Free Food Menus For Penny Pinching Budgets
This week, I’m focusing my efforts on saving you money. I have published budget friendly menus in the past, but some people are having trouble finding them. This week is definitely one of the cheaper menus I’ve published. Remember that saving money means making more food from scratch and spending a little more time cooking. However, it also means more homemade goodness in every bite and your family is sure to smile with these great menus and shopping lists. Of course, if you have a garden, you can substitute fresh garden veggies every night of the week and save even more money! You can also try finding orchards and farms where you can pick your own fruit or veggies to save money. Another tactic is to substitute the sides with what is on sale at your local supermarket.
Day 1: Two Bean Tamale Pie pg. 92, Green Salad, Watermelon
Day 2: Macaroni and Cheese with Ham p. 432, Green Salad, Watermelon
Day 3: Cornbread p. 134, Chili p. 553, Summer Squash, Orange Slices
Day 4: Tuna Noodle Casserole p. 308, Green Beans, Apple Slices
Day 5: One Pot Spaghetti p. 417, Broccoli, Cherries
Day 6: Baked Potato Bar (butter, sour cream, cheese, ham), Corn, Apple Slices
Day 7: Chicken and Noodles p. 462 (with homemade noodles), Green Salad, Orange Slices, Dinner Rolls p. 152
Shopping List
Produce
- Leaf Lettuce ( for salad)
- Tomatoes (for salad)
- Cucumbers (for salad)
- Watermelon
- 3 Oranges
- 6 Apples
- 1 Pound Fresh Cherries
- 2 Green Sweet Peppers
- 11 Onions
- 4 Stalks Celery
- 4 Carrots
- 3-5 Pounds Potatoes
- 8 Cloves Garlic
- Cilantro or Italian Parsley
- Summer Squash
- 1 Red Sweet Pepper
- 2 Cups Sliced Fresh Mushrooms
Canned
- 3 (15 oz.) Can Kidney Beans or Black Beans
- 1 (15 oz.) Can Pinto Beans
- 1 (6 oz.) Can Vegetable Juice
- 1 (4 oz.) Can Diced Green Chili Peppers
- 2 (14.5 oz.) Cans Diced Tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz.) Can Tomato Sauce
- 1 (6 oz.) Can Tomato Paste
- 2 (14 oz.) Cans Chicken Broth
- Salad Dressing
- 2 (9 oz) Cans Tuna
- 2 Cans Green Beans
Dry
- Pinto Beans
- 16 oz. Macaroni
- 8 oz. Medium Noodles
- 12 oz. Spaghetti
- 8.5 oz. Package Corn Muffin Mix
- 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Cold
- Milk
- 7 eggs
- 24 oz. Cheddar Cheese
- 12 oz. American Cheese
- butter or margarine
- Sour Cream
- 2-1/2 Pounds Ground Beef
- 2 Pounds Fully Cooked Ham (for Mac and Cheese and Potato Bar)
- 3 Chicken Legs (Thigh and Drumstick)
Frozen
- Broccoli
- Corn
- Peas
Bakery
- bread
Make Sure You Have: flour, cornmeal, shortening, sugar, salt, oil, chili powder, cumin, black pepper, baking powder, basil, dry mustard, Italian Seasoning, bay leaves, thyme, yeast
8 Responses 
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I'm providing these menus and shopping lists for people for free. I started posting my shopping lists and menus a while back because I figured I could save people time. It started a trend and I have really enjoyed doing it. This is what it has grown into.
The other things on this page are to make your life easier as well. I hope you enjoy. If you do, you can subscribe to receive an e-mail every time I post a new menu and also receive some friendly tips to help your cooking.
Happy Cooking! 
Yum Yum I need some Cornbread and Blackeyed Peas. This is such a great site with so much real usable and valuable content. This is truly a great service you are providing for those wishing to make their life easier and less expensive as well.
i love Online shopping because it is so convenient and it is just one click away.,,.
i love to both shop online and offline, you can say that i am a shopaholic`.`
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everyone loves to shop online, it is very convenient’”,
online shopping sometimes addictive specially if you have lots of money to burn and you have a very high credit limit on your V’-`
i love to do both online shopping and online window shopping for goods and other stuffs ,~-
;** I am really thankful to this topic because it really gives up to date information ‘;;