Ms. Paradis, who is a frequent commenter here, posts at my discussion board every so often about her thrifty meal plans and grocery shopping lists.   

I thought it might inspire some people here, and if you like it well enough, I might ask her if she wouldn't mind letting me post these lists here regularly! 

Just FYI, Ms. Paradis is feeding a family of four with these grocery plans. 

Click here to see the rest of the entry (it's long!)

First 2 week shopping trip:

Save a Lot~

3# of apples 2.49
2 cans of asparagus spears@1.29 each
2.46# bananas 1.10
Can of chicken noodle soup .55
Coffee creamer (powder) 1.49
4 cans of cream of mushroom soup@ .55 each
18 count package of eggs 2.83 (that seems like a lot for eggs?)
2 bags of frozen French fries@1.39 each
Package of ham lunch meat (dh lunches) 2.49
Container of honey 3.49
Instant powder milk (for baking) 6.99
Box of margarine .57
Jar of mayo 1.59
Black olives ripe pitted 1.18
3# yellow onions 1.39
10# white potatoes 1.49
Quick cook oatmeal 1.79
3 brown paper bags .15
Box of saltines .83
2 cans of sauerkraut @ .49 each
Shells and cheddar 1.39
2 tater tots@1.49 each
2 strawberry yogurt@.50 each

Walmart~

Big bag of shredded wheat cereal 4.66
Great Value auto dishwasher detergent 5.37

Rite Aid~
I was waiting on a prescription and was looking at the Valentines thing and picked up my kids a few things that will be set out valentines morning from Dad & Mom(We do this every year)

Sweet tart conversation hearts .20
2 sponge bob heart box of candy@.88 each
2 reese peanut butter hearts@.44 each
Sweet tart hearts .44

Walmart (First trip and then went back for the stuff above)~

12 pack of Pepsi (Dh lunches) 2.50+1.20 deposit
24 rolls of toilet paper 5.97
box of GV instant potatoes 2.32
big box of honey comb cereal 1.98
GV chocolate syrup 1.28
GV vanilla frosting 1.12
GV lemon juice 1.68
GV cheese and breadsticks 1.25
Pillsbury strawberry cake mix .88
2 GV shrimp Ramen noodles@.28 each
2 cans of GV tuna in water@.58 each
GV assorted cookies 1.50
2 liter of diet coke 1.33+.10 deposit
2 GV wheat bread@1.34 each

Budget balance for groceries began with:
+400.00

Take away:
- 28.86~Walmart
- 3.28~Rite Aid
- 10.35~Walmart
- 44.34~Save a Lot
-----------------------------

+313.17 Left in balance

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Quick Trips for Extra Items:

Rite Aid~

2 cans of salmon@1.25 each

Balance was:
313.17

Take away:
-2.50

Left in Balance:
=310.67

Glen's~

Kraft Miracle Whip (for FIL for when he eats at our house. He doesn't like mayo) 1.85
Head lettuce .99

Balance was:
310.67

Take away:
-2.84

Left in Balance:
=307.83

Wal*Mart~

2 liters of diet coke@.67 each and .10 deposit each
3 pack of yeast 1.18
cup of chicken noodles .36
cup of cheddar cheese noodles .36

Balance was:
307.83

Take away:
-3.44

Left in Balance:
=304.39

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Another Trip to get more groceries:

(Don't have an itemized price list for this part,  but the total is recorded below)

Sam's

28 bottle of Gatorade (Dakota's lunches)
Case of water (Dh's lunches & Ryan's snack daily at school)
45 pack of peanut butter & crackers
Gallon can of tomato sauce
Huge jar of kosher dill spears
Liquid minerals(Dh takes this daily)
18 cans of vienna sausages(Ryan likes these alot)
20 bars of zest bar soap
2 chuck roast(was 17.74,I got them marked down to 7.31)
Canister of coffee to have stocked up for dh.

MIL got the boys 40 pack of ice cream treats(Ice cream sandwiches,fudge bars,nutty bars,ice cream bars and I forget what else).

Clark Station~

Gallon of milk

3 boxes of sweet tart candies for Ryan to put in his valentine cards.

Balance was:

+304.39

Take away:
- 4.58 Clark
- 60.43 Sam's

Left in Balance:
+239.38

***********************************************

Second Grocery Shopping Trip:

Went and did grocery shopping at a couple stores.They had a lot of good sales so I stocked up!

Tom's food market~
3 Italian blend shredded cheese 3/5.00
10 pack of Hi-C juice boxes (Ryan's lunches) 2.69
Peter pan creamy peanut butter 3@.97 each
Ragu roasted garlic cheese sauce(use this for pizza's)2@1.50 each

Walgreens~
3 packets of cheddar gold fish@1.00 each
Bag of almonds .99
Bag of macadami nuts .99
3 cans of salmon on sale@1.29 each
Box of dried apricots 1.00
Box of dried fruit assortment 1.00
Box of dried fruit assortment 1.00
4 skor candy bars@ .50 each


Meijers~
3.27 lb. bananas 1.60
1.88 lbs. pickling cucumbers 1.86
2 boxes of augratin potatoes(to make for the neighbors)@1.29 each
Bottle of diet coke 1.39+.10 deposit
Alfalfa sprouts 1.49
Box of instant rice 1.59
3 containers of yogurt@.40 each
Very large container of powder lemonade 6.99
2 packages of wonton wrapper(will freeze them since they were on sale)@.99 each
9 boxes of elbow macaroni@3/1.00
6 boxes of spaghetti noodles@3/1.00
11 boxes of fruit snacks@10/$10.00 and get the 11th free
11 boxes of pop tarts@10/$10.00 and get the 11th free
11 boxes of deluxe macaroni and cheese(like velvetta kind)@10/$10.00 get the 11th free
Package of fresh bella mushrooms@1.00
Box of chicken rice 1.04
2.11 lbs. of tomatoes 4.20
Bag of apples 1.50
Bag of chinese vegetables marked down(Dakota wants to make stir fry with them)1.19

Walmart~
2 suave conditioner@1.46 each
2 suave shampoo@1.46 each
Peanut & jelly crackers 1.88
Big container of oregano 2.08
Valentine cup cakes 1.27
cake candy sprinkles 1.34
12 pack of coke 3.00+1.20 deposit
paper cups(for making valentine cup cakes)1.26
2 2 liters of diet coke@.67 each+.20 deposit

Beginning Balance:
$239.38

Take away:
- 64.66~Meijers
- 19.41~Walmart
- 13.85~Walgreens
- 13.60~Tom's Food Market

Left in Balance:
$127.86

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If you'd like to ask Ms. Paradis about anything, just post a comment below, and I'm sure she'll be happy to answer you!