Suddenly Saturday

Saturday, and it is beautiful in the Pacific  Northwest.  Certainly,  a good gardening day.

On  to the topic of today.

The  goal in stockpiling,is to get to the point where you can only buy the specials that are rock
 bottom prices that you may need to fill on the holes in our stockpile, and the perishables you need to fill  in  a balanced meal plan.  It won't happen on a day, or even a week.  Just plug away at it as you find rock bottom prices on the staples your family eats  often.  One item at a time.  Sales go in 12 week cycles, and somethings are at a really rock bottom price once on a blue moon.  When that happens, stock up to the max of your level.  I try for a six month supply.It makes it easier  to make sure that you don't run  out and be forced to pay full price for something. That dreaded F word....FULL PRICE.  LOL

You don't have to be rich to do this, just smart.  Making some changes in the things we buy  and the way you buy your food makes a tremendous difference.  It makes no difference in your budget if you buy 1 can of pasta for 1.59 or two cans for 1.57. But ,  it makes a difference that you can eat twice instead of once!

Saving money on food has a snowball effect.  The money you save from one thing, means you can buy another on sale, and that savings rolls over to another sale and soon you have a stockpile.  Soon, you don't have to go to the store if you don't want to, or can't for some reason.  You have food in the pantry at the  end of the month.  It's a very  good feeling.

Tracking your prices gives you a good idea when your staple items are at a rock bottom price.

Pasta.   1 lb boxes

Date.                       Where bought.                         Price.             Coupon?              Net cost
6/10/13.                      SAFEWAYS.                       .88.                 2/1.00.                .38

You can run a spreadsheet, or use a small book that you can carry in your purse or coupon binder or box.

You will probably have 10-15 items on your staples list.  I have an idea on some things, and some things are traditionally  cheaper at some stores.

Catsup is always a buck at the  dollar store. Duh?!
I find tissue at the dollar store, but sometimes I find it cheaper at the Big Lots. big lots does not take coupons, dollar store does.  Big lots also doesn't take snap and dollar store does.

Coffee and cheese is always good at Grocery Outlet.  Coffee because it is cheaper, and cheese because it is cheaper sometimes and there is always a wide variety of cheeses, some unusual.

WinCo has a tremendous bulk food isle.  Some canned goods are cheaper and they have a wide variety of Mexican foods.

Costco is our place for bisquick, toilet paper, laundry soap, and some over the counter drugs our doctor has prescribed.  It is also cheaper on some fruits , especially bananas and I get brown and serve baguettes, because they are better and cheaper than their counterparts at the chain stores.
I keep them in the fridge and they keep a long time.

Big Lots has tomatoes  in a pinch.  When they have 20 percent sales, they are cheaper.  Also,
sometimes tea.

Our staples list

Tuna. Some
Salmon some
Diced tomatoes
Refried beans
Beans
Pasta
Pasta sauce
Green beans. Some
Corn. Some
Chili. Some
Chicken noodle soup. Some
Instant mashed potatoes
Rice. Some
Tomato paste some
A few cake mixes

I keep a few of the things that are marked some.  I usually keep a cake mix and a couple of brownie mixes.  the other things I keep a six months supply.  If I use the item once a month, I keep 4-6.  If I use it weekly, I keep 24.  I keep a bin of pasta.  Pasta has a very long shelf life.

Things like mayo and catsup, I keep one ahead.  I don't want to run out of something in the middle of cooking.

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

Freaking Friday

It feels weird that I am not doing the marketing today. We are all creatures  of habit.  

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

Peanuts, popcorn and .........

While doing my many hours of research while being laid up, I ran on to an interesting statistic.  Twenty percent of the average grocery bill is for snacks.  If you really pay attention to the ads on tv and analyze the coupons being put out there , a lot of them are bidding for your snack food dollars.

If you spend your snack food dollars for building stock, you will be better off.  Air popped popcorn is a really good inexpensive snack.  Add some garlic powder or parm cheese if you want a different flavor...or any other flavor combo that the chips of the day are using.

Yesterday, I did our marketing alone while  my husband was at work.  I went to three stores in an hour and a half.  I , according to the receipts, saved 46,46, and 44 percent.  I stocked.  What I stock this week, might not be what I stock next week. I pretty much stuck to real food, as opposed to junk food and non food items.

 ALBERTSONS has dairy at rock bottom prices. Enjoy them while you can, the effects of the drought  have only just begun, the price of dairy is probably going to skyrocket..  It's not something you can stock, and non fat dry milk is really pricy...a lot more than regular milk. Like a box  of milk at Costco is 40 dollars.  Cheese is eight dollars a brick some places.  you can freeze grated cheese.  Meat you can compensate with other sources of protein ....a little in a casserole.  I suspect that like our great grandmothers and grandmothers during WWII and the Great Depression, we will adapt and survive.  That is  how we got red velvet cake!!!  There is a group of  videos on U tube about cooking during the depression.  It's a hoot!  

I got excited over .12 yogurt and .38 cent pasta, not to mention .77 pasta sauce...talk about rock bottom prices!

If you haven't guessed, this blog is about groceries on the cheap.  I started out trying to teach people on SNAP to stretch their food dollars.  No kid should have to eat top ramen and potato chips for dinner and no kid should have to get up to the insecurity of no food in the house.  I have found out that more people have been reading because of tricks to get out of the kitchen faster, or seeing a new or old recipe they had forgotten as well. In these times, it is relevant to us all.  Who doesn't like a bargain!!!!?  

The basis of this is to buy low and eat high, kinda like playing the stock market .  Buy quantity of things you use on a regular basis when they are a rock bottom price, enough to last until they go on sale again.  lately, I have been trying to add coupons to the lowest price-- Thus .12 cent yogurt and .38 whole grain pasta.  Never pay full price for anything.  you can cut your food bill at least in half.
I do this without eating junk food or a lot of boxed meals.  Quick scratch cooking and cooking ahead compensates for convenience food.

This does take some prep time before you shop. I do some of it for you, but only you knows what your family wants to eat.  After your initial organization is done, it should take you a normal amount of time to shop.  Probably less time if you  are a meal at a time shopper.

Thanks for stopping by

Please share with a friend.

Jane

4+1=5. four people, one meal, five bucks.
Better, Cheaper, Faster

Coupons to match the ads

Here are coupons to match the good buys this week.  
Happy Saving. 

Albertsons
Tillamook yogurt.  Coupon in paper is for .24
                               Coupon on coupons.com is for BOGO - limit two. 
                               Makes them .12 each. 

Safeways
Barilla Whole Grain Pasta
                                Store coupon  .88
                                Coupon from Coupons.com 1.00 off two
                                Net cost   .38


QFC
Hormel Entrees on Buy 4
                               Store price 4.48
                               Coupons.com coupon 1.00 off
                               Net price 3.48
Some of the varieties are not the best tasting , in my familes opinion.  we like the beef tips.  
A 5 minute meal with instant mashed potatoes and a vegetable and/ or salad.  At the cost of
beef , the price is not bad. 

Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage  on Buy 4, mix or match
                                Store price 2.99
                                Coupon from previous Red Plum  .75
                                 Nets 2.24

Hope this helps someone.  Every little bit helps.  

Thanks for stopping by

Jan

The Ads

The ads for this week

TOP
Milk 2.49
Country ribs 1.99
Romaine 2.00 we only
Strawberries 2/3.49

Newmans own sale coupons
Pasta sauce 2/3
Dressing 2/5
Salsa 2/3
Popcorn 2/3
Pizza 3.99
Canned veggies  .69 @@@@
10 lb leg quarters .99 lb

ALBERTSONS
Corn 6/2
Cantaloupe  2/3

Hunts pasta sauce .77 buy 10
Milk 1.77@
Cheese 4.99@
Yogurt .24@
Ice cream 2.49@
Sour cream .99@
Butter 1.69@
Grapes 1.99
Strawberries 2/5
Plums 1.99

QFC
tomatoes .99
Grapes 1.28
Eggs (18) 1.99

Buy 4
Ice cream 2.49 buy 4
Nutrigrain bars 1.99
DiGiorno 4.99
Morning star farms 2.99
Tide 5.49
HORMEL entrees 4.48
Smoked sausage 2.99

Week end only
Strawberries 3/5
Pork loin 1.79
Butter 1.88
------

Hebrew national 2/7
Blues 5.99. 18 oz
Chicken breasts 1.49

SAFEWAYS
JUST FOR YOU 5 dollar Fridays
SUB 5.00
Boston cream cake
Strawberries 3/5
Newmans own entrees
------
Jfu
Muller yogurt -free

Chicken .99
Corn 6/2
Kraft singles or cheese sticks  BOGO
Kens  dressing BOGO
Pasta .88@@@


@@@@needs coupon

This is a tough one this week.  I'll have to do some analyzing.  Some of these have coupons that work with them from the red plum and the ss this week.

Remember to check coupons.  Couponconnections.com on the Seattle area.  Cross off anything more expensive elsewhere, and anything you don't need.

Thanks for stopping by
Please share

Jane

Internet Ideas

I have been looking at the Internet a lot lately.  If I have  free time or don't feel good..all that yard work played havoc with my back.  LOL.

I saw a lot of garbage, and recipes for stuff  I can't imagine eating...how about kippers on top of spaghetti?   Trust me, his dollar store meals are not 1/2 as good as mine by anyone's criteria.

There, however was a little girl, I wish I could remember her name, that was showing meals that you could make and freeze for a quick meal instead of buying the frozen counterparts.

She made pasta and veggies and chicken.  She flash froze the veggies with bottled Alfredo sauce, and flashed froze the chicken  alone, and the pasta again with sauce.  Each on a foil lined cookie sheet one layer thick.   After  an hour, she broke the sheet of food apart and put it in meal sized bags.

She also made pizza, par baking the crust and filling it with her toppings, then cutting it I to wedges and wrapping it individually.  My guess is that you could make whole pizza, but if there are only one or two of you, the first option would be more efficient.

maybe her name was  Divascancook.com ?

She had some good ideas mixed in with a little youthful anticks..

I just found Depressioncooking with Clara on u tube.  It's a hoot.  She is 91 years old, recanting times of the depression and cooking for her probably great grandsons.  Fun.


Thanks for stopping by

Jane

Terrific Tuesday

Tuesday , the ads come out tonight in the mail.  The coupons came out in the Sunday paper.  I understand from researching, that if you wait a couple of weeks, you are better off matching coupons with sales.  Many of the coupons are for ready mades and non food items.  I am choosing to choose my coupoms wisely.  I'm not buying just because there is a coupon or something is free.

Saving money at the grocery store is more about putting good nutricion on the table for less than the stats say you need.  it's about providing your family an adequate, nutritious diet for less.  By cooking from scratch, shopping to maximize savings, and planning, it can be achieved in less time than you think.

Batch cooking enables you to save time and clean up and buy meats when they are at their lowest in price.  You can portion control the meat and have less waste.  When it is time to cook dinner, the major time consuming part is already done, and your dinner time is less hectic.  There are videos on u tube about cooking once for a month of dinners.  Some of them set aside a specific meat or dish for a given day of the week.  My mother did that for a time.  We could tell you what day of the week it was by the dinner that was cooking on the stove.  It got rather boring, and only lasted a few months.  Now, my aunt that lived four doors down made cookies every Tuesday, we NEVER got tired of that !
It  was soo unfortunate that we just had to pass her house on the way home from school!!! LOL  LOL

The only thing wrong with writing a blog, is that you don't ever know your demographics,  I don't know who is reading.  Are they people that are victims of the recession?  People on SNAP, retirees, young mothers? People  that just want to get out of the kitchen faster or try a new recipe???

Tonight we tried chocolate waffles.....with bacon and mixed berry compote.  Yumm
I got the recipe from a Betty Crocker post!!!!

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

4+1=5

better, cheaper, faster!!!

Monday madness

It's Monday again, funny how that works, another week looms.  I have been spending my free time watching blogs about cheap food.  there are not many about good food, cheap.  It is frustrating seeing all the cut your grocery bill in half, when I already do that without coupons.  Either Washington state is a lot more rigid on their coupon policies, or they have all changed because people were taking advantage.  Clearing the shelves without regard to other shoppers is rude.
None  the less, these women are getting 15000 hits a day.  I was excited to get 10000 in a year ! LOL
I don't know how to reach more people.  I am trying to take a practical approach to this.


Onward, my focus this month is going to be to add a few coupons on top of good sales to kick up the savings a notch.  Another challenge is to see how low I can get the basic hie gene necessities, since SNAP only covers food.  I have got toothpaste for as low as free.  on to deodorant, toilet paper, and soap.

Progresso recipe starters are 2/1.00 at the dollar store.  There are .50 coupons, but they don't work at the dollar store...darn.   I have used the cheese one, it was pretty good,  I added more cheese to bow ties and peas.  it was a very quick meal when things went  a rie at our house.  Having some items that save the day is important, it is better than the drive through or ordering pizza.  I also have the challenge of cooking with one pot at a time I'm a two foot square kitchen on the boat.  Drastic times call for drastic measures.  I cook normal foods on the boat, many go out for dinner every night.  Some convenience saves my day and a lot of money.

Betty Crocker has some really good recipes this week.  Check out their website. I will try the beer bread!   Beer bread pizza sounds really good too.  If you don't like alcohol, you can always use no alcoholic beer.  There are a lot of other really good recipes too.

When I shopped, I mostly bought fruits and vegetables.  We are paring down our stock of meat.  Yesterday, we went to a BBQ, so I didn't cook.   Have three more days left to cook.  I did the math, one day we go to Happy Hour with friends, two days I work the late shift.

1. Hot dogs, corn on the cob, mixed berry fruit cup
2. Chicken and sausage couscous
3. Pasta skillet

Chicken and sausage couscous 

1/4 pound chicken pieces, cooked

6 ounces fully cooked sausage , cut into bite sized pieces

2 stalks celery, cut into small chunks

2 carrots, cut into slices

1-1/3 cups chicken broth

1 cup couscous

1/2 red pepper, sliced

1 cup chicken broth

1T cornstarch

Place sausage in skillet with a little oil.  Brown meats about 5 minutes.  

Add carrots and celery to skillet, cover and cook until soft 3-5 minutes

Cook couscous,  bring 1-1/3 cups broth to a boil.  Stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat.  

Let stand. 

Add chicken and red pepper to skillet.  Stir fry until red pepper is soft.  

Mix remaining chicken stock with cornstarch.  Add to skillet.  Stir fry until  sauce is thick.  

Serve meat and veggies over couscous.  

Pasta skillet

1 cup seashell pasta.  ( cooked and drained)

3/4 pound ground meat, cooked

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 can chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup beef stock

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp garlic 

1 cup frozen green beans

2 ounces feta cheese ( if desired)

Add all Ingredients to a skillet, except pasta.  Cook until  frozen beans are done.  

Add pasta to skillet and stir.  

Garnish with feta if desired.  

Notes:  meat was cooked ahead when it was on sale for 2.99 a pound.  Pasta was .50 a pound.  

Tomatoes are .67 when TOP has them on sale. 

Feta  cheese is often cheap at grocery outlet.  last time I got it with sundried tomatoes.  

 Thanks for stopping by

Jane

PLEASE share.  

What's wrong with this picture?

not to be critical, but this gal doesn't have a clue.

Meal Plans

Hot Dogs
Pasta
Pizza
breakfast
Steak um sandwiches

I'm over budget, I spent 51.00

grocery Trip
Watermelon, cut into cubes in a plastic container
Tomatoes on the vine
24 bottles of water
12 cans of ginger ale
16 steak umps
2 baby cans of kitty food
White bread
8 rolls of paper towels
1/2 gal milk
ready made chicken breast strips
Ready made sliced apples in a bag
1 dozen eggs
Head of lettuce
2 - 8 ea tubes of  drink gushers
2 ears of corn
16 bottles of Gatorade

I'll let you You imagine what they are going to eat, I'll bet they will be well hydrated!


Thanks for stopping by

Jane

Saturday

First a little housekeeping.  Dollar store dinners was a challenge.  I have eaten the potatoes and the frozen veggies from the dollar store.  They are good.  A lot of the dry goods are the same brands that are at the regular chain stores.  Some are cheaper, some are not.  I have not eaten the meat or fish from the dollar store, so I can't offer an opinion.  of course, the dollar store does not have perishables( fresh fruits and vegetables).  I don't think I would use the dollar store as my main food store.  LOL  This  was an experiment .  I always get French fries and pepperoni from the dollar store and their mixed veggies are good.  The same brand is 1.25 elsewhere.

The dollar store has a variety of things that are necessity items, but cheaper.  It's like what we called the dime store when I was a kid.  We had Woolworth's and Sprouse Ritz. I probably spelling it wrong.  Then came the 88 cent store.  A product of inflation, we have the dollar store.  The dollar store accepts coupons.  Because everything is a dollar, if you can do a match up with the correct sizes, some things can be free or near free.  You  cannot extreme coupon at the dollar store, they will only take four coupons at a time, it is my understanding. but, FREE is a  VERY nice word to the budgeter.  I got toothpaste for free, and I got sandwich bags for 1/2 price.  our granddaughter is small and she brings lunch to "school".  The quart bags we were sending in her lunch were too wasteful.
While, it isn't a food item, (SNAP doesn't pay for personal hygiene necessities. )If you can get them for free it is best.  I have purchased toothpaste for free or near free.  I am next going to tackle deodorant and toilet paper.  Watch for coupons and sales or the dollar store, and try to match them up.  This state doesn't allow overages and double coupons for what I can tell, so it might be a challenge. If someone finds it, please let the rest of us know.  There is a comment section below.


If you have the luxury of a variety of stores to shop at, then why not take advantage of that.
I wouldn't  recommend driving miles and miles, but planning your trips to group other errands works.
I stock, I don't buy 1 thing a week.  That being said, I would not stock anything that I haven't had before or that I didn't have storage for.

It's  a trade off, you find storage someplace in your house.  My dad always built a storage room in the basement in every house we ever lived in.  the trade off is that you  never have to run to the store or borrow from the neighbor something because you are in the middle of cooking dinner  and don't have something.  And, more to the point, you never have nothing on the house to eat and you are prepared for an emergency...be it you're too sick to get to the store, or an act of God has made the store inaccessible.

Last  night we had bean and rice burritos with leftover pork tenderloin.  That way, I could make some with meat, and some without.  That was three days on a pork tenderloin.  The tenderloin costs 7.50 divided by three makes 2.50 per meal for meat.

1. Pork tenderloin with potatoes and vegetable.  
2. BBQ pork sandwiches, German potato salad
3. Burritos

To  make five dollar meals, you have to average two to three dollars a meal.  If you hit the three dollar mark often, you are restricted to the starch and veggie for the meal.  You need to get in at least five servings of fruits and veggies a day.  We often use fruit as a desert.  Sliced bananas or strawberries with chocolate topping is a favorite.  As is bananas with butterscotch.  Or strawberries with cream.  I make a banana bread from Betty Crocker on line, that has oatmeal, bananas and blueberries in it.  It is really fast, easy, and inexpensive.  Bananas  are cheapest at Costco.  Do not buy organic bananas.  All bananas are organic and it is a rip off in my opinion.  I have heard experts say the same thing.  

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

Dollar store dinners

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 found

1. Meatballs, ziti, pasta sauce, and mixed California vegetables.  --5 bucks. (Two pkgs meatballs)
2. Chicken strips, French fries, regular mixed vegetables,  - 4 bucks ( using a pound of strips
3. Tilapia,  sweet potatoes, corn, and red peppers.  5 bucks (a pound of fish)(rice*) 
4. 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.

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

Zatarans

Tortillas 

Pasta sauce

And some other  mixes I wouldn't buy, personal preference

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

Getting started

I thought I would write about getting started.  Most of us don't have a lot of excess money hanging  around.

The term stockpiling conjures up the image of hoarding food all over the house.  Actually, stockpiling is buying your food at the lowest price and buying enough of it to cover yourself until you can find it at a rock bottom price again.  I try for a six month supply.  By the time it goes on sale again, I still have some and can add enough to fill myself in.

I only stockpile the foods on my most frequently used list.  My stock list .  Most people have  10-15 items  they use frequently.  You track these prices for the lowest price.

If you cut out the pop, and junk food and start buying one thing at a time, the next week, buy another thing on sale. Or on sale cheap with a coupon.  This snowballs and soon you only have to buy perishables until a sale comes along.  You will find you are spending far less than you did before and still have a pantry full of food.

Today I went to QFC and bought perishables that pretty much were on sale.  I bought 2 pounds of butter, 1.97 cent berries, apples, etc.  I bought a 1.00 crest toothpaste, because with a coupon, I got 2 free.  That's three tubes of toothpaste for a buck.  That averages me 8 toothpastes for 2 dollars total.

Tommorrow,  I will hit SAFEWAYS.  they have mayo for 2.22. Just 4 you.  I am at the end of my bottle, so I will replace the pantry one.  I always keep ONE of catsup, mustard, and mayo  type of thing so I can't run out in the middle of dinner.  Otherwise, of I use something weekly, I keep 24.  If I use something monthly, I keep 4-6.  Sales run an 8-12 week cycle.  If you watch for coupons for the things you buy and track the sales prices, you will see a pattern and take advantage of the rock bottom price.

Think about it, if you are playing the stock market, you want to buy low and sell high.  You are buying at rock bottom, and eating at high prices.  Adding the perishables at lowest market prices and you have a winning ticket! LOL

This week there is not a lot of things to stock on. Butter can be frozen and it is 2  bucks at QFC.  The toothpaste at QFC with a coupon is a stocker.

Last two weeks were better weeks to stock.  Top had beans and tomatoes for .67.  ALBERTSONS had pasta and cake mixes for .49.  With coupons, I  got two cake mixes for an  average of .07 cents.

Thanks for stopping by,

Please share

Jane

Safeway I missed

SAFEWAYS has a dairy thing.  Buy 15.00 worth of dairy items on their list and get 5 bucks off.  That's 33 percent.  Be careful of  the brick cheese it's 5 bucks for ONE pound.  There are other buys though.

Terrific Thursday

Since I have been stuck in bed some of the time these last  two days, I have been reading and watching every thing I could on saving money at the grocery store.  After our housing costs and transportation and medical, food is the most expensive thing that we buy.

I thought what one woman said on the TODAY show was very telling.  She said, if you don't think that saving money at the grocery store is important, you ain't been broke enough,  That is paraphrasing, but the message is there.  Most of us don't waste food, but, why waste money?  if you pay 1.00 for something you can get for .50.  You have wasted .50.  On the time thing, if you can make more money elsewhere, go for it.  But there have been times that I have save the equivalent of 212.00 an hour.  Nobody ever paid me 212.00 an hour! I am semi retired.  I don't want to go to work anymore than I am already.  If I had children, I probably wouldn't want to spend any more time away from them.  They can learn cutting skills, math skills.  And if they reap some of the savings in the form of a new pair of shoes they want or a vacation they normally couldn't take, they will see the merits of their  effort.  A lesson well learned.

 Have heard a lot of things that I can believe are true, but one thing that resonates through.  If you are happy about a product, e mail them, sometimes they will send you coupons.  if you are unhappy about a product, e mail them, they will send you coupons.   Emailed a company because I got a box of cookies that had no cookies in 1/2 of it.  They sent me a coupon for four boxes of cookies free.  I did the same with a can of  green beans that was not full.  I called them.  they would rather give you product than loose your loyalty.  I am not brand loyal.  if I know a brand is not good quality, I will not buy it, but among the brands that are good, I'll buy the cheapest one at the time I need it.

Off the soapbox. LOL



Eating on the cheap doesn't have to mean you are not going to eat well. Looking at upscale eating establishments menus can give you all kinds of ideas for new dishes.  Many are on line.

Stuff a chicken breast, add mushrooms to a gravy, stuff salmon.  it's their trick to make it look like you are eating a large portion of protein, when in realty, you have a 3 or 4 ounce portion.

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

Toothpaste coupon alert

QFC has crest toothpaste for a buck.  In the red plum flyer that came in the mail with the ads, there is a coupon  for  2 dollars off of three tubes.  That makes three tubes of toothpaste for a buck.
I know the extreme componers pay zero, But, I Have only made that happen once.  That would make my average of 8 tubes .25 each.  I think that it is a pretty good price for a no  double coupon state .

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

Wednesday

It's Wednesday and I don't have to go to work thanks to my husband who volunteered to work all day.  The fact that the construction project down there is in full swing might have something to do with it and the fact that the doctor said that I should not lift anything over 15 pounds and rest.

On to the subject at hand...

Today I am going to clean the vegetable drawer and make salads.  I have a pork tenderloin to roast off this morning so that I can have dinners together all week.  Yesterday I  made a slow cooker of soup so that dinner was ready when I got home from the hospital.  Planning ahead makes it easier to
 Manage dinner in hectic times.

Planning my grocery trip is  next of the agenda.  It is a small one because we don't need much and there are not many stock items if we did  need them.  If I didn't have stock on hand, I would go to the bakery outlet and WinCo.  The only match ups coupon wise that I found is I have two dollar coupons for Pizzeria Pizza , that makes them 3.00.  A good lunch or fall back on meal.  Hillshire Farm lunch meat is 5.99 less discount for SAFEWAYS just 4 you is 3.99.  I have a coupon for .55 off.  Making itm3.44.  That still makes it 3.44 a pound.  I have not checked if you can  stack these coupons.

I have spinach...there is a recipe on Betty Crocker  for Mac and cheese with spinach and bacon.
Corn on the cob is cheap and in season,  It will make a good addition to my pork and meat.
ALBERTSOMS has eggs for .88, a good time to make a quiche or Italian pie.  breakfast for dinner.  Yoplait is .50 at ALBERTSONS.  Remember, just because they suggest you buy a large quantity, doesn't mean you have to buy that many to get the price.  That is a ploy to get you to buy zillions of the product.  It's only necessary when you see buy 10 , or Buy 5 mega vents.

Beef chuck roast is 2.99 a pound, a good time to make hamburger.

Formula for dinners. Ours  may be different from yours.  I try to maintain a variety of meats /proteins to keep everybody happy and healthy.

2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish.

1. Pork tenderloin , corn on the cob, spinach salad 
2. Chicken pot pie, strawberry shortcake
3. Bow Ties mac n cheese with bacon and spinach
4. Breakfast for dinner 
5. Salmon, rice, salad
6. Hamburgers, salads
7. Tacos, refried beans 

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane 

4+1=5. Four people, one meal, five bucks

Better, Cheaper, faster

Next time, I am going to challenge myself to make a dinner from the dollar store!!!

the ads

SAFEWAYS

TOP SIRLOIN OR SIRLOIN TIP B1G1
Pizza 2/10. Di jiorno
Grapes 1.99
Peppers 2/1
Corn 5/2

ALBERTSONS

Eggs . 88
Pizza single serve 4/888. Do jiorno
Yo plait 20/10
Garden salads . 88
Pic sweet vegetables,1.25**
Hills hire farms lunch meatn5.99
Lettuce .99
Brocoli or caulk .99
Oscarnmayer meats 1.99
Strawberries 2.49

TOP
SPINACH.79
Blues 4.79
Milkn2.50@@
Butter 2.50@@
Grapes2.00

 QFC
Johnsonville brats 3.99
Broccoli or caulk .99
Dijourno 4.99
Rasp or blues 1.97
Cheese 4.99
Oscar Mayer lunch met 2/6
Celery 10/10

IGA

Blues 3.98
Butter 1.98
Eggs .88
Mayo .98
HORMEL turkey ham.99
Yo plait 10/5



Notes. The same,frozen veggies are a buck,at the dollar,store.
Note there are the same items on sale for different prices.

Be sure to mark off anything that is cheaper elsewhere, and anything you don't need.
It's not a food week to stock up.  It's a good week to get your necessities and save for another week.
This works if you have built a stock.

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Jane

Terrific Tuesday

Yesterday was an alternative shopping day.  We went to goodwill where I picked up a cute shortfall for granddaughter.  Mom doesn't think it was so cute.  And a couple of books for her.  

QFC netted food for the boat stock at a 64 percent savings.  We watched as 32.00 went down to 12.50.  On to big lots for my husband to get hot pickles.  And the dollar store where I netted 80 percent off.  Pepperoni was buy 1, get one with a coupon.  7 dollars worth of pepperoni was a buck.  Steam vegetables were a buck, 3 dollars at the Q.  Lemonade was a buck but I can't remember how much it is at QFC.

All together less than twenty dollars!  Good prices paired with good coupons.  Big Lots does not take SNAP.  A

On another note, I went over budget this week, but stocked some staples and the boat.  I am taking care of some health issues this week, and don't expect to shop next week at all to compensate.  I should finish the month ok. 

One of my friends brought me the coupons from her Sunday paper.  I pulled everything I thought I might use.  A lot of it was for stuff I don't buy.  I am rapidly seeing where you never should have to pay for toothpaste .  It is really easy to find coupons for .75 and a dollar.  The dollar store takes coupons, the Big Lots doesn't.  I am told that Grocery Outlet doesn't either.  I suspect that  Winco doesn't either.  

A lot of newspaper coupons are for non food items.  I have been averaging six bucks a shopping trip, and while six bucks are definitely worth it, I am not going to spend a lot of time on this endevour.  

Back to basics.  There are still a lot of meals that can come in at five dollars.  When I price  a meal, I don't count anything less than 2T.  I count everything that is real food in my total budget.  

Breakfast for dinner is a good way to make a quick cheap meal.  What kid wouldn't like chocolate waffles and turkey bacon and a yogurt and fruit parfait for dinner.  Plenty of protein, fruit and a carb or two and dairy.  

Pizza and green salad is another kid favorite.  

Tacos, refried beans, and salsa rice is another.  ...beans were .80 at big lots .  Salsa was a buck at QFC with a coupon.  There are also la Victoria coupons for tortillas on line.

Chicken and noodles and Mac and cheese are more kid friendly meals well under five dollars.  Frozen veggies are always a buck at the dollars store.  DUH.  And they were a buck at QFC this week.  

Meat balls can be made from ground beef, or from a mixture of meats,  done ahead, and frozen.  Walnut sized ones thaw quickly and can be made into a variety if dishes

• Meat ball subs
• Meat balls and spaghetti
• Meat balls with white gravy over rice
• Meat balls with brown gravy over noodles or mashed potatoes
• Meatball soup

Does anyone have any other ideas for meatballs?

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane 

4+1=5. Four People, one meal, five bucks

Better, cheaper, faster

Drought and prices.

Last years drought has only just begun to effect food prices, mostly beef and dairy.  It will continue to effect us through 2013.  I am seeing cheese prices double what it was last year.  I have a stock in the freezer of grated cheese.  I have better luck freezing grated cheese.
Corn should remain seasonally cheap, buy field corn is expensive, driving up the cost of meat.  ( feed) .  I am stocking accordingly when I find staples cheap.  I want to maintain my 70.00 a week a long as I can.

Beef has doubled already.  I suspect we will find that pork follows.
I also suspect that like our grandmothers before us, we will adapt to meet our needs!  Red velvet cake was an invention out of necessity during WW2.

Just an update.  My info is from the USDA..

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Jane

Foil packets

This is the second time I have done this blog today.  The first one fell apart!  LOL
So much for doing a blog at three in the am.

I have done blogs on foil packets before.  The kids love them,  they are like camping out;and moms like them because there are no dishes.  They are a good way to do dinner ahead and not have to cook in a hot kitchen.  They can be cooked in a oven or on the BBQ.  You can use up leftovers and tailor each persons packet to their taste.

I'll try to cut and paste a previous post.


Veggie Chicken Packet.
uses bone in chicken breast. Sometimes I have purchased them for 1.25 a pound.

For EACH packet

2 T instant rice
1chicken breast 1/4, or about 4 punches. ( the size of the palm of your hand.
1/ cup sliced carrot
2onion slices, separate into rings
1/4 cup peppers, sliced thin.
1 T water
1 T w sauce
2tsp soy sauce
1 T butter

Place rice in the center of a 14 inch square piece of foil
Top with chicken and veggies
Mix liquids together
Pour over chicken.
I would cup the edges of the foil first.
Dot with butter.
Fold foil around chicken and seal.
Place n baking pan and bake at 350 for 65-75 minutes or until chicken is done.
Open foil carefully, there will be steam!!!


I know the purists would say that I am filling the landfill, you can use used foil.

It would be a good recipe for a busy day. Even a older child or a culinary challenged spouse could put the packets on pan and get them started in the oven. LOL

You could also use already cooked chicken and shorten the time. Yhen you would just worry about how long the rice and veggies would take to cook. It would really be fast if you used leftover rice, maybe even finely chop the pepper in with it. I have a thing about white food. It needs colour. LOL

There is an earlier post on foil packets. It's a good thing to do when you are working late and you can fix them ahead for someone else to shove in the oven. Kids like the packets...it's like camping.

There are a lot of foil packet meals on the Betty Crocker website that are updated with more
sophisticated flavors.


Basically you take a 12 in square piece of foil ( or splice two smaller ones together) and layer

Starch
Meat
Veggies
A gravy or some kind of liquid.

Wrap the foil around the dinner and seal.  Make individual packets.  The foil becomes your dish.
Bake at 350 to 400 until done.



I started this blog to help people cook good nutritious meals on a tight budget. it came to my attention that some people on SNAP were running out of money before they ran out of month. we eat on about 1/2 of the USDA statistics for a thrifty plan. It is doable. no, we are not on SNAP. In the process, I have learned that other people that want to get out of the kitchen faster because they have busy lives and people that like trying a new recipe like it as well. It can't help anyone if they are not motivated to try. Not having food in the house at the end of the month should be motivation enough. It doesn't make your child or children feel secure when they know the cupboards are empty.

thanks for stopping by

Please share. Comment!?!

Jane

Sunday

Sunday already.Yesterday I went to Costco wholesale to get a few staples that I get once every year or more.  I buy salt in 25 pound bags.  It's 4 bucks and lasts us forever.  ( my daughter makes paint for the preschoolers.  ). I usually use sea salt for cooking, but use regular salt for baking.

I researched some Couponing  web sites , some of them are actually practical combining sale
Prices  with coupons for actual food instead of ready made stuff and a zillion cleaners I don't use.
I'm not paying for coupons, and I am not spending a lot of time looking for them.  I want my prep for shopping to be less than a half hour.

on to recipes

Pork Diane

Sauce
1 T water
1 T white wine
W sauce ( a splash)
1 tsp lemon juice
1tsp Dijon mustard

Mix sauce ingredients together.

Pour over cooked pork roast or chops.  Garnish with chives or parsley.

Note if I didn't  have wine, I would use apple juice or more water.


Asian Pork Wraps

7 inch flour tortillas

3Tcold water
2T soy sauce
1T corn starch
1tsp sugar
1/4 tsp minced garlic

3/4 pound pork loin or tenderloin
Cooking oil

3 cups coleslaw mix ( cabbage with carrot )


Warm tortillas in foil in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes
Mix sauce ingredients together.

Cut pork slices into thin strips.

Stir fry pork in cooking oil until no longer pink.
Set to side of pan.  Put sauce in center of pan and cook until thick and bubbly .  Cook 2 minutes longer.  Add cabbage mixture and stir to coat with sauce.

Place pork mixture on the middle of each tortilla and wrap like a cone.   (Wider at one end than the other.



NOTES
Pork tenderloin was 3.19 at Costco wholesale.  Grated cheese was 2.54 a pound.  I have seen cheese for 4.00 a pound lately.

My granddaughter saw the watermelons at Costco and declared that they were an apple.   If it is round and edible , it's an apple!! LOL

Brown and serve baguettes were like .73 each.  French bread is getting pricy.  I keep them on the fridge, they last a long time along with the flour tortillas.

I also got coffee syrup ,    Italian sodas are one of the only treats that I can have as a diabetic.  Sugar free syrup, water and milk.


That's about it...enjoy!  

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Jane

Suddenly Saturday

It's Saturday already and May is history.  I haven't depleted the stock that much.  I'll try again in June.
I really haven't bought meat in weeks, but have stocked a few things that were super rock bottom prices.  Limited myself to five each.

I deleted a post with the hopes that I could slow down the spam I am getting.  It didn't work. The Winco vs Costco post is gone.

On to the purpose of this blog.  I have just posted the monthly blogs this month on the basics.  the shopping part is there.  The cooking from scratch is a learned talent that if you don't already have it, it happens one recipe at a time.   There are a lot of no brainier recipes out there that are simple and fast.  We all live in a busy world, if you have children it is usually more busy this time of the year with  school ending for the summer.

There are a few inexpensive tools that make life easier.  I love my microwave pasta cooker.  It is about ten dollars.  You can make pasta in the microwave by putting the correct amount of water in this plastic oval bowl with your pasta, putting the bowl in the microwave, and turning the microwave on.  Then you can go about and make your sauce, salad and bread.  It drains with the aid of the lid.  one bowl to wash.

The next indispensable things  in our house is the slow cooker, the food processor, and the microwave.

I have been finding slow cooker recipes on the Betty crocker web site. Many of them look and sound really good.  Www.bettycrocker.com/ recipes

When I get home from the grocery stores, I keep track of my spending on a spread sheet.

Week 1        SAFEWAYS.      ALBERTSONS.     Winco.               Total
Week 2

If you don't have a computer, it is easy to do with a piece of lined paper, a straight edge, and a calculator.

You can get the gist of it.  Then I can add the total of the weeks and divide the total by four to get my average amount spent per week.  I'm still sitting about 70.00 a week, and have built a good stock.  This week I spent 50.00 and at least twenty of it was stock.

Making a meal plan is one of the best ways to keep on track.  It's too easy to fall off the meal train if you don't have a plan.  You don't have to necessarily eat a particular meal a particular day, but have a list of seven meals as a guide to follow.
Develop your own formula.  In our house it is

2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish

1. I'm diabetic and eat just about everything, my daughter is vegetarian, my husband only wants to ear meat, and my granddaughter is semi/ vegetarian.  It all works.  Specialty diets don't have to derail your budget.  

Look in your fridge and make a note of what needs to be eaten.  Can you make something with it?  Banana bread, waffles, salad?  Pasta sauce?  
Look at the ads and see what looks good that is on sale cheap.
Incorporate what you have with what is on sale and pencil in a plan.  All you have to do is list 7 main dishes.  Most people know what to add to them and pair the same thing every time.
how classic in this country is spaghetti with red sauce , green salad, and French bread.
I buy baguettes at Costco, brown and serve they price out at about .95.

I have sausage crumbles, hot dogs, pepperoni, eggs, chicken parts and bones, meatballs, shrimp,
Vegetable pasta sauce, cheese, taco meat, pork roast slices off the top of my head.

1. Hot dogs , German potato salad, carrot and celery sticks
2. Pork slices, stuffing, broccoli salad 
3. Chicken pot pie, turtle pudding 
4. Tacos, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream
5. Spaghetti with veggie sauce, salad, bread
6. Roasted red pepper and tomato  soup with blue cheese and basil soup, cheese, crackers
7. Salmon, green beans, baked potatoes. 

This makes for a balanced variety of foods. 

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

Analysis of couponing

Happy weekend!

I have done the extreme coupon thing-- 6 coupons in one transaction.  I took all the .50 off each item Buy Five at QFC and  found every coupon I could find. And, I found a coupon that made the crest toothpaste free.  

Most coupons are for things I wouldn't buy.  Some of these things I wouldn't buy if they weren't soo cheap!  

HORMEL chili 1.29. Less QFC discount .50 makes .79 less .55 on two coupon nets .52.

La Victoria salsa is 1.99 less QFC discount .50 is 1.49 less 1.00 on 2 is 1.00

Dingy Moore dinners 1.99 less QFC .50 is 1.49 less 1.00 makes it .49.  

Bacon bits are 1.99, less QFC .50 is 1.49 less 1.00 made them 1.00

I got chilies for .79. , a bargain to fill on to ten.  

I would have normally bought the chilies when I find them on sale as well as the salsa and the chili.  

I don't think I would ever buy the dinners, too expensive, but I like a lunch on the shelf for those hectic days and the size is perfect for my granddaughters lunch when they were fifty cents.  Add a fruit cup and she has a good lunch..I haven't figured out the bacon price, but I probably wouldn't buy them again either

.  They will come on handy on the boat.  We have a very small old but comfortable boat.  I have no stove and the kitchen is two feet square. I still manage to make the same dinners as I make at home, but I have an electric frypan, and a electric saucepan to do it with  and I have to use one at a time. I have thermos bowls to keep things hot.  I am a real fan of BBQ and one pot meals! lol

As far as coupons go, I think I will stick to things I would normally by, which probably will be few and far between. I have enough toothpaste to last me the year., I paid a buck total.    If I can find healthy cold cereal near free like the coupon ladies say, I will get some for summer.  I don't want to coupon unless I can make it worth my while.. Like in ten minutes or less.   I can make more money cooking from scratch and stocking at rock bottom prices.  Speaking of rock bottom prices---Beans and vegetables are 15/10 again at TOP.  That makes the, .67 .  That's stock up time.  I found veggies for .59  at  BARTELLS, ,but you can't count  on reaching sales of the same food product at Bartells.    This is a good time to stock up.  Beans are a good staple, full of fiber and protein.

I am running out of things to talk about.  I would appreciate any suggestions you may have.  There is a comment section below.  

Thanks for stopping by

Please share 

Jane

4+1=5

Better, cheaper, faster

Shopping trip.

After  the excitement of a car wreck between a little old lady and a school bus, and the grocery store being robbed of 300 dollars worth of cosmetics.  I didn't know that  QFC had 300 dollars worth of cosmetics.!  Anyway, after all of that, I went shopping before I went to work.  

I used all the sales I could find as long as it was things that we could use.  I got crest toothpaste for FREE .  I got HORMEL items mostly for a sale price along with coupons.  I got  shelf ready meals for my granddaughter.  I picked veggies and rice for fifty cents.  I got two loan mashed potatoes on the shelf for .42 a package.  I got milk for a buck a 1/2 gallon.  

Fresh fruits were a good price and frozen veggies were a buck.  I was trying to keep the budget down so that I could start using from the stock on hand.  

I wound up saving 65 percent.  I saved more than I spent!   I'm happy in a state that won't let you get overages!!   I am not going to spend a lot of time clipping coupons and I refuse to pay for them.  I Did want to  experiment to see how well I could extreme coupon.  

The next experiment is to see which is the least expensive...sliced black olives or the whole ones in the can.  If anyone knows, I wouldn't mind a bit if you commented back about your findings! 

LOL.  

The  bottom line was 30.01.

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Jane

The ads

TOP

10/10

• Olives, regular and sliced
• English muffins
• Carrots
• Roma tomatoes

Strawberries  2.49

Bloes 2.79

Zucchini 1.00

Head lettuce 1.00

ALBERTSONS

country ribs 1.59

Grapes 1.28

Chuck roast 2.99

Milk 2.59

Butter 2/5

Sour cream 2/3
Strawberries 2/5
Apples 1.00
Radishes , onions 2/1

Mix and match 5

Dreyers 1.99
Bars and drumsticks

Chicken of the sea tuna .47 l@@@
Ground beef 7 percent 2.99 limit 10 @@@

QFC

Blues 3.88

10/10
Buns
Pasta
Carrots
Frozen veggies

Buy 5
HORMEL cooked entrees

BUY 5
Stag chili nets 69
HORMEL chili 79
Chicken chunks .79
Chilies 79
Bacon bits  1.49. Ck for a coupon
salsa 1.49
Hormel completes...Normally I wouldn't buy, but with coupon they are .49/ a very cheap lunch. 

Be sure to get on the coupon web sites. Www.coupons.com. .  I got coupons that stack with the .50 off multiple group sale.  They total 4.55 and save 9.55.  For ten products.  Or you spend 12.16 minus
4.55 is 7.61. Total Retail is 17.10/  Final cost is 7.61.  A savings of 55 per cent.

SAFEWAYS

cherries 2.99
Corn 6/2

Five dollar Friday
Sub sandwich
3lb strawberries
Milk 2.79
Sargento cheese buy 2, get 1 free.  Ck for a coupon

London broil, 2.99
Loin pork chops 2.99

Blues or raspberries 2.99

Coupons. SAFEWAYS,  ( I don't know if you can stack these coupons

Salsa 1.49

That's about all.

I am not sure about some coupon policies, ill have to investigate.  There are coupons out there for some of these items.  I get the coupons today, maybe.

Looks like QFC is at the top of my list this time .Maybe ALBERTSONS.  .

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Jane

4+1=5
Better, cheaper, faster

Better, cheaper, faster

Recipe of the equivalent of a can of cream of xxx soup

2 cups powdered nonfat milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup instant vegetable boullion
Any spices you like...a couple of teaspoons TOTAL

Store basic recipe in air tight container.

To substitute for one can of condensed soup: Combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1-1/4 cups cold water in saucepan. Cook and stir until thickened. Add to your recipe as you would one can of soup.

Cream soups are getting higher and higher in price.  I can remember when they were a quarter, now they are as much as 1.25.  Dry milk is more expensive than liquid milk, but I found it cheaper at Winco and I didn't check Winco bulk section.

Earlier posts have...

• Taco seasoning
• Baking nix
• Rice mix
• Salad dressings
• And many many more.   

The Internet is a good resource for finding the equivalent of many ready made foods from scratch.  

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

Chapter 3...Cooking From Scratch

Most times using a mix or buying ready made foods will derail your budget.  If you want to know if it is worth your while to make something from scratch, do the math.

• Price the lowest price for the ready made item
• Cost out the ingredients for the scratch version, don't include less than 2T oil or spices etc. 
• find the difference in price.  If the ready made is lower STOP
• If the ready made is higher, time yourself while making the scratch version.  
• Divide the portion of an hour time you spent by the amount of savings.  
• How much are you making an hour for your time?  

The last time my daughter and I checked it was 212.00 an hour for lemon pound cake.  And that was not what it would be when I found ingredients lower.  A pound cake would be 1.76 instead of 2.50 a slice.  20.00 a loaf.  

Making things from scratch does not have to mean taking a lot of time.  Many times it takes the same amount of time.  I only count actual cooking, not passive cooking.  Passive cooking lets you so other tasks while you let the dish cook.  

Pudding comes to mind.  It takes just about the same amount of time to cook pudding from scratch and you can control the ingredients.  hamburger meal mixes take the same amount of time than cooking it from scratch.  I have a no Brainer pasta recipe that is as cheap and actually takes less time.  

Your slow cooker and food processor can be your best friend here.  There is something very satisfying about coming home from work after a long day and smelling dinner cooked!  Many tasks can be performed quickly.  There is a recipe for easy pizza crust on an earlier blog.  

There are many mix recipes on earlier blogs.  Mixes are expensive and easily made from scratch in a short amount of time.  If you make something like tacos frequently, make a batch.  

There are several cooking styles for lack of a better word, that help you get out of the kitchen and make it easier to scratch cook.  

1. Prep and forget it.  Use your slow cooker or oven to put your ingredients together and go do something else.  
2. Prep ahead of time.  I usually cook my meats when I have a relaxing time, not after a long day at work.  That way I can defat my ground meat and portion control it.   You can  make meatloaf, meatballs, crumbles,and taco meat.   Make  a roast and serve roast for dinner that night and slice it thin for sandwiches.  Portion control it in meal sized bags and freeze.  both pork and beef roast works here, 
3. Stair step.  Cook double of something and use part if it for another meal.  Rice for under meatballs or sweat and sour chicken.  
4. Roast a chicken and cut it into 2 breasts, the dark meat and the bones.  The dark meat  can go into a Mexican dish or casserole, the bones can be soup, the breast meat can be a Sunday chicken dinner or chicken pot pie.  Deli chicken is twice the cost of raw chicken at a target price.  NEVER buy a chicken that is under three pounds.  That is the break even point for the ratio between bone and meat.  More is better.  Roasting your own chicken is easy, quick, and gives you more chicken for your money.  
5. Fast cooking, like chips, hamburgers and hot dogs.  I only buy Hebrew national or Nathan's hot dogs.  This is a case where cheaper is not better.  in the summertime when it is hot at dinner time in our kitchen, I make a salad bar ahead of time and we add a entre that can be BBQd. .  

Thanks for stopping by.  

If you have questions, please feel free to comment. Getting feedback just makes my day! LOL

Please share 

Jane

Chapter 2. Shopping Wisely

SHOPPING WISELY

I'll  repeat my self....Never pay full price if you can help it.  

Fresh fruits and veggies are at their peek when they are in season.  They are also at their best price.  Its a win, win situation.  

Buy Meat when it is on sale cheap.  If  good hamburger is not  cheap, see if a top round or chuck cut is cheaper and grind it yourself.  If you don't have a mixer with an attachment, or can't use someone else's, use a  grinder  our grandmothers used.  They are really cheap at estate sales and antique stores.  Or, use the food processor.  Sometimes I get 7-9 percent hamburger for B1G1 at SAFEWAYS and that makes it 2.75.  Prices are rising.  The  t thing you can do is make meatballs or meatloaf with a combo of ground beef and pork or turkey.  Ground chicken is hard to work with.  

When the Grocery ads come out , take a piece of computer paper or a clean side of paper out of the recycle bin and draw lines on it to quarter it. 

Now, top each quarter with a store name.  Take the ad, and write down :

1. Anything that is on your stock list that is cheap
2. Anything on the protein list that is cheap and
3. Any produce and dairy items that are a good price.  Milk is always on sale somewhere.  Sour cream , cottage cheese and butter is cheapest most often at Costco.  

Now, cross off. Anything that is cheaper somewhere else, and anything that you already have enough
stock of.  Post the cheapest  price on stock items to your data.  

Pick the TWO stores that have the best buys on the things you need.  You  are picking two stores because you get the advantage of finding the best looking produce and not any one store has the best buys on everything.

 Plan your route to maximize your gas budget.   Or, shop in two different times to coordinate with other errands to make best use of your gas. Is the SAFEWAYS close to the gym or the kids school or your work?

Check a coupon connection site in your area to see if there are any coupons that will help you.  

Many are printable on the computer.  If you don't have a printer, a neighbor or family member might be able to help you.  Don't spend a lot of time on this,  you should be able to do this on the time it takes to perk the coffee in the morning.  Don't believe all you see on extreme couponimg.  Most of what they do is illegal in many states.  In Washington the major chain stores will not allow you to  buy a .99 cent item with a 1.00 off coupon.  You can't get overage.  And in Washington you can't double coupons.  You can get some doubles with a coupon sometimes at ALBERTSONS.  But, you can't do more than one per item.  In other words, see if you can quickly find a couple that will help you. The  dollar store will take up to 4 coupons on an item and that is your best bet for free food or almost free food.  

Bring your ads, your coupons, your list, and any just 4 U list you might have.

Use your list, get in and get out.  The more time you spend in a store, the more money you will spend.

Put  blinders on to the ready made or convenience foods.  Pre made foods and mixes are for the most
part expensive.  The first letter in most of the convenience foods is $. Just buy the things on your list. 

Mindful of your bottom line.  Some weeks you will spend less, and some weeks you will spend more.  You won't build your stock in one week.  It takes time.  

Only buy cold cereal when you can get it nearly free, and never the sugary stuff.  Growing up we got cornflakes or wheat puffs in a bag during the summer.  It was oatmeal in the winter,  Occasionally cream of wheat.  Oatmeal is a very versatile food.  It is cheapest usually at Winco.  Don't buy individual packages.--of anything.  It's really easy to make it in the microwave. I c water, 1/2 cup oatmeal. , 1-1/2 minutes on high.  Use a larger bowl.  

A few exceptions...cake mix when really cheap, instant  mashed potatoes at times , tortillas, refried beans.  I got cake mix 1 for free and one for .14.  Flour is 7.5 cents a cup.  At that rate,  cake mix is cheaper.  I usually keep one on hand for emergencies. 

Hamburger meal  boxes are about the most expensive thing in the regular grocery store.  See an older post.  Dissecting cheeseburger macaroni.  

Don't overlook the bakery outlet, alternative overstock stores, the dollar store, drug stores, and warehouse stores including Winco.  Sometimes they have the best buys on some things.  Do overlook the yuppie stores or what some people call the whole paycheck stores.  Sorry, this low a budget doesn't work well with these stores.  .  They are sometimes cheaper if you are an alternative eater.  

That's all I can think of now.

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

4+1=5

Better, cheaper, faster

Next.  Cooking from scratch....better, cheaper, faster.  

Chapter1. Planning and organizing

• This blog is about groceries on the cheap.  I try to take a practical approach to getting dinner on the table for 1/ 2 what the average family spends.  The USDA has stats on what food should cost you based on family size and ages.  They have four budget levels.  

It does take some time to set yourself up.  Every family is different so no one can do it for you.  

once you are set up and get the hang of it, you probably will spend less time .  

If it all seems like too much work, take baby steps at it or delegate some of it to another family member.  Some of it could be a good learning tool for children.  Use organizing and math skills they will take with them the rest of their lives.  

There are a lot of people out there that are touting cheaper groceries, you usually can learn something from each of them.  I have been reading everything about the subject for years.  When it was brought to my attention that people were running out of money before they ran out of month on SNAP(food stamps) I started this blog.  With our economy and food prices rising , many people need to eat well for less.  

Cooking and shopping on the cheap takes a three pronged approach :  planning and organizing, shopping wisely, and cooking from scratch.  

Planning and organizing.  

Most of this is a one time only affair.  

• List seven dinner entres that use inexpensive sources of protein.  This doesn't mean that you are Doomed to never eating a steak again.  Protein should cost around 2.00 per meal AVERAGE. the target price for dinner is five bucks.  in our house, that would be cheese, beans, chicken, pork, some cuts of beef, pork, tuna and shrimp and some fish.  Later, add more to come up with 14.  I keep a three ring binder that I have had for forty years.  
• Go over your typical recipes amd list shelf ready items that you use often to prepare these dishes.  These are your stock items.  in our house that would be beans, refried beans, diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, some chili,pasta, instant mashed potatoes, some corn and green beans, black olives, I keep one of some other things like condiments and mayonnaise so I don't run out in the middle of cooking.  Keeping one ahead means I don't have to remember to put something on a list.  
• Now, make a list, either in a small notebook or on a spreadsheet of your stock items,  start making note of the prices in the ads and/or the prices you are paying for those items.   List the item, the size of the carton, the price , where you got it and the date,  soon you will see a pattern.  Grocery stores go on an 8-12 week cycle.   Most families will have 10-15 items.  If you are in the Seattle area, I post them periodically.  
• The object is NEVER pay top dollar, or full price.  When something on your stock list is at rock bottom price, buy as much as you can afford, as many as the store allows, or as many as you need to replenish your stock.  If I use something once a week I keep 24.  If I use it once a month I keep 6.  If you don't have storage space.  Get creative.  In an apartment I used a wicker foot stool.  My SIL  uses an extra closet.  
• 
  
• Create  your meal plans from the stock on hand and the perishables in you fridge, and the meat that is on sale for the week--do it in pencil so you can change it if something is out of stock at the grocery store or doesn't look good.  

Next, smart shopping.  

Thanks for stopping by. 

Please share.  I don't have ads or get money for this,  My object is to try to help someone through a tough time, or get the savings they need to enrich their lives.  

Jane

4+1=5

Better, cheaper, faster

The little things that count

It's  the little things that count.   Sometimes when I am making a card, it's that little bow or button that makes  the difference between whether a card is over the top or just a card. likewise,  all the little thinges you do sometimes taking just a few minutes can make a real difference with a food budget.

Finding and using one or two coupons.

Signing up for a store card, or rewards card

Taking time to plan your meals and recognize days that you need a super quick and easy meal.  

Taking the time to defat your ground meats and put them on portion controlled bags.  

Making taco seasoning.  Five minutes once or twice a year saves a lot.  

Today, we went to rite aid.  Toothpaste was 2.99.  It had a up reward of two bucks.  I also had a coupon for .75.  I got four.  That makes four tubes for a buck.  

I have watched a lot of extreme couponing and read a lot lately.  I don't believe in hoarding or buying 93 bottles of hot sauce when no one I know could ever use that much in a lifetime! LOL But, there are lessons to be learned from watching them. The toothpaste senecio saves 11.00.   Saved three dollars on pepperoni and tissue at the dollar store, and the pepperoni retails for 3.50.  Four packages would be 14.00.  I paid 2.00-- a savings of 12.00.  Free brats was a 4.99 savings.  

Last big shopping trip it was a buck off of eggs, and .75 off of dill pickles.  

And, I spent a limited amount of time clipping some coupons.  I only bother with the things that I would actually buy if I didn't have a coupon.  My only exception would be if I had something for free and I felt we might like it.  

I guess I am saying all those dimes, quarters and dollars add up and pretty soon you are a lot of money  ahead.  

thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

Ps I ran on to a guy on the Internet that was cooking 5 dollar dinners

he made. Loaded potatoes, tuna patties, pork chops, Mexican rice and refried beans, and quesidas.

And pizza.  Each five dollar meals.  

4+1=5

Better, cheaper, faster

PS again....I called the SEATTLE TIMES.  They will deliver the Savings Source and Proctor and Gamble coupon inserts to you for free if you don't have a subscription for the paper.
206-464-2111.  They come out on Thursday.  

Target prices

French fries 1.00.  Dollar tree
Pasta. Less than 1.00....last time .49
Diced tomatoes .48 to .60.
Pasta sauce .78-.85
Soup less than .75
Chili 1.00 or less.  Last time 2/ 1.45
Beans ie kidney etc. .67


Cheese.
I used to pay 2.00 a brick for cheese.  Now I saw 8 dollars this week.  I can still get two dollars a pound.  If  left in the shrink wrap. It lasts a long time.  ALBERTSONS has two dollars a pound this weekend with a coupon.  Check the ad and coupon connections.  I didn't get it because I am we'll stocked.

Black olives...less than a buck. I find my best luck at Winco.

Refried beans.  Fifty cents is nice, but I haven't found that for a while. I like. .78 , I just for a case for 7.00.  I need to check Costco again.

Instant mashed potatoes.  I get some in a pack with a lot of varieties.  Retail about 1-29.  I get them for as low as .88 My limit is a buck.

Greenbeans and corn. .50 range.  Bartells had Libby's for .59.  I for green beans for .33 at Winco.


That's 12items even of you count French fries which really don't meet the criteria.

Watch for a good price and buy when the price is good.

If you are on snap, you can't do that unless you watch the junk food and individual packaged stuff and stick to five dollar dinners. You have to save some money aside for stock.  Your reward is that you will be stocked and never have empty cupboards.  Eventually you will see a day when you can
Plan a months worth of meals from your pantry and just buy your perishables.


start by cutting out the junk food, and buying what is on sale cheap of the protein and vegetable line.
Look for the target prices on your staples.  Watch the inserts and coupon.com for coupons to ,
match up with good buys.

FREE IS A VERY GOOD WORD. If you have access to a computer, join the rewards /store cards of the chain stores.  If you don't have a computer, borrow a friend or relatives computer to at least do a one  time only to get the specials.  Sometimes stuff is free.  This week I got a yogurt for free.  Paired with .40 off of six yo plaits on sale for .50. Made for two almost free yogurts.   the two averaged .05 each.

QFC gives free stuff too.  I got eggs free and frozen vegetables free.

Frozen vegetables are a buck at the dollar store.
The Dollar Tree takes coupons.  If you can match up any coupons, the item can very well be free.
Must make sure that the item doesn't exclude trial size and the brand names match up.
I got 2pepperoni and a box of tissue for free.  Three bucks can translate to 2.5 pounds of cheese or a pound of hamburger

Big Lots does not take snap.

I refuse to take a large amount of time on couponing and the extreme couponing tricks don't work in this state.  I don't think you can get overages, and the only double coupons I have ever heard of is when ALBERTSONS print some in the Sunday paper occasionally. certainly not free reign.  taking every item off the shelf unless their is only six or so left of a product is rude.  Leave something for the next person.  I never buy more than 6-10 of a product.   Am not the only one  that needs or wants to get a bargain! LOl

I don't want to spend more than an hour prepping  for a shopping trip including meal plans.  Give yourself a few weeks to get the hang of it.  I figure If I  save four thousand dollars a year, it is worth my time.

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

4+1=5
Better, cheaper, faster

Watching other shoppers.....

I have to tell myself that what other people buy at the grocery store is none of my business.   Really wanted to say something to the girls in front of me at the checkout line.  I exercised some restraint and kept my mouth shut. Not an easy thing for me to do.  LOL . I'm sure they spent over a hundred dollars and could have been poster children for the how to waste your money society!  LOL

I had to look really hard to find some real food.

If you are trying to eat on SNAP or below, you need to buy REAL food.  If you are having trouble adjusting to "on the cheap" start with baby steps.

• Start by limiting yourself to shopping once a week.  pick the same day each week.  
• Cut out the junk food.  Be sure to buy some popcorn.  It is not cheaper in the bulk isle at TOP.  I checked.  Top is   cheaper than Costco.  
• Write your list of things that you use often.  This is a one time only chore.  I call these my stock items.  Delete things that are not real food.  ..ie packaged things like box mixes.  
• Go over the ads and post to a sheet the cheap meat and veggies and the stock items that are at a target price,  Set yourself a limit of 2.50 a pound for meat average.  If you go over, find a really cheap source of protein to average it with.  Vegetables limit is a buck to a buck and a quarter.  
• Make a meal plan for the week.  Use the things that are cheap in the ads.  
• Start by finding one rock bottom price and buy six of something you use a lot of.  Do this at least a couple of times a shopping trip. Start backwards.  Make a list of dinners that you like and use a cheap source of protein and the major ingredients.  I would suspect pasta is one of them.  
• Keep an eye out for coupons for things you need to buy.  Most of the ads I find are for toiletries and cleaners I don't buy.  I have found some lately for yogurt and eggs.  Eggs are a good source of cheap protein.  

Pick one thing a week to work on, maintaining the thing from the week before.  If the kids are old enough, involve them.  There are things they can help with and they will be learning valuable lessons they will carry with them the rest of their lives.  

When my son got his first apartment, his first purchase was a garbage can and two bottles of bleach.  

he said that he didn't want to live with someone else's germs and the bleach was on a really good sale!

On the cooking side of the equation, the more processed a food is, the more it costs, generally,  Cheese is sometimes cheaper grated than in a block.  I went to the Tillmock factory.  They mold huge bricks of cheese.  Then they put it in a machine to cut it into two pound blocks,  the leftovers go on a bin and go to the shredder.  It should be less expensive.  Costco wholesale is cheaper than regular Costco and has a better variety of cheese.  just remember to bring a sweater , even in the dead of summer.  It is COLD in the dairy room.  

Cooking whole chickens is a lot cheaper than buying parts.  If you learn to cut up a chicken and debone breasts, you will be money ahead.  Just be sure to disinfect all your surfaces and your implements after you are finished and wash your hands often anytime you are working with raw meat,  Don't have raw veggies anywhere near raw meat until you have washed your cutting board.  I have a glass one that I can run through the dishwasher.  It's not the best thing for keeping sharp
knives, but a lot safer.  Just sharpen you knives often.

Bread crumbs are something that , in my opinion, should never be bought.it's a waste of money you are paying sometimes upwards of two dollars a pound for someone else's dry bread.  Why throw your crusts and extra buns out so that you can pay for someone else's!  I put the heels of the bread in the
oven to dry. I don't turn the oven on.  If I have finished baking something ill put the broiler pan with the bread on it on the oven that has been turned off.  When I have enough I either whirl them in the food processor, or take them outside on the deck and grate them with a box grater on a sheet pan.  The birds get the leftovers ! LOL

I get French fries at the dollar store.  They are cheaper than s ratch and save a lot of time.

Tortillas are cheapest at Costco, I don't think the time it takes to make them is worth the savings,

If you want to know whether it is worth your while to make something from scratch, do the math.  How much per hour are you getting for your time.  !

Roasting  off your own chickens is a real moneymaker.  You save half, and get more meat for your buck.

Grinding your own hamburger can be a moneymaker if you are looking for 9 percent or lower hamburger.  If hamburger is too expensive, look for chuck or top round meat that is cheaper and g rind your own.  A mixture of the two works really good.  if you don't have a kitchen aid mixer with attachment, you can use a meat grinder our grandmothers used or a food processor.

We don't like the taste of some of the ready made meatballs, so I batch cook my own.  I use a portion scoop to regulate the size and a rack on a sheet pan to bake them in the oven.  There are a lot of meals you can make from meatballs.

Using a pasta mix is just over the top stupid in most cases.  Read the ingredients before you ever put a mix in your cart.  The ingredients have to by law be listed in order of volume.  Cheese whey is what is left over after they take all the good stuff out of the milk to make cheese.  It's glorified WATER.
THERE IS NO CHEESE IN CHEESE WHEY.  Your first clue is that the nutrition list has ZERO cholesterol.  I've never seen a cheese without it!  That would be wonderful if it wasn't a fantasy!!
You can do the same thing with the added  benefit of passive cooking. Cheaper and more nutritious

I guess my time is up.

thanks for stopping by,
If you have questions, please leave a comment.
Please share

Jane

4+ 1 = 5
 better cheaper faster

  

Planning shopping trip

I thought I would go through my mindset for prepping for my shopping trip.
The fridge and pantry are about  full.  This is a small fill in the holes trip.

• I have printed the ads post on my blog.  
• Analyzing it, I pick SAFEWAYS only.  They have more of what I need on target prices.  
• Printed Just 4 You list.  .  
• Checking egg, salsa, and yogurt stock.  yogurt is free
• Making meal plans from what I have.  
• Marking the things on the ad that I want and adding what I need. I am we'll stocked, so I am stocking at a minimum.  
• Checking for coupons

Grabbing the ad , just4 you list, my list, coupons.  

1. Hot dogs, potato salad, veggie plate, corn ( buns , dill pickles)
2. Sausage bean soup, bread
3. Tacos, refried beans, lettuce and tomatoes  ( ICEBURG LETTUCE, salsa)
4. BBQ pork sandwiches, corn, fruit salad ( raspberries)
5. Salmon, rice,  fruit salad
6. Chunky veggie pasta, salad, bread
7. Mac and cheese, green beans

2 beef

2chicken or pork

2 vegetarian

1 fish

Hot dogs were B1 G1 last week.  On sale this week too

Sausage is cheapest at Costco

Hamburger/taco meat was Batch  cooked when it was on sale.  

Pork was on sale earlier in the month and we sliced it thin and froze it, buns were on for a buck.  

Salmon was at Winco for free.
Cheese was two dollars a pound at ALBERTSONS
Pasta sauce was .78 and pasta was .50.

Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane

4+1= 5
Better, Cheaper, Faster