This week we actually got some groceries from Aldi's. We had been there before to get milk. A gallon of 2% milk is $2.34 and we usually spend a dollar more than that at Publix.
We decided to get a few other things at Aldi's besides milk. Along with 2 gallons of milk (the guys drink A LOT of milk!), we got 2 lbs. of ground beef, 2 lbs. of ground turkey, 2 lbs. of boneless skinless chicken, 2 loaves of bread, 1 pack of hamburger buns, a bag of sweet onions, and a 16 oz. package of shredded mild cheddar cheese. All of that was just over $36, which I thought was a pretty good deal.
Everything we bought was $1 to $2 cheaper than we would have paid at Publix. I especially was surprised with the hamburger buns. I got some Sara Lee hamburger buns from Publix a couple of weeks ago for $2.99. The Aldi hamburger buns were $.85!
So this week I am going to try to make it all week long without any grocery shopping. I tried it before and didn't make it. We'll see how I do this week.
Monday: Sweet and Tangy Sloppy Joes; vegetables
Tuesday: Chicken noodles; vegetables
Wednesday: Evan's baseball party at Beef O'Brady's
Thursday: Chicken fajitas
Friday: Leftovers or grilled cheese and soup
For breakfasts, we have oatmeal, cold cereal, and eggs to choose from. For lunches, we'll have sandwiches, soup, and leftovers.
I've stocked up on lots of items from sales over the past few weeks. I bought tons of frozen vegetables a couple of weeks ago when Publix was having a sale on them. I had an extra package of noodles for the chicken noodles from the last time I made them. When I went grocery shopping at Publix about two weeks ago, I got whole wheat tortillas, so I have those for the chicken fajitas. Still, I will be very impressed if I can make it all week on those few groceries I bought from Aldi's. Especially because I've already made 2 meals with the ground beef. About a month ago Publix had a buy one, get one free sale on Hamburger Helper. I had about six boxes in my cabinet!
Even with the stocked up pantry, my spending for this week of groceries is drastically less than what I've paid in the past. It's not unusual for me to spend $120 or more on a week's worth of groceries. In the past, I've never really paid attention to sale items and I never stuck to a menu. I would have some vague idea of what I was going to fix, but let my impulses guide me when I got to the store. I think this week will seriously change the way I shop for food. I will probably spend more than $36 on food every week, but I'm going to try to stay under the $120 mark, now that I know it can be done.
For more great menu ideas, check out what everyone else is cooking!
4 comments:
I'm doing a use-what-I-have week and not planning to do any grocery shopping at all (though I LOVE Aldi!). Funny, I have sloppy joes on my menu for Monday, too! I'm trying them with Aldi's ground turkey for the first time, but don't tell my kids!!! ;-)
We have an Aldi's near by but I haven't shopped there in years. I've seen so much about them in blogs recently that I may have to try again.
I spent $100 more than planned on my last grocery trip so I'm trying to not buy anything other than milk until the weeek of Thanksgiving. We'll see how I do. Sometimes I think challenges like that are fun.
I always spend way too much at the grocery store. I think I'd save money buy just NOT going to super WalMart. We end up with too many "other" things besides groceries.
I'm trying to use what we've stocked as well. I want to have extra money to put on an amazing Christmas Feast.
I think the Yorkshire pudding always comes out tasty. Before I got married I had a roommate who was English. This is her mother's recipe. I'll get you the recipe after I make it tonight!
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