I just saw a thread on taste of home where some one asked about salvage groceries, I didn't know what that was and actually my mind went to dumpster diving, but I guess its grocery stores that order stuff that other stores don't want esentially, and thats what my step dad's store does I guess. http://www.groceryoutlets.com/Locations.aspx?loc_Store=164 (here is a picture of my mom and step dad........ a rather nice one so its been a few years):lol: This past saturday my DH was at the grocery store and called to tell me he forgot the list (oh and he blamed me for that) but even calling me about 10 times on the cell phone he spent almsost double:!: from what he usually does. So I was wondering How do you save money at the grocery store?
just to clarify, salvaged groceries are those that are sold wholesale to stores when its not needed at the regular full price grocery store. My examples are: maybe valentine candy in MARCH (but we still would eat it). Some times when a company forgets to list say salt as an ingredient, they still stick on corrected labels that state the salt, but its a bit tacky so they don't send it to Safeway or Albertsons. Or maybe an outside box thats a bit bent or corner of a box dented, but the product inside (thats usually in a seperate package like cereal) is fine. Or close to date but NOT OUTDATED stuff. And my very favorite: Jelly flops, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans that are not perfect.
we TRY to save money by working around the sale ad and making a menu and a list revolving around that. (next week we will work with a lot of whats on hand because we over spent this week) we got a good deal though on cereal (that was not on the list) but DH had a coupon that said 4 boxes of GM cereal for $4
We have one in the next town over it is called "Discount Groceries". Ours is run by I don't want to say Amish and be wrong. (the ladies that wear the bonnets, plain dresses w/ apron type front, the men are always in nice slacks and clean shaved. ) I love the store, but sometimes you really have to watch the date they expire. LOL. But other than that it is a great store. Also for saving $ at the grocery store, that is a task in its own. I try to buy bulk when possible, I try not to shop with dh and dc together. Dh will let everyone have whatever they want. Dc know I will say no.
wow, that is neat Amy never heard of store like that before. Sounds like it could sure help a family save. Your mom and dad look great.
I do remember similar stores back in Oz like that ( Not Quite Right ???) Dont have anything like it here though. To help save money at the shops, I write up a monthly menu, then do 1 big shop for all of the non perishables (flours, tomato paste etc) Then I walk down to little shop near me every few days and just get the fresh ingredients I need for 2-3 recipes (food just doesnt stay fresh for long here)
Never heard of them! But as for "discount" groceries, I bought Pillsbury cookie dough with rabbits for $.99 the other day. Do you think my kids will refuse them because Easter's over with? I may look more seriously into Once a Month cooking!!!
I bought dried peas for .25 a bag yesterday at the grocery store. I got 4 bags. I don't even know how to cook them. The one time I tried was a disaster, but I'm going to learn how. I also got two graham cracker crusts for .75. I love those deals!
I try to save by sticking to my list (impulse buying is a problem for me), getting what's on sale (I usually shop at Wal-Mart, so I can price-match what's on sale at the other stores), and planning a menu helps so I know exactly what I need to buy. I also shop at wholesale clubs. I belong to Sam's Club, B.J.'s, and Costso. If I buy in bulk I can save a bit of money that way.
The easiest way I have found to save money at the grocery store is to make a list of everything I need, then when we go to the store we leave our children at the cub house (its a little play area that is supervised by staff) and while we shop we watch our children on the monitors that are all around the store...this way I can get in and out before anyone has the chance to think of something else we need, and the children don't add things to the list while we are shopping.
I actually DON'T shop from a list, but instead try to only buy what is on "manager's special" (usually stuff that is getting close to it's sell-by date). I went yesterday and got ground turkey, turkey sausages, saurkraut, fish, then only got fruit and veggies that were on sale or on manager's special. The organic 1/2 and 1/2 was marked way down, so a got a few to freeze. I buy grains and beans in bulk and I have extra veggie broth in the freezer that I got at Big Lots for $1 each and I got a case of tomatoes in the carton at Big Lots for $0.30 each. (great staples for lots of meals). I know I can build lots of meals and I think I save more than if I go with the intention of buying certain things- that just works for me.
My list is made up from the ads. I will check the "Manager's Specials", too. I bought some really nice looking pork medallions really cheap the other day because they were a Manager's Special.
so true!!!! I do a few things. I do menu plan...well...at least dinners, I try to do that. I shop at a local deli/meat store which always has better deals than the grocery store (I check the ads before I go just in case the store has a crazy sale on something I need to stock up on). We do A LOT of chicken - so since I buy 20 lbs at a time, I get it for $1.99/lb or less - some days it's $1.69 a lb. We have a program with our trash company where we earn "recycle bucks" that we can use to buy coupons for things. I use my recycle bucks to buy $10 off/$50 order at a local grocery store...and it acts like a gift check, not a coupon...so if my order ducks under $50 b/c of coupons, it doesn't matter, they take it off. We also have an Aldi nearby. I try to get a lot of stuff there because it is insanely cheaper than a grocery store (for example, I can get a 3 pack of Romaine Hearts for $1.69 vs. the grocery store non-sale price of $3.88 - I'm a snob for Romain Lettuce). I'm trying to work a deal with a friend - we have a produce place not far from here that is dirt cheap but they give you a TON (like 2 heads of lettuce for $1.00 or 5 lbs of tomatoes for $3, etc). This works great, unless you end up wasting a lot!!! My one friend and I were considering going halvsies...we'd buy a bunch of stuff, split it in half and split the $$ in half - that way - we get the good deal but don't have to use it all ourselves! This will work for now...but once my kitchen is done, I'll be double buying a lot of things that I can freeze or can, I think...maybe... Hmmmmm.... Biggest thing that is tough for me is that with my Celiac I can't just buy some things....so coupons and the like don't help TOO much...for example, I can't use Campbell's cream of mushroom soup - I have to use Progresso - Campbells has coupons all the time, Progresso it is REALLY rare. So...I wait for that to go on sale for a $1/can and stock up!!! Anyway.... There are rumors that there is going to be a Super Walmart up the road from me in the next few years. I miss the pricematching that I used to get to do in Phoenix! So...hopefully that WILL happen and I'll get to do that again. Whew...long post....sorry!!!
Yes...i can...I have, also done it...but when you're crunched for time, it's so much easier to grab a can and crack it open! LOL!!! but, yes, I do make my own when time allows!!!
