Exciting News! $30 Weekly Shopping and Menu 10-8-18

I need to show you this picture right here.

This may not look like anything important. But for the past 3 months, I promised myself I wouldn't buy another snack bar until John got a job.

And guess what???

John is employed again!

He starts back today and we're just so excited. Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement; it means a lot to us. We've made a couple sacrifices and have had a lot of help, and we're just glad to be able to find a new normal again.

This means that starting next week, we'll be going back to a $75 a week grocery budget! I've almost enjoyed this challenge of spending only $30 a week; but it will be nice to be able to buy certain things again, like extra produce, my yummy miniature guacamole cups, and other big-ticket Sam's Club items.

This week is a little light. We're eating out tonight (Pizza Hut, yay!), and we're possibly having dinner at Kings Island Saturday so I didn't buy a lot of perishable foods.

I did buy 2 pie pumpkins and made my own pumpkin puree and roasted pumpkin seeds. Basically, I spent 2 hours to save $4.00 on what I could normally buy at the store... so I don't think I'll be doing that again. 😉 At least I can say I did it, though!

So, here's our last $30 shopping trip:

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Kroger

3 boxes Larabars: $3.49 each, on Buy 5, Save $5 Event

• Used $.75/1 digital coupon

2 boxes ZonePerfect bars: $3.29 each, on Buy 5, Save $5 Event

• Used $1.50/2 digital coupon

RXBar: $1.67

Total: Free thanks to a gift card

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Meijer

Crest Kids toothpaste: $2.59

• Used $1.00/1 digital coupon

McIntosh apples: $1.66, were only $.69 a pound!
2-liter of root beer: $1.50, for a party
2 pie pumpkins: $2.00 each

Total: $6.96 after a $2.00 off reward I earned a few weeks ago

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Aldi

Vinegar: $2.39
Milk: $1.45
Rolled oats: $1.99
Grapes, 2.33 pounds: $1.61
Carrots: $1.09
Sweet potatoes, 3-pound bag: $1.99
Bananas, 2.86 pounds: $1.26
Salami: $2.56
Spinach: $1.19
Pretzels: $.79
Dijon mustard: $.89
Eggs: $.65
Sour cream: $.89
String cheese: $2.79
Bag of chips: $1.09, for a party
Crackers: $1.19

Total: $23.85
Weekly Total: $30.81

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Menu

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

Dinner
Pizza Hut to celebrate a new job!
Creamy Italian Chicken* (From freezer), rice*, frozen veggies*
Spinach Mozzarella Egg Bake, roasted sweet potatoes
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Lentil Sweet Potato Chili, Bread Machine Breadsticks, Pumpkin Oat Cookies
Carrot Pancakes
Leftovers

Breakfast
Cereal*
Pancakes

Allison's Lunch
Homemade granola bar (Recipe coming Wednesday!), crackers, string cheese, raisins*, salami

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