Sunday

Dear Readers,

It is 7 am on a beautiful Sunday morning and I am trying to hurry up the pancake process so that I can go outside and pick up the morning paper from our driveway.  I don't know if it is the exhilaration of sprinting into the crisp outside dressed in a bathrobe or the thrill to see what is on sale this week, but I love these mornings.  How delightful it is to sit with my cup of tea and inserts, while everyone eats pancakes.

Last week I held out on buying eggs as long as I could.  My husband's omlets dwindled in size from three to one (with lots of vegetables) as our stock of eggs went down.  Target's dozens were around $2.83 and Price Chopper's $2.89.  I had used my last $1 off eggs coupons at Stop and Shop, where it came out to $1.12 with a coupon.  So, I succumbed to shopping at Aldi's, my least favorite store.  Buying 6 dozen there at $1.09 saved me at least ten dollars.  But just watch them be on sale somewhere else this week...

Hope you have fun pre-shopping and menu planning on this beautiful Sunday morning!

Yours truly,
Dilara

On My Way to Wegman's

For a couple months, I have been wondering what all the hoopla has been over Wegman's.  I have a friend who is willing to drive 30 minutes just to shop there, and another who raves about their bakery items, especially the cinnamon bread.

I agree that the store is more spacious and that the prepared foods look marvelous with the variety of international dishes (not that I would ever buy expensive prepared food).  I bought a bag of store brand unbleached flour for only 99 cents and their Lifeway lowfat Kefir cultured milk smoothie probiotic is almost one dollar cheaper than other places, but then again, the store does not double coupons.

This negativity stopped this morning when I realized I was out of garlic.  I learned by shopping around the vegetable aisles, nearby the amazing fresh orange juice stand, that Wegman's sells garlic that has been grown right here in the USA!  Do you know how difficult it is to find this?  And, even their store brand "Food You Feel Good About" offers apple juice that contains juice from the USA or Canada, not China, which even my toddler's Juicy Juice boxes can't beat!

So I guess I am on my way to Wegman's sometime this week, and proud of it.

Holiday Sample Fest

I just learned that on Saturday, December 10th, from 11 am-3pm, the Price Chopper off West Mountain Street in Worcester, MA will be offering "delicious samplings and special offers in every department throughout the store."  Apparently, there will be samples of sweet clementines, turkey rollups, fresh fried Swai fillets, Boursin spreads, Chevrai cranberry cinnamon goat cheese, Central Market Classics -- Italian meatballs, peppermint ice cream, coffee cake, gourmet coffee, dipping sauces, and more.  If you are in the neighborhood, it might be worth a try.  It sounds much more organized  and packed with goodies than a recent fall fest Hannaford in Marlborough offered.

Cashless and Creditless Week

As retribution for overspending last month, I am trying my best this week to not charge anything.  I was able to exchange $20 worth of luau decorations from my daughter's party with Dollar tree grocery items.  From non-nutritious study break staples such as Utz cheese curls to bottled jalapenos and pumpkin seeds (15 g protein per serving, 45% DV of phosphorus, 50% magnesium, plus a lot of Vitamin A, folic acid, iron, niacin, magnesium, and zinc), the food section really has a wonderful selection of inexpensive snacks.

I have a bunch of gift cards to use to help me out this week.  Our neighbors gave us a $50 gift card to Price Chopper on Thanksgiving.  Which was strange, because neither of us really celebrate that holiday (Thanksgiving is every day).  I think they were extending their gratitude for when my husband helped jump-start their car and when he and my oldest son broke down their back door the night our neighbors were locked out of their home...

So, I have this card to use, which is great since Price Chopper has a buy one get one free sale on potatoes this week, along with $1.99 detergent.  Plus, I have a bunch of gas gift cards from when it was a twice the gas points sale at Stop and Shop and Price Chopper.  And, I'll be using my $30 of CVS rewards bucks for food items as well.  Cashews and chocolate (another staple) are all on sale this week over there.

We'll see how this goes...

Free with rebate items

Check out the cleaning product aisle in your local grocery store.  Today I found rebates forms for free Lysol wipes and Woolite pet urine eliminators.  

$2 Milk

The Stop and Shop in Shrewsbury, MA normally sells store brand milk gallons for $2.50.  This week their special is to buy two gallons of milk and receive $1 instantly off your bill.  That's certainly a great deal for whole milk (cheaper than BJs).