Looking for a really easy Cinnamon Scone recipe? These cinnamon scones are SO delicious and surprisingly simple to make! They’re a longtime family favorite!
Love cinnamon recipes? You might want to also check out these Easy Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls or this Cinnamon Raisin Ice Cream Soaked French Toast!
Easy Cinnamon Sugar Scone Recipe
We have been making this Cinnamon Scone Recipe for almost a decade and it’s a tried and true favorite at our house!
It’s perfect as a special weekend breakfast or to take to a brunch get-together. We love making it for Christmas brunch each year!
It’s way simpler than it looks and it easily impresses guests! Plus, it’s SO delicious.
As you can see by this old photo of Kathrynne (look how tiny she was!!), we’ve been making these for a really, really long time at our house! 🥰
I have fond memories of the older three helping me whip up a batch of these in the kitchen when they were younger. (And now they’re old enough to bake recipes themselves!)
Just remember when making these that there’s no need to do it perfectly. In fact, I believe the beauty of homemade cinnamon scones is that each one has a little bit of personality!
Cinnamon Sugar Scone Recipe Ingredients
For the Scones:
- 2 cups flour (I used unbleached all-purpose, but you could use half whole-wheat, half unbleached)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 egg, separated
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 1/3 cup buttermilk (or 1/3 cup milk mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice)
For the Crumb Topping:
- 2 Tablespoons sugar (I like using Turbinado )
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
For the Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-3 teaspoons milk (just enough to make the glaze spreadable)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to make Cinnamon Scones
1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
4. Separate the egg white and yolk. Set the egg white aside.
5. In a smaller bowl, mix egg yolk, honey, and buttermilk (or milk/lemon juice mixture).
6. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
7. On a floured work surface, form the dough into a ball.
8. Roll or pat the ball into a half-inch-thick disc, roughly 8 inches in diameter.
9. Cut dough into eight equally-sized pieces.
10. Transfer the dough to a greased baking sheet (a pie spatula makes this very easy).
11. Whisk the egg white until froth forms and brush over the tops of the scones.
12. Mix turbinado and cinnamon together and sprinkle over egg-white-topped scones.
13. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
14. While scones bake, mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until a thin glaze forms.
15. Drizzle glaze over scones after they come out of the oven.
How to serve Glazed Scones
Scones are a great dessert or special treat with your morning coffee. They are also a delicious breakfast or brunch recipe — paired with an egg dish and fresh fruit.
The scones look so fancy plated on a pretty platter… no one will ever guess how easy they are to make!
How to store this Cinnamon Scone Recipe
After the scones are completely cooled and the glaze has hardened, you can place scones in a food storage container with a tight-fitting lid and store at room temperature for a few days, or freeze them for longer.
Cinnamon Scones Recipe FAQs
Buttermilk is the key ingredient in making them soft and moist. Also, keeping the butter nice and cold will help create more air pockets in the dough when it bakes.
Either will work, but we prefer buttermilk. Do not substitute regular milk as it’s not as thick and the results won’t be as tasty!
The biggest difference is the amount of sugar — cookies have as much as 3 times more sugar than scones. Scones also contain a lot more liquid, making them softer and more muffin-like.
In order to get that nice hardened glaze, simply let your glazed scones “dry” for 20 – 30 minutes before putting them away or covering them in any way. If you cover the scones immediately after glazing them, the moisture cannot escape and the glaze will remain wet.
These cinnamon scones are honestly some of the best scones I’ve ever tasted — flaky, soft, and beautifully delicious! I hope you enjoy them as much as our family has over the years!
Cinnamon Scone
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter very cold, cut into small pieces
- 1 egg separated
- 3 Tbsp honey
- ⅓ cup buttermilk or ⅓ cup milk mixed with ½ tsp lemon juice
For the Crumb Topping
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
For the Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-3 tsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
- Separate the egg white and yolk. Set the egg white aside.
- In a smaller bowl, mix egg yolk, honey, and buttermilk (or milk/lemon juice mixture).
- Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- On a floured work surface, form the dough into a ball.
- Roll or pat the ball into a half-inch-thick disc, roughly 8 inches in diameter.
- Cut dough into eight equally-sized pieces.
- Transfer the dough to a greased baking sheet (a pie spatula makes this very easy).
- Whisk the egg white until froth forms and brush over the tops of the scones.
- Mix turbinado and cinnamon together and sprinkle over egg-white-topped scones.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
- While scones bake, mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until a thin glaze forms.
- Drizzle glaze over scones after they come out of the oven.
Nutrition
Love this recipe?
Make sure to share and save it on your favorite platform below!
Looking for more recipes like this? Try one of these:
- 7 Make-Ahead Freezer-Friendly Pancake Recipes (Plus Tips & Tricks!)
- 13 Easy Homemade Bread Recipes (Freezer and Budget Friendly!)
- My Favorite Freezer-Friendly Muffin Recipes
- Easy Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon-Raisin Ice Cream Soaked French Toast (Freezer-Friendly!)
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Strawberry and Blueberry Muffins
- Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Let me know if you try this Cinnamon Scone Recipe and what you think of it! I’d love to hear!
FREE 50+ Easy and Cheap Breakfast Ideas!!
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Gretchen’s $95 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5
Gretchen’s $95 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5
I ended up being out of town some of last week and wasn’t able to do a grocery shopping trip for last week. So we basically were out of almost everything. Our meals were getting really creative by the end of the week. Because of this, I had quite a huge grocery list this week!
Aldi
4 dozen Eggs – $0.98 each
1 gallon Milk – $2.19 (I usually make our milk last longer by adding water to it once it gets down to half a gallon about mid-week.)
2 Half & Half – $1.55 each
2 bags Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.59 each
2 box MooTubes – $1.55
1 bag Frozen Tilapia – $3.79
1 bag Frozen Strawberries – $1.89
1 bag Spinach – $1.19
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $2.19
1 box Chewy Granola Bars – $1.15
2 cans Green Beans – $0.49 each
1 Grape Jelly – $1.29
2 pkg Strawberries – $0.99 each (I wanted to purchase more but a lot of the strawberries were either already moldy or looking old.)
1 can Refried Beans – $0.75
1 pkg Green Peppers – $1.99
1 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.69
1 Flour Tortillas – $1.25
1 pkg Pazazz Apples – $2.79
2 cans Tuna – $0.79 each
1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95
1 can Black Beans – $0.48
3 boxes Mac & Cheese – $0.33 each
1 box Cheese Crackers – $1.49
1 bag Sugar – $1.57
1 pkg Cream Cheese – $0.79
1 canister Raisins – $2.89
1 box Graham Crackers – $0.99
1 bag Tortilla Chips – $0.89
1 lb Ground Turkey – $1.89
1.70 lbs Roma Tomatoes – $1.89
1 loaf Bread – $0.95
2 lbs Ground Beef – $1.89 each
Total: $68.14
Kroger
1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.49
4 boxes Mott’s Fruit Snacks – $0.99 each
1 box Kroger Peanut Butter Cereal – $1.49
2.36 lbs Bananas – $1.16
2.24 lbs Bananas – Marked down to $0.87
1 bag Kroger Potato Chips – $1.25
1 Kroger Ice Cream – $1.79
1 Mom’s Best Cereal – $3.29 (This is the ONLY cereal my two little boys will eat. They ask for it every single morning.)
1 bag Clementines – $3.99
4 bags Kroger Shredded Cheese – $1.88 each
1 bag Frozen Peas – $1
Total: $27.81
Total for both stores: $95.95
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Cereal, Spinach Smoothies, Eggs, Oatmeal, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Lunches
Mac & Cheese, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese/Crackers/Veggies, Apples & Peanut Butter/Hard Boiled Eggs, Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Leftovers
Dinners
Tossed Salad Bar with Chicken
Grilled Chicken and Tilapia, Biscuits, Fruit Salad
Baked Chicken Taquitos, Chips & Salsa, Steamed Peas
Spaghetti, Tossed Salad, Green Beans
Crepes, Strawberry Smoothies, Scrambled Eggs
Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks
Barbecue Meatballs, Homemade Bread, Steamed Broccoli
My Goals For This Week (easing back into real-life!)
After taking an entire month off from goal-setting while on maternity leave, I’m excited to ease back into it starting this week. (My maternity leave doesn’t officially end until the end of May, but I’m feeling good and we’re getting into a rhythm and groove here, so I decided I’d test drive the new routine I created for my week this week!)
This Week’s Goals
Personal Goals
1. Take 5 slow walks in our neighborhood.
2. Finish reading Stay. Read 4 more chapters of Heartfelt Discipline. Read at least 10 chapters of The Librarian of Auschwitz.
Home/Family Goals
3. Read 3 chapters of The Boy on the Wooden Box aloud to the kids.
4. Complete 2 hours of foster care training.
5. Spend one-on-one time with each of the three older kids doing something they love doing.
Work/Blog Goals
6. Finish the second round of edit to my manuscript. Work on Afterword.
Word of the Year Goals
7. Have a family night and do an at-home Escape Game together.
What are YOUR goals for this week? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear and be able to cheer for you!
A Peek Into Our Week: Kierstyn is one month old (lots of pictures!)
A Peek Into Our Week: Kierstyn is one month old (lots of pictures!)
One month old! Kierstyn Michaela, you have brought so much joy to our home!
This month you:
- were born (!)
- came home from the hospital
- met your siblings
- loved your baths
- struggled to gain weight but (with lots of effort) passed your third weight check (!)
- slept like a rockstar at night (usually only waking up twice to eat and then going right back to sleep)
- worked on discovering your hands
- love bottles and nursing (which is a real gift as we’re still supplementing since my supply is low)
- met two of your aunts
- loved snuggling next to your almost “twin” Champ (the sweet boy we’re fostering)
- went to multiple appointments at the pediatrician
- had your first chiropractic appointment (and loved it!)
- practiced smiling (and are so close to doing it on cue!)
- got to see a few of our friends outside while we social distanced
- went on some walks
- rode in the car in your car seat
- joined us for a lot of Zoom meetings
You also taught me so much about resting in my Heavenly Father and trusting Him in the middle of unknowns and uncertainties. We are so thankful for you and the amazing gift of your life, sweet girl!
Champ continues to grow and be such a blessing to our home. He is laughing and “talking” and cooing and so interactive now. He also discovered his hands this week, which has been so fun to watch.
We all having matching jammies as a family that we got for Christmas. The kids asked if they could order some for Kierstyn and Champ. The smallest size they had was 0-3 months, which is still way too big for Kierstyn and still pretty big for Champ.
But the kids rolled up the sleeves and pants on his jammies and we had to get matching pictures! Oh how we love this boy so much!
There have been many moments in the past few weeks when I’ve felt stretched pretty thin… like I sort of wished I could clone myself so there’d be enough of me to go around. Instead, here’s what has been helping me:
1) Remember that this is just a season. I won’t have two needy newborns for years to come. I’m trying to give myself grace and reminders that I won’t always be spending the bulk of my day nursing, pumping, holding babies, and bottle-feeding. This is a short season and I want to savor it — even if it means a lot of things I normally do aren’t happening.
2) Don’t try to do it all myself. I need Jesus every moment of the day. Even if there are a hundred other things needing my attention, beginning my day with time in God’s Word and praying over my day and asking for God’s help is so important. Also, letting Jesse, the kids, and others in my life help out instead of saying, “I got it!”
3) Focus on what is in front of me. It’s so easy to get bogged down thinking of everything I need and want to do. It can be discouraging and it can steal my joy and my ability to soak up and fully live in the moment I’m in. It can also cause me to feel stressed, hurried, and frantic. Focusing on what is in front of me means I just do the next right thing. Because truly, that’s all I can do at any one given time.
4) Prioritize rest and quiet. I’ve learned a lot about myself in the last ten years. And one of those things is that I don’t function well without decent rest and daily quiet. So I’ve been working hard to make that a reality — and it’s made such a difference in my overall postpartum experience.
What helps you when you feel stretched thin? I’d love to hear your advice and ideas!
Brigette’s $99 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $99 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
My older sister, Brigette, shares her shopping trips and menu plans every week! You can go HERE to see all of her weekly menu plans and you can go HERE to read all about her family!
Aldi
1 box Peanut Butter Puffs – $1.35
1 box Crispy Rice – $1.35
1 3-lb bag Boneless Chicken Thighs – $5.79
1 pkg Deli Meat – $2.65
2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.78
1 5-lb roll 73/27 Ground Beef – $9.95
1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.99
1 pkg Turkey Bacon – $1.89
1 gallon 1% Milk – $0.97
2 64-cartons Whole Milk – $1.18
1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.65
1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.55
1 can Whipped Dairy Topping – $2.45
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce – $0.85
1 8-oz pkg Deli Sliced Cheese – $1.33
1 carton Goat Crumbles – $2.19
2 16-oz bags Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $5.30
1 pkg String Cheese – $1.99
1 pkg Frozen Broccoli Florets – $0.89
1 bag Riced Cauliflower – $1.69
1 Cauliflower – $1.99
2 cans Green Beans – $0.76
1 pg Broccoli Crowns – $1.38
2 pkgs Fresh Zucchini – $3.04
1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99
1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.29
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99
1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49
1 Seedless Watermelon – $2.89
4 cartons Strawberries – $4.80
1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.39
4 dozen Eggs – $3.52
1 32-oz carton Greek Yogurt – $3.25
4 cartons Greek Yogurt – $3.20
1 jar Cinnamon – $0.79
2 cans Tomato Paste – $0.58
1 bag Nacho Chips – $0.75
1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.67
1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.65
Total: $90.21
Harris Teeter
1 5-lb bag Organic Gala Apples – $4.99
1 jar Pace Salsa – $2.00, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1.00 after coupon
2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $1.94
1 64-oz carton Juicy Juice – $2.50, used $0.75/1 Juicy Juice 100% Juice Product, exp. 6/29/20 (SS 05/17/20) [ Excluding 4 pk Juice boxes] (doubled) – $1.00 after coupon
1 pkg Flipz Pretzels – $3.00, used $0.75/1 Flipz Chocolate Covered Pretzels, exp. 7/10/20 (SS 05/17/20) (doubled), plus receive $0.75 rebate from Ibotta – $0.75 after coupon and rebate
1 Dannon Yogurt – $1.25, used $0.65/1 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupon
Total after Coupons and Rebates – $9.67
Weekly Grocery Total: $99.88
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:
Oatmeal, Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt, Smoothies, Boiled/Fried/Scrambled Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Zucchini Bread
Lunches
Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Apples, Mini Peppers x 2
Tossed Salad Bar, Strawberries x 2
Leftovers x 3
Dinners
Taco Salad, Mexican Cauliflower Rice (I use half cauliflower rice, half white rice)
Spaghetti, Tossed Salad, Quick Garlic Breadsticks
Meatloaf (using half ground venison, half ground beef), Baked Potatoes, Green Beans
Grilled Chicken, Watermelon, Roasted Cauliflower
Hot Dogs (we have a package in the fridge that needs to be used up), Broccoli, Baked Potato Fries
Turkey Bacon, Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Strawberries, Grilled Zucchini
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Broccoli
3 Simple Steps to Actually Become a Disciplined Person
Do you struggle with self-discipline? These three simple steps will help you learn how to be more disciplined in all areas of your life!
Psst! Want some extra help? My Make Over Your Mornings course will teach you how to set up each day for success! You can also check out my eBook 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life.
Self-discipline helps in all areas of our lives — saving money, grocery budgeting, goal setting, weight loss, healthy eating, exercise, building businesses, meal planning, and more.
And many people have the want to, but struggle with the follow through.
If you struggle with discipline and it doesn’t come naturally to you, here are my top practical tips…
How to Be More Disciplined
1. Start small.
I’m sure most of you already know this, but it’s important to remind yourself of it.
You can’t overhaul your life overnight. You have to change one small thing at a time, or you’ll set yourself up for failure, exhaustion, and discouragement.
For example, don’t try to cut $200 off your grocery budget this month. You’ll probably burn out and get discouraged very quickly with that audacious goal.
Instead, try to shave an additional 1-3% off your grocery bill every month. That feels very doable and you can make little tweaks to easily make it happen. And if you continue to do that month after month, guess what? You’ll have shaved 10-30% off your grocery bill after 10 months!
Bite-sized chunks are always more doable. And when things feel doable, you’re more likely to follow through with it and develop discipline as a result.
2. Pick a keystone habit.
In his book Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg talks about creating and picking a keystone habit — which is a habit that will impact most all other areas of your life if you develop it and stick to it.
This is the principle behind my Make Over Your Mornings course. I encourage people to change their lives by starting small and being more intentional and productive with their mornings.
Try to think of something that if you do it consistently every single day, it would impact all other areas positively:
- Getting up 15 minutes earlier to make your bed, exercise, sip tea and write a to-do list, journal a few lines of gratitude, drink coffee outside in the quiet, etc.
- Looking at what’s on sale and planning your menu accordingly to shave a little bit off your grocery budget.
- Putting your phone in another room before bed to enjoy 15 minutes of quiet, conversation with your spouse, reading, journaling, or praying.
Whatever it is for you, pick a small keystone habit that you can do in about 15 minutes each day that will impact most other areas of your life.
As you learn how to be more disciplined in this one area, you’ll be surprised at how much it changes your life and you can build on that over time.
3. Get some accountability.
If developing habits and trying to become more disciplined is new to you, I challenge you to get some accountability.
Unless you’re someone who is highly internally motivated, if is very hard to stick to a new habit on your own.
Even if you are internally motivated, it can still be hard. Regardless, you need some sort of accountability.
I’m very internally motivated and don’t necessarily need other people to help me stay on track. However, I still have a form of personal accountability in the form of a daily checklist that I use to stay on task.
So think about what kind of accountability you need as you’re learning how to become more disciplined. Maybe you use an app, a checklist, text a friend each day, use social media, or join a Facebook group. Whatever it is — get some sort of accountability!
Change your life!
Start with one habit and use these simple steps. After 3-5 weeks, that one habit will become second nature and you won’t really have to think about it anymore or make yourself do it.
At that point, you can add on a new habit to work on. And then you can add on an extra habit every month or two until you’ve added several keystone habits at the end of a year.
Little by little, one keystone habit at a time, you will discover you’ve changed your life!
Related Posts:
- How to Change Your Life By Setting Goals
- 4 Simple Tricks to Help You Actually Finish That Goal You Set
- 5 Accountability Sources to Help You Reach Your Goals
- Why You Should Write Your Goals Down
- Goal Setting for the Type B Personality
- Why I Started Doing 10 Push-Ups a Day
- How to Get Up Early When You’re Not a Morning Person
- How to Become An Early Riser, Even If You Hate Mornings
- 6 Tips to Find Motivation to Work Out Every Morning
- How to Get Up Early Even With a Crazy, Ever-Changing Schedule
- 5 Simple Ways to Jumpstart Your Success Every Morning
- 3 Small Things Can Add Up to a Changed Life
- How to Get Up Early — Even if You Have Young Kids
If hope these simple steps will help you learn how to become more disciplined and change many areas of your life!
Why I Made My Teenagers Buy Their Own Food
Guest post from Teresa of TeresaWhiting.com:
It was nearing dinner time, and the question kept drifting through the kitchen… “Mom, what’s for dinner?”
My answer was met with varying degrees of dissatisfaction. I was growing really frustrated when suddenly, I had an epiphany!
“I’m not buying groceries, or cooking at all next week!” I announced.
My four kids, ages 12-17, were curious and a bit concerned. But I had a plan that would teach everyone just how grateful they should be for all my planning and preparation.
Our Family’s Meal Planning Experiment
The next week, I took out our budgeted grocery money and divided it up evenly between the six of us (my husband and myself included). It came out to only $35 per person.
I told the kids they would be in charge of planning, purchasing, and preparing all of their food for the entire week.
I admit that my motives weren’t exactly pure when I had this idea. I wanted to teach everyone a lesson in gratitude. But despite my distorted motives, something wonderful happened!
I was so impressed with my kids. They definitely took the opportunity to buy things that would never make it into the house on my watch; but overall, they did a fabulous job!
It was fun walking through Aldi and hearing them strategize with each other…
“If four of us go in together, we can each get one stick of butter from this pack.”
“Does anyone want to split a loaf of bread with me?”
At home, we unloaded the groceries and labeled everything with our initials.
The evenings got a little chaotic with six people in the kitchen, all preparing meals, but overall, the week was a huge success! When it was over, almost everyone asked, “When can we do this again??”
The first time we had a BYOF (Buy Your Own Food) week was about seven years ago. Since then, it has become a fun activity we do a couple of times a year, with some variations!
One year we had them take turns shopping and cooking for the entire family. They bought breakfast and lunch items as well, but weren’t required to prepare those meals for everyone.
At times when we needed things like paper goods or toiletries, we had everyone pitch in to cover those costs, or we assigned each person something to buy.
Here were some added benefits to BYOF week:
- Everyone was a little more aware of and grateful for the work of being a planner, shopper, and chef.
- My kids learned to budget, plan a menu, shop, and prepare basic meals.
- When Greg & I had to travel together, we knew the kids wouldn’t spend the whole week eating frozen pizza for dinner!
- As they’ve all grown up, they’ve taken these skills into adulthood and built on them.
- What started out as a mom’s desperate need for a break and a reality check for her kids, morphed into a well-loved family tradition!
Is this something you would try with your kids?
If so, here are a few suggestions:
1. Set general guidelines.
For example:
- You have to buy at least 2 fresh items – fruits/vegetables)
- You have to make at least one meal that involves a recipe (you can’t have all frozen dinners).
2. Think about the ages of your kids.
My kids were on the older side when we started this, but I definitely think an 8-year-old could handle it. If you have a wide range of ages, maybe pair a younger with an older to help in the kitchen.
We had been rotating the chore of “Dinner Helper” for some time, so my kids knew the basics already. Before starting something like this, make sure your kids have SOME experience in the kitchen with you.
3. Let them eat cake.
One week of junk food won’t kill them. I remember the first time we did this, the child with the most junk food was most grateful for my cooking the next week!
4. Help them make a plan.
It helps to give them ideas of a sensible menu and an idea of prices to get them started.
5. Allow your kids to fail.
What better place for them to learn than in the safety of your own home?
I’d love to know how this goes if you decide to try it. Your kids’ choices may surprise you. And who knows? You might start a new family tradition!
Teresa Whiting lives in Northeast Ohio. She is a mom of 5, grandma of 1, writer, speaker, and ministry wife. Through spoken and written word, her passion is to hold out hope to women in the midst of their mess. Visit her at teresawhiting.com.
What to Do When You’re Frustrated With Your Grocery Budget
Are you frustrated with your grocery budget? Read this for encouragement!
{Psst! Want more help with your grocery budget? Sign up to get 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.}
I recently received this question from a reader:
“I have a family of five. Why oh why can’t I stay on our grocery budget? We budget $750 per month and I see that you do it on $70 per week. I just don’t understand what I’m doing wrong! I’m frustrated down to my toes about this issue. I shop the markdowns, I portion control, I buy bargains — and yet I still go over every single month. I just don’t understand!” -Christy
I get this question pretty often because a lot of people see my $70 grocery budget and get frustrated and feel like they must be doing something wrong.
Here’s what I want to encourage you to do…
1. Stop comparing.
Comparison is the thief of joy. If you spend your life comparing yourself to other people, you’ll always come up short.
You’ll miss out on embracing your life right where you’re at, because you’ll be so busy worrying about what other people are doing.
We all come from different backgrounds. I was raised by parents who were very frugal and modeled excellent money management for me every single day of my life. A lot of people didn’t have that modeled for them growing up, and that makes a big difference!
Don’t beat yourself up over what you’re not doing or what you’re doing wrong. Instead, focus on what you can do! (More on that below.)
2. Remember your limitations.
We are all different families in different situations!
- Maybe you went into your adult life knowing nothing about saving money, since it wasn’t modeled for you.
- Maybe you have food allergies or sensitivities, so you can’t buy just anything and have to be more particular.
- Maybe you don’t have many store options in your area.
- Maybe you don’t have an ALDI or Kroger with markdowns.
- Maybe you have a time limitation because of your work schedule.
- Maybe you have a house full of teenage boys who are eating you out of house and home.
- Maybe you have kids in diapers, and that adds to your grocery budget.
My parents modeled great money management for me, our family doesn’t have any food specifications, we have tons of store options in our area (including 3 different Krogers and an ALDI), and I work from home in a job that’s all about saving money. Therefore, I have a lot of advantages when it comes to our grocery budget!
We all have different limitations. It’s important to give yourself grace!
3. Ask yourself what you can do.
Don’t be a defeatist and just give up, but be a realist about what you can do within your limitations!
Make sure you have a grocery budget — even if it feels way over the top compared to others. Know how much you’re spending.
Challenge yourself to examine the stores in your area and figure out your options. You might have to get a little creative! Maybe you have a small local grocery store, an Asian market, or farmer’s market. Or maybe ordering off Amazon or having a produce box delivered will be your best bet. Perhaps you have a friend who gardens and you can offer your time to help in exchange for some of the produce.
My advice is to try to shave 1-3% off your grocery budget every month. One simple change can shave a little bit off your grocery budget each month. And over time, that will add up to a big grocery budget cut as you increase that each month!
I bet there’s something you can do right now. Get creative, think up ideas, and don’t give up! (Need something to get you started? Check out these 25 ideas to cut your grocery budget and these 18 other ideas submitted by readers.)
4. Celebrate your success.
Focus on what you’re doing right and celebrate that!
Make a little bit of headway each month, and you’ll start recognizing how amazing you’re doing. And I bet you’ll get excited about it instead of discouraged!
Related Posts:
- My $70 Grocery Budget Posts
- How We Afford Snacks & Treats for Our Kids On a Tight Grocery Budget
- How to Eat Well on a $40 Weekly Grocery Budget
- 5 Things You Should Never Do If You Want to Save Money on Groceries
- 25 Simple Ways to Save Money on Groceries
- 18 Creative Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill
- 5 Tips to Save Time and Money on Groceries
I’d love for you to leave a comment telling us your very best tip for saving money on your groceries!
Want to cut your grocery budget? Go here and sign up (it’s free!) I’ll send you my 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.
A Peek Into Our Week: Baby updates, a visit from my sisters, and the Blue Angels
A Peek Into Our Week: Baby updates, a visit from my sisters, and the Blue Angels
Kierstyn is 3 weeks old now — and she had a pretty big week!
Not only did Kierstyn gain enough weight to pass her weight check at the pediatrician (and no longer have to keep going back for weight checks!), but she also got to meet two of her aunts (one of my sisters lives in TN and one lives in SC, so they met up and drove together to stay at our house this weekend).
Jesse took the kids to see the Blue Angels fly over Nashville.
“You are amazing! I don’t know how you do it!”
I’ve heard this over and over from people in the last 9 weeks as we said yes to fostering precious Champ right before we had sweet Kierstyn.
Here’s the thing you need to know: I’m not superwoman; but I serve a super God.
We prayed so much and talked at length as a family before we said yes to fostering Champ. And God gave us so much peace. We didn’t know how it was all going to work out, but we knew God was calling us to it and He never calls you to something that He will not also equip you for and carry you through.
That doesn’t mean it will be easy. Often God’s callings involve a lot of stretching and hard things. But God promises to be faithful through it.
I look back over the last 9 weeks and am so grateful we said yes to Champ. He has been such a gift to our home and brought so much joy. It has been an honor to care for him on behalf of his mom. And we have loved having two babies! (swipe to hear the baby noises that fill our home!)
No, it hasn’t been easy, but it has been good. And we’ve seen God be so faithful again and again and again!
If God is calling you to say yes to something, can I just encourage you to step out in faith and obedience? Even if it seems impossible and scary, saying yes might be the gateway to some of the greatest blessings in your life!
As I’ve watched this man lavishly love these two, I’ve thought a lot about my Heavenly Father’s love for me.
I don’t have to do anything to earn His love. He loves me for exactly who I am.
I can be fully and totally secure in His love. My actions (or lack of actions) do not dictate His level of love for me.
He pulls me in close. His whispers His love over me. And He says, “No matter what, I’m here. I love you. I’m not going anywhere.”
I don’t have to worry if I’m enough, if I’m too much, or if I’m approved by others. Instead, I can rest securely in God’s never failing, never changing, never stopping love for me and live in confidence knowing I am wholeheartedly and fully known, chosen, wanted, and loved by the God of the Universe.
Why Sinking Funds are Your Budget’s Best Kept Secret
What is a sinking fund? And how does it help your budget? Read this post to read why sinking funds are your budget’s best kept secret!
Looking for more posts on how to budget? Go HERE.
Guest post from Jessi of JessiFearon.com:
There’s sort of this best-kept secret in the world of budgeting and all things personal finance. Maybe you’ve heard of it before or maybe it’s a new concept. Regardless, I have to tell you about it because it has saved our family’s financial life more times than I can count!
So, what is this mysterious secret? Sinking Funds.
Yeah, I know, it doesn’t sound all Hollywood glamour but trust me, these bad boys work!
What is a Sinking Fund?
A Sinking Fund is a separate entity fund that you fund from your monthly household budget for a specific purpose. So in our household, we have Sinking Funds for auto-related expenses, home-related expenses, Christmas, and Vacations (we’re still working on setting up one for healthcare).
Each one of these Sinking Funds is a separate bank account (we use online banks for these as they typically don’t charge you bank fees) that we keep funded. For example, in our Auto Fund, we prefer to have a minimum of $1,000 in that account. So if we use that account and the balance dips below a $1,000 then that Fund becomes a priority in our household budget to bring the balance back up.
How does this help your budget?
To illustrate this, let’s talk about Edna. Edna was my husband’s 2006 Chevy Colorado. Back when we were first married in 2009, Edna started having issues. She spent a ton of time in the shop and no one could figure out what was wrong with her. Long story short, we ended up paying over $5,000 trying to fix a problem that should have only cost us around $20 to fix.
The issue is that we were newlyweds and I was still in college — meaning, we were broke. We not only drained our checking and savings accounts to pay for this mystery repair but we also put a lot of it on a credit card. To say that we were stressed was an understatement! But the outcome of this stressful event was the creation of our Auto Sinking Fund.
Our Auto Fund exists to keep a similar situation from ever occurring again. Now whenever one of our vehicles needs a repair or even just regular maintenance like an oil change or tires, we just take the debit card that is linked to the Auto Fund and pay for it. There’s no stress on our household budget for that month. And we get to avoid having to dip into the Emergency Fund to pay for it.
How do you set up a Sinking Fund?
The key to setting up Sinking Funds is to remember that you’re not going to be able to set them all up all at once. You’re going to need to take some time to build up these funds. I suggest you start with the most pressing Fund that your household needs in place. For my household that was the Auto-Fund but maybe for your household, it’s the Healthcare Fund or Home Fund.
Regardless of what Fund you decide to start with, pick one and then determine a minimum balance threshold. Again, with our Auto-Fund the threshold is $1,000. If you picked a threshold of $1,000 then you would work to build that account up to $1,000. Then once you’ve achieved that goal, you’d then pause contributing to that Sinking Fund and then start building your next Sinking Fund.
Why banking accounts and not cash?
For most of our Sinking Funds, we use bank accounts to save versus keeping them in cash. Mainly this is due to the fact that I’m married to a Spender and keeping money just hanging around is a little too tempting. Also, we’re both not comfortable having thousands of dollars just sitting in our home.
However, we have used the cash method before to build up certain Sinking Funds. Mainly those types of Funds are “quick” ones. Meaning, they’re going to get used up sooner rather than later. For example, when my husband was turning 30 we were still on the debt-free journey. However, I still wanted to gift him something special. He had his eye on this massive cabinet saw (my husband is a Master Carpenter), but it was $700. So, I set up a Sinking Fund where I set aside a certain amount of money from our budget every month into an envelope to build up the cash I needed to hand him on his birthday to go buy his saw.
That type of Sinking Fund is more temporary than our other ones. So using cash to build up Sinking Funds is a great idea when it is a temporary type of Fund, but for the more “guaranteed” type of events, I think an actual bank account should be used.
How do you budget for these Sinking Funds?
To budget for these Sinking Funds, take the minimum threshold balance you decide on and determine how quickly you want to save up. For example, if your threshold is $1,000 and you want it saved up in three months you’ll need to set aside at least $334 every month to achieve that goal. You could then further break that down into how much you need to set aside from each paycheck. If you’re going to receive two paychecks in a particular month, you’d have to set aside at least $167 from each paycheck to achieve your goal.
It takes a lot of self-discipline to achieve these types of goals but I have no doubts that you can do it! Trust me, once you start using Sinking Funds, you’ll be in a much better spot financially! You’ll also be less stressed! Nothing compares to the radiator blowing in your car and not having to stress out over the repair costs because all you have to do is go into your Auto Fund to pay for it. Honestly, it is an incredible feeling not having that stress of financial doom lurking over your head!
Do you use Sinking Funds currently? Have you thought about starting one?
Jessi Fearon is a wife and mom to three little kiddos. Her family paid off just over $55k of debt in 2 years and they’re now 100% debt-free after paying off their mortgage in January 2019 – all on a $47,000/year salary. She loves coaching others towards achieving their dream life by learning to manage their money and embracing their own real life on a budget.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Brigette’s $98 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $98 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
My older sister, Brigette, shares her shopping trips and menu plans every week! You can go HERE to see all of her weekly menu plans and you can go HERE to read all about her family!
Aldi
1 gallon Whole Milk – $0.57 (!!)
1 gallon 1% Milk – $0.57
1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.55
2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18
1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.65
1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $2.99
1 large jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.85
1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.65
1 6-ct pkg Organic Unsweetened Applesauce Cups – $1.19
2 heads Cauliflower – $3.78
2 bags frozen Riced Cauliflower – $3.58
1 3-ct pkg Multi-Colored Peppers – $2.29
1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49
1 pkg Zucchini – $1.79
2 Mangoes – $0.98
1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.46
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99
1 3-lb bag Lemons – $2.39
1 carton Mushrooms – $1.19
1 Avocado – $0.49
1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.19
1 jar Kosher Baby Dills – $1.19
1 32-oz box Spaghetti – $1.12
2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.98
1 3-lb bag frozen boneless Chicken Breasts – $5.59
1 3-lb bag frozen boneless Chicken Thighs – $5.99
1 pkg Pepperoni – $1.99
1-lb Sausage – $1.89
1 pkg Brats – $2.69
1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.49
1 pkg Turkey Bacon – $1.89
Olive Oil Cooking Spray – $1.59
1 16-oz bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $2.75
1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.75
1 pkg Deli Sliced Cheese – $1.33
1 32-oz carton Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.25
5 individual cartons Greek Yogurt – $2.94
1 24-oz tub Cottage Cheese – $1.59
1 pkg String Cheese – $1.99
1 large box Corn Flakes – $1.09
2 cans Condensed Tomato Soup – $0.98
1 pkg Taco Seasoning – $0.29
1 pkg Butter Quarters – $2.36
1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.45
1 bag Veggie Straws – $1.45
1 large tub Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks – $2.99
1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.67
1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.65
4 dozen Eggs – $2.92
Grocery Total for the Week: $98.88
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:
Oatmeal, Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt, Smoothies, Fried/Scrambled/Boiled Eggs, Veggie Omelets
Lunches
Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Apples, Cucumbers x 2
Pretzels/Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter, Peppers, Applesauce/Mandarin Oranges x 2
Leftovers x 3
Dinners
Brats, Baked Homemade Fries, Tossed Salad
Hubby Lovin’ Chicken (Trim Healthy Mama cookbook recipe), Broccoli, Biscuits
Spaghetti Carbonara, Tossed Salad, Homemade French Bread
Grilled Pepperoni Pizza, Grilled Zucchini
Venison Roast in the Instant Pot, Baked Potatoes, Steamed Carrots
Shepherd’s Pie, Tossed Salad, Butterhorns
Grilled Chicken, Sauteed Cauliflower Rice, Applesauce Muffins
25 Benefits of Costco Membership
Wondering if a Costco membership is worth it? This list will help you decide! And don’t miss this HOT Costco membership deal that’s running right now!!
Have you been on the fence about whether or not to buy a Costco membership? Have you wondered if it’s worth the money?
I was actually wondering the same thing a couple years back, and my readers came through with lots of great advice. Many of them thought a Costco membership is definitely worth the money, so I thought it’d be helpful to put all their reasons together in one post!
Do You Need a Membership to Shop at Costco?
You do not need to have a Costco membership to shop in the warehouse store, however, you will be very limited in what you can buy without a membership.
You can eat from the food court without a membership. You can also purchase alcohol and prescription meds without a membership card.
Additionally, you can take advantage of their health screenings, flu shots, vaccines, vision exams, and prescription eyeglasses without a membership.
And don’t forget the free samples — you can enjoy those without a membership too!
Our Favorite Costco Membership Benefits
Thank you to all my readers who submitted these ideas HERE, HERE, and HERE!
1. The membership can pay for itself.
If you choose the executive membership, you get 2% back on all your purchases throughout the year. At the end of the year, you get a check for the total amount of cash back.
Because of this, most readers who have the executive membership said that the membership ends up either paying for itself or they even make a little bit of money at the end of each year!
And if the 2% bonus check doesn’t end up paying for the executive upgrade, they’ll refund the difference. So if you think you’ll shop pretty regularly at Costco, it might be worth trying the executive membership.
Psst! Right now when you sign up for an executive membership, you can get a $20 gift card to use!
2. There are ways to save on membership.
If you keep an eye out, you can wait to sign up until you see a deal on a Costco membership.
They’re kind of rare, but they typically run these a couple times per year. Usually, the deal includes either a gift card or coupons for free products.
Typically the deals are through Groupon, but right now they’re actually running a direct deal where you get a FREE gift card when you sign up for a new membership!
And you can use the Ibotta app at Costco, which is a great bonus way to save on your purchases there!
3. You can refer friends.
Costco often runs friend referral promos where if you refer a friend to buy a membership, you’ll both get a $10 gift card!
This is a great way to stretch your shopping budget just a little bit further.
4. You get great gas savings.
Tons and tons of readers mentioned the benefit of gas savings that come with a Costco membership.
It seems to depend on the region you live in and if you hit the Costco gas station at the right time, but many people said you can get gas savings of 10-50 cents less per gallon!
And for people with big families who live close to a Costco station, the gas savings add up very quickly — enough to more than pay for your membership costs.
It’s also a great way to save on gas when you’re on the road. Just use the GasBuddy app to find the nearest Costco stations and fill up!
5. Major purchases make it worth it.
The Costco membership quickly pays for itself if you use it to make big purchases for items like grills, canopies, furniture, desks, freezers, computers, and more.
Costco has really great deals on all of these items!
Some people mentioned the executive membership was definitely worth getting if you plan to use Costco for this purpose since you’ll get so much cash back.
6. Many products are cheaper than grocery stores.
One of the keys to shopping at Costco is knowing what a good deal is and if you can get it cheaper at your local grocery store.
Obviously, this will be different for every family, depending on where you shop and live. But many readers said they could get a huge variety of items a lot cheaper than at their local grocery store (even with a coupon and sale) — especially if you choose the Kirkland Signature store brand.
Popular items many people said they found cheaper at Costco include:
- Garbage Bags
- Paper Towels & Toilet Paper
- Laundry & Dish Detergent
- Baby Wipes
- Pure Maple Syrup & Honey
- Baking Supplies: Flour, Sugar, Oats, Pancake Mix
- Nitrate Free Bacon
- Tortillas
- Chips
- Cage-Free Eggs
- Produce
- Ground Turkey
- Coffee
- Fresh Vegetables & Organic Bags of Fresh Fruit
- Almonds, Walnuts, & Other Nuts
- Spices
- Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Apple Cider (in the fall)
- OTC Meds
- LED Light Bulbs
- Snacks: Cheerios, Granola bars, Goldfish Crackers, Cheese Sticks
- Olive Oil, Soy Sauce, Pesto
7. They have great dairy prices.
Costco has really great prices on their milk, typically running about $1 cheaper per gallon than grocery prices.
They also reportedly have really great prices on butter, string cheese, and block cheese.
8. Their rotisserie chickens are a great deal.
If you love buying rotisserie chickens for dinner, Costco may be for you!
Costco has quality, delicious, hormone-free rotisserie chickens for a really good price — typically around $5.
And you can stretch a rotisserie chicken to last several meals!
9. They have quality beef at a great price.
In addition to the quality rotisserie chickens and cage-free eggs, you can also get really good quality meat at a nice price — especially on beef.
10. There are a lot of options for people who have dietary restrictions.
If you have any kind of dietary restriction, Costco is a really great option with a lot of variety!
- They carry tons of gluten-free products, including almond flour, maple syrup, packaged snacks, almonds, frozen chicken, and more.
- If you eat organic, they have tons and tons of organic products for the same price you’d typically pay for conventional pantry items.
- And if you eat vegetarian, they have great frozen meals, pizzas, and burgers that are meat-free.
If you struggle to shop for your specific diet and live near a Costco, the membership might definitely be worth it just for this.
11. The food court makes for a cheap meal.
If you’re shopping at Costco, you can stop in at the food court for a really affordable family meal.
You can’t beat their cheap pizza — a $10 large pizza can feed a large family easily.
They also have really cheap hot dogs and soda.
12. It makes party planning and hosting super easy.
If you like to entertain or plan events frequently, Costco makes hosting really easy.
The Costco sheet cakes are an amazing deal at just $18.99, and they’re huge and taste amazing. They also have a huge selection of pre-made meals, party foods, and desserts that are perfect for entertaining a large group of people.
And if you have kids in sports or activities where you have to bring snacks and drinks, Costco is a great place to buy those items.
13. Select products go on sale every month.
Costco runs monthly sales on select products, and you can grab really great deals if you pay attention.
Some people reported they plan their menu plans around the monthly deals. And you can also stock up on your favorites when they’re at an even lower price during a monthly sale.
Sometimes the monthly sales include really great prices on produce, too!
14. Costco Travel offers some great deals.
If you like to travel, you can use Costco Travel to get great discounts on rental cars and even resorts.
Many people talked about how cheap their rental car rates are, so this could be a huge savings if you travel frequently or love taking family trips!
15. They have a nice variety of plants.
If you love to garden or do outdoor work, Costco offers a really nice variety of quality plants — both indoor and outdoor.
16. Their pharmacy offers some great perks.
Costco has really great deals on OTC medications in bulk.
One person mentioned they save $60/year on Claritin alone over store brands!
They also have great pharmacy prices — although in some states you can use the pharmacy without paying for a membership.
17. You can get discounted gift cards.
Costco sells discounted gift cards for restaurants, retail stores, and local attractions.
You might be able to get $10-$30 savings on a gift card — which is a HUGE savings! This is a great way to save on gifts, too.
18. It saves time and money.
If you don’t have time for coupons or to shop at multiple grocery stores, Costco can really save you a lot of time and money.
Costco offers consistently good prices — especially on hard-to-find items or specialty diet foods.
So if you live in a more rural area without a lot of options, it might be worth the drive and membership to shop at Costco once or twice per month.
It can also save on time because you buy in bulk and don’t have to go to the store as often.
19. They have a good return policy.
Costco has a really liberal return policy, which makes it appealing for buying bigger ticket items. They will typically take just about anything back without even blinking an eye.
Most items can be returned up to a year after being purchased — and even longer on some electronics.
20. They offer good prices on store-brand paper goods.
It’s already been mentioned several times, but Costco offers great savings on paper goods.
You can get really good prices on toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, trash bags, and more.
And Kirkland Signature Brand is a really quality brand for a much lower price.
21. It’s a great place to shop at Christmas time.
Costco has a nice selection of toys and Christmas decorations during November and December that are much better priced than other stores.
If you host Christmas parties, you can also save a lot of money on produce, meat, and party food.
22. They have discounted books.
Costco has new release books cheaper than the cover price.
23. They have good diaper prices.
Costco reportedly has really good prices on diapers and wipes.
One reader said that when her kids were younger, she drove 70 miles to Costco to buy diapers each month because of the amount of money she saved!
24. They have good deals on eyeglasses, contacts, and hearing aids.
Costco has really good prices on prescription eyeglasses, contacts, and hearing aids.
They also offer cheaper eye exams than most eye doctor offices.
One person said the hearing aids at Costco are a quarter of the price she would have had to pay otherwise!
25. You can save on cars, tires, and auto insurance.
This is one you might not know about, but Costco offers some great auto deals!
You can get new car tires at a great discount. And the Costco Auto Program helps connect members to participating dealerships to find reduced prices on vehicles.
You can also save quite a bit on car insurance through Costco.
26. They offer print cartridge ink refills.
If you use your printer a lot, Costco offers a great price on cartridge ink refills, so that you don’t have to keep buying cartridges every time you run out of printer ink.
How to Get Costco Membership
Don’t forget! If you’re convinced that a Costco membership is worth it after reading this post, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of this HOT Costco Membership Deal!
We don’t see Costco Membership Deals very often, so this is definitely a great time to sign up!
Costco Membership Levels
Costco currently has 3 membership levels:
- Gold Star = $60 per year
- Business = $60 per year (specifically for businesses)
- Executive = $120 per year
Costco Gold Star vs Executive
The Gold Star level is half as much as the Executive level — however, the Executive level includes additional discounts on travel and other Costco services. The Executive level also offers 2% cash back on every dollar you spend at Costco.
So if you think you’ll spend $3,000 over the course of the year at Costco (roughly $250 a month), you will actually come out ahead by purchasing the pricier Executive membership.
More Costco Membership Benefits
Not only do they offer pretty decent prices on many name brands and organic foods, they also have some really great deals on clothing, gifts, and home goods.
Their products are high quality, their customer service is really great, and their return policy is one of the best around!
Also… samples! 🙂
Costco Membership FAQs
This depends on what you buy. If you need lots of diapers or something more pricy like new tires, your membership could pay for itself within a few weeks. In general, I think it would be extremely easy to save $60 on groceries over the course of a year — which means the membership would pay for itself.
For Further Reading:
Still on the fence and not sure if a Costco membership is worth it? Try these resources:
- Can a Warehouse Membership Save You Money?
- Does a Warehouse Membership Make Sense For Your Family?
- Cost Comparison between Warehouse Membership and Amazon Subscribe & Save
Do you have any other reasons that you think a Costco membership is worth having? Let us know in the comments!
Gretchen’s $89 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5
Gretchen’s $89 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5
Aldi
1 Cottage Cheese – $1.59
1 bag Spinach – $1.19
3 pkg Strawberries – $1.29 each
1 gallon Milk – $2.49
2 Half & Half – $1.55 each
1 Ranch Dressing – $0.89
1 can Black Beans – $0.48
2 dozen Eggs – $0.98 each
1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95
2 cans Chunk Tuna – $0.79 each
1 lb Oven Roasted Turkey Breast – $3.99
5 lb bag Potatoes – $2.99
2 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $0.89 each
1 bag Kettle Chips – $1.29
1 box Cinnamon Squares Cereal – $1.39
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $2.19
1 pkg Deli Cheese – $1.79
3 pkg Chunk Cheese – $1.69 each
1 Baking Cocoa – $1.79
1 box Chewy Granola Bars – $1.15
1 box Fruit & Grain Bars – $1.35
1 box Cheese Crackers – $1.49
1 bag Jazz Apples – $3.49
1 MooTubes – $1.55
1 bag Chopped Walnuts – $2.89
1 bag Coconut flakes – $1.29
1 Pure Maple Syrup – $5.99
1 pkg Hot Dogs – $0.79
1.08 lbs Roma Tomatoes – $1.07
1 Hot Dog Buns – $0.85
1 loaf Bread – $0.95
2 cans Green Beans – $0.49 each
2.86 lbs Grapes – $5.41
1 bag Oyster Crackers – $0.79
Total: $71.42
Kroger
1 bag Kroger Frozen Chicken Breasts – $6.99, used $1.25/1 mailer coupon – $5.74 after coupon
1 Kroger Butter – $2.50, used $0.55/1 mailer coupon – $1.95 after coupon
1 dozen Nellie’s Free Range Eggs – Marked down to $1.50
1 bag Kroger Hoagie Rolls – $1.79
1 Kroger Flour – $1.59, used $0.40/1 mailer coupon – $1.19 after coupon
1 bag Sliced Turkey Breast – Marked down to $2.29
1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.59
4.26 lbs Bananas – $2.33
Used $1 off order mailer coupon
Total: $18.38
Total for both stores: $89.80
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Cereal, Toast, Homemade Granola, Spinach Smoothies, Eggs, Yogurt, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit, Hard Boiled Eggs/Veggies/Crackers, Turkey Sandwiches, Tossed Salad Bar, Leftovers
Dinners
Hoagie Sandwiches, Chips
Hamburger Vegetable Soup, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Fruit
Rice & Beans, Tortilla Chips (leftover from last week)
Soft Taco Bar, Sliced Apples
Grilled Chicken & Hot Dogs, Mashed Potatoes, Steam Broccoli
Crepes/Pancakes, Strawberries, Eggs
Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks
50+ Cheap Easy Dinner Ideas
Looking for some easy family dinner ideas that are also cheap and won’t break the budget? When it seems like there’s nothing to cook, look in your pantry and see if you can whip up one of these simple ideas!
Need more dinner ideas? Check out this list of easy pantry recipes to make when your kitchen cupboards are bare.
Easy Family Dinners on a Budget
In a Facebook post a couple of years back, I asked our Facebook followers what meal they would make if they had $20, two hours, and six people to feed.
There were thousands of comments from people offering up SO many great ideas! And I thought it would be fun to gather some of those ideas into one comprehensive list.
Next time you find yourself in a bind on a weekday night wondering what to cook, I hope this list can serve as inspiration for cheap family dinner ideas to make really easily.
{Thank you to all of our readers for providing many of these ideas on Facebook!}
Cheap Easy Dinner: Pasta
1. Spaghetti
There are endless options here — ranging from fancy homemade sauce to simple jarred sauce you already have on hand.
I love pasta because it can fit just about any budget or preference. You can make it vegetarian, with ground beef, or even with ground turkey or pork.
You can also add lots of mix-ins and toppings — like onions, canned tomatoes, spices, and cheese!
2. Lasagna
In addition to traditional spaghetti dishes, lasagna is always a fun mix-up! We love this lasagna casserole, and these mini lasagnas are super easy to make ahead of time!
3. Spaghetti Pie
This is a fun variation on spaghetti! It’s similar to lasagna in taste, but cheaper to make and quicker to assemble.
4. Mac and Cheese
This is such a simple, kid-friendly, easy family dinner idea! This is our favorite mac & cheese recipe, hands down!
5. Buffalo Ranch Chicken Pasta
This seems like a fun pasta dish that’s a little different from the norm.
Cheap and Easy Meals: Mexican
6. Rice and Beans
You can never go wrong with this frugal classic — and there are so many possible variations!
Add cheese, sour cream, and avocado on top. Mix in a little bit of ground beef or turkey kielbasa if you want. Try different kinds of beans, like red, pinto, black, or garbanzo. You could even try your hand at making homemade refried beans.
If you want to make it even more budget-friendly, dried beans are even cheaper. Just be sure to make them ahead of time to save time!
7. Tacos, Burritos, or Fajitas
There are so many variations with these! Use roasted veggies, grilled chicken, or even fish tacos! Serve them in corn shells or flour tortillas with all the fixings. Or serve them over a bed of lettuce.
Sometimes we even keep it really simple at our house and make Bean & Cheese Burritos!
8. Taco Salad
Similar to above, you can just serve everything over a bed of lettuce! We call this Build Your Own Haystacks in our family.
9. Taco Pie
This twist on a taco recipe is sure to be a hit and it’s freezer-friendly!
10. Quesadillas
Cheese or veggie quesadillas are so easy to throw together — often with ingredients you already have on hand.
11. Enchiladas
This is another great classic that is super easy to make on a budget!
Easy Family Dinners: Soups and Chilis
12. Chili
This is a really versatile option with lots of possibilities, depending on what you have on hand.
You can make it vegetarian with beans and vegetables that are in season and on sale. Or you can add ground beef, pork, or turkey.
For a really simple and foolproof chili recipe, try this Chili Chowder. It pairs well with Honey Cornbread!
13. Jambalaya
14. Chicken Noodle Soup
This one is such a classic, easy family dinner idea. For a twist, we LOVE this Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup! It’s SO yummy and simple to make.
15. Chicken Tortilla Soup
16. Corn or Potato Chowder
17. Crockpot Taco Soup
This one is so easy to make and so versatile!
18. Best Ever Black Bean Soup
This is such a frugal and delicious meal. It’s also great served with crushed tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, and sliced avocado. If you have a family who isn’t really into meatless meals, you could add some cooked chopped chicken.
19. Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup
This soup is inexpensive and feeds a crowd, and you might already have everything on hand to make it! It’s also really flexible. Depending on what we have on hand, I’ll use ground turkey, beef, or venison. Sausage would work well, too. Add some fresh bread and a tossed salad, and you have a company-ready meal!
20. Hamburger Vegetable Soup
Growing up, this was a staple recipe in my family. And now my family loves it, too!
Cheap Family Meals: Chicken
21. Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie chicken is such a great base that can be used in so many different ways, especially when you find one on sale at the grocery store! I’ve seen SO many creative ways to stretch one rotisserie chicken to last five meals for an entire family!
You can try different flavors, depending on what your family prefers or what your taste buds are craving. You could even add it to pasta, vegetables, and Alfredo sauce for a yummy chicken Alfredo dish!
22. Baked Chicken
If you don’t want to buy a rotisserie chicken, try your own marinated chicken recipe! Need some ideas? Try this Oven Fried Chicken, this super easy Make-Ahead Marinated Chicken Recipe, or this Italian Lemon Chicken. Add sides to make it a complete meal.
23. Chicken and Dumplings
24. Chicken Caprese with Angel Hair Pasta
This one is really delicious and seems fancier than it actually is! Just Google “chicken caprese” to find a good recipe!
25. Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice
This one is a great twist on traditional chicken recipes.
Easy Family Dinners: Beef and Pork
26. Pork Chops
If you catch the sales right, pork chops can be a very economical meal. Grill them or cook them on the stove, then serve with the sides of your choice.
27. Pulled Pork Sandwiches
28. Meatloaf
29. Beef Stew with Potatoes & Carrots
30. Shepherd’s Pie
31. Meatballs
These Barbecued Meatballs are one of our favorite recipes!
32. Hamburgers and French Fries
33. Poor Man’s Steak
This one requires a bit of prep work, but the ingredient list is super short and it’s a frugal recipe. And it really sticks to your ribs and keeps you full for a long time — perfect for growing boys!
34. Beef Stroganoff
35. Meat Potato Quiche
This recipe is SO easy, frugal, and versatile. You can use any kind of leftover meat, or substitute chopped cooked vegetables for a vegetarian version. Feel free to mix up the cheeses, or add extra milk and eggs to stretch it a little further.
Easy Family Dinner Ideas: Casseroles
Casserole options are endless and make great cheap family dinner ideas! You can often throw something together with canned goods you have on hand. Here are a few ideas…
36. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
This casserole is delicious, filling, frugal, and so freezer-friendly! We’ve made it over the years countless times.
37. Southwest Chicken Casserole
This one is really easy and also freezer-friendly. This recipe was adapted from our family favorite Southwest Roll-Ups.
38. Chicken Pot Pies
These pot pies are great to make ahead of time for when you need a quick dinner! These can be reheated in the oven or microwave and are very portable! Also, feel free to experiment with different vegetables or meat in the filling!
Cheap Easy Dinner: Pizza
39. Pizza Salad
Grab a baked Asiago cheese pizza crust (or any pizza crust for that matter). Mix up your favorite salad fixings and toss in Caesar dressing. Cut pizza into slices and then add the salad on top. Yum!
40. Homemade Pizza
Homemade pizza is always an easy, frugal option, too! You could even try grilled pizza!
41. Upside-Down Pizza
This recipe comes from my great-grandmother. It’s an easy, kid-friendly, all-in-one dish.
42. Spaghizza
Try this for a fun twist on pizza and spaghetti! Kids especially love it!
Easy Family Dinners: Breakfast for dinner
Breakfast foods are always quick and easy family dinner ideas, depending on what you have on hand.
43. Biscuits and gravy
44. Cereal & Milk
When all else fails, grab a bowl of cereal for dinner! No cooking required!
45. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is always a really filling, frugal option. We especially love Baked Oatmeal topped with fruit!
46. Pancakes, Waffles, or French Toast
These recipes feel fancy, but you often already have everything you have on hand to make them! You can serve them as-is or with eggs, bacon, and fruit.
47. Breakfast Casserole
This is such a quick and easy recipe. It’s one we’ve been making for years!
48. Egg & Cheese Bites
This is another super simple, filling recipe.
Cheap Family Meals: Wraps, Pockets, and Roll-Ups
We love roll-ups and pockets in our house, because they’re SO easy to make ahead of time and they make for really cheap family dinner ideas!
49. Southwest Roll-Ups
This one is so inexpensive and freezes really well!
50. Crescent Chicken Pockets
The rich, creamy filling makes these pockets so delicious and filling.
51. Chicken Salsa Pockets
I concocted this recipe years ago and it as a huge hit!
52. Ham & Cheese Pockets
This is a recipe we used to make ALL the time back in Jesse’s law school days.
Other Super Easy Family Dinner Ideas
53. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
54. Baked Potato Bar
This one is SO frugal and easy! Just bake up the potatoes and use whatever toppings you have on hand — cheeses, bacon, green onions, salt/pepper, sour cream, butter, etc.
55. Build Your Own Salad Bar
There are endless options with this one, too! Just use whatever greens, fresh veggies, leftover meats, and toppings you have on hand!
Cheap and Easy Family Dinner Ideas FAQs
Start small and find 2 or 3 really frugal recipes your family loves (try to incorporate beans, rice, or pasta to add bulk). Then slowly expand to include more frugal recipes as time goes on.
Remember to always add a little extra broth or water to your soups and stews, and consider planning for 1 or 2 meatless meals each week.
You will also benefit from learning how to repurpose your leftovers — you’d be amazed how many people toss their leftovers — which is basically like throwing away your time and money!
Even if you don’t have any cooking abilities, you can still make a PJ & J sandwich… right! You can also spread canned refried beans and some shredded cheese on a tortilla. And I know you can pour a bowl of cereal or pop a bag of microwave popped corn!
Also, challenge yourself to learn how to cook a few of the recipes above — look up YouTube videos and learn a few basic cooking skills. Your future self (and your future spouse) will thank you!
Looking for more help?
Many of these articles offer practical tips and more recipe ideas:
- Sample $30/Week Grocery Budget
- How to Eat Well on a $40 Weekly Grocery Budget
- Easy Meals for 20+ People
- Cheap Meals for Large Groups
- Recipes for a Crowd of People
You can also check out this Facebook post for a plethora of additional ideas, sample menu plans, and tips!
Do you have any other cheap and easy family dinner ideas? Let us know in the comments!
FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Meals To Help You Avoid Takeout!
Meal time just got so much easier!
A Peek Into Our Week: Baby pictures, the birthday boy, and things I’m learning in this season
A Peek Into Our Week: Baby pictures, the birthday boy, and things I’m learning in this season
Kierstyn is 2 weeks old!!
This week, she started smiling more (not intentionally yet, but I’m guessing that’s coming soon!), she decided she likes eating more (something we are VERY much celebrating — there’s been a lot less falling asleep during feeds!), she went to the doctor again for another weight check and had actually gained a little bit for the first time (which we are also celebrating — and it likely would have been more had she not had three poopy diapers right before they weighed her!), and had her first real outing (a social distanced cookout in our friends’ backyard).
I’m celebrating that my milk supply has increased (all the work and effort is paying off!), that the babies are more and more getting on the same routine and are so happy so much of the time, that my postpartum blues are fading and I’m feeling more myself, and that Jesse and I have figured out a good routine at night that is allowing us to both consistently get 6-8 hours of sleep (cumulatively).
Little did I dream last Mother’s Day what this year’s Mother’s Day would look like!
Her hair looks like this every morning! It cracks us up. We’ve never had a baby with this much hair as a newborn and her hair definitely has a mind of its own.
I walked into our room a few days ago and had to take a picture of this because I don’t want to forget this season of life…
This is the season of unmade beds, unchecked off to do lists, and a master bedroom that usually has baby paraphernalia strewn all over it.
This is the season of spending most of my waking hours nursing, pumping, bottle feeding, calming crying babies, changing diapers, going to the doctor, on the phone or video chat with foster care related things.
This is the season for watching my older three sacrifice their time and routine to help out — to love on babies, to learn how to calm fussy newborns, to help with diapers and bottles, to clean and cook, to sit next to me and talk while we both feed a baby.
This is the season for falling in love even more with Jesse as he stays up until the wee hours of the morning with babies in order to let me get a good block of sleep in, as he gives medicine doses, makes bottles, calls the pediatrician or another specialist yet again, and as I see him sing to and speak love and life to these babies.
It’s not an easy season (but is there really such a thing? You all have your own hard things and struggles you’re dealing with, too!), but it’s a beautiful season and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This is the season I’m in and I’m seeking to soak up and savor every moment and memory.
A few weeks ago, Silas offered to take care of Champ (the precious little baby boy we are fostering) so I could take a nap. This might not seem like a big deal, except it was mid-morning and I knew that he already had his day all mapped out.
You see, he’s one of those kids who always has a plan for his day and he doesn’t like to veer from that plan. He had already told me that morning what the rundown was for his self-imposed schedule and how he was hoping to get everything done by 1 pm.
And yet, here he was mid-morning, offering to hold Champ. I was thrilled to be able to sneak in a nap after not getting a lot of sleep the night before.
Silas sat next to me on the bed with Champ and just held him. As I was drifting off to sleep, I heard him tell Champ, “I had planned to do my school this morning, but sitting here with you holding you is so much more important.”
It was such a good reminder to me — who also is one to have my day all mapped out and to like to stick with the plan — to remember what’s most important.
By the way, Silas turned 11 this week. And after being the baby of the family for all those years, with the addition of Kierstyn and Champ, he now has moved up to middle child status.
He has taken his role as big brother so seriously. Almost every morning, first thing, he comes down and helps me get the babies changed into their new outfits for the day. While he’s changing them, he will be gently talking with them and telling them how cute they are, how big they are getting, and just speaking so much life and love over them.
In addition, he has become a diaper-changing and bottle-feeding and baby snuggling pro. He’s even learning how to swaddle them!
Seeing his tender love for these babies and how well he helps care for them has been such a beautiful thing to witness.
Silas and I have Bible Time with the babies every morning. We sing a hymn to them and then he reads them a Bible story.
The babies love to lay next to one another and I will often look over and see that they have their arms intertwined. It melts my hear!