Grocery List (Getting Started), Week One

$119.45 (from scratch--if you had nothing in your house to begin with. Much of what we buy this week will be used in the weeks ahead as well.) Our family actually only spent $47.23 this week because we already had much of this list on hand.

We will mostly be shopping at three stores: Walmart, Sam's Club, and Aldi--the fastest growing, discount, small format grocery store in the United States. Click here or here for more information about this German company. We have two Aldis that are within reasonable driving range from our house. But remember to bring a quarter to use their grocery carts!

If you don't have an Aldi nearby or don't want to go to all three stores, just shop the best you can at Walmart or another discount store. Sam's club is not cheapest on most items and you have to buy everything in bulk, so be careful there--but in our area, they are best for milk, cheese, and some meats. This list is based on the cheapest price found at each of these 3 stores.

Grocery List:
(Prices in November, 2008 in North Carolina)

Walmart
1 5lb chub of hamburger ($6.50)
1 lb pkg. margarine ($1.00)
6 small cans of tomato sauce (8 x .23 = $1.38)
1 48oz. pkg. spaghetti ($2.42)
1 26oz can spaghetti sauce ($.94)
1 24oz can of raisins ($2.48)
1 48oz jar applesauce ($1.68)
1 can baking powder ($.82)
1 jar mapeline--found near vanilla ($3.34)
1 10oz. jar worchestershire sauce ($1.65)

Total: $22.21+ tax

Sam's Club
1 pkg. 2 whole chickens ($6.97)
6 gallons skim milk (6 x 2.59 = $15.54) You can buy 12 gallons and save 6 for next week if you have an extra refrigerator like we do. Then you won't have to go to Sam's every week.
1 5lb block of mild cheddar ($13.28)
1 bunch of bananas-6 or more bananas (3lbs for $1.24)

Total: $37.03+ tax

Aldi
1 5lb bag all purpose flour ($ 1.79)
1 5lb bag sugar ($ 2.09)
1 2lb bag brown sugar ($.99)
1 48oz. bottle vegetable oil ($2.39)
1 48oz. can shortening ($3.29)
1 16 oz. box baking soda ($ .43)
1 cornbread mix ($ .35)
1 box salt ($.33)

1 can chicken bouillion cubes ($1.09)
1 can beef bouillion cubes ($1.09)
1 jar chili powder ($1.09)
1 jar dried onion ($1.09)
1 jar ground cumin ($1.09)
1 jar powdered garlic ($1.09)
1 jar oregano ($1.09)
1 jar basil ($1.09)

1 bottle salad dressing of your choice ($1.19)
1 32 oz jar mayo (1.99)

1 doz. eggs ($ 1.35)
1 16 oz. tub sour cream ($.99)
1 16oz. pkg. deli ham ($3.49)

1 18oz. jar peanut butter ($1.39)
1 18oz. jar jam of choice ($1.29)

1 18oz. box cornflakes ($ 1.15)
1 18oz. box raisin bran ($1.49)
1 42 oz. can of minute oatmeal ($ 1.79)

2 pkgs egg noodles (2 x .99 = $1.98)
1 3lb bag rice ($1.79)
1 pkg. 36 corn tortillas ($1.19)

1 5oz. can of tuna ($.57)
1 29oz. can peaches ($1.29)
1 20oz. can pineapple ($.89)

2 cans spinach (2 x .49 = $.98)
2 cans stewed tomatoes (2 x .49 = $.98)
3 cans kidney beans (3 x .45 = $1.84)
2 cans green beans ( 2 x .49 = $.98)
1 can mushrooms ($.49)
2 cans mixed veggies (2 x .49 = $.98)

1 head iceburg lettuce ($ 1.19)
1 cucumber ($.49)
1 pkg. 4 tomatoes ($1.29)
1 bag SWEET onions ($1.79)

1 lb frozen broccoli ($.99)
4 loaves bread (5 x .80 = $4.00)

Total: $60.21+ tax

Total cost for starting out: $119.45 + tax


After grocery work:
1. Divide the 5lb chub of hamburger into 10 (1/2lb) amounts and put in baggies in the freezer. I use the foldover baggies (harder to find these days, but Walmart still has them) because they are cheaper and do a good job tightly sealing around the hamburger--without having to squeeze all the air out like you do with ziploc bags.

2. Cut large block of cheese into 5 (1lb) chubs. You can freeze the extras if you want to--just be sure to leave the frozen cheese out on the counter overnight to totally defrost and get oily. Then refrigerate as usual. This makes it so that the previously frozen cheese won't be crumbly when you try to cut or grate it. Or you can have very clean hands and bags when you divide up the cheese--this way it is less likely to mold. If it does mold, just cut the mold off and use the rest--it is perfectly good underneath!