Surviving on a Budget: The 2025 $20 Grocery Challenge
Can you really feed your family for a week on just $20? In 2025, with grocery prices climbing faster than paychecks, it might sound impossible — but it’s not. This updated $20 Grocery Challenge proves you can eat well on almost nothing using smart swaps, strategic shopping, and a pinch of creativity.
Whether you’re between paychecks, waiting on benefits, or just testing your frugal superpowers, this guide shows exactly what to buy, what to cook, and how to stretch every last penny without living on ramen noodles. 💪🍳
Originally published as the $10 Grocery List in 2001, this classic Budget101® survival plan has been completely rebuilt with real 2025 Walmart prices and real meals that keep you full — not frustrated.
$10 Grocery List Originally published on Budget101.com in 2001 and fully updated for 2025 by Liss Burnell
Updated $20 Grocery List (2025)
This list assumes you’re starting from almost nothing — no stocked pantry, no freezer meals — just grit, creativity, and twenty bucks. Prices are based on October 2025 Walmart averages (Midwest region).
- 🥚 Dozen Eggs – $2.98
- 🥛 Whole Milk (1 gallon) – $3.98
- 🥔 Russet Potatoes (5 lb bag) – $2.97
- 🍚 Long-Grain Rice (2 lb bag, Great Value) – $1.98
- 🥩 Ground Beef (1 lb, 80/20) or Ground Turkey – $4.94
- 🥫 Tuna (2 cans) – $1.78 × 2 = $3.56
- 🧈 Margarine (16 oz tub) – $1.99
- 🌾 All-Purpose Flour (5 lb bag) – $2.24 (you’ll use ~$0.50 worth)
- 🍌 Fruit (on sale – bananas or apples) – $2.00 budget
- 🥕 Vegetables (on sale or frozen mix) – $2.00 budget
- 🧂 Salt & Baking Powder – $1.00 combined (estimate)
Total: ≈ $20.14
It’s tight, but with a few pantry staples already on hand (oil, sugar, or spices), you can easily make it work.
🍳 What’s for Breakfast?
- Scrambled Eggs & Biscuits (using MYO Baking Powder Biscuits)
- Banana Smoothie (milk + fruit)
- Homemade Muffins (flour, milk, egg base)
- Pancakes with fruit
- Potato Pancakes (shredded potatoes + egg)
- Tortilla Egg Wraps (MYO Flour Tortillas)
- Rice Pudding (using leftover rice + milk + dash of sugar)
🍽️ What’s for Lunch & Dinner?
- Shepherd’s Pie – Ground beef/turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies (Recipe)
- Vegetable Soup with Rice – Simple, hearty, and stretchable for two days
- Tuna & Pea Wiggle – (Recipe) served over toast or biscuit
- Scalloped Potatoes & Vegetables (Recipe)
- Oven-Baked Fries & Salad (Recipe)
- Tuna Casserole with Potatoes or Rice
- Tomato Basil Pasta (Recipe) if you have a can of tomato sauce lurking around
This menu isn’t glamorous, but it’s hearty, filling, and practical. The goal is to survive a hard week without skipping meals or resorting to takeout debt.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown (October 2025)
| Ingredient | Amount Used | Package Size | Full Cost | Used Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs | 12 count | 12 count | $2.98 | $2.98 |
| Milk | 1 gallon | 1 gallon | $3.98 | $3.98 |
| Potatoes | 5 lb bag | 5 lb | $2.97 | $2.97 |
| Rice | 2 lb | 2 lb bag | $1.98 | $1.98 |
| Ground Beef | 1 lb | 1 lb | $4.94 | $4.94 |
| Tuna | 2 cans | 5 oz each | $1.78 × 2 | $3.56 |
| Margarine | ½ tub | 16 oz tub | $1.99 | $1.00 |
| Flour | 1 lb used | 5 lb bag | $2.24 | $0.50 |
| Fruit (on sale) | Variety | 2 lb | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Vegetables (on sale) | Mixed | Variety | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Salt & Baking Powder | Small amounts | n/a | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| 🧾 Total Recipe Cost: | $20.14 | |||
| 👨👩👧👦 Approx. Cost Per Serving (21 meals): | $0.96 | |||
📖 Related Recipes to Stretch Your Budget
🍲 Alternative Meal Ideas for the $20 Grocery Challenge
If you’ve got a few extra pantry staples, here are some creative swaps and stretch recipes to mix things up without spending more:
- 🥚 Egg Fried Rice: Use leftover rice, scrambled eggs, and any veggies on hand. Add soy sauce or a splash of salt water for flavor.
- 🥔 Potato Egg Hash: Dice and fry potatoes with an egg and a bit of margarine — top with chopped veggies for color and crunch.
- 🍞 Tuna Melt Toasts: Spread tuna salad on homemade bread or biscuits, add a sprinkle of flour gravy, and bake until golden.
- 🥣 Creamy Rice Porridge: Cook rice in milk for a sweet breakfast or comfort meal; add a spoon of sugar or fruit if you have it.
- 🍝 Flour Tortilla “Noodles”: Slice homemade tortillas into thin strips and boil briefly — top with margarine and salt for a fast pasta swap.
- 🥕 Veggie Fritters: Grate carrots or potatoes, mix with flour and egg, and pan-fry for a crunchy side or light meal.
- 🍛 One-Pot Tuna Rice Bake: Combine rice, tuna, and veggies with a bit of milk and bake for a filling, family-style dinner.
- 🍌 Banana Pancakes: Mash ripe bananas with eggs and a dash of flour for sweet, soft pancakes that double as snacks.
💡 Tip: Batch-cook your rice, potatoes, and biscuits early in the week — it’ll save fuel, time, and money while keeping your meals varied and stress-free.
👉 For even more frugal inspiration, check out the Dirt Cheap Dinners forum or explore our Make Your Own Mix Recipes index.
By Liss Burnell © Budget101.com 2025
