There was a time when I had absolutely NO idea what groceries cost. As a kid, food just magically appeared in the fridge. Then I got my first apartment in the early 90s and took that very first grocery trip with my tiny little budget… and let me tell you… that was an eye opener. I remember standing in the checkout line thinking, “HOW is this so much for so little?”
Fast forward a few decades and my husband and I spent a small fortune feeding our hoard of kids. Okay, there were only three of them, but GOOD GRAVY teenagers can put down some grub. I swear I blinked and an entire loaf of bread disappeared!
Now that my husband and I are mostly eating alone again, it feels like there’s an end in sight. A season where maybe - just maybe - we can spend a little less on groceries so we might retire someday before we’re 90.
So I thought it would be fun to see what we could actually do with $25. Not fancy food. Not Pinterest-pretty food. Just real ingredients. Things we could cook. Meals that would fill us up and still be healthy-ish!
And friends… it was eye opening (in the best way possible!)
The $25 Grocery List
(Prices will vary by region - this is Aldi/Walmart-style pricing as a rough guide.)
Proteins
- 1 dozen eggs – $2.50
- 1 lb dry beans (pinto or black) – $1.50
- 1 lb pasta – $1.25
- 1 lb ground turkey or beef (cheat item protein) – $4.50
Carbs & Staples
- 2 lb rice – $2.50
- Old-fashioned oats – $3.00
- Jar pasta sauce – $1.75
Produce
- 1 head cabbage – $2.00
- 2 lb carrots – $1.75
- 3 lb onions – $2.50
- 5 bananas – $1.25
Dairy / Flavor
- Block cheddar cheese – $2.50
Total: Right around $25
Notice what’s happening here:
- We bought foundations.
- We bought longevity.
- And we bought one comfort protein.
What Two Adults Can Actually Eat From This
Let’s turn that list into real meals.
Breakfast Options
- Oatmeal with banana
- Savory oatmeal with egg
- Scrambled eggs + sautéed cabbage
- Banana oat pancakes (using oats + egg)
Lunch Options
- Rice and beans bowls
- Cabbage & carrot stir fry over rice
- Egg fried rice
- Leftover pasta
Dinner Options
- Pasta with meat sauce
- Beans and rice with sautéed onions
- Cabbage skillet with ground turkey
- Veggie egg scramble
- Cheesy rice and beans
This easily covers:
- 5–6 days of meals for two adults
- Or stretches to a full week with careful portions
And no one is living on ramen.
How to Stretch It Further
A mature shopper doesn’t just cook - she strategizes!
Cook the Beans Immediately
Dry beans become:
- Rice bowls
- Bean mash for wraps
- Thick soup with carrots and onions
Batch Cook the Rice
Portion it out so you’re not tempted to over-serve.
Brown the Ground Meat All at Once
Use half for pasta.
Use half for cabbage skillet.
Cabbage Is the MVP
It sautés.
It soups.
It stretches meat.
It bulks up rice.
Grandma knew what she was doing!
What This Challenge Actually Teaches Us
- Convenience is expensive.
- Planning is powerful.
- Simple food is not inferior food.
- We are far more capable than the grocery store marketing wants us to believe.
And honestly?
There is something deeply satisfying about walking out of the store at $24.83 knowing you just beat the system.
Here are some more great money saving tips you might love:
