Woman shares ingenious way to cut down on grocery expenses by crafting budget-friendly meals

It is no big secret that the cost of living has increased globally ever since the pandemic. Even after the virus has exited our lives, we continue to face its repercussions in the form of exorbitantly high food prices. The situation demands conscious and calculated buying at grocery stores to make nutritional meals at affordable rates. Worry not, as Rebecca Chobat - who goes by @dollartreedinners on TikTok - has come to the rescue with a recent video titled "How to get a week of groceries for $35 at Dollar General." The viral video has gained over 3.8 million views, 403.1k likes and over 3587 comments within a few days of being posted on the platform. In the video, we get to see the influencer making her way through a Dollar General store with a predetermined budget and buying groceries, after which she makes tasty meals with the same ingredients.

She starts her video by pointing her camera at a Dollar General store and saying, "I've got a $35 budget to get a week's worth of groceries at Dollar General." Chobat reasoned that she picked the store not because it was affordable but because it had multiple locations across the country, which made it a practical option for others to follow along. According to her, even though Dollar General is not cheap, many items are comparatively cheaper than in Dollar Tree stores. Moreover, most people will be happy to know that the store offers $5 off a $25 purchase when shopping on Saturdays.

She notes, "I kept the base groceries at $35 and used the $5 for extras. That way, those who can't shop on Saturday can still work with this budget." The creator starts adding items to her cart for making breakfast dishes, putting a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread and the cheapest breakfast sausage she could find. She almost ends up buying sweetened condensed milk but finds a 12-pack of powdered French vanilla creamer for just $1.

Chobat then covers deli meat, where she ends up buying a Frost pack, which has both turkey and ham for $3.50. After this, she attempts to find some cheese or condiment to avoid having a dry sandwich and successfully finds some spicy brown mustard for just $1. She abstained from buying fruits because she didn't consume them and the options were not affordable for her budget. She eventually purchases rice, soup, hash browns, macaroni and cheese, all of which cost her $35. Reflecting on her efforts, she says, "I paid $35 plus tax, and for that, I got a pretty considerable amount of groceries." 

Many people appreciated the detailed video and showed their support in the comments section. @coreycword said, "That is the CLEANEST Dollar General in the USA." Another user, @ate_ur_squid, an employee at the store, pointed out, "As someone who works at a Dollar General, I SERIOUSLY recommend the app!!! I've seen people half their totals with coupons on the app!!!"