When we looked at the Frugal Foodie Challenge entries and tried to choose just three, the head judge (aka Rob) couldn't pick just three - they all looked (and sounded) delicious! So ... we're making all seven entries!
And that brings me to my Tip of the Week. Since I'm cooking SEVEN full meals this week, I needed to buy a lot of ingredients. Thing is, all of the recipes use mozzarella, and some of them repeat on other things. So, I "consolidated" my grocery list - figured out how many of each item (for example, chicken breasts) I needed and purchased accordingly. If I had planned seven meals for the week that had no major ingredients in common, I probably would have spent $100+ dollars on the shopping trip - things like beef, chicken, fish, pork, etc all add up quickly.
However, because I was able to use the same ingredients in several different dishes (i.e. chicken), I spent less because I could buy in larger quantities.
Another great example of this is when I had first started the blog - anyone remember the Neverending Can of Tuna?? (To make a long story short, I made meals for almost 2 weeks out of a 5-pound can of tuna fish). Because I didn't have to shop for multiple protein sources, I saved a TON of money!
The other area in which clustering can save a few dollars is on expensive specialty ingredients. For example, I never use pesto. Until this week, I'd never bought it before. The reason - it's almost $5 in our grocery store and it takes a lot to eat it all. However, if I had three recipes (or even two) that called for pesto, I can split its cost out over several meals and use an expensive ingredient - without spending a ton or wasting food.
Have you ever tried clustering? Does it work for you? Why or why not? Leave me a comment!!
Showing posts with label Grocery Shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grocery Shopping. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Grocery Shopping Tip of the Week: Making a List
You know that old Christmas song that goes, "He's making a list, he's checking it twice ..."? Well, its not just Santa Claus who needs to make a list. Right up there at the top of my money-saving grocery shopping tips is: MAKE A LIST. And even check it. Twice, if you want!
Why? Well, have you ever gone to the grocery store, bought a whole cart full of stuff, then got home and realized you were still missing the one thing you needed for that pie you were going to make (or whatever)? Or what about going to the grocery store for a couple of onions and a gallon of milk and coming home with $50+ worth of stuff??
Sure, it happens to all of us, the urge to impulse-buy. But for some reason, most of us are WAY more prone to overspend at the grocery store than the mall. Maybe because everything is so (relatively) cheap at the grocery store? Who knows. But admit it, this has happened to you.
My Solution: As simple as it sounds, I recommend just making a list and sticking to it. There are several smaller steps that are part of this process, and that's what I'm going to expand on.
1. Make a menu for the week. I've been "mentally" doing this for a while. For example, this week I work Wednesday through Saturday. So I will make two meals this week - one Monday and one on Tuesday. They will have to last R (via leftovers) for the entire week. Plan out breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and drinks. Don't go overboard, but say you always eat cereal and yogurt for breakfast (like me). You know you'll need those two items, plus any "sides" - enough to make it through the week. Don't forget snacks of some sort - and drinks.
2. Make a list of all the ingredients you KNOW you'll need, and in what quantities. For example, if I'm going to make fajita chicken, I know I need the fajita chicken itself, plus tortillas, salsa, a little cheese, wondra (for the gravy) and potatoes.
3. Next, do an "inventory" of all the stuff you already have. It's always irritating to come home from the store and realize you already have enough of something you just spent money on.
4. Finally, when you get to the store ... STICK TO THE LIST. Don't buy stuff just because they are doing a sample and you like it. Don't buy stuff because it looks good. Don't buy stuff just because its on sale. If its not on the list, DON'T BUY IT.
So there it is ... the Tip of the Week. What do you think? Any other suggestions or strategies I've missed? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Why? Well, have you ever gone to the grocery store, bought a whole cart full of stuff, then got home and realized you were still missing the one thing you needed for that pie you were going to make (or whatever)? Or what about going to the grocery store for a couple of onions and a gallon of milk and coming home with $50+ worth of stuff??
Sure, it happens to all of us, the urge to impulse-buy. But for some reason, most of us are WAY more prone to overspend at the grocery store than the mall. Maybe because everything is so (relatively) cheap at the grocery store? Who knows. But admit it, this has happened to you.
My Solution: As simple as it sounds, I recommend just making a list and sticking to it. There are several smaller steps that are part of this process, and that's what I'm going to expand on.
1. Make a menu for the week. I've been "mentally" doing this for a while. For example, this week I work Wednesday through Saturday. So I will make two meals this week - one Monday and one on Tuesday. They will have to last R (via leftovers) for the entire week. Plan out breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and drinks. Don't go overboard, but say you always eat cereal and yogurt for breakfast (like me). You know you'll need those two items, plus any "sides" - enough to make it through the week. Don't forget snacks of some sort - and drinks.
2. Make a list of all the ingredients you KNOW you'll need, and in what quantities. For example, if I'm going to make fajita chicken, I know I need the fajita chicken itself, plus tortillas, salsa, a little cheese, wondra (for the gravy) and potatoes.
3. Next, do an "inventory" of all the stuff you already have. It's always irritating to come home from the store and realize you already have enough of something you just spent money on.
4. Finally, when you get to the store ... STICK TO THE LIST. Don't buy stuff just because they are doing a sample and you like it. Don't buy stuff because it looks good. Don't buy stuff just because its on sale. If its not on the list, DON'T BUY IT.
So there it is ... the Tip of the Week. What do you think? Any other suggestions or strategies I've missed? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Top 10 Annoying Grocery Shoppers
Well, here's my first top 10 list. I was never expecting to make one, but last night Rob and I went grocery shopping, and there were SO MANY things to be annoyed at, I couldn't really focus on just one. Of course, there are really more than 10 things to be annoyed at in the grocery store, but I'll just list 10, and if you have more to add (or just want to throw in a "right on!"), please feel free to leave me a comment!
Top 10 - Annoying People You Meet at the Grocery Store
10. The Lazy Susan. I am seriously bothered by people too lazy to walk the extra 50 yards and put a shopping cart in the "cart corral." Seriously - you just spent an hour (or so) wandering aimlessly around the grocery store ... you couldn't take another 50 steps to keep your cart from hitting other people's cars?
9. The Rolling Road Block. Sadly, my parents fall into this category. Typically this is either an entire family or just one very talented individual who walks VERY slowly and somehow manages to take up the entire width of the aisle. This creates a serious backlog of shoppers - and just PRAY they don't stop moving, or a traffic jam will ensue that makes LA look like smooth sailing.
8. The Confused Person. This person either has a list and didn't put it in any logical order, or is just wandering randomly around the store. They will generally make several false starts, turn abruptly, stop suddenly and then glare at you if you bump them with your cart.
7. The Mario Andretti. This person is determined to set a world record in speed-shopping. That generally means they weave dangerously, take blind intersections without even slowing down, and huff and puff impatiently when stuck behind a rolling road block. Generally this is the kind of person who also drives like a maniac. Usually a woman in her 20s or 30s, she would push you out of the way to get the last artichoke on the shelf.
6. The Cheapskate. I will confess to being this person. Sometimes. This is the person who spends 15 minutes deciding which can of tuna is going to save them $0.05. She'll block an entire display while deciding, too. And meet her cousin:
5. The Nutritionist. This person will read the nutrition labels and/or ingredient list on each item she picks up before she puts it in her cart. Apparently this show of healthiness is important whether the item in question is a can of peas or a gallon of ice cream.
4. The Coupon Cutter/Price Watcher. Another friend of the cheapskate (and hopefully NOT the same person), this person will take her monthly grocery shopping to the register and insist on checking the price on every item as it goes across the scanner. "That should be $3.24, not $3.26" They generally will also have a fistful of coupons with them - at least one for every item in the cart, and will still be looking for more in their bottomless pit of a purse when the clerk (40 minutes later) comes up with the final total.
3. The Sampler/Muncher. This is the person who will pick up a box of cookies and a soda and eat the entire thing while shopping. Or worse, this person wanders through the produce aisles, treating the place like one giant free-for-all. A grape here, a banana there, etc. This person will also show up on days when the store is offering free samples and will possibly make the rounds twice.
2. The Line Cutter. This person was always first in line, no matter how many people were actually there ahead of them. Whether its the deli, bakery counter, or the checkout, this person will somehow weasel in ahead of you.
And the #1 WORST person to meet in the grocery store:
1. The Bad Parent. Now, I can't complain about all people who bring kids to the grocery store. I know sometimes its necessary and all that. However, I'm talking about people who think the grocery store is their child's personal funland. It usually starts in the parking lot. No hand-holding, just running ahead without watching for cars. Then, in the store, this child is not under control. They are running, pulling things off shelves, wandering off, making messes, screaming, picking things up, and generally being a hazard. And there's no age limit to this child, either. Last night I witnessed a parent allowing their 10-year-old children to wander around the liquor section. Picking up bottles, etc. Yikes! Wait until that child breaks a $100 bottle of wine. And cuts themself. The older kids in this group also generally have "wheelie" shoes. Um ... NOT in the grocery store. The kid loses control and there goes an entire display of glass jars. Please, people ... if you can't control your kid, DON'T subject the rest of us to him. Especially not at the grocery store.
Sooo ... there it is, my first Top 10 list. What do you think? Leave me a comment!!
Top 10 - Annoying People You Meet at the Grocery Store
10. The Lazy Susan. I am seriously bothered by people too lazy to walk the extra 50 yards and put a shopping cart in the "cart corral." Seriously - you just spent an hour (or so) wandering aimlessly around the grocery store ... you couldn't take another 50 steps to keep your cart from hitting other people's cars?
9. The Rolling Road Block. Sadly, my parents fall into this category. Typically this is either an entire family or just one very talented individual who walks VERY slowly and somehow manages to take up the entire width of the aisle. This creates a serious backlog of shoppers - and just PRAY they don't stop moving, or a traffic jam will ensue that makes LA look like smooth sailing.
8. The Confused Person. This person either has a list and didn't put it in any logical order, or is just wandering randomly around the store. They will generally make several false starts, turn abruptly, stop suddenly and then glare at you if you bump them with your cart.
7. The Mario Andretti. This person is determined to set a world record in speed-shopping. That generally means they weave dangerously, take blind intersections without even slowing down, and huff and puff impatiently when stuck behind a rolling road block. Generally this is the kind of person who also drives like a maniac. Usually a woman in her 20s or 30s, she would push you out of the way to get the last artichoke on the shelf.
6. The Cheapskate. I will confess to being this person. Sometimes. This is the person who spends 15 minutes deciding which can of tuna is going to save them $0.05. She'll block an entire display while deciding, too. And meet her cousin:
5. The Nutritionist. This person will read the nutrition labels and/or ingredient list on each item she picks up before she puts it in her cart. Apparently this show of healthiness is important whether the item in question is a can of peas or a gallon of ice cream.
4. The Coupon Cutter/Price Watcher. Another friend of the cheapskate (and hopefully NOT the same person), this person will take her monthly grocery shopping to the register and insist on checking the price on every item as it goes across the scanner. "That should be $3.24, not $3.26" They generally will also have a fistful of coupons with them - at least one for every item in the cart, and will still be looking for more in their bottomless pit of a purse when the clerk (40 minutes later) comes up with the final total.
3. The Sampler/Muncher. This is the person who will pick up a box of cookies and a soda and eat the entire thing while shopping. Or worse, this person wanders through the produce aisles, treating the place like one giant free-for-all. A grape here, a banana there, etc. This person will also show up on days when the store is offering free samples and will possibly make the rounds twice.
2. The Line Cutter. This person was always first in line, no matter how many people were actually there ahead of them. Whether its the deli, bakery counter, or the checkout, this person will somehow weasel in ahead of you.
And the #1 WORST person to meet in the grocery store:
1. The Bad Parent. Now, I can't complain about all people who bring kids to the grocery store. I know sometimes its necessary and all that. However, I'm talking about people who think the grocery store is their child's personal funland. It usually starts in the parking lot. No hand-holding, just running ahead without watching for cars. Then, in the store, this child is not under control. They are running, pulling things off shelves, wandering off, making messes, screaming, picking things up, and generally being a hazard. And there's no age limit to this child, either. Last night I witnessed a parent allowing their 10-year-old children to wander around the liquor section. Picking up bottles, etc. Yikes! Wait until that child breaks a $100 bottle of wine. And cuts themself. The older kids in this group also generally have "wheelie" shoes. Um ... NOT in the grocery store. The kid loses control and there goes an entire display of glass jars. Please, people ... if you can't control your kid, DON'T subject the rest of us to him. Especially not at the grocery store.
Sooo ... there it is, my first Top 10 list. What do you think? Leave me a comment!!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Coupons - Worth The Trouble?
Okay, I know I'm going to take a lot of flack for this post from the frugal community. I admit that what I have to say here is probably anti-thetical to all that a true frugal-hack would say. But here it is:
Coupons do not save me money.
There, it's out. Here's the deal: I'll use an example from our newspaper yesterday. In one of the coupon inserts there were ads for money off tomatoes, butter, cooking spray, peanut butter, guacamole, yogurt, cottage cheese and almonds. Of course, most of these coupons were for $0.35 or so per item. And these are name-brand items. The problem: In most cases, I can still get a generic for less than the name-brand with the coupon. Sadly.
Of the aforementioned list of items, I have the need (and the space) for 1 thing. I do need cooking spray. And I prefer PAM. And the coupon was for $1.00 off. Could be useful. The problem: When I go the the grocery store with PAM on my list - will I remember to take the coupon with me? And more importantly, will I remember to use it? Coupons are a great money-saver ... for very organized people. Which I am not.
Finally - the cost analysis. If I buy a newspaper for $1.25 so that I can get (and maybe use) a coupon worth $0.35 - who is the idiot consumer?? That would be me.
Yes, there are people (and you read about them all the time on various blogs, online news stories, etc) who have the time, organizational skills, and patience to successfully clip coupons, use them on triple-coupon day at the grocery store, and walk away with $200 worth of groceries for $35.
I am not one of those people. They don't work for me - but I'd love to try them again ... if you have any tips for me on successful coupon-using, please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you, and I'll try each method suggested and write a follow-up piece in a month to let you all know how it turned out.
Coupons do not save me money.
There, it's out. Here's the deal: I'll use an example from our newspaper yesterday. In one of the coupon inserts there were ads for money off tomatoes, butter, cooking spray, peanut butter, guacamole, yogurt, cottage cheese and almonds. Of course, most of these coupons were for $0.35 or so per item. And these are name-brand items. The problem: In most cases, I can still get a generic for less than the name-brand with the coupon. Sadly.
Of the aforementioned list of items, I have the need (and the space) for 1 thing. I do need cooking spray. And I prefer PAM. And the coupon was for $1.00 off. Could be useful. The problem: When I go the the grocery store with PAM on my list - will I remember to take the coupon with me? And more importantly, will I remember to use it? Coupons are a great money-saver ... for very organized people. Which I am not.
Finally - the cost analysis. If I buy a newspaper for $1.25 so that I can get (and maybe use) a coupon worth $0.35 - who is the idiot consumer?? That would be me.
Yes, there are people (and you read about them all the time on various blogs, online news stories, etc) who have the time, organizational skills, and patience to successfully clip coupons, use them on triple-coupon day at the grocery store, and walk away with $200 worth of groceries for $35.
I am not one of those people. They don't work for me - but I'd love to try them again ... if you have any tips for me on successful coupon-using, please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you, and I'll try each method suggested and write a follow-up piece in a month to let you all know how it turned out.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Christmas Day
Our menu this year was varied, but only cost us $25.88 total. The reason? Free food from HEB!! They have these "meal-deals", where if you buy a certain item, all the other items that would typically go with that item as part of a meal are free. This year the item was spiral-sliced ham. We bought a 9.5 lb half-ham for the $25.88 and got everything else for free. Whoo!!
COST: $25.88
Honey Baked Ham - $25.88
Canned Peas - FREE with Coupon
Canned Corn - FREE with Coupon
Cranberry Jelly - FREE with coupon
Salad - FREE with coupon
Mashed Potatoes - already in pantry (approx $0.14)
Gravy - made from ham drippings - FREE
The only thing in this photo that we paid for was the ham. And the crackers and dip, but those technically weren't part of the meal. We were just using those as "pre-meal-waiting" munchies.
Cat says, "Merry Christmas!"
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Frugal Grocery Shopping Tip of the Week
Here's a new feature I'm adding to the blog. We go grocery shopping every week (or so). Each time I shop I find a new way to save money, so I will highlight my "discoveries" for you when that happens.
This week's idea: use the Price Per Unit (PPU) cost on the shelf tag to your advantage.
Many people go to the grocery store and try to save a few bucks by buying bigger sizes or generic products. Often, this is a good idea, but not always. The easiest way to save money is by calculating the PPU of each item in the category.
For example, we bought tuna this week (for those of you who've been with me since the beginning, this is the first time I've even WANTED to eat tuna in a couple of months.) The selection of tuna available in our local HEB is mind boggling. Honestly, I didn't realize a person needed so many different flavors and varieties of something so simple! But I digress. Between store brands and bigger sizes, you'd think I'd need to buy another 5-lb can, right? Not exactly. When I figured out the PPU of the tuna, the cheapest option turned out to be: Chicken of the Sea. In the small can. No, really. Name brand tuna in a smaller size was cheaper than the giant can of off-brand.
How does one calculate all this? Well, you simply divide the cost in dollars (or your currency of choice) by the (in this case) number of ounces in the can. Or number of eggs in the box, or whatever your "unit" happens to be. However, unless you're my husband, mental math (particularly division) isn't always easy, especially when you're in the middle of the grocery store, blocking the aisle with your cart while you think. No one likes a cart blocker, so what do you do? It's not really practical to carry a calculator through the supermarket (although I bet there are at least a couple of people out there who do.) So ...
Behold the shelf tag!!
This simple little tag shows you how much an item costs, right? Well, see that smaller number on the upper left (your tag's placement may vary)? It's the PPU, calculated out FOR YOU by the grocery store! Now, not all grocery stores do this - but most (including Wal-Mart) generally include this information somewhere on the shelf tag. No mental cartwheels required!
In the tuna example above, the cheapest large can of tuna was PPUed at $0.11 per ounce. Not bad, right? Except the Chicken of the Sea cans I purchased were PPUed at $0.08 per ounce. I not only have smaller packaging - a plus when you're only cooking for two - but I pay less, as well.
So next time you're at the grocery store, remember that a little bit of math (or reading, depending on your grocer) can save you a lot of money!
This week's idea: use the Price Per Unit (PPU) cost on the shelf tag to your advantage.
Many people go to the grocery store and try to save a few bucks by buying bigger sizes or generic products. Often, this is a good idea, but not always. The easiest way to save money is by calculating the PPU of each item in the category.
For example, we bought tuna this week (for those of you who've been with me since the beginning, this is the first time I've even WANTED to eat tuna in a couple of months.) The selection of tuna available in our local HEB is mind boggling. Honestly, I didn't realize a person needed so many different flavors and varieties of something so simple! But I digress. Between store brands and bigger sizes, you'd think I'd need to buy another 5-lb can, right? Not exactly. When I figured out the PPU of the tuna, the cheapest option turned out to be: Chicken of the Sea. In the small can. No, really. Name brand tuna in a smaller size was cheaper than the giant can of off-brand.
How does one calculate all this? Well, you simply divide the cost in dollars (or your currency of choice) by the (in this case) number of ounces in the can. Or number of eggs in the box, or whatever your "unit" happens to be. However, unless you're my husband, mental math (particularly division) isn't always easy, especially when you're in the middle of the grocery store, blocking the aisle with your cart while you think. No one likes a cart blocker, so what do you do? It's not really practical to carry a calculator through the supermarket (although I bet there are at least a couple of people out there who do.) So ...
Behold the shelf tag!!
This simple little tag shows you how much an item costs, right? Well, see that smaller number on the upper left (your tag's placement may vary)? It's the PPU, calculated out FOR YOU by the grocery store! Now, not all grocery stores do this - but most (including Wal-Mart) generally include this information somewhere on the shelf tag. No mental cartwheels required!
In the tuna example above, the cheapest large can of tuna was PPUed at $0.11 per ounce. Not bad, right? Except the Chicken of the Sea cans I purchased were PPUed at $0.08 per ounce. I not only have smaller packaging - a plus when you're only cooking for two - but I pay less, as well.
So next time you're at the grocery store, remember that a little bit of math (or reading, depending on your grocer) can save you a lot of money!
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