Meal Planning on a Budget

Looking to SAVE money and cook up seriously satisfying meals? Try challenging yourself to a per-meal budget. You may surprise yourself at what you can whip up — while getting a better idea of what your total weekly budget should be. And with our easy-breezy tips and recipes, you’ll see just how easy it is to stretch your dollar.

#1. Shop your kitchen first.

Start by taking inventory of what you already have at home. Check your pantry, fridge and freezer for inspiration, and add an inventory column to your grocery list. Don’t have time to take inventory? Take a quick picture of your fridge and pantry to reference in-store.

#2. Plan ahead to maximize savings.

Center your meal plan around weekly promotions using pantry staples and fresh produce to supplement sale items. If chicken breasts are on sale, think of seven of your favorite chicken dishes. Now, narrow it down to recipes that use overlapping ingredients — chicken and rice for a burrito could also become a casserole, a curry or a fusion bowl depending on how you season it!

#3. Start your cart online.

A great way to make your list, and stick to it, is to use our app to build an online cart. Whether you’re shopping in-store or placing an order for pickup or delivery, an online cart allows you to easily compare prices, shop promos and keep a running total. The product pages even note when there is a coupon available!

#4. Buy in bulk.

When possible, stock up on pantry essentials and other items that have a long shelf life. Look for our BIG Deal! items, which help you get larger pack sizes at a great price. Plus, having things like rice, pasta or canned sauces on hand can make it easy to turn last night’s rotisserie chicken into tonight’s fresh chicken alfredo.

#5. Make the most of what you have.

Get the most from your groceries by finding uses for items that you would otherwise toss. Stale bread? Sounds like you’ve got homemade croutons. Overripe fruit? Hello, banana bread, smoothies or jam.