Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
If $30 doesn’t feel like enough for groceries anymore… you’re not alone. In this video, I tried feeding a family of 4 on $30 in 2026, planning a full week of dinners with real meals (not survival food). I share what I bought, how I stretched it, what worked, and where it fell short.
With grocery prices where they are right now, many moms are feeling the pressure. I wanted to test this honestly and see what it really looks like.
Meals included:
– Chicken pot pie
– Tacos (with homemade seasoning)
– Chili
– Chicken stew
– Potato corn chowder (meatless)
– Corn muffins
I also share how having a well-stocked pantry makes a difference when cooking on a tight budget.
If you’re trying to stretch your grocery budget in 2026, I hope this encourages you.
Let me know in the comments:
👉 Could you feed a family of 4 on $30 where you live?
Chapters
00:00 $30 Grocery Challenge 2026 – Can It Feed a Family of 4?
30:33 How to Shred & Portion a Rotisserie Chicken for Multiple Meals
31:33 Making Homemade Chicken Broth from Scraps (Budget Cooking Tip)
34:01 Cooking Ground Turkey for Tacos & Chili (Meal Prep)
35:38 Budget Chicken Pot Pie for a Family of 4
47:05 Straining & Storing Homemade Chicken Broth
52:20 Taco Tuesday on a Budget – Family Dinner for 4
1:02:07 Hearty Potato Corn Chowder (Meatless Budget Meal)
1:16:09 Easy Ground Turkey Chili for a Family
1:32:04 Chicken Stew Using Rotisserie Leftovers
1:39:17 Grocery Prices in 2026 – You’re Not the Problem
1:41:45 Join Me on the Journey to 100K 💛
#GroceryBudget #FamilyOf4 #MealPlanning #FrugalLiving #2026Groceries
#homemakingwithdenise #thisandthatwithdenisejordan #preppingwithdenise #aprondiva #africanamericanhomemaker
WATCH NEXT ➡️ My 20-Item Capsule Grocery Haul: youtu.be/ve2KopjZ4F0
The Weekly Dinner Rhythm Framework (Best): themodernhomeeconomist.com/7bd21d05-d89fd10f
About this music: Courtesy of the Free YouTube Audio Library or a paid subscription to Epidemic Sound.
✳️ Want to learn about waterbath canning? Check out my course, Yes You Can! A Beginner's Guide to Waterbath Canning with this link: courses.homemakingwithdenise.com/courses/waterbath-canning-course
➡️SUBSCRIBE to my channel: youtube.com/@homemakingwithdenise
➡️Sign up for my newsletter The Homemaker's Journal: eepurl.com/ip_ZIs.
➡️Sign up for the free Laundry Lab Masterclass has closed.
➡️Don’t forget to head over to my YouTube channel’s home page where I share organized playlists to help you meet your homemaking and homekeeping needs.
Show Notes and Affiliate Links:
✳️Visit Amazon through my storefront here: amazon.com/shop/thisandthatwithdenisejordan
✳️ As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of my links below are affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I'll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay. All items are in my storefront.
✳️ALWAYS IN MY KITCHEN: (See EVERYTHING in My Shop):
Pure Titanium Cutting Board: amzn.to/459U4MB
Kook Ceramic Mini Coquette Ramekin Set: amzn.to/3GKbAxK
Mini-muffin tin: amzn.to/4mIMAHR
Rubbermaid Leakproof Storage Container
Kitchen Shears by Gidli: amzn.to/4ewXKNt
Hamilton Beach Slow cooker: amzn.to/4dUdiL9
Hamburger meat chopper: amzn.to/4cw24dm
Funnel: amzn.to/3QzfSfL
Ball Leakproof Storage Lids: amzn.to/4exUwtc
Lodge cast iron skillet: amzn.to/4cA6iR7
Misen Chef’s Knife: amzn.to/3QkuGPn
Fullstar Food Chopper: amzn.to/4tVGs13
Salad spinner: amzn.to/4eyMErn
Dutch Oven: amzn.to/3HNOseH
Spurtles Kitchen Tools: amzn.to/48bTHiS
Ball Mason Jar Storage Lids: amzn.to/49olRZc
Measuring Spoons: amzn.to/3OxGNox
OXO 2 Cups Measuring Cup: amzn.to/3UBXiE1
Soup ladle: amzn.to/3SRTNbc
Apple slicer: amzn.to/3ODTZZ2
Ball Mason Jars amzn.to/4aZvQ8Z
Clear Plastic Storage Bins For Fridge or Pantry amzn.to/3HqRfdl
✳️ Apron Diva at aprondiva.com
✳️Shop the children's books I've written:
Circus Animal Acts Paperback (Heinemann Read & Learn) April 2002 by Denise Jordan amzn.to/3ukXWbB
Circus Clown ABC (Heinemann Read & Learn) by Denise Jordan
amzn.to/3GCHDcZ
Circus Clowns (Heinemann Read & Learn) by Denise Jordan
amzn.to/3HvEmx9
✳️My Tech Gear
• Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II Camera amzn.to/2FGUUWj
• Canon M6 Mark ii amzn.to/32UxVEO
• Rode Video Mic amzn.to/2Fu871i
• Lighting Kit amzn.to/2Fow9yS
❤️Stay connected with Homemaking with Denise:
• Email: thisandthatwithdenise@gmail.com
• Facebook: @thisandthatwithdenise
• Instagram @homemakingwithdenise
• TikTok homemakingwithdenise
❤️Subscribe for more videos at youtube.com/@homemakingwithdenise
If $30 doesn’t feel like enough for groceries anymore… you’re not alone. In this video, I tried feeding a family of 4 on $30 in 2026, planning a full week of dinners with real meals (not survival food). I share what I bought, how I stretched it, what worked, and where it fell short.
With grocery prices where they are right now, many moms are feeling the pressure. I wanted to test this honestly and see what it really looks like.
Meals included:
– Chicken pot pie
– Tacos (with homemade seasoning)
– Chili
– Chicken stew
– Potato corn chowder (meatless)
– Corn muffins
I also share how having a well-stocked pantry makes a difference when cooking on a tight budget.
If you’re trying to stretch your grocery budget in 2026, I hope this encourages you.
Let me know in the comments:
👉 Could you feed a family of 4 on $30 where you live?
Chapters
00:00 $30 Grocery Challenge 2026 – Can It Feed a Family of 4?
30:33 How to Shred & Portion a Rotisserie Chicken for Multiple Meals
31:33 Making Homemade Chicken Broth from Scraps (Budget Cooking Tip)
34:01 Cooking Ground Turkey for Tacos & Chili (Meal Prep)
35:38 Budget Chicken Pot Pie for a Family of 4
47:05 Straining & Storing Homemade Chicken Broth
52:20 Taco Tuesday on a Budget – Family Dinner for 4
1:02:07 Hearty Potato Corn Chowder (Meatless Budget Meal)
1:16:09 Easy Ground Turkey Chili for a Family
1:32:04 Chicken Stew Using Rotisserie Leftovers
1:39:17 Grocery Prices in 2026 – You’re Not the Problem
1:41:45 Join Me on the Journey to 100K 💛
#GroceryBudget #FamilyOf4 #MealPlanning #FrugalLiving #2026Groceries
#homemakingwithdenise #thisandthatwithdenisejordan #preppingwithdenise #aprondiva #africanamericanhomemaker
WATCH NEXT ➡️ My 20-Item Capsule Grocery Haul: youtu.be/ve2KopjZ4F0
The Weekly Dinner Rhythm Framework (Best): themodernhomeeconomist.com/7bd21d05-d89fd10f
About this music: Courtesy of the Free YouTube Audio Library or a paid subscription to Epidemic Sound.
✳️ Want to learn about waterbath canning? Check out my course, Yes You Can! A Beginner's Guide to Waterbath Canning with this link: courses.homemakingwithdenise.com/courses/waterbath-canning-course
➡️SUBSCRIBE to my channel: youtube.com/@homemakingwithdenise
➡️Sign up for my newsletter The Homemaker's Journal: eepurl.com/ip_ZIs.
➡️Sign up for the free Laundry Lab Masterclass has closed.
➡️Don’t forget to head over to my YouTube channel’s home page where I share organized playlists to help you meet your homemaking and homekeeping needs.
Show Notes and Affiliate Links:
✳️Visit Amazon through my storefront here: amazon.com/shop/thisandthatwithdenisejordan
✳️ As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of my links below are affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I'll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay. All items are in my storefront.
✳️ALWAYS IN MY KITCHEN: (See EVERYTHING in My Shop):
Pure Titanium Cutting Board: amzn.to/459U4MB
Kook Ceramic Mini Coquette Ramekin Set: amzn.to/3GKbAxK
Mini-muffin tin: amzn.to/4mIMAHR
Rubbermaid Leakproof Storage Container
Kitchen Shears by Gidli: amzn.to/4ewXKNt
Hamilton Beach Slow cooker: amzn.to/4dUdiL9
Hamburger meat chopper: amzn.to/4cw24dm
Funnel: amzn.to/3QzfSfL
Ball Leakproof Storage Lids: amzn.to/4exUwtc
Lodge cast iron skillet: amzn.to/4cA6iR7
Misen Chef’s Knife: amzn.to/3QkuGPn
Fullstar Food Chopper: amzn.to/4tVGs13
Salad spinner: amzn.to/4eyMErn
Dutch Oven: amzn.to/3HNOseH
Spurtles Kitchen Tools: amzn.to/48bTHiS
Ball Mason Jar Storage Lids: amzn.to/49olRZc
Measuring Spoons: amzn.to/3OxGNox
OXO 2 Cups Measuring Cup: amzn.to/3UBXiE1
Soup ladle: amzn.to/3SRTNbc
Apple slicer: amzn.to/3ODTZZ2
Ball Mason Jars amzn.to/4aZvQ8Z
Clear Plastic Storage Bins For Fridge or Pantry amzn.to/3HqRfdl
✳️ Apron Diva at aprondiva.com
✳️Shop the children's books I've written:
Circus Animal Acts Paperback (Heinemann Read & Learn) April 2002 by Denise Jordan amzn.to/3ukXWbB
Circus Clown ABC (Heinemann Read & Learn) by Denise Jordan
amzn.to/3GCHDcZ
Circus Clowns (Heinemann Read & Learn) by Denise Jordan
amzn.to/3HvEmx9
✳️My Tech Gear
• Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II Camera amzn.to/2FGUUWj
• Canon M6 Mark ii amzn.to/32UxVEO
• Rode Video Mic amzn.to/2Fu871i
• Lighting Kit amzn.to/2Fow9yS
❤️Stay connected with Homemaking with Denise:
• Email: thisandthatwithdenise@gmail.com
• Facebook: @thisandthatwithdenise
• Instagram @homemakingwithdenise
• TikTok homemakingwithdenise
❤️Subscribe for more videos at youtube.com/@homemakingwithdenise
