$80.85 HEB Grocery Haul

Are you ready for our HEB grocery haul with a specific mission in mind: to feed a family of 7 for $700 a month. Managing a large family’s food needs on a tight budget, in this economy, can feel like a monumental task. However, with smart meal planning, a keen eye for deals, and strategic shopping, it’s entirely possible.

Im going to walk you through a recent grocery trip, showing you what we bought, the deals we found, and how each item fits into our weekly meal plan. Let’s dive into how we make every dollar stretch.

Meal Planning and Budgeting

Before we even step into the store, the most important work is done at home. Our goal of feeding a family of seven on a $700 monthly budget breaks down to about $100 per person for the entire month. This requires a solid plan. In this trip we are only shopping for one weeks worth of groceries. We always start by checking our fridge, freezer, and pantry to see what we already have. This prevents us from buying duplicates and helps us build meals around existing ingredients.

This week, we knew we had some staples on hand like certain meats, rice, and pasta. I buy meats on sale and freeze them and I buy rice and pasta in bulk throughout the year. Our shopping list was created to fill in the gaps for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. The key is to be flexible. While we have a meal plan, we also shop the sales. If a particular meat or vegetable is on a great deal, we’ll adjust our plan to take advantage of the savings.

The HEB Grocery Haul: Getting the Most for Your Money

This week’s primary shop was at H-E-B, supplemented by a Sam’s Club run for bulk items we are running low on. We spent $80.85 at HEB on this trip, which covers a significant portion of our meals for the week. HEB is a Texas based grocery store. There are almost 50 stores here in San Antonio- feeling like there is one on every corner!

The Power of “Meal Deals”

One of the best ways to save is by looking for store-specific promotions. H-E-B has “meal deals” where buying a few specific items gets you several others for free. This week, the deal was centered around smoked sausage. This is also often a great way to try convenience foods at a discounted rate that otherwise would break your budget.

What We Bought: Three packages of smoked sausage at $5.99 each.
What We Got for Free:
- A 59 oz. bottle of Gold Peak tea.
- A bag of HEB brand zesty ranch tortilla chips.
- A package of HEB brand sweet Aloha hot dog buns.
- A bottle of H-E-B ketchup.

For a total of $17.97 spent on the sausage, we received $13 worth of products for free. That’s a huge win for our budget! While we didn’t want hot dogs, we plan to get creative with the buns by toasting them with butter to serve as “dinner rolls”. With a little bit of creatively and thinking outside the box, dinner can be filling and delicious!

Stocking Up on Essentials

Beyond the deals, we focused on essentials to round out our meals.

Produce: We grabbed a 5lb bag of russet potatoes for $2.97 and a head of cabbage for only 81 cents, as it was a loss leader on the store ad. Potatoes and rice are our go-to starches to make meals more filling. We also bought a bag of Gala apples and some bananas for snacks and to add to lunches.
Proteins: Chicken leg quarters were a must-buy. At $1.27 per pound, we got two large packages for around $10 total. This is enough for a grilled chicken dinner one night, with leftovers for lunches or to be shredded and frozen for another meal. We also picked up some pre-packaged deli turkey, which is often cheaper than buying from the deli counter.
Dairy & Eggs: A carton of 18 eggs for $4.37 is a great price. Eggs are a versatile protein for breakfast or even a quick dinner. We also bought two gallons of milk and some half-and-half for coffee.
Pantry Staples: Two loaves of bread were on a “buy two for $2 each” deal, perfect for sandwiches and toast. We also got rice cakes for peanut butter snacks and a large box of generic frosted flakes for $2.98 to supplement our cereal supply.

The Sam’s Club Run: Buying in Bulk

For certain items, buying in bulk is the most cost-effective strategy. I know that bulk buying is not always easy, because there are larger costs upfront, but if you can set aside a little extra to buy rice for example in 25 pounds, it will pay off big!

A quick trip to Sam’s Club helped us stock up on things we use frequently.

Jasmine Rice: A 25lb bag for about $18 will last our family for around three months. We’ve increased our rice consumption to help stretch meals further, making this a crucial purchase.
Spices and Seasonings: We bought a large container of Italian spaghetti seasoning. Buying seasonings in bulk like this is far cheaper than small jars from the grocery store. It allows us to make our own spaghetti sauce with canned tomatoes, saving a lot of money. Members Mark has some great seasoning options!
Butter: We bought a multi-pack of butter. We’ll freeze three boxes and keep one in the fridge. Butter freezes really well!
Frozen Pizzas: A three-pack of pepperoni pizzas offers a quick and easy lunch or dinner option for the kids on a busy day. It’s cheaper than buying them individually.

Note that some bulk items, like paper towels and paper plates, are purchased but come from a separate household budget, not our $700 grocery fund.

A Week of Frugal Meals

With this HEB grocery haul, we are set for a week of delicious and affordable meals.

Dinners: We’ll have grilled chicken with mashed potatoes, smoked sausage with fried cabbage and potatoes, and leftovers will be repurposed for other meals. We also have ingredients for red beans and rice and pork chops from our freezer stock.
Lunches: Options include turkey sandwiches, grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, or leftovers from dinner. The kids can also have the frozen pizzas.
Breakfasts: Cereal, eggs, and toast are simple and quick options for busy mornings.
Snacks: We have apples, bananas, rice cakes with peanut butter, and the free bag of chips chips. We also have some popcorn kernels in the pantry.

Grocery Shopping on a Budget

Feeding a large family on a budget is a challenge, but it’s achievable with the right approach. By planning your meals, shopping the sales (and loss leaders), and buying certain items in bulk, you can significantly reduce your grocery bill.

Check out my weekly meal plans for more dinner ideas.

Here are 50 Ways to Save Money on Your Grocery Budget !

How I grocery shop in bulk for my large family.

What are your best tips for saving money at the grocery store? Do you have a favorite deal you look for or a budget-friendly meal your family loves? Share your experiences in the comments below