By Tiffany, Contributing Writer
I stopped making New Year’s resolutions in my early 20’s. Although just a couple decades under my belt, I figured out that resolutions were really just a fancy way of saying big change. And according to tradition, these significant changes had to be practically earth-shattering… like “never ever eat sugar again” or “go to the gym and exercise every single day.”
I played the resolution game for a few years, but when year after year, none of my big changes came to fruition (despite my best intentions), I gave up.
First I gave up trying, and then I gave up resolutions altogether.
Big goals – when set without realistic expectations and a plan to achieve them – are nothing more than just lofty ideas.
Big dreams have the amazing ability to set a fire under us to get moving on something we’d been stewing on for too long. But in order to get to the end goal, you need a game plan to get there.
Every year, two of the most popular New Year’s resolutions are get healthy and save money. In fact, these were MY exact goals just two years ago!
Instead of wishful thinking, I took charge and created a monthly meal plan. One meal plan turned into more, which then created shopping lists and ideas for having meals ready ahead of time… slowly, I had developed a system that helped me eat real food on just $330 every month, which in turn meant meeting both of my goals by the end of the year.
I know that eating healthy food without paying a lot of money is tough for many families, and it’s my passion to help these same families succeed in their own healthy living goals.
So I took everything I knew about meal planning, all my tips on shopping and saving, and all my ideas on streamlining work in the kitchen and created Frugal Real Food Meal Plans.
I know the idea of meal planning isn’t new to you guys, and you’ve probably heard of several meal planning services out there. In fact, I’ve tried out a few myself! But none of them really did what I needed them to. In all the meal plans I’ve tried:
- There would be a plan, but no shopping list.
- Or, I could CREATE my own plan… but that defeated the purpose of having one ready to go for me.
- Or better yet, they gave me a plan and shopping list, but my budget can’t afford steak and lobster on a weekly basis. (And no, I’m not kidding on the steak and lobster!)
I needed a REAL plan. One that was simple yet delicious, and that included meals that my non-professional kitchen skills could pull of. And it needed to be 100% real food. No processed ingredients or boxed meals allowed.
The plan needed to be frugal. Creating a grocery budget is how we became debt free. Knowing how much we had control over our finances with a simple grocery budget meant keeping meals and ingredients simple and affordable.
The plan needed to come with lists. Tell me what to eat and what to buy. If it could tell me about how much I should pay, or what I can make ahead of time to make squeezing a dentist appoint, baseball practice, AWANA into a three-hour window just a bit easier, then it earned bonus points.
Practical and flexible is my middle name. My gut says that the typical CEO executive doesn’t quite understand the inner workings of a home and what it takes to run one smoothly (for the most part anyway, lol). The plan needed to be practical, in both meals that my family would eat and reasonable times to prepare them. I wanted flexibility so that I could move a slow-cooker meal to a busy Wednesday night and put the more time-intensive meals on a lazy Saturday afternoon. If it could tell me how to host company, or ideas for a pot-luck, that would be awesome too.
An affordable plan is key. Yes, the meals needed to be frugal, but the plan itself needed to be affordable too! My grocery budget is small, and there’s only so much wiggle room. The meal plan needed to cost less than dinner at Chipotle with my family in order for it to work in our budget.
Frugal Real Food Meal Plans is all of these things, and so much more.
- Simple meals with 100% real food ingredients you can find in the typical grocery store.
- Designed with a frugal budget in mind, Frugal Real Food Meal Plans can feed the average family of four for as little as $350/month.
- Shopping lists, pricing lists, prep lists and even suggestions for what to make when you’re hosting company!
- With multiple ways to shop (monthly, bi-monthly or weekly), you can easily swap meals around to best fit your finances and busy schedule.
- Designed by a busy mom, there are slow-cooker meals every week, ideas for freezer cooking and every recipe is at your fingertips, within the plan itself!
- For less than the cost of two fast food meals, Frugal Real Food Meal Plans can easily fit into even the tightest grocery budget.
Frugal Real Food Meal Plans has two different membership options available: a month-to-month plan, and a 3-month subscription, and I have a very special offer just for readers of The Humbled Homemaker!
Use coupon code THH15 to save 15% off the 3-month plan!
Does your family use a meal plan? Would you like to try out Frugal Real Food Meal Plans?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for helping to support this site!
Jenni
Just purchased your meal plan on Sunday. Shopped over the weekend (spent $45 after shopping what was already in my kitchen). We’re all set to go for week one. Might need a little more produce for week two. I’m loving how all the meals include so many vegetables! Last night’s carnitas were yummy, and there was only a little meat on each one. But the warm black bean & corn salsa totally filled up the tortillas, and our hungry bellies 🙂 We are currently a family of six, but will be increasing in July. Thanks so much, Tiffany! I know this will make my pregnancy easier 🙂
Erin
Tiffany is such a blessing! She is really helping families! I’m so glad you liked week 1!
Zoe
No offense but I just don’t see how this is a realistic goal? Where do you live? We spend about $200 a week for a family of 6 eating whole foods! That is not even buying all organic veggies bc we can’t afford it! Just raw milk, local eggs an meat from a local farm cost upwards of $200 per month! I would love to think $350 a month was possible but I feel like my hungary boys might starve 🙂 maybe groceries are cheaper where you live!!
Erin
Zoe, Tiffany lives in California, so groceries are not super cheap. She teaches a lot on her blog of how to do this if you would like to check it out before checking out the meal plans. She has some awesome tips!
Andrea
I would love to check out more info befor I commit. I too live in California. We are a family of 8, 6 of which are male so my grocery budget is close to $200 a week and I don’t buy a lot junk food, husband requires some to keep him happy. I buy mostly organic, farm fresh foods but feel like I will be drowning soon if we don’t cut it back some. Do you have a link I can look at a sample of what I would be buying?
Erin
Hi Andrea! There is a 14-day guarantee (so if it doesn’t work for you, you get refunded), but I also wanted to put out there that this meal plan is for a family of 4, so I would say that it would probably translate to about $700/month for your family, which would still equate to a $100 savings per month, so I think it would be worth it to check out. Tiffany has TONS of free resources on her website as well as recipes that would be similar to what is on her plan, so I would check out her site to give yourself a good feel: http://www.dontwastethecrumbs.com.
Heather
It will not let me use the “savebig” coupon code. Says the cart does not meet the requirements. I tried both 12 month links.
Shannon
I am having the same problem, I went to sign up and the code doesn’t work
Erin
I’m going to have Tiffany check in on this! Thanks for letting us know!
Tiffany
Hi Everyone! The coupon should be working now!! Sorry about the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience!!!
Erin
Thanks, Tiffany!
Heather
Still can’t use the code. I am trying to pay by paypal? Any ideas??
Renee
I wasn’t able to see a sample of what she offers. It kept flashing on the screen.
Tiffany
Hi Renee – the sample download is available here: http://mealplans.dontwastethecrumbs.com/download-a-14-day-sample-meal-plan/
Renee
Thank you!
jennifer
Hi! I live in NZ and am wondering if I can get access to the whole year at once so I can use your winter recipes in our winter and summer recipes in summer etc. ?
Thanks!
Tiffany
Hi Jennifer! The memberships are updated monthly with the new meal plan, but you can browse our meal planning archives for inspiration if you need summer recipes now. OR you can become a member and save them as your seasons change!
julia
the meat must be really cheap for this, I buy hormone free chicken or organic and grass fed beef, maybe possible for double this and that’s frugal, or are people doing wic maybe?
Erin
I think the plans give a lot of recipes that really stretch the meat, and they also incorporate lots of beans, etc. The plans are for families of 4, but I think you could stretch it to 5 with small children. They are not written for those on WIC, although those on WIC could benefit, but WIC doesn’t give meat.
Tiffany
Hi Julia! The quality of meat used in the meal plan is soley at the discretion of the reader. The meal plan provides a shopping list, but as to organic/local/grass-fed/etc., that’s up to you!
Also, we eat organic chicken, among other organic items, and we’re able to keep our budget under $350. You can see my previous shopping trips here:
http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/category/saving-money/budget-accountability/
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
Seeing someone who is able to keep their grocery budget this low is both inspiring and discouraging. We consistently spend a lot more than that. But I am looking forward to checking out some of Tiffany’s tips and hopefully learning a thing or two that we can use!
Erin
I can understand. Tiffany has it down to an art, though! She has lots of free tips on her site, too!
Tiffany
Hi Lisa! Please don’t be discouraged on your own grocery budget because of ours! Every family is different, and has unique needs. Just do the best you can with what you have!
Jess
If you are a die hard carnivore for all/most meals, you’ll want to know that there are a lot of meatless recipes in the monthly plan, more than I was prepared for. I’m struggling to see how this will go over with my family – I might need to make some of these meatless items for my lunch {since I enjoy meatless} and will be curious to see how much this will cost if we choose to purchase some of the items {i.e.: tortillas, salsa, etc.} in instances where we don’t have time to make these from scratch.
Interesting concepts… I do expect to spend more than this amount but hope it provides *some* savings?
Erin
I think it will definitely save some, Jess. But if it doesn’t work for you, Tiffany has a 7 day cancellation period, where you can purchase any membership plan and have 7 days to cancel it. (You’ll be refunded a prorated purchase price, minus $15 for the first month.)
Tiffany
Hi Jess! Eating meat less often is one way we’re able to keep our grocery budget so low. In fact, it’s how we’re able to afford organic meat! Several meals are designed where you could add meat if you’d like. You could add one chicken to your shopping list and stretch shredded meat over the course of the month to get the most bang for your buck.
Making items from scratch like salsa and tortillas is another way we keep our grocery budget low. If you’re short on time, I suggest making them on the weekend, or making extra of one meal (like soup) to have leftovers the next day. Then instead of cooking, dedicate the night to prepping as much as you can for the upcoming week!
I know not everyone has time to cook from scratch and we all enjoy meat, but if you’re really trying to reign in the grocery budget, we have to be willing to do what it takes to get the job done!
jess
I completely understand – It would have been helpful to know that so many meals would be meatless in order to meet that goal. But it will be an interesting challenge, for sure!
Rachel
After reading the previous comments, I’m assuming this Meal Plan isn’t realistic or compatible for a family with multiple food sensitivities or allergies, but for a healthy family free of the burden of medical difficulties. The list of foodstuffs my ASD son can’t eat grows longer by the day, which makes any Meal Plan service unhelpful for me… how unfortunate and disappointing! In a better world, I would jump at the chance to take advantage of a service like this, but my family’s list of “safe” foods we can eat is burning a large whole in our livelihood, and we are the best/worst type of penny-pinchers!
jessi
the website says that you can always substitute out things that don’t work for your family and add things that do. i am approaching it with the adjusted expectation that our grocery bill may be more than $350 but will probably be less than what we’re spending now. LOL.
Erin
I’m sorry, Rachel! I know how frustrating this can be. My family has several food sensitivities as well. Hugs to you, and just do the best you can, Mama!!
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup
Eating healthy on a budget isn’t always easy, but it is very possible. Meal planning is a key element in that success. This sounds like a great plan! Thanks so much for sharing.
Erin
Tiffany is such a blessing to put these together!
Liz
Um, no. I’m trying to save money, budget, meal plan, etc. and you want me to pay for this service? When I can get hundreds of ideas, budgets and meal plans for free? I don’t understand how this would save me money. It’s more the point than anything – you could charge $1.00 per month and I wouldn’t pay it. I need to SAVE money, not spend more on something I can get for free. I am totally turned off by this website now, will not continue to read and will visit others I’ve bookmarked.
Erin
Liz, I find your comments rude. Tiffany is one of our contributing writers and a friend of mine. She has worked incredibly hard to provide a meal plan for people will who shave hundreds of dollars off of their food budgets each month by following it. She (and I) offer tons of free information on our sites for those who do not want to buy a plan. This plan, if followed, will definitely help save money.
dave
The idea of paying a monthly fee for a “frugal monthly meal plan” doesnt really sound very “frugal”
Erin
Hi Dave–it really is when you add up how much money the meal plan saves if you follow it.
Marcy
How to feed your family on$350 a month? Start a website business charging people for information to make money to feed your family. DUH!!
Erin
Marcy, this is very, very harsh. Most people really struggle to feed their family on more than $350/month, and Tiffany–who I personally know (the owner of this meal planning service)–has worked incredibly hard to put together a very affordable service that will trim people’s food budgets. For many families, this SMALL investment has shaved hundreds off of their food budget each month.
Nadia
Does this meal plan include organic options on a budget?
Tammy Lang
The sample download link takes you to a 404 webpage does not exist. How do we access the sample download???
Grace Varela
Hi, I live in Mexico, would your plan work for my family?
Lori
Do you (or anyone) happen to know of a similar resource for a more primal lifestyle? I love this meal plan, and the concept, but would love to find one without all the grains/beans.. I know that it wouldn’t be as frugal, but I’m curious, nonetheless. Thanks in advance!
Erin
I’m so sorry but I don’t off the top of my head. 🙁
Lori
Thanks for your response – it’s appreciated! 🙂
Trish
I just purchased the 3 month winter menu plan and am extremely disappointed in it. The recipes are fine, but the price list is way off. $4/lb for ground beef. $4/lb for bacon. Even on the best sale days, I’m paying AT LEAST $5/lb for both. Regular sales are $6/lb. I do love this blog and love the tips, but there should be a sample up for free so people don’t have to go through the hastle of purchasing then requesting a refund when the plan is so obviously off.
Erin
I’m so sorry you were disappointed. I know prices vary greatly by state and region.