Terrific Tuesday

tonight I am going to make a Greek Green Bean salad .   My husband picked up a sack of green beans at Costco Sunday.  I picked up another red pepper for .88 and some feta cheese at Winco.    I also got a piece of Romano cheese.  It was cheaper than buying it already grated.    Don't buy that stuff in a can.    It has wood fiber  in it.   The closer to the real thing you can buy is better.  There is just some things that it is not judicial to buy cheap.    They have come out with the fact that reak butter is better for you than the fake stuff.    Real is always better than fake.    I also got white fish because we were low and it is  cheapest at Winco.

I am pretty much caught up on replenishing the freezer.   My grocery budget is through the roof, but the rest of the month all o have to buy is fresh and things are cheaper in the summer.    I got really good fresh veggies at Fred Meyer and the most I will have to buy is dairy.    

Last year, I spent 68.00 a week, net.   This year up until the freezer disaster, I was at 63.00.   That has nothing to do with COL prices, prices, but, rather, the fact that we were in a position with a big shake up in the food industry here that we only had Kroger and Haggens for grocery stores.    That left no competition, and prices were higher.    Since Winco took over the top foods ( Haagen) building and brought some competition to the mix.    Fred cheers niw has a lower prices campaign.    Fred Meyers and QFC are owned by Kroger.    Albertsons and Safeways have merged and are owned by Albertsons.   Haggen stores are out there, but they too are owned by Albertsons.   Albertsons has added a few mega sales , but other than that, they are pretty pricey.  

Enter alternative stores.   Big lots has a twenty percent sale a couple of times  a year.    If you have their "rewards type card " you get special privilege to go Saturday afternoon before things are picked over.    

Grocery Outlet is cheaper on some things,   Some things are here today, gone tomorrow.   They will send you e mail alerts if you want and knowing your prices and checking pull dates is key,    Sometimes you can score a really good , almost free deal on things that arems I'll good, but need to be used soon.  It just means a little meal plan adjustment.   

The Dollar Tree  has a few real food,they have things  that are made in the USA, or Italy, Spain.   Watch prices, some are small quantities and are not as cheap as the regular store.   It is always good to look at pull dates.    They have name brand turkey bacon, catsup, Betty Crocker  cake mix ( sometimes cheaper at Winco,) the pizza sauce is good. If they have it, pinto beans are a dollar for 2 pounds, USA and no GMO.    Name brand pretzels are a real bargain. 

Costco is good for some things.    We safe enough in gas to pay for our membership.   Last week, it was .50 cheaper a gallon than our cheapest source.   We have seen it as cheap as a dollar less.   It doesn't take much to save the membership fee.  So,emthings, again are cheaper, some not.  Again, you need to know your prices.   Take a small calculater, some unit prices are ounces, not pounds or per can.   I am always comparing.    They have roasted red pepper and tomato soup sometimes for about half of what the grocers charge.    Green beans canned are lowest sodium I have found.  They have a brown and serve baguette that is about a dollar and keeps a long time in the fridge.   Bulk rice is cheaper.    As is bananas, blue cheese, and bacon.   

I don't have a SAMs club card.   Maybe someone can comment about their prices.    

Some of the bakery outlets are not a lot cheaper.   You can do better either making it yourself or buying Winco.   I got good bread for 1.78 at Winco.