The SNAP Challenge - Prep Day

I went shopping yesterday at Aldi and Price Chopper.  I spent a lot of time preparing by looking at both stores' ads online and I did some reconnaissance work and scoped out some prices at Price Chopper last week when I did some of my regular shopping.

I don't think I have ever been as prepared with a list as when I went to the store.  I knew prices and was able to compare at the store.  I am really excited that I was able to buy salad dressing, I didn't know for sure if I would have room in my budget.

It was a very snowy day, but pretty enjoyable.

My first stop was to Aldi.  I remember now that you need a quarter to get a cart (you get your quarter back when you return it).  I didn't have one, so I carried a reusable bag and put all my items in there to take to the checkout.  Since it was a store I haven't been to in probably 10 years it was a little difficult to know where items were.  They make the prices lower by only stoking one or two brands of an item, so there aren't big sections of say mac & cheese to look for, just one spot on one row.  You don't pay for customer service, and that is the point of the store, but it was different from what grocery experiences are typically like for me.  You also bag your own groceries after you check out.  I spent $13.84 at Aldi (you don't include tax) of my $22.50 budget.

I stopped at Price Chopper after that.  I usually shop there so it was similar to my usual shopping experiences.  I didn't look around though, I stayed focused on my list.  They do a really good job of making you want to buy things.  I did weigh my bananas on the scale, I don't usually weigh things when I go to the store, but I had to be on budget.  I spent $7.66 at Price Chopper, putting me at $21.50, exactly $1 left to spend this week (probably on chocolate).

Through my shopping experience I thought about all of the things I take for granted.

Observations:

• Aldi has some great deals, though I shop at the grocery store near my house, because it is exactly one mile from my front door.  
• I used to budget more and look at ads, but I hadn't been doing much of that lately.  
• Coupons weren't very helpful in my experience because they are for processed foods typically and I tried not to go that route, and I was finding them for quantities more than what I needed.
• I didn't purchase a single item over $2.00.

Here is a photo of everything I bought:

I would like to note that I am doing the challenge where I purchased all of the food I will be eating this week, I didn't price out per serving (for instance, the oatmeal box has 10 packets in it, but I didn't subtract the value from the packets I will not eat this week).  I wanted this to be difficult.  

Here is my complete list:

1. Two cans of diced tomatoes.
2. A jar of balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing.
3. Strawberries.
4. Peanut butter and jelly (combined in one jar!).
5. Can of black beans.
6. Maple and brown sugar oatmeal packets.
7. Box of macaroni and cheese.
8. Baby carrots.
9. Baby lettuces.
10. One dozen eggs.
11. Loaf of bread. 
12. A container of yogurt.
13. Bag of frozen broccoli florets.
14. A can of chicken.
15. A jar of applesauce.
16. A can of sliced carrots.
17. A bag of brown rice.
18. One cucumber.
19. Three bananas (1.10 pounds) 

I spent a lot more time on prep work this week, slicing and dicing the strawberries and cucumber and doling out the applesauce.  I used a lot of plastic storage containers.  I am excited to start tomorrow and see what the first day brings.

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