10 Top Items To Buy at Aldi with a $50 Grocery Budget

Even the thriftiest of families needs roughly $976 a month to feed a family of four, according to statistics from the USDA. But what if you’re trying to pay down debt, save money , or don’t have nearly $250 per month to buy groceries.

Trending Now: I’m a Sam’s Club Superfan: These Are the 9 Best Summer Items To Buy

For You: How To Get $340 Per Year Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

Smart shoppers have put together a grocery budget of $50 per week, with items purchased from Aldi. Limiting your shopping to a single store also saves time, gas money, and reduces the temptation to overspend on impulse items you don’t need. Just steer clear of Aldi’s center aisles, where you’ll find everything from cat beds to coffee makers. Instead, seek out these must-have items from Aldi if you’re on a budget.

Oatmeal

• Price: $4.15

A 42-ounce container of Millville Old Fashioned Rolled Olds, which compares to Quaker, makes 30 one-cup servings of oatmeal. Switch up this breakfast each day by adding cinnamon, chocolate chips, or dried fruits like raisins or cranberries.

Chicken Breasts

• Price: $10.95

Finding boneless, skinless chicken breasts for less than $2.49 per pound is rare. Enjoy Aldi’s throwback price of $2.19 per pound for roughly five pounds. Use these to make 10 to 20 one-quarter to half-pound servings of chicken cutlet parmigiana, grilled chicken, lemon pepper chicken, chicken tacos, and more.

Italian Sausage

• Price: $2.99

Italian sausage is another low-cost meat that can feed a hungry family. Use this 19 oz. package to make sausage and peppers, sausages on the grill, or mix into a frittata for breakfast.

Eggs

• Price: $1.85

As with chicken cutlets, it’s rare to find eggs for less than $2 a dozen lately. Grab Aldi’s Goldhen Grade A Large Eggs will be used in recipes, omelets, and more all week.

Cheese

• Happy Farms Block Cheddar or Mozzarella Price: $1.95 / 8 oz.
• Emporium Shredded Parmesan Cheese Price: $2.45

Aldi’s cheese section is renowned for exotic varieties that are perfect for dinner parties and get-togethers, as well as block cheese or bags of shredded cheese. Use a selection of mozzarella, parmesan, and cheddar for everything from chicken parmigiana to spinach frittata.

Marinara Sauce

• Price: $1.49

You can’t beat a 24 oz. jar of Reggano marinara sauce for less than $2. Use this pantry staple for chicken parmigiana, sausage and peppers, or pasta with meat sauce.

Penne Pasta

• Price: $1.09 for 16 oz.

Serve up any meal with a side of penne pasta at a price lower than we’ve seen at any other grocery store or warehouse club in a while.

Ground Beef

• Price: $7.58 for 2 lbs.

Aldi offers several varieties of ground beef at relatively low prices compared to other retailers or wholesale clubs. Use it to make burgers, pasta with meat sauce, tacos, and more. The best value for most recipes is 80% lean ground beef at $3.79 per pound. You should be able to get at least eight servings out of a package. Although 73% lean ground beef is cheaper, per pound, when the fat burns off, you are left with less meat for your meal.

Try This: Don’t Waste Your Money on These 5 Unreliable Appliance Brands

Brioche Rolls

• Price: $4.95

Use these rolls for cheeseburgers or to make egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast on a budget. With 12 rolls per package, these rolls taste like they should cost a lot more.

Fresh Produce

With just under $10 left in your budget, let’s stock up on some fresh produce, including green bell peppers, broccoli crowns, spinach, and fresh blueberries and strawberries to mix with that oatmeal.

• Green Peppers: $2.09
• Flat Leaf Bagged Spinach: $1.65 for 8 oz.
• Strawberries: $1.89/1 lb.
• Blueberries: $2.76/1 lb.
• Broccoli Crows: $1.75

The grand total for this Aldi trip came to $49.44.

Note: We used pricing from Instacart for a Suffolk County, NY, Aldi location. Prices may vary in store and based on region.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 10 Top Items To Buy at Aldi with a $50 Grocery Budget