tips on how to cook on a budget. Very small budget.

[@kdevall6682]

Enjoyed this video and the meal ideas. Love Aldi, shopped it while stationed in Germany and was thrilled when an Aldi came to our city. My mother always told my brother and I that when you need to tighten up the purse strings that the grocery budget is where you go. You have to pay rent/ mortgage, and utilities. I've taught this to my children as well.

[@sherrikent6628]

Love this, as I really don’t like eating a bunch of leftovers I have started freezing one cup and two cup containers to make my own TV dinners. I look forward to trying out the soup.

[@22lilacsky]

Thank you for being out here and helping those that may not be able to afford groceries. You truly help with many unique ideas to create meals on a budget or with no money at all and I think now is the time these videos are needed most!!! God bless and thank you !

[@pjb2773]

Those grilled cheese croutons are brilliant and I bet that soup would be just fine made with skimmed milk.

[@deborahpullen9940]

Just noticed you reached 150k subscribers. Big congratulations. Much deserved. Love your videos.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you very much!

[@myrabeth77]

I love this shopping list and meal plan! It's so versatile! This is so easy to scale up to fit our household's needs, and could very easily adapt for us. I'd adjust this shopping list from "All meals for 1 for a week" to "Dinners for a week for 3" in a snap: Switch out the gnocchi for a bag of potatoes. Double soup, carrots, and cheese in place of bananas and peanut butter. Buy a bag of broccoli florets. Switch celery for onion (and a bell pepper, if able). Switch out can of tuna for a couple of chicken breasts. Depending on sales, I should be able get it around $30. Dinner plan would be minor variants of the four entrees featured, with the addition of broccoli and cheese baked potatoes, a simple roasted potatoes, carrots, and chicken meal I make all the time, and a leftovers night. That's seven nights of dinners, and probably a couple of lunches.

[@KevinZ.000]

I had to budget my groceries a few years ago. I agree with your food haul, but as a pescatarian, I would be substituting the sausage with dried beans, rice and/or eggs. The pro tip that you mentioned is to build up your pantry with the essentials and spices is 100% accurate. Thankfully, I am a bit more comfortable in my budgeting, but if you looked at my current pantry, I could feed myself a week or more without being bored by the meals. The "protein" issue is more of a myth of disinformation (from the US food industry), if you truly research the vegan/vegetarian diet you can have a higher carbohydrate to protein ratio. Everyone if different, you need to know what work is best for you.

[@leahleverett9731]

I love her idea's videos like this have really helped my little family stay with-in on budget.

[@sierrapearson4618]

My treat is always brownies. I love them and you can get them for around $1.50 at most places.

[@SeeMindyMom]

My daughter’s fave is brownies!

[@cltinturkey]

I'm with you on the heavy pepper! It makes everything (except chocolate cake) taste better. Great ideas here. Thanks!

[@homeandgardendiy6363]

I also agree. However, this is a good time to share a funny story from when I was about 20 years old. I used to be of the opinion that you could never get too much pepper in what you're cooking. I was making several boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese all at once, and I added a bunch of pepper. When I started stirring, the overall color of the mac and cheese was kind of grayish. I remember thinking that that seemed like it might be a lot of pepper, but I'm sure I could eat it. When I finished cooking and sat down to try it, all I could taste was pepper. 🤣😃😲 So I'm here to tell you that you really can get too much pepper. 😁😂😉🙃 I ended up throwing the entire pot of mac and cheese away. But the lesson had been learned. 😋

[@michelleharris9581]

Best video showing how to use real food and cooking from scratch.

[@kristyh982]

If anyone deserves treats, everyone does 💕

[@ohdang8515]

That soup looks delicious. If someone were really pinching pennies and did not have the oil to sauté their onions, carrots and celery in they could brown the sausage first and then sauté the veg. Also, love your use of HALF the package of meat. So many folks just chuck the whole package of meat in the pan - especially when it is minced/ground - but for soups and stovetop style casseroles (rice or pasta bases with meats and sauces cooked on the hob, not in the oven) the meat and its flavor stretches much further than one would think. Healthier too! Great video!

[@kaylalyons96]

This is so awesome. I’m also a teacher, and while we have two incomes with my husband, I find myself still wanting to cut back on our budget wherever we can these days. Also, gives me recipe ideas because I’m a lost cause in the kitchen!

[@treasurespastnpresen]

One of my kids favorite snacks was celery with peanut butter or celery with pimento cheese. The also loved raw veggies with dip. Great meal ideas in the video!

[@nicholassmith9305]

I just grabbed a few meal plans from your site and I already feel so blessed! This is going to make my week so easy. Thank you, Mindy!

[@judlol5074]

Wonderful ideas! Sausace soup was my favoarite. I had never thought of adding milk and it was super satisfying...as well as cooking the pasta in the pot....such rishness of sauce. I purchased whole carrots and peeled them as well added zuchinni (on sale). What an amazing recipe. I am an old lady and ad never heard of using milk in the pasta.....so so amazing. THANK YOU!

[@whitsworld2016]

So thankful for your channel - I’ve been following for a while and practicing frugal tips you share and now find myself in a position of being laid off from my job of the last 4 years so these videos hit home a little differently.

[@suzannekurkowski8246]

I live in North Pole, alaska.. I used to live on the East Coast, I miss Aldi soooo much. Thanks for sharing your recipes.

[@julybailey2326]

You're the first person I've watched do a budget meal and it actually looks gourmet 😅 great job

[@gaydungan9688]

Just to let people know you don't have to refrigerate mustard. I don't have a/c it will stay good for a long time. Thanks for the info on the recipes. Love from Texas

[@genawalter401]

Your videos are amazing! I am going to share this particular one with my daughter who is newly married and on a tight budget. These meals could easily feed her and her spouse for several meals. Thank you for being so down to earth, real, kind and helpful. I appreciate the hard work you do to make these videos. 💓

[@sandrarleal19]

I used to LOVE celery with PB. I would add in raisins down the line so I can have one with each bite. Adding celery to my grocery haul for the week, since I already have PB and raisins 🤗

[@stacylynnmingo7965]

Wanted to add that I TOO love ur videos and enjoy watching the meals you make for your family. BALANCE is the key to almost EVERYTHING! You’re doing a great job!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you, Stacy, I appreciate that!

[@katierb]

I love this type of video, as someone who watches a lot of budget cooking videos but only has a household of two (me and my husband) I always make meals and end up with way too much that we get sick of it, or end up with leftover ingredients. It's inspiring to see a meal plan that uses ingredients in all different ways to stretch across snacks and several meals!

[@donnadkshad6213]

I love seeing how people cook budget friendly food.

[@saxahainerz4148]

I spend way too much on groceries and I'm starting to wonder how much we could actually use towards paying down debt instead of eating too much or wasting food. I just learned how to make dinner rolls for a fraction of the cost of store bought, bread is next. Then I think I'm going to try making homemade pasta. Thank you so much for all your amazing meal ideas!

[@stacybarker4749]

Thank you Mindy for all of your great ideas and hard work putting these videos together!

[@jedisnowy78]

Thank you so much for making these videos and being so thoughtful with them. You rock!

[@freefoodchef7939]

Like you, I am very much a fan of building a big collection of seasonings. I now have just about everything you could possibly imagine, they generally last a long time since a little goes a long way, and they making cooking with modest or basic ingredients so rewarding. Many of them can be cheaply attained -- check Dollar stores and the Hispanic food aisle, to begin with -- then you'll have more to spend on specialty seasonings, which often go on sale at the regular grocery store. With just a change in seasonings, I can use the same ingredients, but make a dish styled as Asian, Southwestern, Indian, French, Italian, Eastern European, Greek, regular ol' American, etc. I also recommend that people on a tight food budget visit a food bank for a good source of staple pantry items. There's no shame in it (although I admit I was initially embarrassed to go, but it's usually a nice environment because all the recipients are in the same boat), there's usually not an income requirement because someone's income does not always determine their spending ability, and they usually give out very generous amounts of rice, beans, pasta, lentils, split peas, powdered milk, canned goods, and often some fresh items like bread, meat, vegetables, dairy, eggs or whatever is available that month. I'm only a one-person household and over the course of several monthly food bank trips finally ran out of storage space for all my pantry items, so I haven't needed to go back for a long time. At any rate, if you have these basics covered by food banks, that $20 or whatever you have for a week's groceries can go a lot further and provide a lot more variety. I eat so well this way on my basic grocery budget that I can't imagine doing it any other way even if I had more money!

[@debbies6192]

Green beans and peas are usually my go to proteins. I like your recipes. Thank you.

[@umchewy]

Thank you for doing a budget meal without beans! No one in my family eats them, so it’s good to have more options

[@millenieelggren3860]

I have notice my self if I don't get out of the house and do something else but being outside makes the day go by so much faster even if you go and look at things that you don't need. But yes I agree treat your self if you can. 😀

[@marylooksfineonadime]

Great video!! I love the way you utilize the same ingredients over a couple of different meals!! Also, super smart thinking grabbing the Italian sausage since it's (as you said) already seasoned.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@dmmrad54]

Very good ideas for one person. I am a senior by myself. These recipes are helpful. Thanks

[@jenmv3483]

I like that you add vegetables to every meal 😊

[@donnadkshad6213]

Dollar Tree, Dollar General, family Dollar and so on are great places to pick up some spices.

[@BelindaCressy]

An easy meal for me is tomato soup with a can of milk, some grated cheese, and cooked noodles. I like to break up the noodles (a small handful) and add garlic powder. Delicious and filling.

[@AshiyaWhitley-ShawVeganAthlete]

I’ve been in a tough spot, and still shop/budget as though I am. I made a massive pot of lentil chili(which I split between my adult daughter, my 4 siblings and myself). I also made a large pot of Lima beans and rice with veggies. The total was right around $15, and lasted for a week. Satiating, macro filled meals for many people for the low.😆

[@yvonne5322]

100% Agree with the luxury item. it really does give you a bit of cheer up

[@gt7473c]

Great video! I have some celery in my fridge and now I’m craving celery and peanut butter! Maybe I’ll even find some raisins to make it the full ants on a log 😂

[@SeeMindyMom]

Yes! Brick still asks for that snack sometimes.

[@briannehill7583]

Your Aldi has some amazing prices! Very impressive. Things aren't quite as reasonable here. Even at walmart. Its nice to see some stores still offering some good deals. And I love cheap meal ideas so thank you!!

[@susanmolnar9606]

Mindy thanks for your ideas. As a party of one these dishes will come in handy.

[@serahchava8469]

The only one that makes and bought nutrious meals

[@johnranachan1604]

Hey from Bulgaria. Soup makes a really good budget meal, and if bulked out with lentils and rice, it goes even further

[@coleniyo2719]

Wow! Your Aldi’s prices are so much cheaper than the Aldi in my area. Great video! I love your budget recipe ideas.

[@mposey-yy8il]

Grilled peanut butter, banana and cinnamon in a tortilla...ate that for 6 months...so good!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

How does this travel? Meaning, could you pack it in a kids lunch? Bring it to work for a mid-morning or an afternoon snack?

[@unouluvem95]

I think I'm going to try that soup. It looked delicious! I'm currently finishing an extended very cold weekend of hunting in northern MN. I wish I could have a bowl right now.

[@SeeMindyMom]

The soup was REALLY good. It didn’t look exactly how I hoped it would turn out, but it tasted so good! Which is more important, I suppose. 😂

[@amandapennell5014]

I am so so envious of the grocery prices there!! Love the recipes!

[@4evrandaday598]

adding rice to hamburger helper or other types like casseroles makes it go further, more filling too

[@alexlecute]

The fact that you got all of that for 21$ is just stunning...from where I am from I don't think i can find anything at the groxerie store for less than 4$. What you have there is an easy 70$

[@lifeWithAarynLynn]

Absolutely amazing video! I love these videos not only for the budget meals, but also to help me re-create other dishes from my prepper pantry!

[@meganseeley3484]

Just made the sausage and gnocchi soup and I think it’s the most delicious soup I’ve ever made. This will be a staple budgeting or not!

[@peggywalker2103]

HI Mindy, This was a really great playlist of receipes for a week. I live in Australia, so wanted to price comparison what you paid in 2022, to now in Aus in 2024. My total came to $39.75 AUD including tax. The only 2 things I changed re your shop was, I don't like peanut butter so swapped this out for Apricot Jam, and instead of the bananas, I bought a bag of apples to last a week :) Would love more of your extreme budget cooking for a week videos :)