How to Feed a Family for $100 a Week

Feeding a family is costing more every day. Some people complain about the price of gas, but milk costs almost twice as much. You have to get creative to feed a family for $100 a week. Read on to learn how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• paper
• pencil
• family meeting
• your grocery list
• coupons
• pencil
• $100 in cash

Make a Menu

1. Sit down with the family and find out what meals they want to eat. There is nothing more frustrating than to spend hours cooking only to have no one enjoy the meal.
2. Use the family’s ideas to put together a menu for a week or two. Include all the meals--breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks--whether you feed the family at home or on the road.
3. Make a list of all the ingredients that you will need for each menu listing.
4. Look through the pantry, cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer to see what items you have already stocked.
5. Make a grocery list of the items that you need and the amount that you need.
6. Search on line and through Sunday papers for coupons for the items that you will need to buy.
7. Estimate a cost for each item. If your list for the week is over $100, try switching some of the menu choices to bring the costs down.

Go Shopping

8. Write out your grocery list according to sections in the grocery store (produce, freezer, deli, meats, and canned goods). This will make it easier to make sure you get what you need.
9. Mark off each item on your list as you put it in the cart. Make a notation of how much it will cost (remember to multiply if you are getting more than one of an item).
10. Keep a running total of what you are spending. If you have money left over, look for special discounts on items that you can freeze, or buy a treat that you would normally pass by (ice cream is always a winner).

Tips & Warnings

• Keep coupons for items that you always use (detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, tooth paste) and watch for specials.
• Find a grocery store that doubles coupons and you can double your savings.
• Compare prices. Just because you have the coupon doesn’t mean it is the best buy.
• Buy generic items. If the price is right then choose the no-name items instead of the brand name.
• Look at the top and bottom shelves. This is where the lower priced items are normally kept.
• Put the money you save with the coupons and on the specials in a savings account.