Part 1 | $10 for groceries for an entire week from Dollar Tree | Extreme Grocery Budget Challenge

[@marciamartin258]

Your videos have helped me feed my husband and I on a low income social security budget. I can’t thank you enough!

[@rachelhero3413]

I think you did an amazing job. I think anyone who wants to be judgmental about your meals has never had to truly budget with limited shopping resources.

[@Cissy777]

Exactly! I raised 3 kids as a single mother in the 90's/2000's I wish I had these videos back then.

[@dennisfrench8225]

You are right many people do these videos BUT you are the only one I enjoy watching because you do a lot of frugal things so much enjoy you and I try a lot of your plans thank you !!!!

[@allisonpacino]

I had weight loss surgery 13 years ago so I definitely know exactly what you're talking about! PS ignore the food police. You did a great job!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thank you! This definitely isn't a representation of what i would usually eat day to day but it was a fun challenge!

[@kenyonbissett3512]

If you spend the days food in a grazing method, it’s still the same amount of calories. Also, diabetics are encouraged to eat 6 times a day. Everyone is different, don’t worry about other folks and their comments. You do you!!!

[@jasminepitts3979]

Omg me tooo! More bari stuff please

[@Laguns-ij4hn]

Mine was 25 years ago.. still going strong!

[@FloridaSunshine904]

Mine was 19 yrs ago. Weight still off.

[@Ericaaaaaaaaaa]

This comment section does not pass the vibe check! Sorry some folks were so rude, thank you for making this video. I love watching these $10/week challenge videos!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Lol I love your comment 🤣

[@JessicaSterling]

I'm a DS patient. You did amazing. Thought your comment section could use more positivity. I have relied on videos like these in the past out of necessity. Like you, I maybe don't need them anymore but I still enjoy watching them and being prepared for anything. Please keep making them if you enjoy it. You are helping more people than you know. Having what is possibly the strictest dietary needs in our little community, I would still eat these meals, ESPECIALLY if I was on a tight budget. Keep up the great work!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thank you so much!

[@brendamiddleton8194]

I absolutely believe that macaroni and cheese DOES reheat well! All you need is to add a bit of liquid as you heat it up to loosen the cheese sauce.

[@varjaca]

I never had gastric bypass or anything, but somehow during pregnancy, my stomach "shrunk" or something because I could only eat half a meal in a sitting and I was hungry every 1.5-2hrs. So, for lunch and dinner, I basically would eat each of those meals in 2 sittings (so that's 4 meals), and then in between I ate a ton of fruit and handfuls of nuts. Just because most people eat 3 meals, doesn't mean you should force yourself to also. Everyone's different and has different needs. I was actually healthier when I ate that way. I regret not keeping that up!

[@Angel-rq3pi]

Fetus may have been pushing on your stomach and or intestines. That's why a lot of pregnant women end up with really bad reflux

[@varjaca]

@@Angel-rq3pi Ugh! Yeah! A TON of reflux! I drank like 2 litres of milk a day to try to combat the reflux!

[@angelicamorales8142]

I totally appreciate your transparency because I had the sleeve surgery in 2020 and my eating habits have also changed so your DT meals have been so helpful, BTW you look awesome 😊

[@shess1640]

I had a sleeve gastrectomy in 2013. Just discovered your videos yesterday and have been binging them.

[@sabrinamendez6223]

All you have to do really is cook beans with half an onion 1 or 2 garlic cloves and salt , and they'll be very flavorful and delicious. I'm Mexican , that's how we cook beans. Try it.

[@rachelresets]

These meals looked so good! I'm needing to dramatically cut down my grocery budget, so this video was so helpful for inspiration. I think I might make those breakfast tacos with low carb tortillas to make a grab and go low carb breakfast option this week. I have the ingredients on hand, so that is perfect! 🥰 Thank you!

[@rubywooed3066]

Thank you for making the video. It's nice to have ideas when the budget is tight. Don't listen to the negative nellies you're doing great

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Aww thanks so much! The positive outweighs the negative. There will always be one

[@dinnerfor1540]

Hot dog in ramen is delicious. I've gone so far as to add plain potato chips into the ramen (which softens the potato chips) and then kind of makes it a potato soup if you will. If you use flavored chips like cheddar cheese Pringles and mix those in it adds flavor to the ramen dish. I've also added mixed vegetables as well. Also delicious. Even a boiled egg will make ramen better. It's one of the most flexible basic things you can use in recipes. I too use a lot of dollar tree items in my recipes in my channel if you're interested. But you've opened my eyes to many more possibilities. Thanks for that.

[@catladyjai1113]

I'm not sure why all the negative comments but I thought the video was great. I had gastric bypass in 2017 and I love watching these videos to get ideas for new recipes, especially now since times are tough for a lot of people.

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thank you! I'm not sure either but I try not to let it bother me too much

[@tanyagibbons133]

Just a suggestion ...Dollar tree has shelf staple milk or even canned milk mixed with water.then you would have milk on hand..I always keep them in my pantry..otherwise I think you're amazing..the meals you come up with are very helpful for many..I share all your videos hoping someone it can help others

[@margal3120]

New subscriber!! You are a natural behind a camera and so relatable! Keepin’ it real - nicely done!! That was a great idea on the skillet “searing” of the tortilla roll ups - I’ve never done that before and could elevate our meals 👍🏻😎👏🏻♥️ thank you! Keep it up!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Awwww thank you so much!!

[@earldapearl478]

The most realistic video that I've seen. Very authentic.

[@pamelajoseph]

NEW LOOK DAMMMMM NEW LOOOOOOK ADORABLE AGAIN !!! YOU WORK VERY HARD DOING THIS TO SHOW AND EDUCATE EVERYONE ON MAKING ENDS MEET SO SWEET 🌷

[@DrunkenBanshee7117]

I never knew you had blonde hair ! Or weight loss surgery! And look at all those torani syrups!! Do you use them all? What flavors are there? 😂 I found your channel maybe a year ago but just started actively binging a few days ago! I’d never know you weren’t just a redhead all along!

[@Angel-rq3pi]

Sorry but the red is obviously dye. As is the blonde.

[@Catholicgirl13]

I love your channel. You are so sweet. Your compassion is wonderful.

[@sherishaw5144]

Hot dogs in ramen is awesome!!!!😁😁💕Really enjoy your videos!!!! I am a 67yo granny, and feeding lots of grands🥰😊some of who are quite ‘fussy’….they are loving most of the meals😉💕yay!!!! Love the fact that you are so authentic, and share taste tests, and the ‘fails’ as well as the ‘successes’😁💕Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Walmart, are all my favorite stores😊😊I so look forward to your videos!!! They are a great help, with me being on Social Security!!!! Please continue making your awesome meals🥰From somewhere in the U.S.A.❤

[@joannaazar7396]

I love watching your Dollar Tree meals, everything always looks so good.. 😊

[@1jmass]

Rice pudding would be next to impossible to make without milk, so you might try just adding some sugar to the rice and treating it like oatmeal. Growing up we had this for breakfast, but with a bit of milk. Maybe sprinkle some cinnamon on top.

[@gaila.8830]

Thank you for the video 😄 Great idea with the breakfast casserole with the scallop potatoes 👍

[@j4d7s8]

Flashback to when the bags of beans were a pound at DT 😮

[@genaroayala3482]

I love how you really let us know the truth of the meal outcome I'm a new subscriber i know i will enjoy your company good luck

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Of course! With something like this honest opinions matter. I don't want anyone else making my recipes and hating them :)

[@kortniechannin492]

I love your videos and your creative imagination! You come up with meals I would have never thought of from the DT. We are having tough times now so your videos are giving us new fun ideas to try. Eating so many different and new recipes makes it so much more enjoyable! Thank you!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thank you so much! That means a lot to me, that’s the whole reason I started making these videos because I knew it might help people

[@jejrstans]

Ooo! If you had an extra egg to put in the ramen stirfry. Yum! The potato dish did look the yummiest. Great meal ideas.

[@Elizabeth-nt7uq]

Add a bit of water and simmer the cooked rice for awhile. You want it to be a porridge like consistency. That is what the Japanese refer to as conjee. They add sweet or savory ingredients to it and call it any meal. 😉

[@megannewell5118]

Those scalloped potatoes are one of my favorites! I’m just finishing up the last of 20 boxes I got for free at DT when hungry jack put out a $1 off 1 coupon (before the increase to $1.25). Yes DT take’s manufacturers coupons! Each store has the right to refuse BUT you can print the coupon policy out online and keep in your purse in case you need to pull it out at check out 😊

[@lyndza1989]

they usually have canned refried beans at our dollar tree. also add canned cheese to the rice for the burritos. they also sell that at dollar tree near the salsa n chips..

[@TXJan0057]

Just a suggestion white rice is better if you wash the rice before you cook it. Also helps the onions and peppers stretch if you chop them up a bit.

[@quallssr]

One of my kids favorite meals is beanie weenies and Ramon noodles. I'm totally going to make your Ramon stir fry and they will probably love it as it combines those two things!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Let me know how you like it!!

[@AnxiousGary]

Ramen stir fry is so underrated! I like it with egg, beans, or tofu.

[@geekfreak2000]

you rock!!! I just had sleeve, and this is great!!! I usually make big meals and nibble on them throughout the day, and that works for me. I will definitely try these when I need a cheap meal for a game night or something

[@karlapalmer9328]

Great video and great ideas!! Water will also get rid of some of the sodium also. Smart move!

[@crabbyresister9194]

I love your blonde hair!!! I just found this older video. I am used to the reddish color, but, go back to blonde! Looks great!

[@GaryTongue-zn5di]

Nah!

[@Suzy12678]

Would love to see more of these videos! Great job

[@Whiskeyman6276]

The food you make looks very delicious 😋

[@jennthibault4883]

Hey there, kinda new to your channel but wanted to say I'm thoroughly enjoying your content. I had gastric bypass surgery 15 years ago when it was still considered "new". Since then I can't eat pasta, chicken, and dairy at all. It was worth it though. How much weight did you lose? I lost 157 then got pregnant and after my son was born, I maintained that same amount. Gonna go binge more videos. 😌

[@jessicanieves9290]

Creative meals! Nice job

[@JillDecker-j9w]

Look good.i take your meals and make them low carb due to health issues,so keep up the great job so now i watch cause of these arent so bad.👍❤️🤶

[@belbe417]

if you diced your pepper mix up more you can utilise it better and get more flavour transferal through out your meal. :)

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

I keep a package of powdered milk so that I always have it when needed. Thank you for the video!

[@susanjane4784]

Good video. Mac&cheese does reheat just fine if you use a little bit more oil and aim for browsing it a little. Then add your veggies, paprika, and garlic. Overcooking can make it crunchy so avoid that. Paprika is important, or some chili style seasoning or even salsa. If you have cheese, sprinkle that at the very end. By the way, does the Dollar store sell dried mixed beans? That would be even healthier... and tastier.

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thank you! No mixed beans unfortunately

[@GratefulDeb270]

Well done! Thank you! ❤

[@reneehaynes3121]

Please keep making videos! Congratulations on your successful surgery and continued health. New subscriber!

[@SusanHendrix-h4d]

Your videos r great. Don't worry about the haters, there just jealous.

[@crabbyresister9194]

You could have just added two eggs to the casserole and made it like a fritata! I do it all the time sans potatoes 🥔 but, i will try it with some scalloped potatoes!

[@asuevill]

That’s what I was going to say lol. Never done it myself but seen enough videos to know it’s a thing 😆

[@wynnkidsnannylorivance4111]

You look great with no makeup!

[@rosemariemichel7050]

Enjoyed the video. I was converted from lap band to gastric bypass in 2020. I eat several times a day also.

[@kathyscrazylife]

Great ideas. I’m cooking lots of cheap meals these days.

[@flawlessbeauty4u166]

Wow...i recently started rewatching all your videos and totally didnt catch the first time that you had the surgery. I had it done in 2005 and have kept it off for almost 20 years.

[@Holdenwhat]

I’ve had wls and that’s always been my thing when I watch your videos- I don’t think I could limit myself to 3 meals.

[@gardengirl22]

just discovrered you and i also have had bariatric surgery. And you have inspired me to compare what we can buy from$ tree and regular grocery store.....money and health. My channel is really more about growing and processing for long term storage if you can't use it up free. If i do an episode on the comparison I'll mention your channel.

[@joyceclark8163]

First time seeing your channel...new subbie...enjoyed your video and meal ideas...never know when these meals might be needed...ignore the food police...aka sad sack Sally M.

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Haha thank you! I'm definitely not going to replace perfectly working bowls and pans just because they look stained

[@davidmilesviers]

Great job! I just have one question, what's with all those flavored syrups lol I'm jealous but what the heck are you doing with them?

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Oh! Haha! So my boyfriend is from Washington state and over there the coffee shops serve flavored red bull drinks. We can't get them here so we make them ourselves! It's like an Italian soda but made with red bull instead :) Seahawks is our favorite (blue raspberry and green apple mixed)

[@NeverBreakXPact]

I really loved this video, I also had gastric bypass back in 2014 and can relate to the 'many small meals' eating style! Probably not possible on such a strict budget, but I make the yummiest ever homemade refried beans inspired by a youtuber called The Kneedy Homesteader's recipe. I cook 500g of pinto beans in my instant pot then fry onions and garlic in a large pot on the stove and add the strained beans in (reserve the cooking liquid!) Then I use a potato masher to mash the beans while cooking on medium low and laddle in the cooking liquid slowly until it's the texture you want, then turn off the heat and puree to smooth. For seasoning, add 1 packet of taco seasoning and 1 packet of ranch dressing powder, 1/4 block of cream cheese and salt to taste. These refried beans are sooo tasty mixed with rice and served on tortillas with cheese. My son ate them as baby food and absolutely loved them!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Omg those sound amazing! I'm going to try those for sure!

[@ameliastelmach148]

Love the blonde hair!

[@hello-vs4me]

Blond hair looks great

[@janiegoodman6301]

Bless your heart

[@heatherjenkins5181]

So this might sound weird, but I like to add a bit if salsa to my refried beans. Not while the beans are cooking, but once you're ready to mash them...

[@kimberlee3243]

I’d love to hear your experience with bariatric surgery

[@sallygordin2869]

If it were me I would dice up the onions and peppers blend. Tinier pieces go further. But that's just me.

[@lisadurant883]

If you combine the egg it would make a breakfast casserole!,

[@chesterossa]

Thanks for the content!

[@themadwomanskitchen9732]

13:26 This looks great and I *just* bought a five pack of ramen at Dollar Tree.

[@melanieroberts2221]

Use a whole stick of butter when making boxed mac and cheese. Reheats well then

[@l.michelle3497]

a bottle of Lea & Perrins would be a good addition to Your Flavour Stash . great on/in everything savoury , especially when the dish is a bit blah and You dont know what it needs .

[@maritzamoffett8021]

Wait. I just came across your videos and I like them a lot. I noticed that your newest video was a year ago. What happened? You need to return to KZbin! I love your recipes and the way you explain everything is great! Anyway. I just want to express my thought and feeling. Hope you’re well. Oh! And Happy New Year!😊

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Hi! I do post new uploads, I’m not sure why it showed a year ago

[@ruthanneluvsvacuuming6653]

Those hotdogs are tasty I’ve just had them fairly recently for the first time

[@janispeterson6381]

It’s been two years since I had a gastric sleeve and still can only eat tiny bites. How do you do it?

[@stormyweather2807]

I had a sleeve 20 years ago, and eat relatively normally. Just can't overeat. Your stomach will stretch, just give it time.

[@KCGLivingInGray]

You don't wash your rice?

[@kawaiikawaiianimegirl4144]

Very cool

[@theresaaltongregg4569]

You have delicious 😊 thanks for sharing your recipes 👍 ❤. I must tell that you do make a beautiful redhead. 🎉😂

[@Selena-gz9ts]

Put the chicken seasoning in the rice for 1 meal

[@victoriasprague7014]

I have high blood pressure and I have to go by the sodium count and serving size

[@jrubybowman]

Your blond hair is cute but I think you are more stunning as a redhead - unique and beautiful!

[@joannaazar7396]

I agree! I love the red.

[@jlane3353]

I agree also

[@ravinhud4979]

I'm shocked you had the surgery and can eat rice. I throw up after more than 2 spoonfuls. Also milk, I LOVE milk but I've been lactose intolerant. I had mine like 12 years ago tho.

[@isabelled1130]

I also had WLS (sleeve), 10 months ago. I can eat anything, no reactions whatsoever. It changes so much from one person to another

[@ravinhud4979]

@@isabelled1130 Fortunately I've discovered extra creamy oat milk and if I REALLY need to eat rice Cauliflower rice isn't bad,

[@Oldielocks88]

New to your channel. Love your content. I had wls March 2021❤

[@janiegoodman6301]

I understand your challenge

[@ruthanneluvsvacuuming6653]

When you have to eat with just what you get from the food pantry most of them give you strictly non perishable foods

[@Selena-gz9ts]

I can't eat a full meal at a time either. I turn each meal into two meals having six ½ meals per day instead of three regular size meals

[@hello-vs4me]

Hope the rest of the day ❤😂

[@OoThereSheGo]

I’m sorry if you mentioned , maybe I missed it , how many people are eating off these meals ? New viewer here :) I also enjoy dollar tree videos although I’ve never been brave enough to do one myself lol

[@DollarTreeDinners]

It was just me 😁

[@OoThereSheGo]

@@DollarTreeDinners lol I just came back to say whoops as I watched I heard you say it’s just me lol. I’m still watching. Not gonna lie those egg taquitos for breakfast look delish lol 🙂

[@ashesfall4]

I think I would have scrapped the mac n cheese, ramen, tortillas, and hot dogs and gotten milk, flour, and peanut butter. Could make gravy, tortillas, biscuits maybe, pan bread/pancakes, noodles, dumplings...peanut butter would be a nice sweet way to get protein. Excellent video!!!

[@kimberlybaker5133]

I'm a New Subbie ❤️

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thank you!

[@beverly5458]

my mom and brother always put hotdogs in their ramen

[@hello-vs4me]

I havd never seen eggs Bread and french fies at dollar tree

[@jeanlujan6129]

The dollar tree just went to 1;25

[@nanano8525]

Good

[@dannamorgan8698]

Thank you for these?

[@Keeperofloveys6]

Step 1, drive to food bank ❤ #beans!

[@tanyaparker6296]

I reported your haters . You may want to do the same. No need for those Crazy people.

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Haha thank you!!

[@gingerhitzke9185]

Please wash your rice. There is dirt and pesticides on your dry rice so just rinse before you put in rice cooker 🙏🏼

[@jenniferherrington]

Pico De Gallo will flavor those!

[@kimberlee3243]

I wish all the frozen vegetables and rice weren’t from china

[@ladywytch129]

You can get them from a regular grocery store. She is focused on things we can get from DT, which typically means... China.

[@krista9015]

Excellent job being creative! Ditch the back ground music!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thanks! To be fair I'm not a fan of it either but I had several time lapses and I didn't want those to be silent nor did I want it to be back and forth between music and no music so ultimately I decided on a very faint background music through the whole video

[@gamingwaffle1171]

Hot dogs in ramen is nothing new. Nothing to be weirded out about. Asians do it all the time