i got married on saturday. my grocery budget was through the roof! i'm loving these tips for using up a lot of the grazing board leftovers, espcially the dips, in wraps though!
Congratulations, my first pantery stock shop to get a decent start for a working pantry was a bit much maybe you will find your cost will even out over time.
@@alishaparr577 I've been living on my own for 15 years, it was just shopping for our wedding dinner. We did a huge grazing board hung and have lots of leftover dips, salamis, cheeses, ect. Hahaha
Cooked a large whole chicken in crockpot. Had chicken, mashed potatoes and salad for dinner. Shredded the chicken and made a pot of chicken and noodles plus a small batch of BBQ chicken. I stretched that chicken to the max and have meals ready.😂
I think that embracing ideas from Spanish and Middle eastern cuisine is the way to go in summer. I make a batch of iced gazpacho soup using V8 juice as the base and adding red peppers, cucumbers garlic and lemon. It’s so refreshing. Also tabouli, hummus, grilled eggplant, flatbread and peppers make a really easy middle eastern mezze plate.
Grocery budget is through the roof! Happens every year so I shouldn’t be surprised. I try to cook outside. I have a little table set up for my slow cooker and a single burner, and of course my bbq. Helps a lot.
I agree. It's harder to think of things to cook that won't heat up the house in the summer. In the fall I rely heavily on crock pot soups and such to get dinner on the table.
I have a small container garden and a few elevated beds in my courtyard right off the kitchen. I scaled down after I retired. It does help me with produce during the summer. Plenty for us empty nesters.
I agree. Harder to stay on budget in summer .Harder to be motivated to cook. Tempting to just eat alot of sandwiches and fast food. We have some great summer produce where we live and I always spend a ton on produce. I am trying to freeze a few containers of fresh local corn cut off so that i can use it in soups or casseroles later in the year. Thanks for your ideas. always enjoy your videos. hope you had a great 4th of july vacation
I do spend a bit more in the summer but I do so because I’m buying (or growing) produce to preserve for the fall and winter. I can tomatoes, green beans, peaches, and a variety of jams and fruit butters for us to use throughout the year. Having those items on the shelves in the winter definitely reduces my grocery budget.
Another great video! The extreme heat affects my appetite so I find it easier to stick to my grocery budget. Even if I start out hungry by the time I’m in the store I’m already too hot to think anything sounds good. I have to have a meal plan and a list and follow those. I adore my instant pot and air fryer in these super hot months. I’m so thankful for air conditioning!
Summer is rough here too. I have a 6ft tall 15 year old football player who has been practicing 3 hours a day since June 1. And then a finicky autistic 12 year old. Home all. Day. Long. And we work second shift.
I'm on LINK so have to stay on budget! I buy lots more produce but less convenience foods right now. I might be lazy but I buy a bag of charcoal to be able to grill 2 times a month. I grill everything I have at the moment. Last night I grilled 8 steaks (on sale!), 3 pounds of boneless skinless thighs that I marinated in Mexican seasonings, a pack of hot dogs, a pack of cheddar brats, corn on the cob, and jalapeño poppers. We ate steaks, corn, poppers, and potato salad last night. The rest is frozen or in the fridge. The chicken will be tacos, burrito bowls, and taco salad, there are leftover steaks too. I don't have to cook for the next week other than to warm stuff up. And I won't go buy anything else because I won't let all that grilling go to waste! It works great for us! Next grill session is pork tendetloins, chicken legs, and burgers and some veggies!
I'm fortunate that we have a garden and a lot of farms around so the budget doesn't get crazy. If we want to can for winter, it can get a little more expensive because of needing a large amount, but farmers usually will discount bulk purchases
This is totally my favorite kind of video that you do. Summer is hard, I shop more often according to weather and what we're feeling like. Senior citizens with diet restrictions but I've found the deli is my friend , produce and pasta salads.
88 cents a pound for whole fryers is a great deal! Lowest I find currently is 1.19. I love putting the whole chicken in the instant pot with some water, seasonings, carrots, onions, herbs, a bay leaf, and stuff the chicken with lemons and some butter. So good and the chicken is tender too!
I think that budgets need to be adjusted by the season. I buy my produce seasonally. I do cook less in summer, or I fix my meals in the morning that I can reheat in the microwave. Speaking of the microwave, I once lived with out an oven, and it's amazing what you can bake in the microwave. Things like corn bread which doesn't need browning are great in the microwave. I bake most of our bread, and it can be a challenge in summer, though James Beard has a great recipe for English muffin bread made in the microwave, they brown in the toaster.
I had a baby and just started back to work from maternity leave in June. The baby fussiness, my 40 hour a week work schedule, and the summertime heat are creating an astronomical grocery budget for me. It is a little bit better now that my milk supply has increased to the point where I don't need formula, but how much I'm spending still sucks. Your videos help so much! I've never stepped foot inside of an Aldi, but one was just built in my neighborhood, so I will give them a try to see if I save some money. Thank you!!
so easy to grow your own...a small bed will give you cherry tomatoes, 1 zuch plant, 1 cucumber plant, ...endless abundence..as a gardener, cant imagine
@@user-lz5fi1um7smight depend on yard etc…zucchini was a huge failure multiple years for us but tomatoes and swiss chard grow great! I’m trying peas and cucumbers too this year. Fingers crossed
One bag of the Aldi Mexican street corn scoop sized chip will convert you to a lover of them and they’re especially delicious with cowboy caviar and queso! It’s a seasonal item, don’t wait too long they’re gone usually in august.
I spend more in the summer r/t more fresh produce. Cold fresh meals. I to do not want to cook heavy because of the heat. The airfryer is a great tool. I love the dip section at Aldi, lots of tasty wraps!!! Thank you for all you do Mindy❤❤
So we took your idea of using the Aldi dips as pasta sauce, and have really been loving it. Recently, my husband bought some street corn dip to use while making chicken spaghetti.
Our budget stays pretty steady during the summer, mainly because we try to use up things stockpiled in the freezer so that offsets the bbq hosting and treat type purchases.
Thank you Mindy for this great video :) yes - summer and heat - hard to cook and heat up. I am not living in extreme heat like you, but sometimes our summers also get the same temperatures. What we eat is usually some burgers (from minced meat - any type of patties, which you can serve cold or heated) - some light meat cooked quickly on a stove (like chicken in any different gazillion ways) - pasta - lots of veggies // making salads with oil or sour cream - and also - just simple foods, like pancakes or some baked potatoes :) Keep up your spirit high and enjoy the summer moments. We will all have enough time in bad cold weather in winter - and still remember the wonderful moments which summer brought us :)
I agree having the kids home really throws my budget out the window and it won’t last a week. Here at Massachusetts food is more expensive, but you’re video’s have help me a lot . I’m greatful of your Chanel
Aldi for the win! The bulk of my groceries come from there. (We love their tortilla chips!) I rarely go into Wal-Mart. I fill in the cracks with Kroger trips.
Hello MindyMom,yes summer does present challenges with meal prep for me. I choose cold salads to make. Potatoe salad, spaghetti salad,macaroni salad,3 bean salad,corn&carrot salad, cucumber&onion salad,carrot salad.we also have egg salad,tuna salad,chicken salad served on bread,rolls, or tortilla wraps. I also have a cooling sports towel to help me stay cool. I also make my own iced coffee in my kitchen. If using crock pot a person can make a batch of thick chili soup and serve over tortilla chips with shredded cheese&spring onions finely chopped on top along with a dollop of sour cream or ranch dressing or just mayonnaise. It is a cool idea!👍😎 Another cooling idea is do your cooking at night or in the late evening. That way when the next day heats up you already have a cool salad at the ready in the fridge.
Walmart around here marks down the meat just before closing. If they don't get to it, they do it just before they open. I spend about 5-600 dollars a month for 3 adults. That equates to 125-150 a week. I shop 98% of my shopping at Walmart. That is of course Kroger isn't having a killer sale, I feel like if I don't, I am hurting my son and brother's paycheck.
I've always loved sleeping with a fan blowing on me, now my husband and I have our own (Woozoo brand) bedside fans and it's wonderful! Summertime eating for us can go to extremes, super healthy with lots of fresh produce or we have ice cream for dinner.
My food budget goes out the window in the summer 🤦🏻♀️ but by July and into August, it kind of tapers off due to the influx of produce from our garden. But May and June are terrible.
I agree. I have my college kid home in the summer so while she doesn't eat a ton, it's enough that my budget suffers. Hopefully we can get back on track when she goes back to school. Although, we pay for her to eat there too🤷♀️
I never thought I would use Instacart shopping service but I found a $19 for the year coupon and have been actually saving money on my weekly Publix shop. The impulse buying was really adding up to hundreds of extra dollars a month. We live in SWFla and it is super hot here also, I have it ordered to be my last stop on Saturday Am. I always find it worth going into Aldi as my store has amazing clearance stickers on meats. I totally agree about Aldi's tortilla chips but their pub pretzels are really close to Dots for $2.
I find I shop for the unknown or the pivot for a changing taste for meals. That inflates the bill but then I end up getting creative to utilize it all. I manage to make it work. 3 meals for 30-40 days probably spend $500 for 2 and there is plenty of carry over. Eating out maybe twice for the 30-40 days. Heavy protein as well.
I do find Aldi generic brands mostly very good. The only one which is dire is the spaghetti in tomato sauce tins, but I rarely have them so it is not an issue to pay the extra for Heinz! Thank you for the video! It is winter here now but in summer I am often spending more!
This summer has definitely blown any idea of a budget. With the heat, I've also had a major back surgery and standing and cooking is killer. Getting a little better with it. Grateful for all the local in season produce right now
It's awful to cook when it feels like 100 degrees with 83 % humidity. My airfryer is doing amazing work, on homemade chicken pot pies with rotisserie chicken, roasting chicken for salads, tacos and pasta. My slow cooker is handling the roast pork for carnitas and roast beef for sandwiches, appetizers and wraps with horseradish sauce.
OMGoodness yes. Last week we ordered pizza, then I went and picked up a few sides to go with chicken last night. I am being so bad - it's been near 90 and I have been handling some outside projects, that is not helping.
This time of year is just about surviving the heat for me. Tonight, I picked up a veggie tray and one of those cracker/cheese/pepperoni trays from Walmart. That was dinner along with a sliced up cantaloupe. :)
my favorite salad because I can prepare it ahead time: Layered Salad with Walnuts From the Kitchen of: Lorita Sutton serve 8 Ingredients: 1 cup whole walnuts 1 tsp. canola oil 1/4 tsp. garlic salt 1/8 tsp. dill weed Dressing: 3/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 2 Tbls. chopped green onions 1 Tbls. lemon juice 1/4 tsp. salt Recipe instructions: In small bowl, toss walnuts, oil, garlic salt and dill weed. Spread in single 2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley layer in an ungreased 15 x 10 x 2 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring once. Cool. For salad you will also need 5 cups shredded lettuce, divided. 8 cherry tomatoes , halved and 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese. 1 package (10 oz.)frozen peas, thawed. In a 2 1/2 qt. bowl, layer 2 cups of the lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and peas, 3/4 cup walnuts and remaining lettuce. In small bowl combine the dressing ingredients. Spread 1 cup of the dressing over the top of the salad (do not toss). Cover and refrigerate salad and remaining dressing for several hours or overnight. Just before serving, top with remaining dressing and walnuts.
Hi Mindy, I love your channel. You give me so many great meal ideas. Morning walking…we have started watching at 6:30 am. Durham County North Carolina ❤
ibotta had a great deal on the tyson chicken strips...bogo. i know theyre not the healthiest, but probably better and way cheaper than fast food. thanks for the video.
Yes definitely harder in the summer… the heat, not wanting to use my oven, the kids eating more bc they get bored ha… all the things. You’re exactly right!
Mindy, take a pack of lemonade and lime koolaid mix the together with your own sweetener. My grandma used to make that for the grandkids. Usually when it is this hot in the northern part of nc, I use my crockpot and my stovetop. It's 95 degrees with the feel like temperature at 101 degrees.
Our take out food budget takes a hit big time in the summer. This summer it’s just my husband and I as we are empty nesters now. I really have to rein in how many times we eat out. Also starting to learn new grocery shopping and meals just for two.
I definitely agree with you for the fact that in the summer, all three of my teenagers are home and they are hungry all the time lol it costs so much more to feedthem in the summer or at least I feel that way, love this idea for this video, love you and cannot wait to see what you bring us next
I actually spend less money on food during the summer. My kids (3 teenagers) are usually gone for 1-2 weeks of church camp. Also I live on the gulf coast so in preparation for hurricane season I spend April -July emptying my deep freezer just in case we lose power during a hurricane. And I don't restock my freezer until September.
Mindy I find it difficult to stay on a grocery budget year round. I have so much better luck budgeting for clothes etc. I am even better at budgeting for utilities than food -- I think it is because food prices fluctuate and change as the seasons change. Also, I fear my grocery budget gets really tested at holiday times -- Easter, Thanksgiving, and most especially Christmas! Have you ever thought of doing like a Christmas dinner or holiday dinner on a budget for one of your videos?
During the summer I eat much less. I don’t have an appetite and my stomach hurts after I eat something. It’s only me so if I eat it’s mostly a small salad. Thx Mindy.
We don’t have Aldi here so it’s hard to decipher what’s what on pricing. Also only me and hubby. So I’m intrigued with your options for that price since we spend WAY more for just two. Of course, keep in mind that I have NO idea how to only cook for two. 😅
I definitely find my grocery budget to be higher in the summer because I want more fresh fruits and veggies and when it's too hot, I have zero motivation to cook. I'm in Delaware and this past week with the air quality and humidity, its been horrible. For everything you got, I think you did awesome!❤
Great tips. I hope you have a great vacation. If it’s already happened, i am sure you had a great time. Yes, summer affects the budget. So much fresh produce and I get wanting convenience items to keep things simple when it’s hot out.
My problem buying fruits in the summer is that you don’t know how good it is til you get it home. I got 2 pints of blueberries at a store on Saturday and got 2 more at a different grocery chain today. Those are sour and mushy. $5 I’d like to throw in the trash! Red strawberries look beautiful but are tasteless. It’s so disappointing.
I get a kick out of people who shop at Aldi and buy name brands. Aldi & Trader Joe's are owned by the same company and many of the items you can find at TJ are also at Aldi for 1/2 the price for the same size package. The Aldi brand is the same as TD's generic brand as well.
Lol, I was just talking about this the other day. I live outside of Las Vegas and one of my strategies is to cook or bake early in the morning. I’m an early riser anyway so I make the most out of it during the summer and use that time to bake if I need to. It’s usually only 80-85 degrees out that time of day, which feels cool compared to 110.
I'd say seasons seem irrelevant to my spending. I avoid "budgeting" as it triggers too much anxiety. Of course if times are tight, I keep a super keen eye on what I spend because I'm already anxious so that is less of an issue. I shop pretty much at the same store because I like their produce. I scan the weekly ad online and make a pickup order. Usually everything in my cart is on sale or digital coupon, plus I add coupons they send me. This week I get $8 off an order of $80 so I ordered some extra things. I buy on Fridays because I get extra fuel points. Right now I can take 90 cents off a gallon and the store gas station often has the cheapest regular price. That's a good savings.
(Posting as Joyce) I definitely think that meal planning is harder in the summer. As you said, I don't usually make the soups and casseroles that I make during the rest of the year. I did try the Elevation Functional Protein bar in the Golden Vanilla Cream flavor. I wasn't impressed. Sorry!! I do like the Aldi brand of the Pretzel Slims from Aldi in their brand better than the original brand. I tried it because you suggested it. Thank you!! I do get frustrated trying to think of what to make for dinner. Unfortunately, my family is fussy. But, my 2 sons that are still home can make something for themselves if they don't like what I make. Thank you again for all that you do! Have a blessed day!!😇😇
If you go to the store a day or two after they get truck you can find discounted items. 75% off a box of cereal because someone cut the external packaging with a box cutter, yes please. My store also has a "use today" section for produce and those items need to be used within a day or two. It helps prevent waste and I might be able to get an item on my list at a discount. If your local grocery store doesn't have one, talk to the GM or produce manager. It also allows my family to try new fruits and veggies. Things like prickly pear, chayote squash, dragon fruit, golden kiwi, and cherimoya.
I was just telling my husband today that my grocery budget was way busted!!... it's definitely summer!! And, I'm 42, and just started having a fan blowing on me at night-i get it!😁
Definitely. I get more produce and deli type meats and cheeses for sandwiches and salads. I’m in PA and we’re in the middle of another heat wave with triple digit heat index temperatures. We get more take out when it’s hot too just because even the thought of assembling a sandwich or salad is too much 🤣 tonight I’m planning scrambled egg sandwiches with fresh tomatoes. It’s something my grandparents always have had in the summer. Easy. Sides will be cucumbers and a bag of chips.
Great video. I like making "summer salad" as my husband calls it. It's cucumbers, onions and tomatoes with an Italian dressing on it. Thanks for sharing!
Oh! I use strange and crazy dips to put on my baked potatoes. That buffalo bacon flavor looks great! I also love Trader Joe’s caramelized onion dip. And then pesto is fun to put on beside it there along with some taco meat and cheese and barbecue sauce or ketchup. And yes, I am implying, putting a lot of these on a baked potato at once, along with maybe some butter if needed.
Normally, my budget is crazy because of convenience foods. But for the past 2 years, I've been observant of sales cycles and have only purchased when prices are good. In fact, I've found lamb to be quite reasonable as a protein option when I buy it from Costco at $7/lb. This summer, however, I noticed that my pantry and freezers were crammed with food that needs to be eaten or chucked. So, I've been restricting myself to only purchasing produce, bread, and dairy for my family *and* keeping our weekly budget to less than $40 per week. While it has meant looking for creative ways to make dinners, I have found that my method of preparing a large chunk of meat on Sunday and using the leftovers for meals all week still is possible in the summer. I also try to do simple breakfasts and lunches. We go through cereal like crazy during the school year, so I had a stockpile of it by summertime. We're working through it although everyone is sick of certain kinds by now. And our chips stock is very low, as is our snack bin. So, it might be time to replenish with something new. Luckily, our stockpile has lasted us and is still quite large. We did do a Costco run last week to prep for a vacation and spent an extra $30 on a few foods like corn dogs and frozen roasted veg. But otherwise we've stayed within a smaller budget and I'm curious to see if I can continue it through the Fall albeit allowing pantry restocks (which I need to do for certain items like cornstarch and tomato sauce). Anyway, I found it quite inspiring to restrict myself from buying all of the foods in the store. We have enjoyed fresh corn and watermelon because they both went on some great sales. But I've avoided the stone fruits, the burger "deals" that were barely low, the ice cream "sales", and the like. And life has been quite nice this summer.
