Wednesday, March 31, 2010
I am always looking for ways to save at the grocery store and still feed my family nutritious, tasty dinners.
Dinners that cost me less than $1 per person are always a bonus! I have been shopping at Sprouts more frequently lately, and found something I wanted to try on a recommendation from my Mom. Ten-bean soup is something that you purchase dry by the scoop at Sprouts. It costs about $1.75 per pound, and you’d be STUNNED at how much soup you can get for a pound!
After purchasing the soup, I began searching for recipes in Google and stumbled upon a recipe that looked SO delicious. My recipe came from HERE by Meenakshi Matai. She was very gracious and willing to let me blog about my experience using her recipe.
There were a few things that I found to be attractive about her recipe. #1 – I already had most of the ingredients needed to make the soup. #2 – You can soak the beans while you are sleeping, and begin preparing the soup in the morning. One of my favorite things to do is, after lunches are packed, beds are made, and breakfast is served, I like to have SOME idea of what is for dinner, and prepare what I can ahead of time. With this recipe, you have already soaked the beans the night before, and you add all of the ingredients to your Crockpot or slow cooker, and you are done with dinner! How sweet is that?! #3 – this meal is quite low in calories because it contains only beans, vegetables, water and spices. You can feel completely guiltless after eating dinner!
My recipe varied slightly from Meenakshi’s because I did not have a green pepper to add to my 10-bean soup. I also didn’t have any fresh tomatoes, but I DID have a can of whole tomatoes seasoned with basil. I added these to my soup. It smelled absolutely delicious in the house all day long, and I couldn’t WAIT to try my new, nearly free soup! The soup was very flavorful and tasty. I made 1.5 of her recipes because I bought 1.5 cups of 10-beans, and WHOA did it make a lot of soup! I didn’t buy NEARLY a pound of beans, so I only spent pennies on our dinner. I froze the leftovers, and we will have them again next week – so that cuts in HALF what I spent because we will be eating it TWICE! I served a small salad with our soup, and it was a delicious dinner, indeed!
Speaking of Sprouts – I purchase something exclusively from Sprouts that I MUST tell you about! Organic lollipops! My Mom first purchased these lollipops for my daughter when she was around 6 months old. We were going to get brave and cut her hair, but we needed something to distract her and keep her still for long enough to trim! My Mom is a huge Sprouts shopper, and she stumbled upon them during one of her shopping trips. The flavors are so intense and delicious that you feel like you have the authentic fruit in your mouth. Emily loves them and they have saved my butt numerous times on long phone conversations, plane rides, and salon haircuts! You can purchase them in a small bag, or individually (6 suckers for $1) at the register. Sprouts is also running a special for Easter and a GIANT bag of assorted flavors of these organic lollipops is $4.99 right now.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Coupons: Part 2
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
This blog correlates with yesterday’s blog, and I hope to hear from you regarding your thoughts of the Nightline segment.
This tip stems from an experience that I had on a Sunday afternoon at Wal-Mart: I was in the check-out line behind two older women. The lady checking out was taking a particularly long time to move through the line and leave. Because of the length of time that she spent at the register, I began paying attention to what it was that she was doing.
Well, about 20 minutes later I figured out what was going on. I was frustrated and impatient, but I was also intrigued at the outcome of her shenanigans. She came to Wal-Mart completely prepared with everything that was on her list. She made notes in the margins of her list with the sale prices and the stores that were offering these prices. She presented these ads (from the Sunday paper) to the cashier and she honored each and every one of them. This was a tedious process, but she ended up saving nearly 50% of the cost of her trip. The cashier was so patient and friendly, and she encouraged me to try and do the same.
I have yet to try this technique myself, but I am excited to do so. This little-known technique will keep you from driving from store to store in order to find the best deals and complete your shopping list. Sounds like a winner to me!
This blog correlates with yesterday’s blog, and I hope to hear from you regarding your thoughts of the Nightline segment.
This tip stems from an experience that I had on a Sunday afternoon at Wal-Mart: I was in the check-out line behind two older women. The lady checking out was taking a particularly long time to move through the line and leave. Because of the length of time that she spent at the register, I began paying attention to what it was that she was doing.
Well, about 20 minutes later I figured out what was going on. I was frustrated and impatient, but I was also intrigued at the outcome of her shenanigans. She came to Wal-Mart completely prepared with everything that was on her list. She made notes in the margins of her list with the sale prices and the stores that were offering these prices. She presented these ads (from the Sunday paper) to the cashier and she honored each and every one of them. This was a tedious process, but she ended up saving nearly 50% of the cost of her trip. The cashier was so patient and friendly, and she encouraged me to try and do the same.
I have yet to try this technique myself, but I am excited to do so. This little-known technique will keep you from driving from store to store in order to find the best deals and complete your shopping list. Sounds like a winner to me!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Coupons and their potential...
Monday, March 29, 2010
As I was clipping coupons in the Sunday Paper this morning, I was reminded of a segment on Nightline that impacted me heavily. This story struck me so hard, in fact, that I couldn’t fall asleep, and in turn, relayed it to my husband, mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law.
I just couldn’t believe the savings that these two coupon-gurus were finding. A couple of things that were memorable to me:
*Arrive at the grocery store prepared with coupons that correspond with the items on your shopping list.
*Don’t forget your Catalina coupons – those that print out after you have paid for your items.
*Stocking up on an item that is on sale AND you have a coupon for could leave you with more money than you entered the store with. *(WHAT?!)*
Firstly, I have mentioned in previous blogs that I purchase store-brand products almost exclusively. Better said – if a store brand is available, that’s what I choose, save ketchup and Cheerios. However, I am re-thinking my strategy completely after watching this segment. The savings that they achieve is stunning, and you will be amazed when you watch it as well.
Secondly, I have found that Wal-Mart offers the lowest prices of any grocery store in my area. However, they are less likely (in my experience) to offer sales on items that I purchase regularly. Their prices are steadfast and if you offer the lowest prices around, what’s the need to put these items on sale? Having watched the Nightline segment, I may try my hand at other supermarkets that offer weekly sales on commonly purchased items.
Watch the Nightline segment – it will completely change your view of couponing and grocery shopping!
As I was clipping coupons in the Sunday Paper this morning, I was reminded of a segment on Nightline that impacted me heavily. This story struck me so hard, in fact, that I couldn’t fall asleep, and in turn, relayed it to my husband, mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law.
I just couldn’t believe the savings that these two coupon-gurus were finding. A couple of things that were memorable to me:
*Arrive at the grocery store prepared with coupons that correspond with the items on your shopping list.
*Don’t forget your Catalina coupons – those that print out after you have paid for your items.
*Stocking up on an item that is on sale AND you have a coupon for could leave you with more money than you entered the store with. *(WHAT?!)*
Firstly, I have mentioned in previous blogs that I purchase store-brand products almost exclusively. Better said – if a store brand is available, that’s what I choose, save ketchup and Cheerios. However, I am re-thinking my strategy completely after watching this segment. The savings that they achieve is stunning, and you will be amazed when you watch it as well.
Secondly, I have found that Wal-Mart offers the lowest prices of any grocery store in my area. However, they are less likely (in my experience) to offer sales on items that I purchase regularly. Their prices are steadfast and if you offer the lowest prices around, what’s the need to put these items on sale? Having watched the Nightline segment, I may try my hand at other supermarkets that offer weekly sales on commonly purchased items.
Watch the Nightline segment – it will completely change your view of couponing and grocery shopping!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Save-A-Lot
Saturday, March 27, 2010
So…Save-A-Lot was a no-go. I decided to venture out yesterday, load up the baby, and drive across two cities to save some money on my groceries. My experience was unusual, to say the least.
I wasn’t able to complete my whole grocery list which was frustrating. They did not have any romaine lettuce, their assortment of meats was slightly creepy, and I was dissatisfied with their selection of toothpaste, to name a few. Selection was, in fact, a huge issue for me. There was often no variety to choose from.
The store was small, offering significantly fewer products than a typical grocery store. There is no bakery, and no deli.
I am not interested in being bombarded with sales associates and their questions, but it is always nice to know that they’ve seen you come in. No one spoke with me the entire time I was in their store (roughly an hour). I would have appreciated a, “are you finding everything ok today?” or “how are you today?”
Shortly after I arrived at Save-A-Lot, they launched a soup kitchen of sorts in the front of the store between the check-out and the produce. The entire situation was awkward and uncomfortable for me, and several other shoppers that were purchasing groceries around the same time.
Having said all of this, I will probably not be returning to Save-A-Lot. I am, however, EXTREMELY excited about visiting my new Aldi store when it opens on April 22nd. I have heard great things about this store, mostly from my Aunt, who shops at Aldi regularly. She mentioned to me that they stand behind each and every product that they carry. If you are dissatisfied with a product, Aldi will reimburse you for DOUBLE the retail price of the item. What a great way to demonstrate their dedication to superior products! Visit ALDI to find the store nearest you!
Just a tiny reminder – World Market sent an email this morning boasting 25% off Easter items. World Market is a GREAT place to find unusual toys that your kids are sure to love. Finish up those Easter Baskets for less!
So…Save-A-Lot was a no-go. I decided to venture out yesterday, load up the baby, and drive across two cities to save some money on my groceries. My experience was unusual, to say the least.
I wasn’t able to complete my whole grocery list which was frustrating. They did not have any romaine lettuce, their assortment of meats was slightly creepy, and I was dissatisfied with their selection of toothpaste, to name a few. Selection was, in fact, a huge issue for me. There was often no variety to choose from.
The store was small, offering significantly fewer products than a typical grocery store. There is no bakery, and no deli.
I am not interested in being bombarded with sales associates and their questions, but it is always nice to know that they’ve seen you come in. No one spoke with me the entire time I was in their store (roughly an hour). I would have appreciated a, “are you finding everything ok today?” or “how are you today?”
Shortly after I arrived at Save-A-Lot, they launched a soup kitchen of sorts in the front of the store between the check-out and the produce. The entire situation was awkward and uncomfortable for me, and several other shoppers that were purchasing groceries around the same time.
Having said all of this, I will probably not be returning to Save-A-Lot. I am, however, EXTREMELY excited about visiting my new Aldi store when it opens on April 22nd. I have heard great things about this store, mostly from my Aunt, who shops at Aldi regularly. She mentioned to me that they stand behind each and every product that they carry. If you are dissatisfied with a product, Aldi will reimburse you for DOUBLE the retail price of the item. What a great way to demonstrate their dedication to superior products! Visit ALDI to find the store nearest you!
Just a tiny reminder – World Market sent an email this morning boasting 25% off Easter items. World Market is a GREAT place to find unusual toys that your kids are sure to love. Finish up those Easter Baskets for less!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Savings this weekend!
Friday, March 26, 2010
This weekend, I will be taking advantage of several email coupons and discounts I have received in the recent past.
Kid to Kid
I received a coupon for Kid to Kid Children’s and Maternity Consignment in my email this week. The coupon is for $5 off when you spent $25.
Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet is my favorite local consignment boutique for men and women. When I took some items in to consign, I entered my email address into their database. About an hour after I left, I received a coupon for $5 off my next purchase at Plato’s Closet.
Save-A-Lot
There was a segment on the local news this morning about Save-A-Lot Food Stores. The segment highlighted Save-A-Lot’s dedication to low prices and fabulous online coupons. I visited their website, and discovered that there were over SIX PAGES of printable coupons for a variety of grocery items. I am interested in being added to their mailing list (the segment this morning mentioned receiving a coupon for $5 off when you spend $20) and discovering even more savings opportunities. The woman that led the segment on the news purchased $80 worth of groceries for $44!
Remember…these are simply guidelines. If you do not live in the North Texas area, or are in a community where none of these stores are available, I encourage you to venture out and discover what IS available to you. Maybe you have a Job Lots instead of a Big Lots. Maybe your children’s and maternity consignment store goes by a different name. Start thinking about the venues where you can experience significant savings. ALWAYS REMEMBER – deleting unwanted emails from your inbox IS FREE, but you can’t receive savings if you don’t sign up!
This weekend, I will be taking advantage of several email coupons and discounts I have received in the recent past.
Kid to Kid
I received a coupon for Kid to Kid Children’s and Maternity Consignment in my email this week. The coupon is for $5 off when you spent $25.
Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet is my favorite local consignment boutique for men and women. When I took some items in to consign, I entered my email address into their database. About an hour after I left, I received a coupon for $5 off my next purchase at Plato’s Closet.
Save-A-Lot
There was a segment on the local news this morning about Save-A-Lot Food Stores. The segment highlighted Save-A-Lot’s dedication to low prices and fabulous online coupons. I visited their website, and discovered that there were over SIX PAGES of printable coupons for a variety of grocery items. I am interested in being added to their mailing list (the segment this morning mentioned receiving a coupon for $5 off when you spend $20) and discovering even more savings opportunities. The woman that led the segment on the news purchased $80 worth of groceries for $44!
Remember…these are simply guidelines. If you do not live in the North Texas area, or are in a community where none of these stores are available, I encourage you to venture out and discover what IS available to you. Maybe you have a Job Lots instead of a Big Lots. Maybe your children’s and maternity consignment store goes by a different name. Start thinking about the venues where you can experience significant savings. ALWAYS REMEMBER – deleting unwanted emails from your inbox IS FREE, but you can’t receive savings if you don’t sign up!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Fresher Produce!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Do you buy a lot of produce? I know I do! It seems like I always need to run to the store for some fresh romaine lettuce or a purple onion.
Things like carrots and onions seem to last longer in the refrigerator than grapes or tomatoes, but I have a solution that will help your produce stay fresh longer and keep you from having to throw out ripened fruits and vegetables.
Forever Bags are an As Seen On TV item, but they are available in most stores like Wal-Mart and Target. I, personally, purchase my Forever Bags at Big Lots. They are $4.00 for 16 bags ~ 8 - 9”x15” bags and 8 – 12”x17” bags.
Here’s how they work: Forever bags are made of an all-natural and environmentally friendly material. Fruits and vegetables exude ethylene gases as they ripen, and Forever Bags absorb and remove these gases, thus slowing the ripening and aging process.
The bags have proven to slow the ripening of my fruits and vegetables significantly. I am able to reuse the bags, preventing the inevitability of purchasing more bags. You will find that you can keep your fruits and vegetables fresh for a considerable amount of time, giving you the opportunity to eat them until they are gone, instead of throwing them out and buying fresh. Give them a try, Forever Bags are a great trick!
Do you buy a lot of produce? I know I do! It seems like I always need to run to the store for some fresh romaine lettuce or a purple onion.
Things like carrots and onions seem to last longer in the refrigerator than grapes or tomatoes, but I have a solution that will help your produce stay fresh longer and keep you from having to throw out ripened fruits and vegetables.
Forever Bags are an As Seen On TV item, but they are available in most stores like Wal-Mart and Target. I, personally, purchase my Forever Bags at Big Lots. They are $4.00 for 16 bags ~ 8 - 9”x15” bags and 8 – 12”x17” bags.
Here’s how they work: Forever bags are made of an all-natural and environmentally friendly material. Fruits and vegetables exude ethylene gases as they ripen, and Forever Bags absorb and remove these gases, thus slowing the ripening and aging process.
The bags have proven to slow the ripening of my fruits and vegetables significantly. I am able to reuse the bags, preventing the inevitability of purchasing more bags. You will find that you can keep your fruits and vegetables fresh for a considerable amount of time, giving you the opportunity to eat them until they are gone, instead of throwing them out and buying fresh. Give them a try, Forever Bags are a great trick!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
New clothes for everyone!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I absolutely love to shop – I could do it every day! I am always looking for great prices on clothing for my toddler, Emily, and the rest of the family. I have found a few tricks as to how to shop smart, and keep the family from going naked or sporting those high-water pants we all know and love. I’m here to let you in on the secret!
Truth be told, it’s more common sense, but while you are busy thinking of every last detail of EVERYTHING else, you may have overlooked it.
Let’s talk about the little ones first: When you run in to Target for some milk and diapers, take a quick swing past the clearance clothing. Target is AWESOME about putting children’s clothing on clearance from 30% to 75% off. The clothes that are going on clearance, however, are usually the season that just ended. So how can you possibly buy this stuff? BUY NEXT YEAR’S! For example, Emily is a December baby. So she will be 1, 2,3 years old in the Winter. When Fall/Winter clothing goes on clearance, I purchase next year’s (don’t tell my husband!) clothing for prices that are UNREAL! When Spring/Summer clothing goes on clearance, I will buy clothing for next year as well. This saves you money, but also keeps you from the panic that you feel when you dress them in those jeans that fit last week, and are now cropped. Oops!
Before doing this, try to “look into your crystal ball” and determine if your child is true-to-size or if they are deliciously chubby or more petite. This will help you buy clothing that will actually fit them when the time comes.
Now for the big kids: The good news is…the same concept applies for you and your husband (or wife.) The bad news is…I am a little bit more hesitant to purchase things and then find that they are too small (or too big) by the time I’m ready to wear them. This isn’t a savings OR a self-esteem booster! If you remain constant in your sizing, you have no worries.
This is also something that you can apply to your life if you are planning to have a baby, as well. Kohl’s and Target are wonderful about putting their maternity clothing on clearance for prices that are too good to pass up. I was VERY pregnant in the winter, so I have mostly warm maternity clothing. If I were to have a summer or fall baby next time, I will need some things that coordinate with the season.
Keep these things in mind as you do your shopping. Keep your eyes out for things that are staples, or stuff that is just too cute to pass up. You are sure to save money and pick up some amazing deals at the same time!
Please visit Lindsay Walker's Piano and Voice Studio!
I absolutely love to shop – I could do it every day! I am always looking for great prices on clothing for my toddler, Emily, and the rest of the family. I have found a few tricks as to how to shop smart, and keep the family from going naked or sporting those high-water pants we all know and love. I’m here to let you in on the secret!
Truth be told, it’s more common sense, but while you are busy thinking of every last detail of EVERYTHING else, you may have overlooked it.
Let’s talk about the little ones first: When you run in to Target for some milk and diapers, take a quick swing past the clearance clothing. Target is AWESOME about putting children’s clothing on clearance from 30% to 75% off. The clothes that are going on clearance, however, are usually the season that just ended. So how can you possibly buy this stuff? BUY NEXT YEAR’S! For example, Emily is a December baby. So she will be 1, 2,3 years old in the Winter. When Fall/Winter clothing goes on clearance, I purchase next year’s (don’t tell my husband!) clothing for prices that are UNREAL! When Spring/Summer clothing goes on clearance, I will buy clothing for next year as well. This saves you money, but also keeps you from the panic that you feel when you dress them in those jeans that fit last week, and are now cropped. Oops!
Before doing this, try to “look into your crystal ball” and determine if your child is true-to-size or if they are deliciously chubby or more petite. This will help you buy clothing that will actually fit them when the time comes.
Now for the big kids: The good news is…the same concept applies for you and your husband (or wife.) The bad news is…I am a little bit more hesitant to purchase things and then find that they are too small (or too big) by the time I’m ready to wear them. This isn’t a savings OR a self-esteem booster! If you remain constant in your sizing, you have no worries.
This is also something that you can apply to your life if you are planning to have a baby, as well. Kohl’s and Target are wonderful about putting their maternity clothing on clearance for prices that are too good to pass up. I was VERY pregnant in the winter, so I have mostly warm maternity clothing. If I were to have a summer or fall baby next time, I will need some things that coordinate with the season.
Keep these things in mind as you do your shopping. Keep your eyes out for things that are staples, or stuff that is just too cute to pass up. You are sure to save money and pick up some amazing deals at the same time!
Please visit Lindsay Walker's Piano and Voice Studio!
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