Yo. Let’s talk about groceries. Fact: they can really add up. And that’s coming from a family of two (just G and myself!)… so I can’t even imagine a bill in which we have kids!

When we were first married in our entry-level jobs and trying to pay off student loans, I frequented Pinterest to find cheap dinner recipes and the trend I found was things like homemade pizza bagels, flavorless chicken, just straight up beans, and other things that were boring and just overall SUCKED.

Over the years though, I’ve found tried and true recipes that are both easy to make on the fly, are delicious, and are also pretty inexpensive. The key I’ve found is making things that have minimal ingredients– which works out because that often times makes it a little healthier! (All of these are linked to their respective creators)

Normally I pair one of these entrees with steamed broccoli, roasted brussel sprouts/sweet potato chunks, a side salad, or a baked sweet potato.

Pro-tips:

Meal planning is your friend– figure out how you can use ingredients you are buying for the week in multiple meals
Buying in bulk can save you $$$. Sometimes, paying that upfront membership to Costco or Sam’s Club can save you a bit of money!
Try shopping at Aldi or Lidl– they do non-name brand products that are often much cheaper than competition.
Shop the deals and eat in season. Wait until there is a good deal to stock up on certain meats/veggies that you can also freeze for future meals.
I’m not into couponing because I feel like there is so much of an emphasis on processed foods, so I could stick with coupons for household items and then buying produce and fresh meat on sale.