$29 Grocery Budget Challenge: Meal Plan 2

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Welcome to week 2 of our $29 grocery budget challenge. Last week proved to be interesting for us. It wasn’t too stretching, although the kids did ask if I could please buy sugar for this week. I liked jelly in my oatmeal. They did not. We were definitely forced to be more creative this week since we were “starting from scratch”, but as I told the kids, each week will get easier as we won’t need to “buy” our spices and pantry items.

Last week we shopped at Giant, PA. This week we are shopping at Shoprite. This will help people get a better feel for shopping at the different stores that are in our area, and hopefully if you don’t have these stores you at least have one that runs along the same lines.

Tips for Shopping on a Tight Budget

• Sale, baby! Grab that circular or pull it up online and buy what’s on sale. Since Cinco de Mayo was this week you will see we have a lot of those type foods.
• Clippity clippity clip those coupons– In this area we get a flier in the mail every week. I am taking a look through those coupons to see what I already buy that there may be a coupon for.
• Digital Coupons – Shoprite has digital coupons you can save to your online account. Then they come off at the register.
• Coupon Apps – Ibotta, Savings Star, Snap, and several other apps are available to save money on groceries. You save the coupon, you buy the product, scan your time, scan your receipt, and hit send. They send you money back that you can get out in Paypal or other gift cards.
• Buy bulk on sale – If you have the money in your budget, buy in bulk where you can save some money on things you use often.

Extra Food from Week 1

• 1/2 jar jelly
• Carrots
• Onions
• 2/3 bag flour
• Mozzarella cheese
• Cheddar (Received from a giveaway I won.)
• Chili powder, salt, pepper, parsley
• 2 1/2 pounds cooked black beans and 2 jars liquid
• 1/2 package rice
• 3/4 clove garlic
• Popcorn kernels

Grocery List, Week 2

ShopRite, PA

Updated Grocery List for shopping 5/10/15 -5/16/15

Meat/Seafood

• Organic Chicken, griller – $10.85 (3.6# at $2.99/lb)
• All Natural Ground turkey – $3.99 x 2 (2#)
• 2 packs Coleman all-natural hot dogs $1.49 x 2 (REDUCED)
• Perch, 1# – $7.34

Total: $29.15

Produce

• Organic Romaine Hearts – $2.99 x 2
• Corn on Cob, 5 – $2.49
• Russet Potatoes, 5# – $1.99
• Organic Carrots, 5# – $4.99
• Celery – $1.69 (-$1.69/ free coupon I had stashed)
• Baby Bella Mushrooms, 8 oz. – $1.99
• Garlic, 1 clove – $0.60
• Jalapeno, 2 – $0.30
• Green Bell Peppers, 2 large – $2.85 ( $1.49/lb)
• Cucumbers, 3 – $1.99
• Vine Ripened Tomatoes, 3.3 # – $3.28
• Organic Red Delicious Apples – $9.06 ( $2.49/lb)
• Strawberries, 1 lb. x2 – $1.99 x 2
• Mango, 1 – $0.66
• Avocado, 2 – $0.99 x 2
• Limes, 8 – $1.99 (Yes, I bought 8. They were on sale and will last.)
• Organic Pears, 2 – $1.50
• Cantaloupe – $1.67
• Lemons – .66 x 2

TOTAL: $50.31

Bakery

• Multi grain tortillas, small, 8 ct. – $1.50
• Burrito wraps – $1.50
• Pepper Farm Multigrain bread – $2.49

TOTAL: $5.49

Dairy

• Milk, 1 gallon – $3.91
• Eggs, 2 dozen – $3.79 x 2
• Stonyfield yogurt, 32 oz. – $3.99
• Axelrod Sour Cream – $1.50
• Mozzarella, 1 lb. – $3.49

TOTAL: $20.47

Grocery

• Organic Oats – $1.99
• Corn tortillas – $2.49
• Baking Soda, 16 oz. – $0.89
• Baking Powder, 8 oz. – $1.99
• All-Natural Shoprite Peanut Butter, 16 oz. – $2.59
• Green Olives – $1.00
• Ground cinnamon, 2.37 oz. – $2.99
• Crushed red pepper, 1.5 oz. – $2.19
• Sugar, 24 oz. – $2.99
• Yeast, 3 pack – $1.99
• Tortilla strips for salad – $1.99
• Pretzels – $2.63
• Tuna, 2 – $1.00 x 2

TOTAL: $27.73

SHOPPING TOTAL: $133.15 – $1.69/celery = $128.14

– $2.00 Ibotta Coupons

Going back to buy some more fresh or frozen vegetables and cilantro on Sunday.
**UPDATED with what I got.**

• Ketchup – $1.00
• Mustard, 24 oz. – $1.29
• Cilantro – $0.99

TOTAL: $131.42
Remainder: $13.58

Meal Plan, Week 2

Breakfast

• Mother’s Day Brunch, complements of Whole Foods (otherwise we would have pancakes or waffles with fresh strawberry puree)
• Egg and Black Bean Burritos
• Homemade Toasted Oats
• Eggs and Chicken and Potato Hash
• Oatmeal with fresh fruit
• Egg and cheese wraps
• Parfaits with plain yogurt, berries, and toasted oats

Lunch

• Peanut butter and jelly, carrot sticks, apple slices/Salad with black bean dressing
• Hot dogs, side salad
• Black Bean and Cheese Quesadillas with homemade salsa, green pepper slices, cantaloupe and yogurt
• Grilled Cheese, Carrot Soup (adapted from this recipe)
• Peanut butter celery, side salad, popcorn, cheese slices
• Bean Burritos 
• Tuna Avocado Sandwiches (minus cherry), side salad

Dinner

• Black Bean and Salsa Meatloaf, baked potatoes, salad
• Grilled chicken, potato wedges, tomato and mozzarella with salt, pepper, and olive oil
• Salad with Sweet Garlic Shredded Chicken (Trying something new – 2 chicken breasts, bone-in, slow cooked with 6 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup raw sugar, and 2 medium onion for 6-8 hours on low)
• Fish Tacos with Jalapeño Lime Aoli with broccoli slaw  (baked perch, lettuce, homemade salsa, and aoli on top)
• Taco meatballs (1 pound turkey, 1 cup black beans, mashed and mixed together with 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon chopped cilantro, then baked in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes). Simmer on stove in a homemade salsa. Serve over rice with steamed broccoli
• Homemade pasta with a lemon butter sauce, garlic, and sauteed spinach (recipe for lemon sauce coming)
• Stir-fried rice with eggs, beans, and vegetables

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