$93 Groceries for 2 Adults | Our Meals | Grocery Tips
A Simple DIY Hack to Save You Money and Time
As a busy couple, my wife and I (35M) have been struggling to keep our weekly grocery bill under control. With two adults to feed, we’d often find ourselves spending around $70-$100 per week on groceries. However, thanks to some simple meal planning and shopping tips, we’ve managed to bring that number down to just $93!
Materials Needed
- A reliable pen and paper for meal planning
- A well-stocked pantry and fridge
- A primary grocery store like Aldi’s (and optional visits to ethnic stores)
- Basic kitchen utensils and appliances
Step-by-Step Guide: Our Meals and Grocery Tips
1. Plan Your Meals
We make a list of meals we want to cook for the week, taking into account what ingredients we already have on hand from last week’s grocery run.
2. Stick to Your List!
Once we’ve planned our meals, we try not to deviate too much – this helps us avoid unnecessary purchases and saves us money!
3. Choose the Right Grocery Stores
Aldi’s is our primary store for staples, but we also like to visit Indian and Asian stores for specialty items.
4. Shop on a Full Stomach
Eating a big meal before grocery shopping helps us avoid sugary and salty snacks, saving us even more money!
5. Healthy Snacks are Key
We only buy fruits and nuts as our go-to snacks – no junk food for us!
6. Limit Dining Out
We limit eating out to twice a week – Friday date nights and Monday half-priced burgers.
Recipes:
- Fried Rice (use shallot instead of onion, added chillies for heat, skipped the frozen peas and bean sprouts) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qURmdmgCCOI
- Gyoza (skip bean sprouts) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z60_v7NhFck
- Cauliflower Stir Fry (air fry instead of deep frying) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juJExyqr5W4
- Chicken Lo Mein (use whole grain spaghetti, skip bean sprouts) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRxDpjNDt3A
- Omelette
- Stir fry chopped onions and tomatoes in a skillet.
- Add spinach and stir until wilted.
- Beat eggs with salt and pepper, add cheese of your choice, roll it up!
- Salmon and Potatoes (air fry at 400F for 20 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
- Chop potatoes into bite-sized pieces.
- Coat with olive oil and air fry.
- Season immediately with salt and pepper.
- Chicken Fajita Tacos
- Stir fry chopped chicken breast in a skillet, add ginger and garlic paste.
- For the sauce: mix 2 spoons of mayo, hot sauce, onion powder, garlic powder.
- Assemble tacos with sauce, chicken, pico de gallo (chopped onion, tomato, cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper).
Troubleshooting
If you find yourself struggling to stick to your grocery list, try meal planning together with your partner – it can be a great bonding experience!
Time-Saver Tip: Plan Your Meals and Grocery Run on the Same Day!
By shopping while still full and having a clear plan in mind, we’ve found that this simple habit has helped us save not only money but also time and mental energy.