Groceries for a Week [less than $35] -- Is it possible?

I know that I have been missing in action this week, but I have been very sick with a cold. That is for another post in another place Sue's Special Corner. Come visit me there.

I did go shopping yesterday, Saturday, to purchase a few things for this week's meals. I went to my favorite two stores, Save-A-Lot and 99 Cent Only Store. I spent $8+ change at the 99 Cent Only Store and a total of $23+ change at the Save-A-Lot.

I didn't buy a lot of cleaning products (probably none) nor did I buy a lot of meats. As a matter of fact, I only bought my 5lbs of jumbo hot dogs ($4.99). I did buy some canned beef stew ($1.49 each) and some chili with beans ($.68 each). These were the every day prices not just ad specials.

Yes, I did buy some veggies, tomatoes, sauerkraut, mushrooms, 2lbs of frozen cauliflower, and sliced potatoes, all for less than $5.00.

I bought coffee ($3.99 for 34.5 oz), bottle of soy sauce ($.99) and splurged on some munchies (e.g., potato chips, cheese puffs, and a 1/2 lb solid chocolate bunny) for less than $3.00 [again, every day low prices].

Oh, yeah, since I didn't post last week, I'll tell you what I did for a super cheap soup.

We found cabbage at $.24 per pound and bought two heads for $.81 total. When I came home I had such a craving for that cabbage that I cut it up with onions and cooked it for about an hour or so (depending on how soft you like yours). We diced some "chopped ham" (we bought a few days earlier) and added a can of tomato sauce, cut green beans, kidney beans, sliced carrots, 6 roma tomatoes and seasoned it to taste with onion powder, garlic powder, a dash of crushed red peppers, salt and pepper.

This recipe made a stock pot full of soup. We now have over 5 quarts left. Easy meals for a couple of days. I love it.

If you try this recipe, please let me know how you liked it.

WOW!! Cheaper groceries!


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Coffaholics or Coffee Drinkers

We drink coffee excessively (I know its not really good for us). We drink pots and pots of coffee every day. We have "burned out" more coffee pots in the past 6 years than I've ever heard of. Yes, of course, we buy them from our local WalMart, but at less than $10 a piece every couple of years, its worth it. We are addicted. For those of you that are coffaholics like us, I'll let you in on where we buy our coffee and no, its not at WalMart.

I would like you to think about how much do you spend on your "3lb can" of coffee. Is it in the neighborhood of $6-$8 per can? We used to buy our Yuban at the local WalMart store and got away with spending around $4.99, but since coffee prices have soared (as you all know) we've only seen it on sale for $5.99 plus. Sure, that's good when the regular price at most super chain grocery stores is around $7.99. The prices at the chain grocery stores really cuts into the grocery budget when you have to buy 2 cans a month.

Ok, okay, we buy an off-brand coffee at our local Save-A-Lot store. Why? Because we only spend $3.99 per 3lb can. Basically we can purchase 2 cans for the price of one and that's their everyday low price. Yes, I know you're going to tell me that the off-brand coffee tastes terrible, but we have found that this coffee competes heavily with our old favorite. Since we drink so much of it...it must be good!! I have to tell you...I love grocery shopping at our Save-A-Lot store. It's also very close to the house which makes it extra special.

So, I guess we are definitely Coffaholics. Are you?


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