Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
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I’m a strong believer in keeping essential staples on hand that help you quickly prepare meals, snacks, and side dishes. Smart shopping can keep you out of the drive through and prevent overspending in the grocery store. These are the 15 grocery items I think you need to purchase at the beginning of every single month. Each item is versatile and can be used in multiple dishes. And probably best of all, they’re all well priced. I bought every item but one on the list at ALDI and spent $35.26. Without further ado . . .
15 Grocery Items to Buy Every Month
Frozen Chicken Breasts $6.69
You can grill them. You can bake them. You can toss them in the slow cooker and shred them. Fajitas, salads, pasta, pizza, stir fry, sandwiches – there’s pretty much not a dish that doesn’t play nicely with chicken. Buying the boneless, skinless frozen variety allows you to toss them in the freezer and use them when you’re ready. We can get 2-3 meals out of the 3 lb. bag.
Peanut Butter $1.49
We all eat peanut butter on a daily basis. It goes in our oatmeal. We eat it on sandwiches. A tablespoon with apple slices is my favorite snack. When my kids decide they don’t want to eat the main dish (they need to at least try a bite), it’s always an option if they’d like to make their own dinner. We go through a jar every couple of weeks, so it’s always on my shopping list at the beginning of the month.
Black Beans $2.29
While we were paying off $127K in debt, we ate black beans and rice on a weekly basis. They’re packed with protein and easy to prepare. You can choose to buy them by the can ($0.59 at my ALDI) but the most economic approach is purchasing dried beans, soaking them, and then cooking them. I typically use my crockpot to soak overnight and then slow cook all day long. After they finish cooking, I drain them and then portion out 1 1/2 cup into ziploc bags and freeze them for quick and easy use. You can get 24 generous individual servings out of one bag of beans.
Rice
I actually purchase rice in a 25 lb. bag every 3-6 months. But if you don’t buy in bulk, don’t forget to pick up a bag each month. You may want to shop around to find your favorite variety. We fancy Jasmine, because it cooks quickly and is so fluffy and slightly sweet. I use rice with beans, salsa, and cheese as a frequent lunch. I also fry rice or prepare it with our favorite Thai dishes.
A Jar of Salsa $1.69
Beans, rice, and salsa can stand alone as a main course. But you can also use it as a side dish or dress up chicken in the crockpot with salsa. You can even add salsa to eggs for a southwest spin on a breakfast favorite. We like the Organic Mild Salsa at ALDI, but you can choose whatever level of spice and variety you enjoy the most.
A Bag of Frozen Vegetables $1.59
Every dinner I fix features a vegetable and a fruit. Having a bag of frozen veggies on hand helps me quickly prepare the side without much effort or thought. This month, I bought green beans. Choose your favorite but buy at least one bag at the beginning of every month. Typically, we’ll get two sides from one bag for two different meals during the month. The advantage of purchasing frozen over fresh means they’ll survive a bit longer if you don’t get around to using them immediately.
A Loaf of Bread $1.79
Like many of the items on this list, you’ll need more than one loaf of bread during the month. But be sure you have at least one loaf on hand before the month begins. From quick and easy sandwiches to french toast, from toast served with olive oil to a PBJ when you’re in a pinch. I typically purchase two and toss a loaf in the freezer until we’re ready to use it.
Large Eggs $1.39
Packed with protein and the building block for many dishes, eggs are an essential. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, eggs are always a quick and easy meal. Plus you can use them to prepare treats, muffins, or even use them in dishes like stir fry.
Unsweetened Applesauce $1.89
Again, I like to serve a fruit and veggie at every meal. Applesauce is one of my go-to “cheat” fruits. I buy the unsweetened/no sugar added variety and buy a bigger jar instead of individual serving sizes to save on cost per ounce. I love the long shelf life and the fact that my girls will always eat it.
Shredded Cheese $2.99
Everything tastes better with cheese! Each month I buy at least one bag of shredded cheese. Typically I choose a larger 4 cup bag of mozzarella or cheddar because these varieties are cheaper per ounce and can be use on multiple dishes. Italian and Mexican dishes, as well as eggs, sandwiches, and salads all taste fabulous with cheese. Don’t forget the cheese.
A Bag of Apples $2.99
Apples are great for breakfast, snacks, and even as a side dish for lunch or dinner. Whether you cook them (I highly recommend making your own applesauce in the crockpot) or eat them raw, this simple fruit is always delicious. Again, I eat them frequently dipped in peanut butter. They keep longer than most fruits (up to six months in the fridge) which makes them the perfect, frugal fruit.
Nuts $4.59
One of the pricier items on the list, nuts are a satiating snack that can also be used to top other dishes, too. Add them to oatmeal and baked goods, or simply eat them with fruit. This month, I chose pecans because I like their sweet flavor. I make my own homemade granola which pairs perfect with nuts and some dark chocolate chips. YUM.
A Jar of Pasta Sauce $1.89
Pasta sauce can be used for more than just spaghetti. You can prepare chicken with pasta sauce or use it as a sandwich topping, too. Sometimes, we’ll even have pasta sauce on rice with some mozzarella. It’s a great staple again because of the long shelf life. Be sure you buy a jar each month.
Quick Oats $2.39
Oatmeal is served every month in our house. High in fiber and low in sugar, oats keep you full all day long which means you will snack less and spend less. Again, you can add the apples, nuts, and peanut butter to the frugal food to stretch it even further and enhance the flavor. The King of Free once calculated that you spend less than $0.25 on a serving of oatmeal each morning even if you add extras. Plus, it’s delicious.
A Box of Pasta $1.29
A little pasta goes a long way to feed a large family. I know it’s not always an option for everyone depending on food allergies but we typically buy a box of pasta each month. The Princess Youngest has a gluten sensitivity so we occasionally buy gluten free pasta, too.
I put together a FREE Printable of 15 Grocery Items to Buy at the Beginning of the Month with space for you to include 10 other items for your beginning of the month trip so you can stock up on the essentials along with your regular shopping.
What would you add to this list? What items do you buy at the beginning of every month to ensure your family eats well and doesn’t overspend?
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free on Kindle.
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Vicki says
We love chips with salsa and guacamole at our house, so even though I know chips aren’t exactly health food, I figure it’s better than a lot of snack options and the salsa and guac are healthy. We buy a lot of Aldi tortilla chips for $1.39, or on sale for 99 cents. Aldi also has excellent prices on milk and orange juice (not from concentrate). Another thing we keep on hand is water bottles, I like to use refillable ones but in some situations water bottles are more convenient and Aldi seems to have the best price also.
Jessie Wiseman says
You can also make this a little cheaper and healthier by making your own tortilla chips (tortillas are mostly flour and water then placed in a skillet to cook, bake until crunchy).
Sarah Dunn Penquite says
In my attempt to have more fresh whole foods and fewer boxed foods, I have learned that my staples need to be purchased every couple weeks instead. My Costco staples include:
2dz organic eggs
6 avocados
5lb baby carrots
1 bag french green beans
1 bag brussles sprouts
1 block sharp white cheddar
1 box tortilla-crusted tilapia (good alone or when used in fish tacos!!)
1 package nitrate-free sausages, the type varies on sales and what I feel like having that week
nitrate-free sandwich meat
Staples at Kroger:
beans
whole grain bread
whatever organic chicken is on clearance, usually drumsticks
whatever full-fat yogurt is on clearance
almond milk
Noel Lizotte says
I love this list!! Only thing … this is more like a bi weekly list for my house
Queen of Free says
🙂 Well I’m not guaranteeing we don’t run out of any of these staples in a full month. But, it’s a good place to start if you don’t have them on your list already.
LadyLoneStar says
I prefer to shred my own cheese….no telling what “they” put on shredded cheese to keep it from clumping.
Queen of Free says
I do love shredding my own cheese too. Good point!
Stacy says
I would add a large bag of frozen ravioli for nights when time is tight, frozen edamame beans as a snack or side, and 5 or 10 pound bag of potatoes for baking, soup, stew, or homemade fries. One last thing is a bottle of ketchup-an essential in my house.
disqus_jduXvwwhub says
$1.39 eggs? Do you know how tortured those chickens must be? Crammed into a crate without even the room to move, with several other hens, the male chicks being suffocated or ground up since they’re useless for meat, inadequate food, left in total light or total darkness 24 hours a day at various times of the year, no comfortable place to lay or perch, no ability to express natural inclinations so they pull out their own and each others’ feathers, left without necessary medical care but left to live because they might pop out yet another incredible egg while slowly dying – Considering how useful eggs are, you ought to be willing to pay 4 x that price so that the chicken has some semblance of an actual life. Because you know with all the money you’re “saving” here, you’ve only got enough for maybe half a pack of smokes or a movie on iTunes. Please revise your values if you value only the cheapest. There are “externalities” that usually mean crappy lives for the producers of your food – both human and animal.
Mrs. T says
About the shredded cheese. That is something I always keep on hand, but I keep it in the freezer. That way there is no chance of it molding, which it seems to do so easily in the fridge.
Cheri Lentz Riggins says
Since my husband gets pd bi-weekly, the 1st check of the month for us is always Aldi. I have a list of items that I’ve found to be most reasonable there, and my list includes the prices…I swear I’m not OCD! I also have a list of things I buy with that check every month and add whatever else is needed by checking my meal planner (which I do for at least 2 wks in advance). With all that info I’m able to know almost exactly what I’ll be spending (freaks my husband out when I tell him I’m within 25-50 cents lol). When I do our budget I’m also able to know what I need to budget for food for that check. This has gotten us through a lot of very stressful times, and once I had it all set up it doesn’t take any more time than making a shopping list while trying to figure out what we might like to eat in the next couple weeks. Whew, sorry about the long post…guess it just pushed the right buttons for me! 😊
Cindy says
I would add a 5 lb bag of potatoes to the list.
Karen Hedrick says
I live alone and I can tell you this list is not enough to last me a month-1 bag of veg.-seriously??
Queen of Free says
Hi Karen! This list is not meant to feed a family or even just an individual for an entire month. Rather, they are foods that will help you fill the gaps in your regular meal planning/shopping. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Krystyna Bartlett says
Jeez I saw your peanut butter for $1.49…I WISH I could buy peanut butter for that price! In Canada its about $4.99 for a Kraft brand.
Natasha Melvin says
Is Aldi an American dollar/cheap store? We do not have it here in Canada. I wish I could shop there, the cheapest I can get a loaf of bread is 3.99 regular price, and it is made sort of locally! I stock up when it goes on BoGo every other month.
ryatteau says
a bag of onions,a bag of potatoes, eggs, milk, butter, toilet paper, chicken, milk, and ice cream.
Melanie Booth Murphy says
Canned fruit. If I run out fresh, or want to stretch the fresh fruit out fora few more days, canned fruit is great in a pinch.
Queen of Free says
I like applesauce for that reason! 🙂