BEST EXTREME BUDGET MEAL PLAN $20 for a WEEK! // EASY MEALS on a BUDGET

My best extreme budget meal plan yet features tasty recipes from $20 worth of ingredients! I designed this to feed one person well for a week, but several recipes can be made for a family meal!

(Use code MINDY25 to get 25% off!)

follow me on Instagram: @seemindymom

~Frequently Mentioned Products~

*As an online entrepreneur, I sometimes work with companies who want me to feature their products on my channel. This means that some of my links are affiliate links, and I receive referral credit or a commission on purchases made at no additional cost to the consumer. This also means that some videos are sponsored, and I earn a payment for my work with that company, while my videos remain FREE TO THE VIEWER. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I am an amazon affiliate; this means that I earn commissions on the sale of certain Amazon products that are purchased as a result of traffic from my channel. You are not required to use my links.

[carmenjohnston]

As a SAHM I never imagined being in a position where I’d be worried about affording to feed my babies. My husband and I are thankful for your suggestions and budgeting recipes. I found myself crying today just overwhelmed with having to tell my toddler she can’t eat more of a meal because we have to save it for meals later on. We are very fortunate family with no debt and manage to make it by. But this season has been one of the most difficult yet. Thank you Mindy for your encouragement & videos. It truthfully is helping my family re-approach our meal planning/budget ❤️

[FrugalNutrition]

"If anybody deserves treats and luxuries, everybody deserves them." 👏 ☺ you're a GEM, Mindy!!

[lisarobins]

I think this is a very well balanced and nutritionally dense meal plan which would be sustainable indefinitely if money was really tight.

[abbigailburkes]

I really love that you tell people they shouldn’t feel guilty for getting themselves a treat. I can attest to that! Whenever I’m having a tight week or just want to watch what I’m spending I will still always make room for a box of cake mix, a special soda, etc. It seriously makes you feel so much better. Please y’all…get the cake mix and don’t feel bad about it!

[karinakissell]

Love that you give ideas for a tight budget that isn't just beans and rice. My kids will actually eat a lot of your recipes. 😀

[donnaa]

I’ve started keeping a zip lock bag in my freezer. Any time I chop veggies, I add the peels, skins, and trimmings to the bag. Once it’s full, I simmer it in water along with various spices, then strain the liquid. This makes such tasty, healthy veggie broth to use in soups, stews or any way you want.

[Kloops]

Oh thank you so very very much. I needed this. Thank you. I was married for 23 years and never really needed to budget for meals. Divorcing now, I am on a very tight budget. I appreciate your help. I know what I am going to have for dinner and lunch for the week.
I struggled for nearly a year of not feeling worthy of going grocery shopping soon after separating because I had been financially abused by him. Even though we didn’t need budget for groceries, he was good at shaming me for some of my choices.
Also, it was very depressing to start over. So thank you so very much for your help.

[mariannewakeam]

Your budget videos are amazing! With so many struggling with rising prices these ideas are filling and healthy and definitely within reach for most people. Thank you

[angelicagutierrez]

My local food pantry gives us pasta and canned veggies and canned tomato all the time. So I only really have to purchase meats and other veggies and breads to go along with it all. ❤❤

[elizabethjohnsen]

Thank you so much for this video. I’m a single mom and i only have a couple bucks to get us through this week. You’re an angel. The gnocchi soup is definitely going to be used!

[TaraannBudgetsandSelf-Care]

I try to put aside $5 a week for pantry stables. It helped me feed a lot of other families during the beginning of the pandemic

[pandapoof]

What I love about these recipes is, for the most part, they're one pot. I'm so excited to try the sausage and gnocchi soup.

[theopkingdom]

Mindy, I return to your videos again and again because of your real world, down to earth, recipes. I appreciate that you understand budget cooking. Most people have limited budgets AND time. So yes, scratch cooking can be cheap IF one has time to plan and prep things. Your recipes and ideas are much more friendly to real life. And, I hate to say it, but this is the food reality for many families over a long haul. So I appreciate you showing ways to get those nutrients and proteins into meals that could be empty calories without a little thought. Thanks.

[MandalaBunnyhome]

Another go-to for me was adding things to ramen noodles like hard boiled eggs, peas, etc! These are really great ideas, the worst part about a tight food budget is coming to terms with not being able to eat what you want. Having something to look forwars to helps so much, even just a square of chocolate or ice pop. Rice is also a big staple for my family, it's great if you can't have pasta.

[julybailey]

I couldn't believe grocery shopping last night for myself and my husband. I bought 2 medium size filets for steak as I haven't had steak in 2 months and was really craving it. I just can't eat a tough steak I'd rather skip it. Anyway 2 pieces for $36. I couldn't believe it😢 my husband and I grew up rather poor and we are also pretty fortunate now that we can shop while not being on a budget but I still find myself adding it up in my head as we are going through the line at the end. It drives my husband crazy. I remember how it felt going to bed hungry and my heart hurts for you folks that deal with this struggle of trying to feed your families. I worked 3 jobs a large portion of my life to keep food on the table. Bless you for making this video. The food actually looked amazing

[betterlivingonabudget]

If only I'd had YT and the internet back when I was in my early 20s and raising a family! Your channel is fantastic and so helpful to YAs just starting out on their independent lives.

[marjoriejohnson]

This budget meal plan helped me as I was looking thru today's ad coupons and figured out how I could meal plan like you do. I started with a 5# bag of russet potatoes for 99 cents and &4.79 for 1# of ground beef and will buy some similar items as you to make similar recipes as you. In leaner times I have used a 10 # bag of potatoes for a whole week of meals at EVERY meal for hash browns, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes and soup. Your budget meal videos are a good resource when needed 😊

[megsdell]

I love peanut butter and banana. Sometimes I roll it on a tortilla if I’m out of toast. I put a drizzle of honey and cinnamon on it to make it extra yummy! Also, the tuna casserole looks so good, planning to try it this week😊

[nickywiedmeier]

I agree on the treats! i do budget weeks at least once a month for a week. To save up and have us eat frugally. Making a pan of brownies that week for a couple desserts is a game changer for the kids. It stops all the complaining about the food or making it seem like we are missing out on good food

[susancarnegie]

As a retired person I visit my towns free giveaways to help with my food budget..there is always a snack of some sort in my bag or box..so much appreciated as I have cut a lot of unnecessary snacks from my budget. Thanks for your budget friendly meals!