A trip to the grocery store can be incredibly stressful thanks to high prices, but what if you had to fill your cart with enough to feed a dozen people regularly, and do it on a budget? That’s the reality for Jane Brosseau, a mom of 10. Fortunately, she’s known as an “extreme grocery budgeter,” so she knows how to stretch her funds to get the most with what she has.
The mom says she uses her hacks to create meals for her family that feed everyone for just $1 to $2 per person. Here’s what Jane recommends to save more money at the grocery store.
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- Stick to a rotating list of the same meals every two weeks – She says she knows the meals her kids will actually eat and the ones that are cost-efficient, and she makes those meals on a rotating basis. Because she’s buying the same items consistently, she says the meals help her budget and know what she’ll be spending. With 10 kids, including two that are away at college, she doesn’t want to waste her time or money making something they won’t eat, so she says she only has about eight meals they make in rotation. One of her family’s go-to meals is a four-ingredient crockpot meal made with spaghetti, sausage, peppers and sauce, which costs about $2 per person.
- Choose “underrated” proteins – Making a meal centered around protein doesn’t have to blow the budget, if you shop for “underrated” proteins that are cheaper, Jane says. She likes to cook with chicken drumsticks, and can find a family pack of them for about $5. Adding broccoli and potatoes and cooking them on a sheet pan can feed the family for $1.50 per person, or $15 total.
- Have theme nights to keep meals cheap and fun – The Brosseaus enjoy theme nights like breakfast for dinner and appetizers and fast food nights, which let her have some fun while sticking to the budget. With such a large family, the mom admits they’re really priced out of dining at fast food restaurants, but they do the DIY version at home for less. The kids love having restaurant-style French fries and onion rings and mom loves that they fit into her grocery budget.
Source: Good Morning America
