If you got $100 GC...

[serenetabbie]

If you got a $100 gift card for a local grocery store (aldi's in this particular case), what would you spend it on? Would you use it to stock up on staples like beans and rice or would you use it to do your regular grocery shopping? If you would use it for staples, what would you buy?

[gargirl]

I would stock up on things like brown rice, canned beans, baking supplies, canned veggies, peanut butter, and I would get extra fresh fruit and veggies for that week.

Man, that would be SWEET. Maybe if I wish hard enough it will happen!

[BetsyS]

I'd stock up on staples, I think, because it was "extra" money, and then, you could decrease your weekly budget for a few months. I'd also get a few splurge staples.

Rice, beans, cherries (we love Aldi's marischino cherries ), butter (you can freeze it), sugar, flour, olives (black and green), artichoke hearts, tuna, frozen fish, canned tomato sauce/paste, any canned veggies you use.

[mightymoo]

I guess I don't see how the extra money would change my spending habits. I mean, if staples are what you need, then buy them, but I would say that if you are spending wisely and want to continue being frugal even with the gift card, then your priorities shouldn't change if that makes sense.

When I get gift cards like that, I either use them to splurge on myself (which I wouldn't consider groceries a worthwhile splurge) or I use them as an opportunity to save the money for something at the other end. So if you normally spend $500/mo on groceries, the $100 gift card gets used for groceries and this month you only spend $400, so you have $100 you would have otherwise spent on groceries to spend elsewhere if that makes sense. You could save it, use it to pay down debt, etc.

Just the way I look at it.

[kathirynne]

If I had $100 "extra" for the supermarket, I would restock my hygeine items (loo roll, bar soap, shampoo, bin liners, et cetera).

These things never go off, and it's a huge pain to run out (I always seem to run out of these things at the most inconvenient times!).

Alternatively, you could just save the giftcard for when you're in a tight spot. (Assuming it doesn't expire, that is.)

[organic-momma]

I would save it and use it for the times when you know you're going to go over your budget - like maybe for your child's birthday or for a holiday meal.

[tbone]

I would just use it for regular grocery items. I like to use up gift cards right away, if I don't they end up lost, expired, or forgotten about.

[babymakes3]

I would stock up on staples like rice, canned goods and paper goods. Also I'd stock up on butter and cheese since they can be frozen. And then I'd get some frozen chicken breasts, tilapia, and shrimp.

I would *love* to get a $100 gc to Aldi!!! Man I could go wild! I love doing my pantry stock shopping there b/c I can get a ton of food and not spend alot of money which makes me feel good.

[serenetabbie]

Thanks for your input everyone! It is a wonderful gift to get for sure

I was not sure if I wanted to just use it as a regular grocery trip or not... to be honest I usually spend less than that (about $85) per month on my bi-monthly shopping trips total to Aldi's. I was leaning towards "stock the pantry", since I am so bad at keeping track of gc's but really good at keeping track of staple goods . I keep thinking it would be so nice to have extra pasta or whatever on hand incase things get really tight. But, it would be nice to put that money I would have spent towards another bill... So I think what will happen is I will do my normal Aldi's run (stock up on dry beans, bread, cheese, butter, etc) and then spend the rest on extra pantry items. We are past due on our electric, so the money alloted for aldi's food will then go towards that.