Step 2 is Aldi

In the past month, I've spent $535 on groceries. This is not including takeout or meals out, which are fairly rare since I pack my lunch almost every day. This is not including alcohol. This is also not taking into account that my honey often shows up with food he's bought for dinner, and it's not taking into account times we are invited elsewhere for meals. So I figure it's a good estimate.

I don't know if $535 for two people is average, huge, or frugal. I have no context. I think I'm careful in shopping, and I plan to the best of my ability. I don't over-buy fresh foods, so there's no waste. I cook extra every single time so we can have easy leftovers. I use coupons when they're relevant, I buy store brands or shop sales, constantly comparing PPU rather than sale price.

I felt pretty confident that I'm being as frugal as possible on groceries.

But then I remembered Aldi. I hadn't been in years, and decided to check it out again. It was just a test run, with a finite budget of $35. Here is what that got me:

For just under $34, I bought: 1lb butter, a lb baby carrots, chicken broth, chicken breast tenderloins, corn bread mix, eggs, potatoes, 1lb turkey lunch meat, peanut butter, tortilla chips, cheese crackers, almonds, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, 1pint blueberries, a bag of broccoli slaw and a cucumber. 


!!!!

So, for shits and giggles, I ran the SAME items through Peapod (Giant's delivery service) online. I selected the store brand when possible, and the closest sizes they had. For the same order (and not including the delivery fee, of course), it priced at $60.84.

$34 at Aldi to $60 at Giant

This is a game-changer. Because if I can cut my grocery bill from $535 to, say, $400 a month?

That is HUGE!!

Rise Step 2: Shop at Aldi


Comments

  1. OhanaMamaSeptember 17, 2017 at 2:15 PM

    UPDATE: Went yesterday with $100. Spent $90.... when plugged into Giant's website, the same items would have totaled $147. So, I've saved $83 this week. THIS WEEK!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ErinSeptember 19, 2017 at 7:45 AM

    Aldi is great! But it's also a trap for impulse buys - damn that center aisle and delicious german chocolate! AND I almost always have to go to another store to get a few items on my list that Aldi doesn't carry.

    ReplyDelete

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