New Extreme Grocery Budget Challenge | Walmart Extreme Grocery Budget Challenge

If you’re wondering how to save money on food in 2022 this is the extreme grocery budget challenge is for you. I shopped at Walmart and spent fifty dollars for 84 meals for my family of 5. I will show you how I meal planned and what I shopped for as well as the recipes. You can eat well on a budget!
Grocery Prices:
Chicken Drumsticks 3.32 each
Apples 1.99
Bananas 2.50
Garlic .43
Green onions .88
Potatoes 2.97
Sweet Potato .28
Onions 1.02
Black Beans .72
Corn .54
Milk 3.49
Tomatoes .92
Cheese 1.86
Taco Shells 1.76
Frozen turkey 2.20
Cream of CHiekcn soup 1.16 each
Salsa 1.56
Mixed veg 2.22
Baking mix 2.50
Syrup 1.48
Sour cream .74
Rice .76
Eggs 8
Bread .93
Beans 1
Breakfasts:
Apple cinnamon muffins
recipeland.com...
Hard boiled eggs
French toast sticks
www.foodnetwor...
Egg and potato bowls
Lunches:
Egg in a hole
Egg salad sandwich
Chicken
Chicken salad
Chicken and rice soup
Pinto bean soup
Snacks:
Bananas
Meal plan:
Dinner 1: breakfast for dinner
Dinner 2: chicken and dumplings www.bettycrock...
littlesunnykit...
Dinner 3:burrito bowls
Taco Seasoning Recipe:www.allrecipes...
Dinner 4: Chicken and Rice Soup w. Biscuits
Biscuits recipe:
www.bettycrock...
Broth recipe: delishably.com...
Dinner 5: pinto bean soup w/ biscuits
elavegan.com/p...
Pinto beans: kristineskitch...
Stove Top Pinto Beans:
www.isabeleats...
Dinner 6: Tacos
Dinner 7:
Chix pot pie
www.bettycrock...
Ben:
Sweet potato
Chicken cakes
Black beans
Pinto beans
Affiliate Links:
Muffin Cups: amzn.to/3JoeTG5
Rose Gold with garlic press: amzn.to/3JgqW9e
Rose gold measuring cups: www.amazon.com...
White Mixing Bowls: www.amazon.com...
Gold Kitchen Tools and White Measuring Spoons: www.amazon.com...
Similar Kitchen-aid Pot's and Pans set: www.amazon.com...
Pyrex Cup Measures: www.amazon.com...
Small Pink Spatula (comes in a set):www.amazon.com...
Music: www.epidemicso...
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Instagram: / meals.with.maria
Pinterest: / mronansahm
Facebook: m.facebook.com...
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mealswithmaria
You can email me for collabs at:
[e-mail]
Thank you for your support!
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My videos are for entertainment purposes only. Any information related to food, food safety, cooking, recipes, etc. are my opinions only. Maria Ronan is not liable and/or responsible for any advice, services, or product you obtain through this video.

[@LifePrepared]

My grandma raised 14 kids during the depression. She always had soup in the stove that was served before lunch and dinner. She later told me when I was a young mother struggling why she served it before meals. It allowed her to feed her family smaller portions of the more expensive foods.

[@MealsWithMaria]

That’s smart thinking! There are some great lessons to take from those who already lived during tougher times.

[@hopebeen8113]

Yes , my grandmother always made “ pot luck “ meals that would stretch for days . Result from growing up in the depression 😔. I wish there were recipes , I feel like she just knew how much of everything to put in by memory , I didn’t inherit that skill lol

[@laurent3415]

@@hopebeen8113 My great grandmother told me she had no recipes from the depression because there was never a guarantee to have the same ingredients.

[@dalia5357]

Your grandmas smart!!

[@PurpleRose8725]

That's brilliant.

[@NanaPapa123]

I seriously wish that anyone needing food assistance would be encouraged to watch your channel! You have a kind and helpful way of breaking things down and sharing. Well done! :-)

[@MealsWithMaria]

🙏 I love helping

[@carissamitchell8071]

do not worry we do...

[@daniellewebster2150]

I love these videos from you. My budget is $100 a week for a family of 5 me plus kids ages 10,7,5,3 but I often go over. But I try some weeks to spend $50 and save the other $50 towards camping and vacation this summer. Your videos give me more hope every time I watch them. Because I know I can feed my kids filling meals. I hope you continue to post more videos like this. My problem is getting creative with meals and coming up with what to eat. My pantry is pretty stocked but I never can put a meal together it’s like my mind goes blank.

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀 I love making these and I’m glad they are helpful!!

[@aspenram3885]

Try making yourself a menu! And add a lazy night section, I find it helpful for those really braindead days. :)

[@amiegamble1678]

Figure out recipes that your family likes. Simple ones that can be done every or every other week. You can also have themed days if that works for you. (Ex. Meatless Mon, Taco Tue, Pasta day, leftovers day. Family night can be a movie night at home w pizza or finger foods. Etc)

[@bethenecampbell6463]

My paternal grandmother always cooked from a recipe so she knew how many portions she had. She was cooking for her elderly parents, her husband, two little boys and her teenage niece and nephew. A full house for sure! They had a garden, chickens and a cow so weren't in danger of starving. Even with recipes grandma had to be creative as she didn't always have every ingredient during the Depression or WWII rationing. Creative substitutions were the norm.

[@Suzy12678]

Love this! Do another for sure. $50-75 is totally awesome

[@MealsWithMaria]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@WilletteB]

You rocked this video, Maria. I enjoyed watching you stretch your food dollars. Your children are so cute. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you!

[@kateymateymusic1]

It's so good to see people showing everyone how to stretch a meal.

[@MealsWithMaria]

I love it!

[@doctork1708]

Gentle, kind, sincere and practical woman.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw bless you ❤️🥰

[@debrahall6015]

Im 63 yrs old,but still have to budget,just for myself.ILOVE YOU!!! And just read the story of you GMa,how fab!Debi.Am an infant teacher for tbeYMCA,19yrs in,loveDebi

[@MealsWithMaria]

❤️❤️❤️

[@debrahall6015]

@@MealsWithMaria you are the best,a sweet pea,debi

[@rachelresets]

My grandma calls those Toad In a Hole 😊 Thanks for the meal ideas - they're really helpful for my husband and I 🥰

[@MealsWithMaria]

Love it! You’re welcome!

[@rebeccacook4252]

My Mom calls it Toad in the Hole also 😁

[@Jayla-dj2gj]

So motivating. These are the life skills we need and we need to teach them to our kids too. Your husband is lucky

[@MealsWithMaria]

Haha I’ll have to tell him you said that 😉 and I’m glad this is motivating! I think eating within a budget can actually be very fun and satisfying 😀

[@TheRumbleBunny]

Dividing the items into portions for the week is a great idea! Thanks.

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome!

[@leem200]

Love children and its ok to have him chattering in the background. I love it to be honest. Great ideas and video. Love the food ideas. Your boys are cute. I had four boys.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw 4 boys how special!

[@jimkrauscreative60]

Maria - Watching these videos makes me grateful for what I have and gives me hope that thanks to you, more people can eat healthy on limited funds. What a great gift you are giving us!

[@kayla9620]

U have such an intoxicating smile and positive attitude 🥺

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw! Thank you so much Kayla!

[@tcctocrazytccarson7309]

Another way to stretch parts of your chicken, is to remove the skin before cooking. Place it on a cookie sheet and back @ at least 350° until the skin is golden brown. You can cook with the 'smultz' or oil and utilize the crispy skin as you would use bacon. You can even make a Chicken Skin Lettuce & Tomato sandwich. You can even crisp up the skin after cooking the chicken 😁

[@MealsWithMaria]

I love this! I take the Turkey skin at thanksgiving and bake a crispy hash with it 😍 so delicious

[@hazelwilson7825]

Oh my goodness, chicken skin lettuce & tomato sandwich 🤮

[@carissamitchell8071]

@@hazelwilson7825 ithink that would be great lol

[@kerrywm]

@@hazelwilson7825 “don’t yuck someone else’s yum.”

[@sweetiepie5634]

This was awesome, I may have to try some of these recipes myself. Thank you so much for making it simple to understand. Please make more videos like this one. It is so important these days to learn how to stretch a dollar in the kitchen. Your recipes looked delicious.

[@helenshack2838]

Maria , Why not already add extra water and a few diced carrots , celery and onions along with those drumsticks All you need is some seasoning and you will already have a nice chicken soup at the same time. Some cooked noodles or rice cooked separately can be added to your soup afterwards for an extra wonderful free meal. Kids will love it. Also a chicken shepherds pie will also be a good meal. Mashed potatoes on top instead of the bisquick mix would be a nice change for your dinner

[@MealsWithMaria]

Love both those ideas!!!

[@cherylmarrantclmfarm8264]

Always save all your chicken extras (bones, skins) and onion peels and celery pieces. Freeze till u are ready to use. Put in your instant pot and fill with water to make your own chicken broth.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Absolutely!!

[@rachelhero3413]

With 2 eggs and 2 cups of flour you can make drop dumplings to add to boiling broth and it’s a cheap great soup too

[@taragoerdt6007]

@@MealsWithMaria and when doing the bone broth, If you add about 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar it pulls the marrow out from the bones. The marrow is what really males the bone broth healthy and to the next level. It comes out the best when you run it though the IP at least twice for 2 hours each. Amazing and so healthy.

[@brandieschmiesing3356]

I so appreciate how you share your list with prices AND the meal plan in the description. It’s so helpful and easy to follow along. Thank you! 😁🙌🏽

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome! I need to write it out to stay organized anyway 🤪

[@johnhazlett3711]

The egg fried in the hole of a slice of bread, we used to call one eyed Jack's where I grew up in the 60s and 70s in California.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Love that name!

[@suzannecuerrier279]

I like how you start your video with the food insecurity and food bank donation encouragement. Thanks

[@jgodwin717]

Nailed it and quite healthy!!! Food is ridiculously expensive here in Mississippi. They charge sales tax, and food is 30% more expensive here than Dallas (where I'm from) Holy cow! 50% more, and the wages here are MUCH lower. Pressure cooking chicken is my favorite now, and making the stock/bone broth tastes amazing. $5 of chicken makes 10-15 servings, plus you get $5 of stock out of it. Win win!

[@MealsWithMaria]

🙏I wish you luck finding good food and prices!

[@elisemwrightphotography8286]

@@breezybre2670 I agree. 7.25% plus 2% county and .5% city taxes make it a whopping 9.75% on groceries here in Tennessee.

[@CarFreeKC]

Aww the little ughhhh the baby let out after coughing. Felt that in my soul. Broke my ribs last week... every time I sneeze, cough, walk, sit, basically blink... I follow it with that pitiful ughhhh. ha! Hope you're both on the mend!

[@MealsWithMaria]

I’m so sorry! Feel better soon!

[@MariaVargas-ed4xt]

Awww my heart when I heard your baby coughing!💕😭 Its so hard to have sick babies and be sick yourself. Praying for quick healing for you and family! Love your videos btw!! So helpful and so relatable 💕

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you! We are feeling much better now 💕

[@MariaVargas-ed4xt]

@@MealsWithMaria good to hear!!💕🙏

[@kristyb5821]

This an awesome video! I have everything besides the apples and bananas on hand but it’s grocery shopping day so fresh produce is a bit low. This might be our meal plan for the week because why not? I love the breakfast bowls, I need those in my life. I have a problem with not being hungry in the morning but by the time I get to work I’m starving. Those breakfast bowls would be nice to eat breakfast at my desk. I have a feeling tomorrow will be spent meal prepping some breakfasts. Thanks Maria!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yah! That would be awesome! Enjoy!

[@ThorneyRose]

That chicken pot pie looks awesome!!! I’m going to give it a go! I want to say, that back in the day, I had 2 girls and 4 boys at home. They did eat but I kinda had to coerce them to sit at the table to eat. ( They had more important things to do… like playing and tormenting each other🤣). Then puberty happened. And they didn’t stop eating! I’d be interested to see in the future the difference in budget requirements to feed your boys as they get older. If YouTubing is still a thing and you’re still doing it then! Thank you for sharing.

[@allyrooh3628]

I know you worked hard on this video! Thanks for sharing your yummy ideas with us. You would never guess it was a budget challenge from the recipes you cooked!

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀 thank you!

[@kmanarabrown3259]

Oh man I loved the exchange between the brothers. Sooooo cute!

[@brendarobertson7206]

I would love to see your little son even if he is sick. He is so lucky to have a great and efficient mom like you. My son loved yellow beans like the green ones only yellow from the can totally soft and non chokeable and peeled grapes quartered, I think at 4 or 5 months old.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Those are great baby food ideas! I show him in a lot of other videos! I didn’t realize he didn’t show up in this one 🤦‍♀️

[@erika.m814]

Another great video, Maria! I LOVE soup! I could eat it everyday. 🍲 Fire roasted tomatoes are such a step up to regular canned tomatoes. Sooo good!

[@MealsWithMaria]

They are the best!!

[@barbforbis1260]

Such a great video. I’m always looking for budget meal planning especially nowadays. Your meals are always delicious and we usually have the ingredients on hand. Thank you again for sharing.

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoy the video!

[@helenshack2838]

Omg your kids are sooo clever. You have a great team of food critics right in your house. God bless them

[@MealsWithMaria]

They are the best!

[@liztorres7291]

I enjoyed watching you share how to stretch your food meals for leftovers or a way to repurpose into another meal. Thank you, it sure does help me so I find a way to spend less while I'm grocery shopping. Prices are high and makes me a littl stress. More meals please 🥺

[@MealsWithMaria]

Absolutely! So glad this video could help! More to come!

[@ThorneyRose]

Oh, and good on you for giving food banks a shout out! They need all the help they can get.

[@bobkatbudgetcreations05]

I love watching your videos!! That is such a great idea to separate the baking mix and labeling the bags! Your recipes are so inspiring!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw thank you!

[@2Beldam]

Loved the smart shopping and meal challenge but my favorite part was your baby!! 😍All Those sweet baby noises ❤️🥰 they melted my heart! Adorable. So sorry you were both sick.

[@gemmamurray9817]

The kid's wee plates that stand up tacos are amazing! I live in the UK and have never seen something like that before!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw I got them at Aldi a while back!

[@wheatie83]

I've made that chicken and dumplings recipe before - almost forgotten about it. It's tasty for sure. Thanks for the reminder

[@MealsWithMaria]

You got it!

[@candytynes3784]

Thanks for the video!! Love the weekly family of 4 ideas!! Please keep them coming!!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Will do!

[@lorriebell7997]

These are great ideas, foods I would definitely make. I love the idea of pre portioning.

[@MealsWithMaria]

😁 so glad!

[@dovesarygray8076]

The egg fried inside the bread we always called chicken in a basket. It's one of my kid's favorite now.

[@MealsWithMaria]

I love that!

[@marianamunoz6075]

More videos like this please! Love it!!!

[@Leelee...]

Watching these recipe vids is So relaxing.😌

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw yay!

[@rhiahlMT]

You can make your own baking mix. Although, I'd buy powdered shortening for it to make it more shelf stable. This uses Crisco. This could easily be cut in half. Baking mix 8 cups of flour 1 ½ c. powdered milk ¼ cup baking powder One and half cups of Crisco Combine and cut in like a pie crust, pea size. Use with any Bisquick recipe

[@MealsWithMaria]

So cool!

[@ericaparsons8354]

Love these ideas! Thanks so much! I like to make biscuits with cookie cutters. My kids think it's so cool to have fun shaped biscuits. 🤪🤷🏼‍♀️❤️

[@MealsWithMaria]

Cute idea! I’ll need to try that!!

[@woolgathered]

Hey Maria! Thanks again for such a great video, you are truly awesome!! I went back to college and have 15 months before I start my new job. I was worrying about my expenses and being able to get through the last 3 semesters but videos like yours are SO helpful!!

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome! I’m so glad this is helpful!

[@bobbettenacco1012]

All those meals looked so good!!! Thanks for a delicious budget week.

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome!!

[@lisaremy4817]

Fantastic meal ideas! Great job Maria.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you!

[@MidevilExcalibur]

Thank you for stating drop food to food pantys. Our extras, our extra giving, church requests, and blessing boxes as emergency food drop offs, and I'd like to add have your community support meals on wheels to help seniors and homebound health issues.

[@coralcampbell2174]

I’m very happy I found your channel. I love your recipes my think you’re really a beautiful person inside out♥️

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw thank you! I’m so glad you’re here!

[@susanbrucks58]

While pork loin, such a deal! Meals for days!

[@jeanniewright2554]

Some wonderfully innovative meals that anyone would be happy to eat!

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀

[@sarahspencer3737]

Just found you and before the video was half over I subscribed.. glad I found you

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yay! I’m so glad you are here!!!

[@tokyoneko23]

Love watching these kind of videos and they have such good ideas. I look at all the ingredients in these videos I cant eat. It's harder to do this kind of eating when ur diabetic. Cant have rice, flour, bread, sugar etc. But really good budgeting 😁

[@MealsWithMaria]

That is so tough! I’m sure you are creative with it and have alternatives 💕

[@MrsJJW]

Eggs in a basket. Never heard of this until my husband made it for our daughters randomly one day!

[@aschwa710]

Here we are 9 months later- I price checked everything in my Walmart app and it’s $75 for these items now 😐 please keep making your videos and more and more of us are looking to save anywhere we can!!

[@PhenomenallyFlyDiva4]

Girl! Oh, yes ma’am. Thank you for sharing. Blessed be!🙏🏽

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome!!

[@KewlShannon]

Great idea's! Great video!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you!

[@1957jmhiser1]

We had very little good growing up, mostly what grandma and grandpa had for their dinner, my mom would take us down to eat as we lived a few houses from them. I don't know how we didn't starve, actually, free school lunches were our food, but I don't remember being hungry, I drank a lot of water.

[@katrichards3890]

Your little boys are so cute! “Don’t listen to him. It’s basically a 100!” 🤣🤣

[@MealsWithMaria]

🤣🤣

[@kristinanoall]

Ugh, and I just paid TWENTY dollars for that Walmart package of 60 eggs! 😫 The world must be ending! 😂 Great video, thanks for all your efforts!! And I love hearing your sweet little guy. ❤

[@Back-handedLuck-ul7ms]

I just looked it up and they want $16.00! Next I plan to look up the price of chickens. (There must be 3 - 4 houses in my neighborhood that have recently gotten them. I don't plan on getting them because I have other animals) I wonder where it will stop.

[@lisaneff3706]

Good job for a young mother, you have alot of good ideas!!!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw thanks so much!

[@mommam.6101]

I’d like to add a can of diced tomatoes or stewed tomatoes and some frozen okra to my chicken and rice soup. Have you heard of Bisquick impossible pie recipes? If I remember right you just take Bisquick, milk, egg, etc. and blend it in a blender. Then you can pour it over anything like diced cooked bacon, ham, cheese, veggies and it comes out almost like a quiche. Any ingredients work. Plus they had a desert recipe that called for coconut I think, and Weight Watchers used to have one that was similar that turned out like pumpkin pie. They don’t have a crust but it does form a kind of crust on top. I’m sure you could search for it if you don’t have it

[@MealsWithMaria]

I have heard of those! I need to check that!

[@kathleenritter4532]

Loved this video. Great job. Right now getting creative and just having ideas is so nice. Not sure about others but I'm in a rut with menu planning. I look forward to upcoming videos. Thank you 😊

[@MealsWithMaria]

I use KZbin for a lot of my meal inspiration! So thankful for this community!

[@kathleenritter4532]

@@MealsWithMaria - me too. So thankful for all you brave people willing to do videos.

[@marjoriebouwens6000]

I don't enjoy regular soup. But watching your video I thought that adding flour/water mix to make a gravy like stew or make a roux to start and make a cream soup that would also be delicious. I guess your saying that you can use what you have made me think of those ideas. This is the first of your videos I have seen but I will definitely watch more and subscribe. Your boys are so sweet. Thanks for all of your hard work.

[@MealsWithMaria]

I’m so glad you’re here!!! I think the soup idea is excellent! So glad you liked the video 🙏

[@elizabethm2408]

I love watching your videos. I love all the budget challenges and not only does it help save money but I get great ideas from you that I would never think of myself. I love them all but I would love to see some Dollar Tree Budget challenges now that the price has gone up.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yes, I’ve been meaning to do some dollar tree dinners that are still a good deal.

[@kathibarrington4327]

Great Job! I am making the bean soup for my dinner tomorrow.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Enjoy!!!

[@Droppedonmyhead1]

Your video was awesome! You had so many great ideas.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@meluvs2read]

As a widow I would love to see small meals for breakfast, lunch and supper for a week. I don't have room in a freezer to hold leftovers.

[@MealsWithMaria]

I think meals for one is next!

[@cathywhisenhunt9860]

I like that idea also. I am not a very good cook. Plus with my Epilepsy I worry I might have problems in the middle of cooking something. I like the idea of the breakfast bowls now need something like a super bowl.

[@joycepedercini3841]

Your boys are delightful!!!

[@MealsWithMaria]

🥰thank you!

[@rachelsfamilytable697]

Toad in a hole are one of my faves! Thanks for sharing. Great video 🧡

[@MealsWithMaria]

Love that one!!! You’re welcome!

[@gigismart4347]

Excellent video. Love all these ideas. Shows we can still eat well on a budget.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Absolutely!!

[@earlenebrown7181]

A lot of good choices for the 50 dollars. Enjoyed this video , good food and great bang for the buck.

[@MealsWithMaria]

So glad!

[@katiewilliams6238]

This was terrific!

[@Holly-ys1me]

Thank you. I live alone and I have a small grocery budget of $10 a week. I do not qualify for food assistance as I do Not have utility bills. I watch budget videos on KZbin to get ideas on stretching my grocery budget.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Holly! You’re a rockstar living off that small budget! Way to go! I’ve been trying to do a $10 for one vide but it’s soooo hard! Maybe you can give me some tips!

[@Holly-ys1me]

Here are some of the items that I use for my budget meals. Think about going to an Asian or Mexican grocery store for low cost meals. #1 Knorr makes dried soup pouches called SOPA. They are low cost and you can add other ingredients. I keep extra in my pantry. Each SOPA pouch makes about 4 cups of soup. #2 LaModerna pasta is sold in 7 ounce packages at many Walmart locations. They were 24 cents each but recently went up to 38 cents. There are other brands like Goya and Iberia which are also low cost. Let's put the pasta into prospective. The name brand of fideo (small cut spaghetti pieces) is $3.99 for an 8 ounce cardboard box. It is made in China. The box itself weighs a little over an ounce. So it actually has 7 ounces of noodles. The Pasta from the Mexican section at Walmart are a low weight plastic package so you still get 7 ounces of it. The Mexican brands are either made in Mexico or the USA. Think Goya, Iberia and LaModerna. Cardboard absorbs moisture so the name brand pasta is exposed to it. Sometimes the cardboard boxes of pasta are exposed to chemicals. There is usually a glued in film window on the expensive pasta boxes so they are exposed to glue from it. And bugs can easily crawl in through the folds of the cardboard boxes. The cheaper pasta is better protected from moisture, chemicals, glue and bugs with it's sealed plastic pouch package. You also save money by getting the cheaper pasta. But most people would rather pay for the name brand pasta which is made in China in the cardboard boxes. Me, I would rather buy the cheap made in either the US or Mexico. #3 You can use tomato paste and add water with spices to make your own pasta sauce. #4 Menard's Hardware Store sells low cost groceries and has there own rebate program. You can go to the hardware store and buy groceries. Then you can go back and use the rebates for free groceries. #5 Buy meat on clearance and divide it up into smaller portions then freeze it. #6 One jar of 25 count boullion cubes can make 25 single servings of soup. Add other ingredients to it for variety and make your own soup. #7 You can use low cost dough mix pouches to make more than the item listed on the package. Pizza crust mix can be used to make hot pocket type sandwiches or bread sticks or pretzels as well as other things. You can top a can of chunky soup with biscuits made from a dough mix pouch for a pot pie casserole. #8 Collect those fast food condiment packets so you do not waste money on buying and storing them in the refrigerator. #9 If you eat meat, Keep canned meat as a pantry backup. I buy the 5 ounce cans that are around $1 each although inflation is bringing the price up to $1.25. #10 Create a flexible meal plan. Mine is meat, sauce, vegetable and grain. I can go to my pantry and pick a grain then add a sauce and dehydrated vegetables and canned meat to put together a meal without having to put too much work into it. I have fresh fruit on the trees here but I supplement with canned from the store during winter.

[@OrlaQuirk]

@@Holly-ys1me Thank you for those great tips! Good luck and God bless you.

[@CanadianQueen.]

A tip I learned when cutting the dough for biscuit don’t twist the cup or cutter as that closes them off and will raise more if u don’t twist. :)

[@MealsWithMaria]

Interesting! Thank you!

[@pigletsbank437]

Wow you have been working hard for us, thanks for the inspirational recepies 😍

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome!

[@kelliking4449]

Great job Maria🌸

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you!

[@karenwarsaw8511]

neat recipes I enjoyed seeing your children too.

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀

[@kathytappero7179]

Appreciate all your work on our behalf. Thanks for the ideas!

[@pamfrey6785]

Such a fun and informative video

[@MealsWithMaria]

Glad you like it!

[@debimorsette1685]

Great recipes! I really joy your simple yet tastey and frugal recipes. Debi in Vicksburg, MS. 🥰🥰

[@amyclark9581]

I made up shredded chicken and used the broth to make chicken gravy and we had it over rice, it was really good and stretched for us.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yum! Great meal to make with this!

[@melissan9199]

Great ideas and job!!!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you Melissa!

[@rebeccacook4252]

Great budget meal plan! I subscribed to your channel and followed you on Pinterest too, btw. 😊

[@Sara-mg3iw]

I love this video!!! I love your style of cooking in it, it is similar to how I cook meals too.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw thank you!

[@gloriapeel1749]

Awesome meals !

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you Gloria!

[@Byronswife]

Love your video and shared on facebook😻

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw thank you!!

[@samanthaschaffer1214]

maria i love your videos your so inspiring!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw thank you!!!

[@CanadianQueen.]

Love your videos thanks u. My tip is save your apple cores and skins and make apple jelly :)

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yummm great tip!!

[@angelacowperthwaite984]

great video thanks for the ideas on how to save money on food how about a 40.00 2 person meal plan? would appreciate it thanks so much!

[@jillgott6567]

One of the best challenges ! Your menu was varied, had lots of leftovers and looked delicious 😋 - I like how the boys voted. Why not include a family vote for each recipe in a challenge based on categories such as 1-5 Taste, Y or no Make it Again That would be fun to see you, the kids and your husband voting

[@MealsWithMaria]

We love voting! I’ll try it!

[@jillgott6567]

Oh good that will be so much fun !

[@SuperLovelessgirl]

Great video with a lot of nice looking dishes. I haven't had tacos or taco bowls in awhile definitely gotta put that on my meal list for the future 😋. Hmm I'd like some budget meals for one since I cook mostly for myself these days please and thank you 🖤👍🏾

[@MealsWithMaria]

That’s a good idea to do some for one!

[@kriistiina111590]

What a great video! Thank you for your hard work and the creativity in this menu great job.

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@floralbouquets]

Scrub those potatoes good and save the peels. Deep fry and add cheese. Bacon bits and sour cream. Potato skins! Great side for dinner or lunch.

[@sherrylg2006]

Love your budget videos!

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀

[@jamiecee4960]

Gotta have cinnamon for french toast. 😁 Those muffins looks so yummy. Pinto bean soup? Sounds so good. Or boil the chicken on the stove. Love my pressure cooker. Eggs in a nest. What we use to call it. Burrito bowl looked really yummy. Cute your cat wanted chicken soup. 😁😆 Want to try a few of these. Specially chicken pie.

[@MealsWithMaria]

So glad you liked all the recipes!

[@frugalcampermama]

Such a great video, as always! All the meals looked delish and I love how the boys are always so willing to eat anything you give them. I’d love to see if a $10 one person one week is still possible especially with some variety.

[@MealsWithMaria]

So glad you like it! Seems like a $10 for one is the most requested!

[@GracefullyPlanned]

I wish my kids would eat anything I'd give them!

[@robinchapman252]

When you were talking about what you could do with the rest of the chicken, I remembered something I use to make for my young family that was a. Dollar stretcher, I would make chicken and gravy over biscuits or sausage and gravy over biscuits, even browned ground beef adding a half cup of mixed veg. I think I'll make something like this for my husband and I this week. Great video by the way.

[@evelyngarcia8015]

Loving your videos

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you!