$75 Weekly Shopping and Menu 2-18-19

This weekend’s shopping trip was bad.

There were lots of good things about it, but it was oh so bad.

During my first week of Whole30, I kept telling myself we needed to spend more money so I could buy more Whole30 compliant food. So we agreed to raise the budget a little this week.

And I did really good at first! Most of my shopping was done at Meijer, where I took advantage of some BOGO sales. I also bought a few things we didn’t REALLY need (Crystal Light, Larabars) but were a low price so I stocked up.

Then there was Aldi, where my mind just shut down. See, the Aldi closest to us is closed for a month while they renovate. So we have to drive 20 minutes to get to the next one. Before that Aldi closed, they gave us coupons for $5.00 off a $30.00 purchase to use at the other stores. So I thought “Great! That’ll help us save money!”

You know how I sometimes say you shouldn’t spend extra money just to use a coupon or get a good deal?

Well, that’s exactly what I did. And I fell hard.

I should have stopped when our total reached $21.00. I could have just saved the coupon and left, being only a little overbudget. But my mind went into overdrive, thinking “I only have to spend $9.00 more and we’ll save $5.00!” And I started throwing things in the cart that we didn’t even need.

First it was a Lunchable for Allison. Then the Valentines K-Cups. Then some beet chips (Which I shouldn’t be eating on Whole30 anyway). Then some boxes of snack bars (But John will eat those so at least those have a use). 

My problem was I didn’t have a good plan, so everything turned to chaos in my head. So I’m about $12.00 over this week.

I kind of feel like a failure. But I wanted to post this anyway to show you that mistakes happen. We all mess up sometimes. And I promise that next week I’ll do better.

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Meijer

3 dozen eggs: $.59 each

• Used $.25/1 Meijer coupon

Green onions: $.89
Water chestnuts: $.89
Ground turkey: $1.99
Coconut milk: $2.19
Vinegar: $2.49

• Used 50% off Meijer coupon

2 bags sweet potatoes, 3-pound bags: $2.89 each, BOGO half off
2 bags Brussels sprouts: $2.99 each, BOGO half off
2 bags apples, 3-pound bags: $3.99 each, BOGO free
Planters cashews: $4.49
Green bell pepper: $1.00
International Delight creamer: $2.49
Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse bread: Free from a coupon
2 bags Tyson frozen chicken breasts, 2.5 pounds each: $8.99 each, BOGO free
Red bell pepper: $1.00
2 bags spinach: $1.00 each
5 Larabars: $1.00 each
Baby carrots: $1.00

• Used $.30/1 Meijer coupon

2 cans olives: $1.00 each, got one free from 10 for $10 sale
4 bags frozen veggies: $1.00 each
5 boxes Crystal Light: $1.00 each

• Used $.45/1 Meijer coupon

Pretzel sticks: Free from 10 for $10 sale
2 broccoli crowns: $1.00 each

Total: $57.49. Also received 925 points from Fetch Rewards bonuses! Sign up and use the code PV2QH and we’ll both get 2,000 points ($2.00) when you scan your first receipt!

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Kroger

Tessamae’s ranch dressing: $3.99. It’s actually pretty good! A little expensive, though.

Total: $3.99

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Aldi

Milk: $1.49
Tortilla chips: $.89
Grated Parmesan: $2.29
Yellow potatoes, 5-pound bag: $2.99
Almond milk: $1.69
Valentines K-Cups: $3.49, on clearance
Guacamole cups: $3.29
2 boxes snack bars: $1.39 each
Premium ham: $2.69. Ingredients are pork and salt, so Whole30 compliant!
Mushrooms: $1.39
Lunchable: $1.99
Bananas, 3.24 pounds: $1.43
Beet chips: $2.89
Hot dog buns: $.29
Strawberries: $1.29

Total: $25.88 after a $5.00 off coupon
Weekly Total: $87.36

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Menu

Lunch is always leftovers. Items marked with an asterisk (*) were purchased in previous weeks.

Dinner
Teton Farms beef sausages* on hot dog buns (No bun for me), roasted sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts
Shredded chicken nachos (On a salad for me)
Buffalo chicken on baked sweet potatoes, frozen broccoli
Whole30 Egg Muffins (Using the ham instead of prosciutto)
Egg Roll in a Bowl (Using shredded broccoli from the freezer instead of coleslaw mix, and no rice or soy sauce for me)
Pancakes (Leftovers for me)
Leftovers

Breakfast
Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Carrot Pancakes
Egg and veggie scramble with potatoes

What’s on your menu this week? Share in the comments!