My daughter picked up the paper yesterday. There was no rite aid ad. I looked at the coupon match
up site. I don't see a lot except for free baby food. I am sure that if you don't have a baby, the food bank would welcome it.
Walgreens
Milk 2.29
Tissue .99
Bumble Bee Tuna .69
Fred Meyer
Strawberries 2 lbs 2.98
Chicken .99. Cheaper at SAFEWAYS
Tillamook cheese 4.99@@
Milk 4/5
Bread 3/4@@
Smoked sausage 3/10
Pears .88
Grapes 2.48
Coffee 5.99
That's about all. Be sure to check the matchups.
I am going to prep in the kitchen this morning and I need to get some work done on my studio.
I entered into a group discussion on what constitutes junk food, I steer clear of a lot of meal boxes etc, not because they could in some people s eyes be junk food, bit because I stick to a strict budget. I want to prove that a good, well balanced diet can be had with the amount you can get from food stamps. I think it takes a little education, it's a whole different way of looking at food shopping and preparing meals. There os an entire generation of children out there that have been allowed to be picky and think that food comes out of a box. That isn't necessarily the most healthy way or the least expensive way to eat.
To me, the definition of junk food is anything that comes up in the empty calories venue. If you can look at it and the food value is zilch, it's probably junk food. Things like potato chips, ding dongs, pop tarts , pop etc. I only bake peanut butter or oatmeal cookies. I make muffins that have oatmeal and real fruit in them. If sugar is the main.ingredient, you probably don't want it.
OF YOU ARE WATCHING THE SUGAR, SALT AND FAT, THE JUNK FOOD WILL PROBABLY TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
It surprised me to see that there are some extremists out there that think pizza , anything in a box and cookies and anything that isn't veggies in the freezer case is junk food. What about fish, shellfish? Potatoes, frozen fruit?
Again, look at the nutritients. If it's full of fat, sugar or salt, it's probably junk food. Pizza to me is protein and veggies on bread. I don't think that it is much different than eating a sandwich. Kids just love it. While I am not a big fan of letting a child dictate the dinner menu , cooking what they like within reason sure makes life easier. Pizza, pasta, burritos come to mind.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Suddenly Saturday
It's Saturday. I just spent a delightful few hours with friend at a belated mardi gras party. I don't think I have ever had jambalaya. It was quite good. They skipped th shrimp because of allergies, but was still really good.
I did not get the newspaper yet, so tomorrow's ads will have to happen tomorrow.
We had an interesting discussion at lunch about how many homeless children there are, even in communities that we would expect to be affluent. This last recession has hurt a lot of oeople really hard, something our legislators don't seem to have grasped. The meat prices have drastically gone up and the bargains are becoming few and far between. I am noticing it on a regular basis. I only spent 20.23 this week. Fortunately, I could do so because I have stocked when prices were low. We will see how I adapt when my stock is depleting.
Groceries on the cheap takes a whole different approach to buying groceries. Many people go to the store weekly, or more often and buy just what they need for the weeks groceries. Doing so, they pay top dollar for their food. With groceries on the cheap. You buy what is on sale and rotate your purchases so that you always have food on the pantry/ freezer and you are just adding to it. Of course, perishables have to be purchased on a regular basis. Dairy, except milk, has a far out pull date , so I get it on bulk at Costco often. Fruits and veggies I buy what is on season at the cheapest price , taking quality into consideration.
I rotate the meat of the week and buy enough for a months worth of those meals. In other words, if we eat chicken twice a week, I want eight meals worth of chicken. That is two chickens for us. I got it for .80 a pound this week. That's unusual, I feel good of I can get it for a buck. I usually rotate chicken, pork loin, hamburger (9 percent ) and sausage or cheese. Last week I bought cheese,the week before pork loin.
The bottom line os that you never want to pay full price for anything-- but especially the corrections that you buy on a regular basis.
More tomorrow.
Jane
I did not get the newspaper yet, so tomorrow's ads will have to happen tomorrow.
We had an interesting discussion at lunch about how many homeless children there are, even in communities that we would expect to be affluent. This last recession has hurt a lot of oeople really hard, something our legislators don't seem to have grasped. The meat prices have drastically gone up and the bargains are becoming few and far between. I am noticing it on a regular basis. I only spent 20.23 this week. Fortunately, I could do so because I have stocked when prices were low. We will see how I adapt when my stock is depleting.
Groceries on the cheap takes a whole different approach to buying groceries. Many people go to the store weekly, or more often and buy just what they need for the weeks groceries. Doing so, they pay top dollar for their food. With groceries on the cheap. You buy what is on sale and rotate your purchases so that you always have food on the pantry/ freezer and you are just adding to it. Of course, perishables have to be purchased on a regular basis. Dairy, except milk, has a far out pull date , so I get it on bulk at Costco often. Fruits and veggies I buy what is on season at the cheapest price , taking quality into consideration.
I rotate the meat of the week and buy enough for a months worth of those meals. In other words, if we eat chicken twice a week, I want eight meals worth of chicken. That is two chickens for us. I got it for .80 a pound this week. That's unusual, I feel good of I can get it for a buck. I usually rotate chicken, pork loin, hamburger (9 percent ) and sausage or cheese. Last week I bought cheese,the week before pork loin.
The bottom line os that you never want to pay full price for anything-- but especially the corrections that you buy on a regular basis.
More tomorrow.
Jane
Friday, March 21, 2014
Beat the hate to shop blues
Despite all the jokes that women love to shop, I hear there actually is people that hate to sh. I suspect it is because they don't have the. Knew, or they are an indecisive personality. The obvious solution is to either, get over it, because some shopping os a fact of life, or delegate the job to someone else in the family that doesn't have a problem with shopping.
Making a game if it can help. SAFEWAYS has a just for you coupon for five dollars off twenty. I want to see just how much I can get for my 15.00. Obviously, the closer to twenty dollars you stay, the bigger the percent of savings.
I know I want two chickens if I can get them big enough. And, blue bunny ice cream is a no Brainer. After that, it's a matter of winging it.
Back later with my results!
My total was 15.23. I spent another five dollars at the dollar store.
I got
2 -4.5 lb chickens
2 lbs strawberries
6 loaves of sandwich bread
Ice cream
At the dollar store I got pizza crust, French fries and pepperoni.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Making a game if it can help. SAFEWAYS has a just for you coupon for five dollars off twenty. I want to see just how much I can get for my 15.00. Obviously, the closer to twenty dollars you stay, the bigger the percent of savings.
I know I want two chickens if I can get them big enough. And, blue bunny ice cream is a no Brainer. After that, it's a matter of winging it.
Back later with my results!
My total was 15.23. I spent another five dollars at the dollar store.
I got
2 -4.5 lb chickens
2 lbs strawberries
6 loaves of sandwich bread
Ice cream
At the dollar store I got pizza crust, French fries and pepperoni.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Terrific Thursday
I have discovered that some of the rewards specials from Walgreens are really all coupons and you can't use more than one coupon per item if they are manufacturers coupons. Scratch two toothpastes.
Chicken is really cheap at SAFEWAYS, limit 4. I can roast two at a time, but need to use separate pans. Otherwise, the air doesn't circulate enough to get all of them done.
The Internet is full of delicious chicken recipes. Try to get ones that are closer to 5 pounds, certainly well over 3 pounds.
SAFEWAYS has blue bunny ice cream for 3.49. It is a good alternative for people on special diets. Low fat, low sugar. I sometimes get a coupon.
None of the grocery chains have mass bargains again. I guess it will take diligent watching. I got beans and could have had tomatoes for ..50 with a limit. It just means you,need to buy the limit every time it's on a coupon in order to stock of they are items on your target list.
I am also not seeing a lot of regular food on coupon other than store coupon. I think it might be time to explore Winco again.
I did get salsa at business Costco. It was 5.59 for a gallon. We go through a lot of salsa ( mainly my daughter) and I can't make or buy it for that even with coupons.
There are a lot, a whole generation of young adults that think that dinner comes out of a box. Dinners in boxes can be very expensive and lack food value. There are ways to cook dinner better, cheaper, faster. Many things don't take any longer to scratch cook than box cook. It's a matter of being organized a little.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Chicken is really cheap at SAFEWAYS, limit 4. I can roast two at a time, but need to use separate pans. Otherwise, the air doesn't circulate enough to get all of them done.
The Internet is full of delicious chicken recipes. Try to get ones that are closer to 5 pounds, certainly well over 3 pounds.
SAFEWAYS has blue bunny ice cream for 3.49. It is a good alternative for people on special diets. Low fat, low sugar. I sometimes get a coupon.
None of the grocery chains have mass bargains again. I guess it will take diligent watching. I got beans and could have had tomatoes for ..50 with a limit. It just means you,need to buy the limit every time it's on a coupon in order to stock of they are items on your target list.
I am also not seeing a lot of regular food on coupon other than store coupon. I think it might be time to explore Winco again.
I did get salsa at business Costco. It was 5.59 for a gallon. We go through a lot of salsa ( mainly my daughter) and I can't make or buy it for that even with coupons.
There are a lot, a whole generation of young adults that think that dinner comes out of a box. Dinners in boxes can be very expensive and lack food value. There are ways to cook dinner better, cheaper, faster. Many things don't take any longer to scratch cook than box cook. It's a matter of being organized a little.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wicked Wednesday. The ads
The ads
ALBERTSONS
Cod 2.99
Strawberries 2 lbs 4.99
Eggs 3/5@@
Ice cream 2.99@
Skippy peanut butter 1.99@@
Veg oil 1.69@@
Cheese, Brandon, 2/6
SAFEWAYS
Whole chicken .79
Five dollar Fridays
Strawberries
Shrimp
QFC
Tomatoes .99
Broccoli .99
Top round roast BOGO. Nets 3.25
Buy 5. Save5
BREYERS nets 2.49
Pasta sauce nets .99
Freshetta nets 3.99
Orzo wheat bread nets 1.99
Post cereal nets 1.99
24 ounces frozen fruit 3.99
Top
Peanut butter 1.99@@
Black olives .99
Zucchini .99
Case on point. Not everything just because it's in a sale flyer is a sale. Darigold butter at top is 3.29. It is 2.00 with a coypon at Fred Meyers. Huge difference in cost. Very many if those and you have a weeks groceries for free.
That's about it
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
ALBERTSONS
Cod 2.99
Strawberries 2 lbs 4.99
Eggs 3/5@@
Ice cream 2.99@
Skippy peanut butter 1.99@@
Veg oil 1.69@@
Cheese, Brandon, 2/6
SAFEWAYS
Whole chicken .79
Five dollar Fridays
Strawberries
Shrimp
QFC
Tomatoes .99
Broccoli .99
Top round roast BOGO. Nets 3.25
Buy 5. Save5
BREYERS nets 2.49
Pasta sauce nets .99
Freshetta nets 3.99
Orzo wheat bread nets 1.99
Post cereal nets 1.99
24 ounces frozen fruit 3.99
Top
Peanut butter 1.99@@
Black olives .99
Zucchini .99
Case on point. Not everything just because it's in a sale flyer is a sale. Darigold butter at top is 3.29. It is 2.00 with a coypon at Fred Meyers. Huge difference in cost. Very many if those and you have a weeks groceries for free.
That's about it
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Terrific Tuesday
Yesterday , we got a lot of work done and I made a pumpkin bread and a slow cooker of soup so that I could bring some to a sick friend via another friend. One of the ways you can score big on saving money is to think outside the box and have food that is not traditionally in the season. Pumpkin quick bread was two dollars a loaf ( krustez) at Christmas time at Costco. It is 1/2'price at grocery outlet now. That is cheaper than buying the Pumpkin.
Sausage bean vegetable soup.
2 cans diced tomatoes.
2 cans beans of choice
1 quart chicken stock
1/2 pound sausage cooked and defatted.**
4 stalks of chopped celery,sautéed in olive oil.
3 small carrots, sliced and sautéed in olive oil
Parsley, basil, garlic powder.
Dump in slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hours.
** I cook meats in batches! usually one kind a week. Portion control it and freeze.
It saves time, energy, and cuts out waste. If you buy one meat that is on super sale per week and buy enough that week to feed the family once a week for a month, you can rotate meats and have a variety of foods while maintaining a cheap stock.
I use a matrix to plan meals. Planning meals makes life easier. I don't necessarily have a particular meal for a particular day, but I have a plan. My object os to provide a variety of foods and not eat hamburger seven ways in a week because it was in sale that week.
2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian ( breakfast for dinner? )
1 fish or shellfish
I get a couple e mails from Betty Crocker every week. They are full of good ideas for new meals. Some of them call for ingredients that are costly, but I can usually work around them and still get a good tasting new dish.
In case you haven't noticed, I like quick and easy meals. If I spend more time planning a shopping trip and shopping, and less time cooking, I am money and time ahead. I can get two stores taken care of in an hour or less depending on how far apart they are. A little planning and matching coupons can be remarkable. I usually muli task so coupon matchups are a no Brainer.
If you save six dollars a week, you can save over three HUNDRED dollars a year. To bill gates, that is probably nothing. To me, that's an extra retirement check!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sausage bean vegetable soup.
2 cans diced tomatoes.
2 cans beans of choice
1 quart chicken stock
1/2 pound sausage cooked and defatted.**
4 stalks of chopped celery,sautéed in olive oil.
3 small carrots, sliced and sautéed in olive oil
Parsley, basil, garlic powder.
Dump in slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hours.
** I cook meats in batches! usually one kind a week. Portion control it and freeze.
It saves time, energy, and cuts out waste. If you buy one meat that is on super sale per week and buy enough that week to feed the family once a week for a month, you can rotate meats and have a variety of foods while maintaining a cheap stock.
I use a matrix to plan meals. Planning meals makes life easier. I don't necessarily have a particular meal for a particular day, but I have a plan. My object os to provide a variety of foods and not eat hamburger seven ways in a week because it was in sale that week.
2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian ( breakfast for dinner? )
1 fish or shellfish
I get a couple e mails from Betty Crocker every week. They are full of good ideas for new meals. Some of them call for ingredients that are costly, but I can usually work around them and still get a good tasting new dish.
In case you haven't noticed, I like quick and easy meals. If I spend more time planning a shopping trip and shopping, and less time cooking, I am money and time ahead. I can get two stores taken care of in an hour or less depending on how far apart they are. A little planning and matching coupons can be remarkable. I usually muli task so coupon matchups are a no Brainer.
If you save six dollars a week, you can save over three HUNDRED dollars a year. To bill gates, that is probably nothing. To me, that's an extra retirement check!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, March 17, 2014
Monday Madness - Happy St Patricks Day
Happy St Patricks Day! Most people will be having corned beef and cabbage tonight. Since my husband doesn't like either and my daughter and granddaughter are semi vegetarian, that ain't gonna happen! LOL
I am going to make soup and bread this morning for a sick friend. If I make a large batch, we will have dinner made. I have never tried Irish soda bread.
Yesterday's shopping trip didn't net exactly what I had expected in the matter of the Kleenex. The boxes were 85 count boxes. The ad didn't show it as clearly as I would have liked it. Still at 1.69 for six boxes, was still a very good buy. We did get deodorant for free . That's toothpaste and deodorant for free. I have never found toilet paper or soap yet. I've got soap really cheap, but not quite for free. I hear it can be done., but I'm not there yet. I am thinking of the people on snap and snap doesn't cover anything but food. If you can get the heigene necessities for free, it frees up money for other things. Rite Aid has Pyrex laundry detergent, buy 1, get TWO. We didn't need any, but that sounds like a really good buy. But, I really needed sugar free turtles! LOL. All in all, I got two packages of Russell stover "turtles and two deodorants and spent .50.
We had pork chops, baked potatoes, strawberries and peas for dinner. Fred Meyers has really beautiful strawberries reasonable. They were really ripe and needed to be used ASAP. Also, they had apples for .88 and pears for .88. We like a apple and cottage cheese salad or apple and blue cheese. Butter is 2/4 and it is Darigold. The sandwich rolls were a dollar cheaper than SAFEWAYS,
Black beans were .50 a can, limit six. Beans and tomatoes were all on sale, but black beans is what we were short of. Total bill 25.00. That was it for this weeks groceries.
I have been watching people lately in regards to spending habits since I started this blog. There are a lot of people that will save and scrimp on some things, and then blow what they saved on something else. It seems ironic to me that a person that will be hell bent to use a quarter on an inch of scotch tape wrapping something will go to the store and pay full price on something they can get for free. My mother used to call that penny wise and pound foolish. . It just doesn't seem consistent with the mindset. My mother didn't want to spend money on anything that she didn't have anything to,show for when she was done. I can count on my fingers the amount of times I got to go to a movie. Or eat in a restaurant.
Years ago, there was a theory that everyone will pick one thing to buy the best quality off even if it is mustard. Food for thought.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I am going to make soup and bread this morning for a sick friend. If I make a large batch, we will have dinner made. I have never tried Irish soda bread.
Yesterday's shopping trip didn't net exactly what I had expected in the matter of the Kleenex. The boxes were 85 count boxes. The ad didn't show it as clearly as I would have liked it. Still at 1.69 for six boxes, was still a very good buy. We did get deodorant for free . That's toothpaste and deodorant for free. I have never found toilet paper or soap yet. I've got soap really cheap, but not quite for free. I hear it can be done., but I'm not there yet. I am thinking of the people on snap and snap doesn't cover anything but food. If you can get the heigene necessities for free, it frees up money for other things. Rite Aid has Pyrex laundry detergent, buy 1, get TWO. We didn't need any, but that sounds like a really good buy. But, I really needed sugar free turtles! LOL. All in all, I got two packages of Russell stover "turtles and two deodorants and spent .50.
We had pork chops, baked potatoes, strawberries and peas for dinner. Fred Meyers has really beautiful strawberries reasonable. They were really ripe and needed to be used ASAP. Also, they had apples for .88 and pears for .88. We like a apple and cottage cheese salad or apple and blue cheese. Butter is 2/4 and it is Darigold. The sandwich rolls were a dollar cheaper than SAFEWAYS,
Black beans were .50 a can, limit six. Beans and tomatoes were all on sale, but black beans is what we were short of. Total bill 25.00. That was it for this weeks groceries.
I have been watching people lately in regards to spending habits since I started this blog. There are a lot of people that will save and scrimp on some things, and then blow what they saved on something else. It seems ironic to me that a person that will be hell bent to use a quarter on an inch of scotch tape wrapping something will go to the store and pay full price on something they can get for free. My mother used to call that penny wise and pound foolish. . It just doesn't seem consistent with the mindset. My mother didn't want to spend money on anything that she didn't have anything to,show for when she was done. I can count on my fingers the amount of times I got to go to a movie. Or eat in a restaurant.
Years ago, there was a theory that everyone will pick one thing to buy the best quality off even if it is mustard. Food for thought.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Sunday ads
The ads for Sunday. I went over the drug store ads. There is a lot of candy anticipating Easter,but I'm not seeing a lot of other good stuff.
Rite aid
I have a two dollar up reward to use.,,
My sugar free turtles are 2/3, also life savors.
Reach toothbrush 2.99 with a yow dollar up reward nets .99
Sure deodorant, or brut. 1.50, 1.00 coupon on paper, .50 up reward FREE
This is a good example of why it is not a good plan to just go to the store and buy what you need.
Kleenex tissues are on a coupon in the paper for .30. Good anywhere you buy them.
They are 6.99 at rite aid. Nets 6.69.
Walgreens has the same tissue for 4.99 with the same .30 coupon. Two dollars cheaper and there is a 3.00 reward.
That's a turn around of Five dollars.
Walgreens
Olives .99
Campbell's soup .75 chicken noodle or tomato
Fred Meyers
Pot roast 3.48
Apples .88
Butter 3/4@@
Eggs 2/3@@
Bumble bee tuna .69@@
Kroger beans or tomatoes 2/1@@. This is a good stock item. Limit 6.
Nalleys chili .89
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Rite aid
I have a two dollar up reward to use.,,
My sugar free turtles are 2/3, also life savors.
Reach toothbrush 2.99 with a yow dollar up reward nets .99
Sure deodorant, or brut. 1.50, 1.00 coupon on paper, .50 up reward FREE
This is a good example of why it is not a good plan to just go to the store and buy what you need.
Kleenex tissues are on a coupon in the paper for .30. Good anywhere you buy them.
They are 6.99 at rite aid. Nets 6.69.
Walgreens has the same tissue for 4.99 with the same .30 coupon. Two dollars cheaper and there is a 3.00 reward.
That's a turn around of Five dollars.
Walgreens
Olives .99
Campbell's soup .75 chicken noodle or tomato
Fred Meyers
Pot roast 3.48
Apples .88
Butter 3/4@@
Eggs 2/3@@
Bumble bee tuna .69@@
Kroger beans or tomatoes 2/1@@. This is a good stock item. Limit 6.
Nalleys chili .89
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Suddenly Saturday
I totally missed Friday. Unexpected events totally consumed my Friday. Sorry. I didn't grocery shop because I didn't have too! That is precisely why I show the way I do. An unexpected event can happen and an incident you have no control over can completely redirect your day.
Groceries on the cheap takes a whole different approach to grocery shopping. Instead of going and just buying what you might need for the week, you buy what is on sale and stock to carry you through until the next sale. You, after you get yourself stocked, never are stuck without anything on the house to eat. This saves money because you are not tempted to get take out or go out because you can't get to the grocery store at your regularly stated time.
We are taking steps to simplify our lives somewhat. We are retired and find that making some changes will make life easier. I would have never dreamed three years ago that I would have a darling granddaughter that brings joy to is every day. But, she also brings grocery carts, strollers, dolls, stuffies and a mirage of other stuff! Our house was already full before the latest addition! I decoded to get one box of things out per week either to the goodwill or the store. It's time for me to get Easter stock out.
I digress. We had a beef stew and a green salad with field greens, blue cheese, and pecans in it for dinner. My granddaughter has decided she likes turkey meatballs. I would really like to know how to cook them, Gerber graduates taste good, but they are really expensive. I know that ground turkey isn't cheap and it has a different texture than ground beef. I think I will analyze the ingredient list!
May be try small batches until I get them to her liking. My daughter made her bow toe pasta. She told her that it was Minnie Mouse pasta! The child is a really picky eater. I'm not used to working with children that are picky eaters. My mother would have never stood still for it. I understand that she has a little stomach and need to spread her meals out.
Precooking your meat and putting it in portion controlled packages os a good way to stretch your dollars and make mealtime less hectic.
Knowing the real sale price on a product affords you the luxury of not paying full price for anything.
I saw a really good quote on Facebook today. It soda something like, if you don't criticize me for using coupons, I won't criticize you for throwing your money away. LOl. Still, I say, I'm moderation! I won't buy a years worth of something we might not even eat. That is wasting money too. But, keeping a stock of the things you do eat on a regular basis just saves time and gas.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share and feel free to comment.
Jane
Groceries on the cheap takes a whole different approach to grocery shopping. Instead of going and just buying what you might need for the week, you buy what is on sale and stock to carry you through until the next sale. You, after you get yourself stocked, never are stuck without anything on the house to eat. This saves money because you are not tempted to get take out or go out because you can't get to the grocery store at your regularly stated time.
We are taking steps to simplify our lives somewhat. We are retired and find that making some changes will make life easier. I would have never dreamed three years ago that I would have a darling granddaughter that brings joy to is every day. But, she also brings grocery carts, strollers, dolls, stuffies and a mirage of other stuff! Our house was already full before the latest addition! I decoded to get one box of things out per week either to the goodwill or the store. It's time for me to get Easter stock out.
I digress. We had a beef stew and a green salad with field greens, blue cheese, and pecans in it for dinner. My granddaughter has decided she likes turkey meatballs. I would really like to know how to cook them, Gerber graduates taste good, but they are really expensive. I know that ground turkey isn't cheap and it has a different texture than ground beef. I think I will analyze the ingredient list!
May be try small batches until I get them to her liking. My daughter made her bow toe pasta. She told her that it was Minnie Mouse pasta! The child is a really picky eater. I'm not used to working with children that are picky eaters. My mother would have never stood still for it. I understand that she has a little stomach and need to spread her meals out.
Precooking your meat and putting it in portion controlled packages os a good way to stretch your dollars and make mealtime less hectic.
Knowing the real sale price on a product affords you the luxury of not paying full price for anything.
I saw a really good quote on Facebook today. It soda something like, if you don't criticize me for using coupons, I won't criticize you for throwing your money away. LOl. Still, I say, I'm moderation! I won't buy a years worth of something we might not even eat. That is wasting money too. But, keeping a stock of the things you do eat on a regular basis just saves time and gas.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share and feel free to comment.
Jane
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Terrific Thursday
Yesterday we did the survey the fridge day. We had pork chops I took from a pork loin, rice and beans, and fruit salad.
We have a project that has to b done Friday, grocery shopping isn't going to happen. If I was on the habit of going to the store just to buy 1 weeks worth of groceries at a time, we would either be not eating, or having cereal for dinner or, worse yet, going to the drive through.
I'm not seeing much good buys in the ads. And, I really done like the ads not giving me enough information to make educated decisions and plan my trip before I go. There should be some law about advertising something without telling a price.
I made rice in the rice cooker. Had better luck this time than last. That was Monday and we've been eating off it for three days. That's about the safe time in my eyes. I'd rather throw a little away than give someone a sick stomach or worse.
It came to my attention when I was going through the ads to warn people that sometimes buying a large yogurt ( or other things) is not your best alternative. Case in point. Tillamook yogurt or Yoplait are on sale and many times I can find good coupons, sometimes as low as .12. Buying a 32 ounce carton can open yourself up to no portion control and wasting yogurt. Sometimes , two small items are cheaper than 1 large one.
I recycle as much as I can. Yogurt containers can become seed starters. The inside bags of the cereal or a cake mix can become the wax paper between hamburgers or pork chops in the freezer or used to roll out pastry or hold cookies waiting for their time in the oven. The cardboard can be used for book covers or art projects.
A not of caution, many times I have found lately, the grocer or manufacturer will list something in ounces, rather than pounds and ounces. It makes it harder to recognize a value. The number is highland you don't stop to figure out that 20 ounces is only 1-1/4 of a pound. I notice that Costco will list their breakdown as per ounce. It takes some math to figure out how that translates to per can so you know if it is a bargain or not. That , sometimes, is a problem when you are being run over by someone else's cart. Stopping at Costco is a dangerous proposition. LOL. It's easier to compare prices when you are on a level playing field.
I guess that's all
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Please share
We have a project that has to b done Friday, grocery shopping isn't going to happen. If I was on the habit of going to the store just to buy 1 weeks worth of groceries at a time, we would either be not eating, or having cereal for dinner or, worse yet, going to the drive through.
I'm not seeing much good buys in the ads. And, I really done like the ads not giving me enough information to make educated decisions and plan my trip before I go. There should be some law about advertising something without telling a price.
I made rice in the rice cooker. Had better luck this time than last. That was Monday and we've been eating off it for three days. That's about the safe time in my eyes. I'd rather throw a little away than give someone a sick stomach or worse.
It came to my attention when I was going through the ads to warn people that sometimes buying a large yogurt ( or other things) is not your best alternative. Case in point. Tillamook yogurt or Yoplait are on sale and many times I can find good coupons, sometimes as low as .12. Buying a 32 ounce carton can open yourself up to no portion control and wasting yogurt. Sometimes , two small items are cheaper than 1 large one.
I recycle as much as I can. Yogurt containers can become seed starters. The inside bags of the cereal or a cake mix can become the wax paper between hamburgers or pork chops in the freezer or used to roll out pastry or hold cookies waiting for their time in the oven. The cardboard can be used for book covers or art projects.
A not of caution, many times I have found lately, the grocer or manufacturer will list something in ounces, rather than pounds and ounces. It makes it harder to recognize a value. The number is highland you don't stop to figure out that 20 ounces is only 1-1/4 of a pound. I notice that Costco will list their breakdown as per ounce. It takes some math to figure out how that translates to per can so you know if it is a bargain or not. That , sometimes, is a problem when you are being run over by someone else's cart. Stopping at Costco is a dangerous proposition. LOL. It's easier to compare prices when you are on a level playing field.
I guess that's all
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Please share
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The ads
Got the ads, this will be quick. Mots almost eleven o'clock.
QFC
Dryers 2/6
Yogurt 10/5 $$ ( Yoplait)
Buy three cereals, select from select Cheerios, Quaker granola bars or post, kelloggs for 2.49 and get free milk. This could be a good buy if you can find coupon matchups.
Grapes 2.99
Hebrew national 2/7
Johnsonville dinner sausage 2.99@@
TOP
Corned beef 1.99
Cabbage .48
Coleslaw .77
Free milk and eggs when you buy
5 General Mills products
75 products to choose from
Including
Nature valley granola bars, cake mix, Cheerios. The granola bars and Cheerios are 2/5 and the cake mixes are 2.00 without coupons, you are probably not going to save anything.m those are pretty inflated prices. Not knowing all the products, you would have to go to the store and compare what you normally buy and check prices. I know there are coupons for cake mixes.
SAFEWAYS
Beef chuck or cross rib roast 2.99
1lb strawberries 1.99
BREYERS 2.88
Corned beef 1.99
Cabbage or red potatoes .49 lb
Cheerios. 3/5
Lemon pie 5.00
ALBERTSONS
Cabbage .49
Corned beef 3.99
There are some bogos , identical products, buy no prices
Cream cheese essential brand 1.00
Bogos ( good buy not known, they are not telling base prices )
ALBERTSONS ice cream
Crackers
Kens salad dressing $$
That's about it. I'm not seeing much, especially when ALBERTSONS can print an add without telling you the price of the product. And TOP foods aren't telling exactly what's on sale either.
QFC is over proces on most everything.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
If anybody gets to the TOP foods orAlbertsons maybe they can put a comment and tell what exactly is on sale. We have a major project this weekend, so it am probably,not going to get to shop at least until Sunday or Monday.
QFC
Dryers 2/6
Yogurt 10/5 $$ ( Yoplait)
Buy three cereals, select from select Cheerios, Quaker granola bars or post, kelloggs for 2.49 and get free milk. This could be a good buy if you can find coupon matchups.
Grapes 2.99
Hebrew national 2/7
Johnsonville dinner sausage 2.99@@
TOP
Corned beef 1.99
Cabbage .48
Coleslaw .77
Free milk and eggs when you buy
5 General Mills products
75 products to choose from
Including
Nature valley granola bars, cake mix, Cheerios. The granola bars and Cheerios are 2/5 and the cake mixes are 2.00 without coupons, you are probably not going to save anything.m those are pretty inflated prices. Not knowing all the products, you would have to go to the store and compare what you normally buy and check prices. I know there are coupons for cake mixes.
SAFEWAYS
Beef chuck or cross rib roast 2.99
1lb strawberries 1.99
BREYERS 2.88
Corned beef 1.99
Cabbage or red potatoes .49 lb
Cheerios. 3/5
Lemon pie 5.00
ALBERTSONS
Cabbage .49
Corned beef 3.99
There are some bogos , identical products, buy no prices
Cream cheese essential brand 1.00
Bogos ( good buy not known, they are not telling base prices )
ALBERTSONS ice cream
Crackers
Kens salad dressing $$
That's about it. I'm not seeing much, especially when ALBERTSONS can print an add without telling you the price of the product. And TOP foods aren't telling exactly what's on sale either.
QFC is over proces on most everything.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
If anybody gets to the TOP foods orAlbertsons maybe they can put a comment and tell what exactly is on sale. We have a major project this weekend, so it am probably,not going to get to shop at least until Sunday or Monday.
Terrific Tuesday
It's Tuesday. I will get back with the ads later today. I have two appointments today and have got to get some work done in my studio.
I thought I would talk a little about food storage. I try to use glass as much as possible and managed to fimd some glass jars here and there. I did find pickles in glass jar at grocery outlet. I have some peanut butter jars ( old when they sold pea it butter in square jars) I just usually, write the contents on the lid of I might have a question later with a marker. I write the expiration date on the eggs on the top of the lock and lock keeper. It washes off with a scotch brite type sponge. I get them for three for a buck at the dollar store.
I think there are a group of people out there that are totally against the dollar store because they can't see past the cheap decorations etc. Every store these days offers a wide variety if things to suit a wide variety of needs. Not all dollar stores are created equal. A smart shopper will look past the garbage ( whatever that is in their eyes) and see a bargain. I put the sponges through the dishwasher. I hear you can out the, in the microwave, but I don't know what that would do to the scratchy part.
Some food is cheaper at the dollar store. Last time I was in there the lady ahead of me had done her grocery shopping there. The operative word is SOME, and some of ot os cheaper with a coupon.
I found Betty Crocker scalloped potatoes and used a dollar coupon. I find pepperoni and get it for .50 instead of three dollars at the regular chains. Sometimes frozen veggies are cheaper, the frozen peppers are icky! Sandwich bags are .50 with a coupon. Toothpaste often can be free as well as deodorant and soap. FREE is a very good price especially of you are on SNAP and can't buy those things with your allotment. If you aren't on snap, everything you get free leaves you more momey for food.
I watch coupons for most personal products. Often they are for expensive things that you really don't need in the first place. But,for the basics everyone needs it is a good thing. Last week our deodorant netted a quarter a stick. Toothpaste was free. Soap was free. ( 6 bars) not being brand loyal is a real help. Those prices came from rewards and coupons. You can really score big at the drug stores if you again look past the things that you don't need and stick with necessities. Take advantage of up rewards and coupons. Again,meet on and get out. Remember if you touch something it is likely to jump in your cart. Think before you toss things on your cart. I still walk the isles that have things I am likely to buy. That's how I spied the cottage cheese at Walgreens that I had a coupon for. I don't clog my coupon binder with every coupon that is out there. I only put the things I would likely buy if the price was right.
Sometimes, I find at the dollar store what I haven't been able to find anywhere else. I was looking for pounders. ( the glasses they have at bars). I could buy them cheap at Costco wholesale, but you had to buy 24. I never found them at the goodwill. I found them at the dollar store. They are just the right size for a 12 ounce drink with ice. I'm not real fond of the decor on them, but they work.
Page protectors are a lot cheaper. I use them for my personal cookbook. That way I can pull a recipe out of the three ring binder and use it, the recipe stays clean and I can put it back. I got small binders at the goodwill so I don't have to have dividers. Main dishes are in one and everything else is in the other.
I buy Kleenex if I can't find it cheaper elsewhere. Last time I got 175 sheets at ALBERTSONS for .75.
Some things are cheaper elsewhere, some are not, again it all comes down to know your prices.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I thought I would talk a little about food storage. I try to use glass as much as possible and managed to fimd some glass jars here and there. I did find pickles in glass jar at grocery outlet. I have some peanut butter jars ( old when they sold pea it butter in square jars) I just usually, write the contents on the lid of I might have a question later with a marker. I write the expiration date on the eggs on the top of the lock and lock keeper. It washes off with a scotch brite type sponge. I get them for three for a buck at the dollar store.
I think there are a group of people out there that are totally against the dollar store because they can't see past the cheap decorations etc. Every store these days offers a wide variety if things to suit a wide variety of needs. Not all dollar stores are created equal. A smart shopper will look past the garbage ( whatever that is in their eyes) and see a bargain. I put the sponges through the dishwasher. I hear you can out the, in the microwave, but I don't know what that would do to the scratchy part.
Some food is cheaper at the dollar store. Last time I was in there the lady ahead of me had done her grocery shopping there. The operative word is SOME, and some of ot os cheaper with a coupon.
I found Betty Crocker scalloped potatoes and used a dollar coupon. I find pepperoni and get it for .50 instead of three dollars at the regular chains. Sometimes frozen veggies are cheaper, the frozen peppers are icky! Sandwich bags are .50 with a coupon. Toothpaste often can be free as well as deodorant and soap. FREE is a very good price especially of you are on SNAP and can't buy those things with your allotment. If you aren't on snap, everything you get free leaves you more momey for food.
I watch coupons for most personal products. Often they are for expensive things that you really don't need in the first place. But,for the basics everyone needs it is a good thing. Last week our deodorant netted a quarter a stick. Toothpaste was free. Soap was free. ( 6 bars) not being brand loyal is a real help. Those prices came from rewards and coupons. You can really score big at the drug stores if you again look past the things that you don't need and stick with necessities. Take advantage of up rewards and coupons. Again,meet on and get out. Remember if you touch something it is likely to jump in your cart. Think before you toss things on your cart. I still walk the isles that have things I am likely to buy. That's how I spied the cottage cheese at Walgreens that I had a coupon for. I don't clog my coupon binder with every coupon that is out there. I only put the things I would likely buy if the price was right.
Sometimes, I find at the dollar store what I haven't been able to find anywhere else. I was looking for pounders. ( the glasses they have at bars). I could buy them cheap at Costco wholesale, but you had to buy 24. I never found them at the goodwill. I found them at the dollar store. They are just the right size for a 12 ounce drink with ice. I'm not real fond of the decor on them, but they work.
Page protectors are a lot cheaper. I use them for my personal cookbook. That way I can pull a recipe out of the three ring binder and use it, the recipe stays clean and I can put it back. I got small binders at the goodwill so I don't have to have dividers. Main dishes are in one and everything else is in the other.
I buy Kleenex if I can't find it cheaper elsewhere. Last time I got 175 sheets at ALBERTSONS for .75.
Some things are cheaper elsewhere, some are not, again it all comes down to know your prices.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, March 10, 2014
Monday Madness
Yesterday we went to Rite Aid and Walgreens. I had rewards in both stores. I planned my trip with coupons and rewards. I spent nine dollars and change. I saved more than 50 percent.
I got
2- 3 bar packs of Irish spring soap
2 deodorants.
2 Russell Stover chocolate packs, sugar free
1 daisy cottage cheese
1 total toothpaste
1 fingernail polish.
Most of thos stiff was necessity type items, except for the chocolate, OK, that's debatable and the fingernail polish. I do go to work, and I think bare nails are tacky. ( just my opinion. )
The point I am trying to make here is two fold.
1st, don't go into a store with blinders on. You don't want to buy the store out of key chains, but keeping an eye on the food isle can sometimes reap a good buy. Case in point, cottage cheese-- I would have never expected to find cottage cheese at Walgreens,but I had a fifty cent coupon and it worked.
2nd, don't deprive yourself unless you are stone broke. Everyome needs a little treat every now and then, even of ot os just a 2.79 bottle of nail polish and/or a 1.50 bag of CHOCOLATE!
Last night we had beef and bean burritos. We were supposed to have pork roast, but I took a nap and didn't wake up in time, alas, we will have pork roast tonight. I am trying to switch to regular rice. I have never been able to cook it right. My rice cooker doesn't work well either. I upgraded years ago to an"better " one and the old one worked better. It might just be that I haven't got the hang of it yet.
Anyway, I posted it on a blog and someone sent me a recipe for rice in the oven....score! Double your oven use and save energy and time.
Rice and beans make a complete protein and I use them for one of our vegetarian meals often. We also like eggs ( breakfast for dinner) and Mac and cheese.
I developed a matrix for our meals. It makes meal planning easy and affords is a balance of types of protein. In a day when there is always somebody that has decided that a particular food is not good for you, at least moderation will soften the blow if one of them is actually true. I think moderation is the key. All these studies makes me wonder who is paying for them and are they scewed ? Certainly of you only eat one food, it's not going to be good for you. We need balance in our diets.
That's assuming you don't have health issues. I try to maintain low fat, sugar and salt . We know that we need some of these nutrients, but too much is not good.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I got
2- 3 bar packs of Irish spring soap
2 deodorants.
2 Russell Stover chocolate packs, sugar free
1 daisy cottage cheese
1 total toothpaste
1 fingernail polish.
Most of thos stiff was necessity type items, except for the chocolate, OK, that's debatable and the fingernail polish. I do go to work, and I think bare nails are tacky. ( just my opinion. )
The point I am trying to make here is two fold.
1st, don't go into a store with blinders on. You don't want to buy the store out of key chains, but keeping an eye on the food isle can sometimes reap a good buy. Case in point, cottage cheese-- I would have never expected to find cottage cheese at Walgreens,but I had a fifty cent coupon and it worked.
2nd, don't deprive yourself unless you are stone broke. Everyome needs a little treat every now and then, even of ot os just a 2.79 bottle of nail polish and/or a 1.50 bag of CHOCOLATE!
Last night we had beef and bean burritos. We were supposed to have pork roast, but I took a nap and didn't wake up in time, alas, we will have pork roast tonight. I am trying to switch to regular rice. I have never been able to cook it right. My rice cooker doesn't work well either. I upgraded years ago to an"better " one and the old one worked better. It might just be that I haven't got the hang of it yet.
Anyway, I posted it on a blog and someone sent me a recipe for rice in the oven....score! Double your oven use and save energy and time.
Rice and beans make a complete protein and I use them for one of our vegetarian meals often. We also like eggs ( breakfast for dinner) and Mac and cheese.
I developed a matrix for our meals. It makes meal planning easy and affords is a balance of types of protein. In a day when there is always somebody that has decided that a particular food is not good for you, at least moderation will soften the blow if one of them is actually true. I think moderation is the key. All these studies makes me wonder who is paying for them and are they scewed ? Certainly of you only eat one food, it's not going to be good for you. We need balance in our diets.
That's assuming you don't have health issues. I try to maintain low fat, sugar and salt . We know that we need some of these nutrients, but too much is not good.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, March 9, 2014
How do you spell coupon .
I went to Walgreens and rite aid coupon book in tow.
I spent nine dollars and change
I got
Daisy cottage cheese
6 ounce total toothpaste
2 speed stick deodorants
2 pkg sugar free Russell stover chocolates
Six bars soap
1 fingernail polish
I spent nine dollars and change
I got
Daisy cottage cheese
6 ounce total toothpaste
2 speed stick deodorants
2 pkg sugar free Russell stover chocolates
Six bars soap
1 fingernail polish
Sunday ads
I got the ads yesterday, but didn't have time yesterday.
Fred Meyers
Corned beef brisket 1.97
Pears .68
Cauli, broccoli .88
Starbucks k cups 5.99@@$$
Milk 4/5 ( second we of the month)@@
Bread 3/4
Dreyers 2/5
Grapes 2.48
Yoplait 10/5$$
Fred Meyer veggies 12 ox frozen .69@@
Walgreens
Toothpaste with coupon FREE with rewards.
Speed stick deodorant. 2.00 with a coupon in the paper makes it a dollar.
I've lost Rite Aid add. I didn't find anything spectacular. I need to spend my four dollars up reward. My chocolate sugar free is 2/3 .
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Fred Meyers
Corned beef brisket 1.97
Pears .68
Cauli, broccoli .88
Starbucks k cups 5.99@@$$
Milk 4/5 ( second we of the month)@@
Bread 3/4
Dreyers 2/5
Grapes 2.48
Yoplait 10/5$$
Fred Meyer veggies 12 ox frozen .69@@
Walgreens
Toothpaste with coupon FREE with rewards.
Speed stick deodorant. 2.00 with a coupon in the paper makes it a dollar.
I've lost Rite Aid add. I didn't find anything spectacular. I need to spend my four dollars up reward. My chocolate sugar free is 2/3 .
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Yesterday
Yesterday's trip was interesting to say the least. We went to grocery outlet. I found good potatoes and strawberries . The specialty cheese as non existent. We went to SAFEWAYS, the dollar store ( one stop) and QFC on the way home.
Milk
Yogurt with a coupon
2-2lb bricks of cheese
Blue cheese
Bread
Cake
Pie
Pumpkin bread mix
Strawberries
Blackberries
Blueberries
Carrots
celery
Potatoes
Frozen blueberries
Peppers
Salad greens
Broccoli
Beef tips (2 lbs)
Pork loin (5 lbs)
Bacon
Pepperoni
Split peas (2)
I, still sitting at sixty two or so dollars a week average. My stock protein is pork loin and cheese. Last night we had a bacon turkey,cheese panini and some cherry pie. Pie at QFC was cheaper than I could make it for and it was right out of the oven. Yum.
Know your prices, stock when prices are low, stick to budget. If you spend more one week, spend less another week. Use coupons judiciously. I only used 2.75 in coupons. Two for meat, one for yoghurt. I am due to download recipes and coupons today. I got sleeves for my recipe book so that they keep clean at the dollar store. Pepperoni is .50 with a coupon. A little bit goes a long way on a pizza along with olives and cheese and peppers. I chop and freeze peppers. They are a good addition to a recipe for colour.
I got the best quality of produce at the best prices shopping more than one store. Blackberries ranged from four dollars to 1.50. Frozen blues were cheaper. They are both rich in antioxidants and easy to add to recipes.
Breakfast for dinner is a good way to stretch a dollar. Pancakes or waffles with some bacon and fruit works. Or make yoghurt parfaits with some granola and blueberries. . Kids love it. Quiche is another hit in this family. Stuffed baked potatoes bar is another hit. Bits of taco meat, chili, broccoli, cheese, salsa, sour cream..... Mac and cheese is another favorite. You can make soup from just about anything. Slow cooker recipes are all over the Internet. Some of them are a bit too fat laden, or have too many expensive ready mades in them, but recipes can be adjusted or passed over for more healthy ones.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Milk
Yogurt with a coupon
2-2lb bricks of cheese
Blue cheese
Bread
Cake
Pie
Pumpkin bread mix
Strawberries
Blackberries
Blueberries
Carrots
celery
Potatoes
Frozen blueberries
Peppers
Salad greens
Broccoli
Beef tips (2 lbs)
Pork loin (5 lbs)
Bacon
Pepperoni
Split peas (2)
I, still sitting at sixty two or so dollars a week average. My stock protein is pork loin and cheese. Last night we had a bacon turkey,cheese panini and some cherry pie. Pie at QFC was cheaper than I could make it for and it was right out of the oven. Yum.
Know your prices, stock when prices are low, stick to budget. If you spend more one week, spend less another week. Use coupons judiciously. I only used 2.75 in coupons. Two for meat, one for yoghurt. I am due to download recipes and coupons today. I got sleeves for my recipe book so that they keep clean at the dollar store. Pepperoni is .50 with a coupon. A little bit goes a long way on a pizza along with olives and cheese and peppers. I chop and freeze peppers. They are a good addition to a recipe for colour.
I got the best quality of produce at the best prices shopping more than one store. Blackberries ranged from four dollars to 1.50. Frozen blues were cheaper. They are both rich in antioxidants and easy to add to recipes.
Breakfast for dinner is a good way to stretch a dollar. Pancakes or waffles with some bacon and fruit works. Or make yoghurt parfaits with some granola and blueberries. . Kids love it. Quiche is another hit in this family. Stuffed baked potatoes bar is another hit. Bits of taco meat, chili, broccoli, cheese, salsa, sour cream..... Mac and cheese is another favorite. You can make soup from just about anything. Slow cooker recipes are all over the Internet. Some of them are a bit too fat laden, or have too many expensive ready mades in them, but recipes can be adjusted or passed over for more healthy ones.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, March 7, 2014
Friday shopping trip
This should prove interesting. I did not really go shopping last week. I picked up a few things on sale with coupons or rewards at the drug stores. To say that the food isles at the drug stores were limiting would be an understatement , but if you know your prices you can score. That goes for the overstock stores too. Grocery outlet is mostly groceries. I tend to stay clear of the produce unless I am going to use it immediately. It's not as fresh as I would like it. You save NO money if it goes bad before you can use it. big lots has a few isles, but what they have can be a bargain. I passed on the fruit cups for the backpack kids because they were set in jello. I think they want more pure fruit. I get no sugar added if I can. I am truly against filling a child with 16 grams of refined sugar. LOL
Winco had better prices last summer. I still managed to find a few bargains and they do have the most extensive bulk food isle I have ever seen. I do wish that they had dry milk. There are mixes that take dry milk, but it is more expensive than regular milk.
I actually have a need list this week. That hasn't happened in a long time. The specials are almost non existent and the ads are getting smaller and smaller. My plan is to go to grocery outlet, SAFEWAYS and QFC and see what I can accomplish.
I hear that ALBERTSONS is going to buy out SAFEWAYS in our area. It was predicted that we would wind up with a few companies controlling the grocery market. That is a little scary to me. If that happens Kroger ( Fred Meyers and QFC) and ALBERTSONS will pretty much have the market. TOP foods is pushing a lot of organic and farm raised etc. I don't know of they are trying to enter the specialty store market, or just trying to be a hybrid. As it is now, I am finding the best buys at QFC and SAFEWAYS. I am beginning to see a pattern between Fred Meyer and QFC. ALBERTSONS is pushing their own brand a lot, and it seems to be an ok quality and much cheaper.
It will be interesting what the justice department thinks about that move!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Winco had better prices last summer. I still managed to find a few bargains and they do have the most extensive bulk food isle I have ever seen. I do wish that they had dry milk. There are mixes that take dry milk, but it is more expensive than regular milk.
I actually have a need list this week. That hasn't happened in a long time. The specials are almost non existent and the ads are getting smaller and smaller. My plan is to go to grocery outlet, SAFEWAYS and QFC and see what I can accomplish.
I hear that ALBERTSONS is going to buy out SAFEWAYS in our area. It was predicted that we would wind up with a few companies controlling the grocery market. That is a little scary to me. If that happens Kroger ( Fred Meyers and QFC) and ALBERTSONS will pretty much have the market. TOP foods is pushing a lot of organic and farm raised etc. I don't know of they are trying to enter the specialty store market, or just trying to be a hybrid. As it is now, I am finding the best buys at QFC and SAFEWAYS. I am beginning to see a pattern between Fred Meyer and QFC. ALBERTSONS is pushing their own brand a lot, and it seems to be an ok quality and much cheaper.
It will be interesting what the justice department thinks about that move!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, March 6, 2014
To Thursday.
It's Thursday. I had another bout with Mr. Barrett, so I didn't sleep last night. Baby came up to visit really early, because her mom had to of to the dentist before work. Ugh! I digress, this is about food.
What to do with what you got.
There is not a lot of sales this week. Cheese is on a good sale several places. If you already have some bricks; grate it , add a couple of tablespoons of cornstarch to it, and freeze it.
I have run on to a couple of new Mac and cheese recipes lately that kick the childhood favorite up a notch. Pasta is .79 at Fred Meyers threw this Saturday. Milk is on sale at ALBERTSONS, as well as clams. Can't you kist smell the clam chowder. LOL. I have, however , got clams for a dollar recently. SAFEWAYS has pork loin for 1.99. The only problem I see with that is that you have to buy the whole thing and it has already been frozen. They have pot roast for 2.99. That would've a nice treat. Shrimp is five dollars a pound., a nice treat too. I usually stor fry ot with some veggies, my husband would eat a whole pound by himself!
Campbell's soup is .69, and there are ten cent per coupons out there.
Top foods has diced tomatoes for two bucks. That just goes to show you that not everything in an ad is a real sale. I pay a buck for those cans. Even of you buy two small cans for .68 each, you won't have two bucks. Sometimes, smaller cans are cheaper. You really need to know your prices.
I guess it doesn't matter whether you have the same prices in your neck of the woods or not, knowing your prices and taking advantage of a good sale to use the products in your meal plans is a good way to cut your food bill. Once your stock is built, just add the things that you don't normally buy to keep your mealtimes fresh. Add veggies that are in season and inexpensive.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
What to do with what you got.
There is not a lot of sales this week. Cheese is on a good sale several places. If you already have some bricks; grate it , add a couple of tablespoons of cornstarch to it, and freeze it.
I have run on to a couple of new Mac and cheese recipes lately that kick the childhood favorite up a notch. Pasta is .79 at Fred Meyers threw this Saturday. Milk is on sale at ALBERTSONS, as well as clams. Can't you kist smell the clam chowder. LOL. I have, however , got clams for a dollar recently. SAFEWAYS has pork loin for 1.99. The only problem I see with that is that you have to buy the whole thing and it has already been frozen. They have pot roast for 2.99. That would've a nice treat. Shrimp is five dollars a pound., a nice treat too. I usually stor fry ot with some veggies, my husband would eat a whole pound by himself!
Campbell's soup is .69, and there are ten cent per coupons out there.
Top foods has diced tomatoes for two bucks. That just goes to show you that not everything in an ad is a real sale. I pay a buck for those cans. Even of you buy two small cans for .68 each, you won't have two bucks. Sometimes, smaller cans are cheaper. You really need to know your prices.
I guess it doesn't matter whether you have the same prices in your neck of the woods or not, knowing your prices and taking advantage of a good sale to use the products in your meal plans is a good way to cut your food bill. Once your stock is built, just add the things that you don't normally buy to keep your mealtimes fresh. Add veggies that are in season and inexpensive.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Wicked Wednesday - the ads
I actually got the ads in time this week, such as they are. I, not seeing many real sales,but here goes....
QFC
MANDARINS 3.99 (3 lbs)
Broccoli,cauliflower .99
Blackberries 2/3
Pie 2.99
Smoked sausage 3/10$
Yoplait 10/5$$
Tillamook cheese 4.99----only FSS
TOP
TILLAMOOK YOGURT 10/5
Tillamook cheese 4.99
Strawberries 5.98
SAFEWAYS
Pork loin ( whole) 1.99
Dreyers 2.99
HORMEL entres, Lloyd's tubs bogo$$
5 dollar Friday
Shrimp
Pizza
Cake mix/ brownies 5/5
ALBERTSONS
Milk 2/5@@
Strawberries 2.99
Grapes 2.99
That's about all. If I was going to buy a batch cook item , it would be the pork loin at SAFEWAYS. Provided it looked good and wasn't too big. If it os too big, you might split it with a friend.
Otherwise, it would be a good week to stock up on cheese, it is 2.50 a pound several places.
Pasta is still .79 at Fred Meyers. M
There isn't a lot in any ad, and the ads are getting smaller and smaller. Ot might be a good time to explore Winco or Costco wholesale.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
QFC
MANDARINS 3.99 (3 lbs)
Broccoli,cauliflower .99
Blackberries 2/3
Pie 2.99
Smoked sausage 3/10$
Yoplait 10/5$$
Tillamook cheese 4.99----only FSS
TOP
TILLAMOOK YOGURT 10/5
Tillamook cheese 4.99
Strawberries 5.98
SAFEWAYS
Pork loin ( whole) 1.99
Dreyers 2.99
HORMEL entres, Lloyd's tubs bogo$$
5 dollar Friday
Shrimp
Pizza
Cake mix/ brownies 5/5
ALBERTSONS
Milk 2/5@@
Strawberries 2.99
Grapes 2.99
That's about all. If I was going to buy a batch cook item , it would be the pork loin at SAFEWAYS. Provided it looked good and wasn't too big. If it os too big, you might split it with a friend.
Otherwise, it would be a good week to stock up on cheese, it is 2.50 a pound several places.
Pasta is still .79 at Fred Meyers. M
There isn't a lot in any ad, and the ads are getting smaller and smaller. Ot might be a good time to explore Winco or Costco wholesale.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Terrific Tuesday
It's Tuesday. Last night my husband made Mac and cheese with blue cheese and ham. It actually tasted good, I wouldn't have out those flavors together. Betty Crocker this week has macaroni with ranch and bacon. Bumping the flavors of Mac and cheese up a notch can make dinner more interesting-- spice up the winter blues.
I never pay more than a dollar for pasta. Lately I have been getting it for around .75. I have also got it for fifty cents more frequently, I have got it for as low as .38. I have not found coupons for regular pasta lately. I have found some where double white fiber worked. Lasagna is almost never on sale. I have made noodles from scratch, but not since cooking school. It's a long arduous task, and I don't find the time is worth the difference in price. We don't have lasagna often.
One of our favorites is stir fried shrimp and veggies with olive oil on spaghetti noodles. I can still get shrimp at Safeways for five bucks occasionally.
We have a standard outline for meal plans. It makes the task easy. I work the meal plan to include what perishables are on sale cheapest and what is on the fridge that needs to be eaten.
Four plus one is five: four people! one meal! five bucks. That doesn't mean every meal has to be five bucks. It means seven meals have to be 35.00. Averaging affords you some more variety and a treat every now and then. If one meal is a frittata, you can afford shrimp another day. I can still find cheese for two bucks a pound occasionally. I want to stay close to a max of 2.50. They ate predicting eight dollars a pound. It will pay you to stock a little. Too much will go bad before you can use ot. I grate cheese and freeze it. Toss it with a little cornstarch to keep it from clumping together. Most of our cheese os grated anyway. Costco wholesale os the best price I have found so far.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
This is our matrix. Yours may be different.
Starting with a plan and backing into it by using the perishables at your disposal is an easy way to assure variety of meals and use up what's on the fridge.
For instance. I got pizza crusts on sale cheap at Big Lots 20 percent sale. We might have a Buffalo chicken pizza this week.
Thanks for stopping by
Pleas share
Jane
I never pay more than a dollar for pasta. Lately I have been getting it for around .75. I have also got it for fifty cents more frequently, I have got it for as low as .38. I have not found coupons for regular pasta lately. I have found some where double white fiber worked. Lasagna is almost never on sale. I have made noodles from scratch, but not since cooking school. It's a long arduous task, and I don't find the time is worth the difference in price. We don't have lasagna often.
One of our favorites is stir fried shrimp and veggies with olive oil on spaghetti noodles. I can still get shrimp at Safeways for five bucks occasionally.
We have a standard outline for meal plans. It makes the task easy. I work the meal plan to include what perishables are on sale cheapest and what is on the fridge that needs to be eaten.
Four plus one is five: four people! one meal! five bucks. That doesn't mean every meal has to be five bucks. It means seven meals have to be 35.00. Averaging affords you some more variety and a treat every now and then. If one meal is a frittata, you can afford shrimp another day. I can still find cheese for two bucks a pound occasionally. I want to stay close to a max of 2.50. They ate predicting eight dollars a pound. It will pay you to stock a little. Too much will go bad before you can use ot. I grate cheese and freeze it. Toss it with a little cornstarch to keep it from clumping together. Most of our cheese os grated anyway. Costco wholesale os the best price I have found so far.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
This is our matrix. Yours may be different.
Starting with a plan and backing into it by using the perishables at your disposal is an easy way to assure variety of meals and use up what's on the fridge.
For instance. I got pizza crusts on sale cheap at Big Lots 20 percent sale. We might have a Buffalo chicken pizza this week.
Thanks for stopping by
Pleas share
Jane
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)