Morning all! New month - new beginnings - new blessings!!!
It can pay to pay attention folks. Deals and bargains CAN still be found. You have to watch the sales and the clearance sections. Look in new places, new locations, and stores that may not seem the places where deals would be found. We have to widen our horizons!!!!!!
Last week I told you I got some deals at the grocery (Kroger). I went for a couple digital deals - but always check the clearance. They had clearance in more than one place last week - which is kind of unusual anymore. I happened upon all of them - thankfully.
The taco shells can be used for tacos, split and even used as a tostada if I desire, broken and used as chips or crushed and used as toppings for casseroles. Think outside the box!!!!!
Couple weeks ago - potatoes were 1.99 for 5 lbs. at Kroger - great deal. Cheese has been on sale a lot lately for 1.79 or less for half pound.
If you have Meijers in your area - watch for their weekend sales. They often have 2 day events with really great deals. Last week they had 3lb. bags of apples for .99 a bag (all week - different types). I mean .33/lb. for fruit is almost unheard of. You can go to their site and ask for emails or get on their app or do FB.
This week - Kroger has some great deals starting tomorrow! Digital coupons - 18 count eggs for 1.99!!!!!! WOOHOO for sure!!!!! Toll House chips - 1.99/bag! Much more.
Check out clearance at drug stores and grocery stores. Check yard sales if they are still happening in your area - some people get rid of really good supplies for some dumb reason! Check ethnic stores, place like Big Lot's, Ollies, different dollar stores, etc. If you are lucky enough to have salvage stores - you have a goldmine at your fingertips.
Lana mentioned the other day that Lindl had turkeys advertised for .49/lb. this week. We don't have a Lindl - but have an Aldi. I will keep watch. Hopefully that means that other stores will be following suit in the next couple weeks. Just remember - most Thanksgiving deals aren't really advertised anymore until the week before or of the holiday. Don't panic!!!!
IF you don't get a turkey or ham (usually Christmas deal) - it is OK!!!!! Fix something else. It isn't the food - it is the gathering of people. You know - the Pilgrims used what they had available - and I guarantee it wasn't Butterball turkey!!!!!!!! LOL
I have been noticing nice big displays at area stores with baking needs. Everything - various types of sugar, flour, chips, nuts, canned milks. Get it while the getting is good!!!!!! I think I am basically set with baking goods and really all items for the holiday cooking and baking and DON'T have to buy a thing.
That is what happens when you keep a fully stocked pantry.
It takes a little time and good observation. Walk the aisles - not all deals are easy to spot. Watch for the Manager Specials throughout the store as well. IF you find a deal - get more than one!!!!! (seriously)!!!! Get enough for a few months if you can. When you see a great mark-down - odds are you won't see that price again (or at least for a long while).
Pay attention, shop different spots and locations, and always be aware. Have a team of friends and family that watch for the deals as well. Communicate with one another - this can be a team effort.
Good luck and be vigilant. You CAN still find deals out there!!!!!
Great post! I bought some extra flour and sugar yesterday, trying to think ahead for holiday baking. I study the online weekly sales religiously. I"m waiting for a sale on turkey breasts. :-))
ReplyDeleteGood deal - it sure pays to be prepared. There will be a sale - patience is a virtue!!!!!
DeleteSuch a great post, we definitely need to keep our eyes and ears open for these good deals.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. There is always some deal just waiting to be had! Thanks
DeleteIt's like treasure hunting! You are the Queen of Finding Bargains! The rest of us need to aspire to that lofty goal.
ReplyDeleteIt truly is a treasure hunt. I love it. No, not the queen, but will take Princess!
DeleteA very good post and reminder! Another thing is to share if you know it's something that just too much for your family or you don't like but it there may. And conversely, don't hesitate to accept from others. If someone offers you extra produce or other food...gracefully accept and thank them. Also, if there is a bigger amount of something at a great price, consider splitting cost with friends or family. Call others when you find a great deal and offer to pick up a couple for them if they can use. We're all in this together and it pays to work together
ReplyDeleteGreat tips!!! I had an older gentleman I knew years ago - who always said never turn something someone wants to give you. You may not need it (give it away), but if you always say no - then they will quit asking!!!! Barter and trade when you can.
DeleteYes, split deals with others - great idea.
Absolutely - we are in this together. Help where you can!
Linda, our youngest son lives close by, and we're doing that with him. On his own, he doesn't need/have space for bulk purchases, but the savings are significant. LOVE your note that we're all in this together and it pays to work together.
Delete--Elise
Yes, Elise, we are in it together. This blog and commenters feel like family...and family sticks together! I learn lots here as well as receive encouragement. My two children and families live nearby also. We share and trade...eat meals together sometimes as well as garden goodies. This used to be commonplace. We share this joy with you. Thank you for your sweet comment!
DeleteWell done Cheryl. I'll never see those kind of prices here but I can appreciate that deals can be had. It does take time to find them but they are out there.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It is probably different in different countries. I know your prices always seem higher to me.
DeleteSearch and ye shall find!!!!!
I have been reading that the US only has a little under 25 days supply of diesel fuel. I read this in Bloomberg about how that is going to impact home heating and trucking. Plus trains are also diesel, food supply will be impacted. I will also be impacted as my car is a Diesel engine. Stock up now because unless you can find things locally it is not going to travel across country to get to you anymore. Nancy in the PNW
ReplyDeleteNacy there was a huge story this AM on news said it is basically in the south/eastern states - where the shortage may hurt the worst. Pres. has said 'they' are keeping a close eye on it (yeah that helps - she says sarcastically). We just never know what NEW problem is going to be generated. That is why it pays to stay on our toes and keep things stocked well.
DeleteEvery week there is a new diversion to keep us all in a panic - then it fades away, and another hits. I am not a huge believer NOR do I panic. It will work out. Have faith.
Here in SW Pennsylvania, just today I saw regular gasoline for $3.99 and diesel for $5.99. Of course, our rent and food prices are outrageous, too. I'm seriously thinking about moving across the border to WV when husband passes away.
Delete--Frances in the Trailer Park
Frances our gas has been staying in the upper $3 range too. I noticed a sign for diesel the other day and yes, it was like 5.89. I was amazed - that is crazy. Our housing market is better than a lot of places and it seems maybe groceries as well. Living in the mid section of the country for some reason seems to be cheaper. The coasts are crazy in pricing.
DeleteThanks for today's post, Cheryl. Excellent tips! Last week at Walmart, I bought the last $1.19 lb. whole chicken they had. Why do I always feel guilty to do that? I didn't buy whole boneless pork loin at $1.99 lb., figuring I had enough in the freezer, but since then have regretted it. I cut those into chops, thick strips and cubed meat; one loin can easily make 12 meals... or more.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of, I'm loving the vacuum sealer! It was less than $40 on Amazon and good quality bags are inexpensive there, too. There are many brands on the market these days beyond the (still expensive) Food Saver brand. Vacuum sealed meats are good in your freezer for a year or more, so, thanks, Cheryl, for that tip, too!!
Nancy, I saw those articles in business news. Also in business, news, though, I saw that fuel prices have dropped and there's expected to be enough supply of heating oil and natural gas for the winter... which doesn't jive with other articles from Sept./Oct. The biggest frustration (for me) these days is news media. Used to be business and ag news was reliable. No more.
We've found a local hobby farm selling chicken and duck eggs: $4 doz. chicken, $6 doz. duck. Hubs met the gal at the Dance Hall parking lot yesterday morning for our 1st "order" of a dozen each. Woo-Hoo!! They'll stay fresh in the fridge for a month, but I'll probably go through them quickly. I like the double gift of helping a young family even a wee tiny bit. --Elise
We have a vacuum sealer but have terrible luck with it and the bags often come unsealed. We started sealing the was you do for sous vid cooking- We submerge our ziploc bag in a sink full of water and they shrink right down around the food.
DeleteDon't feel guilty about what you buy - you use it all and waste nothing. I like my vacuum sealer and have had good luck.
DeleteI agree - the articles change from week to week and month to month. The way I look at it, is elections are a week away! Need I say more. They like to play blame games - scare people and just LIE - so I believe not much anymore. Yep, call me cynical!!!!!
Glad you found an outlet for eggs. I love helping local folks - better them than a corporation!
Lana I have done that very thing so many times and it really works for getting the air out. If I am not in the mood to get the vacuum sealer out - I use your method. It sure does work.
DeleteCheryl, today's big, intended-to-induce-panic headline reads: "Is a Meat Recession Coming?" Followed by a tag line that predicts shortages into 2024, claiming drought in the Southwest as the reason. Now, parts of the Midwest did have drought, and more breeding cattle were sent to slaughter in those areas, but AZ had a much wetter than usual monsoon season, so... ??? It just frustrates the snot out of me. They should report NEWS vs. speculation. --Elise
DeleteTHANK YOU - my sentiments exactly!!! THIS is why I virtually believe nothing - it is all speculative or made up for views.
DeleteHappy Birthday a little late!
ReplyDeleteWe are still finding deals here. This morning at breakfast of eggs, stoneground grits, fried ham slices and homemade bread, I told Hubby that he is spoiled! He said he knows it! I finished up October with 60% of my food budget leftover and we shopped all month and hauled home the deals from shopping at the lake, too.. Ibotta has a free turkey deal up today if you redeem so many offers which vary by user. Mine is 16. Lidl has 10 pounds of potatoes for 3.69 starting tomorrow and we will be there bright and early. We have missed our salvage store shopping while we were away! Time to get out there and see what they have new! My Mom used to always tell me that they did not get the good deals in Florida that we get in SC. I got out her Publix ad and showed her that we get the same ad that she got and she just had to look!
Lana, my Hubs is eating a bowl of Cheerios and says he's jealous! LOL! And I still want to go shopping with you!!!
Delete--Elise
Glad you are still finding deals as well. Yes, you have to look. Sometimes even in the ads, things aren't obvious.
Delete60% leftover!!!!! That is phenomenal and just goes to show it can be done. That is a great price on potatoes.
I bet you have missed the salvage store. I would!
I know deals change from locale to locale - but they are still there if one looks around a little.
Thanks!!!!
Elise, That would be fun! I would love to show you all the crazy deals we get!
DeleteMy goodness, Cheryl! You consistently find the best in clearance! Our Dillons has 2 sections, but they are always nearly empty when I look.The last time, I saw gefilte fish (blegh, I never ate them at Seder), charger cords, a box of face make up, and some type of crazy expensive biscotti that was 1 pc. for 99¢ marked down from 1.99. our produce clearance is always empty. Those are pretty typical items. Regular food is never there.
ReplyDeleteMy best chance for a good deal are the weekly digital deals. Cheese and milk will sell at last year's regular price. Yesterday I wanted sponges, but they were all gone. The other sale items are mostly convenience foods that I can make for cheaper. The only grocery chain is a Kroger affiliate and there is no direct competition. WM, Target, and Aldi are not nearby. Very different than L.A. where we'd have 5 markets within half a mile and competition is fierce. However, as of late, the prices in Cali are so so much higher, I'd rather pay our regular prices here lol!! A dozen eggs for 4.99?! Gah!!
In prices this week, sales only, butter was 3.49 lb., milk was 2/$6 gal. at the dairy, if you bought 2. We bought 5 dozen eggs at Trader Joe's a month ago for $2.19 regular price. Sam's club had gas for $3.05 gal. We did buy 30 lbs. of local ground beef from a meat market. Much better quality than the market and not much more expensive. Sales are rare and the price was comparable to Sam's and already packed by pound. Price was $119. Sam's price was only about 10¢ per lb. cheaper for a total of $3. I'm thinking a box of freezer bags is about that, plus I like keeping the money local. I think the Waltons are probably rich enough lol. I like knowing what others pay so I hope someone found this interesting.
I have not watched the news in ages. Our local news rarely touches on national. No mentions of diesel fuel issues so thanks for the heads up. They did say that in Kansas to expect heating costs to be 33% higher for gas and 8% for electric based on an average winter. Hopefully our 3° thermostat reduction will cover that. We have gas. We've made it to November without using the heat. Can we make it to December?? Stay tuned lol.
In a huge sigh of relief, our health benefits aren't increasing in cost for 2023.
Praying for more rain this week as running the sprinklers on this spread is about $20 a pop. Deep watering trees is more. We have 11 big uns and we always give them a pre winter soaking if it's dry.
Debby, I'm so glad your health benefits aren't going up. That really is a relief. With Hub's retirement, ours are locked in now until we're Medicare age, but from 2007 on, ours went up almost every year!!! Some years it was just a small amount, and we switched policies several times for lower rates, but those little bits sure add up. --Elise
DeleteDebby - There are many reasons why I would not ever want to live in CA (no offense to anyone) pricing be the biggest. It seems everything is more expensive there!
DeleteI live in Indianapolis, which is the capital - and we have fierce competition amongst stores and many to choose from. Thankfully. Most I do not shop - because it just seems the couple I visit have pretty darn good prices.
I quit Sam's - it just wasn't beneficial to me. I always thought the prices were higher or the same as reg. pricing in other stores. Heard someone say the same about Costco this morning and the crowds!!!! I have never been there.
I only watch the local news - they cover most everything. I haven't watched national news in years!
Hope you get some rain. We got a little in the past few days and maybe more this weekend. It sure would help your plants.
Elise, my insurance has gone up a tiny bit each year - since I got on Medicare (my supplemental). It stayed the same for 2 seasons - then has slightly raised in price. Still not bad. SUPPOSEDLY Medicare will not go up this next year but SS is (by quite a bit)! We will see! Would be nice - since it seems the raise gets eaten up each year!
DeleteGreat tips, I always peruse the discount sections. I also always buy ground beef if it is a good price because it is so versatile.
ReplyDeleteI never pass a good sale on ground beef. Can be used a 100 ways. It sure does pay to watch those discount aisles!
DeleteCheryl you are spot on about looking for deals EVERYWHERE in the store. We've found it pays to "window shop" the regular areas not just the discount bin/shelf. I found my favorite orange marmalade at 50% off. It was side-by-side with the other flavors at regular price. My husband has found packages of ground beef at 30% off in the full-price meat section. It really is a treasure hunt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I love it when you gals look at things the same way I do! LOL - Yep you have to pay attention. I have found meat marked down in the regular section as well. Not sure if they just don't have the help to move it to the clearance or just figure it will sell one way or the other!!!
DeleteIt pays to play the game!!!!!
I'm always a day late on those regular shelf clearance deals!! I'll spot the tag and the row is completely cleared out! Hubs even roots around in back and the very top in hopes of finding a stray. Alas, there's no joy. The last lucky spot I got was a strawberry Kit Kat for 50¢. It was really good, too!
ReplyDeleteOur bakery clearance used to be a great thing for an occasional treat of raisin bread or rye for a buck. People must've caught on cuz it's been months since any type of bread has been there. It's mostly cakes and cupcakes. My mouth would love them but my butt won't allow it.
I'm very curious to see if and what the holidays bring to the market.
Debby it sounds like your store stinks!!!!!!! LOL
DeleteClearance is my game and I love it. Our stores all have lots of it. Maybe not what I would buy, but someone will want it. It can be anything! Too bad you don't have different stores to be able to browse around.
Already some holiday offers happening here - hopefully it just gets better.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!
Clearance is my game too! It's a case of stalking them and being willing to compromise, I wouldn't normally buy a family sized chicken pie, but for 70p I would have been a fool to leave it, that's 4 meals for me there. See what's available and then decide if you can use it. Sometimes I come away with nothing but that's just part of the game.
DeleteAre you friendly with any of the grocery store staff, Debby? I have no qualms asking what day of the week they mark down meats, bakery, produce, etc. That's easier when they know you, though. --Elise
DeleteGot a $5 off $30 purchase coupon for Aldi in the weekly advertisements wrapper today. Glad it caught my eye, normally I just throw out the wrapper and look at the ads. And since a lot of my neighbors throw their ads in the garbage can at the mailboxes, I will be checking there for more coupons. They're good through November. Woohoo!!
ReplyDelete--Frances in the Trailer Park
Ooooohhhh I will have to make sure I get an Aldi ad this week to see if they are here too as well! I remember one year after my area store remodeled, they had coupons for several weeks. Boy did I take advantage of that! Each of the nieces and nephews got 1/2 hams that year for Christmas. Thank you for the heads up!!!!!!!
DeleteWhat great deals you got. Lots of lovely things to use for Christmas. I have started to pick up a few baking supplies as there were a few on sale here this week.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I was happy. Nice items for stuffers for my baskets and saved as well! Good for you - now is the time to get the deals.
DeleteAwesome Aldi coupon deal, Frances! Our Safeway flier came in the mail today. Not sure if this is nationwide, just in AZ, or only locally, but tomorrow is Senior Day for an additional 10% off your full purchase. There are digital coupons for seedless grapes at 87 cents lb., all natural b/s chicken breasts at $1.97 lb., and if you're into ice cream this time of year, a 128 fl. oz. pail of Lucerne ice cream (assorted flavors) is $4.97. That's a LOT of ice cream!!! Then again, if a b'day is coming up might be a good buy.
ReplyDelete--Elise
I will be looking to see if we get that coupon - great deal. WOW on senior day - seems most stores around here have stopped that. Those are great digital deals. There always seems to be the best deals with digital coupons - I am sure glad I finally figured out how to do that!
DeleteI stopped in my favorite store this morning. Almost didn't. I consider anything I find as a blessing and thank the Lord. I picked up several 99 cent bags of produce. They must've had a lot to get rid of because most bags had at least 3 things. In recent months it's been only 2 items per bag but not today!Things like those salad kits, heads of cauliflower, organic celery, packages of organic mushrooms, 3 lb bag of potatoes, bags of carrots, an organic pineapple, etc. I spent a little over $10. I'm guessing I scored at least $75 in produce. As an example, a 4 oz package of shitake mushrooms is usually $3.99. I would never pay that! Today they were in a bag with several other things. At most they cost me 25 cents! In another bag I got a meal kit with noodles, veggies and sauce that retails for $4.99. I think there were 3 things in that bag so 33 cents. So just those two things gets me to about what I spent on all of it.
ReplyDeleteThey used to shove tons of stuff in those bags but have recently cut it to 2 items. Still at 99 cents for 2 items is pretty good. Last week I got tubs of fresh pico de gallo normally $3.99 each 2 for 99 cents. I bought several and stuck them in the freezer. 50 cents for something that costs 3.99. I would never pay 3.99 because I could make it cheaper but at 50 cents I probably can't and I like the convenience and having extra in the freezer. So basically I paid a dollar for $8 worth of food at retail!
The bakery items haven't been as good a deal. I've cut way back on getting those as it's now cheaper to make. I was getting lots of stuff for 99 cents. If I need a specific bread item usually because my husband has requested it I will look at the clearance bakery. I'd rather pay half than full price for his sausage buns! Lol
I haven't been out thrifting in awhile. But hopefully soon. My goal this year is to make, get on clearance or thrift all my Christmas gifts
~~margaret
Wow Margaret - you sure did great!!! Those are fantastic deals. I love the .99 produce bags. Usually ours are tomatoes or potatoes. Sometimes I get cauliflower or grapefruit or even apples. I hate paying full price for anything too! If I can get a deal, all the better. The bakery clearance at Kroger is often French bread and cakes. Once in a while I get the bread (for freezer).
DeleteThe stores play games to get us in - well, we can play the game too!
Good for you with your idea for Christmas. That will be wonderful. No one needs to know where things come from or how much they cost - it is the gift that counts. Good luck!
Cheryl, I shop like you do. Always check the clearance first. My Kroger has bakery items on clearance also so I get my bread and cinnamon rolls for my grandson. You're a great inspiration.
ReplyDeleteIt just makes sense doesn't it? Love me some clearance.
DeleteAaahhhh thank you so much!