$50 Weekly Menu Plan Help: Fort Smith, Arkansas

We're putting the spotlight on Fort Smith, Arkansas in this weeks $50 Menu plan help across the USA where we show a member where to find great grocery deals to get the most for every dollar!

AudiDawn writes, "72908 family of 3 - we have a walmart super center, harps/price cutter, and cv's family food, We would really love the help cutting down the grocery bill since there has been changes in finances"

Let's begin with the stores that our member frequents:

Walmart Super Center- you might be wondering why we don't offer prices from Wal-mart, well, to begin with, walmart doesn't offer "sales", they offer "everyday low prices". What that means is occasionally they will "rollback" the price of something, but not very often and the deals are few and far between. What it also means is that Walmarts weekly store flyer is completely lacking in anything useful for those of us wanting to plan our weekly menus! You won't find page after page of low prices on anything food related, unless it's primarily Junk food.

Harps/Price Cutter Deals from this weeks Flyer-

Assorted Pork Chops $1.99lb
Seedess Grapes $1.99lb
10# Bag Russet Potatoes $2.99
On the Vine Tomatoes $1.49lb
Boston Butt Whole Pork Roast $1.99lb
Bush's Beans .78 can
Catfish Fillets 2.49lb
American Beauty or Ronzoni Pasta .88 each
Ragu Pasta Sauce $1.68 can/jar
Sour Cream $1.59
Hunts Died Tomatoes .88
Rotel Diced Tomatoes .88
Tomato Sauce 3/$1


CV's Family Foods Deals from this weeks flyer
Betty Crocker Muffin Mix .19 each
Red Ripe Tomatoes .99
Dole Lettuce .99
(Whole) Ham $1.29 Pound
Baby Back Ribs 3.49 lb
Avocados .79 each
4 boxes General Mills Cereal for $7.
Ragu is $1.68 (There's a coupon on the back page of the store flyer for Free Pasta wyb Ragu).

Those are pretty decent deals in the stores that our member frequents, but here's some even better news- She has an Aldi store less than 5 miles away from the zipcode she provided us! Here are some even better deals & savings she can find this week:

Aldi Deals from this Weeks Flyer

Bananas .33 lb
Kirkwood Ground Turkey $1.69lb (frozen)
Red Grapes $0.79 lb
Pears $1.29 (28oz)
32 oz Yogurt $1.99
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast $1.69 lb
Chicken Thighs $1.19 lb
Apples .69 lb ($1.99 - 3#)
Pumpkins $2.99
Stadium Brats $2.49
Chili Beans .99 bag
Pumpkin Ravioli $2.49 lb


Aldi Everyday Low Prices
Milk $3.18
Bell Peppers $1. (or less)
Artisan Lettuce $1.99
Celery $1.29
Cucumbers .99-1.29
Frozen Veggies .79-.99 bag
cream cheese $1.09
Mandarin Orange Segments .59
Cereal $1.59
Flour $1.59 bag
Sugar $1.59
Eggs $0.99- $1.29
2lbs Rice .99
Bread $1.19 Loaf
Diced Tomatoes .69 can
Fresh Spinach $1.69 bag
Hot Dog Buns .79

Potential Grocery List & Plan: A= Aldi ~ CV= CV's Family Dollar ~ H= Harps WM= Walmart

(A) Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 5lbs @ $1.69 = $8.45
(A) Apricot Jam $1.00
(A) Ground Turkey $1.69 (2) $3.38
(A) Red Grapes .79lb
(A) Apples .69 lb ($1.99 - 3#)x 6lbs - $3.98
(A) Chili Beans .99 bag
(A) Pumpkin Ravioli $2.49 lb
(H) Boston Butt Whole Pork Roast $1.99lb x 8lbs = $15.92
(A) 10# Bag Russet Potatoes $2.49
(CV) Betty Crocker Muffin Mix .19 x2 each =.38
(CV) Red Ripe Tomatoes .99lb
(A) Bananas 3lb .99
(A) Milk $3.18
(A) Bell Peppers $1. (or less)
(A) Artisan Lettuce $1.99
(A) Celery $1.29
(A) Cucumbers .99-1.29
(A) Frozen Veggies .79-.99 bag (1 bag peas/carrots)
(A) Flour $1.59 bag
(A) Sugar $1.59
(A) Eggs $0.99- $1.29
(A) 2lbs Rice .99
(A) Bread $1.19 Loaf
(A) Fresh Spinach $1.69
---------------------------------------
Total Spent $58.43


Keep in mind with the shopping list above that this is NOT how we intend the $50 weekly menu plans to work. The menu's work best if you follow the monthly sales cycles and follow the guidelines in our eBook when purchasing meat and restocking the pantry. Had this member purchased meats and pantry items ahead of time, this majority of this weeks menu plan would have focuses on fruits and veggies.

Breakfast Ideas:

• Toasted Biscuits w/jelly
• Bagels
• Apple Cinnamon Quesadillas
• Donut Muffins
• Jam Breakfast bars
• Banana Bread Slices or Muffins

Lunch & Dinner Ideas:

• Chinese Fried Rice & Chinese Chop Suey (use 1 lb boneless chicken)
• Tailgater's Sticky Turkey Balls over Steamed Rice, Salad
• Loaded Baked Potato Soup, Biscuits
• Grilled Chicken & Grape Salad Wraps
• Pumpkin Ravioli & Salad - If this doesn't sound good to you, swap out the ravioli for brats- they're the same price this week
• Chicken Pot Pie (uses 1 bag frozen peas/carrots, 1-2 chicken breasts), leftovers for lunch next day
• Cajun Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Salad , Applesauce (Cut the 8lb butt into 1/3's- use 1 piece for a roast, 1 piece cut into thick chops for grilling, 1 piece to grind for sausage).
• Pulled Pork BBQ & Tater Tots (from leftover roast)

Or- since there is only 3 of them, they might decide to cut the Tailgater sticky turkey ball recipe in half and use only 1 lb of meat, and use the other lb of meat in a Cornbread Taco Throw together

Other Side Dish Ideas:

• Tater Tots
• Twice Baked Potatoes

• Toaster Oven Apple Pie
• Muffins
• Chewy Granola Bars
• Potato Chips
• Bananas or Banana Bread or Banana Muffins

Farmers Market:

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:

• Brunswick Place Farmers Market: Offers- : Produce, Herbs, Flowers, Crafts and Bake Goods. Location: 115 North 10th St. (brunwick Place) Fort Smith, AR 72901 Website

• Carol Ann's Goat Farm: Offers- full line of natural skin care products: 50 types of goat milk soap, lotions, salts, baby products, etc. Location: Figure Five Area Website

• Greens Jenny Lind Farms: Offers- Small Organic Farm Location: Howard Hill Road Fort Smith, AR 72916 Website

• Hooligan's Hen House: Offers- Fresh eggs from Reportedly Spoiled Free Range hens Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas Website

• Mother Earth's Community Garden: Offers- a place to grow your own food, veggies, herbs or flowers Location: Corner of North 9th and D Streets Fort Smith, AR 72901 Website

• Newton Sons Inc: Offers- okra, purple hull peas, peas, new potatoes, horticulture or pinto beans, corn, squash, zucchini, patty pan squash, burpless and pickling cucumbers, etc Location: 6820 Parks Rd. Van Buren, AR 72956 Website

• Still Waters Farm: Offers- Location: Outside city limits! fort smith, AR 72916 Website

• Wild Things Farm: Offers- sweet corn, tomatoes, melons and other vegetables, Fresh u-pick berries (in season) Location: 700 Beaty Pocola, OK 74902 Website
  

• Wilkes- offers: Cantaloupe, Corn, Squash, Strawberry, Strawberries, Watermelon Location: 2411 North 53rd Ft. Smith, AR 72904

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 October