Such a Difference in Prices

It is no secret to those of you who read my posts. When food shopping, we always check the clearance rack in the supermarket. Looking for markdowns in the dairy and meat counters are also on our list. But not all supermarkets have these markdowns, or if they do, it is only on occasion. My daughter has recently moved to the next state over. About three hours away from us - doesn't sound too far, but it is far enough to notice a difference in the supermarket prices. The cost of meat is double what we pay here. And since she also shops the markdowns, this is a huge difference for her. And the dairy is also a sore topic - the milk is a third more than what we pay here. Since she has a couple of the same supermarkets there that are here, she thought things would be close to the same. Not so, the prices are much higher for all of the food products, and they don't have the clearance racks or markdowns like we do. She has made a plan to do her meat and dairy shopping when she comes to visit us and pack it all in a cooler for the trip home. It has always been or plan to retire in a couple of years to the area she is in. Guess we will all be making plans to drive a couple of hours for major food trips every now and then. Or perhaps not if the gas prices keep going up too. 
 
 

Moist Heat for the Bones

The best relief I have found for aching joints and bones is moist heat. It seeps into the muscles, right down to the bones, providing comfort and warmth to those sore joints. And the best thing that offers this relief is a simple homemade bag that gets heated up in the microwave. I make a bag out of fleece - any size you want. Fill it about 3/4 of the way with white rice and completely stitch the whole thing closed to keep the rice in. Heat it up in the microwave and you have an instant heat pack. It will conform to any shape comfortably. And the most amazing thing about this rice bag - no matter how many times it gets warmed up, it never looses it moistness. I'm not sure how it does that, but it works everytime.
It's inexpensive and it works - what more can one ask for!  
 

Keep It Full

Over the last few weeks, we all have watched the prices at the gas pump rising way too quickly. Many of us are combining several errands on our trips into town. But there is still shock at the pump when filling up. What used to take thirty dollars when the gauge read 1/4 of tank, now takes almost fifty dollars. So, we have been trying to get around that shock by keeping our tank full. We don't let it get past the 3/4 mark now on the gauge. Reality:  we are using less as we are traveling less, but we are putting in about forty dollars a week now instead of the thirty. It just feels a little better by putting it in a little at a time. And when I sat at a stop light, and watched one station raise the price .11 cents in that quick time, I was pretty happy to look at my full gauge knowing they didn't get me for this one. 
 

Stretching That Soup

Just thought I would share a tip that we have been using for the past couple of months.

The days have been getting colder, and sometimes a can of soup for lunch tastes so good.

We try to get the soups that pay attention to the fat and salt content, and those ones are usually a bit more expensive than the regular cans.

Our supermarket has been having the kind we like best on sale for the past week, so we stocked up a few extra cans.

A dollar for a can of soup isn't too bad, and when we split it between two of us, it becomes a great value.

But, we found that we can stretch that one can just a bit more.

I always have a large bowl of cooked rice in the refrigerator - we love to add it to many of our meals.

Well, by adding it to the soup, it expands that one can for another serving - making three bowls instead of two.

But beware when you add the rice.

Adding it just before you eat it is best.

If you have any extra soup that you already added the rice to, and you store it until the next meal, then the rice will swell up big and there will be no liquid left in the soup.

This is really good too, but I think of it as more of a side dish now rather than soup.

Hey, it works too, though!

Love Those Outlets

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Liz Claiborne New York Outlets. All opinions are 100% mine.

Outlet stores are the best.

I never fail to find a good deal on just about everything I need - and sometimes don't need.

We are fortunate to have several outlet malls within an hour or so away from us and they have some of the best stores in them.

The Liz Claiborne New York Outlets are one of my favorites, and they have some of the best clothes.

I love the quality of the clothing and the fall styles that are arriving in the stores now are just the kind I like.

Classy and feminine with simple lines and soft colors - I can't wait to go shopping!

Time to find some cozy sweaters and perhaps a new pair of jeans to go with them.

And to top all of this off - the outlet store is now offering these fashions at 50-80% of the original prices.

80% is a lot.

That means I get to buy more - my dollars will go so much further.

My frugal bone has been kicked into high gear, and I feel some good deals coming down the line on fall fashions.

Some early Christmas shopping will be in order too.

I really love a good deal, and I hope you can find an outlet store near you too for some great deals!

No Deals Today

The market trip was very disappointing today.

We never fail to find a few good deals - especially on the veggies and in the meat department.

There were none to be found today, and it really has me wondering what is going on.

No markdowns or coupons and even the regular sales were lacking any deals.

We were on the search for dinner, and I figured that if we can't find anything, then ground bison was always a good choice.

Low fat, great taste, and about the same price as the better ground beef.

Walking down the meat aisle, I grabbed the familiar package, but quickly put it back with a gasp.

The price read $7.29.

Two weeks ago, when we last bought it, it was $5.49.

That was a shock, especially after not finding any deals anywhere else.

If this is the way of things to come, things are going to get even tougher than they already are.

By nature, I usually try to keep a positive attitude, but this really got me down.

Lighting up on the meals isn't a bad idea, but I still need to feed us healthy food.

The junk is still fairly inexpensive, but junk is something I will not buy.

Time to take stock and fasten the belt a bit tighter.

Saving Everywhere

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical. All opinions are 100% mine.

We are very careful shoppers no matter what we may purchasing.

We are always on the look out for the best deal, and we weigh the pro and cons of those items that are more wanted than needed at times.

Keeping our spending low has given us a most rewarding way to live.

We have been able to work from our home for the last ten years.

And times are really hard right now for everyone, and most people are just beginning to embrace the way of life that we have always known.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with shopping the sales, and waiting until what you need is on sale.

And when we can, we buy a bit extra while it's on sale - we're going to use those necessities anyway.

Clearance racks are one of my favorite places.

It can be in the clothing store, department store, grocery store, drug store, or hardware store - they all have them.

Even many online merchants have clearance or discount pages that have great deals.

One such merchant, Zenni Optical, has super great deals on eyeglasses - a necessity for us for sure.

I am very happy to see that my daughter has learned well from us.

Her careful shopping allows her to stay home with her little one - and we all know that babies need a lot.

It's always a good feeling to make a good deal, and it's even more rewarding these days when money is tight.

A Leaking Faucet

We installed a new faucet ourselves in the kitchen about five years ago.

It was not big deal and we all really loved the single control for the handle rather than the two knobs we had before.

About two and a half years later, it began to leak.

We called the company that made it and they sent the parts we needed to fix it.

Well, another two and a half years have gone by, and guess what, it's leaking again in the same spot.

I think this time we are probably going to replace the whole faucet.

And after looking at the condition that my stainless steel kitchen sink is in, we have given thought to replacing that as well.

The faucet is a necessity, so finding a decent deal on a good one is definitely in the plans.

Finding a good deal on stainless steel kitchen sinks is not an easy thing, but I will most certainly be looking.

I bet I may even get a few extra hands to help with washing the dishes - everybody loves trying out and using new stuff, only if it is for a short time!

Delicious Pizza

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.

We knew it was going to be good, and we were anxious to try it.

I am not a big fan of frozen pizza.

I made my own for years as I couldn't find any that were worth buying in the supermarket.

That was until a couple of years ago.

The store was having a sale on a new kind of pizza and we decided to try it as it looked pretty good on the box.

Well, we loved it.

It was a self rising pizza made by Freschetta and it was a keeper - when they were on sale we ate them.

So when I saw the new style of pizza that they have come out with, the Freschetta FlatBread , I couldn't wait to try that one too.

I must admit, one of my favorite things about the self rising style is the thick crust - it is so good.

But my husband is a big fan of thin crust pizzas, and he was even more anxious than me to try it.

We purchased the meaty Italian style one and the four cheese one.

And they were delicious!

Even my son asked when we would be having them again.

I think the only problem I am going to have the next time we buy them, is what style we should get.

Even though the flat bread is excellent, I still crave that thick self rising one

I think one of each should do it just fine!

If you are interested in saving on trying any style of Freschetta pizza, then you can find a $1 coupon here.

Bon appetit!

Don't Forget the Grocery Store

While everyone was hitting the department and electronic stores today, we took a stroll in the grocery store to get a couple of essentials.

And did we hit the jackpot.

All the extra fruits and veggies that the market purchased in anticipation of holiday sales were on clearance.

Such good deals, and from what we saw of the regular stock - they will be joining the clearance rack too in the next day or so.

We shared a good portion with our daughter - the deals were just too good to pass up.

Don't forget to check the grocery store over the next couple of days - I bet the deals will continue - especially when the fresh turkeys get marked down. Nothing like having one in the freezer for a treat!

Apple Harvest is the Best

Nothing like biting into a crisp apple that you have just picked from the tree yourself.

Crunchy, sweet, juicy, and so delicious!

Harvesting the apples has been underway in our area for the past month and we have made several trips to the orchard as certain varieties begin to come into season.

Picking is the best way to save money on a peck, and it guarantees you get exactly what you want.

But when it comes to baking or cooking with apples, I like to purchase the utility ones that the orchard offers at a huge savings.

They are supposed to be the ones with blemishes, but it is very hard to find anything wrong with them.

There must be something about them that doesn't meet the standards, but they taste, cook, and look just like the more expensive ones.

Apple Sauce and Apple Crisp top the list of baked goodies we have enjoyed this season, and there will be one more trip up next month to purchase the big load we need for making apple jelly.

We will be enjoying that until next season when it will be perfect timing for making more.

Witch Hazel

I am not one for wearing make-up or putting fancy creams and lotions on my face.

I can remember my grandmother's petal soft skin when I kissed her cheek, and her beautiful skin was something I always admired.

For years I have used natural witch hazel as an astringent and it has served me well.

During the dry winters, a bit of oil of olay does the trick as my oily skin needs some moisturizing.

I think that skin responds the best to the natural products, and they are sure easier on the pocketbook too!

Using the Correct Sunscreen

A day at the beach means lots of sunscreen.

But what SPF (sun protection factor) is the best and how often does one need to apply it?

It is now recommended that an SPF of 30 is needed to block the UVB rays. Since there is no rating system for the UVA rays, we need to purchase a sunscreen that contains protection for both kinds of rays.

For the most part, we do not apply enough sunscreen and we do not reapply it often enough.

An adult needs to apply between 2 and 3 tablespoons every two hours.

And the sunblock must be water resistant too even if you do not go in the water - perspiration could make short order of your sunscreen protection.

The best deal I have found to date is the No-Ad Sunblock Lotion Maximum SPF 45.

Works as good and covers all the recommendations as the expensive ones for less money.

Now, it would be great if we could get some sun and put it to use!

Plate Size for Portion Control

Plate Size for Portion Control






A smaller dinner plate just may be one of the tricks to consider when trying to loose weight.

Looking at a large plate with meager portions in it can make one feel deprived, which is a main reason for a diet failing.

Just using a plate that is two inches smaller makes those portions look larger.

It fools the brain which in effect keeps the emotional side of dieting a bit happier - without even trying to.

I have noticed in a couple of restaurants that we dine in, that the serving plates have shrunk in size.

I haven't seen where the food looks like there is any more though - must be their way of saving money in this economy - serve less and charge more.

I suppose I could look at it as portion control, but since the pocketbook doesn't respond well to this style of thinking, we will be portion controlling ourselves at home without the extra charge.

Scratch is Best

Scratch is Best






In my last post, I stressed the importance of trying to shop only along the perimeter of the grocery store.

One of the big drawbacks of this for most people is the time spent on preparing this unprocessed food.

We have become a fast paced society and preparing food from scratch is something that takes time.

But it is time that is well spent if you prepare enough food to last for a couple of meals.

Instead of the chicken nuggets, bake a whole chicken - there will be leftovers for sandwiches the next day. And for even more meals, just remember that a turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving. Leftovers from that go a lot farther than sandwiches.

Macaroni and cheese from scratch makes much more than the package, and it tastes so much better.

Salads are so easy to throw together these days too - most of the ingredients can be purchased already cut up. Of course, they are a bit more expensive than cutting them up yourself.

Fresh veggies usually require just a wash and cutting before they are cooked.

Other than an orange, I can't think of a fruit that really takes any time to prepare. Washing them under the water is usually all it takes.

Preparing foods with the idea of leftovers makes good sense in this economy also. It really spreads the dollar a bit farther.

With a bit of time spent on weekends or days off, it is easy to fit in a few extra minutes for preparing meals that save time and money during the busy, working days.

And if one needs assistance for cooking preparations, or uses for leftovers, there is a whole internet available to answer any question that comes along - usually within a couple of minutes!

About

Many years have been spent yo-yo dieting. Now is the time to change that. It's time to start making the right choices for food and exercise routines that become a part of my lifestyle, not just a diet.

The resources are limited for spending money on gyms and fancy diet programs.

Follow along as I discover the right choices for a healthy lifestyle on a shoe-string budget.

As always any advice, comments, and of course, support, are always welcomed!