Ten Days Later -- What Am I Going to Do?

I was trying to think of what to write, as I have not gone shopping for over a week and a half. All of a sudden it hit me. This blog is regarding Shopping Smarter, but it is not just about groceries. Although I have been writing about that since I started, so I thought that this week I would talk about buying other things...

This week I discovered the VISA Gift Card. I'd seen the ads on TV, but I was skeptical. I went to Walgreens and bought 2 cards. The higher the amount the higher (slightly) the fee for purchase. When you buy a $100 gift card you pay a service charge of $5.95...when you buy a $50 card you pay a $4.95 service charge...I forgot to check out the $25 card.

I have always had to pay for my storage by taking a bus trip that would last about 2 hours-- round trip. What a pain!!

I paid the monthly fee (late as usual) that I thought I would have problems paying online. I paid it last night in less than 5 minutes, using this Visa Gift Card. Wow...I just found a way to prevent the $30 late charges!! Guess that amounts to the "Shop Smarter" theme of this blog.

I am just so excited about this because it now gives me the freedom to purchase merchandise online from places like EBay, Overstock, etc. I was "window" shopping at Overstock last night and wow did I find some great deals on MP3 players, digital cameras and other exciting items. So don't be surprised when I tell you of the items I get because of Shopping Smarter and Saving.

P.S. For those of you that like Poker...If you purchase a gift card from Visa you can use it to load your online poker sites. For more poker information go to Poker Shack for tips, strategies, etc. Just make sure the card you buy does not say Domestic only!!

Don't forget...I love to read any and all comments sent by you.

Shop Smarter and Save!!

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!


Don't forget Shop Smarter and Save

Target -- Bullseye or ... ?????

My sister had given me a gift card from Target earlier last month (February) so, what better use than groceries.

I went "grocery shopping" on Saturday evening (last week) with $10.00. My poor cat was suffering from "carbon monoxide poisoning" every time she went into her litter box. Besides my roommate and I (especially me) were having the muncholas.

I was surprised. There are some items that Target hit the bullseye with, with their own store brand. The store brand is called the Market Pantry.

Although I have not tried every single one of them, I purchased four items (Hey, ten dollars only goes so far). I bought the microwave popcorn ($.88), the graham cracker "s'mores" mini sandwiches ($1.02), the thin wheat crackers ($1.89 ); and the mini marshmallows ($.89).

My roommate tried the microwave popcorn yesterday afternoon and said "I like my other brand better".

I ate the graham cracker sandwiches between Saturday night and Monday night. They were okay, not great, but okay. I personally would have preferred additional chocolate filling, but hey, beggars can't be choosers...or can we?

Believe it or not, the "thin wheats" have lasted until this week. I have been slowly munching on them and have added them to "ramen" soup. I have totally enjoyed these little crackers and it is a pretty full box. I found them to be just as good as the "brand name" thin wheat crackers.

I used the marshmallows last night and made crispy rice treats. They were like any other marshmallows that I have bought before at a lesser price (Save-a-Lot), so I wasn't impressed.

Oh, yeah, the Tidy Cat ($1.89) was a hit. My cat, Princess, thanked me over and over again.

Well stay tuned to see what shopping I do this week.

Shop Smarter and Save!

BRAND NAMES or OFF-BRAND

I have watched other people who are on budgets lose themselves in the brand name craze. I wonder what they are thinking when they overpay, just for a name. I asked one person that once and she told me that it is her husband won't eat off-brand names. She said that since he goes with her grocery shopping she doesn't get a chance to choose other brands. In this instance, I suppose that she has no choice. I suggested that he better get a better paying job. hahaha!

For myself and my roommate, I know that we are not picky eaters. We enjoy the off-brand or store brand items just as much as the brand names. We pay much less for our groceries each month. WOW!! Cheaper Groceries!

Cheaper groceries is why I will shop at the Dollar Tree, Dollar King and 99cent Only Stores. When you can buy off-brand cream soups at a 2 for $1, a large bottle of soy sauce for $.99, and my all time favorite 2 lbs of frozen cauliflower for .99, then life is good.

I have priced these items in the chain grocery stores and even in the discount stores and the prices are as much as doubled, sometimes even triple the amount that I pay.

So, as this blog suggests:
Shop Smarter and Save

Public Service Announcement: Check Your Pantries!

I was searching blogs yesterday morning and found an announcement about: "The makers of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter have announced a recall of their product do to salmonella." Please visit Mom's Fridge to read the all additional information.

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Discount vs. Overrun

Boy, do I hate to go shopping for groceries, especially on Saturday and Sunday afternoons due to the crowds (maybe you do to?). But lucky for me I live in Las Vegas where most of the big chain grocery stores are open late (1 a.m.) or they open early (6 a.m.). Although I use most of the chain stores for emergencies. The other stores that I shop at are usually open 8am until 9pm.

I don't think that I've told you that I do my grocery shopping by bus, so I do have to plan several days in advance to do all my shopping. The reason? Well, I always need something somewhere. When you live on a budget like my roommate and I do, you're always looking for bargains.

I just found out that there is a difference between Wal-Mart, Save-A-Lot or Food4Less and my 99cent Only Stores, Dollar Tree, etc.. Do you know what that is? Ok, don't feel left out. The difference between these is that Wal-Mart, Save-A-Lot, Food4Less, etc. are discount stores and the 99cent Only and Dollar stores are known as over-run stores. We all know what a discount store is, but an over-run store needs some explaining (I think).

If you grocery shop at your 99cent Only stores (or Dollar Tree, Dollar King, or similar stores) they are the over-run stores. You probably noticed that sometimes they don't always have your favorite snacks, veggies, etc. every time you go there. They receive the "over-runs" from the manufacturers. Sometimes the manufacturers don't have an over-run of that product that week.

These over-run stores are used by suppliers to relieve their inventories of excess merchandise. The benefit to you is that you can get groceries and other items at a much lower price, sometimes as much as 80% less.

Shop Smarter and Save

Do You Shop Smart?

I used to think I did until a couple of months ago. I checked my ads in the mailbox and found a new grocery store opening in my neighborhood (called Save-A-Lot).

I looked at the ads side-by-side and found that the new grocery store was advertising the same items as the other store, but they were A LOT less expensive (although different brand names). I bought a few of my favorite items and left the store with a lot of change. I cooked up some of the items for dinner and even my roommate couldn't tell the difference between the brand named items and the off brand items.

WOW!! Cheaper groceries!

I'll be filling you in later.

Shop Smarter and Save.