[acctgirl]

I'm certainly no expert on this, but money is tight with me as I am sure it is with many of you. I live in Arkansas and we have Wal-mart, (which I am not a huge fan of....) Kroger, and Whole Foods and Fresh Market here in Little Rock.

I shop ALL my sales....yes even the expensive stores. I live close to them all, so that does make a difference. (I certainly wound't travel miles just to save a dollor or two.) But, I often find that there are a couple of items I want even at the expensive stores. Like this week, Fresh Market had asparagus for 1.98 a pound. That is cheaper than I can get it even on sale at Kroger and Wal-mart's produce SUCKS here. It's sad that I live in the Wal-mart capital of the world, and yet we have the worst produce!!!

Here's what I do:
1. Shop all sales. Stock up when prices are low especialy on all frozen items, like cauliflower.
2. Often, I base my weeklly menu on what is on sale. For example, if roast is on sale...guess what I'm having for sunday dinner!!
3. ALWAYS PLAN! I cannot stress enough. I usually spend one evening while watching t.v. to go through all the sales flyers and plan my menu for the week. (Including breakfast, lunch and dinner) I also make sure I have all ingredients needed and if needed, look at the pantry to see if I need anything on sale or anything else.
4. Always pack your lunch. Eating lunch in the cafeteria or constantly eating out needs to really stop or at least be minimized. Not only will this help with your stella style way of life and eating, but it will save you money that you can then use to buy good, wholesome, healthy meals.
5. Buy meat in bulk directly from a farmer or butcher when possible. My parents buy a half a cow every year. Although it is an upfront expense, it is cheaper. They pay about $300 for that and it lasts them now all year, but when us kids were home about six or seven months. Still how many of you can say that you only spent 300 dollars for all your meat for half the year. But, warning, you need the freezer space to pull this off.
6. Plant your own gardens in the summer if possible. I rent so I cannot do this, but I know an elderly lady who has lots of land. She noticed I am losing weight and I told her I'm eating lots of veggies. I mentioned that I wish I could grow some this summer! She said come on over. She has land and equipment. She just wants some of the veggies I grow as payment. She's really too old to do this anymore, so me doing it is helping both me and her.

That's all I can think of for now.

[motyok]

I do all those money saving ideas too...and our Walmart produce is fine but SO pricey.

Love the idea of a garden. I am all thumbs in the garden rather than green thumb, but I am going to try harder this year. I already have some squash seeds ready to start. What are you growing this year?

Lisa

[acctgirl]

I plan on growing cucumbers, and tomatoes (my favorite). My elderly friend really wants some cantalope and corn so I promised her I would plant just a few plants for her. I also am going to try green beans, but I personally have not had much luck with green beans. I'm not sure what I do wrong though. Once I got real close, and then little vultures ate them before I picked them. MAN I HATE THAT! I think it was raccoons, and I was about to go 'coon hunting!

Anyway, I plan on doing lots to tomatoes so that I can can some for the winter. I make a very quick and easy spaghetti sauce which everyone loves. The only carbs in it would be from the tomoatoes so it isn't too bad. But, I need tomatoes for that. I use canned sauce when I have to, but I would much rather have fresh. ....Yes, George has me sold on fresh food!...

Anyway, is there anything else you all are doing? I stick strictly to the allowed foods list, and I'm thinking that this is all the veggies. (P.S. I have no desire to grow strawberries. I will go to the strawberry farm and pick my own.)

Any suggestions?

[mgonser]

Yes, I do all that too and really saves. Now about those beans, try mixing equal parts hot sauce and water in a spray bottle and once your shoot come up, spray once or twice a week. Also if there is a utility pole on the property, consider Kentucky wonder pole beans they are hardy and i still would use the spray. And, you'll get a lot of delicious beans to can or freeze.

Marylyn

[dab50]

I have also grown yellow squash & eggplant. I'm not crazy about zucchini but it grows easily also. Donna

[2bslim1]

Hi,
I live in Arizona, and veggie gardening season starts in about a week. Since the herb rosemary is a perrenial here, thought I would save $ and plant a permanent bush of it in the back yard---beats buying dried rosemary at the market.

Will try to grow eggplant, tomatoes, cantloupe, summer squash and peppers this year. Don't ya just love a ripe tomato fresh off the vine? I have not had good luck with melons in the past---hope this year it works.

[mhayden999]

2bslim1, Welcome to the site. Glad you've chosen to join us.

Good luck on the Garden!!!

Mark
_________________
You can get what you want in life, if you help enough people get what they want--Zig Ziglar

[wiccanmalenurse]

Welcome 2bslim1! acctgirl, those are great suggestions and I utilize those too! I also buy a lot of the marked down produce, bring it home and then clean, cut and freeze in my vacuum sealer and it save a whole lot. I take a lot of leftovers to work too as they are good. I also LOVE the remark about not eating out all the time as you never know really what is in the food ingredients wise (or otherwise really ) and it is much more cost effective! Take care and really good suggestions,
David
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Praise loudly, blame softly and treat each person you meet as a brother or sister!
"Stella Styler for "Life"!"

[TammyPaul]

I'm ashamed to say that my Mom got me a vacuum sealer for Christmas a couple of years ago and it's still sealed in the box. I really do need to get that thing opened and start using it. I am still using ziploc bags and aluminum foil.

anyway, We had a new Aldi store open up here and they are having their Grand Opening this week. Just went today and got some of the biggest cucumbers I have ever seen! I spent $45 and had 5 big bags of stuff. I just wish they had those prices all the time instead of just Grand Opening! I got a dozen eggs (large) for 49 cents each. and spices.....I stocked up on several types that I use large amounts of for $1.09 each and it was a good sized bottle too!

As for trying to save on the grocery bill, I have had some decent luck finding good buys in the mark down meats section. I got a chuck roast marked down from $16 to less than $10 and a good sized London Broil for under $10. Whole pork loin for $1.99/lb that feeds my family for at least two meals for around $10! Then the boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.99 - $2.29/lb. Now if I could just find dairy cheap!


Tammy
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[Dingie_Dinah]

Ya gotta love Aldi's!! Did you check their dairy prices??? Usually their milk is real cheap. I usually go to Aldi's first, and buy their produce. It almost always looks like it was fresh picked that day! And usually very reasonably priced. I buy their spices too. Great price!
_________________
Dingie Dinah
Stella Style since 5/2003

May you always have
Love to Share,
Health to Spare,
And Friends Who Care

"Nothing Tastes as Good as Thin and Healthy Feels"

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