The pantry is running low, and it looks like it is time to make a gigantic Aldi run. The closest Aldi is 30 minutes away, but it is a great place to save.  Shopping and stockpiling for a few months also helps me plan my monthly dinner menus.  Having a stocked pantry also keeps me in the kitchen cooking, instead of grabbing take-out.

Here are a few of my favorite Aldi items that I like to keep stocked:

• Cake Mix, Icing, and Brownie Mix: all are delicious, and make tasty treats for the boys
• Oatmeal and Chocolate Chips: I make a lot of cookies, so these have to be stocked at all times
• Canned Goods: green beans, corn, and black olives too
• Pasta and Tomato Sauce: Spaghetti night is a simple dinner, and I also use the Tomato Sauce for pizza too
• Rice: Aldi has great and inexpensive Rice in a 3 pound bag. One bag will make sides for months
• Canned soups: you can’t beat Aldi’s prices on Cream and Condensed Soup. I use them for fast lunches, or casseroles too.
• Bread, Bagels, Waffles, and Cream Cheese: from breakfast to lunches, these are great time savers
• Chili Supplies: I can buy them for about 1/2 price at Aldi. I usually buy for at least 3 batches of Chili
• Chips and Lunch-box treats: With Thade in school, and taking lunch everyday, these are necessities in the kitchen
• Peanut Butter and Jelly: Thade loves Peanut Butter sandwiches, so I really go through the Peanut Butter in our house
• Potatoes, and fresh fruits and veggies: You can usually pick up a 10 pound bag of Russets for a great price. I like to a little bit of time to mash them and freeze them for future dinners

So what do you like to keep in your pantry stockpile?