What are some groceries I can buy that will last me for a week?!
Answers: I only have 20 dollars to spend. I have to walk and take the bus so I can't buy heavy items and I am shopping at Walmart. I need tasty food ideas that will last for a week for just me. I don't have any seasonings or spices or anything fancy to cook with, just a saucepan but my groceries seem to run out within a few days because I'm always eating. I'm not fat though, no weight issues.
Wow are you frugal.
A lot depends on how much variety you need. A pound of ground beef, an onion, a can or two of tomato sauce and some pasta or rice can last you almost all week if you make spaghetti and "Spanish rice." A cup of dried split peas, a carrot, an onion, and a bit of ham or chicken will give you enough split pea soup for 2 or 3 dinners. A pound of stew meat chunks, with fresh veggies and maybe beef broth, will also last you 4 days. A pound of chicken, with chicken broth, veggies, and rice will give you enough for 4 to 5 meals.
You can also make more of those types of one-dish meals than you want to eat in a week, and freeze the surplus so you have some variety in another week.
Maybe buy a large bag of rice, or pasta? A few fruits- bananas or apples/oranges? Some yogurt (the individual small ones). Aw it doesnt sound very tasty though :(. Maybe add a chicken breast? I'm not very good at this lol.
ramen noodles
bread, deli meat, cheese, eggs, yogurt. juice rice noodles anything frozen.
Lasting a week depends upon how much you eat! But for $20, I'd suggest:
Jars of peanut butter and jelly
loaf of bread
bag of rice
couple boxes/bags of pasta
spaghetti sauce in a can (cheaper, tastes better than in the jar!)
chicken legs or thighs, or leg quarters (whatever's on sale that week)
whatever fresh veggies are cheap (corn on the cob is in-season now, and pretty cheap here)
salt, pepper, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder
quart of milk
Buy stuff in boxes like hamburger helper or ramen noodles that are in a pack of 6. There are items that are light weight too like Kraft mac and cheese or alfredo noodles that you just add water in , microwave, then add the sauce pack that comes with it. It's easy to make and not heavy to carry also.
I would get a shopping cart that you can wheel as you walk or to lift on to the bus if the weather is bad or a tote bag. I would get stuff that isn't quick to spoil and makes more than one serving. It may end up with your having left overs but that goes further. You just have to reheat and eat after refridgerating this after first making it.
The cost of food is going up due to the gas to haul it rising, so I would buy in bulk or on sale and use coupons if able to.
IF you have a store like Aldis , Kosco, or Sav-U foods try those as they seem to really have the lowest cost of foods.
I'd look online at such at peapod.com as they deliver food.
Walmart usually has a good selection but it doesn't hurt to compare prices online or with such as the stores mentioned.
Wal-Mart is not always the best sometimes your Grocery membership card is best or a combination of the two.
Stick to generic brands.
Ramen noodles and Cup O' soup are often very cheap several for $1.00
You can buy a box of 8 waffles and bottle of Syrup usually for under 3 bucks - avoid cereal
Buy 1 - two loaves of bread and that .50 -.75 lunch meat, some hot dogs and some mustard. the bread will serve as toast and hot dog buns as well as sandwiches. rice is a good idea like the other poster said.
You should come in under 20.00
Hope you like tap water.
I know they are heavier to carry, but spaghetti goes a long way as well as Macaroni and cheese. You could get Ramen noodles as they are light and inexpensive. I buy meat that is on sale and then divide them up into small portions (palm size) and cook one at a time with a vegetable. It helped control my cholesterol and you really don't need much meat. I buy the small freezer bags and put one in each bag and I only shop once a month on about $45. Cereal will help fill you too. Look for sales. Good luck.
While prices vary widely depending on your part of the country and your grocery store, you'll still find these dinners will stretch your food dollar to the max. This would stretch further than a week, actually.
Lentil stew. One package of lentils, a couple of carrots, a couple of potatoes, water. Place the package of lentils in a large soup pot and add the appropriate amount of water (1-1/2 cups water to one cup of lentils works best). Peel the potatoes and carrots, and slice to bite size. Add to soup pot. Season to taste. If you have it: Add a ham bone, a bit of leftover beef, bacon bits, bay leaf, or favorite herbs.
Baked potatoes. Nothing complicated here. Buy large baking potatoes or just get a bag of potatoes on sale. If small, bake more of them per serving. Choose your favorite toppings: Simply butter, salt and pepper, cheese, broccoli, sour cream, bacon bits, or whatever is on hand.
Cheese quesadillas. Make these with flour tortillas. Heat two tortillas in a skillet and remove one to a plate. Top the remaining tortilla with shredded cheese. When melted, about 1-2 minutes, place the other tortilla on top. Allow to cook for a minute or so, flip the whole thing over and cook the other side for another minute. Dump onto a plate, slice with a pizza cutter. If you have it: Add shredded cooked chicken to the cheese. Serve with salsa.
Scrambled eggs. Get a dozen for less than one dollar. Crack eggs into a bowl and whisk. Add milk, salt, and pepper. Cook eggs in a skillet. If you have it: Add your choice of mushrooms, cheese, green pepper, or onion.
Spaghetti and sauce. Here again, not too creative, but you can pick up a package of spaghetti and a can of sauce for less than two dollars. Add parmesan cheese on top.
Tuna sandwiches. Frequently on sale, tuna provides a meaty dinner this week. For four filling sandwiches, use four of the smaller cans. Dump all of the cans into a bowl, add mayonnaise or salad dressing, along with some relish if you've got it. Stir, spread onto bread. I like to use ranch dressing.
Grilled cheese sandwiches. Butter bread on both sides and place on a medium-heat grill. Add a slice of cheese. Splurge on an extra slice of cheese per sandwich!
Accompaniments:
Watch for sales on frozen vegetables. You can frequently pick up a one-pound bag for less than a dollar.
Slice a fresh tomato into wedges or a cucumber into slices to go with a sandwich. Any fresh vegetable will do.
Slice a piece of fruit for a healthy dessert.
Stop by Walgreen's and see what's on sale in their food aisle. They frequently have good deals on canned mandarin oranges which make a tasty dessert. Add a bit of coconut or a few marshmallows if you have them.
Walgreen's frequently carries canned mushrooms on sale, too.
How about lunch for a quarter? Check Walgreen's for ramen noodles.
Cake mixes and canned frosting are often priced under a dollar, especially the store brands. Your only additions will be a bit of oil (or applesauce if you're counting calories) and a couple of eggs (save from the meal above). For a couple dollars, you can have dessert for a couple of nights or snacks for a few days.
Even if you're on a tight budget, you can still create a tasty meal. Not gourmet dining, but you won't be hungry!