We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Welcome to my January 2020 family meal plan on a budget! If you are new here we are a family of 5 which includes me and my husband along with our 3 kids (2 boys & 1 girl ages 10, 8 & almost 5).
We live in California which means groceries can get pretty pricey here if you aren’t intentional about what you are buying.
I typically budget about $800 a month for groceries which also includes household items like cleaning supplies and laundry detergent as well as toiletry items like toilet paper and shampoo.
Basically the entire $800 isn’t just food.
Why do I do this?
I have noticed that when I am buying food I am usually buying other things alongside it. There are times when I shop for food and only need food but there are also many times when I shop for food and also need other things like toilet paper. It just makes sense.
I no longer have to spend time analyzing every receipt trying to figure out how much I spent on food versus household. I just know that I have $800 a month for everything and I need to make that work. (bonus tip: A great way I earn money back every week is by scanning my grocery receipts. I use both Ibotta and Fetch Rewards and consistently earn $100 every two months or so. I have a full review on Fetch Rewards here with all the info on how it works.)
There are months that I don’t end up using all of our grocery budget which means I save back what I don’t use for stocking up.
I highly advise having a small stockpile of items you use on a regular basis so that you don’t run out of your necessities. Having a stocked pantry is just as important too. By getting these items when they are at rock-bottom prices it will eliminate having to overspend on things you absolutely need.
Check out my LATEST meal plans here: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4
In a hurry? Here is the quick & dirty version along with all the links to any recipes.
I meticulously kept track of every single dinner this month so that way I could share with you a realistic approach to meal planning.
Out of 31 days, I cooked 27 of them! I decided to share below our favorites from the month. These meals are not only easy and affordable they are delicious too.
I hope you and your family enjoy these just as much as we did!
- Jan 1. Nachos ( I made a taco bar for NYE & I used the leftovers from that to make nachos the next day)
- Jan 2. Salisbury steak w/mashed potatoes & corn
- Jan 3. Homemade Pizza
- Jan 4. BLT’s w/ fries
- Jan 5. Chicken fried rice w/frozen potstickers and broccoli
- Jan 6. Baked ravioli w/ salad and breadsticks
- Jan 7. Honey BBQ chicken bites w/mashed potatoes & green beans
- Jan 8. Eat out night!
- Jan 9. Korean beef w/rice & green beans
- Jan 10. Homemade Pizza
- Jan 11. BLT wraps w/chips & fruit salad
- Jan 12. Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes
- Jan 13. Chicken Carbonara
- Jan 14. Chicken Carbonara LEFTOVERS
- Jan 15. Air fryer beef taquitos w/beans & Mexican rice (This is the air fryer I use)
- Jan 16. Taquitos, beans and rice LEFTOVERS
- Jan 17. Homemade pizza
- Jan 18. Snacky dinner (this usually consists of random things that we need to use up including fruits, veggies, meats etc the kids LOVE this)
- Jan 19. Pierogie casserole w/fruit salad
- Jan 20. Chicken fried rice w/potsickers & veg REPEAT
- Jan 21. Rigatoni meatball soup w/garlic rolls
- Jan 22. Brown sugar Italian chicken w/mashed potatoes & veg (incredibly easy & only 3 ingredients!)
- Jan 23. Chicken in a biscuit (Another quick & affordable kid favorite)
- Jan 24. Homemade pizza
- Jan 25. Homemade hamburgers w/air fryer french fries
- Jan 26. Chef Salads (kids ate grilled cheese, fruit & salad)
- Jan 27. Italian beef & rice skillet w/french bread
- Jan 28. Eat out night!
- Jan 29. Bruschetta chicken casserole w/salad
- Jan 30. Chinese pineapple chicken w/rice & broccoli
- Jan 31. Homemade pizza
Our Favorite Meals From This Month
Simple Salisbury Steak
If you love a quick and easy dinner idea this salisbury steak will do just the trick.
Chicken Fried Rice {better than take-out!} #dinner #weeknight
If you're having a hankering for take out this recipe will help curb the cravings.
Quick, easy and affordable your family will love this just as much as mind did.
Baked Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken
YES, this does taste as good as it looks.
This is a great recipe for those picky eaters (and husbands) in your house.
Korean Beef Recipe
When they say 15 minute meals they really mean it.
This was one of the quickest meals I made this month and was just as equally delicious.
Must try for those really busy nights!
Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes
This was one of the BEST sloppy joe recipes i've ever made.
An interesting twist to a classic my family gobbled this up like there was no tomorrow.
Homemade Taquitos
If you want a quick dinner idea that doesn't come from the freezer section this is it.
Who can complain about taquitos?
Rigatoni Meatball Soup
This one is perfect for those cold winter nights.
Cozy, quick, and super filling this soup will have you wanting to make it over and over.
3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Italian Chicken
3 ingredients including the chicken!
WHAT? That is pretty much unheard of.
if you need dinner and you need it fast be sure to check this out.
Bruschetta Chicken Casserole for a Delicious Clean Eating Dinner Idea!
Sometimes adding something a little fresh makes all the difference after those heavier meals.
This is a must try if you're looking for something affordable and healthy.
Chicken in a Biscuit
Chicken nuggets and biscuits? How could your kids say no this?
This is a fun twist to using chicken nuggets. Perfect for those nights where you need something just for the kids.
Italian Beef and Rice Skillet
Cheap and easy one pot dinner idea that is so dang delicious.
Want To Remember This? Share This To Your Favorite Board On Pinterest!
Thank you for the meal plan and tips about about Fetch!
You’re so welcome!
Hello!
I’m so excited to try out fetch rewards! I’ve always struggled to stay on board with money back apps because it is so specific & circumstantial so thank you for this recommendation!
Since you were so kind to refer me, I was wondering what your referral code was so you could get credit for the referral.
And if you have a top 5 or top 10 list of cash back apps that are your favorites from trying so many over the years (I have no idea how many are out there) I would really appreciate it.
Take care & thank you again!
Hey there!
Thanks so much for commenting. Yes, if you click the link to sign up for Fetch Rewards in my post the link will take you to an affiliate link. I do have a post about a few of my favorite cash back apps I will link it for you here https://www.mommycantaffordthat.com/grocery-cash-back-apps/
Have a great day!
Hi hun!
Thank you so much for putting this together. I just stumbled across it and man am I glad I did! So far my family and I have tried the Philly cheesesteaks sloppy joe, chicken in a biscuit and the Italian beef and rice skillet. We are all fans my dear!!! They are quick! Easy! Best yet affordable! So again thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Looking forward to next months ideas!
Oh yay! I am so glad you are enjoying them. The Philly cheesesteaks sloppy joes are my husband & I’s absolute favorite. So good.