EXTREME BUDGET FAMILY MEALS for a WEEK // CHEAP & EASY RECIPES for BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

[@alissssay]

I have to admit I’m a bit of an over spender on groceries, food insecurity as a kid led to a bit of hoarding food as an adult. You’re videos really help me put into perspective all the things I can do without spending enormous amounts. It’s so realistic and creative. Thanks!!

[@amberebersole2637]

I struggle with overspending too. I’m really trying to reign it in.

[@bethanyleonalemleykottonqu7570]

Alissssay i understand sane here

[@michlalala]

I felt this!!

[@hollymiller1253]

Same here

[@chelsiemilstead7329]

I totally understand what you mean!! I had quite a rough childhood growing up so I overstock my kitchen for my two girls. I want them to smile everytime I open the cabinets lol.

[@kaetillery1619]

If you buy plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream, you can use it on the tacos in replace of sour cream AND use it as a breakfast option :)

[@luveliluveli8066]

It taste similar ?

[@kaetillery1619]

@@luveliluveli8066 yes! almost identical :)

[@jessicavazquez8299]

@@luveliluveli8066 it seriously tastes exactly like sour cream when you use it on tacos! I was baffled when I tried it lol.

[@stefan3225]

Chobani used to package their Greek yogurt in a squeezable tube for this reason! It’s better than sour cream!

[@amandacurtis7245]

Also, you can make yogurt by buying a single serve plain yogurt package and a gallon of milk and cook the milk to 180 degrees then let it cool to 115-120 degrees then temper the single serve (add it to a little of the warm milk before adding the mixture into the warm milk). then keep the milk warm to culture. If you have an instant pot just use the yogurt setting. If you have a crock pot, wrap the warm unplugged crock pot machine in a few layers of towels and let sit overnight. I then strain with a cheesecloth and colander and a bowl underneath to catch the whey to make it more like Greek yogurt which is more of the sour cream consistency. This makes 2-3 of the big yogurt containers you can get in the store for the price of one gallon of milk and a single serve plain yogurt. You can use 1/4 cup of the yogurt you make for the next batch.

[@VideosofIan]

"Variety is a luxury." - Yes! I often have to remind myself (and my kids) that we sometimes have to eat what we *have*, not what we want.

[@AZURRTIME]

I think thats why you should only have kids when you can produce enough money to eat what you "want" not what you "have."

[@Myhomeeating]

@@AZURRTIME I admit I spoil my family. Last night I spent 390 & that's lasting a few days. I mean I guess I didn't need the scallops, but hey. Food is one of the ways I show my love. My husband would thank me for the snack if I brought him ramen 🤣😂

[@AZURRTIME]

@@Myhomeeating thats true love, and thats how life should be, i'm happy for your family to have you. I say that as a venezuelan who eats only once a day and pretty much nothing, i think not everybody should have kids. Just responsible and smart people.

[@chelsiemilstead7329]

Absolutely see where you’re coming from. But if we ate everything we wanted to eat, we wouldn’t be very healthy people. I think people who don’t have kids, really don’t know much about what it takes to raise them.

[@AZURRTIME]

@@chelsiemilstead7329 when i say everything i dont realy mean to eat junk, i would like to eat a lot of things that are healthy, I think people who arent emotionally stable, financially stable, as i wrote up there, shouldn't have kids. People who are poor eats even less healthier cos they dont have access to proper nutrition food, thats what i mean with "be able to eat everything you want to"

[@nl212ep]

Watching this video in June of 2023. Man prices have gone up. This is still very valid and helpful though. Inflation stinks.

[@Diaryofaqueen777]

This has helped a lot. It’s 5 of us. A mom of 3. My partner and I are budgeting to save for our home. We spend way too much on food and I’m over it. I’m tired of going broke and having no food left over. Food is so expensive.

[@tiffanebull1944]

hi me too im mom of 3 im on budget on foods but my food stamp is engough but i have split on foods i can buy mostly vegetables meats and foods for only kids. i not expected kids are not easy clothes schools and doctors also for their futures. i will like to kove to different state possible in florida for my future i dont know yet im very strongly believe in jesus christ. i want to say graetful to god and jesus christ for get md free clothes from house because im cant afford clothes for myself because i have to order clothes for my 3 kids are come first. i only have 1 pair of shoe and 5 boots that what i have... from tiffane bull im deaf

[@amyann47]

Agree!!

[@potluck712]

Girl you should watch some gardening channels if you have a yard or balcony addition to an apartment that gets a large amount of sunlight. You can grow A LOT of your own produce!!!

[@happycook6737]

Certain foods are expensive while others aren't. Scratch cooking saves a bundle. I make batches rice/pasta, portion and freeze. I make snack cake from scratch portion and freeze. I do this with beans and hamburger meat too. Get some frugal recipes and use them. Drink water, homemade tea, or regular coffee. Soon you will say, how did I ever spend so much on food before?

[@janetsims3603]

❤

[@beautifulrecovery2337]

I love how intentional you are being and gentle about where people may be at financially

[@vh5449]

I was going to make the same suggestion! Our area has very nice Hispanic, and Asian food stores. You can get wonderful seasonings and excellent prices on produce from your small local grocers! Being a regular, I've become friends with the staff. They are wonderful about suggesting new things to try and even recipes on a budget. I'm so thankful to have them as a resource.

[@Knicole927]

I love how realistic this meal plan is! It doesn’t seem too extreme, has so much nutrition, but is truthfully half what I typically spend per week for my family’s groceries!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks, Kayla! I appreciate that, because I tried to keep "easy/realistic" in mind when making this plan. :)

[@victoriascott3746]

Completely agree on realistic and budget friendly! I typically spend 100$ a week for 2.5 people ( I am very pregnant lol ) definitely going to use this video and recommend it in the future (:

[@chelsiemilstead7329]

What kinda of things do you crave the most? I craved baked potato fajitas while I was pregnant with my first daughter. I craved my boyfriends fried chicken breast during my second pregnancy with my youngest little baby.

[@clementinakozma]

@@victoriascott3746 We spend €100/ week. So helpful this video.

[@DatGurlCookz_LuvsMakeupToo]

I spend about 200-350 a week on food.... there's 4 of us but I'm always making sure I have plenty of food for my sons friends or anyone else that's hungry around me lol....

[@jennifert2953]

You are absolutely right about the cake mix. I’ve been in many tight spots, the goal is to cook well enough that the kids don’t notice. And cake makes everything better😁

[@Skyy_479]

Seeing this comment and thinking back several years ago I think my mom and myself did the same thing 🥹 🥲 ☺️ 🙂

[@amyshort5625]

Some dessert always fools the kids, even if it’s just a small cookie. I have made “brownie bites” which is just dollar store brownie mix, cut into about 1 inch squares that can be divied up after dinner or in lunches. Times are hard, but the kids don’t have to know!

[@gerolynmsnn1343]

When I'm budgeting instead of cake mix, we make peanut butter banana muffins. We use the bananas that start to brown, a scoop of peanut butter and pancake mix (I usually sprinkle chocolate chips on the top too) I usually have pancake mix and peanut butter so it doesn't hurt the budget and still gives us a treat.

[@heyleina]

Another delicious and cheap treat with bananas that may be starting to brown, is banana fritters! They are so good! If you have ice cream I like to eat them with ice cream. Otherwise they are a great treat just by themselves!

[@jodibrooke]

this is such a good idea! i never thought to substitute with pancake mix!

[@Bbv82]

I just moved out on my own no help or anything but when comes to budget groceries your saving my life rn 😢❤

[@sherilynalexnder897]

I did home-made pizzas for my family last night, and made the mistake of putting a little too much cheese on them (we were doing a vegetarian night), and now I regret it because not only did it seem a little too cheezy, I could have had another half-pkg of cheese still left. It's the little things like that which can stretch a budget, so I'll def be keeping an eye on the 'small things' in the future.

[@Soo_Blessed]

I LOVE the cheese.....

[@daniellefoix8567]

So true

[@maggiedoor6093]

Exactly, I'm 67 years old when I prepare vegetables I determine how much is a portion as I chop. When I have enough for two I stop. Too easy to do extra and then over eat. The same with a roast, a serving on the plate then the rest sliced and frozen ( in gravy) for another time when money/ groceries may be tight. You can grate cheese and freeze it in a ziplock bag taking out only what you need.

[@carollynch8319]

Finally an extreme budget food video with normal meals. So many of these types of videos are made by people who let’s face it cannot cook. Their food isn’t appetizing at all. Except for the rice salad (I don’t like cold rice I’d substitute quinoa) these meals were realistic. I’m already planning to made those confetti cookies. 😋

[@soothingsymphonies]

I love it when my fave KZbinrs mention each other. Mindy, Christine (frugal fit mom) & Maria (meals with maria).

[@SeeMindyMom]

Yep! I think sometimes people think we're in "competition" with each other, but that's not how KZbin works. It's good to have friends who are creators, and honestly, our videos get suggested alongside each other, so it's a good thing when someone in your niche is doing well! :)

[@jolenelengyel6210]

I agree! In my head they are all best friends and lived next door to each other.

[@justchefana]

Might need to check out Maria!!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

@@justchefana Maria is fantastic. Her channel is still pretty young and last year she had a baby and didn't post frequently, but she's been crazy active since, and her videos are better than ever.

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

My three favorites as well! Flourishing Miranda is fantastic, too. She's PBWF but makes extremely palatable and simple meals that can really keep you on budget and that a non-vegan would enjoy.

[@JAWELSH2008]

I love the ethnic food aisle! I found bags of alphabet noodles for $.28 a bag! I grabbed 6 bags and throw them into chicken noodle soup to stretch a can to serve 3 of us instead of 1 person lol I add water and a little knorr chicken bullion. It’s a great meal stretch!

[@misstishwyo]

Knorr chicken bouillon is good in everything!! 😁

[@Mariatrieseverything]

I would recommend to slightly fry in oil raw noodles till they slightly darken. After that add tomato sauce and chicken broth.... Delicious!

[@tcaldwell1782]

Save a lot here in Florida carry these little bags of noodles in their ethnic issue and they were 28 cents. Not sure what they cost now

[@melissavazquez2953]

@@Mariatrieseverything with boiled eggs..our nine kids love it

[@happycook6737]

Stop with the can. Dice a carrot, throw in the pasta bag, add the Knorr. Done. Next time you serve meat, hold back a little and dice it. Freeze it. Now you have a bit of meat to add to your soup. Big savings!

[@kylaluv8453]

Hey a quick suggestion. Save the chickpea water after you cook them. It is called auqafaba, it whips up like egg whites. A lot of people add sugar and make marange type cookies or vegan whipped topping for deserts. Edit: a grits topping suggestion is soy sauce and green onions.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Great tip!

[@imaginarycanary9956]

I love savory grits and use lemon, salt and pepper. Thanks for tip on chickpea water.

[@kellyst.gelais2168]

I know it's a year after this video was posted, but just in time for the holidays.. the Aquafaba makes awesome royal icing. So easy and cheap! And it tastes better than regular royal icing in my opinion!

[@MariA-yr8kd]

Thank you for showing us that you DO NOT need to be wasteful. It’s possible to have wonderful meals while using the items you buy. All it takes is a little planning and a little effort ❤

[@martacapriola1340]

I love how you approach these meals really practically while still making the dishes yummy and flavorful. I especially appreciate that you added in the cookies/cake mix - when you’re in a tough spot, that treat can add a bit of “normal.”

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks, Marta!

[@laridion7901]

My kids would think we're living lux if I did the cake cookies! I barely ever have sweets in the house! But it's SO cute!

[@ItsTooRisky]

I love how you think the dishes are yummy and flavorful without even trying it I mean cmon !

[@beautyamongashes8378]

Porcupine meatballs are a family favorite for our crew of 7. 1lb ground beef 1/2lb ground sausage (optional) 1 cup minute rice 1-2 eggs Salt and pepper to taste. Line a 13x9 baking dish with about 3/4 cup of brown sugar Place meatballs on top of brown sugar. Pour 1-2 cans of condensed tomato soup over the meatballs. Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes turning meatballs halfway through. We serve with more rice and usually whatever veggies I have canned from summer. This meal has saved us in a pinch so many times!

[@angelafleming3328]

You ate really well for $70. Spaghetti is a weekly meal in our house some weeks we use sausage and some weeks we use ground beef it's a crowd pleaser and I use a clearance French loaf from Walmart and make some garlic cheese bread I loved this vlog Mindy.

[@annesnyder348]

"Children clearly live here" made my day. I love these videos and it's so nice to see that I'm not the only one with random water bottles and upside-down stuffed animals all over the place. :) Thank you, fellow mama!

[@HobbsHomestead]

TIP on extending your taco meat, rice and extra taco seasoning! I use a 2:1 meat/rice ratio, and add extra water to the seasoning pack, let simmer until rice is fully cooked! My kids and their friends had no idea they were eating chicken and rice tacos! Works well with ground beef, chicken and Turkey too!

[@ChantalM3]

You can stretch ground beef by adding cooked lentils (anything but red, basically). I do a 4:1 meat to lentil ratio. I use this for taco meat and pasta sauce with meat.

[@KC-qr3wk]

Great tips!

[@cheetahslims7849]

TVP (textured vegetable protein) can also stretch the meat a lot. And its high protein. It will soak up the meat juices and take on the flavour.

[@idontcare-sf1vb]

@@cheetahslims7849 it costs a lot though. Mock meats have always been expensive.

[@cheetahslims7849]

@@idontcare-sf1vb TVP is not a mock meat, its just soy granules. Its really cheap. Its a lot cheaper than regular meat.

[@AshleeNicoleSings]

The sheet pancakes 🤯 I’m always looking for new, quick ideas for grab n’ go breakfast for work… so excited to try this one!!

[@alliegriffin1274]

Yes! I just did it last week and it saved so much time. Gave me time and space to cook the eggs while the pancakes baked!

[@judys2622]

My daughter does this, she does each quarter different, chocolate chips on one, bananas and nuts, marching cherries, sprinkles.

[@michelledee9304]

Even though I am gluten free, dairy free, soy free and vegetarian, this video was helpful as I can use it as a jumping off point, as you suggested. I love this type of video.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks, Michelle! I am always leery of giving suggestions for other dietary needs because I am not as knowledgeable as someone living that lifestyle. I figure it's better to leave the adjustments up to the person living it! :)

[@MissTXTee]

I am low carb/low sugar, so wherever a recipe calls for rice, I substitute riced cauliflower. Still working on a good noodle substitution, but well seasoned spiral zucchini seems to do the trick for now

[@atthecrosshealing]

@@MissTXTee miracle noodles brand should have some possibles for you. Sprouts thrive market and other stores carry it. Normally healthy food stores.

[@nullasalus3]

@@MissTXTee Spaghetti squash? It's not my favorite substitution, but my spouse really likes it. Depending on the sauce going on top, I sometimes use sauteed coleslaw mix in place of noodles, but cabbage isn't always the best vegetable flavor to pair with marinara. :)

[@raquellambropoulos279]

Lol what is left for you to eat ?, I was vegatarian and later vegan. My health suffered from the vegan diet after a period of time. Low potassium. B12 , high carb and my hair started falling out dramatically. I am diabetic due to pancreatic cancer and my doctor demanded I increase protein immediately and I decided to eat meat. A low carb diet and adding meat helped me immensely. When you have any diet that omits a food group you have to be diligent in getting the proper nutrition

[@cici3542]

As part of a 5 member family thank you sooo much . I'm always seeing these videos for one person and never families or it'll be family of 4 😢 I appreciate this 😊

[@Kirstie72]

Oh my gosh! When my husband and I first got together in the early 90s, we couldn’t afford cable. We only had a VCR with one movie. It was My Cousin Vinny, and we watched that almost every night! 😂 I still love that movie!

[@auvrielle]

Just for fun, I added everything you bought into the Walmart app I use every week to buy groceries here in California. If the item wasn't in stock, I made a note of the price and added it to my total. Mine came out to be $87.38 😂

[@sharimeyers292]

Did the same thing. Prices vary across the country. A lot.

[@mollyeason8795]

I am in Georgia and decided to do the math on my Walmart app as well. Almost all exact products, except I had to put in Great Value brand for noodles, and they were out of stock on the cake mix... $86.96! Still not bad though for a week of food for 4 people! We don't drink milk or eat cottage cheese so taking those 2 things out would at least get us to $81.02. Also my app said they were out of dried chickpeas so I only added 1 can of chickpeas. That would of course change the price as well.

[@jenem9618]

Food prices are also going up so radically (at least in my area) that I fully believe some of the price difference could be inflation-- from the time she made the video to the time we tallied our own totals.

[@mrs.garcia6978]

Food Taxes vary huge from state to state if you did final total vs sub total ❤. MO is 8% vs 6% WV for instance

[@mshea7650]

That still Doesn’t seem bad for a family of five..I wish I only spend that much 😊

[@jaicee64]

I love your meal plans. I will say they inspired me a lot. My kids are older, 10-23. While the “0ver 18 crew”. Usually eats at work I still have 5 to feed regularly. That’s two 14 yr olds , a 15, 17 and 10 yr old. One box of Mac and cheese won’t work BUT you did give me a LOT of inexpensive ideas! THANK YOU!

[@sarahberry6080]

I’m so glad I found this channel. I am so into living on a shoestring budget, especially during the mega-inflation we’re experiencing but also because I like to challenge myself and prove that I can get by just fine on the cheap.

[@heatherhoppe1553]

Same! Grew up tight but inspired to be creative & i like to keep that going.

[@leighnivens3782]

My family loves the pancake mix. I add orange extract, vanilla, and ginger…it’s soo good!

[@lexxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Sounds delicious!

[@coffeebeforemascara]

Oh my, theat pancake bake looks absolutely scrumptious.

[@merry191]

Your videos make me feel relaxed and I worry less about grocery stress. 💜

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you for saying that Merry. I know a lot of people are worried and stressed now, so I’m just trying to give some realistic ideas and be a “calm non-anxious presence” over on my channel. 😊

[@shunawestern9153]

I thought you did great, for a family of five on a budget and doing meals that everyone is going to eat, kids being kids, yes you did good. 🥰🇬🇧

[@sherilynalexnder897]

You are so amazing, and your family is well-blessed to have you!!! In 1997, my family of three relocated to another state, and due to the timing and expense of moving, we had to live on $15 for a week (until my husband got his first paycheck). Thank gosh for Aldi! It was down to the last slice of bread on Friday. We all packed lunches, and went out to eat that night to celebrate making it through on a very tough budget. $70 for five for a week, is def equivalent to that time when we lived on $15!

[@raquellambropoulos279]

If you ever find yourself in that situation again VISIT YOUR AREA FOOD BANK. I know some people are not in favor of doing so but those programs are there for situations just like yours. It is ok for adults to tighten their belts but when you have children they absolutely need the proper nutrition and deserve proper meals. So my advice, be humble and go to the food bank . If not for yourself, feed your kids .I have had to do this as well when I relocated to Nevada from Chicago. I have cancer and on disability and single mom of 3. It took time to get my benefits here and thankfully there was a program not far that fed us for 6 weeks.

[@maiashaver9272]

We applied in April for benefits. Still nothing. I'm told that they are "behind" in processing claims. I bought $25 worth of food 2 1/2 weeks ago and stopped by the foodbank. Family of 5. 57 miles from town. I mowed for 4 hours today and after paying for fuel I made $15. Scary times.

[@sneakyhippo8663]

Quick lo mien goes quick in our house. 4 packs of ramen, your favorite frozen veggies, 5 tbsp soy sauce, 5 tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tsp sesame oil and sugar, 1/2 tap ginger and 2 cloves of garlic. It won’t disappoint 👌 Figured I’d share since I have to give that spicy ramen a shot. I do love a good bowl of ramen ❤

[@allyrooh3628]

You would never guess this was a budget menu by the looks of the food. Good video!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you so much!

[@mazdamx6686]

Really??? I would.

[@barb4250]

I like adding a can of black beans and a can of petite diced tomatoes to my tacos. I have a LARGE family & this stretches the meat while adding extra nutrients. And it's super affordable. A few cheap meals i like to do are chicken pot pie casserole, chicken spaghetti, eggs, potato & ground sausage (can be eaten in a bowl or in a tortilla) home made tostadas, home made crepes. Pinto beans and cornbread are good, too. Steam veggies or carrots/celery, peas, corn, greenbeans are easy, affordable, healthy sides. We do mashed potatoes or Mac n cheese, also. My kiddos love everything I make. We are a family of 7 so I cook up large amounts and usually have leftovers for the next day. Love what you're doing on your channel! Inflation has ALL of us pinching while still trying to afford some healthy fresh fruits and veggies along the way

[@robinhoffeld7584]

Flour goes a really long way to! You can almost always find recipes that emitted many ingredients and making things from scratch usually is so much more simpler than people realize. In fact it's so much easier that I have started growing my own grain and looking forward Milling it myself! I love seeing what other people do on a budget because sometimes you just need to Spice in it. I have also found that getting some planters in my backyard in a couple chickens goes a long way they pay for themselves. Never have to buy eggs again.

[@lindsaykjoy]

Such great ideas! 👍🏻 And did anyone else find it oddly satisfying to watch/hear her adding the food items to her cart? 😁

[@cordellcaleb12]

Costco hasn’t raised there egg prices yet. The two dozen cage free organic are 3.29 I bought 6 of them at that price. I make huge batches of breakfast burritos and sandwiches to have in the freezer for quick breakfasts ☺️

[@SeeMindyMom]

Great buy!

[@martiserrano]

Hey Mindy! I grew up with periods of food insecurity and when i was a young adult, I was struggling with food insecurity too for years. Your voice, tone and non-judgemental narrative helped me so much to heal that. I still do a lot of budgeting and incorporate a lot of new food that was too pricey before. love your videos!

[@kimsome8334]

Amazing! Some other low budget but nutritional tricks: mash chick peas into a tuna salad substitute, blend dry oats into flour, blend dry red lentils with water into a high protein pancake mix

[@elizabethpelletier7995]

This is the first realistic meal plan I’ve seen! Will be using some of these ideas for sure!

[@CapricornQueen7425]

Putting the pancake mix in a sheet pan is a great tip. I add cinnamon to my pancake mix -- the kids love it.

[@vanessadvenegas]

Tiny tip When I make tacos (one pound of ground beef or turkey) with 2 -3 potatoes-cut into cubes season by preference With a side of rice (Spanish/Mexican) For the next day With taco/rice -left overs-I add it all to one pot, add a can of tomato sauce add the random veggies that are left over -the one sad carrot (chopped) , a can of green bean or corn whatever is left. Top it with water just to cover -add any seasoning (I use knor chicken powder) and you got a pot of soup we call it Poor man’s soup. Thank you for all the tips this was an awesome video 🥰

[@chloe-elizabeth]

I appreciate how you provide resources right at the beginning of your video and discuss things like food insecurity, gricery store accessability, diet restrictions, among other things! I rarely see this much forrthought in videos like this and it made me so happy!! Thank you!!!

[@TheMagicalMundaneLife]

You’re so well spoken! Such a great thing to share with others. Thank you!

[@Cristoliverta]

Thank you, someone showing what reality really looks like! Looks like my grocery cart when I go shopping. Love the treat part. It does lift the spirits of everyone in the home.

[@jalleahreyes6797]

Same typically only four bags gotta love middle working class

[@ryebread4369]

I'm 19 years old. And medically disabled. I can get around and take care of myself. But I can only work via my work from home buisness. My Fiance and I live with my mother because she is a nurse and helped my fiance get a good office job. I feel bad that they work so hard and I can't make my own money right now. So I've been making lunches for my mom and fiance to eat at work! I do all the shopping and cooking and this has got me so excited!! Thank you for all the tips!!

[@noonecares6592]

I love how you’re so genuinely concerned for people and their own personal situation thank you 😊

[@katierasmussen2539]

Just discovered this channel and it's such a blessing! As a mother of 5 young children, I'm always looking for new ways to save and meal plan. Thank you!!

[@michelleb2304]

Great job on the budget and the meals sound really good! If your family likes cabbage, 1/4 of a head shredded and 1 carrot shredded would work really well in that spicy ramen. That would leave you the rest of the head for coleslaw and maybe roast some wedges. Or shredded on tacos or sandwiches in place of lettuce.

[@elizabethz2538]

cabbage is excellent stir fried as well

[@matronbinx]

I also love shredded veggies in my eggs! (I believe it's Korean style?) shredded cabbage, carrots and zuuchini add bulk and flavor while staying fairly inexpensive as well

[@jreynolds5850]

I love shredded cabbage on tacos! It gives them a street taco feel with a little crunch!

[@azsubie3177]

Cabbage is a staple in my cooking due to how much I can do with it. Shredded on tacos, saute with bacon or ground beef, roast, make homemade coleslaw, the list goes on, lol!

[@kyrastuart1920]

I like to add a can of sliced mushrooms, frozen peas, and a whisked egg or two to my ramen soup. It makes a very filling soup, and one pack of ramen feeds two very nicely with the add-in ingredients.

[@schwingyshwoo]

Love your ideas! I recently realized that at my Walmart the Moderna brand is $.48 for 7 oz of macaroni noodles but the great value brand of macaroni and cheese is $.43 for 7.25 oz! You can still use the noodles however you plan and toss the cheese powder aside for something else. One of your previous videos inspired me to try a taco mac & cheese which is how I figured this out. Lol😊

[@ambermik2940]

It would be nice to see a budget haul while needing to eat clean food. I have health issues and need to eat clean, but that doesn't work well with budgeting for food! Fam of 5 here as well

[@dianaoliver8493]

My Cousin Vinny is a classic favorite in our family! I can't have grits, Chinese food, or talk about mud without throwing in quotes from the movie! "I'm a fast cook, I guess." "Tell me something, how do you get mud into the tires?" Great ideas, as usual! Versatility is a must! We all have different needs, budgets, and store options so these ideas can go a long way! I hope people who need help seek it. Everyone deserves to eat!

[@FourJaysFour]

L❤️VE MCV. One of our inside jokes is, "yutes" 😂

[@leslygamez7942]

My budget is 150$ for 2 weeks for a family of 4. Which isn’t so bad I make really nice meals but with inflation is getting tough. I’m trying to learn how to stretch our money a little more. Last few times I went grocery shopping was $270 to $300! It’s a one income household so I feel so and wasting so much at once! So thank you 🙏 I really apréciate this videos!

[@cathydee8401]

I loved the pancakes idea baking on a sheet pan in the oven. Also the pancake biscuits. I will be trying out both. Looks easy and delicious.😋

[@Esmebudgetz]

I’m in the UK & Walmart is the same company as our Asda stores. Great video & has given me a lot of ideas- thank you ❤

[@NOVAFrugalFamily]

My cousin Vinny is what I think of with grits every time! Amazing menu and I think lots of families can use realistic meal plans. It turns cheaper foods into real meals. You are so creative to get the most out of every food and penny.

[@CookingDelicious777x]

New here and our food cost so much more. Eggs, whole milk and mozzarella cheese are things that I also buy. I use to buy macaroni and green beans I buy frozen. Wholly moly $70.02 that was a lot of items you got. Wow, I like that vinaigrette that you made for the salad. Biscuits and gravy totally good!

[@Gardeningchristine]

It’s funny. You and Christine are like ASMR for me. I don’t even cook that much but I love watching/listings to you ladies!

[@angelaharrison4965]

Whaaat?? I cannot believe your children do not like biscuits and gravy! Proves my point that children go against what we parents love to eat! I absolutely love this video!! TFS and I'll keep watching!

[@laneyb8911]

Onigiri, overnight oats, Japanese curry are my go-to's for cheap and easy meals. Also pasta noodles are soooo versatile. Butter, parmesan, salt, pepper and a veggies is also a really good combo that's cheap as well (with the pasta noodles). I will have to try the pasta salad, it looks really good and is definitely something my toddler would eat!!

[@vh5449]

100% agree! Onigiri with a bowl of simple soup, and Japanese curry are huge favorites during the cold months! Japanese curry is easy to stretch by adding more carrots and potatoes, resulting in an enormous amount of leftovers for lunches and dinners. And it's even better the 2nd day, since the flavors have a chance to meld. My kids inhale it. I have to hide my lunch dish or I'd never get to eat it! 🤣

[@itshollyw959]

I love watching videos like these because not only are they helpful financially, but they also go against all the toxic diet-culture food videos that other people put out these days. Budget meal videos are concerned about fueling your body the best you can, instead of focusing on fancy juices and fad-diets that are supposedly "healthy". These meals are hearty and give your body the nutrients it needs to thrive! Great video

[@angelaoneal5169]

Why have I never thought about making pancakes in a sheet pan??? That's brilliant!

[@megansnider7580]

I just stumbled across your video randomly and it peaked my interest. And when you say Walmart and Aldi are most accessible to you, I'm like yeah I can relate. Then you say you're in Tulsa and my brain... 🤯 So all that to say Hi I'm from 45 mins north of you! Lol.

[@ryanmc8583]

Love these videos. I have watched countless hours of "meal prep", "recipe ideas", and "budget friendly meals" but yours take the cake

[@sarah8336]

If anyone is curious what this costs now substituting white bread, great value elbow and spaghetti noodles (that’s what my store had) came to $79.88. With tax $85.07 and that’s with eggs now being .98¢/dozen 6/30/23. I’m in the southeast. In her area before tax it came out to $80.66. So up about $10-$15.

[@angelaoneal5169]

First, I actually was very impressed by most of these recipes. Personally, I can't stand ground turkey (not even a huge turkey fan as it is), but that's just me. I understand why this is an item while working on a budget. Also, I believe it is technically healthier. Also, at my Walmart ground turkey is $3.82 per pound. IF you buy the 10lb. tube of ground beef at Walmart, it is only $3.02 per pound. However, you can also purchase ready made hamburger patties. I picked up a 5lb. box of "Extra Value Beef Patties" for $12.18 which comes to $2.44 per pound. I just break up the patties to add them to recipes like my homemade version of beef pasta (egg noodles, ground beef, diced onion and a packet of beef gravy) or spaghetti. I also have patties to make some hamburgers on the grill for hot days when I don't want to heat up my kitchen. That being said, these recipes are amazing. I can't wait to try the pancake biscuits.

[@michellethiesen7972]

I love all of this but there's one thing I'll never compromise on and that is canned spaghetti sauce. I'm a 3rd gen Italian immigrant and when my family makes spaghetti we do it right even if that means we don't have it as often. In reality though it lasts our family of 3 between 3-4 meals (with seconds) so even though it's a larger price initially it stretches for days.

[@jacquelinephillips8597]

I can not thank you enough for this video. I have almost everything on hand already and can do this meal plan with my family. Thank you thank you thank you!!

[@lauraquesnel8615]

Great tip with the sharp cheese

[@nullasalus3]

Savory grits are my favorite too. Really indulgent garlic cheese grits are a regular side dish at Christmas in my family. I thought of you, Mindy, the other day. We're trying to eat down our pantry in preparation of moving in August. I had an open container of grits, so I made myself a serving for breakfast, and I used the leftover cheesy beschamel-Rotel sauce, which I had made for another meal that week, to flavor the grits. They were really good!

[@michellep9536]

Ok...I'm impressed! Definitely trying some of these!

[@agirly1503]

I love ❤️ how down to Earth this is! As a vegetarian I'd just sub lentils or beans for the meat😀 also I was looking for a DIY taco seasoning, thank you!⭐️

[@autumngriffis3140]

ok the pancake trick caught my attention. I hate taking the time to cook pancakes but love eating them. Im trying this.

[@Suzy12678]

Love these videos that you make. This really is such a good time for these as so many people are struggling and need these ideas. You really are doing Gods work by sharing your ideas and skills with people who may need them. ❤️

[@boomababe7482]

I love how you considered the fact the Walmart is nationwide so you're viewers can relate. You're the first I've watched that did this.

[@scoobydoowhereru1480]

Omg I thought of You the other day when I was at my towns Acme market I had to use the restroom and low and behold there was all the markdown items super close to the Out of order bathrooms, so I scooped up all the stuff I could and instantly thought about your videos 💓

[@ruthfreeman864]

Tuna noodle casserole....large can tuna...1/2 c onion and green pepper....1 can cheddar cheese soup 1/2 can milk... 1 c frozen peas...2 c elbow mac...start the pasta...saute veggies...drain the tuna... when pasta is done...in large bowl. Toss it all together ...pour in casserole dish. 1./2 shredded cheddar on top (optional)...bake till hot and bubbly...salad or fruit on the h e side....great budget meal

[@elvataylor9279]

❤❤

[@miriamjussila16]

I would love to see an gluten free and/or dairy free budget challenge! I'm strictly gluten free and mostly dairy free which makes it so hard to keep the grocery budget down😰

[@annag3081]

Any restriction or even avoiding processed food makes it much harder . We have allergies and had to be gluten free and dairy free … it was $$$$$

[@VideosofIan]

If you like Mexican food, you can eat SO well for pretty inexpensive by following authentic Mexican food recipes. Tomatoes, onions, garlic, corn tortillas, different types of dried and fresh chiles and preferred protein and you can have amazing meals. I live in the PNW so the Mexican ingredients are pretty common in stores. You can even make tortillas from scratch with masa to stretch your money further. Enchiladas, tacos, tostadas etc etc.

[@FourJaysFour]

Our son is Celiac. Sticking with recipes that are simple makes it easy. But on the go snacks can be a challenge.

[@krystalball26]

This was very helpful. I live in NYC so the prices are a little higher. But I really appreciate the ideas. Thank you.

[@sheliapeters2082]

Good video of your kids love marshmallows my mom used to put peanut butter on the saltines top with a marshmallow and put it in the oven for a few minutes til the tops was brown oh those were the best for a snack after dinner we often has spaghetti their was 8 of us and often we had vegetable soup she saved all of her leftover veggies in ice cream bucket in the freezer when it was full we had soup that was a favorite of ours along side canned ham she would cook on Sunday dinner and a big bowl of mashed potatoes . Those are some of my best memories as a child.

[@cynthiabrown4327]

I love your ideas. You have balanced meals with vegetables and included fruits and a desert. I just subscribed.

[@staceykasha2330]

Great video Mindy! I agree with the ethnic aisle! Especially for spices, such a good deal!

[@sunkissed1974]

I do the ramen with chicken, a couple of eggs and a handful of frozen mixed veggies. It is a huge hit and feeds everyone and costs under 5.00 to feed 5.

[@juliescheidler7763]

Wow Mindy, you may have out-done yourself this time. These are great ideas & really a good variety! Bravo!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks, Julie! I have a really great editor who helped me. It was a lot of footage! 😊

[@alainadacosta1222]

Good ideas! I appreciate how every meal is balanced

[@vnmw121212]

Your videos are always so helpful. I also love that your family clearly eats your budget meals and you're not just doing it for content. ..as for the grits I'm right in the middle. I always add cheese and sugar 🤣

[@stefan3225]

Thanks so much. I’ve been on a tight budget lately and your videos keep my kids eating well without me walking to work 😊

[@nicholem.5542]

I love savory grits. My Go-To way for grits is to start with instant grits (for the ease and quickness). I use 2 packets and put a little pat of butter, water, and 2 slices of Kraft Single Cheese and cook in microwave. I then scramble two eggs. And then add my eggs to the grits, stir and enjoy. So yummy!! Love your videos by the way!!

[@SeeMindyMom]

I also like instant grits! Quaker used to make them in packets like oatmeal, but I don’t think I’ve seen them in a while.

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

@@SeeMindyMom I remember that. I had a roommate that introduced me to grits that way. They had an original version and a cheese version. The cheese version was good (savory), and the original allowed me to try grits as a sweet version, too.

[@MissTXTee]

I think I've actually seen a recipe for a grits casserole. That way, yoi can eat on it for a few days

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

@@SeeMindyMom they still make the packets. I buy the boxes of Quaker grits packets from Walmart online. I get the large boxes of butter flavor and they usually ship them to me instead of getting them with a grocery pickup. I, too, eat scrambled eggs with them and a little extra sharp cheddar cheese. When I am in a big hurry, I just crack the egg into my grits and cook it with the grits in the microwave in my covered sistema bowl. You have to stir in the middle or the egg doesn't cook well. Not as tasty as scrambling separately, but fast and no other dishes to wash. Off topic to this comment, but cage free eggs are something I always am willing to spend more to get. If I can prevent any amount of animal cruelty by paying a dollar more, that's worth it to me as eggs are a significant source of protein for me.

[@nicholem.5542]

@@SeeMindyMom They still have them. At least where I live in Texas :)

[@johnnatilley2820]

I'm originally from the Tulsa area, moved to South Mississippi 7 years ago, and let me tell you.... I miss Aldi!!! Lol! These are GREAT ideas! Thanks for sharing!!

[@pretty_brownnn5855]

Really good tips! Especially the one about the kids. A tip: when making tomato sauce for spaghetti, use chicken stock instead of the water with the canned tomatoes 🥫 😊

[@lifewithkymm]

I can say as a vegan I don’t & can’t follow most of your meal plans, BUT your channel is VERY inspirational and it reminds me to keep it simple and that meals can be made out of almost anything you have in your pantry & fridge.

[@IMeMineWho]

Pesc and avoid gluten and sugar and goitroids (kale, cabbage) and soy and I feel the same way! Its the idea!

[@robinswan5831]

Thank you for doing this! i know its a TON of work for you but these are the absolutel favorite! And so helpful when we are budgeting tight!

[@SkylarWhitmire]

The pancake idea is awesome!

[@Jean2235177]

I love grits - smoky or garlicky cheese grits or with butter, salt, and a tad of sugar. Great ideas! Love the PB sheet pancake idea!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks!

[@ajoi2baround]

This was amazing! Thank you!!! I never thought of doing that with the cake and pancake mix. We have to stop eating out so much and these were recipes we would actually eat.

[@Gardeningchristine]

I love the ground turkey instead of beef! And I love using the ramen as an inexpensive starch with lots of veggies and an egg or two it’s pretty healthy!

[@stephanieshanks3565]

“Grit? What is a grit?” Oh I love that movie!! My Northern dad had a similar experience when my Southern mother took him home to meet her family and he saw grits for the first time. Thanks for the reminder of a memory!