We’re a big family, and we spend as little as possible on food. Around $5 per person, per day. That means we eat many family meals that cost as low as $1 dollar per person. Here are some dollar dinner ideas we eat (or drink) as cheap meals while getting out of debt or saving money towards a goal.
If you’re trying to hit a financial goal, it’s likely you’re looking to cut costs wherever possible. This often means your food budget gets a hard look. Slashing grocery store bills or canceling your restaurant reservations is first on the list. If you have a large family, like we do, this might tricky. I’ve got a few suggestions on meal ideas to help keep your costs down.
Remember, this is not forever.
This is a temporary eating plan. No one wants to eat this way long-term. It’s just until you reach your goal. If you keep that in mind, you can grin and eat it a whole lot easier.
If you go OUT to eat, SHARE a meal.
Of course to reach your money goal fastest, it’s best to stay out of a restaurant. Get cozy with these super inexpensive DOLLAR meal ideas instead.
1. Spaghetti
Plain jane spaghetti with marinara sauce is a weekly staple in our house. I ate it in college, and we’re eating it as a family. Sure you can splurge and toss a few chopped meatballs or shredded cheese on top, but we don’t.
2. Eggs
They’re SO versatile. Egg sandwich on a toasted bagel or bread, scrambled, over easy etc. With a large family everyone has their favorite form of egg, and I can easily deliver made to order plates since they cook up so quickly.
3. Pancakes
Breakfast, lunch or dinner – just like eggs, they work anytime. We add sweet potato puree to our batter, plus a side of banana. Mmmmm MMm. Delicious. Maple syrup can get expensive, so look for sales and stock up. You can also skip the maple and drizzle with honey (depending on the age of your kiddos), or add a few chocolate chips.
4. Sandwiches
Peanut Butter and Jelly was my lunch for over ten years. This was by choice. I love it. Who doesn’t. A complete protein on the cheap. Heck yeah! But you can also go the tuna fish route. Ain’t nothing cheaper than tuna cans.
5. Grilled Cheese
This is a two or three-day a week meal in our house at the moment. The kids can’t get enough, and frankly I’m getting tired of grilling em’. But grill them I do. Gooey cheese and paired with an inexpensive can of tomato soup. YUM!
6. Shakes
For lunch at work I blend 5 bananas and a splash of juice with water. It fills me up just fine, and doesn’t eat into my time. Bananas are pretty inexpensive. It leaves my lunch break free for a walk or errand. As a busy mom, I need every minute I can get.
7. Rice & Veggies
I like to buy bags of frozen vegetables and fry them up with some rice with soy sauce. It’s a super quick meal to prepare after I get home from work, and feels like Chinese. It’s definitely not the same as take-out, but it gives that flavor of it.
8. Rice & Beans
Yes, seriously! Just like Dave Ramsey suggest. Although he doesn’t mean literally when he says it. He uses it as a metaphor for slashing your expenses so that you can get out of debt. I actually LOVE rice and black beans, with a little salsa mixed in. Delicious and nutritious.
Seem like common sense meal ideas? Well they are. I’m just giving you permission to feed them to your family on repeat while you reach for your dreams.
