5 Ways We Eat on a Budget as a Family
Managing a household budget can be tricky, especially when you’re trying to prioritize healthy meals while balancing all the other expenses that come with family life. For our family, sticking to a budget is a team effort, and we’ve developed a few strategies that help us stay on track without compromising on quality. Here are five ways we make it work:
1. Planning is Key
Planning is our secret weapon. Every week, we sit down and map out our meals based on what we have on hand and what’s on sale. This simple habit keeps us organized, reduces food waste, and ensures that we’re not scrambling for last-minute dinner ideas that might tempt us to overspend. By planning, we ensure that our budget fits into our lifestyle, rather than trying to “figure it out” as we go. We bulk prep lunches, so we always decide on one lunch recipe that we will bulk prepare, and then we write down all of our dinner recipes for each night (understanding leftovers will be a couple of nights).
2. Buying Bulk
Bulk buying is a lifesaver for us, and Costco is our go-to. We stock up on staples like grains, dairy, and household items once a month. Buying in bulk might require a bigger upfront cost, but it saves us so much in the long run. Plus, we always have what we need on hand, which cuts down on those last-minute trips to the store that tend to bust the budget.
3. Cooking 95% of Our Meals and Snacks
We’ve made cooking at home a priority. Not only does this save money, but it also lets us control what goes into our meals, which is important for our health. We cook nearly all our meals, snacks, breads, etc. By sticking to this, we’re not tempted to grab expensive takeout on busy nights. We might eat out once a week, but that is rare, and we’ve found we actually prefer homemade meals.
4. Investing for Long-Term Savings
A few years ago, we made the decision to invest in buying a cow from a local farm. While it was a significant upfront cost, it has paid off tenfold. We have a freezer full of quality meat that lasts us a very long time, and we know exactly where it came from. Investments like this are a great way to save in the long run, even if they require some planning and budgeting up front. If you are curious, we spent about $9.00/lb on a whole Grass Fed, Grain Finished cow which included a mixture of all cuts of steak, ground beef (90% lean), ribs, etc. We had previously invested in two deep freezers for storage of the beef.
5. Getting Creative with What We Have
One of our favorite ways to stretch our budget is by doing a pantry or freezer clean-out. We get creative with the ingredients we already have, which often leads to discovering new family-favorite recipes. It’s a fun challenge, and it helps us avoid unnecessary grocery trips. Plus, it keeps our pantry and freezer from becoming a black hole of forgotten items! The last week of the month, we have to get VERY creative, but it works and keeps us on budget.
Bonus Tip: Weekly Budget Reviews
To stay on track, we review our budget every week. This isn’t just about checking numbers—it’s about making sure our meal plan and shopping habits align with our financial goals. If we notice we’re trending over budget, we adjust our plans for the following week. By doing this, we avoid the stress of overspending and can make tweaks before things get out of hand.
By being intentional with our spending and planning ahead, we’re able to feed our family well without breaking the bank. Don’t get us wrong, groceries are still very expensive. But, we are extremely intentional and know where our money is going. Every Sunday we check where we are at with our grocery budget, so it is never a surprise or “unknown” for us. When we don’t budget at all (or eat out consistently), that number can grow exponentially. We have found the 5 tips above help us stay aligned with our goals both health wise and financially.
What are your top tips for budgeting meals/food?