Aldi
I’m supposed to bring fruit to 2 get-togethers this week so I took advantage of Aldi’s great prices on strawberries and blueberries this week!
1 Split Top Wheat Bread – $0.99
5 pkg Strawberries – $0.99 each
2 pkg Blueberries – $1.49 each
1 pkg Red Grapes – $2.89
1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19
1 pkg (16 oz) Shredded Cheese – $3.69
1 Rice Cakes – $1.29
1 lb Butter – $2.69
1 can Refried Beans – $0.79
Total: $22.74
Dillons1 Vanilla Extract – $4.99 (I normally don’t use vanilla extract when a recipe calls for it because it’s too expensive to keep on hand. However, I am making food for other people this week so I thought I should probably use it for that.) 🙂
1 Kroger Powdered Sugar – $1.49
4 pkg (3 lbs each) Tyson Frozen Chicken Breasts – $4.99 each (I always stock up on frozen chicken breasts when I can get it for this price. This will last us for several weeks.)
2.10 lbs Bananas @ $0.59/lb – $1.24
1 bag Kroger Flour – $1.79
1 Green Pepper – $0.99
1 Lettuce – $0.99
1 Kroger Bath Tissue – $2.99
1 gallon Milk – $2.99
Items a part of the Mega Sale (Buy 6, Get $3 off instantly):
4 Hefty Freezer Bags – $0.99 each, used 2 $1/2 coupon from the 5/18 RedPlum insert – $0.49 each after coupons
4 Speedstick Deodorant – $0.89 each, used 2 $0.50/1 printable and 2 $0.50/1 coupon from the 6/15 SmartSource insert – $0.39 each after coupon
4 Ronzoni Pasta – $0.49 each, used 2 $1/2 printable – Free after coupon
Total before sales and coupons: $99.94
Total after sales and coupons: $40.80
Total for all grocery items: $63.54
Menu Plan for this Week
Breakfasts
Cereal, Fruit, Smoothies, Cinnamon Rolls (for a special July 4th breakfast), Banana Muffins
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese Quesadillas, Fruit/Veggies/Banana Muffins, Baked Potatoes & Broccoli, Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter
Dinners
Chicken Fajitas, Grapes
Dinner at my parent’s house (I’m bringing a fruit salad.)
“Boy’s Night Out” (My hubby and son will eat out while I spend the evening with some of my girlfriends – I’m bringing fruit.)
Spaghetti, Biscuits, Green Beans, Tossed Salad
Southwestern Roll-Ups, Steamed Broccoli, Peaches (from my canning last fall)
Grilled Chicken, 30-Minute Rolls, Tossed Salad
Leftovers
Rebekah Harper says
I have to admit, your vanilla comment made me giggle a little bit. 😀
And whilst I will say that most people can’t tell the difference between using “regular” vanilla and imitation vanilla – using a good quality vanilla (like Penzey’s double-strength vanilla) makes a huge difference. 🙂
That said, I will second what others say. I have both a Costco and Sam’s membership. A HUGE bottle of vanilla is only about $6 there, and especially if you don’t use it much, it will last forever! And it’s real vanilla, to boot. 🙂 (I actually find both places, and Costco especially, awesome for buying spices. Though I am still very fond of my Penzey’s spices.)
Tammie says
You can get Mexican vanilla at Walmart with the ethnic foods. It is great and is only 1.24 a bottle here. I am amazed at how well you stretch your budget. I try to rotate what I buy based on sales for pantry items and then what perishables we need for the week but I never seem to get out of the store for under 187 each week. It’s kind of funny but even if I break it down into a couple of stores it is always right about there! I guess that is just our lowest. I just can’t imagine trying to have all that we need for that. What other pantry items do you buy and when and how much does that add to your budget bc I just don’t see enough food for all these meals. Could you give a total with what you use from stock up trips also? And do you have small children? Mine are teens and ones a 6 foot 13 year old. He eats more than his dad and is training to be a Marine. He can put back a lot of food and snacks when working out.
Katie says
Just wanted to say I love that Gretchen is also sharing her weekly shop and menu plan. I get alot of good ideas..This has made me reevaluate my own trips….
I weekly shop aldis and plan menu around pantry/aldis deals amazingly I’m getting more produce in our diets too…;) i pick up deals at target and giant eagle which doubles qs…but have been able to stay around 50$ for my family of 2 adults 1 toddler and 1 baby..its saving us money me time and less gas because I’m prepped and not chasing every deal across town…:) thanks for sharing your Trips!!
Julie says
I love your shopping trips and recipes. I find I pin one almost every week and share it on my Facebook page. Many thanks!
Gretchen says
Thanks so much for your encouragement, Julie! I appreciated it. 🙂
Jennifer says
Not sure if you have a Dollar Tree near you, but they sell vanilla extract for only $1.00.
Gretchen says
Thanks! I will have to look into that.
Suzie says
I buy the big bottle of vanilla at Costco way cheaper than the little bottles at the grocery store!
Danielle says
I’ve often wondered why we go out on a limb for others, but not for our family. I guess it’s something I’ve been convicted of lately. But just reading the simple comment about the vanilla really gets me thinking. It’s such a simple thing really and maybe silly to even think about it this way, but that’s how my mind works sometimes. We have people over and put out our best plates and silverware, yet won’t think twice about serving dinner to our family on paper plates and plastic forks. We live for years in our house without finishing projects, yet when we are going to sell it we are sure to remodel the house for someone else to enjoy. Why is that?? (I’m getting too deep over it all I know, something about turning 40 does that to a gal. lol)
Danielle says
I do enjoy the shopping trips and menu posts, btw. I’m inspired to see how others are creatively stretching the budget, and the awesome deals you find. We NEVER see strawberries for $.99 around our way, and blueberries are a steal at that price too, and I live next door to the blueberry capital of the world. lol… I’d love to get to under $150.00 a week. Seeing what others are doing helps tremendously. Thank you! 🙂
Amie says
I can relate. Personally, I think I am having a premature, mini-midlife crisis… I just turned 37 and I am spending the summer watching all my childless teacher friends do things I only dream of doing. Suddenly, it occurred to me that my time is slowly slipping by and I need to enjoy life a little more. I went ahead and took a family vacation to a beautiful area and now we are considering moving there as part of a 5 year plan. Whether we move or not, I plan to live a little more fully to enjoy my area. I will still be frugal so I can achieve my goals, but I have started being more mindful and focusing more in the moment. Instead of rushing around, I take time to really listen to others, see the beauty around me, and savor the moment.
Sarah says
A bottle of cheap vodka $10 and a vanilla bean (www.beanilla.com if I buy in bulk I usually go in with friends and family so it costs me $1 per bean) and you have plenty of vanilla in a few weeks. I have a bottle I started in 2006 that I just keep adding vodka too and maybe once or twice threw in a fresh bean. It is cheap, easy, and worth it.
Gretchen says
I have friends who make their own vanilla but I’ve never tried it. Maybe one of these days I will have to do that. Thanks for the suggestion!
Lola says
Vanilla paste lasts a lot longer than vanilla extract for me because I use a little at a time and it seems much more concentrated than vanilla extract plus it has vanilla bean flakes in it as well. I bought mine on amazon.
Gretchen says
I’ve never heard of vanilla paste. I will have to check it out! Thanks for the tip.
Aliesha says
I always enjoy these posts, Gretchen. Before I started making my own vanilla extract, I would buy it at Aldi for $2. The dollar store also sells imitation extract. Have a great weekend!
Gretchen says
I’m going to check out Aldi’s price next time I’m there. I didn’t think to check there.
Cris says
You can see if someone has a Sam’s membership and ask them to buy a big bottle of vanilla for you or go on their free days. It will last you forever!
Gretchen says
That’s a great idea! 🙂
Alison says
I pay just a dollar more to get the huge jar of vanilla at Costco. If I didn’t do that I would make my own. Aldi is another good option. I buy my almond extract there at the holidays.
Amanda says
Even the chefs at Cook’s Illustrated and Food Network Magazine admit to often using imitation vanilla extract. Personally, I find real vanilla way to strong anyway! It might be worth a try.
Leigh says
I mix mine half/half with the imitation stuff. Cheaper and not as strong.
WilliamB says
Amanda, I was going to point out the same thing. Unless you’re drinking it from a spoon or making custard, even the experts can’t tell the difference. And vanillin is extraordinarly inexpensive.
Gretchen says
Thanks for the suggestion!
Danielle says
I was going to make a similar comment . . . I’m the “family baker,” according to my mother, and I harbored the shame of always using imitation vanilla for years. Then, one day, I heard Alton Brown say that unless you’re making creme brulee or something that has vanilla at the forefront, imitation vanilla is perfectly acceptable. I figure, if it’s good enough for Alton Brown, it’s good enough for me. 🙂
Julie@couponcrazygirl says
I have found imitation vanilla extract, it’s much cheaper than pure vanilla extract. Have fun on yours girls night out!
Melissa says
There is a vendor at our local farmer’s market who sells a 1 liter bottle of Mexican vanilla for only $12!!!! Maybe you can find a similar deal?
LovingtheMomLife says
I was going to recommend the Mexican vanilla, too. When I was a baby, we lived in Texas. Mom went to Mexico and got a “fifth” of vanilla. She got it in the liquor store. That “not quite a quart” bottle lasted until I was a teenager. I have been using the same Mexican vanilla that I got, believe it or not, at Walmart for years. It was about eight dollars for almost a quart. It’s worth the money. It never goes bad.
Melissa says
Wow! Yours lasts to so long! Our apartment of four women (all in our 20’s) goes through a liter of Mexican vanilla every 12-14 months!! It’s our secret ingredient in everything.
I’ve heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach … still hopin’ that vanilla will do the trick one of these days! 😀
lovingthemomlife says
Well, I probably don’t bake as often as you four do! 😛
I love to do it, I just don’t schedule the time often enough. Working full time and having a super busy teenager can do that to ya!
And my mom usually baked once a year at Christmas (and maybe one other time each year, if she was feeling especially homey).
Gretchen says
I’ll have to look into that. Thanks for the tip.
Kimberly says
Why don’t you try ALDI’s vanilla extract? I’ve used it for about a year without problems-I was a pastry chef before becoming a stay at home mom. I think its only about $2 there.
Leigh says
Aldi’s is delicious. Much better than McCormick. I second what you said! 🙂
Gretchen says
I never thought to check at Aldi. I will definitely be doing that.