5 Destinations for a Memorable End-of-Summer Vacation

Use a Grocery List

Buy In Bulk On Sale Items

So many things freeze beautifully. When items that you use regularly are on sale, from bread to butter to meat, snap them up in bulk. Although the savings seems minimal, when you add it up over a year’s worth of purchases, the amount of money you keep in your pocket will be significant. Plus, if you buy in bulk, you’re always guaranteed to have your favorite ingredients on hand.

Stockpile In The Freezer Section

If you’re doing things right and stockpiling, then you’re going to make good use of your freezer. Although we want to eat our favorite fruits and vegetables year-round, buying things in season is significantly cheaper, which means that when these items are affordable and available you’re going to want to stock up. Even if you’re buying pre-frozen fruits and vegetables, you’re saving money, and the research shows that you’re not losing any nutrients by doing so.

Shop In Season

Enjoy More Casseroles

Casseroles do not belong in the 1950s. In fact, they are every bit as valuable today as they were 70 years ago. Why? Because they’re a healthy and delicious way to stretch out pricier ingredients and feed more mouths. You could feed each person one chicken breast or you could use two in an entire casserole which will feed you both for dinner and leave you with leftovers for lunch the next day. If you’re not sure where to begin, find tons of Brit + Co casserole recipe inspiration.

Use Herbs and Spices

Scenting your meals with a handful of herbs and spices is a good way to add a lot of flavor with little extra cost. Bonus points if you grow your own herbs. Also, you should definitely be buying spices in the international section of the store. I recently noticed that an ounce of cloves costs $3.79 in the spice aisle but 99 cents in the international section.

Go Meatless Most Days

Meatless Mondays are all fine and dandy, but if you really want to save a few extra dollars, you need to make more than one day of the week meat-free. Not to mention, it’s better for your overall health to eat less meat. Studies show that people who eat less meat have a lower risk of dying from cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. So you’ll be doing something good for your wallet, and your well-being to boot.

Get Cash Back On Groceries

Credit cards, like Credit One Visa and American Express offer cash back on groceries — a simple win for saving cash when grocery bills are higher than ever.

The original poster on Reddit, an Aldi fan for sure, totaled up a basic grocery list consisting of 22 items from Aldi and concluded: “All I can say is, wow. I know I’m preaching to the choir here but these savings are insane.”

The Redditor also provided grocery list totals for several other popular grocery stores to compare the Aldi list to. They also made sure to note that they get their grocery shopping done in the Chicagoland area, so that could definitely explain why the numbers may be a little different where you live. Knowing that, here’s what they came up with:

• Aldi: $60.40
• Walmart: $74.80 (24% higher)
• Jewel: $83.90 (39% higher)
• Whole Foods: $103.51 (71% higher)

We did the heavy lifting and concocted a similar grocery list for Trader Joe’s. For reference, see the Aldi bill above, and the TJ’s bill in the bullet points below:

The Trader Joe's List

1. Tiny Fruity Cuties Cereal (like Fruit Loops) $3.99
2. Everything but the Bagel Seasoned Crackers (This was the most similar TJ’s product to Aldi’s cheese crackers we could find, plus most of TJ’s crackers average around $2.99 anyways.) $2.99
3. Saltines (TJ’s no longer sells their version of saltines, but according to one Redditor, they were $1.99.) $1.99
4. Avocado oil$7.99 (Two more dollars than Aldi!)
5. Organic black beans $1.19
6. Unscented deodorant $4.99
7. Brownie Truffle Baking Mix $3.97 (Two more dollars than Aldi!)
8. Romaine hearts (We weren't able to find an organic option listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
9. Large eggs $4.99
10. Multicolor peppers (Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
11. Green peppers (Only red organic peppers are listed on TJ’s site.) $3.99
12. Seedless cucumber (The only comparable option TJ’s has for the Aldi’s list above is the Persian cucumbers.) $2.49
13. Mild cheddar cheese (The only comparable option TJ’s has for the Aldi list above is the Shredded Unexpected Cheddar Cheese.) $4.99
14. Cilantro (This isn’t listed on TJ’s site, but they do sell it in-store. Various sources report different prices for cilantro. Abillion forums say it’s $1.29, but Taste of Home reports $1.99. We're averaging the two for a final item price.) $1.64
15. Tuna pouch $1.79
16. Hummus (Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
17. Yellow onion (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above.) $0.99
18. Red onion (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above. TJ’s doesn’t have red onion listed on their site, so we're also assuming it’s a similar price to their yellow onion.) $0.99
19. Carrots (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above. Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.49
20. Avocados(Pack of 4, like Aldi.) $5.99
21. Celery (TJ’s doesn't have celery listed on their site, but they do sell it in-store. For this comparison, we're assuming it’s the same price as Aldi’s celery.) $1.69
22. Potato chips (TJ’s doesn't have baked chips like Aldi does, so we went with the most basic potato chip option to compare, the Ridge Cut Potato Chips with Sea Salt.) $3.99

Aldi vs. Trader Joe's: The Price Comparison

Aldi’s total came to $58.75 without tax, while the Trader Joe’s total ended up clocking in at $68.14 without tax for (mostly) similar items on the Aldi list. That means that TJ’s only came to cost $9.39 more than Aldi for a very comparable haul. 🤔

So, who really wins the Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s debate? If you were to measure it solely by the numbers, it’d be Aldi – though the margins aren’t as big as they are at, say, Whole Foods (71% more, remember?!) or drastically big in general.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe's: Who's The Winner?

Both Aldi and Trader Joe's definitely have their respective charms. While Aldi boasts a fan-favorite ‘aisle of shame’ and a streamlined store design, Trader Joe’s never stops the flow of fun, new products that keep fans in a chokehold. If you’re set on choosing a clear winner, we say go with your heart – going off of this basic comparison, you’ll honestly end up spending a similar amount of money shopping at Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s.

1. e.l.f. Power Grip Primer

This gel-based primer does such an impressive job at hydrating your skin, all while still serving as a surface for your makeup to stick to.

The formula is fully clear, so it's friendly for all skin tones. Plus, it retains a slightly-sticky feel after applying it, allowing subsequent foundation, concealer, and powder to stay put all day long.

"It's really great for dry, oily, and combination skin which explains why my skin feels immediately hydrated after I use it," Brit + Co Staff Writer, Jasmine, writes in her review of the e.l.f. Power Grip Primer. "I usually purchase two at a time because I know it won't take long before I run out of this primer."

2. e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer

This $7 concealer boasts a satin finish that helps you achieve the most natural of natural makeup looks. It leans on the side of hydrating, which we always prefer.

Plus, it's shoppable in a whopping 23 different shades. The option to browse a wide shade range is just another thing we love about e.l.f.!

Brit + Co Entertainment Editor, Chloe, has only good things to say about the e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer:

"It's not too heavy but it still has good coverage," she said. "It's also the perfect balance for me between matte and super dewy, neither of which i'm a huge fan of so the middle ground is great. Super easy to blend."

3. e.l.f. Wow Brow Gel

While many brow gels simply add color, this $5 one also volumizes them. The wax-gel hybrid formula is infused with tiny fibers that just add that extra oomph you may be searching for. The packaging is also really seamless and easy to use, according to Brit + Co Affiliate Writer, Meredith.

"I reach for this brow gel nearly everyday," she added. "My eyebrows are already pretty thick, but I find that it gives them a boost when I want that. When I'm not using a clear brow gel, I'm using this e.l.f. one in a brunette shade that's not too bold."

4. e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Eyeliner

With a convenient retractable design, this $5 eyeliner packs a punch with a very smooth, creamy, and ultra-pigmented formula.

Available in three shades, it's also smudge-proof and waterproof. Whether you wear it on your lash line or waterline, you'll be surprised by its staying power!

In fact, Brit + Co Staff Writer, Jasmine, awarded this pick as the best drugstore eyeliner in her review. It survived a single crying session, and she knew it'd be a fave ever since.

"This eyeliner deserves its own spotlight," she writes.

5. e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain

Okay, e.l.f. with the innovation! While most lip stains on the market these days are either draw-on markers or funky peel-off formulas, this $6 tube comes in gloss form, which makes it incredibly easy and intuitive to use. Thus, it brings shine and long-lasting color.

After drying down, this glossy lip stain leaves a very natural and hydrating wash of color. It's currently available in 7 shades on Amazon right now.

After testing several viral lip stains, Brit + Co Affiliate Writer, Meredith, ruled this e.l.f. pick the absolute best one.

"I wore the e.l.f. lip stain to a friends’ dinner party to test out if it was really long-wearing. After a couple rounds of cocktails and a big feast, there was still a good amount of color on my lips," she writes in her review. "What stood out to me the most is that the color that stayed was still as even as if I had just freshly applied it — just sans glossy finish."