The focus is on Dalton Georgia in this weeks $50 Menu plan help across the USA, where one member writes that cutting the bill with 2 little ones at home has been a struggle . . .
MK958 Wrote, “ We live in Dalton, GA. It’s zip code 30720. I usually shop at Kroger and Walmart. My grocery budget for a family of 4 is $200.00 a month. We honestly, almost always overspend since I have 1 toddler still in diapers and a baby eating formula and needing diapers too. Those things eat a ton out of our budget.”
First, regarding formula and diapers, there are several ways to reduce diaper expenses, including watching the amazon sales and subscribing to automatic delivery for a discount, oftentimes you can purchase them for as low as .09 each. Formula, however, isn’t cheap and generally once you’ve found a brand you like, you tend to stick with it. Most of the stores are compatible price-wise and offer little in the way of savings without using coupons. You can receive a number of free coupons by signing up for various (free) baby magazines and member clubs. Fortunately, this expense doesn’t last long and making your own baby food is a breeze.
This area is a prime example of why we recommend splitting your grocery budget to accommodate for meats, veggies, fruits and pantry restocking as is discussed in our eBook, rather than trying to purchase everything at once, which leaves little available in the budget to purchase loss leaders.
Food Lion Deals from This weeks Flyer
Sour Cream $2.
Navel Oranges $4.99 for 4#’s (B1G1F = 8lbs for $4.99)
Vine Ripe Tomatoes $1.47 #
Kiwi 2/$.088
Ragu Pasta Sauce $1.50 ea
My Essentials Pasta $1.05 (Buy 2 jars sauce, get 1 pkg pasta free)
Cucumber .78 ea
Boneless Chix Breast $1.79 #
Walmart Deals from this Weeks Flyer
(Great Value Brand) Oatmeal $1.99
Canned Tomatoes .77
Chili Sauce .99
Raisins $1.99 box
Vanilla Yogurt $1.99
- We’d love to be able to add deals, but their website is severely lacking in details, as usual!
Kroger Deals from This Weeks Flyer(12/2-12/8)
Split Chicken Breast .99
Kroger Bread or Buns $1. ea
General Mills Cereals $1.99
5#’s oranges $5.99
Gallon of OJ $2.99
Aldi Deals from this weeks Flyer(Dec 5th)
Celery .69
Baby Carrots .49 #
Cauliflower .99
Grape Tomatoes .69
Green Peppers 3 pack- .99
Broccoli .99
Ham Shank .99lb
Eggs .69 doz
Evaporated Milk .65
Marshmallow Creme .79
Canned Pumpkin .99
Cream Cheese .99
Twin Maine Lobster Tails $12.99
Frozen Veggies $1 bag
(Next Weeks Flyer Deals)
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $1.69 lb
Brown Sugar $1.39
SemiSweet Chocolate Chips $1.29
Aldi Every Day Low Prices
Bread $1.19 loaf
1 # Real Butter $1.99
Artisan Lettuce $1.99
Cucumbers .75 ea
Cherry Pie Filling $1.19
Cake Mix .99
Bananas .44lb
Flour $1.69
Sugar $1.69
Frozen Ground Turkey $1.69 #
Rice .89 (2#’s)
8oz Hard Cheese, various flavors $2.
Milk $3.18 gal
Bi-Lo Deals from this weeks Flyer
Ocean Spray Juice B1G1F
Ragu Pasta Sauce $1.49 jar
Whole Pork Boston Butt $1.99 lb
Bumblebee Tuna .89
Save-a-Lot Deals from This weeks Flyer
Split Chicken Breast .99
10lbs Potatoes $2.79
Powdered Confectioners Sugar $1.49
Brown Sugar $1.49
Cucumbers 2/$1
4lb Bag Mixed Fruit $2.99
If following the guidelines in our eBook, we would recommend stocking the pantry this week with flour, rice, sugar, brown sugar, confectioners sugar, evaporated milk, oatmeal, raisins, canned pie fillings, semi-sweet chocolate chips/baking morsels, canned pumpkin (while it’s still cheap), tuna, pasta sauce, and canned tomatoes, which are on sale in several stores. Otherwise, you’re purchasing very small amounts of each (meat, fruit, veggies and basics) and never really building up a pantry of groceries to have on hand.
Potential Grocery List & Plan:
A = Aldi B= Bi-Lo F=Food Lion K=Kroger S= Save-A-Lot W=Walmart
(A) Ham Shank .99 lb (8lb average) = $7.92
(A) Frozen Ground Turkey $1.69 #2 = $3.38
(B) Bumblebee Tuna .89 x2 = $1.78
(S) Split Chicken Breast .99 x4= 3.96
(A) Artisan Lettuce $1.99
(A) Celery .69
(A) Baby Carrots .49 x2 = .98
(A) Cauliflower .99
(A) Grape Tomatoes .69
(A) Green Peppers 3 pack .99
(A) Broccoli .99
(S) Cucumbers 2/$1 = $1
(S) 10lbs Potatoes $2.79
(S) 4lb Bag Mixed Fruit $2.99
(A) Bananas .44lb x3= 1.32
(A) Frozen Veggies $1 bag
(K) 1 loaf Kroger Bread or Buns $1. ea
(K) 1 pkg Hamburger Buns $1. ea
(A) 8oz Hard Cheddar Cheese $2.
(A) Eggs .69 doz
(A) 1 # Real Butter $1.99
(A) Milk $3.18 gal
(A) Cream Cheese .99
(A) Evaporated Milk .65
(A) Marshmallow Creme .79
(A) Canned Pumpkin .99
(A) Brown Sugar $1.39
(A) SemiSweet Chocolate Chips $1.29
(A) blueberry Pie Filling $1.19
(A) Cake Mix .99
(A) Flour $1.69
(A) Sugar $1.69
(A) Rice .89 (2#’s)
———————————————
Total Spent $55.87
Breakfast Ideas: (Could include sliced fruit with any breakfast)
- Blueberry Cloud Coffee Cake (x2 days)
- French Toast Sticks
- Hash Brown Casserole
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (all ages)
- Jam Breakfast bars– these are easy for little hands to hold
- Scrambled Eggs, toast
- Banana Muffins
Lunch & Dinner Ideas:
- Roasted Ham, scalloped potatoes, Salad
- Ham salad sandwiches
- Roasted Split Chicken Breast, gravy & Mashed Potatoes, salad
- Ham & Broccoli Mac & Cheese (Lunch next day- Leftover Mac & Cheese)
- Chicken Pot Pie (using frozen veggies & leftover baked chicken)
- evacuation tuna salad– a great one for easy/fast lunch
- Sloppy Joes, salad
- Winter Lentil Soup & Biscuits (Leftover soup for lunch next day- on the grocery list- instead of buying cauliflower, get cabbage)
- Sausage Stuffed Bell Peppers (use 2 of the peppers, cut them in half lengthwise instead, making 2 boats out of each.), salad or Taco Snob
- Peanut Butter & Fluff Sandwiches
Other Side Dish & Snack Ideas:
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Chewy Granola Bars
- 7 Minute Potato Chips
- Pudding
- Fresh Fruit:Bananas, Oranges, Pears, Apples, (consider making a fruit salad to munch all throughout the week)
Farmers Markets & Other Grocery Deals:
Here are some additional resources in your area that you might not have been aware of, but may offer really decent deals on fresh local produce and other goods:
- Beulah Farms– offers fresh eggs and pork, whole hog, cuts & sausage Location: Spring Place-Smyrna Road Chatsworth, GA 30705 ~website~ FB
- Burgers Farm Fresh Fruit Market– the jury is still out on what is available at this market, as it is reportedly a hit/miss deal Location: 233 Resaca Beach Blvd NW, Resaca, GA
- Growing Food Farms– offers hydroponic vegetables, berries, herbs and more Location: ~website~ FB
- Healthy Heart Farms-offers grass feed Beefalo, farm fresh eggs, as well as various fresh vegetables (in season) Location: 5298 S. Dicks Creek Road Lafayette, GA 30728 ~website~ FB
- Mercier Orchards offers Apples, Christmas Dinner, Candy, Bakery Items and much more Location: 8660 Blue Ridge Dr, Blue Ridge, GA ~website~FB
- Trinity Oaks Farm- offers raw milk with a high butterfat content, free range chickens, hatching eggs Location: 710 Prater Mill RD NE Dalton, GA 30721 ~website~ FB
- Lafayette Fruit Market offers fresh fruit Location: 1431 N Main St, La Fayette, GA ~website~ FB
- Railroad Produce offers firewood, canned goods and boiled peanuts produce FB
- Rock Spring Produce offers various fresh (in season) veggies, garden plants and farm raised beef Location: 8087 N Highway 27, Rock Spring, GA FB
- Whitfield County Farmers Market– Located Downtown Dalton Saturday Market Dalton, GA 30720 (Whitfield County)
Additional:
If you happen to be from this area and know of additional inexpensive resources, please feel free to list them in the comments below so that others can enjoy them as well!
If you haven’t already, check out our eBook, “The 2012 Family Guide to Groceries under $250 a Month” for additional money saving tips and recipes for reducing your grocery bill!
- View Current Grocery Store Flyers for All Stores
- View More Dirt Cheap Recipes
- View more $50 Weekly Menu plans
- Seasonal Trends- What you can expect to be on Sale in December
The requests for assistance have slowed considerably, We hope this means that folks have figured out how/where to find the best savings in their areas. If not, and you’d like to see your zip code featured, please feel to submit it here!
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