One Month of Family Meal Ideas on a Budget

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Including how to feed a family of four on £2.50 a day

Feeding the family on a budget isn’t easy, but with these tasty budget meals below, you can make feeding your family not only more affordable but less stressful too.

You really can feed your family on just £2.50 a day. By using your store cupboard ingredients and meal planning before you shop.

Cheap meals for a week for a family

If you are struggling to fill up your meal plan every week then have a look at our 31 meal ideas below. This gives you a month on breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas that you can use.

These are all extremely cheap meals, many coming in at under £1 a head. Make sure you have a look at at our full list of £1 meals here:

The Ultimate Budget Meal Planning List – This is our full list of £1 a head family meals that you can use to fill up your meal plan.

49 Aldi Slow Cooker Recipes For The Whole Family – We love our slow cooker! It’s a great way to make a family meal on a budget.

101 Aldi Recipes That Will Give You Dinner Ideas For Tonight – This is our biggest list of dinner ideas that will save you money and fill up your meal plan.

Breakfast

If you are looking for more breakfast ideas then have a look at our post here called 21 Vegan Breakfast Ideas For The Whole Family On A Budget.

Eggless Pancakes

This eggless recipe makes 10 pancakes which can be frozen then grilled back to warm. They take about 5 minutes to make and about 2 minutes to cook.

Read how we make The Best Eggless Pancakes Recipe Ever here.

150g self-raising flour 10p

1 tablespoon baking powder 2p

1/2 teaspoon salt 2p

2 spoonfuls of maple syrup, or granulated sugar 10p

2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 15p

250ml soya milk 17p

Total: 56p that’s 14p per person.

Breakfast smoothie

This is a quick breakfast that is great for the whole family. You can whizz it up and add whatever fruit you like.

1 banana 13p

40g porridge oats 10p

80g frozen soft fruit 75p

150ml milk 30p

1 tsp honey 5p

1 tsp vanilla extract 5p

Total: £1.38 that’s 34p for 4 people.

Omelette in a bun

The kids love this omelette recipe. It goes into lunch boxes quickly and is healthy too.

1 tbsp olive oil 5p

1 medium potato 25p

1 spring onion 37p

4 eggs 32p

9 small cherry tomatoes 20p

10g grated cheddar 25p

4 Asda Essential rolls 35p

Total: £1.79 that’s 44p each.

Baked oats

This may look like a cake but its a yummy and healthy breakfast recipe that you can make at the start of the week and store for the whole week ahead. Preheat the oven at 180 degrees fan. Put the porridge oats, yogurt, sugar and frozen fruits in a bowl. Mix it all together. In a seperate bowl, beat the eggs then add them to the other ingredients. Mix together in a bowl. Pour the mixture into a baking tray and cook for around 30 minutes. Like a cake, you will need to check if the middle is cooked. We use a toothpick. If it comes back clean then it is fully cooked inside.

100g porridge oats 7p,

200g fat free yogurt 40p,

1 tbsp sugar 5p,

100g defrosted frozen fruit 46p,

3 eggs 16p.

Total: £1.14 that’s 28p for four people.

Cooked breakfast

We love a classic cooked breakfast. This is really easy to make and is cheap on the wallet too.

4 hash browns 60p

400g tin of baked beans 30p

4 scrambled eggs 32p

Total: £1.22 that’s 30p per person for four people.

Breakfast egg wraps

These are great for four people and make a great breakfast on the go. You can add anything to these but our favourite is below:

500g pack closed cup mushrooms £1.50

4 tsp sunflower oil 5p

320g cherry tomatoes 90p

2tbsp parsley 5p

40g porridge oats 10p

10 eggs 80p

4 tsp English mustard powder 7p

Total: £3.92 that’s 98p a person for 4 people.

Mexican egg roll

This is a quick and easy lunch idea that the kids will love. You can even make these the night before and wrap them in foil and keep in the fridge.

1 large egg 8p

1tbp sunflower oil 5p

2 tbsp tomato salsa 10p

Total: 23p that’s just 5p a person.

Overnight oats

This is a yummy breakfast for the whole family. You make it the night before and add it to the fridge before you go to bed.

¼ tsp ground cinnamon 5p

50g rolled porridge oats 8p

2 tbsp natural yogurt 10p

50g mixed berries 25p

drizzle of honey 5p

Total: 53p that’s 13p per person.

Breakfast quesadillas

This is a quick breakfast meal that you can take on the run if you are running late. You can add anything to these wraps including peppers, tomatoes, chicken or ham. Go crazy and use whatever you have leftover in the fridge.

8 wraps 85p,

100g cheese 50p,

100g ham 25p.

Total: £1.60 that’s 40p for 4 people.

Egg muffins

These egg muffins are really easy to make and are great for lunch boxes. They are super cheap and you can add anything to them. All you do is mix the ingredients up and then oven cook them for 20 minutes on 180 degrees.

3 eggs 24p

40g red Leicester cheese 75p

Total: 99p that’s 24 a person.

Lunch

If you are looking for more budget lunch ideas then have a look at:

Our Slimming World lunch ideas here – If you are looking for more lunch ideas that can save you money then have a look at this post here.

Our lunch ideas for kids here – These are great lunch ideas for kids that they can eat on the go.

Under £1 a head lunch ideas for toddlers here – Use our £1 a head toddler meal ideas here.

Omelette

You can add loads to this basic omelette recipe. You can add cheese, herbs, and mushrooms.

3 eggs 24p

1 tsp sunflower oil 5p

1 tsp butter 5p

Total: 34p that’s 8p per person.

Waffles

These are great for a waffle maker and make a great weekend treat. We have them with frozen fruit or with chocolate spread.

4 large eggs 32p

300g plain flour 30p

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 5p

2 tbsp golden caster sugar 5p

50g butter 25p

600ml semi-skimmed milk £1.20

Total: £2.17 that’s 54p a person.

Eggy bread

This is a quick and easy breakfast for the whole family. We griddle pan ours on high heat once the egg is mixture is on the bread.

Bread 14p

4 eggs 32p

Total: 46p that’s 11p per person.

Eggy cheese crumpets

These eggy cheese crumpets can be grilled once submerged in the egg mixture. They make a great treat breakfast for the whole family.

3 eggs 24p

50ml milk 10p

6 crumpets 25p

250g cherry tomatoes £1

drizzle of vegetable oil 5p

40g cheddar 35p

Total: £1.99 that’s 49p per person.

Spicy mixed bean tortillas

These Spicy mixed bean tortillas are great for weekend days when you want something quick and easy. All of these ingredients come from tins or the freezer.

8 tortilla wraps 85p

200g onion 10p

1 tin of carrots 49p

400g can chopped tomatoes 39p

400g can kidney beans 30p

400g can of mixed beans in a mild chilli sauce 30p

100g mature cheddar cheese, grated 49p

Total: £2.92 that’s 73p for 4 people.

Smoky beans on toast

This is such a easy recipe that is great for the whole family. We like ours spicy but you can easily tone down the spices and mustard if you prefer.

150g rashers streaky bacon 95p

100g frozen onion 16p

400g can baked beans 29p

1 teaspoon brown sugar 6p

1 teaspoon English mustard 5p

1 teaspoon smoked paprika 5p

1 teaspoon ground cumin 5p

10g chopped chillis 5p

250g ciabatta bread £1

Total: £2.66 that’s 66p per person.

Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

This is one of those “chuck in whatever you have” recipes. It’s mega easy and even grilling the tomatoes only takes minutes.

Wholemeal penne (500g) 55p,

Cherry tomatoes (250g) 53p,

Dried basil (14g) 69p,

Total: £1.77 that’s 44p for four people.

Sweet Potato Carrot Soup

This sweet potato carrot soup recipe is really easy to make and is great for weekend lunches. Everything you need should be in your cupboard or freezer.

Read how we make our Sweet Potato Carrot Soup Recipe here.

The roasted sweet potatoes taste really nice in this soup.

500g chopped and cubed sweet potatoes 55p

400g tin carrots 49p

3 tbsp olive oil 5p

100g frozen onion 16p

2 garlic cloves 5p

1L vegetable stock 5p

100ml tin coconut milk 82p

10g pinch chilli flakes 10p

Total: £2.27 that’s 56p a person.

Chicken noodle soup

On a cold winter day, there is nothing better than a warming soup. You can make extra for leftovers. This is made for four but double it for 8 portions.

2 tbsp butter 5p,

50g frozen onion 4p,

400g tin carrots 28p,

1 crush garlic clove 5p,

2 chicken breasts £1.28,

500ml chicken stock 5p,

100g noodles 30p.

Total: £2.05 that’s 51p for four people.

Tomato & lentil soup

We love this soup as you can make it spicy if you prefer abd the lentils in the soup help yo keep you filled up till dinner. This recipe makes enough soup for four people but you can double it to make leftovers for the next day if you prefer. Start by frying the onions in the pan, then add the carrots. Add the stock, tomatoes and lentils. Bring it all to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes. When ready, blend the soup to your chosen consistency. We like ours smooth.

1 tbsp oil 5p,

400g tin carrots 28p,

50g frozen onion 4p,

100 ml vegetable stock 10p,

400g tin tomatoes 38p,

200g red lentils 50p.

Total: £1.35 that’s 33p for four people.

Dinner

Carbonora

This amazing Carbonara recipe is a really quick family meal that you can put together within 10 minutes. It takes 5 minutes to prep and 13 minutes to cook. Cook the spaghetti first as per the packet instructions, normally for 12 minutes. While it’s cooking, cut the bacon into small chucks and start to fry it. You shouldn’t need any oil, as the bacon is pretty fatty. Add the mushrooms to the frying pan and fry until soft. Add the garlic. Whisk the eggs and Grana Padano cheese together in a bowl. Drain the pasta and add it to the frying pan with the egg mixture. Stir quickly so the egg does not scramble. Salt and pepper to taste.

350g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Spaghetti 14p

250g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Cooking Bacon 37p

62g mushrooms 13p

3 garlic cloves 5p

2 eggs 10p

60g Grana Padano 80p

Total: £1.59 for 4 people that’s 40p a person.

Lamb Kebabs in Pitta

This is a great fakeaway recipe for a Saturday night. You can change this up and add any meat or even have this vegetarian.

Lamb & mutton mince (500g) £1.59,

Paxo natural breadcrumbs 65p,

Natural Greek-style yogurt (200g) 65p,

Garlic 25p,

Cucumber portion 38p,

White Pitta (6) 25p,

Total: £3.77 that’s 94p for four people.

Peanut Chicken

This Peanut Chicken is really easy to make. It takes 10 minutes to make and can be put into the slow cooker and takes about 4 hours.  Start by cutting the chicken into chucks and add it to the slow cooker. Then add the rest of the ingredients and set our slow cooker to medium.  When you are ready to serve, cook the rice in a pan for about 20 minutes or until the rice is soft. 

3 JUST ESSENTIALS by Asda chicken breasts £1.90,

100g frozen onions 19p,

2 garlic cloves 5p,

200g frozen mixed peppers 40p,

200g frozen carrots 10p,

120g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Crunchy Peanut Butter 31p,

1 tbsp cornflour 5p,

2 tbsp lemon juice 2p,

2 tbsp soy sauce 5p,

1 tbsp curry powder 2p ,

1 tbsp chilli flakes 2p ,

400ml tin tomatoes 28p,

300g wholemeal rice 48p,

Total: £3.87 that’s 96p per person.

 Homemade Beef Burgers

These are gourmet burgers that can be spiced up or down depending on what your family like spice wise. We also cook our homemade chips and add cheese slices.

Here’s how we make our Homemade Burgers. You can make them in the morning if you don’t have time in the evening.

500g beef minced meat £1.99,

125g frozen onion 8p,

2 garlic cloves 6p,

1 egg 10p,

Pinch of salt 3p,

6 burger buns 56p,

Lettuce leave 25p,

Tomato 50p,

Cheese slices 35p,

4 potatoes 40p,

Total: £4.32 that’s £1.08 per person.

Easy Sausage and Potato Casserole

This Sausage and potato casserole is so easy to make and really cheap to buy. A lot of these ingredients, including the sausages and puree, can go toward other meals too.

Onion 22p,

Tin of New Potatoes 32p,

Frozen Sliced Peppers (600g) £1,

Frozen Value pork sausages (20 pack) 99p,

Chopped Tomatoes 29p,

Puree (80g) 75p,

Total: £3.57 that’s 89p for four people.

Slow Cooker Peach Chicken

This slow cooker recipe is great for those rush evenings. All of this can be prepped in the morning or the night before. Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker pot (apart from the rice) and cook on low for 8 – 10 hours. When you are ready to serve, cook the rice as per the packet instructions.

2 chicken breasts £1.20,

400g tin peaches 34p,

200g frozen peppers 40p,

1 red onion 28p,

2 tbsp brown sugar 5p,

4 tbsp soy sauce 7p,

1 tbsp ground ginger 5p,

250g rice 30p.

Total: £2.69 that’s 67p per person.

Italian Meatball Marinara

This is a gorgeous meatball recipe that the whole family will love. It’s a healthy meal that uses a basic tomato sauce recipe that can be used for loads of meals.

Make this amazing meatball marinara here.

500g minced meat £1.99

2 onion 16p

3 glove garlic 7p

1 egg 10p

1 tsp salt 2p

2 tsp low cal spray 10p

1 tin passata 32p

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 3p

Half tablespoon sugar 5p

Half tablespoon salt 3p

210g Spaghetti 8p

Total: £2.95 that’s 73p for four people.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

This easy to make sweet and sour chicken recipe is perfect if you have friends coming over. Make a huge batch with brown rice and add as many vegetables as you like!

Here’s how we make our sweet and sour chicken recipe here.

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts £1.16,

1 x 425g can pineapple chunks in natural juice 50p,

2 tbsp cornflour 2p,

½ tsp dried chilli flakes 2p,

2 tbsp dark soy sauce 5p,

2 tbsp tomato puree 2p,

1 medium onion 8p,

300g frozen peppers 43p,

2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 5p,

Total: £2.33 that’s 55p for 4 people.

Beef Mince Tacos

Beef mince tacos make a great weekend fakeaway meal that is perfect for the whole family and really cheap to make. Minced beef tacos are really easy to make and can be as spicy or not as you like. We like using frozen mince or Quorn mince as you get to pick out as much as you want and freeze that rest. Make our yummy tacos here. You can use frozen vegetables if you prefer as they are re-cut so can make the process a bit quicker.

This taco recipe includes the light salsa that is really fruity so great for kids.

Put everything in the middle of the table and let everyone help themselves and build their own perfect mine taco.

100g mince 75p

175g baby corn 95p

190g frozen red onions 42p

100g red pepper 45p

110g kiwi fruit 60p

115g tomatoes 50p

5g garlic clove 2p

85g red cabbage 20p.

Total: £4 that’s £1 a head for four people.

Chinese Chicken Curry

This family-friendly meal is a great fakeaway recipe for a Friday night. It’s not very spicy and you can use frozen vegetables if you are short of time.

Here’s how we cooked our Chinese chicken curry.

2 frozen chicken breasts 65p,

125g frozen onions 16p,

Small piece of ginger 15p,

2 garlic cloves 6p,

400ml stock 3p,

2 tbsp low cal spray 10p,

3 tbsp plain flour 10p,

1 tsp sugar 5p,

180g Rice 24p,

Total: £1.54 that’s 38p for 4 people.

Family Meal Ideas on a Budget

If you’re family are big meat eaters, and you’re struggling to keep the food bill down, then there are a number of great butchers online that provide you with meat straight to your door fresh, but also for a lot less than you would normally find in your normal supermarket.

Muscle Foods offers fresh high-quality meat delivered directly to your door at a price that you can’t compare to anyone else.

Another great idea is Spicentice. They are great for families that are stuck in a rut with food and want some help keeping to a budget.

We tried them at the start of the year and loved them. They send out little spice packs with full ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make the meal. They are perfect if you’ve never cooked from scratch before or you want to learn.

What we loved the most about them was that there was so many simple meal choices like homemade burgers and kebabs.

Try them yourself here by using our code LASAVE20 and save 20% off every purchase*.

Meal planning tips to save you money

Now, let’s start saving your family money and take away the thinking process that happens when you try and meal plan.

Write Everything Down

As soon as you use it write it down on a list. you should be doing this everyday so that when it comes to shopping most of your list is done.

Go Through Your Store Cupboard

Before you go shopping, make sure you check what you have already. Can you make a meal out of what you have? That’s a few less things to buy.

Remember that cupboard items are important too like dried chilli powder and pasta for days when you need a quick meal.

Use Cashback Sites

It’s always best to check the cashback websites before you go shopping anyway. They offer loads of deals and you can really get money off by using them!

Our favourites are:

OhMyDosh – OhMyDosh is really to use and free! Search it before you shop for anything to see how much money you could get back.

Use our link here and get £1* added to your account for free!

Read our review here of OhMyDosh and what we think about them.

Quidco – Is great for getting the family treats at really low prices. Anything goes from takeaways to days out.

Sign up here free using our link.*

Swagbucks – Another great site that’s easy to use. You can also earn money by filling out surveys and watching videos.

Use our link here to join for free.*

Read more about Swagbucks here and what we think about them.

Go Down a Scale

Wherever you shop, there’s always a cheaper level of food. Start from the bottom and work your way up. If you don’t like the cheapest version, then go one up and try that. Chances are, with most products, the family won’t even be able to tell the difference.

Eating More Veg

Meat and fish are currently pretty pricey. Try grating vegetables into everything to try and bulk it out then freeze any leftovers for the next day.

Have a Meat Free Day

On weeks’ things are really tight, leave out meat. Eat Vegetarian. Swap all your favorite meals for veggie ones. Try veggie stir fry, fajitas or a Spaghetti Bolognese all meat free. It still tastes lush, but costs almost half as much to make.

Know What’s in Your Kitchen

Check the cupboards and the fridge before you go shopping. Is there anything you could use for next week? Is there anything in your freezer that could go with a meal? Any leftovers that need to be used?

Incorporate all these into your meal plan to bring the price down.

Buy Frozen

Frozen fruits and vegetables are just as good for you as their fresh counterparts. Everything can be bought frozen, from pineapples and strawberries to peppers and mushrooms.

We buy much of our meat frozen like chicken thighs and breasts.

Waste Nothing

Easier said than done with kids, but by being really strict, you can reduce what goes into the bin.

Anything that goes on your shopping list needs to have a meal allocated to it.

If your kids don’t eat much, then try serving everything all together and getting the kids to pick how much they want.

They can always come back for seconds, but it means you can freeze whatever isn’t eaten for another time.

Write a List

Plan what you’re going to eat and stick to it as much as you can. You can swap and change meals around, so as long as everything is eaten, it doesn’t matter when it’s used.

A list or meal plan just stops you going crazy at the supermarket!

Use our 101 Aldi Recipes That Will Give You Dinner Ideas For Tonight list for some inspiration.

Use Your Slow Cooker

Having a slow cooker to hand means that you can cook loads of meals while you are out. You can also make bulk out slow cooker meals easily with cans of kidney beans or baked beans.

Have a look at our 31 Aldi Slow Cooker Recipes For The Whole Family that has loads of ideas.

Meals on a budget

The key to keeping your costs down is meal planning.

Before you even start check your calendar. There’s no point adding and buying a meal when you aren’t home.

Check your freezer, fridge and cupboards. Try and use one meal a week from them, remembering to write down when and if you run out of a kitchen staple. This helps to keep your food bill in check.

Remember to plan for every meal. Do the kids need lunches this week? Are you going to be late home and need a slow cooker meal?

Keeping it simple will help you stick to your meal plan. These family meals really will save you money.

Free Printables From Our Resource Vault

If you are struggling to meal plan or are looking for ideas on how to save money as a family then why not join our free Resource Vault.

It gives you access to over 20+ free printables that you can download as many times as you like.

Join our free Resource Vault here

(By joining giving us your email address you are consenting to us emailing you about our other travel, home and lifestyle ideas. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every email.)

£2.50 Family Meal Planner on a Budget

This budget meal plan will feed your family of 4 for a week excluding drinks.

Most of these meals can be frozen for leftovers or prepared the night before and the vegetables be left in a air tight container in the fridge for the next day.

This list is here to help you make a decision on what to cook your family for dinner this week.

Saturday

Breakfast: Porridge with plums

Lunch: Sweet Potato & carrot soup with Homemade Bread

Snack: Easy Peasy Biscuits – 2 each

Dinner: Hidden vegetable Pasta and sauce

Sunday

Breakfast: Toast & Banana

Lunch: Ham & Onion Omelette

Snack: Homemade Fruit Flapjacks

Dinner: Chicken roast

Monday

Breakfast: Porridge & Cooked Apple

Lunch: Egg & Soldiers

Snack: Banana

Dinner: Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice

Tuesday

Breakfast: Fried Egg & Tomato

Lunch: Scotch Pancakes

Snack: Homemade Fruit flapjack

Dinner: Sweet Potato & Chicken Curry

Wednesday

Breakfast: Porridge with plums

Lunch: Cheese & Onion Omelette

Snack: Easy Biscuits 2 each

Dinner: Chicken Pasta Bake

Related Posts: 

• 21 Budget Family Meals and a £16 Aldi Meal Plan
• 21 Cheap Meals for a Week for a Family
• 101 Aldi Recipes That Will Give You Dinner Ideas For Tonight

Thursday

Breakfast: Egg & Soldiers

Lunch: Sweet Potato & carrot soup with Homemade bread

Snack: Left over fruit smoothies

Dinner: Sweet Potato & Chicken Curry Left Overs

Friday

Breakfast: Over Night Porridge

Lunch: Scotch Pancakes

Snack: Easy Peasy Biscuits – 2 each

Dinner: Homemade Four Seasons Pizza (half of cheese, quarter of chicken & tomato, quarter Pineapple & Ham)

Money Saving Challenge

If you’re struggling to save money then why not join our FREE money saving course that takes you step by step through saving money as a family. All simple steps to help you build an emergency fund or save towards that mega holiday.

Join our FREE Money Saving Course here and I can’t wait to see how I can help you!

(By joining giving us your email address you are consenting to us emailing you about our other travel, home and lifestyle ideas. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every email.)

Feeding the Family on a Budget: The Shopping List

4 Pints of Milk 0.99

Frozen Chicken Breast  3.33

Porridge 0.59

Plums 1.00

4 Bananas 0.56

Potatoes 0.95

Onions 0.56

4 x Apples 1.16

Sweet Potatoes  0.95

Carrots 0.50

Cheese 1.85

5 Tomatoes  1.00

Tin Pineapple 0.80

Ham  0.69

Frozen Mixed Vegetables 1.00

Eggs 1.19

Total: £17.12 (All prices from Asda and correct at time of publishing)

Remember that you can swap and change meals out of this every week from the above list. That way, you will still have a low shopping bill but lovely homemade meals.

There are endless ways to feed your family on a budget. The issue is an inspiration and that’s what I hope I have helped you with today.

I really hope this cheap meal plan and budget shopping list has given you some ideas and gets you and your family out from eating the same old meals every day.

Laura x

If you enjoyed this post and would like some more family friendly budget recipes or meal plan ideas, then head over to the budget food section here on Savings 4 Savvy Mums where you’ll find over 30 cheap posts dedicated to helping you cook and shop wiser for less. There’s enough tips to help you save over £300 a month! You could also pop over and follow my family food Pinterest boards for lots more ideas on how to eat well and spend less; Family Meal Plans on a Budget, Budget Family Meals & Budget Slimming World Recipes for Families.

Love this post? Then why not save it to Pinterest so you can easily find it later.

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