Bi-Weekly Grocery Budgeting Tips, Winter Storm and Stocking Up
- Chelsea Stolte
- Jan 25
- 6 min read
This week we are getting a monster snowstorm moving up our way into the tr-state area! It looks to be moving in tomorrow, which is 1.24.2026. Look at me, already the day into the snow storm and posting this! What should we do to prepare? WelI, If you didn't make it to the store, fear not. There are plenty of recipes you can whip together with what you have on hand.
I have been seeing many facebook groups and town halls give great advice on what to do to prepare for winter storms like this one. My biggest concern is always a power outage and losing heat / fridge going out.
If your electric goes out - make sure you have a back up plan for your food. Food should no be above 40 degrees for more than 4 hours. If it is from a freezer, heck! Throw it outside in a cooler or a box since we are hitting subzero temps this upcoming week.
Stock up on a days worth of meals, and maybe some firewood if you have a wood stove or fireplace. Bundle up my friends, it is about to be chilly!
I know it sounds easier said than done. If you need help budgeting, check out this FREE DIY Daily Planner & Budget Sheet. If you want to get even crazier and start the new year off with in-depth budgeting - see here for self-assist budget spreadsheet. This thing overhauls your whole year for you.
All About the Savings
What are we saving for? Well, most Americans deal with lack of money to save or put away for an emergency fund. Luckily you can save some mullahhh $$ when you learn how to shop sales and meal prep for the family. Today we will discuss making beans and rice stretch you in a time of need.
Did someone say BEANS & RICE?
Beans and Rice Recipe - Taco Style
Here’s a list of ingredients. You guessed it. 3. There are 3 ingredients if you are being frugal. Most of these should be in your cabinet, if not - I would suggest investing of a bulk bag of each, minus the taco sauce - No one needs a backup supply of taco sauce, or... do you?
2 Cups of Water
1 Cup White Rice
1 15oz Can of Beans (if you can't do beans try some mixed vegetables / fried eggs)
1 Teaspoon Salt (optional)
Taco Sauce or Seasoning (you can always just use hot sauce on hand - Frank's Red Hot has never let me down: https://amzn.to/4rgpwRP)
Instructions:
Rinse Rice 3-4 times in strainer or swirling around in a bowl
Add rice to a saucepan with 2 cups of water
Add Lid
Turn onto high until simmering, then turn down to low
Set timer for 20 minutes on low
After 20 minutes you can add your beans and fluff with rice or serve over top
Canned beans don't necessarily need to be microwaved or heated
Add granulated or liquid sauce over top and serve
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Gardening Tips for Winter
As we transition into fall and winter, it’s time to think about your garden. Here are some seeds to plant (START INDOORS at 55°F at night):
Kale
Spinach
Lettuces
Beans
Snap Peas
Cauliflower (1" tall seedlings)
Cabbage (1" tall seedlings)
Root Veggies (beets/turnips)
Blueb
Get a Zone 5 or 6 Garden Planting Zone Planner for yourself here:
Let’s dive into the sales for this week. This is for my local folks in the tri-state area of Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Maybe some of my fellow Virginia friends will find this helpful too!
Food Recalls: Stay Informed 1.23.2026 Update
Today I want to notify everyone that you can actually sign up to get all these notifications emailed to you in real time. The FDA has a website I signed up for, and I am ON TOP OF IT NOW! You can sign up here: Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts | FDA
*Newest additions are now at the bottom*
Company | Product | Recall | Note |
Mountain West Food Group LLC | ground beef | E.coli | forward farms ground beef - use or freeze by 1/13/26 |
Lorraine Quiche | did not pass inspection | did not get inspected | quiche with pork |
Olympia ready to eat holiday Kielbasa | kielbasa | foreign matter, metal | |
La guadalupana Foods LLC | Ready to eat frozen tamales | undeclared allergy | mislabeling |
Live it Up | Supergreens organic and wild berry pouches | salmonella | |
Genova | Yellowfin Tuna | Botulism | |
Spring & Mulberry | Multiple Flavors Chocolate Bars | Salmonella | |
Ambriola, Locatelli, Members Mark, Pinna, Boars Head | Multiple Cheeses | Listeria | |
Karison | Panjiri, pinni, laddoo | Undeclared milk allergen | |
True Sea Moss | Sea moss gel superfood | Botulism | |
Klong Kone Shrimp Paste | Shrimp Paste | lead contaminant | |
Outside the bread box | Bread Crumbs | Undeclared Milk Allergen |
Always check the FDA's full list for previous and still active recalls.
Grocery Savings: Maximize Your Budget
In-Season Fruit and Veggies
Base your meal prep around seasonal savings. We are back to looking for whatever is on sale these next couple of weeks.
What fruit seems to be on sale this weekend? Mandarins.. $2.99 each at Food Lion.. always check for sales on your avocados!
Couponing Tips (Updated 1.23.2026)
Save A Lot has a membership program now! Make sure you sign up to continue getting the best deals you can! If you can afford it this week, take advantage of the meat sales and stock up!
Save A Lot: Now Downloadable in a PDF.
Winners:
Picnic Pork Roast $1.48
Pork Butts $1.88/lb
Whole Chicken Wings $1.99/lb
Skinless Chicken Breast $1.99/lb
Sweet Cherries $2.98/lb
$5 off Sugardale Ham with coupon
Aldi: Now Downloadable in a PDF:
This might be the week to head over to Aldi for some produce if your budget is tight.
Winners:
Blueberries $2.29
$3.49/lb Cherries$1.97/ lb chik
Mini Oranges (cheaper than food lion) $2.49
Baby Bella Mushrooms $1.29
Chicken Tenderloins $2.29/lb
Sam's Club:
I usually shy away from here because even with my bigger family, I do not need the products they offer. However, I found some relevant savings.
Winners:
The $5 Chicken (still the best deal there)
Food Lion: Sale Dates Jan 21-Jan27
Downloadable Weekly Ad
Food Lion has shop and earn rewards, if it fits in your budget, try to buy the things that can get you that extra bonus each month! You can see these on your food lion APP.
Food lion has a buy 2 get one free sale going on this week - check out the downloadable PDF for details. Looks like cereals and some pizza!
Winners:
Salad Express 2/$5
25% off Natures Promise Meats
$3.99/lb 73% ground beef, can't really beat this!
Ribs $2.99/lb
Turkey Hill Ice cream BOGO
0.49 cent cabbage per Lb
3/$10 Pepsi Products
$6.99 / lb shoulder roast
Martin's: New PDF of Weekly Ad
Downloadable Weekly Ad:
Winners:
$1.97/lb chicken breast
$1.97 mandarin oranges (this might beat aldi and food lion)
I shy away from general mills but they have some cereal and cereal bar options starting at $1.88
Panera soup $2.97 ea
Pork chops $2.99/lb
My Shopping List
So, how did I do with my $100 budget? I am still at around $115 but I bought enough to where I only need milk and essentials this week which should be around $30. If you make it stretch and don't waste food you should be able to stick to a reasonable budget!
I still have cheese, bread, lunch meat, chicken, canned goods, milk, eggs and all my normal snacks I keep around (they last more than a week so you do not have to buy each time)
This week we ended up making:
Chicken Tenders / Mixed Salad - 2lb meat
Italian Sausage - 1 lb meat
Bratwurst - 1 lb meat
Meatballs - 1 lb meat
Burgers - 1lb meat
Some items I started stocking up on to keep as healthy snacks:
Celery
Avocado
Cherry Tomatoes
Baby Carrots
Pickles
Fruit on Sale (this week was strawberries)
Try cheaper meat cuts every other week:
Kielbasa
Hot Dogs
Bolonga
Sale Meat
Organize Your Budget
Don't forget you can purchase your own downloadable grocery budget sheet below:
So.. to sum it up, try it with me.... plan to spend only 100 a week and see what you can do to minimize waste, stick to the budget, maybe even share some new recipes with the rest of the crowd over here!
Happy shopping, my tri-state friends! Stay safe in the snow!
~DIY With Chelsea
1.25.2025
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