I do wish my mail-person would get his act together. Needless to say, I don't have the ads and can only gleen some from the Internet. Coupon connections have some, but their math with the coupons deducted doesn't make sense to me.
There is cream of mushroom soup with on ad coupon at FM for .50. There so also a coupon for 1.00 off 5. That makes five at .30 each. It hasn't been .30 for years and years! I am sure that they know that thanksgiving is coming and they figure that they will make up their profit with the green beans and fried onion rings. I don't particularly like green bean Casserole, so they missed the boat with me!
We do like tuna noodle on occasion. I buy the best tuna I can buy. Also hot dogs. If we are going to eat cheap food it's going to be good cheap food. LOL. Hot dogs can have yucky fillers in them and I bought tuna one time that the neigh ours cat wouldn't even eat! It is still within a budget to get the good stuff. I buy real butter. The nutritional it's told me that I was better off with a skim of butter than a regular amount of the alternative. The more dense the fat, the worse off you are. No one needs half a stick on their toast on the morning!
One time when I was in the hospital, my husband called me. " how do you make tuna noodle casserole ?" I told him, cook the noodles, drain the noodles, add cream of mushroom soup and two cans runs and something green, like peas. he added chopped pickle! LOL
I have been surfing the Internet a lot the last four days being stuck in bed. Re reading couponing and meal planning sites. I am still taking the information with a grain of salt. Most of the tactics, ate not doable on Washington state. We don't have double coupons with the exception of ALBERTSONS I found once! They only covered one item at a time. That particular week, the good buys were not so good. LOL. It was hard to make a good deal. We, also can't make money with coupons. You can't get something marked down to .99 and use a 1.00 coupon. The only place I can make money buying something is at Rite Aid. That is because you buy something, use a coupon and pay the balance. Then , you essentially get store credit to use the next week. I rolled my up rewards for a good three months. Two weeks ago I had rewards, I used them last week and didn't get any rewards. I didn't go this week. There was nothing that was a good buy that I purchase.
A lot of coupons are for things that I just don't buy. The simpler you live, the less you are going to spend. We always had pure Castile shampoo that my mom bought by the gallon cheap! Period.
Conditioner and such was not happening. We don't buy a lot of ready made stuff. That's what most of the coupons are for. I usually have coffee, tea, crystal light in the summer time. I don't buy pop or other fruit drinks. The nutritionalist told me that we were better off eating the fruit. There are a few things that I just don't have patience to make from scratch, like tortillas and refried beans, and I can usually get them on sale with a coupon. Some things I can get cheaper with a coupon than making them from scratch. We still like some processed meats (pepperoni), but I try to keep them to once a week or two. I have been getting pepperoni (3.50) for .50 with a coupon at the Dollar Tree.
I have received comments from people from different parts of the country about higher prices on some things than my RBP. I get that there are fluctuations in prices. I can only relate to the prices here. The basics are still stable. You find YOUR rock bottom price. I also suspect that there are places that have a limited amount of grocery stores. We are lucky to have four chain stores within a five mike radius, either south or north and some are clustered together along with dollar stores. If you don't, and there is a town a little further away, consider going once a month for the bulk items. Consider going with a friend or family member to split gas or take turns. Have the ads mailed to you or get them on line and pick your week. A lot of times the first of the month is not the best time. I have found that holiday time is not the best time to buy staple items either. I also see that where our dairy may be cheaper, someone else's meat is cheaper. Ditto veggies. SNAP is adjusted for the cost of living where you are.
When I didn't work, I scratch cooked more and made the kids and my clothes in my spare time, as much spare time as one can have with a house and two kids under the age of three and a teenager! LOL. No one should ever have to raise tw kids under the age of three and a teenager at the same time! LOL what an experience!
I found recipes that were quick and simple. I found the apple cake, I used to make a carrot bread that was done on the blender. I still haven't found it yet. It was on the blender manual, I'll bet I tossed it when the blender gave up too.
I guess that's all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Terrific Tuesday 11/5/13, repost
Repost worth reading! I've been on bed for three days, something has to give soon! LOL
I watched a u tube seminar last night. It was on couponing and meal plans. It could have been a boring , but her sense of humor was delightful. One thing resonated with me. She was describing the difference between stockpiling and hoarding. When you buy low and buy enough to last you until the next sale, you are stockpiling. When you buy to be buying and buy things you don't use and at a quantity you can't use in your lifetime, that's hoarding.
Last night we had Chicken Alfredo and mixed vegetables. It took me about 15 minutes , non passive time. I put the pasta in the microwave and went out and talked to the neighbor.. I like quick, tasty meals, especially after I worked the second shift. Cooking meat ahead makes dinner time cooking a lot less hectic. Cooking is a lot less stressful if there are no time constraints on you.
Pasta 49
Sauce .50
Chicken 1.50
Mixed veggies .75
Milk .12
Cheese.50
Bread .72
Total. 4.58
The basis for 1/2 price groceries is five dollar dinners. Breakfast and lunch will take care of themselves as long as you keep to scratch cooking and 1/2 price shopping. breakfast can be
Banana bread or muffins, or oatmeal with raisins or craisens, or yogurt and toast, an egg muffin made with biscuits. Lunch is leftovers, a sandwich...1/2 price cold cuts, or tuna, or egg salad or a salad from the night before with hard boiled eggs. I like cheese, whole wheat crackers and an apple .
Basically, you
- Buy in season. It tastes better, and it is cheaper.
- Buy what is TRULY on sale, Not everything on the grocery ad is really on sale.
- Know your prices, what is rock bottom. Track your main grocery items.
- Strive for 1/2 price there is a lot of difference between 2.20 and .38 for pasta. The same brand. Pasta has a 8 YEAR shelf life.
- Stack coupons when it makes sense. I won't spend a lot of time couponing. A few minutes a week can make a difference. Any more than that and you aren't getting paid enough. If I spend ten minutes and save 6 dollars, I am making 36.00 an hour. Since we don't buy a lot of ready mades and rarely is there a coupon for meat and veggies, any more time than that would be counterproductive.
- Sometimes, bread is cheaper at the grocery store, but most of the time it is cheaper at the bakery outlet, especially the specialty items. I don't have time to make bread. It would be cheaper. When I made sour dough bread, it didn't get eaten fast enough, so I quit. It's not a savings if it goes on the garbage!
Thanks for stopping by
PLEASE SHARE WITH A FRIEND. If they share and they share......
Maybe I can help more people.
Jane
Monday, November 4, 2013
Monday Madness 11/4/13
I'm watching curious George! snuggling baby granddaughter and writing a blog. Is that multi tasking? LOL.
Multi tasking in the kitchen is hectic and stressful. I try to find recipes that let me put ingredients together and go on to do other things. Slow cookers, oven meals and things that cook in the microwave without having to be watched reduce the get everything on the table stress syndrome.
The other way to reduce the stress is to deligate. When I am trying to make a taco dinner, I chop the condiments, have someone else do the refried beans and heat the meat while I do the rice and cook the chicken, heat the shells. Premade taco meat is a help as so refried beans out of a can. It would also be a help if we didn't have semi vegetarians in the group. I sometimes just do chicken, but dad is not thrilled with chicken.
My husband solves the problem , he just makes the main dish. If we want balance, we need to add the veggies and starch.
I am still a believer in the food pyramid. In moderation. The new food pyramid addresses fat and sugar consumption and balance. We all need some salt and carbs. Carbs give is energy, and salt keeps our electrolytes in balance. Moderation is the key. Anytime, in my opinion,that we go overboard on any one food group, we are asking for trouble. Our bodies need balance.
This blog so about trying to create balanced, nutritious diets while feeding families on very low income. It is very easy to spend more on food. My thought is that if I can show people how to do it at rock bottom budgets, the rest will take care of itself. Adding more expensive choices in vegetables and meat is easy. Doing it on the cheap, not so much! LOL
I still buy more expensive ingredients if I am bring to a potluck out of respect for the people that are not on a cheap budget. ( the foodies). I have no problem with foodies, I just can't do that on less than the poverty level budget. LOL. XX!? Happens. We can all plan for our lives. But sometimes life slips you a curve ball. It's up to you to pick up the ball and run with it. I have had more than enough curve balls in my 70 years I really can't help picking up the ball! Leaving it sit on the ground doesn't solve any problems.
Shopping is not my whole life, it is a portion of it. I essentially get more benefit from shopping wisely than I do the cooking part of dinner. With health issues, I don't have the energy at the end of the day to set down and do a two hour meal. I have found ways to get around it. I suspect that people that have children or children and jobs , or just lead a full life are on the same boat.
I still run two businesses, one of which is labor intensive, fun but time consuming, run a household,
work two days a week and help take care of a baby and belong to a service group for women. I really don't have a princess life. LOL. it's worth shopping WISELY to save 4000.00 a year-- especially if you don't have the 4000 in the first place.
I recently heard from a lady who's husband had lost his job and found one after 8 months for a lot less pay. She picked up the ball and ran with it very effectively. It's a matter of survival. I still can't top the lady on the Today show that Matt Lauer asked what she said to naysayers about her couponing. She (paraphrasing) said " if you don't understand, you ain't been broke enough. Enough said.
I coupon when it makes sense. There are some coupons out there that are for necessity items. If you can get your personal items free, it frees up money for food. There are some things that it doesn't pay to make from scratch unless you are in a position to cook for hours and like to cook. Also, I am finding dairy coupons. Of I can find something free or nearly free, cheaper than scratch, I will get it in moderation.
We have more than my usual supply of basic food. We also have a situation looming that could make us loose 25 percent of our income. We will need to pick up the ball. I have four mouths to feed. LOL. This is not about hoarding. I am not buying 93 bottles of hot sauce that we will never eat, or cat food when we don't have a cat, or a closet fill of soda pop. We have a stock of foods I buy on a regular basis. I just paid 1/2 price or less for them. It would be nice if everything was 1/2 price everyday, but then the grocery stores would be out of business. LOL. It would also be nice if we could sit with a drink in your hand and dinner would magically appear on the table. What a fantasy!
Back to reality, coupons work. I save the inserts in the newspaper. I buy 1 paper a week. I keep them in binder clips. I download the coupons of the things I buy at the first of the month and put them in a binder that I paid a total if three dollars for. I check coupon connections once a week to find any match ups that make sense to our family. I tell you about them. Whether or not you use them is up to you. Not every bargain is a bargain of it doesn't for your lifestyle. I certainly don't spend hours planning coupon trips. I don't get my groceries for 1 cent, but I think I do a fair job.
Taking a little time on the front end of a shopping trip, you will spend less time shopping and less money. Using tips to get out of the kitchen faster and still get well balanced on the table balances the shopping time. You actually spend less time of you are the person that goes every two or three days to buy one or two days of food. Or of you run out of something and run to the store to get one thing.
Planning your trips to save gas is a real help. Gas is expensive in this economy even of you have a car that gets 50 mpg. If a store is far away, we go less often and I make sure that I can buy enough to save considerably more than the gas money. We are about due for a bread run. Finding the cheapest place to buy certain foods is a real help for the budget. If you need to go out of your five mile radius to get cheap food, consider going with another person . Stock up so you don't have to go often.
Knowing your rock bottom prices, even in this time of drought driven prices, is the best tool you can have. My mother used to have an expression, " some people wouldn't know a bargain if it got up and bit them in the butt". It PAYS you to know what a bargain is.
Funny story. I have pointed out when walking through the grocery store with my husband, "look at this , it's 7.99. We paid 3.20 ." Etc numerous times. Last week, I had to get something at the fabric store. Knowing how much my husband LOVES walking through the fabric store, I suggested he go to big lots and get the leaf bags and a personal product I needed. He came back with a double package because it was less than double the price. I got 48 for the price of a small package at the grocery store. It almost never pays to get Personal products and paper products at the grocery store. I must be rubbing off on him. Or, it was the statement , "if we don't pay full price for necessities, we can afford some luxuries. ". It makes for a more fruitful and fulfilling life.
I guess it's time I get to the mounting laundry pile and the housework. No little elf does that in this house either, DARN! LOL
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Multi tasking in the kitchen is hectic and stressful. I try to find recipes that let me put ingredients together and go on to do other things. Slow cookers, oven meals and things that cook in the microwave without having to be watched reduce the get everything on the table stress syndrome.
The other way to reduce the stress is to deligate. When I am trying to make a taco dinner, I chop the condiments, have someone else do the refried beans and heat the meat while I do the rice and cook the chicken, heat the shells. Premade taco meat is a help as so refried beans out of a can. It would also be a help if we didn't have semi vegetarians in the group. I sometimes just do chicken, but dad is not thrilled with chicken.
My husband solves the problem , he just makes the main dish. If we want balance, we need to add the veggies and starch.
I am still a believer in the food pyramid. In moderation. The new food pyramid addresses fat and sugar consumption and balance. We all need some salt and carbs. Carbs give is energy, and salt keeps our electrolytes in balance. Moderation is the key. Anytime, in my opinion,that we go overboard on any one food group, we are asking for trouble. Our bodies need balance.
This blog so about trying to create balanced, nutritious diets while feeding families on very low income. It is very easy to spend more on food. My thought is that if I can show people how to do it at rock bottom budgets, the rest will take care of itself. Adding more expensive choices in vegetables and meat is easy. Doing it on the cheap, not so much! LOL
I still buy more expensive ingredients if I am bring to a potluck out of respect for the people that are not on a cheap budget. ( the foodies). I have no problem with foodies, I just can't do that on less than the poverty level budget. LOL. XX!? Happens. We can all plan for our lives. But sometimes life slips you a curve ball. It's up to you to pick up the ball and run with it. I have had more than enough curve balls in my 70 years I really can't help picking up the ball! Leaving it sit on the ground doesn't solve any problems.
Shopping is not my whole life, it is a portion of it. I essentially get more benefit from shopping wisely than I do the cooking part of dinner. With health issues, I don't have the energy at the end of the day to set down and do a two hour meal. I have found ways to get around it. I suspect that people that have children or children and jobs , or just lead a full life are on the same boat.
I still run two businesses, one of which is labor intensive, fun but time consuming, run a household,
work two days a week and help take care of a baby and belong to a service group for women. I really don't have a princess life. LOL. it's worth shopping WISELY to save 4000.00 a year-- especially if you don't have the 4000 in the first place.
I recently heard from a lady who's husband had lost his job and found one after 8 months for a lot less pay. She picked up the ball and ran with it very effectively. It's a matter of survival. I still can't top the lady on the Today show that Matt Lauer asked what she said to naysayers about her couponing. She (paraphrasing) said " if you don't understand, you ain't been broke enough. Enough said.
I coupon when it makes sense. There are some coupons out there that are for necessity items. If you can get your personal items free, it frees up money for food. There are some things that it doesn't pay to make from scratch unless you are in a position to cook for hours and like to cook. Also, I am finding dairy coupons. Of I can find something free or nearly free, cheaper than scratch, I will get it in moderation.
We have more than my usual supply of basic food. We also have a situation looming that could make us loose 25 percent of our income. We will need to pick up the ball. I have four mouths to feed. LOL. This is not about hoarding. I am not buying 93 bottles of hot sauce that we will never eat, or cat food when we don't have a cat, or a closet fill of soda pop. We have a stock of foods I buy on a regular basis. I just paid 1/2 price or less for them. It would be nice if everything was 1/2 price everyday, but then the grocery stores would be out of business. LOL. It would also be nice if we could sit with a drink in your hand and dinner would magically appear on the table. What a fantasy!
Back to reality, coupons work. I save the inserts in the newspaper. I buy 1 paper a week. I keep them in binder clips. I download the coupons of the things I buy at the first of the month and put them in a binder that I paid a total if three dollars for. I check coupon connections once a week to find any match ups that make sense to our family. I tell you about them. Whether or not you use them is up to you. Not every bargain is a bargain of it doesn't for your lifestyle. I certainly don't spend hours planning coupon trips. I don't get my groceries for 1 cent, but I think I do a fair job.
Taking a little time on the front end of a shopping trip, you will spend less time shopping and less money. Using tips to get out of the kitchen faster and still get well balanced on the table balances the shopping time. You actually spend less time of you are the person that goes every two or three days to buy one or two days of food. Or of you run out of something and run to the store to get one thing.
Planning your trips to save gas is a real help. Gas is expensive in this economy even of you have a car that gets 50 mpg. If a store is far away, we go less often and I make sure that I can buy enough to save considerably more than the gas money. We are about due for a bread run. Finding the cheapest place to buy certain foods is a real help for the budget. If you need to go out of your five mile radius to get cheap food, consider going with another person . Stock up so you don't have to go often.
Knowing your rock bottom prices, even in this time of drought driven prices, is the best tool you can have. My mother used to have an expression, " some people wouldn't know a bargain if it got up and bit them in the butt". It PAYS you to know what a bargain is.
Funny story. I have pointed out when walking through the grocery store with my husband, "look at this , it's 7.99. We paid 3.20 ." Etc numerous times. Last week, I had to get something at the fabric store. Knowing how much my husband LOVES walking through the fabric store, I suggested he go to big lots and get the leaf bags and a personal product I needed. He came back with a double package because it was less than double the price. I got 48 for the price of a small package at the grocery store. It almost never pays to get Personal products and paper products at the grocery store. I must be rubbing off on him. Or, it was the statement , "if we don't pay full price for necessities, we can afford some luxuries. ". It makes for a more fruitful and fulfilling life.
I guess it's time I get to the mounting laundry pile and the housework. No little elf does that in this house either, DARN! LOL
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Casserole, leftover delight
Broccoli Cheese Rice casserole
Www.cinnamonspice and everything nice.com
Yummy
4 t butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt, pepper
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/3 cup parm
3 cups cooked rice
2-1/2 cups brocolli, cooked.
Grease 9 x 13 pan
Oven at 400 degrees
Make white sauce with butter, flour, milk, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in parm and 2 cups of the cheese. . Stir until cheese is melted.
Stir in and broccoli and rice .
Place in the pan. Top with cheese.
Bake 30 minutes . And let set for 5 minutes.
Note:
I would use minced garlic. You could also add chopped chicken, cooked. A good recipe for leftovers.
Tonight we had BBQ chicken, rice with cheese and red peppers. And French green beans with almonds. The chicken was cooked and frozen ( batch cooked) the rice was leftover from last night, and the green beans were free from QFC.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Www.cinnamonspice and everything nice.com
Yummy
4 t butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt, pepper
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/3 cup parm
3 cups cooked rice
2-1/2 cups brocolli, cooked.
Grease 9 x 13 pan
Oven at 400 degrees
Make white sauce with butter, flour, milk, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in parm and 2 cups of the cheese. . Stir until cheese is melted.
Stir in and broccoli and rice .
Place in the pan. Top with cheese.
Bake 30 minutes . And let set for 5 minutes.
Note:
I would use minced garlic. You could also add chopped chicken, cooked. A good recipe for leftovers.
Tonight we had BBQ chicken, rice with cheese and red peppers. And French green beans with almonds. The chicken was cooked and frozen ( batch cooked) the rice was leftover from last night, and the green beans were free from QFC.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Betty Crocker and coupon alerts.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/baked-orzo-and-vegetables/5ab69451-0dcb-4346-8679-b262c9d78046
This is a good recipe for stretching a buck.
Good buy alert. If you are a naysayer, or a non shopper, close your eyes.
Fred Meyer has cream of mushroom soup for .50@@$$$ makes it .30. Check the coupon at couponconnections.com.
Also, butter for 1.67.
This is a good recipe for stretching a buck.
Good buy alert. If you are a naysayer, or a non shopper, close your eyes.
Fred Meyer has cream of mushroom soup for .50@@$$$ makes it .30. Check the coupon at couponconnections.com.
Also, butter for 1.67.
10 ways to save money on Groceries
I thought I would do something different. Ten small ( or huge) ways to save money on groceries.
1) use coupons for the things you already buy at the grocery store. There are coupons for things that are not boxed, prepared food. In moderation, some mixes are a boon if you are time crunched. I got pepperoni for .50 for a regular 3.50 package at the dollar store. I can most generally get coupons for yogurt and peanut butter.
2) think outside neighbourhood convenience store. Many stores carry food. The dollar store takes coupons and many times can make something free or nearly free. Soap, toothpaste and deodorant are frequently free. What you save on personal necessities you can spend on food. Warehouse stores like Costco and Winco are cheaper on some things. Alternative overstock stores are cheaper on some things. NO one store has the best prices for everything.
3) if your family is large especially, buying on bulk for things like rice, beans and oatmeal so a good investment.
4) buying produce in season is a good thing. The prices are lower and the quality is higher., the produce can be more local many times.
5) buying bagged produce,weigh the bags. There can be a lot of difference on a two pound bag of carrots. Buying whole carrots are much cheaper than buying baby carrots., baby carrots are just big carrots that have been cut down to size.
6) buying your meat on a rotating basis and buying and cooking in bulk saves a lot. You cook less, clean up less, and can portion control meal sized portions to reduce waste. Most grocery store chains have a loss leader on a rotating basis.
7) avoid pre-packaged ready made items. Someone has to pay for the labor to make this stuff. That someone is you. It takes the same amount of time to make a hamburger meal box from scratch as it does from a box. The scratch tasts better, is more nutritious, and looks better too. Ditto boxed pudding.
8) learn to read labels. This gives you a real eye opener of what you are eating.
9) invest some time in knowing the prices of the things that you use on a regular basis. Buy at the lowest price in quantity. Enough quantity to last you til the next sale. you never have to pay full price and you don't get stuck with nothing on the house to eat. Don't hoard, but base your quantity on how often you use that item per week. We use tomatoes at least once a week. Ditto beans.
10) clean the fridge once a week about mid week. Assess what is left and use up things that need to be used up before they hit the compost or garbage disposal. Vegetable soup? Banana bread? Stuff shells or lasagna for the cottage cheese. Cottage cheese can be a sub for sour cream. Sour cream can be a good addition to cake or cookie recipes. Yogurt can become a fruit parfait with granola for an addition to a breakfast for dinner meal.
11) bonus. Make your own bread crumbs. Why pay more momey per pound for someone else's dry bread than you do meat? Ditto croutons. Get your bread heels out of the plastic and into the oven before they go mould. When they are dry, process them in the food processor ,or grate them on a box grater. I used to do that outside so I didn't have to clean up the mess. LOL
12) learn to make soup. It's inexpensive, it's good ( especially on a cold winter day) and of you make it in a slow cooker, you can have dinner ready when you are.
Thanks for stopping by,
Please share
Jane
1) use coupons for the things you already buy at the grocery store. There are coupons for things that are not boxed, prepared food. In moderation, some mixes are a boon if you are time crunched. I got pepperoni for .50 for a regular 3.50 package at the dollar store. I can most generally get coupons for yogurt and peanut butter.
2) think outside neighbourhood convenience store. Many stores carry food. The dollar store takes coupons and many times can make something free or nearly free. Soap, toothpaste and deodorant are frequently free. What you save on personal necessities you can spend on food. Warehouse stores like Costco and Winco are cheaper on some things. Alternative overstock stores are cheaper on some things. NO one store has the best prices for everything.
3) if your family is large especially, buying on bulk for things like rice, beans and oatmeal so a good investment.
4) buying produce in season is a good thing. The prices are lower and the quality is higher., the produce can be more local many times.
5) buying bagged produce,weigh the bags. There can be a lot of difference on a two pound bag of carrots. Buying whole carrots are much cheaper than buying baby carrots., baby carrots are just big carrots that have been cut down to size.
6) buying your meat on a rotating basis and buying and cooking in bulk saves a lot. You cook less, clean up less, and can portion control meal sized portions to reduce waste. Most grocery store chains have a loss leader on a rotating basis.
7) avoid pre-packaged ready made items. Someone has to pay for the labor to make this stuff. That someone is you. It takes the same amount of time to make a hamburger meal box from scratch as it does from a box. The scratch tasts better, is more nutritious, and looks better too. Ditto boxed pudding.
8) learn to read labels. This gives you a real eye opener of what you are eating.
9) invest some time in knowing the prices of the things that you use on a regular basis. Buy at the lowest price in quantity. Enough quantity to last you til the next sale. you never have to pay full price and you don't get stuck with nothing on the house to eat. Don't hoard, but base your quantity on how often you use that item per week. We use tomatoes at least once a week. Ditto beans.
10) clean the fridge once a week about mid week. Assess what is left and use up things that need to be used up before they hit the compost or garbage disposal. Vegetable soup? Banana bread? Stuff shells or lasagna for the cottage cheese. Cottage cheese can be a sub for sour cream. Sour cream can be a good addition to cake or cookie recipes. Yogurt can become a fruit parfait with granola for an addition to a breakfast for dinner meal.
11) bonus. Make your own bread crumbs. Why pay more momey per pound for someone else's dry bread than you do meat? Ditto croutons. Get your bread heels out of the plastic and into the oven before they go mould. When they are dry, process them in the food processor ,or grate them on a box grater. I used to do that outside so I didn't have to clean up the mess. LOL
12) learn to make soup. It's inexpensive, it's good ( especially on a cold winter day) and of you make it in a slow cooker, you can have dinner ready when you are.
Thanks for stopping by,
Please share
Jane
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Saturday
We went shopping yesterday. I spent 26.00 and another buck at the dollar store for Two packages of pepperoni.
Yesterday we had spaghetti and garlic bread and salad in the vegetable Bin.
About mid week, it is time to clean the fridge and take note of what needs to be eaten soon. Maybe it is time for a vegetable soup or stock, or banana bread. Betty Crocker has a good recipe for banana blueberry bread. It takes oatmeal and so really good and good for you.
There are a lot of good and good for you recipes out there. Most take the simplest of ingredients. The more processed the food, the more expensive it is and the more preservatives it may have in it.
Remember, the more someone does the cooking for you, the more it's going to cost. They want to get paid like the rest of us. LOL. With few exceptions, ready made and boxed dinners are really expensive in terms of cost, and nutrition. If you can cook as fast as making the trip to the store, or the mix takes just as long to cook scratch , the box mixes are pointless.
Cooking some meats ahead and using instant mashed potatoes makes sense to me. Making mashed potatoes is time consuming both in making the dish and cleaning up afterwards. For a weeknight dinner, instant mashed is good . I find them for little money. There is a coupon for Betty Crocker a gratin or scalloped potatoes on the net. ( check coupon.com) . They are a buck at the dollar store. With the coupon they are BOGO. You don't get many potatoes for fifty cents. I also got pepperoni for fifty cents. I haven't got toothpaste for free lately, but I'm still watching and building my stock for the women's shelter. I did find gloves for granddaughter. I don't want to spend more than a buck for the , kids loose their gloves and I don't know if she will even wear them. It's certainly not worth my time to knit them at her age and the yarn would cost more than a buck!
My average for meals has been going down, which is remarkable since the drought is still rearing it's ugly head on food prices. The USDA projects that they will be occurring well into 2014. In addition, the SNAP program is taking a hit. My sister says that it is going to be 35.00 a month average. The combination is not a good one for people on a thrifty budget. The people with six digit incomes won't notice as much, but higher prices and less money hits the poor hard. Making scratch good food on the cheap is a way to get through without sacrificing nutrition or having no food in the pantry at the end of the month.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Yesterday we had spaghetti and garlic bread and salad in the vegetable Bin.
About mid week, it is time to clean the fridge and take note of what needs to be eaten soon. Maybe it is time for a vegetable soup or stock, or banana bread. Betty Crocker has a good recipe for banana blueberry bread. It takes oatmeal and so really good and good for you.
There are a lot of good and good for you recipes out there. Most take the simplest of ingredients. The more processed the food, the more expensive it is and the more preservatives it may have in it.
Remember, the more someone does the cooking for you, the more it's going to cost. They want to get paid like the rest of us. LOL. With few exceptions, ready made and boxed dinners are really expensive in terms of cost, and nutrition. If you can cook as fast as making the trip to the store, or the mix takes just as long to cook scratch , the box mixes are pointless.
Cooking some meats ahead and using instant mashed potatoes makes sense to me. Making mashed potatoes is time consuming both in making the dish and cleaning up afterwards. For a weeknight dinner, instant mashed is good . I find them for little money. There is a coupon for Betty Crocker a gratin or scalloped potatoes on the net. ( check coupon.com) . They are a buck at the dollar store. With the coupon they are BOGO. You don't get many potatoes for fifty cents. I also got pepperoni for fifty cents. I haven't got toothpaste for free lately, but I'm still watching and building my stock for the women's shelter. I did find gloves for granddaughter. I don't want to spend more than a buck for the , kids loose their gloves and I don't know if she will even wear them. It's certainly not worth my time to knit them at her age and the yarn would cost more than a buck!
My average for meals has been going down, which is remarkable since the drought is still rearing it's ugly head on food prices. The USDA projects that they will be occurring well into 2014. In addition, the SNAP program is taking a hit. My sister says that it is going to be 35.00 a month average. The combination is not a good one for people on a thrifty budget. The people with six digit incomes won't notice as much, but higher prices and less money hits the poor hard. Making scratch good food on the cheap is a way to get through without sacrificing nutrition or having no food in the pantry at the end of the month.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, November 1, 2013
The basics, part three, scratch cooking
Oh, that dreaded word, " scratch" cooking. Really, scratch cooking can be quick and easy. The thrifty budget doesn't have a lot of wiggle room for ready made foods. Most pre- made , or semi pre-made foods are too expensive. They also have ingredients that you can't pronounce. LOL Learn to read sides of boxes. It is really enlightening.
I did a series of blogs on a hamburger meal box. It is very revealing. Most same people won't buy another one after reading the blog. LOL. That being said, they have changed the box and added some real food.
Buying a deli chicken is a real mistake. I have seen deli chickens for six dollars for two pounds! That's three dollars a pound. There are three good reasons why you don't want a deli chicken.
1) three pounds is the break even point on buying a chicken. Less than three pounds you are paying for too much bone and not enough meat. The more weight after three pounds the better.
2) I can still get chicken for a dollar a pound. Northwest grown, no antibiotic, no hormone chicken.
I can get a chicken ready to roast in about ten minutes. The savings are remarkable.
3) you don't know where that chicken from the deli comes from!
There are styles of cooking that get dinner on the table as fast and as easy as processed, ready made food. They make scratch cooking doable for the busiest of cooks.
1) the slow cooker can be your best friend in the kitchen. There so something very therapeutic about coming home to dinner cooked and waiting for you. The Betty Crocker web site is full of ideas. Some of them call for ready made expensive ingredients. Remember you can always make substitutions or adjustments to a recipe. Remember, same bulk and same texture when substituting. Celery makes a good substitute for onion, for example.
2) anything you can get together and shove on the oven to cook is a good thing. Oven time so non-passive cooking. You can go about your business and get something else done. Foil packet dinners are easy and provide for no cleanup. They also allow each person to build their own and make their own combinations .
3) skillet meals don't have to come out of a box. Pasta is easily cooked on a microwave pan. My daughter got hers from big lots for five bucks. It is well worth the money. Pasta becomes a passive cooking venue.
4) making meats ahead and doing prep work ahead of time saves a lot of work at dinner time and makes the dinner hour less hectic. The grocery chains rotate their meat specials weekly. Take advantage of it and buy the special in bulk. Buy enough to have a meal or two a week for a month. When you get home, cook the meat and divide it into meal portions and bag and freeze it. I would leave pork chops off the pork loin raw.
This maximizes your savings, minimizes your work at dinner time, and affords you a variety of meals.
I can still get
Pork loin for 2.00 a pound
Good ground beef under 3.00 per pound
Pork sausage for 2.30 a pound (Costco)
Chicken whole or grill packs for a dollar a pound.
Beef roast for 3.00 per pound or less.
If beef roasts ( chuck) are under three dollars and cheaper than good burger, I grind my own, or ,, rather my husband grinds it for us.
I have a matrix ( outline) for meal plans to afford us balance and variety. ours is based on my families wants. Yours may be different. A plan makes meal planning easier.
2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
I have written a lot of ideas in the past three days. What you do with them and how much of them make sense to you is your call. The more you do, the more you will save. It's up to you. I am not going to tell you that food will magically appear on your dining table. It takes work. Spending a little time prepping for your shopping trip and shopping and less time in the kitchen can be very rewarding in your pocket book. If you have a lot of time to cook, go for it. Everyone loves a gourmet meal ! It's just not always practical with our schedules!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I did a series of blogs on a hamburger meal box. It is very revealing. Most same people won't buy another one after reading the blog. LOL. That being said, they have changed the box and added some real food.
Buying a deli chicken is a real mistake. I have seen deli chickens for six dollars for two pounds! That's three dollars a pound. There are three good reasons why you don't want a deli chicken.
1) three pounds is the break even point on buying a chicken. Less than three pounds you are paying for too much bone and not enough meat. The more weight after three pounds the better.
2) I can still get chicken for a dollar a pound. Northwest grown, no antibiotic, no hormone chicken.
I can get a chicken ready to roast in about ten minutes. The savings are remarkable.
3) you don't know where that chicken from the deli comes from!
There are styles of cooking that get dinner on the table as fast and as easy as processed, ready made food. They make scratch cooking doable for the busiest of cooks.
1) the slow cooker can be your best friend in the kitchen. There so something very therapeutic about coming home to dinner cooked and waiting for you. The Betty Crocker web site is full of ideas. Some of them call for ready made expensive ingredients. Remember you can always make substitutions or adjustments to a recipe. Remember, same bulk and same texture when substituting. Celery makes a good substitute for onion, for example.
2) anything you can get together and shove on the oven to cook is a good thing. Oven time so non-passive cooking. You can go about your business and get something else done. Foil packet dinners are easy and provide for no cleanup. They also allow each person to build their own and make their own combinations .
3) skillet meals don't have to come out of a box. Pasta is easily cooked on a microwave pan. My daughter got hers from big lots for five bucks. It is well worth the money. Pasta becomes a passive cooking venue.
4) making meats ahead and doing prep work ahead of time saves a lot of work at dinner time and makes the dinner hour less hectic. The grocery chains rotate their meat specials weekly. Take advantage of it and buy the special in bulk. Buy enough to have a meal or two a week for a month. When you get home, cook the meat and divide it into meal portions and bag and freeze it. I would leave pork chops off the pork loin raw.
This maximizes your savings, minimizes your work at dinner time, and affords you a variety of meals.
I can still get
Pork loin for 2.00 a pound
Good ground beef under 3.00 per pound
Pork sausage for 2.30 a pound (Costco)
Chicken whole or grill packs for a dollar a pound.
Beef roast for 3.00 per pound or less.
If beef roasts ( chuck) are under three dollars and cheaper than good burger, I grind my own, or ,, rather my husband grinds it for us.
I have a matrix ( outline) for meal plans to afford us balance and variety. ours is based on my families wants. Yours may be different. A plan makes meal planning easier.
2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
I have written a lot of ideas in the past three days. What you do with them and how much of them make sense to you is your call. The more you do, the more you will save. It's up to you. I am not going to tell you that food will magically appear on your dining table. It takes work. Spending a little time prepping for your shopping trip and shopping and less time in the kitchen can be very rewarding in your pocket book. If you have a lot of time to cook, go for it. Everyone loves a gourmet meal ! It's just not always practical with our schedules!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, October 31, 2013
The basics , part,2, shopping
Part of shopping , the planning stage, was covered yesterday. I do this blog every month for a refresher or for new readers. I do it off the top of my head, please feel free to read older blogs.
To recap, I analyze the ads. Pick the two best stores of the chain stores. Go with my list, get in, and get out. The more time in a store, the more money you will spend. The more people you take with you,the more you will spend. Try not to take small children with you. They are a distraction and shopping is business when you are doing it on the cheap. You have to have a clear head to stick to a small budget. LOL
Retailers have spent considerable time and money studying the average shoppers shopping habits. They take advantage of all of our instincts. There is a whole blog on that issue. Beat them at their own game. 70 percent of all things purchased are impulse buys. Don't fall into the trap!!!!
Don't pick up anything you don't intend on buying.
All chain stores have food, there are a lot of alternative stores that have food too.
Warehouse stores like Costco and SAMs club have stable prices, somewhat. Some things are cheaper, some are not. Overstock stores have limited merchandise, but some of what they have is lots cheaper. We have big lots and grocery outlet. Always check pull dates, and know your prices.
Grocery outlet has regular coffee often and a wide assortment of cheeses! some cheaper! some not.
Big lots has a variety of things. Kinda like Costco, here today, gone Tomorrow.
Again, know your prices.
The dollar store has some food. Like any other store, some prices are better, some are not. Lately I have been finding recipe starter 2/1.00. With a dollar coupon, it was free. Without a coupon it was
2.09 cheaper than SAFEWAYS and cheaper than making sauce from scratch.
Soap, deodorant and toothpaste can be had with a coupon for free. This is huge for people on snap that don't have help buying personal necessities. There are coupon people that get TP for free too. I have yet to find the illusive toilet paper coupons! The best I can do is Costco. LOL. Frozen veggies and French fries are a bargain unless you get a good sale. Pepperoni is a buck and sometimes there are coupons that make it .50.
The bakery outlet is cheaper on bread. Sometimes you can get bread on sale at the chain stores as cheap. Remember, the chain stores aren't in the business of running a bakery or cannery. They buy their products from the name brands that put the stores label on them. my sister worked for a distributed. She used to be able to bring vegetables home that were double wrapped with two different brands wrapping. ( they used to come in waxed boxes. )
Remember, the more specialized the store, the fancier the store, the higher the prices. If you are on a really tight budget, it is not realistic to expect to buy specialty foods. That doesn't mean that you can't buy healthy foods, defat your ground meats, or grind them yourself, and watch your fat, salt, and sugar intake. It is especially important for the children. Too much of our food has salt and sugar hiding in it.
All this takes time. Once you are set up. You will probably spend no longer than you do now. Especially of you hot the neighbourhood store several times a week because you forgot so,etching, or just want something different for dinner. Spend more time on the front end of the meal on the table train, and less on the back and you will be better off. There are ways to cut clean up time and non-passive cooking time to save time .
That's about all I can remember.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
To recap, I analyze the ads. Pick the two best stores of the chain stores. Go with my list, get in, and get out. The more time in a store, the more money you will spend. The more people you take with you,the more you will spend. Try not to take small children with you. They are a distraction and shopping is business when you are doing it on the cheap. You have to have a clear head to stick to a small budget. LOL
Retailers have spent considerable time and money studying the average shoppers shopping habits. They take advantage of all of our instincts. There is a whole blog on that issue. Beat them at their own game. 70 percent of all things purchased are impulse buys. Don't fall into the trap!!!!
Don't pick up anything you don't intend on buying.
All chain stores have food, there are a lot of alternative stores that have food too.
Warehouse stores like Costco and SAMs club have stable prices, somewhat. Some things are cheaper, some are not. Overstock stores have limited merchandise, but some of what they have is lots cheaper. We have big lots and grocery outlet. Always check pull dates, and know your prices.
Grocery outlet has regular coffee often and a wide assortment of cheeses! some cheaper! some not.
Big lots has a variety of things. Kinda like Costco, here today, gone Tomorrow.
Again, know your prices.
The dollar store has some food. Like any other store, some prices are better, some are not. Lately I have been finding recipe starter 2/1.00. With a dollar coupon, it was free. Without a coupon it was
2.09 cheaper than SAFEWAYS and cheaper than making sauce from scratch.
Soap, deodorant and toothpaste can be had with a coupon for free. This is huge for people on snap that don't have help buying personal necessities. There are coupon people that get TP for free too. I have yet to find the illusive toilet paper coupons! The best I can do is Costco. LOL. Frozen veggies and French fries are a bargain unless you get a good sale. Pepperoni is a buck and sometimes there are coupons that make it .50.
The bakery outlet is cheaper on bread. Sometimes you can get bread on sale at the chain stores as cheap. Remember, the chain stores aren't in the business of running a bakery or cannery. They buy their products from the name brands that put the stores label on them. my sister worked for a distributed. She used to be able to bring vegetables home that were double wrapped with two different brands wrapping. ( they used to come in waxed boxes. )
Remember, the more specialized the store, the fancier the store, the higher the prices. If you are on a really tight budget, it is not realistic to expect to buy specialty foods. That doesn't mean that you can't buy healthy foods, defat your ground meats, or grind them yourself, and watch your fat, salt, and sugar intake. It is especially important for the children. Too much of our food has salt and sugar hiding in it.
All this takes time. Once you are set up. You will probably spend no longer than you do now. Especially of you hot the neighbourhood store several times a week because you forgot so,etching, or just want something different for dinner. Spend more time on the front end of the meal on the table train, and less on the back and you will be better off. There are ways to cut clean up time and non-passive cooking time to save time .
That's about all I can remember.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Finally, the ads
The ads.
SAFEWAYS
Whole pork loin 1.99
Milk 1.89@
Tillamook cheese 3.99@@
Just for u
Sausage 2 lbs 2.99
Tuna 1.25
5 buck Friday
Grapes 3/5
ALBERTSONS
YOPLAIT .39$$
Dave's bread 3.99@@
QFC
Top round, London broil BOGO nets 3.25
Black and raspberries BOGO nets 2.00
18 count eggs 1.99
Dreyers ice cream 2.99
Nally chili 1.00
Top
15/10
Diced tomatoes
Soups
Veggies
10/10
Olives
Cranberry sauce
Tuna .88
Chili 1.00
That's about all. I am seeing a big jump in prices. Just because they say something is featured, doesn't mean that it is really on sale. you need to know your prices. .67 for beans is good. I do note that they are store brand now, they used to be a national brand for that price and there used to be beans included. I did get beans from FM for fifty cents this summer. The pork loin is good. That's a lot of pork loin, perhaps you can share it with a friend or family member unless you are having a crowd for dinner. ...freeze it for thanksgiving!? Freeze 1/2!of ot for thanksgiving!?
Be sure to check the coupon connections if you are in the Seattle area. Many regions have match up sites.Google for the one on your area.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane ,
SAFEWAYS
Whole pork loin 1.99
Milk 1.89@
Tillamook cheese 3.99@@
Just for u
Sausage 2 lbs 2.99
Tuna 1.25
5 buck Friday
Grapes 3/5
ALBERTSONS
YOPLAIT .39$$
Dave's bread 3.99@@
QFC
Top round, London broil BOGO nets 3.25
Black and raspberries BOGO nets 2.00
18 count eggs 1.99
Dreyers ice cream 2.99
Nally chili 1.00
Top
15/10
Diced tomatoes
Soups
Veggies
10/10
Olives
Cranberry sauce
Tuna .88
Chili 1.00
That's about all. I am seeing a big jump in prices. Just because they say something is featured, doesn't mean that it is really on sale. you need to know your prices. .67 for beans is good. I do note that they are store brand now, they used to be a national brand for that price and there used to be beans included. I did get beans from FM for fifty cents this summer. The pork loin is good. That's a lot of pork loin, perhaps you can share it with a friend or family member unless you are having a crowd for dinner. ...freeze it for thanksgiving!? Freeze 1/2!of ot for thanksgiving!?
Be sure to check the coupon connections if you are in the Seattle area. Many regions have match up sites.Google for the one on your area.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane ,
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
No ads , the basics, part one
Again, there were no ads yesterday.m there were no holidays, so I don't know what the problem was this time.
It's the first of the month again... Almost ... So I think well talk about the basics.
Groceries on the cheap was started because it came to my attention that people on snap weren't making it through the month on their allotments and needed help. I knew how to make that happen. I realize no everyone needs or wants to economize, but I also have found that people read the blog for new recipes or to find new ways to get out of the kitchen faster. Hey, and everybody can use a little jingle in their pocket ever now and then. We just paid the property taxes. My guess is that others have too.
Groceries on the cheap takes a three disciplined approach to shopping and getting food on the table.
1) planning and organizing
2) smart shopping
3) cooking from scratch ( fast and efficient)
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING
1) the first exercise is probably one you have done already. Identify the economical sources of protein that your family will eat. Now, identify seven to fourteen dinners that call for these ingredients.
2) now identify the things that you need on a regular basis to make these dishes. No boxes here. Were talking scratch cooking.
In our house, that would be beans, refried beans, canned diced tomatoes, cheese, some canned veggies, instant mashed potatoes,tuna.
3) start a price book, or spread sheet that tracks the prices of the few items that you use on a regular basis. In most homes, that is ten or so items.
Name the product and the size of the package.
Date, where bought, price. Coupon?? Net.
Ie
Pasta, 16 ounces
3/12./13. SAFEWAYS. .38. Coupon
4) when the item is the lowest price you have seen ( rock bottom price) RBP, buy
A) as many as you can afford
B) as many as the store will let you buy ( limit)
Or C) as many as you need to fill in your supply.
Whichever comes first
If I use something once a week, I keep 24.; if I use something once a month,mi keep 6. Things like catsup and mayo, I keep one ahead. When I open my backup, I start looking for a sale.
This is a six months supply. I keep six instead of three months because we don't know how long we will be able to work, and need a cushion to keep us long enough to adjust to a 25 percent cut in income. Stores operate on a 8-12 week cycle for sales. 3 months should be enough, but a little extra safety net would be nice.
You don't want to be caught with that dreaded F word....Full price, or what my mother used to call top dollar. I want to pay 1/2. That is doable with some planning. I only buy at RBP . I stock. I don't hoard, I stock. I don't buy 93 bottles of hot sauce because they are on sale. I buy what I know we will use and enough so we don't have to pay full price. By doing so, we eat well on an average of 65.00 a week for three adults. That is less half the USDA stats for the thrifty plan for our family. Now, my daughter does buy her own lunches, and we do go out once a week. But, still, we are well under the stats.
Keeping a stock means that you are prepared for an emergency, be it you are too sick to go to the store, that ugly S (now) word in this part of the country, or any other thing that may crop up. There is a certain sense of security knowing you van feed your family,no matter what! It kind of like when our great grandmothers put food up for the winter on the farm. It's not much different concept than the people that play the stock market, you want to buy low and sell high. You buy when food is at it's lowest, and eat when it is at it's highest.
When the sale ads come out, divide a piece of computer paper in sections. ( ours is four ) put the name of a grocery store on the top of each section. Now, write down the good buys for
A) a protein that is RBP . Usually the stores will rotate a meat on what they call a loss leader. They want you to come into the store and buy all the rest of your groceries at high prices. Beat them at their own game. I only buy what is on sale, and the few things that I have to have.
B) perishables, fruit, and veggies in season, dairy and bread.
C) what is on your stock list that is RBP.
If you buy a meat in bulk quantity , enough to cover yourself for four meals, and batch cook it, portion control for your meals, label and freeze it, you are getting RBP and saving money, no waste.
Rotate the four weeks of the month. You have variety at the lowest price you can get.
Now cross off anything that is a higher price than elsewhere. Pick the TWO BEST STORES. Plan your trip to use the least gas. If the stores aren't close together, plan the stops near some other errand. The kids school, the gym, the doctors, grandmas house,whatever!
Now check the coupon matching web site on your area. In Seattle it is couponconnections. You can google coupon matchups and your town, and get the one on your area. They match the sales with coupons and tell you where the coupons are. Many are on the Internet to print. A few are in the Sunday paper. I get the Sunday paper at the dollar store. I have a friend that saves the inserts for me too.
When you go to the store, take, your ads, your list, your coupon book,
Make meal plans after you get home from the store. You can pencil in your ideas for 7 main dishes, but nothing is etched on concrete until you get home. Too many times have I gotten to the store to find the meat is gone, in too huge of a package to be doable, or just looks like something I don't want to bring home. One time, the apples were soft. one time the pork roast was like 15 pounds and had already been frozen.
That's about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share, I am not advertising on my blog, I'm doing this solely to help people stretch their food dollars because they need or want to. No child should live on top ramen and potato chips, and no child should wake up to no food on the house. That is a terrible insecurity no child should bear!
Jane
It's the first of the month again... Almost ... So I think well talk about the basics.
Groceries on the cheap was started because it came to my attention that people on snap weren't making it through the month on their allotments and needed help. I knew how to make that happen. I realize no everyone needs or wants to economize, but I also have found that people read the blog for new recipes or to find new ways to get out of the kitchen faster. Hey, and everybody can use a little jingle in their pocket ever now and then. We just paid the property taxes. My guess is that others have too.
Groceries on the cheap takes a three disciplined approach to shopping and getting food on the table.
1) planning and organizing
2) smart shopping
3) cooking from scratch ( fast and efficient)
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING
1) the first exercise is probably one you have done already. Identify the economical sources of protein that your family will eat. Now, identify seven to fourteen dinners that call for these ingredients.
2) now identify the things that you need on a regular basis to make these dishes. No boxes here. Were talking scratch cooking.
In our house, that would be beans, refried beans, canned diced tomatoes, cheese, some canned veggies, instant mashed potatoes,tuna.
3) start a price book, or spread sheet that tracks the prices of the few items that you use on a regular basis. In most homes, that is ten or so items.
Name the product and the size of the package.
Date, where bought, price. Coupon?? Net.
Ie
Pasta, 16 ounces
3/12./13. SAFEWAYS. .38. Coupon
4) when the item is the lowest price you have seen ( rock bottom price) RBP, buy
A) as many as you can afford
B) as many as the store will let you buy ( limit)
Or C) as many as you need to fill in your supply.
Whichever comes first
If I use something once a week, I keep 24.; if I use something once a month,mi keep 6. Things like catsup and mayo, I keep one ahead. When I open my backup, I start looking for a sale.
This is a six months supply. I keep six instead of three months because we don't know how long we will be able to work, and need a cushion to keep us long enough to adjust to a 25 percent cut in income. Stores operate on a 8-12 week cycle for sales. 3 months should be enough, but a little extra safety net would be nice.
You don't want to be caught with that dreaded F word....Full price, or what my mother used to call top dollar. I want to pay 1/2. That is doable with some planning. I only buy at RBP . I stock. I don't hoard, I stock. I don't buy 93 bottles of hot sauce because they are on sale. I buy what I know we will use and enough so we don't have to pay full price. By doing so, we eat well on an average of 65.00 a week for three adults. That is less half the USDA stats for the thrifty plan for our family. Now, my daughter does buy her own lunches, and we do go out once a week. But, still, we are well under the stats.
Keeping a stock means that you are prepared for an emergency, be it you are too sick to go to the store, that ugly S (now) word in this part of the country, or any other thing that may crop up. There is a certain sense of security knowing you van feed your family,no matter what! It kind of like when our great grandmothers put food up for the winter on the farm. It's not much different concept than the people that play the stock market, you want to buy low and sell high. You buy when food is at it's lowest, and eat when it is at it's highest.
When the sale ads come out, divide a piece of computer paper in sections. ( ours is four ) put the name of a grocery store on the top of each section. Now, write down the good buys for
A) a protein that is RBP . Usually the stores will rotate a meat on what they call a loss leader. They want you to come into the store and buy all the rest of your groceries at high prices. Beat them at their own game. I only buy what is on sale, and the few things that I have to have.
B) perishables, fruit, and veggies in season, dairy and bread.
C) what is on your stock list that is RBP.
If you buy a meat in bulk quantity , enough to cover yourself for four meals, and batch cook it, portion control for your meals, label and freeze it, you are getting RBP and saving money, no waste.
Rotate the four weeks of the month. You have variety at the lowest price you can get.
Now cross off anything that is a higher price than elsewhere. Pick the TWO BEST STORES. Plan your trip to use the least gas. If the stores aren't close together, plan the stops near some other errand. The kids school, the gym, the doctors, grandmas house,whatever!
Now check the coupon matching web site on your area. In Seattle it is couponconnections. You can google coupon matchups and your town, and get the one on your area. They match the sales with coupons and tell you where the coupons are. Many are on the Internet to print. A few are in the Sunday paper. I get the Sunday paper at the dollar store. I have a friend that saves the inserts for me too.
When you go to the store, take, your ads, your list, your coupon book,
Make meal plans after you get home from the store. You can pencil in your ideas for 7 main dishes, but nothing is etched on concrete until you get home. Too many times have I gotten to the store to find the meat is gone, in too huge of a package to be doable, or just looks like something I don't want to bring home. One time, the apples were soft. one time the pork roast was like 15 pounds and had already been frozen.
That's about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share, I am not advertising on my blog, I'm doing this solely to help people stretch their food dollars because they need or want to. No child should live on top ramen and potato chips, and no child should wake up to no food on the house. That is a terrible insecurity no child should bear!
Jane
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Terrific Tuesday, recipe edition
I have come to the realization that any recipe you want can be found on the Internet. I knew that there was a recipe for grandmas apple cake somewhere. I found it on the Internet.
I like easy quick recipes. I am usually trying to balance a full plate, and fast and easy helps.
I especially like slow cooker recipes. There is just something about coming home from work and having dinner waiting for you. I must not be the only one, because Betty Crocker is full of slow cooker recipes even in the summer.
Pork shoulder roast was on sale last week.
Pork and sauerkraut
pork shoulder roast 3-4 pounds
Salt, pepper
Onion
1 apple, chopped
1 bottle beer
1 Tbls brown sugar
1 Tbls vinegar
1 jar sauerkraut
1) salt and pepper roast. Brown on all sides in heavy pan with olive oil .
2) place roast on cooker with remaining ingredients.
Cook on low 9.5 hours.
Remove roast from cooker. Divide into meal sized portions, leaving one meal portion in cooker. Add sauerkraut, drained. Rinse if you prefer a more mellow sauerkraut.
Continue cooking on high for 30 minutes.
Cool saved roast. Bag in freezer bags and label for pulled pork sandwiches.
Note: you can substitute apple juice for the beer.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I like easy quick recipes. I am usually trying to balance a full plate, and fast and easy helps.
I especially like slow cooker recipes. There is just something about coming home from work and having dinner waiting for you. I must not be the only one, because Betty Crocker is full of slow cooker recipes even in the summer.
Pork shoulder roast was on sale last week.
Pork and sauerkraut
pork shoulder roast 3-4 pounds
Salt, pepper
Onion
1 apple, chopped
1 bottle beer
1 Tbls brown sugar
1 Tbls vinegar
1 jar sauerkraut
1) salt and pepper roast. Brown on all sides in heavy pan with olive oil .
2) place roast on cooker with remaining ingredients.
Cook on low 9.5 hours.
Remove roast from cooker. Divide into meal sized portions, leaving one meal portion in cooker. Add sauerkraut, drained. Rinse if you prefer a more mellow sauerkraut.
Continue cooking on high for 30 minutes.
Cool saved roast. Bag in freezer bags and label for pulled pork sandwiches.
Note: you can substitute apple juice for the beer.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday Madness
It's Monday again, Still our weekend. I love retirement. I don't miss that rat race at all. The money, not so much! The days seem to run together. I schedule chores to keep track of what day it is! LOL
I haven't gone to rite aid yet, and need to use my up rewards. Couponconnections is a valuable resource. I am not finding a lot of bargains thos week. The special toothbrush is about it.
Betty Crocker this time has a lot of slow cooker recipes, just in time for fall and busy families. I love to put something in the crockpot and go about my business and have dinner ready when we are. I batch cooked three pounds of sausage from Costco yesterday. Surprisingly, there was little fat. We had sausage quiche last night. I dovoded it into six portions. ( only two of us are meat eaters unless our son comes to dinner. I usually add another protein to anything I cook with sausage anyway, so a little goes a long way. Costco was cheaper than SAFEWAYS on sale. It still was more than two dollars a pound, up from last year. I used to get it for a buck in the 70's.
Sausage and bean soup
Sausage and eggs
Sausage quiche
Pizza
Meat sauce might be the exception.
It might be important to note that you are not going to eat sausage five nights a week. I batch cook. Cook once, eat several times. It is much easier. You clean up once, and putting dinner together is a snap when your meat is already cooked. . It takes the longest time to cook.
Buying the most inexpensive meat for the week and rotating so you are covered for a month is the cheapest and most efficient way of providing your meat.
I usually can find chicken , pork loin or roast, hamburger, and and fill in with sausage or roast beef whichever I can find. Roast beef is getting out of reach. To make it on a tight budget, you need to keep the meat or protein at a two- 3 dollar average. Four people, one meal, five bucks. I am basing this on a three hundred dollar budget for the proverbial family of two adults and two school aged children. If your family is a different matrix,you need to adjust accordingly.
If you get yourself down to rock bottom prices, then you can interject a treat when momey permits. It is easier to add more than it is to reduce your spending. Buying anything you want is easy, sticking to a budget takes some discipline and effort. The effort is worth it if it means you have a pantry at the end of the month and you are on snap or of you can afford a few luxuries if you aren't. In our case, it means we can go out to happy hour dinner once a week with friends and I can buy a book or other fun thing for my grandbaby. We still eat well and healthy, but we can afford more than just eating on a fixed income .
That's about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I haven't gone to rite aid yet, and need to use my up rewards. Couponconnections is a valuable resource. I am not finding a lot of bargains thos week. The special toothbrush is about it.
Betty Crocker this time has a lot of slow cooker recipes, just in time for fall and busy families. I love to put something in the crockpot and go about my business and have dinner ready when we are. I batch cooked three pounds of sausage from Costco yesterday. Surprisingly, there was little fat. We had sausage quiche last night. I dovoded it into six portions. ( only two of us are meat eaters unless our son comes to dinner. I usually add another protein to anything I cook with sausage anyway, so a little goes a long way. Costco was cheaper than SAFEWAYS on sale. It still was more than two dollars a pound, up from last year. I used to get it for a buck in the 70's.
Sausage and bean soup
Sausage and eggs
Sausage quiche
Pizza
Meat sauce might be the exception.
It might be important to note that you are not going to eat sausage five nights a week. I batch cook. Cook once, eat several times. It is much easier. You clean up once, and putting dinner together is a snap when your meat is already cooked. . It takes the longest time to cook.
Buying the most inexpensive meat for the week and rotating so you are covered for a month is the cheapest and most efficient way of providing your meat.
I usually can find chicken , pork loin or roast, hamburger, and and fill in with sausage or roast beef whichever I can find. Roast beef is getting out of reach. To make it on a tight budget, you need to keep the meat or protein at a two- 3 dollar average. Four people, one meal, five bucks. I am basing this on a three hundred dollar budget for the proverbial family of two adults and two school aged children. If your family is a different matrix,you need to adjust accordingly.
If you get yourself down to rock bottom prices, then you can interject a treat when momey permits. It is easier to add more than it is to reduce your spending. Buying anything you want is easy, sticking to a budget takes some discipline and effort. The effort is worth it if it means you have a pantry at the end of the month and you are on snap or of you can afford a few luxuries if you aren't. In our case, it means we can go out to happy hour dinner once a week with friends and I can buy a book or other fun thing for my grandbaby. We still eat well and healthy, but we can afford more than just eating on a fixed income .
That's about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The apple snack cake , not the right one!?!!!!!
Ok, the Internet did it again! I found the snack cake
Not exactly the right one. This turns out more like a bar that needs whip cream or ice cream on it.
In case anyone missed it, or so I can find it again.....LOL
3/4 cup oil
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
2-1\2 cups flour
1 tsp EACH OF
Baking soda
Baking powder
Salt
Cinnamon
3 cups chopped apples
Nuts of desired
1) grease 9X13 pan
Mix wet ingredients together.
mix dry ingredients together
Mix the wet with the dry
Fold in apples ( and nuts of desired)
Pour into prepared pan
Bake at 350 for 60 minutes or until cake tests done. ( toothpick in center comes out clean. , )
Not exactly the right one. This turns out more like a bar that needs whip cream or ice cream on it.
In case anyone missed it, or so I can find it again.....LOL
3/4 cup oil
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
2-1\2 cups flour
1 tsp EACH OF
Baking soda
Baking powder
Salt
Cinnamon
3 cups chopped apples
Nuts of desired
1) grease 9X13 pan
Mix wet ingredients together.
mix dry ingredients together
Mix the wet with the dry
Fold in apples ( and nuts of desired)
Pour into prepared pan
Bake at 350 for 60 minutes or until cake tests done. ( toothpick in center comes out clean. , )
Suddenly Sunday
After buying a pen set that didn't work, it reminded me of a good tool. Your voice! If you get something that is really bad, don't hesitate to tell the manufacturer about it. Conversely, if you get something really good, the same holds true. Many times you can at least get a replacement and many times they will send you coupons.
One time I bought a can of green beans that had three green beans and a hole lot of water. I called del monte and they sent me coupons for half a case of green beans. They just wanted the markings off the top of the can and where I bought it.
Too much of the time, people are quick to complain when they get something bad, but don't ever praise for something that is good.
Just a totally unrelated note, Christmas is coming. Rite aid has 7.00 " electric" for lack of a better word, toothbrushes with a in ad coupon and a manufacturers coupon that is in the Sunday paper that nets them 2.00. Might be a fun stocking stuffer!
On another note, now is the time to stock anything pumpkin if you eat it throughout the year., it is on sale only now in the next few weeks, and there is coupons out there for canned pumpkin.
Thanksgiving is coming. I found a good leftover recipe that could be adapted to be on the cheap. You could also make to any time of the year and substitute chicken for the turkey.
Turkey Skillet
3/4'cup chopped celery
1/2 a green pepper, chopped
Olive oil
2 cups cubed turkey, cooked.
2 T slivered almonds
1 Tbs , plus 1 tsp flour
1/2'tsp of paprika
1/2'tsp basil, dried
2 cup chicken broth
1 -'8 ounce can pineapple , drained. (Cut into chunks if sliced pineapple)
Sauté vegetables on olive oil until crisp tender. Add turkey and almonds. And cook on low heat until turkey is heated through.
Mix together in a small bowl, the flour,spices and broth. Stir into skillet . Add pineapple and cook 3-5 minutes until sauce is bubbly.
Serve with rice.
notes: you can buy almonds at our dollar store. I try to keep a couple cans of pineapple on hand , purchased when I find them on sale. It's not something we use a lot,so I don't stock a lot. I would substitute red peppers or mixed peppers if I had them. ( my husband is not fond of green peppers. )
This would still be a good recipe and the cost is down to a realistic amount. So,eti es a splurge of a few nuts or a can of fruit can make a recipe seem special !
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I am still looking for my MIL so apple cake recipe. I know it was from the mid west and a lot of people have it. Also, you can comment anonymously , I would be interested in knowing what kind of recipes you use for turkey leftovers???
One time I bought a can of green beans that had three green beans and a hole lot of water. I called del monte and they sent me coupons for half a case of green beans. They just wanted the markings off the top of the can and where I bought it.
Too much of the time, people are quick to complain when they get something bad, but don't ever praise for something that is good.
Just a totally unrelated note, Christmas is coming. Rite aid has 7.00 " electric" for lack of a better word, toothbrushes with a in ad coupon and a manufacturers coupon that is in the Sunday paper that nets them 2.00. Might be a fun stocking stuffer!
On another note, now is the time to stock anything pumpkin if you eat it throughout the year., it is on sale only now in the next few weeks, and there is coupons out there for canned pumpkin.
Thanksgiving is coming. I found a good leftover recipe that could be adapted to be on the cheap. You could also make to any time of the year and substitute chicken for the turkey.
Turkey Skillet
3/4'cup chopped celery
1/2 a green pepper, chopped
Olive oil
2 cups cubed turkey, cooked.
2 T slivered almonds
1 Tbs , plus 1 tsp flour
1/2'tsp of paprika
1/2'tsp basil, dried
2 cup chicken broth
1 -'8 ounce can pineapple , drained. (Cut into chunks if sliced pineapple)
Sauté vegetables on olive oil until crisp tender. Add turkey and almonds. And cook on low heat until turkey is heated through.
Mix together in a small bowl, the flour,spices and broth. Stir into skillet . Add pineapple and cook 3-5 minutes until sauce is bubbly.
Serve with rice.
notes: you can buy almonds at our dollar store. I try to keep a couple cans of pineapple on hand , purchased when I find them on sale. It's not something we use a lot,so I don't stock a lot. I would substitute red peppers or mixed peppers if I had them. ( my husband is not fond of green peppers. )
This would still be a good recipe and the cost is down to a realistic amount. So,eti es a splurge of a few nuts or a can of fruit can make a recipe seem special !
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I am still looking for my MIL so apple cake recipe. I know it was from the mid west and a lot of people have it. Also, you can comment anonymously , I would be interested in knowing what kind of recipes you use for turkey leftovers???
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Fred Meyer Ads and rite aid / TOMORROW
Here are Fred Meyer ads
5 lb box sat sumacs 3.99
Milk 4/5 makes 1.25 ea or 2.50
Pasta, pasta sauce .89@@
Eggs 2/3
Celery .49
Tillamook ice cream 2/6@@
Rite aid
Soft soap 2.99 w 2.00 up reward makes .99
Power toothbrush. 6.99 less in ad coupon, coupon in Sunday paper, nets 1.99
That's about it.
Not much out there. I spent 13.00 at the grocery store this week. Another free dollars for staple items at Costco. Bisquick, pumpkin bread mix, I didn't buy tomato soup on a box, but I was there for two dollars a box again. It is closer to four dollars a box in the regular stores.
I checked the price of refried beans at Costco, they were cheaper at grocery outlet . I did buy a sausage roll . It was cheaper than SAFEWAYS 2/5.00 price. I will fry it and defat it.
I can put it in sausage, vegetable bean soup, a quiche, or on a pizza or on pasta sauce.
ALBERTSONS is offering ten percent off your groceries on a Seahawks game day of you wear the jersey to the store. My granddaughter has one, I wonder of that counts!!! LOL
That's all for now.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
5 lb box sat sumacs 3.99
Milk 4/5 makes 1.25 ea or 2.50
Pasta, pasta sauce .89@@
Eggs 2/3
Celery .49
Tillamook ice cream 2/6@@
Rite aid
Soft soap 2.99 w 2.00 up reward makes .99
Power toothbrush. 6.99 less in ad coupon, coupon in Sunday paper, nets 1.99
That's about it.
Not much out there. I spent 13.00 at the grocery store this week. Another free dollars for staple items at Costco. Bisquick, pumpkin bread mix, I didn't buy tomato soup on a box, but I was there for two dollars a box again. It is closer to four dollars a box in the regular stores.
I checked the price of refried beans at Costco, they were cheaper at grocery outlet . I did buy a sausage roll . It was cheaper than SAFEWAYS 2/5.00 price. I will fry it and defat it.
I can put it in sausage, vegetable bean soup, a quiche, or on a pizza or on pasta sauce.
ALBERTSONS is offering ten percent off your groceries on a Seahawks game day of you wear the jersey to the store. My granddaughter has one, I wonder of that counts!!! LOL
That's all for now.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, October 25, 2013
Freeky F riday
Like my granddaughter says....it's HALLo-ween!!! In a week. Trick or treat candy is on sale everywhere. I tried one year to give out an alternative ( like more healthy) alternative and gave out Halloween pencils. I found them broken on two down the walk. So much for healthy. LOL
I love recipes for sweets that call for things I always have in the pantry.
Chocolate pie
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa ( not drinking cocoa)
1/4 cup flour
Pinch salt
2-1/4 cups water
1 T butter
1 tsp vanilla
Baked pastry shell.
Whip cream
in large saucepan, sugar, cocoa, flour and salt. Gradually add water. Stirring with a wisk. Bring to a boil and stir for 1 minute until thickened. Remove from heavy. Stir in butter and vanilla. Pour into baked shell and refrigerate several hours . Garnish with whip cream.
Blueberry pound cake
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
6 eggs
3 cups flour
1/4 tsp soda
1 cup sour cream
3 cups blueberries
Makes 2 loaves
In mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time.
Mix dry ingredients together.
Mix in dry ingredients and sour cream , alternatively on thirds,
Place in greased loaf pans (2) and bake at 350 for a hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool ten minutes before removing from pans.
Note: I have not been seeing blueberries fresh lately. There are frozen at Costco. Many tomes, they call for more than necessary to effect a good loaf.
Recipe can be cut in half for a single loaf, or freeze for a emergency back up for company.
I would reduce real sugar and add some fake, or use all fake. A good way to use up sour cream that needs to be used up,
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I love recipes for sweets that call for things I always have in the pantry.
Chocolate pie
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa ( not drinking cocoa)
1/4 cup flour
Pinch salt
2-1/4 cups water
1 T butter
1 tsp vanilla
Baked pastry shell.
Whip cream
in large saucepan, sugar, cocoa, flour and salt. Gradually add water. Stirring with a wisk. Bring to a boil and stir for 1 minute until thickened. Remove from heavy. Stir in butter and vanilla. Pour into baked shell and refrigerate several hours . Garnish with whip cream.
Blueberry pound cake
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
6 eggs
3 cups flour
1/4 tsp soda
1 cup sour cream
3 cups blueberries
Makes 2 loaves
In mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time.
Mix dry ingredients together.
Mix in dry ingredients and sour cream , alternatively on thirds,
Place in greased loaf pans (2) and bake at 350 for a hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool ten minutes before removing from pans.
Note: I have not been seeing blueberries fresh lately. There are frozen at Costco. Many tomes, they call for more than necessary to effect a good loaf.
Recipe can be cut in half for a single loaf, or freeze for a emergency back up for company.
I would reduce real sugar and add some fake, or use all fake. A good way to use up sour cream that needs to be used up,
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Terrific Thursday/ what to do with what you got edition
With our scheme of things, TOP seems to be the store of choice,followed by SAFEWAYS . I do see that SAFEWAYS has increased the price of milk on J4U.
Top has save five dollars on produce when you buy 5 participating GM products. Most of the items are ready made and high prices with the produce savings. Cheerios can be found lots cheaper with coupons. You can't take every "bargain at face value". .
Freshetta pizza is 3.99 and there are coupons out there. Beans are 15/10.00 or .67 each. A food time to stock if you need to.
I would prefer to use stock and batch cook a meat. But, there are meals from the ads.
Shrimp stir fry. ( SAFEWAYS 5 dollar Friday)
Sausage quiche ( SAFEWAYS 5 dollar Friday)
Sausage bean soup ( the rest of the above and two cans of tops beans )
Loaded baked potatoes ( HORMEL chili is a buck on 5 dollar Fridays and there is a coupon out there)
Sunday chicken ( SAFEWAYS 1.29)
Chicken pot pies
Tacos ( ground beef 1.99 or 2.99.
That's picking from two grocery stores. It is is not as varied and healthy as it would have been if I had planned meals from my stock and added one batch meat.
My meat of choice would have been the 2.99 ground beef at SAFEWAYS or the Pork shoulder roast.
I batch cooked ground beef two weeks ago when I got it for 2.00 a pound at SAFEWAYS.
Alternative meals
Shrimp stir fry
Pork roast, potatoes,carrots, salad and apple tart.
Sausage quiche ( 12 ounces of sausage)
Tacos, refried beans, rice
Spaghetti and meatballs
Mac and cheese, peas and carrots
Vegetable bean soup
This is using stock and some things on sale this week. It is using the Jane Matrix and limits the processed and fatty meats. Remember to defat your sausage and ground beef. Cook your meatballs in the oven over a rack lined sheet pan. Batch cook the pork roast and set aside pulled pork for another day.( sandwiches)
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
The ads
The ads for the week of Oct 23-29
SAFEWAYS
20 percent ground beef. 1.99
Apples .99
Pears .99
Kleenex .79@@
Eggs 1.49@@
FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY
Sausage 2 lbs
Halloween cake
Shrimp lb
Grapes 3/5
Chili 5/5 $$
ALBERTSONS
Apple juice .99@@
15 ground beef 2.99@@
QFC
Apples, pears 10/10
Nalleys chili 10/10
Dreyers 2.99
Green peppers .59
Cucumbers .59
Pork shoulder 1.79
Freshetta, new mans own pizza 2/10$$
TOP
French bread 2.00
London broil 2.99
Pork shoulder roast 1.69
Apples .87
Beans 15/10
Tillamook yogurt 10/5$$
Freshetta, dugout a pizza 3.90@@$$
That's about it.
@@'means with an in ad coupon
$$ means there is a coupon out there
Note there are several prices for the same thing. Be sure to cross off the highest prices.
Check out couponnconnections on the Seattle area for coupon matchups.
Next time, meals from the ads.
Thanks for stopping by
Pleas share
Jane
SAFEWAYS
20 percent ground beef. 1.99
Apples .99
Pears .99
Kleenex .79@@
Eggs 1.49@@
FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY
Sausage 2 lbs
Halloween cake
Shrimp lb
Grapes 3/5
Chili 5/5 $$
ALBERTSONS
Apple juice .99@@
15 ground beef 2.99@@
QFC
Apples, pears 10/10
Nalleys chili 10/10
Dreyers 2.99
Green peppers .59
Cucumbers .59
Pork shoulder 1.79
Freshetta, new mans own pizza 2/10$$
TOP
French bread 2.00
London broil 2.99
Pork shoulder roast 1.69
Apples .87
Beans 15/10
Tillamook yogurt 10/5$$
Freshetta, dugout a pizza 3.90@@$$
That's about it.
@@'means with an in ad coupon
$$ means there is a coupon out there
Note there are several prices for the same thing. Be sure to cross off the highest prices.
Check out couponnconnections on the Seattle area for coupon matchups.
Next time, meals from the ads.
Thanks for stopping by
Pleas share
Jane
Monday, October 21, 2013
Tuesday/ recipe edition
I thought that I would start writing this blog with some structure. The first of the month will still be a rehash of the basics for anyone new. Tuesday, a recipe. Wednesday ( or so) will be the ads. Thursday, ideas for using the food in the ads and in season produce. Sunday the ads for rte aid and Fred Meyer.
Tex Mex Salad.
Fresh or frozen corn
Black beans, drained and rinsed
Red, yellow or orange peppers , chopped
Tomato, seeded and chopped.
Vinaigrette
Fusilli with creamy sauce
Cook and drain 4 servings of fusilli, or corkscrew pasta. Keep warm.
In a skillet, , cook 2 slices bacon , remove from pan and chop, place in bowl.
In skillet sauté 1 tsp minced garlic and 1/2 cup chopped onion in olive oil and add to the bacon.
Add 2 t flour to the skillet and gradually add on 2 cups of milk. Add 1/4 cup sour cream, reducing heat.
Add 2 cups frozen peas, thawed and 3/4. Cup parm or other hard cheese.
Salt and pepper.
Add bacon and vegetables back to the sauce.
Toss sauce with the pasta. Garnish with basil/ and or parm.
Serves 4
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tex Mex Salad.
Fresh or frozen corn
Black beans, drained and rinsed
Red, yellow or orange peppers , chopped
Tomato, seeded and chopped.
Vinaigrette
Fusilli with creamy sauce
Cook and drain 4 servings of fusilli, or corkscrew pasta. Keep warm.
In a skillet, , cook 2 slices bacon , remove from pan and chop, place in bowl.
In skillet sauté 1 tsp minced garlic and 1/2 cup chopped onion in olive oil and add to the bacon.
Add 2 t flour to the skillet and gradually add on 2 cups of milk. Add 1/4 cup sour cream, reducing heat.
Add 2 cups frozen peas, thawed and 3/4. Cup parm or other hard cheese.
Salt and pepper.
Add bacon and vegetables back to the sauce.
Toss sauce with the pasta. Garnish with basil/ and or parm.
Serves 4
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday
it's Momday again, funny how that works. I broke down and went shopping Sunday, but only less than 30 dollars. We needed bread and I have too much work to do to make bread that DH wouldn't eat anyway. I did take advantage of good buys. I got two pizzas for 3.00. Ok I'm a pinch and cheap lunch. Also I got reduced sodium chicken noodle soup for .52 a can with a coupon and up rewards.
That is more than RBP. The rest of the cart was ice cream , fruits and veggies.
The grocers are due to go on strike tonight at 7 o'clock. We are stocked for some time.
My grandbaby is really excited about Halloween. I need to clean and decorate today.
The cold weather brings out the memories of hot soups, pumpkin everything and apple recipes. I had the recipe for my MIL's apple cake, don't know where I put it. We just loved it. It called for salad oil, sugar and apples and them you mixed the dry ingredients and folded the two together.
Betty Crocker has e mailed me another batch. One osman impossible pumpkin pie that you do on muffin tins. Sounds like it would be a good one for individual dishes and simplifying a buffet table,
There are coupons this month for canned pumpkin. Now is mangold time to stock baking supplies. They all go on sale this time of the year, and almost never other times of the year. For many people this is the only time of the year that they bake.
The Internet/ Facebook is full of recipes. Most of them take expensive ready made items. Most of the time you can scale them down or substitute ingredients and get the same results. Case in point : a pizzeria Cassarole. Ot took, sausage, pepperoni, cheese, and cottage cheese. Que on pasta and pasta sauce. That's one protein loaded dish! You could choose between the sausage and the pepperoni. Sausage can be defatted. Pepperoni is cheapest at the dollar store--name brand. Cottage cheese can be low fat. And you can reduce the amount of the cheese. Moderation is the key. The simpler the dishes, the least expensive they will be.
Substitutions are on the Internet. Usually I can find any information I need. My sister gave me a substitution book for Christmas one year. The Internet is a great tool that our mothers and grandmothers never had. Also, there are great cookbooks out there that came out of the ww2 era that simplified recipes to compensate for war rationing. Red velvet cake came put of WW2'because an ingenious woman tried to make a cake that looked like chocolate . Chocolate was in short supply.
I haven't found cheap apples yet. I am still seeing two dollars a pound. I haven't checked the fruit stand.
We like tex Mex food. I especially like it because I can make one meal and satisfy everyone. Semi- vegetarians included.
Cheese Enchilada Casserole
1 cup (1/4 lb) grated cheddar cheese
1cup chopped tomato ( fresh or well drained diced tomato canned
1 cup cottage cheese
Sliced green onion
2 tsp taco seasoning
9 six inch corn tortillas
Taco sauce
White cheese
1) combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl.
2) line a greased oblong baking dish with three tortillas.
3) spread 1/2 the cheese mixture over the tortillas.
4) repeat layers ending with tortillas.
5) top with taco sauce and white cheese.
6) bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Until dish is heated through and cheese is melted.
Notes. At two dollars a pound for cheese, 1/4 pound is .50. Cottage cheese was 1.67 last week. Substituting canned diced tomatoes saves more money. If you have more tomatoes left over, make salsa. Tortillas are cheap at grocery outlet and big lots. This is easier than making enchiladas because the tortillas don't have to be softened and rolled. A lot faster dish.
If you spend more time shopping, and less time cooking, you will be money ahead. Think about it this way. If you normally spend 150.00 for a weeks food and you cut the cost to 75.00. The difference is 75.00. Say you are just learning to shop differently and take an extra hour prepping your trip and shopping. You will be making 75.00 an hour. If you are in the workforce, you will have to make 90.00 to spend that 75.00. The savings are remarkable.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
That is more than RBP. The rest of the cart was ice cream , fruits and veggies.
The grocers are due to go on strike tonight at 7 o'clock. We are stocked for some time.
My grandbaby is really excited about Halloween. I need to clean and decorate today.
The cold weather brings out the memories of hot soups, pumpkin everything and apple recipes. I had the recipe for my MIL's apple cake, don't know where I put it. We just loved it. It called for salad oil, sugar and apples and them you mixed the dry ingredients and folded the two together.
Betty Crocker has e mailed me another batch. One osman impossible pumpkin pie that you do on muffin tins. Sounds like it would be a good one for individual dishes and simplifying a buffet table,
There are coupons this month for canned pumpkin. Now is mangold time to stock baking supplies. They all go on sale this time of the year, and almost never other times of the year. For many people this is the only time of the year that they bake.
The Internet/ Facebook is full of recipes. Most of them take expensive ready made items. Most of the time you can scale them down or substitute ingredients and get the same results. Case in point : a pizzeria Cassarole. Ot took, sausage, pepperoni, cheese, and cottage cheese. Que on pasta and pasta sauce. That's one protein loaded dish! You could choose between the sausage and the pepperoni. Sausage can be defatted. Pepperoni is cheapest at the dollar store--name brand. Cottage cheese can be low fat. And you can reduce the amount of the cheese. Moderation is the key. The simpler the dishes, the least expensive they will be.
Substitutions are on the Internet. Usually I can find any information I need. My sister gave me a substitution book for Christmas one year. The Internet is a great tool that our mothers and grandmothers never had. Also, there are great cookbooks out there that came out of the ww2 era that simplified recipes to compensate for war rationing. Red velvet cake came put of WW2'because an ingenious woman tried to make a cake that looked like chocolate . Chocolate was in short supply.
I haven't found cheap apples yet. I am still seeing two dollars a pound. I haven't checked the fruit stand.
We like tex Mex food. I especially like it because I can make one meal and satisfy everyone. Semi- vegetarians included.
Cheese Enchilada Casserole
1 cup (1/4 lb) grated cheddar cheese
1cup chopped tomato ( fresh or well drained diced tomato canned
1 cup cottage cheese
Sliced green onion
2 tsp taco seasoning
9 six inch corn tortillas
Taco sauce
White cheese
1) combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl.
2) line a greased oblong baking dish with three tortillas.
3) spread 1/2 the cheese mixture over the tortillas.
4) repeat layers ending with tortillas.
5) top with taco sauce and white cheese.
6) bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Until dish is heated through and cheese is melted.
Notes. At two dollars a pound for cheese, 1/4 pound is .50. Cottage cheese was 1.67 last week. Substituting canned diced tomatoes saves more money. If you have more tomatoes left over, make salsa. Tortillas are cheap at grocery outlet and big lots. This is easier than making enchiladas because the tortillas don't have to be softened and rolled. A lot faster dish.
If you spend more time shopping, and less time cooking, you will be money ahead. Think about it this way. If you normally spend 150.00 for a weeks food and you cut the cost to 75.00. The difference is 75.00. Say you are just learning to shop differently and take an extra hour prepping your trip and shopping. You will be making 75.00 an hour. If you are in the workforce, you will have to make 90.00 to spend that 75.00. The savings are remarkable.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Sunday savings
This blog is about buying your groceries as cheap as possible and buying as healthy as possible. It is not about hoarding,
It is not about minimalists either.
There are three types of shopping habits.
1) go to the neighbourhood store, the most expensive store in town, and buy just what you need to last you one or two days....about 3-4 trips a week. Your food is really fresh, or not, and you spend 110 to 120 percent of retail.
2 go to the big box warehouse club once a week and fill your cart with ready made and anything that floats your boat that day. Less trips, some of the items are cheaper, some not and you are bombarded with zillions of impulse buys. You average retail, maybe a little less.
3) plan your trips. Go to several stores and buy the sales. Buy as many as fits your plan. You don't have a weeks groceries, because last weeks plan fills in this weeks plan. You average 50 percent of retail. It takes some prep time. You are going to an average of two stores and you are planning your trip to maximize your gas. You are also saving about FOUR THOUSAND dollars a year if you are the average family. It uses less gas than the person that runs every day to the grocery store, it saves a lot more money than either of the alternatives, and it builds a stock.
Let's talk about stock.
A) you are never out of food, no running to the store because you are on the middle of cooking and don't have an ingredient.
B) you are prepared if any disaster strikes. Something as simple as not feeling like taking yourself to the store, that dreaded S word making it dangerous to go to the store, or the grocers going on strike and you not wanting to cross a picket line.
C) there is some sense of security knowing that you have food in the house. I would never want to turn a family member away because I didn't have enough food to feed them dinner.
D) there is a smug satisfaction knowing that you paid half price for your food, and don't have to waste your resources on paying top dollar for your food.
I thank God that I grew up with a belief system that paying top dollar for anything is stupid. Buying the best quality of things that will last you a long time is smart, spending more than you have to on the rest of your necessities is not. It has got me threw some really tuff times. I was left with a child to take care of and 5.12 cents in the bank. I couldn't have survived without some grocery smarts, we can go without a lot of things, food is not one of them.
Enough on the naysayers. To each his own. I really shouldn't have to justify my belief system.
I'll get back to groceries on the cheap . I know that there are people that want and need to stretch their grocery dollars.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Enough on the naysayers. To each his own. I really shouldn't have to justify my belief system.
I'll get back to groceries on the cheap . I know that there are people that want and need to stretch their grocery dollars.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Tomorrow"s ads for Fred Meyer and rite aid update
Since my husband brought me the Sunday paper, this is so early.
Rite Aid
Allergy tablets and nasal spray are BOGO.
Candy for Halloween is a buck for9 ounces and two bucks for sixteen ounces, reg 3.00.
Most of the food is not a bargain.
Campbell's chicken noodle soup is 5/5 and there so a up reward. Nets .60. I also remember a coupon. Will get back later with the particulars, my coupon book is on the car so I can't forget it! LOL. It was .40 cents off multiples. I got five low sodium chicken noodle soup for 2.60. Half retail.
Also our Benadryl 1/2 and some candy for entertaining.
Fred Meyers
Nabisco crackers 3/5@@
Fm yogurt 3/1@@
Frank bread 2/4
Grapes 1.48
Fm frozen veggies .79. 12 ounces@@
Red Baron pizza 2/4@@$$
Ice cream 2/6 @@
Squash .88. Organic
That's about it.
I was t going to shop......I stayed away on Friday. LOL. I got pizza for 1.50 net.. A really cheap lunch. .375 cents. So,e grapes and veggies. And I was out of ice cream. I aren't more than rock bottom because I need low carb. I walked out of there spending less than 29.00.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Rite Aid
Allergy tablets and nasal spray are BOGO.
Candy for Halloween is a buck for9 ounces and two bucks for sixteen ounces, reg 3.00.
Most of the food is not a bargain.
Campbell's chicken noodle soup is 5/5 and there so a up reward. Nets .60. I also remember a coupon. Will get back later with the particulars, my coupon book is on the car so I can't forget it! LOL. It was .40 cents off multiples. I got five low sodium chicken noodle soup for 2.60. Half retail.
Also our Benadryl 1/2 and some candy for entertaining.
Fred Meyers
Nabisco crackers 3/5@@
Fm yogurt 3/1@@
Frank bread 2/4
Grapes 1.48
Fm frozen veggies .79. 12 ounces@@
Red Baron pizza 2/4@@$$
Ice cream 2/6 @@
Squash .88. Organic
That's about it.
I was t going to shop......I stayed away on Friday. LOL. I got pizza for 1.50 net.. A really cheap lunch. .375 cents. So,e grapes and veggies. And I was out of ice cream. I aren't more than rock bottom because I need low carb. I walked out of there spending less than 29.00.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Dollar store
The following is a repost of my piece on the dollar store. I really did it as a lark. I don't buy all our food from the dollar store, nor would I have. Although, a dollar store would have been a welcome site when we were at the beach with no food! LOL
I buy a select few things from the dollar store, most of the things are cheaper at the regular store. I have been getting things for free lately, and free is a good price LOL. The frozen veggies are cheaper when they are not on sale at the chain stores. Recipe starter is .50 and cheaper than making it from scratch. Enter a fifty cent coupon and it is FREE. I got Betty Crocker potatoes for fifty cents. Everybody needs some things you can use on a pinch.
I GET THE NEWSPAPER EVERY SUNDAY FOR THE COUPONS. They carry it all week so I don't have to rush down Sunday morning. I check to be sure that there is a coupon insert. There are usually two in the first Sunday. A lot of coupons are for things I don't buy on the first place. Sometimes, I luck out. I save the inserts on a binder clip per month. I just threw June away, most of the coupons had expired.
I use couponconnections in the Seattle area to check for matchups. Many times I can get really good buys at rite aid. Like free or pay me to take something home. It is still not worth it if I can't use it or I don't know a place that would gladly take it. I brought about two dozen toothpastes to the women's shelter. It is my understanding that there is a domestic violence shelter opening up in our area soon as well. They can always use individual packages of personal products.
The dollar store ( Dollar Tree) does have normal food as well as junk food. They have rice, beans, and frozen veggies ...things normal scratch cooking mamas would buy. I also find some cleaners and tissue there.
We have .99 stores on the area that sell drug paraphernalia. Not all dollar stores are created equal.
The repost !
Now, after I got a tube of toothpaste from the dollar store for free, I have purchased nine toothpastes for a total of two dollars. All of them are either Colgate or Crest.
I went virtual shopping via my notepad. I forgot to bring my electronics, so I did it the old fashioned way. It was my challenge to make a good meal from the dollar store for my five dollar criteria.
I have not tasted the food here. It was a lark to see of it could be done. I wouldn't recommend it because the grocery store is cheaper on some things.
I found
I buy a select few things from the dollar store, most of the things are cheaper at the regular store. I have been getting things for free lately, and free is a good price LOL. The frozen veggies are cheaper when they are not on sale at the chain stores. Recipe starter is .50 and cheaper than making it from scratch. Enter a fifty cent coupon and it is FREE. I got Betty Crocker potatoes for fifty cents. Everybody needs some things you can use on a pinch.
I GET THE NEWSPAPER EVERY SUNDAY FOR THE COUPONS. They carry it all week so I don't have to rush down Sunday morning. I check to be sure that there is a coupon insert. There are usually two in the first Sunday. A lot of coupons are for things I don't buy on the first place. Sometimes, I luck out. I save the inserts on a binder clip per month. I just threw June away, most of the coupons had expired.
I use couponconnections in the Seattle area to check for matchups. Many times I can get really good buys at rite aid. Like free or pay me to take something home. It is still not worth it if I can't use it or I don't know a place that would gladly take it. I brought about two dozen toothpastes to the women's shelter. It is my understanding that there is a domestic violence shelter opening up in our area soon as well. They can always use individual packages of personal products.
The dollar store ( Dollar Tree) does have normal food as well as junk food. They have rice, beans, and frozen veggies ...things normal scratch cooking mamas would buy. I also find some cleaners and tissue there.
We have .99 stores on the area that sell drug paraphernalia. Not all dollar stores are created equal.
The repost !
Now, after I got a tube of toothpaste from the dollar store for free, I have purchased nine toothpastes for a total of two dollars. All of them are either Colgate or Crest.
I went virtual shopping via my notepad. I forgot to bring my electronics, so I did it the old fashioned way. It was my challenge to make a good meal from the dollar store for my five dollar criteria.
I have not tasted the food here. It was a lark to see of it could be done. I wouldn't recommend it because the grocery store is cheaper on some things.
I found
- Meatballs, ziti, pasta sauce, and mixed California vegetables. --5 bucks. (Two pkgs meatballs)
- Chicken strips, French fries, regular mixed vegetables, - 4 bucks ( using a pound of strips
- Tilapia, sweet potatoes, corn, and red peppers. 5 bucks (a pound of fish)(rice*)
- Bean and rice burritos with cheese. ( beans and rice scratch 1 lb for a buck each) tortillas 1.00. Cheese 1.00, salsa . 5.00. * enough rice for the fish dinner.
Four dinners for 19.00 with beans and salsa left over.
I found (some items are cheaper on sale elsewhere) but, my criteria was a meal from the dollar store. I did not include normal staples like butter, catsup, etc.
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
I found (some items are cheaper on sale elsewhere) but, my criteria was a meal from the dollar store. I did not include normal staples like butter, catsup, etc.
Chicken breast strips 8 ounces
7 ounces of meatballs
4 ounces of tilapia
16 ounces Calif blend veggies
Brocolli
Peas
Mixed veggies
French fries
Onion rings
Sweet potatoes, corn and red pepper medley
Sargento cheese
Mashed potatoes
Uncle Ben's rice blends
Noodles
Ziti
Elbow Mac
Raw rice
Raw beans
Raw beans
Zatarans
Tortillas
Pasta sauce
And some other mixes I wouldn't buy, personal preference
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Friday, October 18, 2013
Finally friday
For the first time in at least 50 years, I am not going to grocery shop this week. We have errands to run and other than a a few things to entertain this week, I don't need anything.
My twelve year old car didn't pass the emission control test. Ot cost a minimum of 150.00 to bail it out.
I'll do meal plans from my freezer and pantry. It's a luxury to not have to shop if the grocers are on strike, or an family emergency happens. I have been out of work with kids mouths to feed. It's nice to know that we can eat and I paid 1/2 price or less for most of it.
I have a Jane outline for meals.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
It makes it easy to provide a variety of meals for the family, with less time.
My mother tried several ways to do that. One time we had hamburger every day, a zillion different ways. There was a period of time when you knew what day of the week it was by what was cooking on the stove when you got home from school. Thursday was bread and pizza day. Fridays was clam chowder or a yummy egg dish that puffed up on the oven. It was fun to watch it fall when she took it out!
I digress.
Meal plans
1) tacos , rice and beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, taco sauce
2) beef tips , mashed potatoes, green beans, salad
3) chicken pot pie, apple pie
4) pork spareribs , French bread, corn salad
5) 4 cheese Mac and cheese, mixed veggies
6) eggs, hash browns, fruit and yogurt cups
7) shrimp stir fry. Rice
There are a lot of things going on here. tacos mean I can thaw some chicken shreds and not cook two meals to satisfy the semi vegetarians. Rice is a stair step. I'll cook a double batch for shrimp stirfry a second day. Beef tips are ready made because I got the, cheaper than scratch. Good for a work day.
The chicken pot pie uses the rest of the chicken from the tacos. I got a lot of shredded cheeses from grocery outlet, we like a combination of cheeses for Mac and cheese. It kicks it up a notch . Eggs are a cheap source of protein, and again, I don't have to cook a double meal.
The cost of the taco meat was 2 dollars a pound.
The cost of the tips was 3.20 a pound
The chicken 1.00
Pork spareribs 3.00
Shrimp was 5.00 a pound
Eggs were 1.25 a dozen. 1/2 dozen .62.
Total protein 15.82.
Divided by 7 equals 2.21 cents a meal. Average
Mixing your meats, balancing an inexpensive protein with an expensive one makes you have a variety of meals, and makes you feel like you are not deprived because you are cooking on the cheap.
Moderation is the key. No one needs to eat a whole pound a shrimp in a sitting. Eating vegetables and rice to makes for a balanced meal. Your dinners should average five bucks a meal when your SNAP is 300.00. That is the average I have heard from people. Five dollars allows you five for breakfast and lunch. Some children get free lunches at school. I average five dollars for three adults and the baby just because I can. I want to be sure what I am writing is true. In the Pacific Northwest anyway. Obviously, you are not going to buy two dollar and fifty cent asparagus and five dollar a gallon milk on this plan. LOL but I usually have the biggest drawer of the fridge full of fresh fruits and vegetables along with the counter. Right now, we have apples, tomatoes, bananas and a couple of oranges. Grapes, lettuce, carrots, celery and salad greens and cucumbers.
I am basing these meals on our family, our family has stats of 141.00 a week. A family of two middle aged adults and two teenage boys, for instance, has a stat of 168.00. I actually spend average of 72.00 a week. These figures are for actual food eaten. My 72.00 includes building a stock. It will be interesting to see what I average when we start eating down the pantry.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
My twelve year old car didn't pass the emission control test. Ot cost a minimum of 150.00 to bail it out.
I'll do meal plans from my freezer and pantry. It's a luxury to not have to shop if the grocers are on strike, or an family emergency happens. I have been out of work with kids mouths to feed. It's nice to know that we can eat and I paid 1/2 price or less for most of it.
I have a Jane outline for meals.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
It makes it easy to provide a variety of meals for the family, with less time.
My mother tried several ways to do that. One time we had hamburger every day, a zillion different ways. There was a period of time when you knew what day of the week it was by what was cooking on the stove when you got home from school. Thursday was bread and pizza day. Fridays was clam chowder or a yummy egg dish that puffed up on the oven. It was fun to watch it fall when she took it out!
I digress.
Meal plans
1) tacos , rice and beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, taco sauce
2) beef tips , mashed potatoes, green beans, salad
3) chicken pot pie, apple pie
4) pork spareribs , French bread, corn salad
5) 4 cheese Mac and cheese, mixed veggies
6) eggs, hash browns, fruit and yogurt cups
7) shrimp stir fry. Rice
There are a lot of things going on here. tacos mean I can thaw some chicken shreds and not cook two meals to satisfy the semi vegetarians. Rice is a stair step. I'll cook a double batch for shrimp stirfry a second day. Beef tips are ready made because I got the, cheaper than scratch. Good for a work day.
The chicken pot pie uses the rest of the chicken from the tacos. I got a lot of shredded cheeses from grocery outlet, we like a combination of cheeses for Mac and cheese. It kicks it up a notch . Eggs are a cheap source of protein, and again, I don't have to cook a double meal.
The cost of the taco meat was 2 dollars a pound.
The cost of the tips was 3.20 a pound
The chicken 1.00
Pork spareribs 3.00
Shrimp was 5.00 a pound
Eggs were 1.25 a dozen. 1/2 dozen .62.
Total protein 15.82.
Divided by 7 equals 2.21 cents a meal. Average
Mixing your meats, balancing an inexpensive protein with an expensive one makes you have a variety of meals, and makes you feel like you are not deprived because you are cooking on the cheap.
Moderation is the key. No one needs to eat a whole pound a shrimp in a sitting. Eating vegetables and rice to makes for a balanced meal. Your dinners should average five bucks a meal when your SNAP is 300.00. That is the average I have heard from people. Five dollars allows you five for breakfast and lunch. Some children get free lunches at school. I average five dollars for three adults and the baby just because I can. I want to be sure what I am writing is true. In the Pacific Northwest anyway. Obviously, you are not going to buy two dollar and fifty cent asparagus and five dollar a gallon milk on this plan. LOL but I usually have the biggest drawer of the fridge full of fresh fruits and vegetables along with the counter. Right now, we have apples, tomatoes, bananas and a couple of oranges. Grapes, lettuce, carrots, celery and salad greens and cucumbers.
I am basing these meals on our family, our family has stats of 141.00 a week. A family of two middle aged adults and two teenage boys, for instance, has a stat of 168.00. I actually spend average of 72.00 a week. These figures are for actual food eaten. My 72.00 includes building a stock. It will be interesting to see what I average when we start eating down the pantry.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, October 17, 2013
The ads, finally
Here are the ads. Apparently, the grocery workers go on strike on Saturday.
TOP
Red Baron pizza 2.99$$
Orzo wheat bread 1.99
Pork sirloin 1.99
Beef tenderloin 11.99. Wow!
Radishes .59
Apples 5 lbs 5 bucks
Oatmeal .99. @@
Shredded cheese 6.00 a pound ( we paid 2.50 a pound for sharp last week, and 2.00 per pound for regular. This is why you don't wait until you really need cheese to buy it! That is a FOUR dollar a pound savings.
SAFEWAYS
Pork sirloin chops 1.49
Chicken drums, thighs, legs .99
Grapes 1.99
Dave's killer bread 3.99
Crackers 1.99@@
ALBERTSONS
Pork sirloin roast 10/10. ( that's a lot of roast). But a buck a pound.
Salad 1.00
Avocados 1.00
Clams, albacore tuna, chicken. 1.00
Milk 1.99@@
English muffins 2/1@@
Hillshire lunch,eat 2.49@@. Check cc
10 for 10. No restrictions
Olives
Tortillas
Pineapple
Fresh veggie packs
Cream cheese
Apples
Cauliflower
Pears
Peppers
Carrots , 2 lbs
QFC
Broccoli, cauliflower .99
Pears .99
Bread 2/5
That's about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
@@ means with an in ad coupon
$$ cc means there is a coupon out there, or check coupon connections in Seattle area
Wow. Check out the price of beef! Another case of striking while the iron is hot. We paid two bucks a pound last week!
Pork sirloin is a bargain, but seems like a lot of meat even for batch cooking. Maybe split one with a friend or relative. ????
TOP
Red Baron pizza 2.99$$
Orzo wheat bread 1.99
Pork sirloin 1.99
Beef tenderloin 11.99. Wow!
Radishes .59
Apples 5 lbs 5 bucks
Oatmeal .99. @@
Shredded cheese 6.00 a pound ( we paid 2.50 a pound for sharp last week, and 2.00 per pound for regular. This is why you don't wait until you really need cheese to buy it! That is a FOUR dollar a pound savings.
SAFEWAYS
Pork sirloin chops 1.49
Chicken drums, thighs, legs .99
Grapes 1.99
Dave's killer bread 3.99
Crackers 1.99@@
ALBERTSONS
Pork sirloin roast 10/10. ( that's a lot of roast). But a buck a pound.
Salad 1.00
Avocados 1.00
Clams, albacore tuna, chicken. 1.00
Milk 1.99@@
English muffins 2/1@@
Hillshire lunch,eat 2.49@@. Check cc
10 for 10. No restrictions
Olives
Tortillas
Pineapple
Fresh veggie packs
Cream cheese
Apples
Cauliflower
Pears
Peppers
Carrots , 2 lbs
QFC
Broccoli, cauliflower .99
Pears .99
Bread 2/5
That's about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
@@ means with an in ad coupon
$$ cc means there is a coupon out there, or check coupon connections in Seattle area
Wow. Check out the price of beef! Another case of striking while the iron is hot. We paid two bucks a pound last week!
Pork sirloin is a bargain, but seems like a lot of meat even for batch cooking. Maybe split one with a friend or relative. ????
Thursday
Has anyone ever noticed that when you are sick, everything else takes a back seat to your getting up and well to get on with life and responsibilities. I think that the same holds true, when you are short of money grocery shopping takes on a more important role in your life, because you have to eat, but you have to eat cheaper. Throwing ready made food in a basket that looks good, is replaced by finding healthy food for your family within your budget. It takes more effort to live when you don't have money and have to make ends meet.
My goal is to help people get through the process somewhat efficiently , and still cut the grocery bill in half. What would you do with four thousand dollars? The average family spends 150.00 a week. If you save half, you would have about four thousand dollars a year more in you bank account. Provided you had the four thousand in the first place. LOL. When I was a single parent, I didn't have thousands to save, it was a matter of survival.
There was a study that came out recently that said that peoples IQ could actually go down when they were poor and struggling to make ends meet. I'm guessing that it is the stress. Once you get the hang of it, groceries on the cheap can lower the stress. Having food in the pantry is a welcoming site. The worry of what am I going to feed my kids slips away. That's a good thing.
The whole key is to know your prices. You don't have to know the price of everything in the grocery store, just the small list of things that you buy on a regular basis that you use to cook your meals.
Only buy them when they are rock bottom prices. It means that you can buy twice as many when they are on sale. You have spent the same amount, but have one for another day.
Why pay 1.59 for a can of pasta sauce, when you can get two and have money left over? It just makes logical sense.
When you find something on a really good sale that your family will eat, buy it and incorporate it into your meal.
My family loves blue cheese. I found it at grocery outlet really cheap. We like buffalo chicken pizza, and blue cheese and apple salad. Apples are beginning to be in season and cheaper.
Stocking meat per week and rotating a sale protein on a monthly cycle, and using a meal plan matrix makes eating a variety of meals easy. You have a road map. You are rotating, so you always have a month worth of protein. It doesn't take a lot of room,because you are dealing with already cooked meat and some meals are vegetarian. It takes less time to make a batch of meat, and less clean up, and you portion control meals so you have less waste.
Blue cheese salad
Lettuce, or field greens
1 crisp tart apple, sliced thinly.
Dressing
3 T vinegar
1tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup blue cheese,crumbles. ( 1 ounce)
Pepper.
Arrange apple on lettuce
In small bowl,, mix together vinegar, mustard. Add oil and wisk in,
Add 1/2 of the blue cheese.
Sprinkle the other 1/2 of the blue cheese on the salad.
You can eat gourmet meals on a thrifty budget. It just takes some smart shopping.
If you care to comment, what constitutes a gourmet, yummy meal to you?
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
My goal is to help people get through the process somewhat efficiently , and still cut the grocery bill in half. What would you do with four thousand dollars? The average family spends 150.00 a week. If you save half, you would have about four thousand dollars a year more in you bank account. Provided you had the four thousand in the first place. LOL. When I was a single parent, I didn't have thousands to save, it was a matter of survival.
There was a study that came out recently that said that peoples IQ could actually go down when they were poor and struggling to make ends meet. I'm guessing that it is the stress. Once you get the hang of it, groceries on the cheap can lower the stress. Having food in the pantry is a welcoming site. The worry of what am I going to feed my kids slips away. That's a good thing.
The whole key is to know your prices. You don't have to know the price of everything in the grocery store, just the small list of things that you buy on a regular basis that you use to cook your meals.
Only buy them when they are rock bottom prices. It means that you can buy twice as many when they are on sale. You have spent the same amount, but have one for another day.
Why pay 1.59 for a can of pasta sauce, when you can get two and have money left over? It just makes logical sense.
When you find something on a really good sale that your family will eat, buy it and incorporate it into your meal.
My family loves blue cheese. I found it at grocery outlet really cheap. We like buffalo chicken pizza, and blue cheese and apple salad. Apples are beginning to be in season and cheaper.
Stocking meat per week and rotating a sale protein on a monthly cycle, and using a meal plan matrix makes eating a variety of meals easy. You have a road map. You are rotating, so you always have a month worth of protein. It doesn't take a lot of room,because you are dealing with already cooked meat and some meals are vegetarian. It takes less time to make a batch of meat, and less clean up, and you portion control meals so you have less waste.
Blue cheese salad
Lettuce, or field greens
1 crisp tart apple, sliced thinly.
Dressing
3 T vinegar
1tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup blue cheese,crumbles. ( 1 ounce)
Pepper.
Arrange apple on lettuce
In small bowl,, mix together vinegar, mustard. Add oil and wisk in,
Add 1/2 of the blue cheese.
Sprinkle the other 1/2 of the blue cheese on the salad.
You can eat gourmet meals on a thrifty budget. It just takes some smart shopping.
If you care to comment, what constitutes a gourmet, yummy meal to you?
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Jane
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Wicked wednesday
Still no ads, like I had predicted.
When I started this blog, I was under the impression that I would only have readers from the northwest. I never dreamed that I would have readers from all over the world. I was also green enough to believe that prices of groceries would be pretty stable between states. We have national grocery chains , I didn't know the flux of prices.
There is a flux of prices even here in Seattle. Certainly if you go to trader Joes, PCC or Whole foods, you are going to pay more for your food than if you go to ALBERTSONS or SAFEWAYS.
Regardless of where you are, or what your RBP is for your food. You can save money on your food bill by using the techniques on the blog. You may pay more for food, but you will pay less than the person that just goes to the store and willy,nilly buys whatever they want.
What I would like to know, is where are you buying your food, ie convenience store, regional chain, alternative store, overstock store ? And what are you having to pay for say maybe cheese, a can of corn, and a whole chicken per pound. ? Rock bottom prices. And what part of the country are you from!
It would be interesting to see the different prices.
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Jane
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Terrific tuesday
Last night we had meatloaf , baked acorn squash with brown sugar, and green salad. The old days we would have had baked potatoes too, but I am trying to watch my carbs. If I had a lot of boys to feed, I might add the baked potatoes.
My husband ground the beef from chuck that I got at SAFEWAYS for two dollars a pound. I batch cooked a roast and taco meat, hamburger crumbles and a meat loaf Saturday. We had roast beef a jus sandwiches in Saturday. Sunday we went to my SIL's for dinner. Tonight we have our dinner group,so we will have roast on Wednesday and I will freeze the rest of the roast cut thin for sandwiches over the next few weeks. I put them in a food saver bag and can have dinner ready on about 15 minutes on a work day. I got the roast for two dollars a pound as well.
I usually analyze the ads on Wednesday morning, but Monday was a holiday so it will probably be late. If I was in a hurry, I would look them up on the Internet. Our major grocery stores are going to go on strike, so there is no hurry. We don't have to go to the store for a while. We did a dairy run on Sunday and I went to grocery outlet for cheese because we had to go for supplies for the business and I always group trips for gas savings.
Once you get the hang of it, buying your groceries for 1/2 price is easy and very cost productive.
It is a matter of knowing your prices and taking advantage of sales when they come your way.
I will do ads as soon as I get them and we will all hope the grocery workers and management can avert a strike.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
My husband ground the beef from chuck that I got at SAFEWAYS for two dollars a pound. I batch cooked a roast and taco meat, hamburger crumbles and a meat loaf Saturday. We had roast beef a jus sandwiches in Saturday. Sunday we went to my SIL's for dinner. Tonight we have our dinner group,so we will have roast on Wednesday and I will freeze the rest of the roast cut thin for sandwiches over the next few weeks. I put them in a food saver bag and can have dinner ready on about 15 minutes on a work day. I got the roast for two dollars a pound as well.
I usually analyze the ads on Wednesday morning, but Monday was a holiday so it will probably be late. If I was in a hurry, I would look them up on the Internet. Our major grocery stores are going to go on strike, so there is no hurry. We don't have to go to the store for a while. We did a dairy run on Sunday and I went to grocery outlet for cheese because we had to go for supplies for the business and I always group trips for gas savings.
Once you get the hang of it, buying your groceries for 1/2 price is easy and very cost productive.
It is a matter of knowing your prices and taking advantage of sales when they come your way.
I will do ads as soon as I get them and we will all hope the grocery workers and management can avert a strike.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, October 14, 2013
The reason for living
I am a firm believer that the only right we have is the right to be useful. We didn't play when we were kids, we worked. A lot of toys were not in my mothers budget plan.
I started this blog because I was asked to. There were people that couldn't make it on food stamps, and needed help. I couldn't individually help each one, but thought I could help more people by writing a blog.
I have fallen on the dark side of broke before in my life and found ways to stretch a buck on food. I can supply good, nutritious meals for about 1/2 the USDA statistics for thrifty plan.
It is my belief that no child should be eating watermelon and corn for dinner, nor should they exist on top ramen and potato chips., I know that is the extreme, but there are kids in that position. Also, no child should have the insecurity of no food in the pantry. That is a terrible injustice in a country that can send aid to third world countries. We need to take care of our own too.
You can eat well on full food stamps, but it takes some work and know how. Unfortunately or fortunately , depending on how you look at it, I learned how by necessity.I wasn't in food stamps, but it would have helped if I had been.
This blog is my way of passing my knowledge on to people that want and or need it.
I don't need remarks from minimalists that believe one should have a six digit income belief system on a lower five digit income. Yes, my plan requires that we have a stock. I believe the Mormons think the same thing. I don't think that all the Mormons are wackos for stocking for an emergency, it's called being self sufficient. My main objective is to never pay full price on the items I use on a regular basis to cook for my family.
It's true that a three months supply should get someone by, but if you are In a precarious position, like your job is shaky and layoffs or strikes are looming, six is better.
My plan works. I' m not imposing it on anybody. Whether or not you use anything in this blog is up to you. Like someone once said on their blog when someone was criticizing , if you don't like it, no one is twisting your arm to read it.
I do wish I could teach a class somewhere and reach the people that really need it especially since our politicians seem to think it is ok to cut wic and food stamps. I know people will be needy.
They don't teach home ec the same in schools anymore and there is a whole generation of people that think Dinner comes out of a box. Not the most nutritious and cost effective way to make dinner.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I started this blog because I was asked to. There were people that couldn't make it on food stamps, and needed help. I couldn't individually help each one, but thought I could help more people by writing a blog.
I have fallen on the dark side of broke before in my life and found ways to stretch a buck on food. I can supply good, nutritious meals for about 1/2 the USDA statistics for thrifty plan.
It is my belief that no child should be eating watermelon and corn for dinner, nor should they exist on top ramen and potato chips., I know that is the extreme, but there are kids in that position. Also, no child should have the insecurity of no food in the pantry. That is a terrible injustice in a country that can send aid to third world countries. We need to take care of our own too.
You can eat well on full food stamps, but it takes some work and know how. Unfortunately or fortunately , depending on how you look at it, I learned how by necessity.I wasn't in food stamps, but it would have helped if I had been.
This blog is my way of passing my knowledge on to people that want and or need it.
I don't need remarks from minimalists that believe one should have a six digit income belief system on a lower five digit income. Yes, my plan requires that we have a stock. I believe the Mormons think the same thing. I don't think that all the Mormons are wackos for stocking for an emergency, it's called being self sufficient. My main objective is to never pay full price on the items I use on a regular basis to cook for my family.
It's true that a three months supply should get someone by, but if you are In a precarious position, like your job is shaky and layoffs or strikes are looming, six is better.
My plan works. I' m not imposing it on anybody. Whether or not you use anything in this blog is up to you. Like someone once said on their blog when someone was criticizing , if you don't like it, no one is twisting your arm to read it.
I do wish I could teach a class somewhere and reach the people that really need it especially since our politicians seem to think it is ok to cut wic and food stamps. I know people will be needy.
They don't teach home ec the same in schools anymore and there is a whole generation of people that think Dinner comes out of a box. Not the most nutritious and cost effective way to make dinner.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday madness
I am proud of the fact that I can feed us for 1/2 the USDA stats for our family. It takes a little work, but the rewards are worth it. I am trying to teach others so that they can get through hard times if they need to.or if they just don't want to waste money paying full price. Feeding your family a well balanced meal in these times is a challenge, doing it on a thrifty budget is really a challenge. It is doable with some work and knowing some tricks.
I am not expecting everyone to follow my plan. I realize that there are people that don't have to desire to spend any time on economizing. That's what makes the world go around. This blog is for the people that have to or want to make both ends meat and grocery shop on the cheap while feeding their family a variety of nutritious foods. Some people get a new recipe to try out of it , some get an idea to get out of the kitchen faster. Whatever you get out of it, I hope it helps you,that is my motivation. I don't get momey for this blog, I just want to help,people with the tools they need to live by any means they have.. Been there, done that, and want to help people get through it easier than I did.
I was really excited when I discovered that I had two tubes of toothpaste for my stash for the women's shelter. I was paid fifty cents to take them out of the store. At that rate, I will be able to get a lot more.
I have been averaging fifty percent at the grocery stores. It,does,mean that you need to go to two grocery stores a week. Some weeks I have gone to one because the buys weren't there.. Some weeks I go to three because I can make best use of the sales and coupons. It all averages out.
If you are trying to make it on SNAP, you can't go to the store and buy anything that strikes your fancy. It takes some restraint and self control. Planning meals helps to make the hard days easier.
Finding recipes everyone in your family likes is a real boon too.
I would like to reach more people, especially people that are going to be hurting when snap monies are cut. I just don't exactly know how. Anybody that has a great idea, please comment.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I am not expecting everyone to follow my plan. I realize that there are people that don't have to desire to spend any time on economizing. That's what makes the world go
If you are trying to make it on SNAP, you can't go to the store and buy anything that strikes your fancy. It takes some restraint and self control. Planning meals helps to make the hard days easier.
Finding recipes everyone in your family likes is a real boon too.
I would like to reach more people, especially people that are going to be hurting when snap monies are cut. I just don't exactly know how. Anybody that has a great idea, please comment.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Fred Meyers and rite aid shopping trip.
We did go to Fred Meyers and rite aid. I figured that the stores were so busy, no one would be looking at me. I got toothpaste, four packages of sugar free chocolate, a package of sour patch and the OOP was 1.64 including the almost ten percent tax we have in Washington. ! The toothpaste they paid me .49 to take out of the store. I am starting my stash for the women's shelter again.
Fred Meyers yielded k cups for 3.50' cheese for 3.99, milk for a buck and ice cream for two dollars.
Sour cream and cottage cheese for 1.67 each. Freshetta pizza for 2.75. Close enough to scratch to warrant the expenditure.
That's about all.
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Please share
Jane
Fred Meyers yielded k cups for 3.50' cheese for 3.99, milk for a buck and ice cream for two dollars.
Sour cream and cottage cheese for 1.67 each. Freshetta pizza for 2.75. Close enough to scratch to warrant the expenditure.
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Rite aid and Fred Meyers ads coupon matchups. UPDATED
I don't have the paper yet, I am using the Internet for these prices. When I get the paper, I will change anything that is different .( if there is anything. )
Note: @@ means that there is an in ad coupon. $$ means that there is a paper coupon somewhere. Check coupon connections.
Fred Meyer
Updated:
Cross rib roast 2.99
Beta alert.... Peanut butter 2/3.00 @@
Canned veggies .50@@
Apples, pears, .98
Broccoli .88
5# potatoes .88
Cukes .59
Zucchini, squash .88
Milk .99 Usually ok and choc milk are the same price.
Gm cereal is 1.67 @ $$ nets .92
Cottage cheese, sour cream 1.67 ( 24 ox)
CHEESE 3.99. Limit 2
Freshetta pizza. 3.59 limit 4 $$. Makes it 2.75@@@
Rite aid alert
Colgate max fresh toothpaste. With up rewards and $$ coupon is FREE.
Russel sat overs chocolate sugar free is a buck with rewards.,m
Also trick or treat candy and shampoo are inexpensive with coupons, see coupon connections.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Note: @@ means that there is an in ad coupon. $$ means that there is a paper coupon somewhere. Check coupon connections.
Fred Meyer
Updated:
Cross rib roast 2.99
Beta alert.... Peanut butter 2/3.00 @@
Canned veggies .50@@
Apples, pears, .98
Broccoli .88
5# potatoes .88
Cukes .59
Zucchini, squash .88
Milk .99 Usually ok and choc milk are the same price.
Gm cereal is 1.67 @ $$ nets .92
Cottage cheese, sour cream 1.67 ( 24 ox)
CHEESE 3.99. Limit 2
Freshetta pizza. 3.59 limit 4 $$. Makes it 2.75
Rite aid alert
Colgate max fresh toothpaste. With up rewards and $$ coupon is FREE.
Russel sat overs chocolate sugar free is a buck with rewards.,m
Also trick or treat candy and shampoo are inexpensive with coupons, see coupon connections.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
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