Food wise, one of the things I was most looking forward to here in the Northeast, was being able to shop at Market Basket and Aldi. I I’m not sure why, but I am amazed at the zero frills set up at both stores and the low food prices. Smaller stores, less overhead, lower prices and neither store has an entire aisle dedicated to granola bars. Yep, count me in.
I don’t know about you, but I am so tired of “customer loyalty cards” and all their gimmicks. If you are constantly shopping, or love to have a bunch of apps on your phone, or more importantly, don’t mind doling out your information… great. But for me? No thanks. I am just not a shopper {in the traditional sense}. I just want to walk into a store, get what, I want and know I am getting a great price. I don’t want to jump through hoops. Plain and simple.
Ideally, once we get settled, the plan is to transition to doing a big grocery shopping trip just once a month and to buy whatever else we run out of or need at the country store or from neighboring small businesses {meat, milk, eggs, honey, bread etc.}. Not only to save time, but money on gas and running errands as well. A funny thing happens when you live in high maintenance suburbia and you have any store you could possibly need {grocery, Target, Home Depot, Costco, Starbucks, Garden centers, gas stations, restaurants etc.} just 1 mile away… You spend more. Because it’s convenient. You go in for one item and you come out with 10.
Fat chance of that happening here. My hope is that I will keep a list of items I need on a notepad from various stores, and really just spend one day a month picking up all the supplies we need. Sounds simple enough, right?
Basically the name of the game for my first “fill the pantry shopping trip” was to stock up on a ton of food…. Not only get us through the chaotic moving in to a new house stage, but also so I didn’t have to think about going to the store for a while.
Absolutely no thought went in to this shopping trip and The Girl and I just grabbed whatever struck our fancy. Knowing that I’ll be going to King Arthur Flour company to stock up on baking supplies in the near future, I only grabbed enough flour to get us through a few batches of cookies. Not pictured are the two gallons of milk The Girl picked up at our local country store.
Aldi’s had milk for $1.48 a gallon and a dozen eggs for $0.98.
1 pound of asparagus $0.99 and bananas for $0.39 a pound {better than Costco prices!}
Okay, so the prices on their “picky food” as my husband likes to call it {salami, cheeses etc.} was great. The serving sizes were spot on and unlike buying specialty cheeses at Costco, I didn’t have to spend $30 for 3 chunks of cheese and worry about it going bad before we could eat all of it. Hummus was $1.99! And maybe I’m crazy, but it looks exactly like the Sabra hummus container. Hmmm.
2 pounds of powered sugar and brown sugar were both $1.29 and a half a pound of ham or turkey was $2.99. The thing I liked about the sliced lunch meat was that I didn’t have to spend $10 on an enormous container of it for the same {or higher} price per pound as I would have at Costco.
I think it will be interesting to see if or how our eating habits change over the next few months…. Or at least until we are able to start harvesting fruits and vegetables out of the garden. I LOVE having the access to lower grocery store prices, and hopefully soon, I’ll be able to figure out where to buy some local produced items as well. My goal is to find a nice balance between the two {grocery store and supporting a few neighbors}.
It’s good to be home!
~Mavis
- Total Spent This Week on Groceries $222.50
- Total Spent in March on Groceries $241.95
- Total Spent in February on Groceries $259.81
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $240.15
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
* In case you were wondering, all the food consumed on our 3,000 mile road trip, came out of our moving fund. Because seriously, I had enough on my mind and collecting food receipts wasn’t one of them. Ha!
Sarah S says
I love Aldis too. I call it my no think store. I don’t have to stand there and compare prices or brands. It is just so easy to shop and the quality is great. Congrats on the new home!
Elizabeth says
I agree with you. I can get in and out in 20 minutes with an entire week’s worth of groceries:) So nice!
Jennifer@thefrugaldribble says
I am another Aldi fan. The only downside I can think of is I don’t seem to get the best meat prices there for my area.
Carolina says
Ya gotta’ love Market Basket! My local store is ALWAYS full of customers. When you get all settled in, I recommend shopping when the store opens at 7 AM, since I know you are not a big fan of crowds.
The closest Aldi’s to me is the one that you shopped at when you did your Portsmouth-Kittery-Barrington shopping tour. I have never been, but will be going as soon as I am SURE that there will be no more snowstorms. Fingers crossed! And like you, I am watching the snow melt. though I don’t count on it all being gone for a few more weeks. But the local lakes and ponds are now experiencing “ice out” and that is a good sign!
Amanda S says
I love shopping at Market Basket on Friday night after work. There’s barely anyone there! Or if I go right after my exercise class on Saturday morning, it’s not bad. It gets busy later in the day.
Yankeegal says
I love Market Basket too! Not only for the prices, but my son is the front end manager at one of them. They are very loyal to those who work for them and there is so much opportunity to “move up” in the company. My son started there when he was 15, and is now only in his twenties and doing very well there.
Marcia says
It will be interesting to see how you shop. It’s a little funny that you say you aren’t a shopper, because shopping sales at various stores is how you kept your grocery bill so low!
But in a high cost of living area, that’s required. With access to fewer stores with lower prices, it will be an experiment for sure!
Katie says
Having an Aldi open nearby has made a noticeable difference in my grocery budget. I will issue one word of caution – their produce has a short shelf life. Buy what you need for the next few days, or have a plan to freeze the rest. Also, check the expiration dates on all perishables. Dairy products can be really close to their sell-by date.
AJ says
I love Aldi prices too! I haven’t had an issue with the produce, but I keep most of it in the fridge (except bananas) because it keeps longer (so I don’t have to go to the store as often). I’ve had success keeping apples and oranges for weeks that way.
Danni says
I live an hour drive “with no traffic” from a WinCo or Fred Meyers. So I do the one big shopping a month trip. I have a super Walmart 40 minutes away so the mid-month I hit it. I don’t like their meat or produce so I buy my diapers and household items. And cereal as I have five boys and they mow through cereal. I try to only go to a store twice a month. I spend about 300 on food. Now we grow most of our meat so it’s hard to figure that in. I save tons on beef and pork. I can raise my my chicken for about .98 per lbs. Of course butcher day is a pain but the meat is awesome!!!!
suzanne says
Good to know about the cost of raising chickens. I can get whole chickens for 1.19 lb but i would imagine the eggs are worth the effort alone. Fertilizers an added benefit and knowing they are raised humainly and fed well but there is the initial cost of the coop.
Mrs. C. says
How is Lucy Puggle enjoying her new home?
Mavis Butterfield says
For the most part pretty good. Clinging to us like mad though and very anxious if someone is not home with her. I’m sure it will take a few weeks for her to settle in. I still can’t let her off her leash in the backyard yet because there are a few spots in the fencing I need to shore up before she can run wild. As soon as the snow melts in those areas though we’ll get them fixed and then she can be a free bird.
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, you can buy 50 pound bags of flour at King Arthur Flour. Ask me how I know that. I filled my car trunk after I took bread baking course there!
Norma Mason says
Isn’t King Arthur Flour the neatest. I was there for lunch one day (on a retreat through my church), and then we shopped the store. Incredible, and I love how the print the date the flour was ground on the packaging.
Mavis Butterfield says
The food in the cafe there is delicious!!! I think I had some sort of apple and brie sandwich the last time I was there.
Mrs. C. says
Was that last photo the HH’s first breakfast in bed at the new home?
E in Upstate NY says
Our multi generation home keeps a shopping list attached to the refrig. General items are just placed on the list. Items which are a Wal-Mart, BJs or Hannaford specific purchase are segregated under those titles. Aldis is our primary shopping location, with Wal-Mart the second. BJs and Hannaford are a needed. We keep our prescriptions at Hannaford, so are in there at least monthly if not more. Checking the shopping list before leaving home has become a learned task.
We also check the weekly other grocery store flyers which come with the newspaper. If they have an especially good deal and if we are driving by [usually connected with a medical appointment.] will take advantage of the good deal. Otherwise, not worth the trip.
That all said, wish our Aldis had those great prices. Through the Canning FB group, I get very jealous at the items and prices we don’t get here in upstate NY. Many in that group purchase at fantastic prices food that they can.
vicki rossiter says
I Love Aldi! Our milk in the Midwest is higher though. A gallon is over 2.00. 1/ 2 gallon is right around 1.35 at Aldi. That’s a bargain though for what they charge at Hy-eve or a similar store. We are in Missouri.
Jane says
Yay for living close to Aldi! Seriously the best! Ask when they get their fresh produce shipments and plan your trips that way!
Peggy says
Aldi = Love.
Stephanie says
I hear you on the once-a-month main grocery shopping trip! That’s actually one of my goals for 2018, but I set the goal after moving to a larger town with MORE grocery store options. I got tired of loading little ones into the car and dealing with traffic and crowded parking lots just to pick up a few things. I think it’s funny that I’ve gotten to this point, especially since I used to be an extreme couponer like you (I’m a long time reader). Breast cancer was a huge eye opener. I had this epiphany: I have gone through so much in an effort to extend my life….why am I spending so much of it at the grocery store?!
As a side note, I have loved watching you live your dream and look forward to seeing how you make this new property your own. Best wishes, Mavis!
Libby says
Just something to think about…..we get hurricanes, ice storms, and massive snow nor’easters in New England that cause huge power outages – including stores.
An older neighbor taught me years ago to buy several 2.5 gallon containers of bottled water early every August to have on hand in case of a hurricane. I also keep a pantry with enough food to get through a week with no power.
Not sure if PNW has weather events that cause regular power outages. It’s not like it will definitely happen in New England, but it has happened often enough.
Amanda S says
Yeah, about two weeks ago I lost power for a day and a half and my parents lost power for three days due to the crazy heavy snow that also damaged so many trees and bushes!
Leslie says
Just for fun, we (Portland, OR) get power outages in the fall when the wind picks up (typically get a few storms with 60+mph winds that will take down limbs. In the summer, if it’s hot, transformers blow due to heavy use of fans and AC units. Back in CA, we just had rolling blackouts and earthquakes.
Carrie says
Aldi is my weekly go to. I love that you can get hummus, pita chips and baby carrots for a quick $5 snack to offer when friends come over.
I just tried Aldi vanilla wafers. I was planning on making a banana pudding but we devoured the box of cookies too fast! I see you are trying their chicken brats/sausages. I love the feta and spinach ones. They are my quick need dinner now meal. I started slicing them into rounds and serving with eggs in the morning. Their breakfast sausage is good too.
I made the mistake of waiting to go Sunday evening (I usually go right at opening). They were sold out of a lot and the meat section was clear. I ended up going to 4 stores to find chicken breast!
Pam says
Just a heads up- I’ve found that King Arthur Flour is actually cheaper when on sale at Shaws than by the big bags at King Arthur. It is lovely getting the big bags though…
Paula Walter says
I love Aldis too, I buy almost everything there and have not been sorry! I see you bought the fudge mint cookies, I think they taste exactly like girl scout thin mints! If you buy the red pkg of peanut butter sandwich cookies they taste just like Nutter Butters! I also love the no frills. The prices are awesome and I too have noticed some of the packaging resembles name brands closely. You tube has a lot of blind taste tests for Aldis brands, it’s funny to watch! I loved reading your journey from house to house series.
Athena says
I think the mint cookies from Aldi taste so much better than the girl scout ones! They changed the girl scout recipes a few years back and they have not been as good since. Aldi also carries a version of the caramel and coconut GS cookies.
Mavis Butterfield says
We all liked the thin mints. If they have the coconut ones next time I’ll have to grab a box.
Barbara Gantt says
Going to King Arthur is a fun trip. Their pastry are awesome but you have to get there when they first open to find what you want to buy. They sell out early in the day. Prices for their flours and mixes are high. If you can find a salvage grocery near you, they often have King Arthur products cheaper. We shop at the one in Walpole, NH. Great buys can be found there. When summer arrives, there is a wonderful Framers Market near KIng Arthur. Local produce and meat for sale.
Suzy Anderson says
Aldi and Trader Joes are owned by the same company. I have found some products that are the same at both stores, like their 3 flavor hummus.
Helen in Meridian says
How many miles away is your Aldi Store? Is there a Costco within 120 miles? I see you got to have a St. Patrick’s meal in your new home. Was the price of their Corned Beef a good deal? I love how my corned beef tastes out of my electric pressure cooker. Your hand hewn wood on the wall and near windows is so wonderful and imperfect. Oh, tell your mom you have a tiny holiday tree like her brass branch.
Mavis Butterfield says
I think the corned beef was on clearance for 1.99 a pound so I stocked up. The HH LOVES it.
SadbutTrue says
Aldi has one too many food recalls for my comfort level. Good luck
Leslie says
For what it’s worth, Whole Foods has more 🙁
charwelsh says
A lot of Aldi’s meat (both fresh and frozen) is injected with salt water. So if this bothers you, check the package before you buy it.
Christa H. says
I love Aldis and they have fabulous prices. I have bought most items they sell. The only issues I have is that the flour is usually very lumpy and needs sifting and the hamburger meat that I have bought had connective tissue bits in it that you can’t chew so I don’t buy that anymore. Other than that its fabulous!!
Welcome to the East Coast…lots of sunshine!!!!!
Marybeth says
Aldi is the best. I was there today. We love the English Cheddar. We like Sabra hummus better. My husband loves their pork sausage for breakfast. All of their bread and baked good are good. Have fun trying all of your stuff. Just don’t forget your quarter for a cart. That seems to be the biggest thing that throws people.
Ladybug says
Mavis,
Here is a great website you may find helpful in finding your local food producing gems.
http://www.localharvest.org
Lauren says
What state did you move to?
jackie klish says
I’ve had very good luck with Aldi’s meat. Steaks were excellent, and the stew meat meat also. They also have their “never any” line, with chicken that has no antibiotics. Produce is nice too and in the summer or fall they carry locally grown items.
Julia says
I also love Aldis.
Brenda says
Did I miss something? Where in the world is MAVIS?
Helen in Meridian says
Only WALDO knows.
Laurie says
I love Aldi too! You get the basics at a great price with plenty left over for a treat or two!