We have talked about looking for the best buys and taking advantage of sales. The old adage of my mothers is still true---never pay top dollar for anything. Today it's random bits of information. If I was my normal logical self, this would be a bit more cohesive, but given my drugged body, all bets are off! LOL ( I'm in rehab for a hip replacement! )
First, the USDA publishes stats for different income levels and for different sized families. An older couple , thrifty , is about 82.00 a week. Mind you,there are 4.2 weeknight in a month. If you are getting less, they are figuring that some of your other income is going to supplement.
It helps to divide your grocery money into the food groups, in proportion to the food pyramid. We work on 5 dollar dinners for a typical family of four, based on 300. A month. That would be probably closer to two bucks for a couple.
Don't forget coupons. Many times they are for expensive things you don't need, but you can still get good food cheap. I like free. It happens sometimes. Coupons come out in the Sunday paper in the form of inserts. I have a friend that brings me hers, And I get one from the dollar store weekly.
Coupons come out once a month on the computer. You snooze you loose for the expensive ones. You can pick and choose the ones you will print. You can print two per item. Coupons.com. There are a lot of web sites, but most take you back to coupons,com and they don't ask you for your first born sons name? LOL.
Don't overlook other stores. Buy the best of two chain stores and keep your eye open at the other stores. I use Costco for a few things. We have over stocked stores . Sometimes they have really good food that is a bit out of the ordinary and never took off in the regular market. We have Big Lots and Grocery Outlet. . We are getting a Winco near us soon I hear. Bakery outlet stores are good for bread products. If I was really short on budget, I would make my own, there are recipes
that make it easy.
The dollar store is cheaper on some things, but it really pays to know your prices. I can't emphasize that enough. If you can't remember, use a spread sheet or a notebook to keep track.
Last night, in the rehab, we had a baby pizza and spinach for dinner. Pepperoni is .50 a package with a coupon at the dollar store. The crust looked suspiciously like bisquick. I could have done without the spinach and had a little green salad. There was bits of bacon, pepperoni and sausage on the pizza.
I have been getting cheese for as little as two bucks a pound. A little more for a Mexican blend at business Costco.
Portion control is a real key player when you have a less than USDA stat budget. Identifying protein cheap and finding the cheapest cost is paramount. We eat far more protein than we need to.
You can stretch a lot using portion control. It's real easy, especially after being used to cooking for a large family, to overlook. Remember, you can split recipes and use them for more than one meal. Use up bits and pieces for soup, pizza, enchiladas etc.
Popcorn is a good snack. Air popped is real healthy. Something as simple as an enchilada sauce can jack up up your total meal cost. Make your own sauces. The sauce can cost more than the meat.
I was surprised how easy it is to make. If a recipe sounds too complicated, keep looking, the Internet is full of information. I have been getting recipe starter for .50 and less. Recipe starter was introduced a year or so ago. It didn't fly. It is a good product, made by a good company, but the cost was more than the meat you put in it. It hit the secondary market. The dollar store had it for 2/1. I had fifty cent coupons. The dollar store is out now, And so are the coupons. But, Big Lots has them for .50 and they have cheese. Add real cheese and frozen veggies ( often cheaper at the dollar store( watch weights) to coupon purchased pasta and you have a dinner for often times a buck. Or use garlic or basil with tuna.
Your meals can be filling, good, tasty and inexpensive. They don't have to shout economy.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Step 2, suddenly saturday
Normally I would have grocery shopped yesterday. This summer is a lesson in coping and rolling with the punches.LOL
Yesterday we talked,about identifying Our needs and meal planning the basics.
Each week, when I get the newspaper ads, I analyze them. Take a piece of scrap computer paper, divide it into quarters and head each with a grocery store. Now go through the ads and write down any perishable or dairy ad price that is the cheapest. Ditto the stock items on your list. Now pick the one " loss leader protein that is on your list". By buying one meat a week and rotating it, you can save time and money. You portion control the meals for no waste, and dinner is half started.
I rotate hamburger, chicken, pork roast or sausage, and cheese. Sausage last I looked was 8.49 for three pounds at Costco. I watch for cheap 9 percent hamburger. Sometimes a chuck roast will be on sale and grinding my own is a better option. My husband does it with the kitchen aid and controls the fat. You can also use the old fashioned meat grinder.
Chicken continues to be inexpensive. I usually buy a whole chicken and roast it. Use dark meat for BBQ , breast for a chicken dinner or casseroles or other chicken dish and the bones for soup. If I get grill packs. I debone the chicken breast and either cook the quarters for BBQd chicken or shred it for tacos etc.
Hamburger becomes crumbles for pasta sauce, pizza, or sloppy joes. Also, taco meat and meat balls. We usually get a meat loaf from it. Meat balls are a meat group in itself.,,,meatball subs, on rice, potatoes, noodles, the possibilities are endless.
Thanks,
Jane
Yesterday we talked,about identifying Our needs and meal planning the basics.
Each week, when I get the newspaper ads, I analyze them. Take a piece of scrap computer paper, divide it into quarters and head each with a grocery store. Now go through the ads and write down any perishable or dairy ad price that is the cheapest. Ditto the stock items on your list. Now pick the one " loss leader protein that is on your list". By buying one meat a week and rotating it, you can save time and money. You portion control the meals for no waste, and dinner is half started.
I rotate hamburger, chicken, pork roast or sausage, and cheese. Sausage last I looked was 8.49 for three pounds at Costco. I watch for cheap 9 percent hamburger. Sometimes a chuck roast will be on sale and grinding my own is a better option. My husband does it with the kitchen aid and controls the fat. You can also use the old fashioned meat grinder.
Chicken continues to be inexpensive. I usually buy a whole chicken and roast it. Use dark meat for BBQ , breast for a chicken dinner or casseroles or other chicken dish and the bones for soup. If I get grill packs. I debone the chicken breast and either cook the quarters for BBQd chicken or shred it for tacos etc.
Hamburger becomes crumbles for pasta sauce, pizza, or sloppy joes. Also, taco meat and meat balls. We usually get a meat loaf from it. Meat balls are a meat group in itself.,,,meatball subs, on rice, potatoes, noodles, the possibilities are endless.
Thanks,
Jane
Friday, July 11, 2014
Freaky Friday- the basics edition.
I'm not on a position at this time to shop and cook and clean out the fridge. Long story, bit the short of it, I landed in a rehab center and are taking a mini vacation. LOL
So, it's time to get back to basics.
The reason why I started groceries on the cheap is because I was getting requests for people to teach them how to make it on food stamps. They were running out of momey before they ran out of month. With the rising costs of food and the shrinking snap dollar, ot os getting harder to make the meals hit the table. The good news is the Internet if full of information everywhere you look and you get to filter out what is usable to you.
The main objective in groceries on the cheap is to NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR ANYTHING. BUY LOW AND EAT HIGH.
A few exercises will set you up do eat well on less the rest of your lives.
So, it's time to get back to basics.
The reason why I started groceries on the cheap is because I was getting requests for people to teach them how to make it on food stamps. They were running out of momey before they ran out of month. With the rising costs of food and the shrinking snap dollar, ot os getting harder to make the meals hit the table. The good news is the Internet if full of information everywhere you look and you get to filter out what is usable to you.
The main objective in groceries on the cheap is to NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR ANYTHING. BUY LOW AND EAT HIGH.
A few exercises will set you up do eat well on less the rest of your lives.
- Identify the inexpensive sources of protein that your family will eat. In our home that would be chicken, eggs, cheese, pork, beans and rice,beef,
- Write down meals that incorporate these sources . Do at least 7' preferably 14 to assure variety.
- Identify the shelf ready staple items that you'd will use to cook these meals. Also freezer.Start a price book and identify the lowest prices for these foods. Use the weekly ads and your shopping trips to post prices. Name of product, size, date, store, price? with coupon?
- When you find the right price, buy a) as many as you can, b) as many as the store will let you ( limits) or c) as many as you need to reach your goal. I keep a six to 12 week supply.
- If you can match a store sale with a manufacturers coupon you. really hit pay dirt!
That's all for today. More tomorrow.
Thanks
Jane
Please share
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Wicked wednesday
Our whole life has blown apart the last month. I have come to the realization with pain and ice, that we have to take stock I'm what we do have left and trudge on. This old Doe-Blood has blood is pooped. I've lost my fight.
That being said, our family unit is intact.
I have no place to sell cards, I have no place to teach cards. I have put put feelers. All I can do is keep trying,
My husband is applying for a couple of jobs that would suit him well and only time will tell.
Baby granddaughter still needs help understanding rules. We can concentrate on that.
If I can emphasize my budgeting skills to my family, we should survive a while anyway. I have a lot of stock in the pantry. That's what it is for. And, I didn't pay more than 1/2 price for any of it.
I digress.
I am not buying food now, stuck in a rehab torture chamber , LOL. Thankfully, I don't have to. Hopefully, my daughter and husband are making dinners work. The lack of grocery shopping should
Do a reasonable help in replacing our income for a while.
I,will go,back to analyzing the ads as soon as I can get the ads. Stick in a hospital bed is not very conducent of that.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
That being said, our family unit is intact.
I have no place to sell cards, I have no place to teach cards. I have put put feelers. All I can do is keep trying,
My husband is applying for a couple of jobs that would suit him well and only time will tell.
Baby granddaughter still needs help understanding rules. We can concentrate on that.
If I can emphasize my budgeting skills to my family, we should survive a while anyway. I have a lot of stock in the pantry. That's what it is for. And, I didn't pay more than 1/2 price for any of it.
I digress.
I am not buying food now, stuck in a rehab torture chamber , LOL. Thankfully, I don't have to. Hopefully, my daughter and husband are making dinners work. The lack of grocery shopping should
Do a reasonable help in replacing our income for a while.
I,will go,back to analyzing the ads as soon as I can get the ads. Stick in a hospital bed is not very conducent of that.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Suddenly Sumday
It os sindY. I've been fighting the what day is ot demons all week. LOL
The ads
Fred Meyers
Cherries 1.99
Blues 4.98
Chicken .99
Eggs 4/5@@
Butter 2/4@@
Bagels 1.99
Canned veggies 2/1@@
Radishes 2/.88
Dreyers 2/6$$
Walgreens
Tom sauce 2/1@@
Nuts 1.99
That's about ot.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
The ads
Fred Meyers
Cherries 1.99
Blues 4.98
Chicken .99
Eggs 4/5@@
Butter 2/4@@
Bagels 1.99
Canned veggies 2/1@@
Radishes 2/.88
Dreyers 2/6$$
Walgreens
Tom sauce 2/1@@
Nuts 1.99
That's about ot.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, July 3, 2014
What a revolting development! This turned out to be!
Ok, as if my blogs haven't been sporadic lately with the mall closing , Tuesday I fell and broke my hop and wrist! I'll be I'm rehab for three weeks, will coots when I can.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Suddenly Sunday
Since I thought yesterday was Sunday, I'm really off. My daughter is putting turkey chili in the slow cooker. We are going to try new recipes and use up the freezer. It's getting full along with the pantry. Since the antique mall is closing, and it will be some time before it opens again, this is the time I was stockpiling for. Stay tuned it should get interesting what we can come up with to eat. LOL
We are both trying to get new employment,m we don't need to work a lot, just enough to pad the budget a little. I am hoping to find students to teach. I would like two classes a month.
I digress .
Ideas
If you are making something that is vegetarian or something that doesn't have a lot of protein in it., supplement the dish with another protein. Last night we had corn chowder with a garnish of bacon. I made cheese biscuits to go with. I could have also made a pudding. Cheese biscuits are simply a baking powder biscuit that is rolled instead of cut. Sprinkle the top of the flattened dough with cheese and rolls cut into slices . My recipe called for 9 biscuits so I cut the roll into none slices. Bake according to directions. I used the convection oven so it didn't take the entire time.
Minced clams are on sale often. I can get the, as cheap as .89. Ditto tuna lately. Eggs are a cheap source of protein and got a bad wrap a few years ago. Further studies decided they weren't so bad after all. Using them as a source of protein without the other traditional lumbermans breakfast is still a good meal.
Drastic times call for drastic measures. Think out of the box. There is nothing wrong with breakfast for dinner. My mother missed to make an omlette that she started on the stove and finished in the oven where it puffed up. Of course, ot fell flatter than a pancake when she brought it out of the oven.
LOL
Soups are a food way to stretch a buck. A whole chicken at a buck a pound can go a long ways. There are recipes everywhere.
We like impossible pie.
Cheerios now come on a protein rich version. There are good coupons for it.
I guess that's all
Please share
Jane
We are both trying to get new employment,m we don't need to work a lot, just enough to pad the budget a little. I am hoping to find students to teach. I would like two classes a month.
I digress .
Ideas
If you are making something that is vegetarian or something that doesn't have a lot of protein in it., supplement the dish with another protein. Last night we had corn chowder with a garnish of bacon. I made cheese biscuits to go with. I could have also made a pudding. Cheese biscuits are simply a baking powder biscuit that is rolled instead of cut. Sprinkle the top of the flattened dough with cheese and rolls cut into slices . My recipe called for 9 biscuits so I cut the roll into none slices. Bake according to directions. I used the convection oven so it didn't take the entire time.
Minced clams are on sale often. I can get the, as cheap as .89. Ditto tuna lately. Eggs are a cheap source of protein and got a bad wrap a few years ago. Further studies decided they weren't so bad after all. Using them as a source of protein without the other traditional lumbermans breakfast is still a good meal.
Drastic times call for drastic measures. Think out of the box. There is nothing wrong with breakfast for dinner. My mother missed to make an omlette that she started on the stove and finished in the oven where it puffed up. Of course, ot fell flatter than a pancake when she brought it out of the oven.
LOL
Soups are a food way to stretch a buck. A whole chicken at a buck a pound can go a long ways. There are recipes everywhere.
We like impossible pie.
Cheerios now come on a protein rich version. There are good coupons for it.
I guess that's all
Please share
Jane
Saturday, June 28, 2014
It is Saturday.
We went to the next town today and I got some recipe starter at big lots and cheeses at grocery outlet. We went on to Fred Meyers.m I got the things in ad, couldn't find the chicken and was confused about the corn. I used my coupons. It just dawned in me that today is Saturday,not Sunday. Guess having a back ache and working in the heat with no breaks got to me,
Corn is 6/2
Black olives are a buck w a coupon in the paper. Grill packs are a buck. Tillamook is 2/6 with a coupon.
Today, I put a corn chowder in the crock pot and it cooked all day. I added the cream and bacon at the last. I made cheese biscuits to supplement the garnish of bacon on the soup.
Tomorrow. My daughter is going to try a new chili recipe for the crock pot. We got a little recipe book at the antique mall and we decided to try some of the recipes. Most of them are low cost and sound really good.
We are working on securing new employment. But in the mean time. We are going to conch on the budget and make do. I am working on a new place to sell product and trying to get students to teach.
Look for more penny pinching recipes.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Corn is 6/2
Black olives are a buck w a coupon in the paper. Grill packs are a buck. Tillamook is 2/6 with a coupon.
Today, I put a corn chowder in the crock pot and it cooked all day. I added the cream and bacon at the last. I made cheese biscuits to supplement the garnish of bacon on the soup.
Tomorrow. My daughter is going to try a new chili recipe for the crock pot. We got a little recipe book at the antique mall and we decided to try some of the recipes. Most of them are low cost and sound really good.
We are working on securing new employment. But in the mean time. We are going to conch on the budget and make do. I am working on a new place to sell product and trying to get students to teach.
Look for more penny pinching recipes.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Terrific Thursday, the ads
It's more than crazy at work. Nine hour days where you are lucky to get a bite to eat and a sip of water. We did nine times the volume of salsa as normal yesterday. Just crazy. A lot of people are sad we are being forced out. We will probably come back at some point on time.
I digress. The ads
SAFEWAYS
Apples 1.99
Bread 1.00
2 lbs shredded cheese 6.99
Ice cream 2.99 dreyers
Corn 6/2
Grapes 2.99
Bumble bee tuna 1.00
5 dollar Friday
Sandwich
Berries 2/5
Strawberry custard pie
Coffee
2 lbs Tillamook cheese
Ice cream 2/5
QFC
Chereies 3.98, 2.99
Chicken 1.00
Berries 3.98
Hebrew national 3.49
Buns 1.00
Ice cream 2/5
ALBERTSONS
Buy 4
Dreyers 1.99
General Mills cereal 1.88$$, when you buy 5
Nathan's BOGO
Radishes .50
Grapes 2.99
Blues. 4.99
Cherries 3.99
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I digress. The ads
SAFEWAYS
Apples 1.99
Bread 1.00
2 lbs shredded cheese 6.99
Ice cream 2.99 dreyers
Corn 6/2
Grapes 2.99
Bumble bee tuna 1.00
5 dollar Friday
Sandwich
Berries 2/5
Strawberry custard pie
Coffee
2 lbs Tillamook cheese
Ice cream 2/5
QFC
Chereies 3.98, 2.99
Chicken 1.00
Berries 3.98
Hebrew national 3.49
Buns 1.00
Ice cream 2/5
ALBERTSONS
Buy 4
Dreyers 1.99
General Mills cereal 1.88$$, when you buy 5
Nathan's BOGO
Radishes .50
Grapes 2.99
Blues. 4.99
Cherries 3.99
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
It pays to complain.
My experience today.....
I went to cook my pork tenderloin that I bought on Friday the 13th on a five dollar Friday deal. It had a May 28th date on it. We had beef tips and mashed potatoes instead last night. Those were the beef tips that I got for two dollars with double coupons.
Today I took the roast back, even though I had posted my receipt and lost it. They told me I could replace ot. The butcher gave me a regular pork tenderloin, 24 ounces instead of the seasoned one 18 ounces for even price. The regular price now is 8.99. SCORE,
You can never guess what we had for dinner!
I went to cook my pork tenderloin that I bought on Friday the 13th on a five dollar Friday deal. It had a May 28th date on it. We had beef tips and mashed potatoes instead last night. Those were the beef tips that I got for two dollars with double coupons.
Today I took the roast back, even though I had posted my receipt and lost it. They told me I could replace ot. The butcher gave me a regular pork tenderloin, 24 ounces instead of the seasoned one 18 ounces for even price. The regular price now is 8.99. SCORE,
You can never guess what we had for dinner!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Sunday supreme , the third time is a charm!
I've decided to take a day at a time. I am working on a class on my studio and hope I get to teach it. At least the subject is a challenge and probably the best thing that could happen; it makes my mind stop racing.
I did speak my mind.here are two papers in our small town, one os an on line paper,and the other a regular newspaper. The in line paper tried to make it sound like the antique mall we work (ed) at was closed two years ago. She was clearly biased in her writing from the get go.m I called her on it and she retracted saying they wanted more upscale tenants in the building. The building , after they remodel will have ten thousand square feet of beer establishments and a art museum. They want to be a stopping off point for the commuters. The bus, ferry, and train stations are near by.
My comment.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10203197575092714&id=1608277980
I did a while blog, it was erased. So goes my day. I'll try to recap.
Trying new recipes is a good way to mix up dinner time and keep frugal eating fresh and interesting.
Recipes are found just about everywhere these days and can often be adapted to meet your needs.
Stuffed tomatoes
A good recipe when tomatoes are in avoidance and cheap.
6 medium tomatoes. ( or three large ones cut in half. )
1 cup orzo, cooked and drained
1/2 cup grated cheese
1T melted butter
Basil, parsley, salt and pepper
6 T reserve flesh, drained.
Cut small slice off the top of the tomatoes . Scoop out the fleet leaving some wall on the tomato. Reserve the flesh. Make stiffing, fill tomatoes . Place in a baking pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until soft and warm.
This recipe came from my sisters recipe box. It was from a friend of my parents and came from WWII when some food items were rationed and some you couldn't get at all. Red velvet,cake came about during the war because you couldn't get chocolate and someone wanted chocolate cake.
____________________________________________________________
The #1 Worst Carb Ever?
Click to Learn #1 Carb that Kills Your Blood Sugar (Don't Eat This!)FixYourBloodSugar.com
I did speak my mind.here are two papers in our small town, one os an on line paper,and the other a regular newspaper. The in line paper tried to make it sound like the antique mall we work (ed) at was closed two years ago. She was clearly biased in her writing from the get go.m I called her on it and she retracted saying they wanted more upscale tenants in the building. The building , after they remodel will have ten thousand square feet of beer establishments and a art museum. They want to be a stopping off point for the commuters. The bus, ferry, and train stations are near by.
My comment.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10203197575092714&id=1608277980
I did a while blog, it was erased. So goes my day. I'll try to recap.
Trying new recipes is a good way to mix up dinner time and keep frugal eating fresh and interesting.
Recipes are found just about everywhere these days and can often be adapted to meet your needs.
Stuffed tomatoes
A good recipe when tomatoes are in avoidance and cheap.
6 medium tomatoes. ( or three large ones cut in half. )
1 cup orzo, cooked and drained
1/2 cup grated cheese
1T melted butter
Basil, parsley, salt and pepper
6 T reserve flesh, drained.
Cut small slice off the top of the tomatoes . Scoop out the fleet leaving some wall on the tomato. Reserve the flesh. Make stiffing, fill tomatoes . Place in a baking pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until soft and warm.
This recipe came from my sisters recipe box. It was from a friend of my parents and came from WWII when some food items were rationed and some you couldn't get at all. Red velvet,cake came about during the war because you couldn't get chocolate and someone wanted chocolate cake.
Crazy Cake
1 1/2 cups cake flour (sifted)
1 cup granulated sugar
3 Tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Sift above ingredients together into an ungreased 8" x 8" pan. Make a well in center and add:
6 Tablespoons salad oil
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 cup cold water or cold coffee
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix together with a fork. Do not beat. Bake @ 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until tests done.
Frosting:
2 cups confectioners sugar
1/3 cube of butter
dash of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg white OR 2 Tablespoons milk
Cream sugar and butter. Add salt, vanilla and egg white OR milk and beat until smooth and creamy. Fold in marshmallows and English walnuts.
____________________________________________________________
The #1 Worst Carb Ever?
Click to Learn #1 Carb that Kills Your Blood Sugar (Don't Eat This!)FixYourBloodSugar.com
Friday, June 20, 2014
Friday focus
In the last 15 days, our whole life has done a drastic change. We are both going to be out of work, I have lost my space to sell antiques and product. Our budget, accordingly is shot. And now our granddaughter is going to spend the summer with us instead of going to preschool. It seems they have decided she is special needs and they do t have the skills to deal with her. She's a smart, energetic girl that doesn't want to slow down for anything. She doesn't fit their mould.
I digress.
Last night I made pasta. I was going for Mac and cheese, but opened the wrong can of recipe starter. I have tomato that I got of free at the dollar store.
Betty Crocker sent another list of foil packet , grill dinners. You can also cook them in the oven if you don't want to grill. Kids think it is like camping out. There are less dishes. And some of them are really good. They had a pineapple and chicken one that sounds really good. Also potatoes, veggies, and another chicken dish with thighs. Our kitchen is facing east, so it's really hot at night, but the deck is cool.
We have a lot of salads in the summer. Or I find an easily made protein and I make salads on Sunday and we eat off of them all week. Basically, a salad bar and an entre. It makes for less work and less time in a hot kitchen.
Nancy, I loved your idea last Friday. I haven't made those, but I remember my mom making them. I saw a recipe a while back using canned clams. We just usually have the Mac and cheese and a veggie. We go to an upscale restaurant for happy hour group sometimes. They have ala carte for cheap. My husband gets crab cakes. They also have a stuffed chicken with asparagus. I rarely fet asparagus because it's expensive and I am the only one that likes it. Both items are around five bucks, We go out with friends once a week for happy hourmbecausemots a cheap dinner.
I don't count going out in our food budget. Other than happy hour, we don't go out often. If we don't replace our income. It will be even less! LOL. I do feed is on an average of 62.00 a week. And, that is 25 percent less than the USDA stats for thrifty for just my husband and I. We also feed my daughter and granddaughter . My daughter buys some specialty foods for them. ( they are semi vegetarian) .
I usually pick Wednesday and clean out the fridge and try to use up the weeks veggies that are looking peeked. I like to make muffins or tea breads. It's a good way to hide a veggie.
I goes that all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I digress.
Last night I made pasta. I was going for Mac and cheese, but opened the wrong can of recipe starter. I have tomato that I got of free at the dollar store.
Betty Crocker sent another list of foil packet , grill dinners. You can also cook them in the oven if you don't want to grill. Kids think it is like camping out. There are less dishes. And some of them are really good. They had a pineapple and chicken one that sounds really good. Also potatoes, veggies, and another chicken dish with thighs. Our kitchen is facing east, so it's really hot at night, but the deck is cool.
We have a lot of salads in the summer. Or I find an easily made protein and I make salads on Sunday and we eat off of them all week. Basically, a salad bar and an entre. It makes for less work and less time in a hot kitchen.
Nancy, I loved your idea last Friday. I haven't made those, but I remember my mom making them. I saw a recipe a while back using canned clams. We just usually have the Mac and cheese and a veggie. We go to an upscale restaurant for happy hour group sometimes. They have ala carte for cheap. My husband gets crab cakes. They also have a stuffed chicken with asparagus. I rarely fet asparagus because it's expensive and I am the only one that likes it. Both items are around five bucks, We go out with friends once a week for happy hourmbecausemots a cheap dinner.
I don't count going out in our food budget. Other than happy hour, we don't go out often. If we don't replace our income. It will be even less! LOL. I do feed is on an average of 62.00 a week. And, that is 25 percent less than the USDA stats for thrifty for just my husband and I. We also feed my daughter and granddaughter . My daughter buys some specialty foods for them. ( they are semi vegetarian) .
I usually pick Wednesday and clean out the fridge and try to use up the weeks veggies that are looking peeked. I like to make muffins or tea breads. It's a good way to hide a veggie.
I goes that all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Terrific Thursday
One more day this week to work. I hope I can hold up. Yesterday about killed me. My husband went without coffee or anything to drink until the end of shift. We had double the staff, but five times the volume of sales . With both of is loosing our jobs, I will be spending more time with coupons . The sad thing is that because a developer has a pie on the sky idea, 200 people will loose their jobs. Jobs for old people are hard to find. The biggest joke is that they wanted more upscale renters we sell crystal, china, diamonds and gold jewelry amd sterling. They are replacing it with beer bottles. LOL
Roast is BOGO at three dollars a pound. It would be a good time to grind your own hamburger. That's cheaper than ground beef at the lowest grade. We have been eating a lot of pork and chicken since the price of beef went so high. A little variety would be welcome.
Fruits and vegetables are coming in season and the prices are good at some stores. Last night we had two for one steaks at the Channel Marker. It is cheaper than buying steak at home and I was totally beat. Even a easy meal would have been a challenge.
I digress.
Ideas for dinner. The concept of cheap dinners has changed dramatically with the high cost of beef. Pork os following suit. The six dollar a roll Jimmy Dean sausage at Costco is now 8.49. Using a small amount to add flavour to a soup is still within reach. I can still get pork chops reasonable. Cheese is on sale periodically. My husband finally got the concept of buying it when it is on sale wether we are out of cheese or not when he saw it for eight dollars a brick. An example of it pays to study the grocery ads was when the same brand and amount of cheese ranged on the ads between four dollars a brick and eight dollars a Brick.
Garden Fettuccine
Pizza
Breakfast for dinner
Veggie Mac and cheese is always a winner here.
We like an impossible pie with cheese and a little meat. Served with a field green salad with a fruit and raspberry vinaigrette.
Pesto chicken panini is good . Make pesto with parsley and walnuts.
Pesto with fresh stir fry veggies and shrimp is good. SAFEWAYS still has shrimp reasonable sometimes.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Roast is BOGO at three dollars a pound. It would be a good time to grind your own hamburger. That's cheaper than ground beef at the lowest grade. We have been eating a lot of pork and chicken since the price of beef went so high. A little variety would be welcome.
Fruits and vegetables are coming in season and the prices are good at some stores. Last night we had two for one steaks at the Channel Marker. It is cheaper than buying steak at home and I was totally beat. Even a easy meal would have been a challenge.
I digress.
Ideas for dinner. The concept of cheap dinners has changed dramatically with the high cost of beef. Pork os following suit. The six dollar a roll Jimmy Dean sausage at Costco is now 8.49. Using a small amount to add flavour to a soup is still within reach. I can still get pork chops reasonable. Cheese is on sale periodically. My husband finally got the concept of buying it when it is on sale wether we are out of cheese or not when he saw it for eight dollars a brick. An example of it pays to study the grocery ads was when the same brand and amount of cheese ranged on the ads between four dollars a brick and eight dollars a Brick.
Garden Fettuccine
Pizza
Breakfast for dinner
Veggie Mac and cheese is always a winner here.
We like an impossible pie with cheese and a little meat. Served with a field green salad with a fruit and raspberry vinaigrette.
Pesto chicken panini is good . Make pesto with parsley and walnuts.
Pesto with fresh stir fry veggies and shrimp is good. SAFEWAYS still has shrimp reasonable sometimes.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Wicked wednesday
The ads , we are down to three plus Fred Meyers that come out on Sunday. I see a smaller version of SAFEWAYS and ALBERTSONS in the Sunday paper. I did go to Walgreens. They paid me .25 to buy toothpaste and I got dish washing pods for free.
QFC
Berries 1.88
Cherries 3.88
Broccoli .99
Sirloin tip roast BOGO nets 3.00 a pound
Yogurt 10/5$$
Radishes 2/1
Pasta 1.00$$
Bread 1.00
ALBERTSONS
Strawberries 3.99
Milk 2/5@@
Bread .99@@
Hamburger 2.98@@-15 fat
Cantelope 3.49 ea
.80 sale
Refried and black beans
Tomatoes
Catsup
BBQ sauce
Manwich
Coupons
Ice cream 2.49
Crisco oil 2.99
SAFEWAYS
Corn 6/2
Ice cream 2.99
Milk 2.89
Berries 1.99
Chicken .99
Cherries 3.99
Peppers 1.00
Yoplait 10/5$$
5 dollar Friday
Berries 18 oz
Sirloin tips 5.00
Edamame
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
QFC
Berries 1.88
Cherries 3.88
Broccoli .99
Sirloin tip roast BOGO nets 3.00 a pound
Yogurt 10/5$$
Radishes 2/1
Pasta 1.00$$
Bread 1.00
ALBERTSONS
Strawberries 3.99
Milk 2/5@@
Bread .99@@
Hamburger 2.98@@-15 fat
Cantelope 3.49 ea
.80 sale
Refried and black beans
Tomatoes
Catsup
BBQ sauce
Manwich
Coupons
Ice cream 2.49
Crisco oil 2.99
SAFEWAYS
Corn 6/2
Ice cream 2.99
Milk 2.89
Berries 1.99
Chicken .99
Cherries 3.99
Peppers 1.00
Yoplait 10/5$$
5 dollar Friday
Berries 18 oz
Sirloin tips 5.00
Edamame
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Happy Father's Day note freebies at Walgreens
I have the ads for this week.
Walgreens
PUREX laundry detergent, buy 1 , get two free
Nuts 1.99
Eggs, turkey bacon 2/3
Finish dw detergent. 4.99, mail in rebate in paper 4.99. Final cost FREE
Clams .89@@
Colgate toothpaste 3.00
Register reward 2.50
Coupon in paper .50
Nets FREE
Fred Meyers
Cherries 3.48
Eggs 4/5
Milk 4/5@@
Bread 3/4@@
Berries 2/4
Tomatoes .99
Sour cream .99@@
Beans or tomatoes .50 limit 6@@
Beans and tomatoes are a good stock items. Think casseroles. Soups, tacos, salsa,
THATS ABOUT ALL.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Walgreens
PUREX laundry detergent, buy 1 , get two free
Nuts 1.99
Eggs, turkey bacon 2/3
Finish dw detergent. 4.99, mail in rebate in paper 4.99. Final cost FREE
Clams .89@@
Colgate toothpaste 3.00
Register reward 2.50
Coupon in paper .50
Nets FREE
Fred Meyers
Cherries 3.48
Eggs 4/5
Milk 4/5@@
Bread 3/4@@
Berries 2/4
Tomatoes .99
Sour cream .99@@
Beans or tomatoes .50 limit 6@@
Beans and tomatoes are a good stock items. Think casseroles. Soups, tacos, salsa,
THATS ABOUT ALL.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, June 13, 2014
Freaky Friday
Things are getting crazy at work. I'm thinking of changing our name to the city zoo soon. We don't have time to even gulp a drink of water. What a let down when we are closed . Bummer. We can only hope and pray the owners find a building soon.
What to do with what you have. Last weeks protein of choice was chicken and pork tenderloins. Finding any meat under five dollars a pound is iffy. Meat has to be under five dollars a pound in order to make a five dollar dinner. A lot of the people I have talked to get three hundred dollars a month in snap. If one could really feed a family on a hundred dollars a month,that would be a nice feat. I haven't seen that lately and still have filling, nutritional , balanced meals.
At three hundred dollars.mdomner has to be five dollars to leave five dollars for breakfast and lunch.
There are a lot of new chicken dishes on the Betty Crocker e mail feed. If you haven't signed up, ot os a good thing to do. It is free and sometimes there are coupons and links to where ingredients are on sale. Ots constantly changing and new recipes are happening every week. This week there is a jerk chicken with black beans and sweet potatoes. Something I have never heard of before. I'm not sure my family would eat it, but it is totally different.
Chicken os still a buck a pound for grill packs at Fred Meyers.
Pasta is a buck and there are coupons out there at qfc
Hebrew national hot dogs are three dollars at QFC. You can cut your costs by making pigs in blankets with bisquick or adding them to beans. I try to limit our processed meat consumption to one time a week or less.
Pepperoni continues to be fifty cents with a coupon at the dollar store. (Dollar tree)
There is a recipe for pizza crust on a previous blog. Easy and made in the food processor. Fun for children.
Tacos are fast and easy. You can make your own taco seasoning, I mix it with water and simmer shredded chicken just lomg enough to season and heat it through. Soft shells are cheap at Costco and grocery outlet.
Cheese os on sale this week. Mac and cheese os a family favorite. I can still get cheese recipe starter at Big Lots for fifty cents. They don't take coupons and I, not finding any. Some of my recipe starter I got for free at the dollar store. That's another reason why you should stock when you find things really cheap. Adding some real cheese to the starter stretches cheese that sometimes os selling for eight dollars a brick. I had jalapeño chicken Mac and cheese at happy hour a few weeks ago. They added jalapeños to the Mac and cheese, and added shredded chicken in a pile on top of the bowl. It was really good. I NEVER pass up a cheese sale of less than three dollars a pound. You can always freeze it, add a little (Tablespoon) if cornstarch to it to keep it from clumping. It's fine of you melt it on pizza or on Mac and cheese.
SAFEWAYS has a family pizza for five dollars on Friday. It is so big I can barely get it onto my big oven, I cut it in half and make two meals. Top ot with veggies or any leftover cooked meat you can find.
I wrote a blog on almost free pizza. It's a concept, not the fact that someone os giving away free pizza. If you chop a little extra of anything that you are chopping during the week to make dinner and out ot on a bag on the freezer door and do the same for any chopped or cooked meat that would go on a pizza. I keep the meats separate, but the veggies I stick together, By the end of the week, you have a pizza almost made and gleamed from your leftovers. Of you don't want to make a crust, there are crusts for a buck or two at big lots. ( thin)
Grapes are 1.28'at QFC and Fred M eyes. It's a good time to have breakfast for dinner. Blueberry pancakes and turkey bacon! Scrambled eggs , toast and grapes, or hash browns. We like quiche. I serve it with a salad with field greens and grapes or blueberries, or strawberries. We also like a chop salad with field greens, chicken cubes, grapes and walnuts. Or apple and toasted or sugared walnuts.
Serve with a roll or biscuit.
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
What to do with what you have. Last weeks protein of choice was chicken and pork tenderloins. Finding any meat under five dollars a pound is iffy. Meat has to be under five dollars a pound in order to make a five dollar dinner. A lot of the people I have talked to get three hundred dollars a month in snap. If one could really feed a family on a hundred dollars a month,that would be a nice feat. I haven't seen that lately and still have filling, nutritional , balanced meals.
At three hundred dollars.mdomner has to be five dollars to leave five dollars for breakfast and lunch.
There are a lot of new chicken dishes on the Betty Crocker e mail feed. If you haven't signed up, ot os a good thing to do. It is free and sometimes there are coupons and links to where ingredients are on sale. Ots constantly changing and new recipes are happening every week. This week there is a jerk chicken with black beans and sweet potatoes. Something I have never heard of before. I'm not sure my family would eat it, but it is totally different.
Chicken os still a buck a pound for grill packs at Fred Meyers.
Pasta is a buck and there are coupons out there at qfc
Hebrew national hot dogs are three dollars at QFC. You can cut your costs by making pigs in blankets with bisquick or adding them to beans. I try to limit our processed meat consumption to one time a week or less.
Pepperoni continues to be fifty cents with a coupon at the dollar store. (Dollar tree)
There is a recipe for pizza crust on a previous blog. Easy and made in the food processor. Fun for children.
Tacos are fast and easy. You can make your own taco seasoning, I mix it with water and simmer shredded chicken just lomg enough to season and heat it through. Soft shells are cheap at Costco and grocery outlet.
Cheese os on sale this week. Mac and cheese os a family favorite. I can still get cheese recipe starter at Big Lots for fifty cents. They don't take coupons and I, not finding any. Some of my recipe starter I got for free at the dollar store. That's another reason why you should stock when you find things really cheap. Adding some real cheese to the starter stretches cheese that sometimes os selling for eight dollars a brick. I had jalapeño chicken Mac and cheese at happy hour a few weeks ago. They added jalapeños to the Mac and cheese, and added shredded chicken in a pile on top of the bowl. It was really good. I NEVER pass up a cheese sale of less than three dollars a pound. You can always freeze it, add a little (Tablespoon) if cornstarch to it to keep it from clumping. It's fine of you melt it on pizza or on Mac and cheese.
SAFEWAYS has a family pizza for five dollars on Friday. It is so big I can barely get it onto my big oven, I cut it in half and make two meals. Top ot with veggies or any leftover cooked meat you can find.
I wrote a blog on almost free pizza. It's a concept, not the fact that someone os giving away free pizza. If you chop a little extra of anything that you are chopping during the week to make dinner and out ot on a bag on the freezer door and do the same for any chopped or cooked meat that would go on a pizza. I keep the meats separate, but the veggies I stick together, By the end of the week, you have a pizza almost made and gleamed from your leftovers. Of you don't want to make a crust, there are crusts for a buck or two at big lots. ( thin)
Grapes are 1.28'at QFC and Fred M eyes. It's a good time to have breakfast for dinner. Blueberry pancakes and turkey bacon! Scrambled eggs , toast and grapes, or hash browns. We like quiche. I serve it with a salad with field greens and grapes or blueberries, or strawberries. We also like a chop salad with field greens, chicken cubes, grapes and walnuts. Or apple and toasted or sugared walnuts.
Serve with a roll or biscuit.
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Wicked Wednesday, the ads
It's going to be a long , hard couple of months ahead, I am afraid. I think the old adage, one day at a time os in order.
QFC
Salsa 2/4
Roma's .99
Cherries 3.88
Grapes 1.28
Barilla pasta 1.00$$
Strawberries 2/bins 1.00
Corn 2/1
Hebrew national 2/6
SAFEWAYS
Dreyers 2.99
Potato salad 4.99
HORMEL lunch meat or pepperoni $$ ( pepperoni is at the dollar store with a coupon it's .50.
Peaches 1.49
Corn 6/2
Berries 2/5
Tuna .99
Mayo 1.99@@
Salsa 1.79@@
Five dollar Friday
Pizza 5.00
Shrimp
Sub sandwich
Coffee
ALBERTSONS
Corn 4/1
Cereal 1.49. Look for coupons
2lbs cheese 4.99@@
Mega. Buy more, save more. Buy 10/ save 5. On to 30/15
Prices are net, remember mix or match quantity prices
Sour cream, cottage cheese 1.49
Oatmeal 2.49
Peanut butter 1.99
Olive oil 4.99
Buy 4/ save 2
BREYERS 2.49
Mayo 2.99
Kraft salad dressing 1.99 ck for coupons
BBQ sauce .79
Kraft singles 2.79
Taco shells .99
Note there were only three ads thos week. Top is closing. Soon there will be only two ads when ALBERTSONS merges with SAFEWAYS. SAFEWAYS is the better of the stores in my opinion , but ALBERTSONS is going to be the pick of the two stores. That is sad, because we have half as many choices., more choices usually make for lower prices. We are gaining a Winco in our area, and we also have Fred Meyers a few miles away along with grocery Outlet and Bog Lots. For is, Fred Meyer, grocery outlet and bog lots are all on the same street in the next town. Winco was several towns away, so having it close to home will be an improvement, they have a great bulk department and prices are fairly good. You have to bag your own, so take a helper with you. We don't know how long the transitions will take.
For a person that doesn't like upheaval and not knowing what is going to happen next, this is a very stressful time for me.
Prayers and hugs,
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
QFC
Salsa 2/4
Roma's .99
Cherries 3.88
Grapes 1.28
Barilla pasta 1.00$$
Strawberries 2/bins 1.00
Corn 2/1
Hebrew national 2/6
SAFEWAYS
Dreyers 2.99
Potato salad 4.99
HORMEL lunch meat or pepperoni $$ ( pepperoni is at the dollar store with a coupon it's .50.
Peaches 1.49
Corn 6/2
Berries 2/5
Tuna .99
Mayo 1.99@@
Salsa 1.79@@
Five dollar Friday
Pizza 5.00
Shrimp
Sub sandwich
Coffee
ALBERTSONS
Corn 4/1
Cereal 1.49. Look for coupons
2lbs cheese 4.99@@
Mega. Buy more, save more. Buy 10/ save 5. On to 30/15
Prices are net, remember mix or match quantity prices
Sour cream, cottage cheese 1.49
Oatmeal 2.49
Peanut butter 1.99
Olive oil 4.99
Buy 4/ save 2
BREYERS 2.49
Mayo 2.99
Kraft salad dressing 1.99 ck for coupons
BBQ sauce .79
Kraft singles 2.79
Taco shells .99
Note there were only three ads thos week. Top is closing. Soon there will be only two ads when ALBERTSONS merges with SAFEWAYS. SAFEWAYS is the better of the stores in my opinion , but ALBERTSONS is going to be the pick of the two stores. That is sad, because we have half as many choices., more choices usually make for lower prices. We are gaining a Winco in our area, and we also have Fred Meyers a few miles away along with grocery Outlet and Bog Lots. For is, Fred Meyer, grocery outlet and bog lots are all on the same street in the next town. Winco was several towns away, so having it close to home will be an improvement, they have a great bulk department and prices are fairly good. You have to bag your own, so take a helper with you. We don't know how long the transitions will take.
For a person that doesn't like upheaval and not knowing what is going to happen next, this is a very stressful time for me.
Prayers and hugs,
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, June 9, 2014
Monday madness.
I am sure glad I have a stock of food. Because some developer has a pipe dream, we are out of a job, at least temporarily, maybe forever. That crimps our budget a lot. Our job was our padding. Now we are back to bare bones. Things will work out, I am sure, but having a stockpile of food is surely going to help us ride the wave. Besides not having a job, I loose my availability to sell antiques and my product. That's a double wammie. . The worst part of it is this developer has put 150 people put of work, and I truly believe that his idea is a pie in the sky. I have been doing accounting for all kinds of businesses for fifty years now. Doing the math, I think he's setting himself up to fail. Time will tell.
I digress.
Chicken grill packs were a buck a pound at Fred Meyers. There were several veggies and fruits that were quite reasonable also. I stocked with pork tenderloins and grill packs. I like to debone the chicken breasts and cook the rest for shredded chicken that can be used for BBQ sandwiches. Tacos, or I had jalapeño chicken Mac and cheese the other day at our happy hour. It was really good.
It doesn't seem logical with meat prices rising, that the legislature would cut snap. But, like Mr. Echelbarger, the legislature doesn't always think logical in my opinion. I am not fond of the attitude that the rich can get richer and the poor can get poorer.
The whole idea of groceries on the cheap is to give people tools to feed their families well on a meager budget. If you can do that, doing it on more is a piece of cake and you have learned to make educated decisions on your grocery purchases.
Protein is the biggest expense of the grocery budget. Protein seems to be the one thing who's price is rising the most. If we can average protein costs and watch the perishables and stock at the lowest prices the staple items, we can still keep to a rigid budget.
Of you are on snap or a fixed income, your budget is rigid. The social security raise did not cover the amount our necessities ( insurances and food and utilities) have risen.
Averaging protein works with the addition of vegetarian meals a couple of,nights a week. I am still able to get cheese for two to three dollars a pound. Eggs are also a cheap protein, With coupons, some ready made meats ( sirloin tips) continue to be a cost effective alternative. Chicken is still a buck a pound on sale, which helps average the cost so we can afford a piece of red meat every now and then. We still need red meat to keep our iron supply up. So far, the only thing that we are deficient of is vitamin d. That is because we are not real milk drinkers and sun is not a big commodity in the PNW! LOL. We do eat sour cream and cottage cheese and regular cheeses.
To recap
I digress.
Chicken grill packs were a buck a pound at Fred Meyers. There were several veggies and fruits that were quite reasonable also. I stocked with pork tenderloins and grill packs. I like to debone the chicken breasts and cook the rest for shredded chicken that can be used for BBQ sandwiches. Tacos, or I had jalapeño chicken Mac and cheese the other day at our happy hour. It was really good.
It doesn't seem logical with meat prices rising, that the legislature would cut snap. But, like Mr. Echelbarger, the legislature doesn't always think logical in my opinion. I am not fond of the attitude that the rich can get richer and the poor can get poorer.
The whole idea of groceries on the cheap is to give people tools to feed their families well on a meager budget. If you can do that, doing it on more is a piece of cake and you have learned to make educated decisions on your grocery purchases.
Protein is the biggest expense of the grocery budget. Protein seems to be the one thing who's price is rising the most. If we can average protein costs and watch the perishables and stock at the lowest prices the staple items, we can still keep to a rigid budget.
Of you are on snap or a fixed income, your budget is rigid. The social security raise did not cover the amount our necessities ( insurances and food and utilities) have risen.
Averaging protein works with the addition of vegetarian meals a couple of,nights a week. I am still able to get cheese for two to three dollars a pound. Eggs are also a cheap protein, With coupons, some ready made meats ( sirloin tips) continue to be a cost effective alternative. Chicken is still a buck a pound on sale, which helps average the cost so we can afford a piece of red meat every now and then. We still need red meat to keep our iron supply up. So far, the only thing that we are deficient of is vitamin d. That is because we are not real milk drinkers and sun is not a big commodity in the PNW! LOL. We do eat sour cream and cottage cheese and regular cheeses.
To recap
- Average your protein costs
- Strive for five dollar dinners ( typical family of four)
- Watch your fruit and vegetable costs and buy in season
- Buy dairy when it is on sale, and buy what you will use before it goes bad.
- Buy cheese on sale. Grocery outlet os a good source of unusual and inexpensive cheeses.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Sunday ads
The dollar store was very fruitful yesterday. There is a lot of plastic garbage at the dollar store, but there is also a lot of necessity items that are far less expensive than anywhere else. Facial tissue is one. I got brand name catsup for a dollar for a large bottle. They have sugar free candy, toothpaste and soap for free with coupons. Sunday papers are a buck.
Walgreens.
A
Get five dollar rewards when you spend 25.00. There are a bot of BOGO or BOG 1/2. Mostly for non food items.
Coffee 6.99
Milk 2.69
Mitchum deodorant w coupon .99
Tea bags 2.99
Fred Meyers
Butter 2/4@@
Grapes 1.28@@
Chicken grill pack .99@@
Blues 4.98
Zucchini or yellow .99
Tomatoes .99
Bins 4/5
Keeping a mindset of watching for true deals for the things that you actually need is a good way to live better for less.
I got an e mail that there was a concert at our local performance center . Tickets for seniors with the ticket surcharge on line were twenty dollars. If you bought ten senior tickets they were ten dollars with a max surcharge of 12.00. I got eleven of our friends to go and we paid eleven dollars for our twenty dollar tickets.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Walgreens.
A
Get five dollar rewards when you spend 25.00. There are a bot of BOGO or BOG 1/2. Mostly for non food items.
Coffee 6.99
Milk 2.69
Mitchum deodorant w coupon .99
Tea bags 2.99
Fred Meyers
Butter 2/4@@
Grapes 1.28@@
Chicken grill pack .99@@
Blues 4.98
Zucchini or yellow .99
Tomatoes .99
Bins 4/5
Keeping a mindset of watching for true deals for the things that you actually need is a good way to live better for less.
I got an e mail that there was a concert at our local performance center . Tickets for seniors with the ticket surcharge on line were twenty dollars. If you bought ten senior tickets they were ten dollars with a max surcharge of 12.00. I got eleven of our friends to go and we paid eleven dollars for our twenty dollar tickets.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, June 6, 2014
Finally friday
It's getting crazy at work. Dealers are putting sales on everything to clear out some merchandise so they don't have to move ot. We are trying to ring double the sales and do extra work. It days like yesterday that I am glad I only work two days a week. LOL Meanwhile we are trying to find a building to move to.
We had chicken mashed potatoes and mixed berries for dinner last night. My plan os to get pork tenderloins for our stock meat this week. I try to keep a variety of meats in our pantry/ freezer so we eat well and eat a variety of foods. No matter what you eat, someone will have a reason why it is unhealthy. My take is to eat a variety of foods and avoid processed meats on a regular basis. I want us to eat them no more than once a week. I always keep fresh fruits and veggies in the house.
Not paying full price, or what my mother used to call top dollar, is the key. No matter what the future holds with the shake up in the grocery industry, that is still your best plan. Being flexible helps a lot.
Finding the best two stores the week you are buying the food helps too. You get the best selection of produce and the advantage of the best buys. A trick of retailers is to put something on a really good sale. They assume you are only shopping one store and you will buy the things that go with that item for more than full price and they will be money ahead. The object of this game is for YOU to be money ahead.
Managing your leftovers and your perishables is another way to beat the high cost of food. Look for ingenious ways to use up the vegetable bin. I like to roast veggies. I found radishes for fifty cents a Fred Meyers. They are very good roasted. Add any root veggies or peppers, or squash to them in a pan . Cut them on pieces so they are done at the same time and drizzle them with olive oil and salt and peppers . Sometimes I add thyme or rosemary. Roast in a 375 degree oven until done. I start checking at twenty minutes.m if I am in a hurry I add a chicken sausage to the last ten minutes or so.
It's an easy dinner. I really like easy.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
We had chicken mashed potatoes and mixed berries for dinner last night. My plan os to get pork tenderloins for our stock meat this week. I try to keep a variety of meats in our pantry/ freezer so we eat well and eat a variety of foods. No matter what you eat, someone will have a reason why it is unhealthy. My take is to eat a variety of foods and avoid processed meats on a regular basis. I want us to eat them no more than once a week. I always keep fresh fruits and veggies in the house.
Not paying full price, or what my mother used to call top dollar, is the key. No matter what the future holds with the shake up in the grocery industry, that is still your best plan. Being flexible helps a lot.
Finding the best two stores the week you are buying the food helps too. You get the best selection of produce and the advantage of the best buys. A trick of retailers is to put something on a really good sale. They assume you are only shopping one store and you will buy the things that go with that item for more than full price and they will be money ahead. The object of this game is for YOU to be money ahead.
Managing your leftovers and your perishables is another way to beat the high cost of food. Look for ingenious ways to use up the vegetable bin. I like to roast veggies. I found radishes for fifty cents a Fred Meyers. They are very good roasted. Add any root veggies or peppers, or squash to them in a pan . Cut them on pieces so they are done at the same time and drizzle them with olive oil and salt and peppers . Sometimes I add thyme or rosemary. Roast in a 375 degree oven until done. I start checking at twenty minutes.m if I am in a hurry I add a chicken sausage to the last ten minutes or so.
It's an easy dinner. I really like easy.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, June 5, 2014
A few notes on terrific Thirsday
Our landlord at work, ( I'll save the expliratives for your imagination! lol) gave us forty days to evict 150 people. That means if we don't find a new place really soon, we will loose dealers and probavly our jobs. I am not impressed with the landlords lack of professionalism, but he hasn't had that trait since the get go.
On a better note, TOP foods os closing. Lately they have been leaning towards being a high priced store. WINCo is moving in. I am excited because we will be able to go to Winco any time we want. Going miles away meant we could only go every eight weeks or so. I am saddened , though that SAFEWAYS and ALBERTSONS are merging and they are closing stores. SAFEWAYS is far better price woes and clean wise than ALBERTSONS. I will reserve judgment until I see the end results.
Our whole scheme of stores and prices are about to change. Thos a time when flexibility is paramount. It is also a good thing we have stocked and can ride the wave until things settle down from all the changes.
Life happens, and the people that can adjust to the bes and flows will be better off than those who can't.
That's about all
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
On a better note, TOP foods os closing. Lately they have been leaning towards being a high priced store. WINCo is moving in. I am excited because we will be able to go to Winco any time we want. Going miles away meant we could only go every eight weeks or so. I am saddened , though that SAFEWAYS and ALBERTSONS are merging and they are closing stores. SAFEWAYS is far better price woes and clean wise than ALBERTSONS. I will reserve judgment until I see the end results.
Our whole scheme of stores and prices are about to change. Thos a time when flexibility is paramount. It is also a good thing we have stocked and can ride the wave until things settle down from all the changes.
Life happens, and the people that can adjust to the bes and flows will be better off than those who can't.
That's about all
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Wicked Wednesday, the ads
We did get the ads this week on time. Such as they are. I thought I would talk about how to analyze the ads. Pick two grocery stores from the ads. Lately,I have been going to Fred Meyers with the Sunday ads. Besides Costco, they have had the best prices on dairy and periodically have beans and tomatoes for .50.
Top has a five dollars off of fifty coupon.m considering everything is already priced higher than the proverbial balls, it's not much of a bargain.
They have Tillamook ice cream for 2.99, cheese for 5.99, when you buy four total items.
Bread is 2/4.
QFC
Raspberries 2/3
Tomatoes 1.00
Tortillas 1.00
Cilantro 2/1
ALBERTSONS
Grapes 1.00
Chicken thighs .88 ( they are not telling where they r from)
Tillamook ice cream 2/6
Eggs 2/3@@
Ground beef 3.99 ( 7 percent fat)
Berries 2/6
Barilla pasta .98
SAFEWAYS
Blues 2.99
Five dollar Friday
Pork tenderloin
Brownies
Cantelope 2/5
Raspberries 3/5
Nalleys chili 1.00
That's about all. I would pick the store that had the most cheap prices on what I needed. I like the price of the pork tenderloin and berries at SAFEWAYS. The beef, pasta, eggs, amd ice cream would draw me to ALBERTSONS if I needed them.
Otherwise, I would pick this week to check out Winco.
Or not go at all.
Thanks for stopping by.
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Terrific Tuesday
I finally got to Fred Meyers yesterday. I didn't spend much, but got good buys on what I did get.
I had to go to michaels and get a new paper trimmer. My old one broke. I found out that they are under warranty and Fiskars will send me a replacement part, but I have to finish a project before then.
There is this Mexican theme with the grocery stores this week. Haven't quite figured that out yet because it's not May 5th? lol. We eat a lot of tex ,ex because everybody likes it and I can make one meal and make everybody happy.
We have been incorporating chicken into our Mexican recipes. I can still get chicken for a buck a pound.
It's the first of the month. I usually cover the basics. I talked about the bare bones basics a couple of days ago. It's a balancing act and it takes a little planning, but the reward is a lower food bill. After gas, food is the most expensive thing in most peoples discressionary income. We have a very small car and inky go to the store and work is a mile or so away. Groceries are our most expensive expense. Our groceries are 1/2 the national average. The USDA has stats on sixes of families and how much food at home should cost. I spend 25 percent less than their thrifty budget and I also supplement my daughter and granddaughter a lot. And, that's not all food eaten at home, because I am constantly stocking. We have a stock built.
I had to go to michaels and get a new paper trimmer. My old one broke. I found out that they are under warranty and Fiskars will send me a replacement part, but I have to finish a project before then.
There is this Mexican theme with the grocery stores this week. Haven't quite figured that out yet because it's not May 5th? lol. We eat a lot of tex ,ex because everybody likes it and I can make one meal and make everybody happy.
We have been incorporating chicken into our Mexican recipes. I can still get chicken for a buck a pound.
It's the first of the month. I usually cover the basics. I talked about the bare bones basics a couple of days ago. It's a balancing act and it takes a little planning, but the reward is a lower food bill. After gas, food is the most expensive thing in most peoples discressionary income. We have a very small car and inky go to the store and work is a mile or so away. Groceries are our most expensive expense. Our groceries are 1/2 the national average. The USDA has stats on sixes of families and how much food at home should cost. I spend 25 percent less than their thrifty budget and I also supplement my daughter and granddaughter a lot. And, that's not all food eaten at home, because I am constantly stocking. We have a stock built.
- Take advantage of store specials
- Specials are on a six to 12 week rotation.
- Go to more than one store. This gives you the best pick of produce.
- Buy a meat that is economical and buy in bulk to maximize your savings. Buy enough to serve that meat it's allotted times for a month. The next week, pick a different meat. ( or protein )
- When a staple item is in sale, buy enough to last you until it goes on sale again.
- Keep track of grocery prices. Find out what is the cheapest proce on your area. Thos os getting harder because prices don't seem to be stable these days.
- Don't buy more than you can use before it goes bad.
- Watch for tricks the retailers have to get you to impulse buy. It's 70 percent of their sales. Save the seventy percent.
I Guess that's all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Sunday notes , the ads
Walgreens
Hair accessories reg 2.99' register rewards 2.00 nets .99
All detergent 28-40 loads 2.99, register reward nets 1.99
Fred Meyers
Strawberries 1.88
Onions .88
Milk 2/5
Buns 3/4
Smoked sausage 2/6
Tillamook 10/4
Beans tomatoes 2/1@@
Tortillas .89@@
Rice 2lbs .99@@
Oranges .99
Cukes .99
This is the first if the month be sure to go online and download your coupons,m the high ticket ones go first. Mast month there were few real food ones. But this is another month.
The first four pages of the smart source this week are good ones. I always watch for the sirloin tips coupons because with a good sale they are cheaper than scratch.
My husband out a small pot roast in the crockpot this morning, I am hoping to get the back deck together so we can start living out eye. It is a lot cooler out there than on the house in the summer, especially of we need to leave the house closed up all day.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Hair accessories reg 2.99' register rewards 2.00 nets .99
All detergent 28-40 loads 2.99, register reward nets 1.99
Fred Meyers
Strawberries 1.88
Onions .88
Milk 2/5
Buns 3/4
Smoked sausage 2/6
Tillamook 10/4
Beans tomatoes 2/1@@
Tortillas .89@@
Rice 2lbs .99@@
Oranges .99
Cukes .99
This is the first if the month be sure to go online and download your coupons,m the high ticket ones go first. Mast month there were few real food ones. But this is another month.
The first four pages of the smart source this week are good ones. I always watch for the sirloin tips coupons because with a good sale they are cheaper than scratch.
My husband out a small pot roast in the crockpot this morning, I am hoping to get the back deck together so we can start living out eye. It is a lot cooler out there than on the house in the summer, especially of we need to leave the house closed up all day.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Suddenly Saturday
I had a family emergency and still didn't get to go to QFC. I did get to SAFEWAYS. I got a piece of chuck. It was three dollars a pound and we haven't had a real piece of beef in a long time. I also got chicken for a buck a pound. Cod is four dollars a pound at QFC and beans and tomatoes are .50.
I am still on target for my budget. I try to keep a lot of fruit and veggies on the house.
Working with a small budget takes a bit of a balancing act. Setting certain figures for each category of food helps stay on track. Especially of you are stocking and don't buy a weeks worth of groceries on the same week they are eaten. Last week, I bought no protein. This week I bought two. I average one large piece of meat a week, buying bulk and cooking / and or dividing it up into meal sized portions. I want to buy one meat a week ( or source of protein) and buy enough for the month of that meats meals.
I have a matrix for meal plans. It makes meal planning easier and insures you are getting a variety of protein. Yours will probably be different than mine. I am trying to please a meat eater, a semi vegetarian and I am diabetic. It's a balancing act.
2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
Looking at the ads again this week only exemplifies that the most important tool you can have in eating on a small budget is KNOW YOUR PRICES. Often lately I have found the spread between prices of the same thing has been double. These are things that are on my stock up list. Things you can make good cheap meals from are the basis of my stock list.
The idea is to buy low and eat when the prices are high. It works. It works no matter where you are, or what prices are prevelant in your area. I saw a weeks meals on another blog that was written in another part of the country. Some of the prices were more than we pay, and some were less.
It's all realitive.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I am still on target for my budget. I try to keep a lot of fruit and veggies on the house.
Working with a small budget takes a bit of a balancing act. Setting certain figures for each category of food helps stay on track. Especially of you are stocking and don't buy a weeks worth of groceries on the same week they are eaten. Last week, I bought no protein. This week I bought two. I average one large piece of meat a week, buying bulk and cooking / and or dividing it up into meal sized portions. I want to buy one meat a week ( or source of protein) and buy enough for the month of that meats meals.
I have a matrix for meal plans. It makes meal planning easier and insures you are getting a variety of protein. Yours will probably be different than mine. I am trying to please a meat eater, a semi vegetarian and I am diabetic. It's a balancing act.
2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
Looking at the ads again this week only exemplifies that the most important tool you can have in eating on a small budget is KNOW YOUR PRICES. Often lately I have found the spread between prices of the same thing has been double. These are things that are on my stock up list. Things you can make good cheap meals from are the basis of my stock list.
The idea is to buy low and eat when the prices are high. It works. It works no matter where you are, or what prices are prevelant in your area. I saw a weeks meals on another blog that was written in another part of the country. Some of the prices were more than we pay, and some were less.
It's all realitive.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, May 30, 2014
Good by TOP
top foods is closing in snohomish county. they have already closed the shoreline store. That leaves is two chains controlling our food shopping. To me, that is very scary. Competition is what keeps prices down. Top had been easing their way to a alternative high priced store anyway.
Just a note.
I looked at the rite aid ad, not seeing much there.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Thursday, the ads
We got ads late because of the holiday.
TOP
Tomatoes .98
Roast 3.49
Hagan tuna 2/1.@@
Blues 3.00@@ pint
QFC
Blues 18 oz 3.99
Chicken .99
Tillamook ice cream 3/10
Cod 3.99
Bread 2/4
Kroger beans or tomatoes 2/1
SAFEWAYS
Kens salad dressing $$BOGO
Grapes 1.49
Corn 6/2
Cukes .79
5 dollar Friday
Sub
Blueberry custard pie
Berries 2 lbs or 18 ounces strawberries,, blues
GM cereal and bars 1.49$$$, buy 4
ALBERTSONS
Berries 3.99
Yoplait 20/5
Cake mix 1.29
Milk 3.79
Butter 2/6
ALBERTSONS ice cream 2.99
Grapes 2.99
Cantaloupe 3/10
Cukes .69
Corn 4/2.50
Notes:
I got butter for 1.50 a couple of weeks ago at FM
Tuna is .50 several places, the spread os from .50 to a dollar....that's double
Tillamook ice cream is 3.33. For superior quality than ALBERTSONS for 3.00.
You should be able to find coupons for cereal.
At .50, it would be a good time to stock your beans and tomatoes of you need to.
That's about it.
TOP
Tomatoes .98
Roast 3.49
Hagan tuna 2/1.@@
Blues 3.00@@ pint
QFC
Blues 18 oz 3.99
Chicken .99
Tillamook ice cream 3/10
Cod 3.99
Bread 2/4
Kroger beans or tomatoes 2/1
SAFEWAYS
Kens salad dressing $$BOGO
Grapes 1.49
Corn 6/2
Cukes .79
5 dollar Friday
Sub
Blueberry custard pie
Berries 2 lbs or 18 ounces strawberries,, blues
GM cereal and bars 1.49$$$, buy 4
ALBERTSONS
Berries 3.99
Yoplait 20/5
Cake mix 1.29
Milk 3.79
Butter 2/6
ALBERTSONS ice cream 2.99
Grapes 2.99
Cantaloupe 3/10
Cukes .69
Corn 4/2.50
Notes:
I got butter for 1.50 a couple of weeks ago at FM
Tuna is .50 several places, the spread os from .50 to a dollar....that's double
Tillamook ice cream is 3.33. For superior quality than ALBERTSONS for 3.00.
You should be able to find coupons for cereal.
At .50, it would be a good time to stock your beans and tomatoes of you need to.
That's about it.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Wicked Wednesday
Thos os going to be short, I have a full plate today and the ads didn't come yet, I suspect because of the holiday. Also, there were no inserts in Sundays paper because of the holiday.
I went tomcostco yesterday. We were out of our usual Costco stuff. . There were jeans on a instant rebate type offer, as well as dishwasher detergent. A bonus pack of extra pods with three dollars off.,
I always get bananas and nuts and dairy. Tortillas are always cheaper. I keep the, in the fridge. They last a long time.
We also went to big lots and the grocery outlet. Big lots had fruit sauce with no added sugar or corn syrup for a buck and a pizza crust for a buck. Recipe starters are .50. I am not finding any more coupons and big lots doesn't accept coupons or snap. It's still a good time saver and cheaper than scratch.
Grocery outlet is cheaper on coffee. Coffee, pork, and beef are on the take a hike trail along with cheese. We got cheese and they had cranberry juice cheap.
Buffalo chicken wrap. Wraps are a way to cut your carbs. A usual tortilla has about ten carbs , as opposed to about thirty plus for a two slice of bread sandwich.
Chicken strips cooked
Hot pepper sauce
Butter
Tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Shredded cheese
Chopped tomato
Blue cheese dressing,
Brush blue cheese dressing on tortilla.
Place chicken strips on a bowl with some melted butter and a couple of drops of hot sauce .
Place chicken strips in center if tortilla. Add remaining ingredients. Roll tortilla.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I went tomcostco yesterday. We were out of our usual Costco stuff. . There were jeans on a instant rebate type offer, as well as dishwasher detergent. A bonus pack of extra pods with three dollars off.,
I always get bananas and nuts and dairy. Tortillas are always cheaper. I keep the, in the fridge. They last a long time.
We also went to big lots and the grocery outlet. Big lots had fruit sauce with no added sugar or corn syrup for a buck and a pizza crust for a buck. Recipe starters are .50. I am not finding any more coupons and big lots doesn't accept coupons or snap. It's still a good time saver and cheaper than scratch.
Grocery outlet is cheaper on coffee. Coffee, pork, and beef are on the take a hike trail along with cheese. We got cheese and they had cranberry juice cheap.
Buffalo chicken wrap. Wraps are a way to cut your carbs. A usual tortilla has about ten carbs , as opposed to about thirty plus for a two slice of bread sandwich.
Chicken strips cooked
Hot pepper sauce
Butter
Tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Shredded cheese
Chopped tomato
Blue cheese dressing,
Brush blue cheese dressing on tortilla.
Place chicken strips on a bowl with some melted butter and a couple of drops of hot sauce .
Place chicken strips in center if tortilla. Add remaining ingredients. Roll tortilla.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Terrific Tuesday , recipe addition
Another what to do with what you got. It's officially spring now that Memorial Day has happened, right? Although the backyard fairy hasn't done his magic in our backyard. Usually by Mother's Day we have the deck planted and the deck furniture up. Last year we had a mishap with the wind and the top of the table is now in a bag, reduced to tiny shreads of glass. I found a table that was in disrepair, but had good glass, so we are making a good table out of two.
I digress.
Betty Crocker this time had a piece on foil packets. I have done a blog on foil packets before. I will try to find it and repost. Basically, it's the concept of taking a square of heavy foil, ( or a double piece) spraying ot with Pam and building and dinner in a mound. Seal the foil and grill it off or bake ot on the oven. It makes for a no mess dinner ( no pans, no dishes) . Kids love ot and mom loves the no dishes. You can also tailor the packs to suit different tastes.
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.
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
I digress.
Betty Crocker this time had a piece on foil packets. I have done a blog on foil packets before. I will try to find it and repost. Basically, it's the concept of taking a square of heavy foil, ( or a double piece) spraying ot with Pam and building and dinner in a mound. Seal the foil and grill it off or bake ot on the oven. It makes for a no mess dinner ( no pans, no dishes) . Kids love ot and mom loves the no dishes. You can also tailor the packs to suit different tastes.
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.
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, May 25, 2014
Suddenly Sunday no inserts but ads .
Walgreens
Olives .99@@
That's about it.
Fred Meyers
Pork chops 2.28
90 percent hamburger 3.98
Grapes 1.99
Tomatoes 1.28
Broccoli .99
Roast 3.99
Ice cream 2/4@@
French fries 3/5
Coffee5.99
Tuna 10/10
Nalleys.chili 10/10
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Olives .99@@
That's about it.
Fred Meyers
Pork chops 2.28
90 percent hamburger 3.98
Grapes 1.99
Tomatoes 1.28
Broccoli .99
Roast 3.99
Ice cream 2/4@@
French fries 3/5
Coffee5.99
Tuna 10/10
Nalleys.chili 10/10
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Shopping Trip
I did go to SAFEWAYS yesterday. I had gone to Fred Meyers on Tuesday, so I didn't need a lot. I had a five dollars off twenty coupon. We got a hive pizza for five bucks. We can get two meals off of that pizza adding a green salad. Corn on the cob is 6.2 or three for a dollar. We usually have half of an ear each. Corn is a real treat, we do t get ot often. Now is the time to stock up on picnic bums because they are cheap. Or better yet, go to the bakery outlet Monday. The bread that doesn't hit the groceries after the weekend run is there.
I got turkey for sandwiches with a coupon. They had croissants for five dollars a box. It's a great, but it love them for sandwiches. I rounded out the shopping trip with grapes and berries.
Just for you is a savings tool from SAFEWAYS. You sign up and can load basically coupons onto your Safeway card. That's where I got the five dollars off of twenty. I see they think 1.2@ for whole chicken is a bargain. You have to know your prices and keep a heads up. This is hard at this point in time because prices are rising.
I went to the goodwill yesterday. They are a good source for food magazines with some great ideas (.50) and cookbooks, so,e of them are cheap. Also garage sales. I found an old crockery cookbook with an abundance of soup recipes. We like soup for dinner. Especially when it is cold. I found the organic roasted red pepper and tomato soup at Costco. It's about two dollars a box there, upwards of four at the regular stores. I add fresh basil if I have it and some blue cheese...yum! Round the meal with either toasted cheese or cheese and triscuits and fruit.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing
Jane
I got turkey for sandwiches with a coupon. They had croissants for five dollars a box. It's a great, but it love them for sandwiches. I rounded out the shopping trip with grapes and berries.
Just for you is a savings tool from SAFEWAYS. You sign up and can load basically coupons onto your Safeway card. That's where I got the five dollars off of twenty. I see they think 1.2@ for whole chicken is a bargain. You have to know your prices and keep a heads up. This is hard at this point in time because prices are rising.
I went to the goodwill yesterday. They are a good source for food magazines with some great ideas (.50) and cookbooks, so,e of them are cheap. Also garage sales. I found an old crockery cookbook with an abundance of soup recipes. We like soup for dinner. Especially when it is cold. I found the organic roasted red pepper and tomato soup at Costco. It's about two dollars a box there, upwards of four at the regular stores. I add fresh basil if I have it and some blue cheese...yum! Round the meal with either toasted cheese or cheese and triscuits and fruit.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing
Jane
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
25.00 a Month!
I guess the reason why a blogger says she feeds her family for a hundred dollars a month is because she tries to do that and she has done that in the past.
In December of 1971. I spent 25.00 a month on groceries!
Just for a challenge, I decided to use the ads this week and buy as much as I could to make meals for a family of four . I'm not going to include the basic stock items people have in their pantry...flour, bisquick, oil etc.
SAFEWAYS
Corn 6/2
Buns .99
Cheese 5.99
Hot dogs 3.99
Sausage 2.99
Chili 2.00
Pasta 1.00
Five dollar Friday
Ribs 5.00
Peanut butter 3/5
ALBERTSONS
Corn, 4/1
Buns .88
QFC
Hebrew national 2/6
Ball park franks 2/3
Yoplait 10/5
Pork and beans 2/1
Ice cream 2/5
TOP
CORN 6/2
Grapes 1.98
Blues 5.00
Sausage 2/5
That's about all.
Now, let's see how much dinner we can come up with for 25.00. Break down a 25.00 budget means 3.57 a day.
I am going to assume that the household has staples ? ( cheating a little) and the meals are not
necessarily what I would feed my family. They are edible and have nutrition, just not necessarily what I would feed my family all in one week. I'm pickey, I would only buy Nathan's or Hebrew
national hot dogs and I try to only feed us processed meats once a week. I'm going to work off the grocery ads and my stock prices ( cheating here too. )
Breakfast
Oatmeal , or fruit muffins
Lunches
Peanut butter sandwiches. Or tuna.
Tuna was .69 at Fred Meyers. I got bread free at the bakery outlet.
Dinners
1) hot dogs, with buns corn on the cob, lettuce salad $3.15. You can cut this. by a buck if you make pigs in blankets.
2) Pepperoni pizza, green salad.
Tomato sauce can .25 ALBERTSONS, yeast, flour, oil, ( stock) pepperoni .50. With coupon at the dollar store. Cheese 2.69 grocery outlet (1/2) 1.35
3) bacon quiche, green salad Eggs 2.00 at Fred Meyers , turkey bacon 1.29 at Walgreens, cheese 4.00 at FRED. MEYERS last week. Total 1.63 plus a dollar for green salad. 2.63
4) spaghetti, sauce, sautéed squash, black olives, tomato, herbs 2.75
5) bean and rice burritos , 1.00
6) Mac and cheese , peas and carrots. 2.80
7) stuffed green peppers , 2.56. Peppers are .50 at Fred Meyers. Using stock hamburger @ 3.00 a pound 1/2 lb
Total dinners 17.24, or 16.24 if you made pigs in blankets from bisquick.
That leaves 7.76 for milk dairy, breakfasts and lunches and bread.
That a) has too much prosessed meat, and bare bones cheese. It assumes that you have a stock that isnt counted in the figures and doesn't have enough fruits and veggies to suit me.
I would prefer to stock at low prices. But my average is around five dollars a dinner, or 35.00 a week for dinner only. That does, however provide ample fruit and veggies .
Milk is 1.25 this week at Fred Meyers ( until next Saturday) . Peppers and cucumbers .50,
Squash 1.00 a pound.
In other words, if you shopped wisely, and didn't replenish your staples, you could eat. I'm not sure the nutrition is there, not enough protein and veggies.
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Jane
In December of 1971. I spent 25.00 a month on groceries!
Just for a challenge, I decided to use the ads this week and buy as much as I could to make meals for a family of four . I'm not going to include the basic stock items people have in their pantry...flour, bisquick, oil etc.
SAFEWAYS
Corn 6/2
Buns .99
Cheese 5.99
Hot dogs 3.99
Sausage 2.99
Chili 2.00
Pasta 1.00
Five dollar Friday
Ribs 5.00
Peanut butter 3/5
ALBERTSONS
Corn, 4/1
Buns .88
QFC
Hebrew national 2/6
Ball park franks 2/3
Yoplait 10/5
Pork and beans 2/1
Ice cream 2/5
TOP
CORN 6/2
Grapes 1.98
Blues 5.00
Sausage 2/5
That's about all.
Now, let's see how much dinner we can come up with for 25.00. Break down a 25.00 budget means 3.57 a day.
I am going to assume that the household has staples ? ( cheating a little) and the meals are not
necessarily what I would feed my family. They are edible and have nutrition, just not necessarily what I would feed my family all in one week. I'm pickey, I would only buy Nathan's or Hebrew
national hot dogs and I try to only feed us processed meats once a week. I'm going to work off the grocery ads and my stock prices ( cheating here too. )
Breakfast
Oatmeal , or fruit muffins
Lunches
Peanut butter sandwiches. Or tuna.
Tuna was .69 at Fred Meyers. I got bread free at the bakery outlet.
Dinners
1) hot dogs, with buns corn on the cob, lettuce salad $3.15. You can cut this. by a buck if you make pigs in blankets.
2) Pepperoni pizza, green salad.
Tomato sauce can .25 ALBERTSONS, yeast, flour, oil, ( stock) pepperoni .50. With coupon at the dollar store. Cheese 2.69 grocery outlet (1/2) 1.35
3) bacon quiche, green salad Eggs 2.00 at Fred Meyers , turkey bacon 1.29 at Walgreens, cheese 4.00 at FRED. MEYERS last week. Total 1.63 plus a dollar for green salad. 2.63
4) spaghetti, sauce, sautéed squash, black olives, tomato, herbs 2.75
5) bean and rice burritos , 1.00
6) Mac and cheese , peas and carrots. 2.80
7) stuffed green peppers , 2.56. Peppers are .50 at Fred Meyers. Using stock hamburger @ 3.00 a pound 1/2 lb
Total dinners 17.24, or 16.24 if you made pigs in blankets from bisquick.
That leaves 7.76 for milk dairy, breakfasts and lunches and bread.
That a) has too much prosessed meat, and bare bones cheese. It assumes that you have a stock that isnt counted in the figures and doesn't have enough fruits and veggies to suit me.
I would prefer to stock at low prices. But my average is around five dollars a dinner, or 35.00 a week for dinner only. That does, however provide ample fruit and veggies .
Milk is 1.25 this week at Fred Meyers ( until next Saturday) . Peppers and cucumbers .50,
Squash 1.00 a pound.
In other words, if you shopped wisely, and didn't replenish your staples, you could eat. I'm not sure the nutrition is there, not enough protein and veggies.
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Please share
Jane
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Terrific Tuesday
There are a few basics that sum up groceries on the cheap.
- Don't buy junk. Anything with no or little food value is junk. Pop, chips, etc.
- identify the foods you eat on a regular basis that are shelf stable or frozen.
- Buy those food at RBP and only buy them when they are on a really good sale. Buy enough to last you until the next sale.
- Identify the amount if product you will use in a reasonable length of time and keep that stock. Of it goes on sale before all your stock is used up, only. Buy only enough to replenish your stock.
- Find easy meals that your family will eat that use imexpensive sources of orotein.
- Spend a reasonable amount of time checking the ads and finding matchups to coupons, You can use a store coupon with a manufacturers coupon. Don't buy something just because you have a coupon for it.
- Have a budget. Get a feel for how much on your budget you can spend for protein, veggies and other perishables and staples. Remember, you Re stocking. Tht means you might buy four chickens one week, and buy a mass of canned goods another. You need to have a feel for how much you are spending on each categories. Sometimes, you will spend more than a set weekly amount, sometimes less. Keep track.
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Jane
Monday, May 19, 2014
One hundred dollars a month, really?
I am imcensed about a series on a local channel about groceries . This woman claims to feed her family on a hundred dollars a month. I say the word claims because, I am not seeing anything that backs up her figures.
For starts, she grows her own veggies. That is hard for a normal person to do. It's fine of you have a green thumb and the time and space. Actually I can grow good dandelions, but that's about all. I am lucky to get the weeds cut down, let alone grow food. I swear I have a black thumb. I can't tell you how many corn crops that netted us a bunch of corn stalks with no corn. LOL
Second, I read a shopping trip. It was for 33.00. Not 25. She bought pop and BBQ sauce. She did not buy enough protein in any form to feed a family of four.
I am really not convinced that she can feed a family of four on that amount of money without not counting something. I read her blog before. It doesn't count if she gets food from her endeavors. Glad paid her 1500. To buy food so show what the average family wastes in a year on food. That money doesn't count. When the travel, their food doesn't count.
Besides she stages in her blog that so far this year she spent 745.17 on food. HELLO, this is mid May, last I looked. One hundred times 4.5 is 450.00, not 750.00.
I rest my case. I wouldn't feel bad if I was having trouble feeding my family on three hundred dollars a month. This woman is not for real.
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Jane
For starts, she grows her own veggies. That is hard for a normal person to do. It's fine of you have a green thumb and the time and space. Actually I can grow good dandelions, but that's about all. I am lucky to get the weeds cut down, let alone grow food. I swear I have a black thumb. I can't tell you how many corn crops that netted us a bunch of corn stalks with no corn. LOL
Second, I read a shopping trip. It was for 33.00. Not 25. She bought pop and BBQ sauce. She did not buy enough protein in any form to feed a family of four.
I am really not convinced that she can feed a family of four on that amount of money without not counting something. I read her blog before. It doesn't count if she gets food from her endeavors. Glad paid her 1500. To buy food so show what the average family wastes in a year on food. That money doesn't count. When the travel, their food doesn't count.
Besides she stages in her blog that so far this year she spent 745.17 on food. HELLO, this is mid May, last I looked. One hundred times 4.5 is 450.00, not 750.00.
I rest my case. I wouldn't feel bad if I was having trouble feeding my family on three hundred dollars a month. This woman is not for real.
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Jane
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Sunday Best
I just went through and purged marchs coupons and opened a file folder for May. I'm a little late, but have had health issues this month. It only takes a little time and os easier than clipping all the coupons and then not using half of them.
The ads
Rite aid now comes in a separate mailer.
Dryers ice cream BOGO and a dollar off coupon in today's paper.
Note: the last ice cream I got from rite aid was thawed and refrozen.
Fred Meyers
Sirloin steaks 3.99
Cukes and bell peppers 2/1
Squash .99
Thin crust diGiormo pizza 3/10 $$
Bums .99@@
Cone 6/3
Berries 2/5
BBQ sauce .79@@
Yoplait 10/5
Sour cream .99
Tillamook ice cream 2/6
Smoked sausage 3/10. Look for coupon
Milk 4/5
Walgreens
Milk 2.49
Deodorant .49 net with cohpon in today's paper.
That's about all
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Please share
Jane
The ads
Rite aid now comes in a separate mailer.
Dryers ice cream BOGO and a dollar off coupon in today's paper.
Note: the last ice cream I got from rite aid was thawed and refrozen.
Fred Meyers
Sirloin steaks 3.99
Cukes and bell peppers 2/1
Squash .99
Thin crust diGiormo pizza 3/10 $$
Bums .99@@
Cone 6/3
Berries 2/5
BBQ sauce .79@@
Yoplait 10/5
Sour cream .99
Tillamook ice cream 2/6
Smoked sausage 3/10. Look for coupon
Milk 4/5
Walgreens
Milk 2.49
Deodorant .49 net with cohpon in today's paper.
That's about all
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Jane
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Suddenly saturday
It's Saturday. We didn't grocery shop yesterday because I was sick. Going to clean house today.
Groceries on the cheap is based on the assumption that a person has a minimum amount of money to spend on groceries. It won't hard to spend more, or adapt to fit a special diet. It's hard to learn how to make so on a small budget and still eat adequately. Top ramen and potato chips for dinner os not an adequate diet. LOL
We had time to kill in between errands on Tuesday, so we went to grocery outlet. I always find good, variety cheeses at grocery outlet. Often they have chicken sausage with cheese and artichokes. So,e things are more expensive. Again, it pays you to know prices.
It also pays you to think out of the box and make things work when stuff happens. We have a cooler in the car and fill it with bags. Our city and neighboring cities have a plastic bag ban and charge for grocery bags unless you bring your own. Our city doesn't charge for the bags, but they are expensive. We use recycled boxes at work whenever possible.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Groceries on the cheap is based on the assumption that a person has a minimum amount of money to spend on groceries. It won't hard to spend more, or adapt to fit a special diet. It's hard to learn how to make so on a small budget and still eat adequately. Top ramen and potato chips for dinner os not an adequate diet. LOL
We had time to kill in between errands on Tuesday, so we went to grocery outlet. I always find good, variety cheeses at grocery outlet. Often they have chicken sausage with cheese and artichokes. So,e things are more expensive. Again, it pays you to know prices.
It also pays you to think out of the box and make things work when stuff happens. We have a cooler in the car and fill it with bags. Our city and neighboring cities have a plastic bag ban and charge for grocery bags unless you bring your own. Our city doesn't charge for the bags, but they are expensive. We use recycled boxes at work whenever possible.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, May 15, 2014
The ads
ALBERTSONS
Yogurt .38@@
Ice cream 1.99 when you buy four.
QFC
Berries BOGO, 2.25 ( note they are two dollars at Fred Meyers.
Corn 2/1
QFC bread, buns 4/5
TOP
Tomatoes 1.00
Sponach .89
Pasta .99
Beans 2/1@@
Tomatoes 2/1@@
Cheese 4.99 note Tillamook is 3.99 at Fred Meyers
SAFEWAYS
Five dollar Friday
Lemon meringue pie
Instant potatoes .99
Berries 2/5
Corn 5/2
Grapes 2.99
Dreyers 2.99
That's about all.
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Jane
Yogurt .38@@
Ice cream 1.99 when you buy four.
QFC
Berries BOGO, 2.25 ( note they are two dollars at Fred Meyers.
Corn 2/1
QFC bread, buns 4/5
TOP
Tomatoes 1.00
Sponach .89
Pasta .99
Beans 2/1@@
Tomatoes 2/1@@
Cheese 4.99 note Tillamook is 3.99 at Fred Meyers
SAFEWAYS
Five dollar Friday
Lemon meringue pie
Instant potatoes .99
Berries 2/5
Corn 5/2
Grapes 2.99
Dreyers 2.99
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
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Jane
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Terrific Tuesday/ wase not, want not.
One of the biggest wYs to save money on groceries os to be able to predict how much perishables you will eat. It's not momey saved if you throw it away! I try to take time mod week to survey what we have and incorporate what we have into the meal. Often it is a day when we can oven roast vegetables and add chicken sausage at the end of cooking time. I get good chicken sausage sometimes at grocery outlet. It is three dollars usually when I find it. It's hard to quote prices these days because of the rising cost of some food.
I was surprised to see cheese for four dollars. That means the same cheese had a price spread between four and eight dollars. Same brand. Same poundage. Same medium cheddar. That's half price. That's why finding the lowest price os paramount in saving money and stretching your food dollars. I wouldn't drive all over town for ten cents. But, picking your grocery store, not by the friendliest checker, but by the one that has the lowest prices on the food I need that week, or on the staple items I need to stock is a better criteria.
The snowball effect is where you take the four dollars you saved on cheese and turn it into something you can save more money on. Then, that momey you save can be turned into more money. Take the money you save and add to the mortgage payment or pay more in your credit cards to reduce your interest payments. Or, ? Whatever you can think of to save more money. Buy a crockpot and save yourself from going through the drive through or ordering pizza when you know you are going to have a tough day. Ditto a food processer, I use my food processor all the time. It is especially good for making pizza dough, making bread crumbs, or whipping up a cake mix.
Breadcrumbs are a real money saver. Next time you are at the grocery store, price them by the pound. Why would you throw your stale bread away and buy someone else's stale bread!
I put the bread on the oven with no heat and let it dry. Then I put ot through the food processor. Before I had a food processor, I took it out on the deck and grated it on a sheet pan woth a box grater.
Time well spent money wise.
If I want to know if making from scratch is better than premade anything, I do the math. This is a concept some people can't grasp. I call it virtual paycheck. If you figure the difference in cost between buying vs making and divide it by the EXTRA time taken to make the item, you will find your salary per hour. If that is a buck, I will buy the product, providing it is somewhat healthy. You might be really surprised. Roasted vs deli chicken , hamburger helper, and lemon pound cake vs that coffee shop pound cake are the most labor saving we have found. Puddong on a box is not far behind, as well as oatmeal.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I was surprised to see cheese for four dollars. That means the same cheese had a price spread between four and eight dollars. Same brand. Same poundage. Same medium cheddar. That's half price. That's why finding the lowest price os paramount in saving money and stretching your food dollars. I wouldn't drive all over town for ten cents. But, picking your grocery store, not by the friendliest checker, but by the one that has the lowest prices on the food I need that week, or on the staple items I need to stock is a better criteria.
The snowball effect is where you take the four dollars you saved on cheese and turn it into something you can save more money on. Then, that momey you save can be turned into more money. Take the money you save and add to the mortgage payment or pay more in your credit cards to reduce your interest payments. Or, ? Whatever you can think of to save more money. Buy a crockpot and save yourself from going through the drive through or ordering pizza when you know you are going to have a tough day. Ditto a food processer, I use my food processor all the time. It is especially good for making pizza dough, making bread crumbs, or whipping up a cake mix.
Breadcrumbs are a real money saver. Next time you are at the grocery store, price them by the pound. Why would you throw your stale bread away and buy someone else's stale bread!
I put the bread on the oven with no heat and let it dry. Then I put ot through the food processor. Before I had a food processor, I took it out on the deck and grated it on a sheet pan woth a box grater.
Time well spent money wise.
If I want to know if making from scratch is better than premade anything, I do the math. This is a concept some people can't grasp. I call it virtual paycheck. If you figure the difference in cost between buying vs making and divide it by the EXTRA time taken to make the item, you will find your salary per hour. If that is a buck, I will buy the product, providing it is somewhat healthy. You might be really surprised. Roasted vs deli chicken , hamburger helper, and lemon pound cake vs that coffee shop pound cake are the most labor saving we have found. Puddong on a box is not far behind, as well as oatmeal.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Happy Mothers Day
happy Mothers Day.m. I really enjoyed the cards that my granddaughter made me. I'm sure glad everyone didn't get on the no cards bandwagon! LOL.
This is the day I post the Sunday ads. Fred Meyers has a really good ad this week.
Butter 2/3@@
Cheese 3.99@@
Dryers 2/5@@
Bumble bee tuna .69
Berries 5/10
Walgreens
Eggs, turkey bacon 1.29
Finish 2/8
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Please share
Jane
This is the day I post the Sunday ads. Fred Meyers has a really good ad this week.
Butter 2/3@@
Cheese 3.99@@
Dryers 2/5@@
Bumble bee tuna .69
Berries 5/10
Walgreens
Eggs, turkey bacon 1.29
Finish 2/8
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Saturday, May 10, 2014
The basics, part three, cooking from scratch!
Basically, of you are on a limited budget, you can't buy meals from a box or bag and stay within budget. I met a lady that was spending ten dollars a day on dinner. It doesn't take a math whizz to understand that ten dollars a day times 30 days is 30000. If you sound your entire allotment on dinner you are either a) going to run out of money before you run out of month or b) you are not going to eat breakfast or lunch! LOL.
The good news is that there are ways to cut your food time and spend the same amount of time , but less momey cooking from scratch.
1) your crockpot can be your best friend in the kitchen. Starting dinner in the morning is a good thing. There is something very therapeutic about coming home to the smell of dinner already cooked!
2) precooking your meat when things are less hectic saves time and miney. You can buy in bulk when the meat os cheap and portion control the meat to make it last and not waste food. Many tomes leftovers get thrown out. We all have good intentions. The difference between rotisserie chicken and making it from scratch is remarkable. Like 84.00 an hour remarkable. No one ever paid me 84.00 an hour to do anything. One time the figure was 168.00 an hour. LOL
3) Having said that, there are a few things that are cheaper ready made than scratch. Pasta sauce is less than a buck ( hunts) . That's cheaper than the tomatoes. I am finding recipe starters for .50 still. It was better when I could get them for free with a coupon, but still at .50 it is cheaper than homemade. I have been getting pumpkin bread for a buck a loaf. Much cheaper than the bakery and even cheaper than scratch at the cost of pumpkin in a can.
4) most of the time, however scratch is cheaper. I sometimes grind our own hamburger ( or rather my husband and I do) it is cheaper and you control the fat. Making pork chops from a pork loin os a snap. Cut them before you roast off the rest of the loin. You can reheat pork loin slices by putting the, in heated chicken stock. Do not cook the meat again. Just bring the stock to a boil and turn the stove off. I have been using recipe starter, basil or garlic) as a base for Mac and cheese. Mac and cheese doesn't have to come out of a box. It is actually cheaper to make ot from scratch and tastes better. I have got pasta for as cheap as .38 with a coupon for the good stuff.
Some pasta boxes have very little food value and aren't worth the expense at any price. I got a microwave pasta cooker. It cuts an entire step out of the cooking process. Set it and forget it while you make the rest of dinner.
Read the ingredients on the back of the packages. If a cheese product has no cholesterol, I would be suspect. I have never seen a cheese I didn't like, and I have never seen a cheese without cholesterol. LOL. The ingredients have to be listed in order of volume. In other words, the ingredient that is the star of the show, is listed first. If that is cornstarch, you don't want it. Cornstarch is cheap and doesn't have food value. Most recipe starters or gravy type things in a jar are more expensive that the meat you put them on. There os always a healthier and less expensive alternative. Spices are cheap at the dollar store or at big lots.
Don't hesitate to keep you eyes open where ever you go. Drug stores have a limited amount of food, but often with coupons, that food can be a real bargain. They do that to get you in the store. Because you are in the store doesn't mean you have to buy a bunch of things you don't want or need.
Big lots and grocery outlet have some things at bargain process,,check expiration dates. NO ONE STORE HAS THE BEST PRICES ON EVERYTHING. No way, any day . The trick is to shop more than one store. I don't spend my life shopping. I shop two stores a week usually. If we are in the area, I hit Big lots and Grocery outlet. We go to the bread store about once every eight weeks. When I get a coupon, or when the other stores have slim Pickens for specials, I go to Winco. We go to Costco on a need to go basis-- mostly for bisquick, paper products, and meds.
If you are one of the rare few women that HATE to shop, deligate the job to someone else that can be trusted.
Or, of you don't have a choice, writing down what is on sale that you need, getting in and getting out, saves you the stress of having to make a decision.
That's about all for today.
thanks for stopping by and sharing thos blog.
Jane
The good news is that there are ways to cut your food time and spend the same amount of time , but less momey cooking from scratch.
1) your crockpot can be your best friend in the kitchen. Starting dinner in the morning is a good thing. There is something very therapeutic about coming home to the smell of dinner already cooked!
2) precooking your meat when things are less hectic saves time and miney. You can buy in bulk when the meat os cheap and portion control the meat to make it last and not waste food. Many tomes leftovers get thrown out. We all have good intentions. The difference between rotisserie chicken and making it from scratch is remarkable. Like 84.00 an hour remarkable. No one ever paid me 84.00 an hour to do anything. One time the figure was 168.00 an hour. LOL
3) Having said that, there are a few things that are cheaper ready made than scratch. Pasta sauce is less than a buck ( hunts) . That's cheaper than the tomatoes. I am finding recipe starters for .50 still. It was better when I could get them for free with a coupon, but still at .50 it is cheaper than homemade. I have been getting pumpkin bread for a buck a loaf. Much cheaper than the bakery and even cheaper than scratch at the cost of pumpkin in a can.
4) most of the time, however scratch is cheaper. I sometimes grind our own hamburger ( or rather my husband and I do) it is cheaper and you control the fat. Making pork chops from a pork loin os a snap. Cut them before you roast off the rest of the loin. You can reheat pork loin slices by putting the, in heated chicken stock. Do not cook the meat again. Just bring the stock to a boil and turn the stove off. I have been using recipe starter, basil or garlic) as a base for Mac and cheese. Mac and cheese doesn't have to come out of a box. It is actually cheaper to make ot from scratch and tastes better. I have got pasta for as cheap as .38 with a coupon for the good stuff.
Some pasta boxes have very little food value and aren't worth the expense at any price. I got a microwave pasta cooker. It cuts an entire step out of the cooking process. Set it and forget it while you make the rest of dinner.
Read the ingredients on the back of the packages. If a cheese product has no cholesterol, I would be suspect. I have never seen a cheese I didn't like, and I have never seen a cheese without cholesterol. LOL. The ingredients have to be listed in order of volume. In other words, the ingredient that is the star of the show, is listed first. If that is cornstarch, you don't want it. Cornstarch is cheap and doesn't have food value. Most recipe starters or gravy type things in a jar are more expensive that the meat you put them on. There os always a healthier and less expensive alternative. Spices are cheap at the dollar store or at big lots.
Don't hesitate to keep you eyes open where ever you go. Drug stores have a limited amount of food, but often with coupons, that food can be a real bargain. They do that to get you in the store. Because you are in the store doesn't mean you have to buy a bunch of things you don't want or need.
Big lots and grocery outlet have some things at bargain process,,check expiration dates. NO ONE STORE HAS THE BEST PRICES ON EVERYTHING. No way, any day . The trick is to shop more than one store. I don't spend my life shopping. I shop two stores a week usually. If we are in the area, I hit Big lots and Grocery outlet. We go to the bread store about once every eight weeks. When I get a coupon, or when the other stores have slim Pickens for specials, I go to Winco. We go to Costco on a need to go basis-- mostly for bisquick, paper products, and meds.
If you are one of the rare few women that HATE to shop, deligate the job to someone else that can be trusted.
Or, of you don't have a choice, writing down what is on sale that you need, getting in and getting out, saves you the stress of having to make a decision.
That's about all for today.
thanks for stopping by and sharing thos blog.
Jane
Friday, May 9, 2014
The basics, part two coupons.
We all have our preconceived notions about coupons. I have had them too. I went to an extreme couponing class with my daughters trying to keep an open mind. The extreme couponing show has tainted our opinions about couponimg. Trust me, it's a lot of bull. Stores have coupon policies, and most of what goes on on that show is against most of the policies. And, who needs 99 bottles of hot sauce anyway. I have never, well almost never, got momey back when I bought something. I say almost never, because with up dollars at rite aid, I have been paid a few cents to buy things a couple of times.
There are coupons everywhere. Mostly I get the newspaper on Saturday from the dollar store. A friend brings me the inserts so I have a few. I put the months inserts in a file folder. I download cpupons from the Internet on Coupons.com. It's the main clearing house for coupons. Basically, as I understand it, there is on,y one data base. The manufacturers want to track how many coupons are out there. High money coupons go first. There is a limit on how many can be printed. They come out the first of the month. Those coupons go in a binder I got at a flea market for a buck. I use plastic pocket sheets meant for pictures. They are just the right size.
I only print the coupons for things I would normally buy. Last month there were almost no coupons for real food.
Every area has coupon match up sites that match what's on sale at the chain stores with coupons. Ours is couponconnectionsnw.com. Lately some stores are not there and current. Google coupon matchup sites/ your major city and see what pops up.
I check the sites and then pull the coupons from the imserts. Be sure to wrote e date on the cover. The date is on the spine on really really done print. It's best to put the day you get the paper on the front. Makes life easier.
Walgreens and Rite aid have food and obviously heigene items. I have done really good at rite aid. Walgreens is a lot more complicated. We don't have a cvs.
I can usually save about six dollars a week. Lately that has been harder.
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Please share
Jane
There are coupons everywhere. Mostly I get the newspaper on Saturday from the dollar store. A friend brings me the inserts so I have a few. I put the months inserts in a file folder. I download cpupons from the Internet on Coupons.com. It's the main clearing house for coupons. Basically, as I understand it, there is on,y one data base. The manufacturers want to track how many coupons are out there. High money coupons go first. There is a limit on how many can be printed. They come out the first of the month. Those coupons go in a binder I got at a flea market for a buck. I use plastic pocket sheets meant for pictures. They are just the right size.
I only print the coupons for things I would normally buy. Last month there were almost no coupons for real food.
Every area has coupon match up sites that match what's on sale at the chain stores with coupons. Ours is couponconnectionsnw.com. Lately some stores are not there and current. Google coupon matchup sites/ your major city and see what pops up.
I check the sites and then pull the coupons from the imserts. Be sure to wrote e date on the cover. The date is on the spine on really really done print. It's best to put the day you get the paper on the front. Makes life easier.
Walgreens and Rite aid have food and obviously heigene items. I have done really good at rite aid. Walgreens is a lot more complicated. We don't have a cvs.
I can usually save about six dollars a week. Lately that has been harder.
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Jane
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Back to basics
We talked about finding the things that you buy often and identifying the lowest prices. The ads this week, tell the whole story. Cheese is anywhere from five to eight dollars. Same poundage and same brand. Three dollars is a lot of money on the scheme of things. That could buy three pasta sauces, or pasta, pasta sauce, a salad and the cheese to go on the pasta.
Shopping wisely takes a little time. But sometimes it is as simple as buying your cheese at the right store and having a whole meal for basically the savings.
After you have identified what you use for meals, and the prices you want to pay, let's take a step further. When the ads come out, I take a piece of oaper and divide it into sections. I top each section with a grocery store. Then go through the ad and write down what is really on sale for your target prices. I am looking for the best prices on oerishables, produce and dairy, and the loss leader so to speak for meat, and anything on my stock list that is my target price or near my target price
Pick the best TWO stores. Plan trips to maximize your gas. If your stores are not on the same area, group the trip with other errands you need to go to. Bring your list, the ads and your coupons. Get in, and get out. 70 percent of all tomes purchased on a store are impulse buys. That's what jacks up your food bill. Buy just what is on your list unless something you really need os on a good unadvertised price. One time, I walked into the meat department and chickens were .50 a pound. I bought two and took them home and roasted them . That was a no Brainer. It's the chips and bakery items etc that would not be helpful either for your budget or your health. LOL.
Going to two stores insures you the best of two produce departments and the best buys. Often the store will put something on sale, only to think they are going to make the difference up on the matching item. Pasta on sale, but pasta sauce a high price. Hot dogs on sale, but buns full price. Beat them at their own game. Shop two stores and get the best prices you can find.
Buying the so called loss leader ( meat at a low price) and cooking enough for your meals of that meat for a month saves time and money. Rotate your meats.
Plan your meals. You must have a plan. You don't always have to stick with your plan, but not having a plan can derail you when the unexpected happens. We all deal with the unexpected. There is an accident on the freeway and getting dinner in the table is delayed by a half hour...or any number of things. With a plan and some quick dinners in your arsenal, you can beat the drive through gremlins.
When I meal plan, I use a matrix to make it simpler and quick.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish
Your matrix may be different. I am trying to suit a variety of preferences and keep it as healthy as possible. .
I feed my husband and I, plus supplement my daughter and granddaughter for 25 percent less than the USDA stats for my husband and I on a thrifty plan. The thrifty plan is what SNAP. Is based on adjusted for cost of Living.
We eat well. It works. I am not going to tell you that it doesn't take any effort and some little fairy magically makes food appear in the pantry and cooked on the table.
I can show you how to cook fast and efficiently and buy your food at the lowest price in your area without buying twenty five pound bags of rice and beans.
thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Shopping wisely takes a little time. But sometimes it is as simple as buying your cheese at the right store and having a whole meal for basically the savings.
After you have identified what you use for meals, and the prices you want to pay, let's take a step further. When the ads come out, I take a piece of oaper and divide it into sections. I top each section with a grocery store. Then go through the ad and write down what is really on sale for your target prices. I am looking for the best prices on oerishables, produce and dairy, and the loss leader so to speak for meat, and anything on my stock list that is my target price or near my target price
Pick the best TWO stores. Plan trips to maximize your gas. If your stores are not on the same area, group the trip with other errands you need to go to. Bring your list, the ads and your coupons. Get in, and get out. 70 percent of all tomes purchased on a store are impulse buys. That's what jacks up your food bill. Buy just what is on your list unless something you really need os on a good unadvertised price. One time, I walked into the meat department and chickens were .50 a pound. I bought two and took them home and roasted them . That was a no Brainer. It's the chips and bakery items etc that would not be helpful either for your budget or your health. LOL.
Going to two stores insures you the best of two produce departments and the best buys. Often the store will put something on sale, only to think they are going to make the difference up on the matching item. Pasta on sale, but pasta sauce a high price. Hot dogs on sale, but buns full price. Beat them at their own game. Shop two stores and get the best prices you can find.
Buying the so called loss leader ( meat at a low price) and cooking enough for your meals of that meat for a month saves time and money. Rotate your meats.
Plan your meals. You must have a plan. You don't always have to stick with your plan, but not having a plan can derail you when the unexpected happens. We all deal with the unexpected. There is an accident on the freeway and getting dinner in the table is delayed by a half hour...or any number of things. With a plan and some quick dinners in your arsenal, you can beat the drive through gremlins.
When I meal plan, I use a matrix to make it simpler and quick.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish
Your matrix may be different. I am trying to suit a variety of preferences and keep it as healthy as possible. .
I feed my husband and I, plus supplement my daughter and granddaughter for 25 percent less than the USDA stats for my husband and I on a thrifty plan. The thrifty plan is what SNAP. Is based on adjusted for cost of Living.
We eat well. It works. I am not going to tell you that it doesn't take any effort and some little fairy magically makes food appear in the pantry and cooked on the table.
I can show you how to cook fast and efficiently and buy your food at the lowest price in your area without buying twenty five pound bags of rice and beans.
thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
New ads
TOP
Raspberries 5.00
Strawberries 2/3.98
Vegetables 2/1@@
Ice cream 2.88@@
Nalleys chili .99@@
Cheese 7.99 **
SAFEWAYS
Chicken .99
Strawberries 2/4
Corn 2/1
Tillamook cheese 4.99 **@
Ice cream 2.99
Grapes 2.99
Five dollar Friday
12 oz berries
Shrimp
Eggs 2/5
Coffee
QFC
Berries 2/4
Yogurt 10/5
Ice cream 2.99
Oranges .99
K cups 5.99 ck coupons
English muffins 2/4
ALBERTSONS
Strawberries 3/4.88
Eggs 2/3@@
Coffee 2 lbs4.99@@
Tillamook 6.99***
Note. Just because a store touts a sale on multiples, it's not always a bargain. It's a retailers ploy. They are figuring you're not going to see the fine print, or do the math. Break down the individual cost and compare it to your target price. Ketchup is always a buck at the dollar store. I have seen it less lately on specials . Again, it pays you dearly to KNOW YOUR PRICES!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Raspberries 5.00
Strawberries 2/3.98
Vegetables 2/1@@
Ice cream 2.88@@
Nalleys chili .99@@
Cheese 7.99 **
SAFEWAYS
Chicken .99
Strawberries 2/4
Corn 2/1
Tillamook cheese 4.99 **@
Ice cream 2.99
Grapes 2.99
Five dollar Friday
12 oz berries
Shrimp
Eggs 2/5
Coffee
QFC
Berries 2/4
Yogurt 10/5
Ice cream 2.99
Oranges .99
K cups 5.99 ck coupons
English muffins 2/4
ALBERTSONS
Strawberries 3/4.88
Eggs 2/3@@
Coffee 2 lbs4.99@@
Tillamook 6.99***
Note. Just because a store touts a sale on multiples, it's not always a bargain. It's a retailers ploy. They are figuring you're not going to see the fine print, or do the math. Break down the individual cost and compare it to your target price. Ketchup is always a buck at the dollar store. I have seen it less lately on specials . Again, it pays you dearly to KNOW YOUR PRICES!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, May 5, 2014
Monday Madness
Grocery shopping done. We are full and probably don't have to go shopping next week. Chicken was a good buy at Fred Meyers so I will be roasting a chicken today. It's Cinco de mayo so I think we will have chicken nachos tonight. Nacho chips were a dollar at Fred Meyers.
Now is the time to talk basics . I try to do that once a month around the first of the monh. Making both ends meet after a month with extra bills os a good time to start economizing on the grocery budget.
The premise of groceries on the cheap is not to pay full price for anything. That doesn't always work, but if you can identify the things you use most often and diligently find the best prices on those things , the rest will take care of themselves.
Take a few steps to get started, and reap the rewards many times over.
1) identify the inexpensive sources of protein your family will eat. This is getting harder with rising meat costs, but it is doable. I find us going vegetarian a couple of,nights a week. But, even the cost of cheese os going up.
2) write down the meals that you can make that use the sources of protein.
3) write down the frozen or shelf stable items that you use to make these dinners. No box mixes here. Just real food.
4) start tracking the prices on these foods. Use a spread sheet or a small notebook.
Pasta, 16 oz
Date. Store. Proce. Coupon? Net price
Soon you will see a pattern. Stores out things on sale about every 8-12 weeks. Some put dairy or a certain meat in on a rotating basis.
When meat, or other protein goes on s ale cheap, pick one meat a week and buy enough to feed your family for a month. You're not buying 30 portions. if you eat hamburger twice a week, buy enough for eight portions. When you get home, or shortly after, cook it and portion it in bags for each meal.
If you rotate meats, you will save time and money.
I rotate hamburger, chicken, pork loin, and cheese/eggs.
That's probably enough to absorb for one day. LOl. More tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane .
Now is the time to talk basics . I try to do that once a month around the first of the monh. Making both ends meet after a month with extra bills os a good time to start economizing on the grocery budget.
The premise of groceries on the cheap is not to pay full price for anything. That doesn't always work, but if you can identify the things you use most often and diligently find the best prices on those things , the rest will take care of themselves.
Take a few steps to get started, and reap the rewards many times over.
1) identify the inexpensive sources of protein your family will eat. This is getting harder with rising meat costs, but it is doable. I find us going vegetarian a couple of,nights a week. But, even the cost of cheese os going up.
2) write down the meals that you can make that use the sources of protein.
3) write down the frozen or shelf stable items that you use to make these dinners. No box mixes here. Just real food.
4) start tracking the prices on these foods. Use a spread sheet or a small notebook.
Pasta, 16 oz
Date. Store. Proce. Coupon? Net price
Soon you will see a pattern. Stores out things on sale about every 8-12 weeks. Some put dairy or a certain meat in on a rotating basis.
When meat, or other protein goes on s ale cheap, pick one meat a week and buy enough to feed your family for a month. You're not buying 30 portions. if you eat hamburger twice a week, buy enough for eight portions. When you get home, or shortly after, cook it and portion it in bags for each meal.
If you rotate meats, you will save time and money.
I rotate hamburger, chicken, pork loin, and cheese/eggs.
That's probably enough to absorb for one day. LOl. More tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane .
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Surprise it's Sunday!
We finally got out to shop yesterday after helping my daughter take some clothes to the recycler and some to the goodwill.
We went to the bread store first. I can't find my double fiber bread anymore, bit got some multi grain bread that is pretty low on carbs. They had oatmeal cookies and pea it butter cookies for two dollars. The pea it butter are really low in carbs. They gave us a big loaf of sourdough bread. I was surprised how low carb it was . The sourdough English muffins were lower in carbs than the whole wheat ones.
SAFEWAYS netted fruit and chicken sausage. I am not finding yogurt this week cheap anywhere. Tillamook was fairly reasonable. But it had 38 carbs in it. Not a viable option for me at this point in time.
On to the ads...
Walgreens has PUREX laundry BOGO. Usually you can find coupons for it. Walgreens lets you use two coupons for BOGO. Not many people do.
Vegetable oil 1.99
Olives .89@@ limit 3
Oscar Mayer lunch meat 2.50
Kraft Singles 16 pack 2.50
Cashews 1.99 ( 8 oz) or 16 oz peanuts
Milk 2.49
Fred Meyers
Apples .88
Eggs 2/3@@
Chicken .88
Milk 4/5@@
Buns .99
Peanut butter 3/5
English muffins 3/5
Strawberries 2/4
Romaine 5/5
Chili .89@@
Ice cream 2/6@@
Cheese, 8 oz 2/4@@
The coupons for real food on line this month were few and far between. I got 13.00 worth and that included every toothpaste one and some turkey ones for my daughter.
Fred Meyers is by far the best store this week. There are a few things at QFC, but not as many as Fred Meyer .
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
We went to the bread store first. I can't find my double fiber bread anymore, bit got some multi grain bread that is pretty low on carbs. They had oatmeal cookies and pea it butter cookies for two dollars. The pea it butter are really low in carbs. They gave us a big loaf of sourdough bread. I was surprised how low carb it was . The sourdough English muffins were lower in carbs than the whole wheat ones.
SAFEWAYS netted fruit and chicken sausage. I am not finding yogurt this week cheap anywhere. Tillamook was fairly reasonable. But it had 38 carbs in it. Not a viable option for me at this point in time.
On to the ads...
Walgreens has PUREX laundry BOGO. Usually you can find coupons for it. Walgreens lets you use two coupons for BOGO. Not many people do.
Vegetable oil 1.99
Olives .89@@ limit 3
Oscar Mayer lunch meat 2.50
Kraft Singles 16 pack 2.50
Cashews 1.99 ( 8 oz) or 16 oz peanuts
Milk 2.49
Fred Meyers
Apples .88
Eggs 2/3@@
Chicken .88
Milk 4/5@@
Buns .99
Peanut butter 3/5
English muffins 3/5
Strawberries 2/4
Romaine 5/5
Chili .89@@
Ice cream 2/6@@
Cheese, 8 oz 2/4@@
The coupons for real food on line this month were few and far between. I got 13.00 worth and that included every toothpaste one and some turkey ones for my daughter.
Fred Meyers is by far the best store this week. There are a few things at QFC, but not as many as Fred Meyer .
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, May 2, 2014
Freaky Friday
It's Friday. I, not seeing a lot of bargains, so we are not going to buy a lot. I am running our of the staples like milk, bread, etc. We might go to Winco instead. That's my fall back of there are not any really good specials here. I might wait until Fred Meyers ads come out tomorrow to see of they ar better. They seem to have good prices on the basics. I think they make their money on the other stuff. Last I looked. Their cheese was higher than the proverbial balls.
Pasta is on sale several places. I believe there are pasta coupons out there. I am reading again where people have the attitude that coupons are only for things that are junk. That isn't true. You have to " shop" your coupons just like you shop for anything else. There is good and there is bad.
I can most generally find yogurt coupons. Pasta is another staple that I can generally find. I learned to make pasta in cooking school, but it is a time consuming task that I don't choose to do. I'd rather be playing with my granddaughter. I can get pasta for as low as .38. Paired with a pasta sauce for as low as .78. And you have a very cheap meal. I buy any hard cheese I can find. Parm isn't the only cheese that tastes good on pasta. I am finding recipe starter for .50 again. It's a good way to make a fast dinner for low cost.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Pasta is on sale several places. I believe there are pasta coupons out there. I am reading again where people have the attitude that coupons are only for things that are junk. That isn't true. You have to " shop" your coupons just like you shop for anything else. There is good and there is bad.
I can most generally find yogurt coupons. Pasta is another staple that I can generally find. I learned to make pasta in cooking school, but it is a time consuming task that I don't choose to do. I'd rather be playing with my granddaughter. I can get pasta for as low as .38. Paired with a pasta sauce for as low as .78. And you have a very cheap meal. I buy any hard cheese I can find. Parm isn't the only cheese that tastes good on pasta. I am finding recipe starter for .50 again. It's a good way to make a fast dinner for low cost.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Terrific Thursday
It's Thursday. Yesterday I did the ads. I'm not seeing the specials that I have seen in the past. . I did see chicken for a good price again. Vegetables are coming in and aren't tooo bad.
Betty Crocker has a lot of Mexican dishes on their post. It's going to be 85 degrees here today. Hopefully it won't be our summer. LOL
A remember the new coupons come out today. Download them soon so you don't miss out on the large money ones.
I had a surprise root canal yesterday. Eighteen hundred dollars later. I'm glad that we have dental insurance and we only had to pay half.
We went to happy hour on Tuesday. I had a Caesar salad and a piece of ling cod with cheese as a crust! and asparagus. Very low on carbs.
I checked out some prices just to keep abreast of the bottom lines, target prices. Canned vegetables are 1.29. They are on sale for .50 with a limit. When that happens, you buy the six they allow you to buy until you reach your self imposed stocking number. Figure what you use per week and multiply it by 12 weeks.
Chicken sausage is 3.99 at SAFEWAYS. I think it might be a bit larger package than the ones I get at grocery outlet. I get it at grocery outlet for three bucks. Check pull dates where ever you go.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Betty Crocker has a lot of Mexican dishes on their post. It's going to be 85 degrees here today. Hopefully it won't be our summer. LOL
A remember the new coupons come out today. Download them soon so you don't miss out on the large money ones.
I had a surprise root canal yesterday. Eighteen hundred dollars later. I'm glad that we have dental insurance and we only had to pay half.
We went to happy hour on Tuesday. I had a Caesar salad and a piece of ling cod with cheese as a crust! and asparagus. Very low on carbs.
I checked out some prices just to keep abreast of the bottom lines, target prices. Canned vegetables are 1.29. They are on sale for .50 with a limit. When that happens, you buy the six they allow you to buy until you reach your self imposed stocking number. Figure what you use per week and multiply it by 12 weeks.
Chicken sausage is 3.99 at SAFEWAYS. I think it might be a bit larger package than the ones I get at grocery outlet. I get it at grocery outlet for three bucks. Check pull dates where ever you go.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
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