Grocery Mama

Price Book Price Book, tell me when to buy

Ice cream is a staple at our house. It’s mostly for my hubby. He loves it. And thanks to his amazing metabolism, he can eat half a gallon a night and still loose weight!

His favorite is Breyers. His current favorite is the Twix flavor, and I agree its super good. (Yes, I sneak in a spoonful or two or three . . .)

The thing is, Breyers retails for about $6.59 a half gallon. Since he goes through a gallon a week that would be $13.18 out of our grocery budget. Now, I love my husband but that is waaaaaay too much for ice cream.

So what do I do? I buy the brand on sale for the week. I wait to buy Breyers when it goes to rock bottom prices of about $2.00. I buy up. How do I know this? I keep a price book.

A price book is just a sheet of paper that I use to track prices. I don’t track everything, just items that are contingent to buy based on sale price. Let’s go with our ice cream example. I know the retail price and I know the lowest price it will go is $1.87 a half gallon at King Soopers. I can note the date. Over time you should start to see a sales pattern. This way you can know when to buy and when to wait. Breyers will go on sale at $4 +, but I don’t buy until it hits that low price.

This is really helpful when it comes to meat. Write in the type of meat and the normal price. Sometimes a sale will come up, and it seems good. But when you check your price book, you can see that about two weeks later the item will go down $1.50 more. Wait until then and buy up.

A price book just lets you know the best price to buy an item. If it’s a rock bottom sale or just a few pennies off.

Once again, I use a printable sheet from OrganizedHome.com http://organizedhome.com/printable-price-book.

You can write in the date of the sale, the price, item and store you saw it at. The form is easy to read and to use.

A price book might seem like a lot of time. It’s not. Take just a second to jot down a great sale. And by knowing the best price, you will know the best time to buy to save you the most money!

Does this smell Ok?

Have you ever asked that question in your home? In our house, it’s usually me asking my hubby if he can smell an item and try to guess if it’s still edible or not. Why do I ask him? Because I don’t want to get the pungent smell in my nostrils!

My best advice is: When in doubt – toss it out!

The biggest indicator if something is still edible or might be a ticket to the hospital on the salmonella express it the date on the package. There are few things the dates might mean, and it’s important to know which the date represents.

First is a Sell By Date. The sell by date means this is the last day it can be sold in the stores. This still offers some storage time at home.

Another frequent one is the Use By Date. The use by date means this is the last date you need to either freeze it or cook and use it.

A less common one is Expiration Date. If you see this date and its two days later – Don’t eat it! Do not use after this date.

Another less common date is the Package Date. I only see this when I buy my meat at my farmer’s market. The meat is frozen solid already and the package date is printed clearly. Now if I keep this frozen it will keep for some time. If I let it defrost, I should use it within a few days.

Now that we know what the dates mean, let’s look at some common times food can hang out in the fridge.

Eggs will last 3-5 weeks in the fridge. If there is an expiration date on the package, make sure to eat them by then. Eggs like it cold, so move them to the back of the fridge. Resist the temptation to put them in the little egg holders on the side of the fridge door.

Meat, if it’s defrosted or fresh, use within 1 or 2 days. Good rule of thumb, if it turns another color – it’s time to go!

Yogurt can last about 7 days after the sell by date and butter about two weeks.

Hard cheeses (and grated) can last 6-12 weeks.

Apples have a long fridge life of about a month.

Veggies have a shorter fridge span of about a week max.

And those tasty leftovers – use them within 3 or 4 days. This is why it’s great to have a leftover night to keep that fridge clean!

You can get a printable list of fridge storage from Clemson U here http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC3522.htm.

Mix it Up Baby!

Many of the spice packets you buy you can easily make your self. But I will be honest, buying each of the ingredients to make your own mixes does add up.

So here is a fun solution. Have a Mix Party. Each person makes enough of each mix for all members of the group (themselves included). Attach an index card of how to use each mix.

For example: if you have 5 members of each group, pick 5 mixes.

Onion Soup Mix

Chili Seasoning Mix

Chili Cheese and Bacon Dip Mix

Salsa Mix in a Jar

Chicken Fajita seasoning

Each person can make enough mix for 1 or 2 servings a person. It’s up to your group.

Then come together, have some fun and trade mix packets.

Another variation is to have each person bring the same financial amount of ingredients. Get together with the mix recipes and mix them up while visiting. Each mix can have its own station.

I put together the 5 mixes above, along with the ingredients, the price of each and what each serving came out too.

It took my about 2 weeks to do, so I hope you enjoy it!

You can download the Mix Party sheet here.

Download mix_it_up_baby_mixes.doc

Enjoy!

CakesbyMe kit Giveaway!

Looking for a fun way to decorate your child's birthday cake. Maybe you need a cute cake for a summer get together!

Check out the make-it-yourself theme cakes at CakesByMe.

You can choose from princess kids cakes to baby shower stork cakes. Everything for the cake shown comes included in the kit.

Best of all, you can make it with your little ones!

As a special promotion to Grocery Mama Readers, CakesByMe will be sending out 5 Cake Kit!

To Enter - Visit Cakesbyme.com and take a look around at the kits offered. Then come back here and leave a comment of which cake kit you like the best!

For a second entry, post about this fun giveaway on your blog. Just post the link here again.

Next Wednesday, I will contact the winners. The comments will each be assigned numbers and choosen at random!

Have fun!

*** Disclaimer. Grocery Mama is not financially reimbursed for this post, but did receive a kit. I choose the flip flop cake!

Update on the Ole garden

I thought I'd throw in a quick update on how my garden is going. I had some high hopes, but the hot sun is coming down all this week. I'm hoping the veggies pull through.

I don't have the greenest thumb in the world, but I try my darndest every year!

Here are my zuchinni and squash plants. I have noticed a few blossoms which is promising!

Here are my little snap peas. I need to get some bamboo stakes in the ground so they have something to climb on.

These are the only things I grew from a seed and they actually sprouted!

I have some little tomatoes growing! I also have a cherry tomato plant. My son loves to pick these as they ripen and eat them. So we don't see to many of them come into the house!

Two pepper plants. Not sure which is which now. Which leads to a great tip, always insert the planter tag with it!

It's not too late to start your own garden. Find plants that have already been started and place them in containers.  Tomatoes are super easy, as well as zucchini and both plants are abundant producers.

The best rule of thumb is plant what you like!

When you have a craving . . .

A big part of cutting down on food costs is staying away from the weekly (or daily) restaurant trips.  After I started actually planning my meals out, this was huge for us. It's funny because my kids notice spending amounts.

Quick story - I stopped at Albertsons to take advantage of some sale items combined with coupon purchases and ended up spending $8.64 for about $40 worth of groceries. I had planned to stop at Sonic as a treat for the kids afterwards. Our bill there was around the same amount ($8.00). My daughter commented that we just spent the same amount of money both places and we only had a little bit from sonic.

I felt like saying "Cue the little light bulb!" That's the point of eating out vs. making it yourself.

But I'll be honest; there are times that I still crave certain items from restaurants. Most the time, it's a side dish or appetizer. But thanks to the miracle of googling, I would say 9 times out of 10, I can find a very similar recipe!

For instance, my husband and I really like the hash browns at Cracker Barrel. Super yummy! When we realized, that was the only item from that restaurant we were craving, the rest of the meal wasn't that hard to make. It was basically breakfast for dinner. I googled the name of the hash brown dish and found the recipe.

I was actually able to substitute lower fat ingredients and it tasted fantastic. It's now apart of our family cookbook.

So when you have a craving for a restaurant - focus on what dish it is you actually want. See if you can find the recipe online. You might be surprised; you may just make it better, healthier and much less expensive!

Know what your Farmer's Market Offers

I talk a lot about Farmer's Markets. Because they can be a fantastic and very healthy food option. For just a sec, I want to make a quick note. When I talk about Farmer's Markets, I'm referring to the temporary tents that are set up in an area usually one day a week.

There are also Farmers Stands that are in permanent buildings that are open any where from 5 to 7 days a week. I am super lucky that where I live, I have both.

In either case, it is important to know what produce and products are sold there.

For Farmer's Markets, even though this is only one day a week usually the same stands will be there from week to week. Try out the different foods they have to offer. In a local Market, I can get freshly made pasta. There are so many different flavors to try. Remember, fresh pasta cooks a lot faster than store bought. Talk to the people selling the product. They will be able to offer you cooking tips and menu ideas.

If you like the product, then you know it's there. Keep buying it. And when fall comes, ask them how to preserve the product longer so you can buy some extra for the winter months.

Knowing what each Farmer's Stand has is important as well. Many farms will have a list of the veggies and produce they offer and when it becomes available for sale.

For instance, my favorite Farm to go to (Berry Patch Farms!) in Colorado, has a little card that tells me when each item becomes ripe. I also know they sell the most amazing organic, no sugar added applesauce. I love it, and always buy it there. But they don't sell Salsa. For that I frequent another Farmers Stand not too far away.

My point is, know what each stand and market offers. This way, you can go prepared to buy. Less food will go to waste and you won't waste your money either on good intentions of using an item.

If you are not sure where a Farmer's Market is in your area, visit localharvest.org!

Enjoy and shop fresh!

Buying for Fido

Alright, you caught me; my dog’s name isn’t Fido. It’s Rusty. He’s a Border collie Australian shepherd mix we rescued from the pound. We’ve had him for about four years now and he’s a much loved member of the family.

Because he is a member of the family – we do need to feed him. With this being the case, his food must go into our budget. Now Rusty has a pretty sensitive tummy (I’ll spare you the rest of the details) so we only feed him dog food.

We settled on Purina’s Beneful (no, I’m not getting paid to say this. But if Purina sees it – Send me some free coupons!!!). It’s a mid priced dog food that he really enjoys. For a 15.5 pound bag, it normally retails for $19.39. Now this is good to know, so when it goes on sale, I know to buy up. This is also where a price book comes in handy. Whenever I see it on sale, for maybe $17.00, I will just buy the one. Until it really goes rock bottom around $12 - $13. Safeway normally will have this at the lowest price. If I have a coupon as well, I’m really happy!

I do purchase soft dog food for him. He’s a middle age dog and I think he deserves a little extra love from time to time. This is where I won’t remain loyal to a brand. If I have a coupon for it, and the soft dog food is on sale, I’ll try it out.

This all still applies to portion sizes. Don’t over feed your dog. Consult your veterinarian on how much your dog should be fed. If you just fill up his bowl, and the food goes to waste - that’s wasted money. On the other hand, you want to make sure he’s getting fed enough!

A note on treats – coupons are huge here. You can get many dog treats for very little to almost free. There is major competition in this category so you can really benefit from that.

I’ll be honest though, I make my dog his treats. There are super simple recipes out there. Here is my favorite for milk bones:

3/4 cup hot water
1/3 cup margarine
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
3 cups whole wheat flour

In large bowl pour hot water over the margarine. Stir in powdered milk, salt, and egg. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Knead for a few minutes to form stiff dough. Pat or roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into bone shapes. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool. They will dry out quite hard. Makes about 1 1/4 pounds of biscuits. Costs around 30 cents per pound.

It’s all about knowing your dog, what kind of food he likes and how he responds to new foods. Having a pet is fantastic and there is no reason you need to go broke feeding him!

Here are some free samples for your four legged friend:

Puperoni Rib Snacks

Get a sample of Blue Buff Dog or Cat food

Enjoy!

Farmers Market Tips

Today I'm heading over to a mountain town for a visit. My parents are in town, so we are doing a little sight seeing. Thursdays are also their farmers market day! So of course, we are planning to stop. Since this isn't a Farmers Market I normally go to I'm not sure all they have. But the same principles still apply. Here are some Farmers Market shopping tips:

1. Buying with a Purpose: If you don't learn anything from my blog but this it's about buying food with a purpose. When are you going to eat it and what are you going to make with it. If it goes to waste - that's a waste of money. Same applies to farmers market shopping. When you get there and see at that yummy fresh veggies you may start buying up, but have a plan as to when you will use these goodies. Know what meats you will be cooking with and what meals you have planned for that week. Buy the veggies or items that will compliment these meals. If you go home and don't use what you bought, again it's wasted money and resources.

2. Bring Cash: This not only helps with how much you want to spend, but most stands only take cash.

3. There is Perfection in the imperfect: One thing to keep in mind is that the vegetables at Farmers Markets are not grown to all look alike. You will see differences in shapes, smoothness and so on. The items at the grocery store and only put in there if they meet a certain apperance standard.

4. Get to Know the People: Get to know the people behind the stands. How do they grow their items? Do they use organic methods? What are their favorite ways to prepare something? As them questions. And try new things. If they have eggplant at a stand. Try it and ask how you should make it.

5. BYOB: Bring your own bag. Now is a great time to use that Reusable shopping bag. Place all your items in there and you are on your way!

I hope this helps and encourages you to visit your local farmers market.

If you have other suggestions, please post them below!

The Calculating of Costs

Have you ever sat down and calculated the cost to make something versus buy it. Or how much each meal comes too? It’s one of the tricks of the trade when it comes to saving money at the grocery store. If it costs more to make it – buy it. If you can make it for less – do!

Here are some basic ingredients and about the cost per serving or measurement.

Bag of Flour:

There are about 4.5 cups in each pound of flour. If you buy a 5lb bag, that’s 22.5 cups of flour. Do the math. If you spend 1.83 on a bag of flour, that’s $0.11 a cup.

So if I make my own pizza dough and use 2 ½ cups for each pie, the cost of the flour for that recipe is a meager $0.28 cents. After I add toppings, some cheese and sauce I still only spent a minimal amount. Much less then buying a frozen pizza in the store or ordering out. And mine is higher quality with fewer preservatives.

Bag of Sugar:

There are about 2.4 cups in each bag of sugar. For a 5lb bag at 2.79 that’s 12 cups at $0.23 each. If I make some cookies and use two cups of sugar, only $0.46 cents was my cost to sweeten that cookie!

Eggs:

If I buy the store brand organic, cage free eggs, I’m still only paying about $0.32 an egg. If I eat an egg white and toast for breakfast, this is a super affordable meal. Consider eggs for dinner, like a stand by at our house, breakfast for dinner. Some scrambled eggs, pancakes, some sliced ham and fresh fruit. Quick easy and good!

Meat:

Take how many serving sizes are in the package and divide it by the cost. Now notice I said serving sizes, not just pieces. If there are three chicken breasts in a package that doesn’t mean I just have three serving pieces. Either go by ounces or what you know your family will eat. I got a package of three chicken breasts on sale for $5.25. My husband ate one for dinner while my son and I shared the second. The third, I ate half for lunch and used the other half as part of my snacks during the day. So I got 5 servings from it. (One serving became two snacks.) So that came to $1.05 per serving.

Beans:

Talk about a cost effective ingredient. Whether you use canned or soak and cook your own, beans are a great edition to any plate. King soopers had a recent sale of $0.44 a can. If used as a side dish, you can get four ½ cup servings which would come to $0.11. Even used in a dish like chili - $0.44 is a great deal. Even at full price, which can be under a $1, beans are a great choice. Consider substituting beans for meat once or twice a week. You will see a nice dent in your grocery budget then.

Of course, you can bring up time it takes to make something. And that’s fine. You have to know your families needs and what works for you. But most the time, with some simple planning and some make ahead choices, the meals you make from scratch will not only taste better, be healthier but will also cost much less!