As a work-at-home and stay-at-home mom, managing a household on a budget is part of my daily rhythm. With rising grocery prices, feeding a family of four on just $100 a week might sound unrealistic—but I’ve been doing it consistently, and it’s made our lives healthier, simpler, and more intentional.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I stretch every dollar while making sure my family eats well. These tips are practical, realistic, and tested in my own kitchen!
Simple Tips on How I Shop for a Family of Four on $100 a Week
1. I Start with a Weekly Meal Plan
Meal planning is the foundation of our grocery strategy. Every weekend, I carve out 20–30 minutes to map out simple, balanced meals for the week. This keeps me from buying random items that don’t go together.
- I prioritize meals with overlapping ingredients (e.g., spinach used in omelets, smoothies, and pasta).
- I use theme nights (Meatless Monday, Taco Tuesday) to limit decision fatigue.
- I always leave room for leftovers!
2. I Build My Grocery List Around What We Already Have
Before writing my list, I check my pantry, freezer, and fridge. This saves me money and reduces food waste. Often, I find that I already have half of what I need for certain meals.
Tip: I keep a running list of staples we run out of on the fridge.
3. I Shop at Discount Stores + Use Grocery Apps
To stick to the $100/week mark, I’ve become a loyal shopper at budget-friendly stores like Aldi, local produce markets, and Walmart. I also use apps like:
- Flipp – to browse weekly flyers and price-match
- Ibotta – for cash-back on essentials
- Store Loyalty Apps – to access digital coupons
4. I Focus on Whole Foods Over Packaged Foods
Buying raw ingredients is almost always cheaper and healthier. I buy:
- Whole grains (brown rice, oats, pasta)
- Dried or canned beans
- Eggs, frozen veggies, and seasonal produce
- Inexpensive cuts of meat or meatless proteins (lentils, tofu)
Cooking from scratch helps our budget and keeps our meals nourishing.
5. I Buy Certain Items in Bulk
For items we use often, I buy in bulk to cut costs in the long run—like:
- Rolled oats
- Rice
- Peanut butter
- Toilet paper and paper towels
These items rarely go bad and buying larger quantities means fewer trips to the store.
6. I Stick to a Cash Envelope or Budgeting App
Using a cash envelope system helped me stay disciplined at first. Now I track my spending with budgeting apps like EveryDollar or Goodbudget to ensure I’m not overspending.
A Sample $100 Grocery List for the Week
- Dozen eggs – $2.00
- Whole chicken – $7.00
- Brown rice – $3.00
- Canned beans – $2.00
- Cheese – $3.50
- Frozen veggies – $6.00
- Milk – $3.00
- Apples – $4.00
- Bananas – $2.00
- Lettuce/spinach – $3.00
- Carrots – $2.00
- Bread – $2.00
- Peanut butter – $3.00
- Oats – $2.50
- Yogurt – $4.00
- Misc. spices, condiments – $5.00
- Treat/snack – $4.00
- Total: $100.00
Final Thoughts from One At-Home Mom to Another
Living on a grocery budget doesn’t mean sacrificing health or flavor. With careful planning and smart shopping, I’ve been able to keep our food budget manageable—and I know you can too.
It takes trial, error, and practice, but once you find your rhythm, it becomes second nature.
🛒 Essentials for Budget-Friendly Grocery Shopping
1. Meal Planner Notepad or Dry Erase Board
Helps you map out your week’s meals so you avoid impulse buys.
2. Reusable Grocery Bags
Budget-friendly and eco-conscious for all your weekly grocery hauls.
3. Portion Control Storage Containers
Helps with prepping affordable meals in advance and avoiding food waste.
4. Digital Kitchen Scale
Perfect for portioning meals to stretch your ingredients and save more.
5. Bulk Pantry Essentials
Stock your pantry with budget staples that last longer.
6. Clip-On Grocery Cart Organizer
Keeps your list, coupons, and phone in one place — sanity saver!
💬 Want to Try It Yourself?
I’ve created a FREE printable weekly meal plan + $100 grocery list just for moms like you!
Download below
👉Healthy family grocery list in PDF file or word document file
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