With our family mostly living on one budget there is a lot of times we don’t have a lot of money to purchase groceries. Which is why finding snacks for under $5 is a true Godsend because it allows me to spoil my family without breaking the bank.
Sometimes though for my family we don’t have to spend a lot of money to find something worth bringing home. I’ve started noticing these little individually packaged bakery treats at Walamrt, and before I knew it, I realized I had found the beginning of a whole new series for Greatful Moments.
It started with a Lemon Mini Bundt Cake I picked one up at Walmart for a little over a dollar, brought it home, and gave it a try. It was a small Lemon Bundt Cake with a white glaze on top, just the right size for one person. It had a nice lemon flavor with just enough tartness to make it interesting without being too tart.
David tried it. Charlie tried it. And I decided it was definitely something I would purchase again. But then I started looking at all the other little treats available, and that’s when I realized how many possibilities there are.
I’ve found things like Chocolate Bundt Cakes, banana nut cakes, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, brownies, M&M milk chocolate candy cookies and marshmallow crispy bars—the kind of Rice Krispies Treat we all remember from growing up. And who knows what else I’ll find? That’s part of the fun.
These aren’t necessarily sitting in the regular bakery department, either. At my Walmart, I’ve seen the little display toward the front of the store, and our neighborhood grocery has a similar display near the checkout area. The location can vary from store to store, so sometimes you have to keep your eyes open.
But once you find it, there’s a whole assortment of little treats waiting to be discovered. And I started thinking about how useful these little snacks can be. Need something quick for a lunch? Grab one. Heading to the park? Put one in your bag.
Want a little afternoon snack without buying a giant dessert? These are just the right size. Having friends or family over? Buy a few different varieties and put them on a pretty plate. You could even cut some of the cakes into smaller pieces and make a little dessert assortment.
Then there’s the gift idea. My best friend’s birthday was recently, and I know she has to be careful about what she eats. I started thinking about putting together a little birthday basket with a water bottle, some flavored drink packets and a few of these little treats.
I’m not talking about giving someone a basket and telling them to eat everything at once. I’m talking about those little treats you can enjoy once in a while when you want something sweet.
And choosing the right treats can make a gift personal. The Rice Krispies Treats remind me of growing up. They are also one of David’s favorite snacks. The M&M cookies are Charlie’s absolute favorite cookie.
Peanut butter cookies are something my best friend and I both love. Some of these treats take me right back to our sleepover days—staying up late, watching movies and eating snacks together.
That’s what I love about food. Sometimes it’s not really about the food. Sometimes it’s about the memory attached to it. Even something as simple as a little packaged cookie can remind you of somebody you love.
And let’s not forget David and his Rice Krispies Treats. Those are his. We all know better than to touch them. Let’s just say you might get stabbed. Although, once or twice I’ve seen Charlie take one and David doesn’t say anything because it’s Charlie.
The same goes for finding little treats that are perfect for the kids. I’ve even picked up the small serving-size chicken nuggets from Walmart for Charlie because those are something he likes. Sometimes a quick, inexpensive snack or meal is exactly what you need.
That’s why I’m starting this Under $5 Snack Finds series. I’m going to keep looking. When I see something that looks interesting, I’ll pick it up, try it, and tell you what I really think about it.
Just remember some things will be worth buying again. Some might not be. Some may become family favorites, and others may simply be something we tried once. I’ll tell you what I paid, what I thought of it, who liked it, whether I’d buy it again and what I think you could actually use it for.
And I’m sure we’re going to find plenty of surprises along the way. For now, the Lemon Mini Bundt Cake gets the first spot on our list. It’s inexpensive, it’s cute, it’s easy to share, and it made a pretty good afternoon snack.
Sometimes a little treat is all you need to make an ordinary day a little sweeter. So keep watching. I have a feeling we’re going to find a whole lot more for under $5. If you know of a treat that is less than $5 you think we should try out leave me a comment with where you get it at and I will go look for it to review on here.
Greatful, Thankful, and Blessed
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates