Shopping for groceries these days is anything but inexpensive. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Monthly Cost of Food Reports, the average cost of groceries in July 2026 for a family of four was $236.50 per week—and $1,024.90 per month.

To save money on groceries, families are having to get creative and find frugal options. One mom in particular is helping thousands of people work with an “extreme” grocery budget.

Julia Pacheco, food blogger and mom of two, shared her “extreme $25 grocery budget” on YouTube. With groceries purchased at Walmart, she can feed three meals a day to her family of four.

“The way grocery prices are right now, they’re outrageous,” she says.

Setting a grocery budget of $25

Pacheco explained to her viewers that her video was meant to help anyone working with an extreme grocery budget find healthy choices and avoid “filler foods.”

“I want this week to be full of nourishing, delicious foods, just made on an extreme budget,” she notes.

Pacheco took viewers along with her to Walmart, and this is the exact list she purchased for $25.28:

1 lb. ground chicken tube ($1.96)

9 oz. pork chorizo ($1.50)

2 packets brown gravy (57 cents each)

Shell pasta (58 cents)

Creamy peanut butter ($1.98)

24 oz. can of Hunt’s........

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