“Give us this day our daily bread.” — Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

Shopping Lists

How To Use These Lists

These shopping lists are meant to help you plan simple, affordable meals without wasting food. Start by checking what you already have, then only buy what fills the gaps.

Pantry Staples

Rice, pasta, oats, flour, cornmeal, sugar, and potatoes
Dry beans, lentils, canned beans, peanut butter, and tuna
Canned tomatoes, mixed vegetables, soups, broth, and bouillon
Oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cinnamon
Powdered milk, evaporated milk, baking powder, baking soda, and yeast if you bake

Weekly Top-Offs

Bread, tortillas, biscuits, or cornbread mix
Eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, or whatever dairy fits the budget
Bananas, apples, oranges, or seasonal fruit
Carrots, onions, cabbage, potatoes, lettuce, or frozen vegetables
Chicken thighs, ground meat, sausage, or sale meat

Emergency $20 List

Rice
Beans or lentils
Eggs
Bread or tortillas
Peanut butter
Canned tomatoes
Canned vegetables
Potatoes or oats

Budget Meal Builder

Base	Protein	Vegetable	Flavor
Rice	Beans, eggs, tuna, chicken	Frozen mixed vegetables	Soy sauce, garlic, onion
Pasta	Ground meat, beans, cheese	Tomatoes, peppers, spinach	Italian seasoning, garlic
Potatoes	Eggs, sausage, beans	Onions, cabbage, carrots	Salt, pepper, paprika
Oats	Peanut butter, milk, yogurt	Fruit	Cinnamon, honey, brown sugar

Before You Shop

Check the refrigerator first.
Check the freezer next.
Look through the pantry for open packages.
Plan meals around anything that needs used up.
Write down only what is missing.
Leave a little room in the budget for markdowns or good sales.

Related Frugal Living Pages