$75 Weekly Shopping and Menu 2-26-18

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This is my last week of $75 shopping trips for a whole month!

In case you missed it, last week I issued a month-long Pantry Challenge where I’m attempting to eat almost exclusively out of my pantry for the month of March. I’ve allowed myself $25 a week for fresh produce, milk, eggs, and yogurt, but I can’t buy anything that I intend to stock up on or keep in the pantry longer than a week. Since I’m starting the challenge this week, here are some before photos of what my pantry and freezer look like. I’ll also post progress pictures each week!

March officially begins on Thursday which is in the middle of my grocery week; I tried to make it so that nothing I bought would be specifically used for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (besides the fresh broccoli for a side). I also tried not to intentionally buy anything to keep in the pantry; I did buy oats and flour, but we were almost out anyway. I think I’m ready for this!

Each week for the pantry challenge I’ll try to break down the recipes I’m using and what items from the pantry will be used for each dinner. This week I’m only making two dinners for the challenge, so here’s the official breakdown:

Fancy Hot Dogs– I love the name of this; it’s basically Beef Stroganoff, but with hot dogs. I only had to buy onions for this dinner!

• Hot dogs- I have one bag of 8-10 hot dogs in the freezer
• Sour cream- I have a whole container in the fridge
• Pasta- I have 6-7 boxes in the pantry

Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs– I’m splitting the bag of hot dogs to use in both of these recipes. Didn’t have to buy a thing except the broccoli for a side!

• Hot dogs
• Sliced bread- Using a loaf of bread from the freezer instead of the hot dog buns the recipe called for
• Shredded cheese- in freezer

I’m really excited to get this challenge going! Here’s what I ended up buying this week:

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Aldi

Bananas, 3.98 pounds: $1.71
Zucchini: $1.49
Block of cheddar: $1.79
Carrots: $1.29
Fresh white mushrooms: $1.29
Tomatoes: $1.99
Hummus: $1.99
Pepperoni: $2.19
Red grapes, 1.93 pounds: $1.91
Eggs: $1.02
Fresh broccoli: $1.49
Splenda packets: $1.39
Onions, 3-pound bag: $1.29
Mini peanut butter crackers: $2.29
Canned black beans: $.55
2 cans tomato sauce: $.25 each
3 cups Greek yogurt: $.65 each
Raisins: $2.79
Ground beef: $3.19
Almond milk: $1.99
Rolled oats: $2.39
Milk: $1.07
Avocado: $.59

Total: $38.15

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Kroger

Barbara’s Puffins cereal: $2.50

• Used $1.00/1 printable coupon
• Final Cost: $1.50

Special K cereal: $1.49 after Buy 5, Save $5 event. I wasn’t planning to buy this, or the roast beef. But I needed 2 more items to complete the 5 after the KidFresh frozen meals I wanted were sold out!
2 cups Yoplait Mix-ins: $.49 each, on clearance
4 cups Dannon Light and Fit Greek yogurt: $.49 each, on clearance
Stoneyfield Kids yogurt multi-pack: $2.99 after Buy 5, Save $5 event

• Used $2.00/1 printable coupon
• Final Cost: $.99, plus a $2.00 Ibotta rebate!

Extra gum: $2.29
2 packages Listerine floss: $.99 each after Buy 5, Save $5 event

• Used 2 $.75/1 printable coupons
• Final Cost: $.24 each

Superglue: $1.72
Enchilada sauce: $1.09
Hormel Naturals roast beef: $2.99 after Buy 5, Save $5 event
White whole wheat flour: $2.99
Clif nut butter filled bar: Free after Free Friday Download
Vinegar: $2.69

Total: $21.44, plus $2.25 back in Ibotta rebates

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Sam’s Club

Maple syrup: $10.28

Total: $10.28
Weekly Total: $69.87

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Menu

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

Dinner
Mexican Chicken* and Rice* Casserole
Calzones made with my pizza dough recipe (Pepperoni, mozzarella cheese*, mushrooms), grapes
Cheesy Zucchini Bake, bread*
Leftovers
(Pantry Challenge begins) Fancy Hot Dogs, frozen peas*
Dinner out- IHOP (Not included in grocery budget)
Grilled cheese hot dogs, roasted broccoli

Breakfast
Cereal
Carrot Pancakes
Oatmeal
Smoothies (Frozen bananas*, chocolate protein powder*, almond milk)

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