Yellow or zucchini squash $0.98/lb
Grapes $1.28/lb
Sweet corn 6 for $2
Gatorades $0.89/lb (this is my price point for Gatorade)
Kroger Suncare products are on sale and can be paired with a coupon on their app for $1 off a Kroger Suncare item.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
What I'd buy at Kroger this week
Trying a new format out for this post! Let me know what you think.
Bakery
□ Kroger Buns -- 10 for $10
□ Kroger Buns -- 10 for $10
Beverages
□ Coca-Cola, Pepsi or Canada Dry -- 4 for $11 (this is my price point for name brand soda)
□ Gatorade or G2 32 fl oz or Propel, 24 fl oz -- $0.69 each when you buy 10
□ Coca-Cola, Pepsi or Canada Dry -- 4 for $11 (this is my price point for name brand soda)
□ Gatorade or G2 32 fl oz or Propel, 24 fl oz -- $0.69 each when you buy 10
□ Big K 2 Liter -- $0.69 each + ibotta
Meat & Seafood
□ Hormel Pork Tenderloin or Loin Filet -- BOGO free *
□ Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs -- 10 for $10
□ Perdue Split Chicken Breasts or Drumsticks, Thighs or Whole Fryer -- $0.99/lb **
□ Snow Crab Clusters -- $5.99/lb ***
□ Hormel Pork Tenderloin or Loin Filet -- BOGO free *
□ Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs -- 10 for $10
□ Perdue Split Chicken Breasts or Drumsticks, Thighs or Whole Fryer -- $0.99/lb **
□ Snow Crab Clusters -- $5.99/lb ***
Produce
□ Blackberries or Raspberries -- 2 for $5
□ Blueberries -- $2.99 each
□ Cucumbers or Green Bell Peppers -- 2 for $0.98
□ Kroger Vegetables 10-12 oz -- 10 for $10
□ Mangos -- $0.69 each
□ Organic Strawberries or Raspberries -- $2.99 each
□ Southern Yellow Peaches -- $0.99/lb
□ Strawberries -- 3 for $5 ****
□ Sweet Corn -- 3 for $0.99
□ Whole Seedless Watermelons -- $2.99 each
□ Yellow or Zucchini Squash $0.98/lb
□ Blackberries or Raspberries -- 2 for $5
□ Blueberries -- $2.99 each
□ Cucumbers or Green Bell Peppers -- 2 for $0.98
□ Kroger Vegetables 10-12 oz -- 10 for $10
□ Mangos -- $0.69 each
□ Organic Strawberries or Raspberries -- $2.99 each
□ Southern Yellow Peaches -- $0.99/lb
□ Strawberries -- 3 for $5 ****
□ Sweet Corn -- 3 for $0.99
□ Whole Seedless Watermelons -- $2.99 each
□ Yellow or Zucchini Squash $0.98/lb
* Only buy the pork deal if it gets you the loins for $1.89/lb or under.
** If you have the time to do a little bit of work, buy these chicken breasts in bulk. Debone and de-skin them and freeze. This is the ideal price for chicken breasts. (Note: I would not pay this price for thighs.)
*** I prefer to pay $4.99/lb, but this is a decent price as well
**** this is a STEAL for strawberries
IBOTTA matchups:
-- $0.25 back on any brand of cola 2-liter. This gets you soda for $0.44 cents for a 2L.
Kroger Ibotta deals for generic items:
-- $0.25 back for any brand of: bananas, diapers, baby food, frozen pizza, ice cream, orange juice, ginger beer, chips, granola bars, jelly, shredded cheese, laundry detergent
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Other Ways I Earn: Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog is another app to which you upload receipts and get rewards. This is my slowest-earning app because the reward for each receipt (payed out in "coins") is small. However, this app also accepts almost all kinds of receipts, and it does not matter what you purchased (as opposed to Find&Save and Ibotta). For this reason, I continue to use Receipt Hog.
I have earned $30 in Amazon credit from the app (you can also earn PayPal dollars) and am about to earn a second $30. I wait until I earn $30 worth because it is a better "deal". You can cash out faster if you need the money, but it takes more coins to equal a dollar if you cash out at $10 or $20 than it does if you cash out at $30 (the maximum).
Something that helps me earn faster is uploading receipts from other people. My mother-in-law saves her receipts for me, which earns me rewards much faster.
This post contains referral links.
What I'd buy at Kroger this week
I was not impressed with really any meat specials this week, but summer always wins in the produce department! Ibotta (referral link) match-ups are good this week, also.
Cucumbers 2 for $0.98
Green bell peppers 2 for $0.98*
Vidalia sweet onions $0.98/lb*
Mangos $0.69 each
Zucchini or yellow squash $0.98/lb* (ideas to use zucchini here)
Broccoli crowns $1.58/lb**
Blueberries 2 for $3.00
Cantaloupes $1.99 each
Personal size watermelons $1.99 each
Sweet corn 3 for $0.99*
*Ibotta (referral link) rebates match-up:
Green bell peppers $0.25
Onions $0.25
Corn $0.25
Zucchini $0.25
Cucumbers 2 for $0.98
Green bell peppers 2 for $0.98*
Vidalia sweet onions $0.98/lb*
Mangos $0.69 each
Zucchini or yellow squash $0.98/lb* (ideas to use zucchini here)
Broccoli crowns $1.58/lb**
Blueberries 2 for $3.00
Cantaloupes $1.99 each
Personal size watermelons $1.99 each
Sweet corn 3 for $0.99*
*Ibotta (referral link) rebates match-up:
Green bell peppers $0.25
Onions $0.25
Corn $0.25
Zucchini $0.25
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Aldi haul 6/16/2016
I got up the energy to finally get to Aldi (because Athens has so spoiled me that a store 10 minutes away is just. so. far.), and I'm so glad I did! They not only had their typical excellent produce deals (bananas for $0.29/lb?!), but also had grass-fed ground beef for $2.89/lb! That is by far the best deal I've ever seen on grass-fed beef, and it's even less than you can usually get the cheapest ground beef at any store.
Here's what I got for $50.54:
6 lbs of grass-fed ground beef
Bag of spinach
2 lbs of strawberries
1 pint of blueberries
12 oz of blackberries
1 mango
1 avocado
5 bananas
3 lbs of sweet potatoes
2 lbs of Vidalia onions
4 cans of cut green beans
4 cans of very small young peas
2 boxes corn muffin mix
6 lunch-sized applesauce cups
6 bagels
16 oz heavy whipping cream
1 lb butter
1 package of gallon freezer bags
Please ignore the mess behind the loot! At least one of everything I bought is pictured.
Here's what I got for $50.54:
6 lbs of grass-fed ground beef
Bag of spinach
2 lbs of strawberries
1 pint of blueberries
12 oz of blackberries
1 mango
1 avocado
5 bananas
3 lbs of sweet potatoes
2 lbs of Vidalia onions
4 cans of cut green beans
4 cans of very small young peas
2 boxes corn muffin mix
6 lunch-sized applesauce cups
6 bagels
16 oz heavy whipping cream
1 lb butter
1 package of gallon freezer bags
Please ignore the mess behind the loot! At least one of everything I bought is pictured.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Recipe Ideas for Kroger Deals
Pork tenderloin: http://laurenkellynutrition.com/garlic-balsamic-crusted-pork-tenderloin/
Zucchini: http://www.jocooks.com/main-courses/pork-main-courses/stuffed-zucchini/
Salmon: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/114490015505694612/
Shrimp: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/114490015498337299/
Zucchini: http://www.jocooks.com/main-courses/pork-main-courses/stuffed-zucchini/
Salmon: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/114490015505694612/
Shrimp: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/114490015498337299/
I bought pork at Sam's Club, now what? Part One: Chops
So, you listened to my sage (lol) advice and purchased a pork loin at Sam's Club. You even braved asking an employee to slice it into chops for you. Awesome! You now have pork chops for approximately $1.89 or cheaper per pound. Way less than pre-cut chops at the store, which can run around $3.per pound. Now... what do you do with them?
I like to freeze my chops into dinner-sized portions. For us, that's about 4-5 chops at a time. For this, I use my FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System
(affiliate link), but you can certainly just use freezer grade ziploc bags (I buy mine at Aldi). If you are using ziploc bags, make sure you remove as much air as possible before sealing and freezing.
On pork chop day, I almost always use my favorite chop recipe from All Day I Dream About Food. I love this recipe because it is so quick and easy to make. I like to serve it with whatever vegetables were on sale that week. Or canned veggies from Aldi if there were no great veggie sales. Baked sweet potatoes (favorite recipe here) also go well with this, although they require a little planning ahead due to baking time.
The recipe calls for whiskey, but if you don't keep liquor in the house (what?!?), it works just fine without the whiskey. It also works just fine without the chicken broth, if you're like me and sometimes are too lazy to thaw pork chops AND broth in the same night. I have actually adapted this recipe and use wayyyy more heavy cream than the original calls for, because heavy whipping cream is this family's favorite ingredient. I also have adapted the cream sauce recipe for other meats (for instance, I botched the steak so we need to cover it with cream).
This pork chop recipe turned pork chop night from something my husband tolerated into a night he enjoys.
I like to freeze my chops into dinner-sized portions. For us, that's about 4-5 chops at a time. For this, I use my FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System
(affiliate link), but you can certainly just use freezer grade ziploc bags (I buy mine at Aldi). If you are using ziploc bags, make sure you remove as much air as possible before sealing and freezing.On pork chop day, I almost always use my favorite chop recipe from All Day I Dream About Food. I love this recipe because it is so quick and easy to make. I like to serve it with whatever vegetables were on sale that week. Or canned veggies from Aldi if there were no great veggie sales. Baked sweet potatoes (favorite recipe here) also go well with this, although they require a little planning ahead due to baking time.
The recipe calls for whiskey, but if you don't keep liquor in the house (what?!?), it works just fine without the whiskey. It also works just fine without the chicken broth, if you're like me and sometimes are too lazy to thaw pork chops AND broth in the same night. I have actually adapted this recipe and use wayyyy more heavy cream than the original calls for, because heavy whipping cream is this family's favorite ingredient. I also have adapted the cream sauce recipe for other meats (for instance, I botched the steak so we need to cover it with cream).
This pork chop recipe turned pork chop night from something my husband tolerated into a night he enjoys.
What to buy at Sam's Club
Southern Savers has a great post about what to buy at Sam's Club. Here's my take:
Nuts. I have done the unit price comparison, and buying nuts at Sam's Club is by far the cheapest option. They beat Aldi by a good bit. If you use a lot of nuts, it's a steal. My husband eats nuts for quick and easy snacks, uses them to make his favorite homemade protein bars and flavored nut mix, and eats them as salad toppings. We always run out before they go bad!
Tires. Yeah, I've bought tires at Sam's Club. They are usually a great deal, and I love that they will put them on for you right then and there. I'm a fan.
Fresh fruit. If you have a big family or are hosting a party, then absolutely shop at Sam's club for your fruit. When I'm being very frugal, I'll buy berries and freeze them for my husband's smoothies (almost always cheaper than buying frozen fruit). But for my smaller family, I found that buying fresh fruit at Sam's club often means it goes bad before we can use it.
Cheese. I love buying cheese at Sam's Club. I like fancy shredded sharp cheddar cheese, personally. I buy the 5 pound bags (which are a great deal when you look at unit price). Then I freeze the cheese in smaller ziploc baggies (or you could use a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System -- I love mine!). Shredded cheese holds up remarkably well to freezing. I just take a baggie out of the fridge as I need it.
Meat. My favorite deal at Sam's Club is the pork loin. At the club in Athens, pork loin goes on sale for $1.89 or less every couple of months. I buy multiple and have them cut the loin (which they do for free) into either smaller roasts or pork chops, which I then freeze in dinner-sized portions. This saves me a lot of money on pork.
I also buy laundry detergent, oxi clean, and Carnation Instant Breakfast at "the Club". What are some items you have found to be better deals at Sam's?
Nuts. I have done the unit price comparison, and buying nuts at Sam's Club is by far the cheapest option. They beat Aldi by a good bit. If you use a lot of nuts, it's a steal. My husband eats nuts for quick and easy snacks, uses them to make his favorite homemade protein bars and flavored nut mix, and eats them as salad toppings. We always run out before they go bad!
Tires. Yeah, I've bought tires at Sam's Club. They are usually a great deal, and I love that they will put them on for you right then and there. I'm a fan.
Fresh fruit. If you have a big family or are hosting a party, then absolutely shop at Sam's club for your fruit. When I'm being very frugal, I'll buy berries and freeze them for my husband's smoothies (almost always cheaper than buying frozen fruit). But for my smaller family, I found that buying fresh fruit at Sam's club often means it goes bad before we can use it.
Cheese. I love buying cheese at Sam's Club. I like fancy shredded sharp cheddar cheese, personally. I buy the 5 pound bags (which are a great deal when you look at unit price). Then I freeze the cheese in smaller ziploc baggies (or you could use a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System
-- I love mine!). Shredded cheese holds up remarkably well to freezing. I just take a baggie out of the fridge as I need it.Meat. My favorite deal at Sam's Club is the pork loin. At the club in Athens, pork loin goes on sale for $1.89 or less every couple of months. I buy multiple and have them cut the loin (which they do for free) into either smaller roasts or pork chops, which I then freeze in dinner-sized portions. This saves me a lot of money on pork.
I also buy laundry detergent, oxi clean, and Carnation Instant Breakfast at "the Club". What are some items you have found to be better deals at Sam's?
Deals this week at Publix
Publix has some produce deals this week that are cheaper than Kroger.
Raspberries 3 for $6
Blueberries 3 for $6
Strawberries 2 for $5
Avocados 10 for $10
Raspberries 3 for $6
Blueberries 3 for $6
Strawberries 2 for $5
Avocados 10 for $10
Deals this week at Kroger
Pork loin $1.79/lb*
Kroger brand canned veggies $0.44 per can
Peaches $0.99/lb
Cucumbers 2 for $0.98
Sweet corn 3 for $0.99
Salmon fillets $4.99/lb
Key West shrimp $4.99/lb
Strawberries 2/$5 ($2.50/lb)
Zucchini or yellow squash $0.98/lb
Mango 2 for $0.98
*This is a decent price for pork, but I still prefer to buy mine at Sam's Club because they slice it for me. #lazymom
Did I miss any great deals on things you regularly buy?
Kroger brand canned veggies $0.44 per can
Peaches $0.99/lb
Cucumbers 2 for $0.98
Sweet corn 3 for $0.99
Salmon fillets $4.99/lb
Key West shrimp $4.99/lb
Strawberries 2/$5 ($2.50/lb)
Zucchini or yellow squash $0.98/lb
Mango 2 for $0.98
*This is a decent price for pork, but I still prefer to buy mine at Sam's Club because they slice it for me. #lazymom
Did I miss any great deals on things you regularly buy?
Friday, June 10, 2016
How I Buy Chicken Breasts
Have you heard of Zaycon Fresh (referral link)? They are a company that provides bulk meat that you pick up at a location in your zip code on a specific date.
I just ordered my second case of chicken and spent an hour divvying up the breasts into dinner-sized portions. I also pre-cut some nuggets and chicken tenders for easier thawing and prep.
I first heard about Zaycon Fresh from a coworker. Intrigued, I bought a case (40 lbs) of chicken and was hooked. These chicken breasts come from giant chickens -- they are definitely the largest breasts I've ever seen (on a chicken). I also have found them to be of superb quality.
When I was unemployed and we were broke, I had a rule that I never spent more than $0.99/lb on chicken. This is very doable, but you have to really search for chicken breasts at that price, and you have to be willing to de-bone them yourself. This is not very difficult (I learned by watching a YouTube video), but it is time-consuming. Now that I work and have a child, I find it reasonable to spend slightly more for a little less work. Eventually, I would like to go back to the $0.99/lb rule, but for now, this will do. I buy my Zaycon Fresh chicken when they have deals, so I spend $1.95/lb on it. This price includes tax.
Zaycon Fresh has many other products, but I can only personally vouch for the chicken.
Our favorite thing to do with the chicken breasts is make chicken nuggets or chicken tenders. For this, we use our countertop deep fryer (affiliate link). This appliance has been one of my favorite kitchen toys. It makes delicious nuggets/tenders in about 8 minutes, can fry from frozen, and is also excellent for french fries or sweet potato fries. Mmmmm. We fry in beef fat from the half cow we purchased, but I have also had success with peanut oil (which I used to buy in bulk at Sam's Club before we began using the lard).
I just ordered my second case of chicken and spent an hour divvying up the breasts into dinner-sized portions. I also pre-cut some nuggets and chicken tenders for easier thawing and prep.
I first heard about Zaycon Fresh from a coworker. Intrigued, I bought a case (40 lbs) of chicken and was hooked. These chicken breasts come from giant chickens -- they are definitely the largest breasts I've ever seen (on a chicken). I also have found them to be of superb quality.
When I was unemployed and we were broke, I had a rule that I never spent more than $0.99/lb on chicken. This is very doable, but you have to really search for chicken breasts at that price, and you have to be willing to de-bone them yourself. This is not very difficult (I learned by watching a YouTube video), but it is time-consuming. Now that I work and have a child, I find it reasonable to spend slightly more for a little less work. Eventually, I would like to go back to the $0.99/lb rule, but for now, this will do. I buy my Zaycon Fresh chicken when they have deals, so I spend $1.95/lb on it. This price includes tax.
Zaycon Fresh has many other products, but I can only personally vouch for the chicken.
Our favorite thing to do with the chicken breasts is make chicken nuggets or chicken tenders. For this, we use our countertop deep fryer (affiliate link). This appliance has been one of my favorite kitchen toys. It makes delicious nuggets/tenders in about 8 minutes, can fry from frozen, and is also excellent for french fries or sweet potato fries. Mmmmm. We fry in beef fat from the half cow we purchased, but I have also had success with peanut oil (which I used to buy in bulk at Sam's Club before we began using the lard).
Thursday, June 9, 2016
What I'd Buy at Kroger this week
18 ct large eggs 2/$3
Sweet corn 3/$0.99
Cantaloupe 2/$5
Blueberries $2.99 for a pint
Raspberries 4/$5 for 6 oz
Peaches $0.98 per lb
Zucchini or yellow squash $0.98 per lb
Green beans $0.98 per lb***
Mangoes $0.99 each
Tide 50 fl oz $4.99 each if you buy 5 items of the mix-n-match "buy 5, save $5". There is also an electronic Kroger coupon for $2 off a Tide product.
*** I am so excited about this. Green beans are easy to freeze and cook well from frozen. I'd buy a large amount if you have the freezer space.
Did I miss any good deals on items you regularly buy?
Sweet corn 3/$0.99
Cantaloupe 2/$5
Blueberries $2.99 for a pint
Raspberries 4/$5 for 6 oz
Peaches $0.98 per lb
Zucchini or yellow squash $0.98 per lb
Green beans $0.98 per lb***
Mangoes $0.99 each
Tide 50 fl oz $4.99 each if you buy 5 items of the mix-n-match "buy 5, save $5". There is also an electronic Kroger coupon for $2 off a Tide product.
*** I am so excited about this. Green beans are easy to freeze and cook well from frozen. I'd buy a large amount if you have the freezer space.
Did I miss any good deals on items you regularly buy?
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Other Ways I Earn: Swagbucks
This post is something I wrote a few years ago on my personal blog, but I thought it was worth sharing. Some things have changed for me since then, so I don't spend nearly the same amount of time on Swagbucks as I used to, but I still earn a gift card or two a year based on online shopping and the daily poll on my iPhone app.
So, I've been getting some requests to explain how SwagBucks works, and I thought I would put it here so that I only need to explain it once.
WHAT IS SWAGBUCKS?
SwagBucks is a site by which you earn points and in turn redeem those points for prizes, such as coupons, gift cards, trinkets, etc. The prizes for which I am saving are all gift cards because I believe in using SwagBucks to truly save me money.
WAYS TO EARN: this list is by no means exhaustive -- I'm just hitting what I consider to be the high points.
ONE-TIME EARNINGS:
ADVICE:
If you are going to start participating in SwagBucks, ordering freebies, etc., I highly recommend that you go to gmail.com and make an email just for your "frugal" escapades. Mine is frugallagurf@gmail.com. I use this only for savings sites, which means that my REAL email is not tied up in a million offers or updates / day.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
GO HERE TO SIGN UP!
So, I've been getting some requests to explain how SwagBucks works, and I thought I would put it here so that I only need to explain it once.
WHAT IS SWAGBUCKS?
SwagBucks is a site by which you earn points and in turn redeem those points for prizes, such as coupons, gift cards, trinkets, etc. The prizes for which I am saving are all gift cards because I believe in using SwagBucks to truly save me money.
WAYS TO EARN: this list is by no means exhaustive -- I'm just hitting what I consider to be the high points.
ONE-TIME EARNINGS:
- Go to the survey page and complete your survey profile. It is a series of mini-surveys about your habits so they can better match you up with outside surveys. You will get a minimum of 5 SwagBucks from each profile section.
- Visit SwagBucks Surveys -- 1 SB
- Proceed through the NOSO tab. That's No Obligation Special Offers. By clicking through, you should earn 2 SB.
- Invite a friend
- Take the daily poll. 1 SB
- I visit the Special Offers section every day (specifically the Peanut Labs tab) because there are often free offers that require only watching an ad video, etc.
- You can also take surveys to earn points. I quickly learned that a survey over about 15 minutes makes me want to die, so I weed out my options by length and then by potential SB earned.
- You can earn SB by playing games, but my opinion is that the time to SB earned is not worth the effort.
- You can also earn by watching SwagBucks TV, but again, I believe it takes too long to earn too little. Decide for yourself!
ADVICE:
If you are going to start participating in SwagBucks, ordering freebies, etc., I highly recommend that you go to gmail.com and make an email just for your "frugal" escapades. Mine is frugallagurf@gmail.com. I use this only for savings sites, which means that my REAL email is not tied up in a million offers or updates / day.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
GO HERE TO SIGN UP!
What to do with zucchini
I am not a huge veggie person, so I love it when zucchini, one of those green things I actually like, is on sale. Unfortunately, zucchini does not freeze very well, and I personally don't think it's worth the effort for the gross soggy thawed mess you end up with. That begin said, what do you do when you buy lots of on sale zucchini?
Just plain zucchini
My husband loves zucchini oven-roasted or pan-sauteed. He likes to mix it in with ground beef and cheese for a (very) hearty meal. There are also recipes online for zucchini fries and zucchini chips.
Zucchini pizza bites
Zucchini pizza bites are surprisingly good and easy to make. There are lots of recipes online. This one looks delicious. Moment of honesty here from your favorite lazy cook? I'd totally omit the pre-cooking of the zucchini and pop those suckers straight in the oven. It has worked for me in the past, and I'm all about fewer pans to clean. You can also top your "pizzas" with whatever toppings you prefer. I usually stick to cheese, but ground beef or any other meat toppings would work if you don't want towaste your money on purchase those adorable mini pepperonis.
Zucchini noodles ("zoodles")
I just ordered myself a Veggetti Spiral Vegetable Slicer (affiliate link)
. Those things fascinate me, and I cannot wait to use it! Plus, it was on sale and I had a $5 giftcard that I earned from Swagbucks (referral link), so I only spent $3.19 on it. With how often we make veggie "pasta", I'm sure it'll get put to good use.
If it's not in your budget to buy a Veggetti, you can still eat vegetable pasta! It's my favorite way to use on-sale zucchini. All you need is your trusty peeler (I use the OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler
(affiliate link)), but I'm sure any peeler would work.
Toss the zoodles in some butter or olive oil on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Serve with your favorite sauce. (They are delicious with an impromptu lemon cream sauce.)
Shredded zucchini in burgers
Call me crazy, but one of my favorite ways to use zucchini is to sneak it into burgers. Then I don't even know I'm eating those pesky vegetables! Seriously, though, adding in 1/4 or so of shredded zucchini into a pound of ground beef makes for some juicy burgers. I also like to mix shredded cheese into the burger patties (and jalapenos for my husband).
We cook our burgers in the oven and they are delicious. We also eat them naked, but I'm sure they'd also be yummy inside a bun. This recipe calls for using an oven-safe cookie rack (affiliate link), which is how I cook mine.
Just plain zucchini
My husband loves zucchini oven-roasted or pan-sauteed. He likes to mix it in with ground beef and cheese for a (very) hearty meal. There are also recipes online for zucchini fries and zucchini chips.
Zucchini pizza bites
Zucchini pizza bites are surprisingly good and easy to make. There are lots of recipes online. This one looks delicious. Moment of honesty here from your favorite lazy cook? I'd totally omit the pre-cooking of the zucchini and pop those suckers straight in the oven. It has worked for me in the past, and I'm all about fewer pans to clean. You can also top your "pizzas" with whatever toppings you prefer. I usually stick to cheese, but ground beef or any other meat toppings would work if you don't want to
Zucchini noodles ("zoodles")
I just ordered myself a Veggetti Spiral Vegetable Slicer (affiliate link)
. Those things fascinate me, and I cannot wait to use it! Plus, it was on sale and I had a $5 giftcard that I earned from Swagbucks (referral link), so I only spent $3.19 on it. With how often we make veggie "pasta", I'm sure it'll get put to good use.If it's not in your budget to buy a Veggetti, you can still eat vegetable pasta! It's my favorite way to use on-sale zucchini. All you need is your trusty peeler (I use the OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler
(affiliate link)), but I'm sure any peeler would work.Toss the zoodles in some butter or olive oil on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Serve with your favorite sauce. (They are delicious with an impromptu lemon cream sauce.)
Shredded zucchini in burgers
Call me crazy, but one of my favorite ways to use zucchini is to sneak it into burgers. Then I don't even know I'm eating those pesky vegetables! Seriously, though, adding in 1/4 or so of shredded zucchini into a pound of ground beef makes for some juicy burgers. I also like to mix shredded cheese into the burger patties (and jalapenos for my husband).
We cook our burgers in the oven and they are delicious. We also eat them naked, but I'm sure they'd also be yummy inside a bun. This recipe calls for using an oven-safe cookie rack (affiliate link), which is how I cook mine.
What I'd buy at Publix 6/1-6/7
Publix has some decent steak deals this week, with steaks ranging from $6 to $9 per pound. Their other meat sales, however are significantly more expensive than those at Kroger.
Raspberries 3/$6
Mangoes 10/$10
Vidalia Sweet Onions $0.69/lb***
***Ibotta rebates for this week at Publix
Raspberries 3/$6
Mangoes 10/$10
Vidalia Sweet Onions $0.69/lb***
***Ibotta rebates for this week at Publix
- $0.25 back for any brand of mayonnaise, bread, eggs, bacon
- $0.25 back for loose apples, potatoes, onions***, broccoli, oranges, red bell peppers, brussels sprouts
- $0.25 back for any brand of laundry detergent, baby food
Did I miss any good Publix prices?
What I'd buy at Kroger 6/1-6/7
Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs $0.69
Boneless Pork Loin $1.79
Cantaloupe $1.88 each * (buying point $2 each)
Simple Truth Almond/Coconut/Organic Soy milk 2/$5 **
Southern Yellow Peaches $0.99/lb
Strawberries $1.68/lb * (buying point ($2.50/lb)
Avocados 2/$0.99* (buying point $0.99 each)
Zucchini $0.98/lb* (buying point $1.29/lb)
Kroger or Private Selection Bacon $2.99 each***
Vidalia sweet onions $0.98/lb***
*This is a great deal
**These are usually $2.79 each. Not a fantastic savings, but as cheap as I've seen these products get.
Ibotta Rebates at Kroger this week:
Boneless Pork Loin $1.79
Cantaloupe $1.88 each * (buying point $2 each)
Simple Truth Almond/Coconut/Organic Soy milk 2/$5 **
Southern Yellow Peaches $0.99/lb
Strawberries $1.68/lb * (buying point ($2.50/lb)
Avocados 2/$0.99* (buying point $0.99 each)
Zucchini $0.98/lb* (buying point $1.29/lb)
Kroger or Private Selection Bacon $2.99 each***
Vidalia sweet onions $0.98/lb***
*This is a great deal
**These are usually $2.79 each. Not a fantastic savings, but as cheap as I've seen these products get.
Ibotta Rebates at Kroger this week:
- $0.25 back on any brand of bread, eggs, bacon***
- $0.25 back on loose apples, potatoes, onions***, broccoli, oranges, red bell peppers, brussels sprouts
- $0.25 back on any brand of baby food
Friday, May 27, 2016
The Kroger App
Download the Kroger app.
If you shop at Kroger on a regular basis, and you don't already own the Kroger app, then you're making a mistake. The Kroger app helps me look through weekly circulars on the go. My favorite part, however, is that you can load digital coupons to your Kroger card directly from the app. Often, I do this while I am walking to the store, because I am forgetful.
Today, for instance, I saved $.80 thanks to Kroger coupons simply by buying things I needed to buy. The best part about this is that you don't have to keep up with physical coupons, and there is none of the hassle associated with scanning coupons at the register. Back when I used to clip coupons, my husband would get so frustrated because we would hold up everyone in line for a dollar or two in savings. Now, I just type in my phone number at self check out and my Kroger card applies the coupons for me! Super simple and perfect for my lazy saver lifestyle.
My shopping trip today*:
*Our fridge is on the fritz, so I didn't do my usual full shopping trip. Because I only needed two items, I didn't pack up my 9 month old to drive to Aldi (we walk to Kroger from our house, so it's super convenient). Also, we eat low(er) carb during the week, but I take bagels and shells and cheese with ground beef to work for my breakfast and lunch.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Other Ways I Save: Find&Save
Disclaimer: all links are referral links.
Find&Save is an app I use to earn money back from purchases I make. This is my favorite of my earning apps because it is the highest earner for the least effort.
The basic premise is this:
The only downside to Find&Save is the inconsistency of offers. Unlike Receipt Hog, which accepts any receipts at any time, Find&Save is store-dependent. For instance, there isn't always a cash back offer for Kroger. I do prefer Find&Save to Ibotta because offers are not usually dependent on a specific item or brand. Because my family buys very few packaged foods, I earn very slowly on Ibotta.
Find&Save is an app I use to earn money back from purchases I make. This is my favorite of my earning apps because it is the highest earner for the least effort.
The basic premise is this:
- Receive receipt after purchase.
- Upload to Find&Save.
- Earn.
The only downside to Find&Save is the inconsistency of offers. Unlike Receipt Hog, which accepts any receipts at any time, Find&Save is store-dependent. For instance, there isn't always a cash back offer for Kroger. I do prefer Find&Save to Ibotta because offers are not usually dependent on a specific item or brand. Because my family buys very few packaged foods, I earn very slowly on Ibotta.
Save money and time buying groceries
If you don't meal plan, chances are you go to the grocery store more than once a week. Maybe you didn't notice you were about to run out of your kids' favorite breakfast item. Or your spouse didn't ask you to pick up their preferred drink while you were at the store. If you don't shop with the sales, these frequent runs to the store can end up costing you money as well as time.
If you are willing to invest a little time up front to determine which items you buy on a regular basis and how much they are at the stores around you, you could save a lot of money and time in the long run.
Disclaimer: I am not the first person to come up with this general idea! Many bloggers before me have touted the use of a "price list", with which you track the price of frequently-purchased items over the course of a few weeks at various stores. This helps you determine what is a "good" price for the bulk of your grocery purchases.
My biggest tip for an easy and cheap grocery buying routine? Pick two stores. (Max three, if you want to also shop at a discount store like Sam's Club or Costco.)
The other way I save a lot of money and time on buying groceries is utilizing my freezer. When whole chickens are on sale for $0.59/lb, I buy 2-4 at a time and put them in the freezer. That way I know I have chicken, and I don't have to buy the whole chicken at $0.95/lb (Aldi price) when I want to make a rotisserie chicken. When pork loin is on sale at Sam's Club for $1.69/lb, I buy two or three. I have Sam's Club cut (which they will do for free-- you just have to ask!) some of loins for me into chops approx 1 inch thick and some into half or quarters. Then I freeze them in appropriate serving sizes. Now I have pork roasts and pork chops to last me until the loins go on sale again.
What are some ways you save money and time on groceries?
If you are willing to invest a little time up front to determine which items you buy on a regular basis and how much they are at the stores around you, you could save a lot of money and time in the long run.
Disclaimer: I am not the first person to come up with this general idea! Many bloggers before me have touted the use of a "price list", with which you track the price of frequently-purchased items over the course of a few weeks at various stores. This helps you determine what is a "good" price for the bulk of your grocery purchases.
My biggest tip for an easy and cheap grocery buying routine? Pick two stores. (Max three, if you want to also shop at a discount store like Sam's Club or Costco.)
- One store is your weekly shopping hangout. For me, ideally this would be Aldi, due to prices. I'm not attached to brand name foods, with just a few exceptions based on my personal taste preferences. The Aldi in Athens tends to have good produce, which I really value. However, I don't buy meat at Aldi, which is where the second store comes in (for me).
- The other store is where you shop based on sale prices. For me, this is my Kroger. It is walking distance from my house (which I love), and it has great produce. I prefer Kroger because food tends to be cheaper there than at Trader Joe's and Publix, and my family doesn't place high priority on organic foods. I buy almost all my meat (in bulk when possible) at Kroger when it is on sale. Most stores have a weekly ad that you can peruse to plan your trip.
- Discount stores are places I recommend going only once a month or so. I personally shop at Sam's Club. My husband is military, so we get a discounted membership. I buy gas at Sam's Club, too, which makes it worth the membership fee. I know based on unit pricing which foods I can get cheapest at Sam's Club (pork chops, nuts, and Instant Breakfast, to name a few), and I only buy items that I can freeze or have a long shelf life.
The other way I save a lot of money and time on buying groceries is utilizing my freezer. When whole chickens are on sale for $0.59/lb, I buy 2-4 at a time and put them in the freezer. That way I know I have chicken, and I don't have to buy the whole chicken at $0.95/lb (Aldi price) when I want to make a rotisserie chicken. When pork loin is on sale at Sam's Club for $1.69/lb, I buy two or three. I have Sam's Club cut (which they will do for free-- you just have to ask!) some of loins for me into chops approx 1 inch thick and some into half or quarters. Then I freeze them in appropriate serving sizes. Now I have pork roasts and pork chops to last me until the loins go on sale again.
What are some ways you save money and time on groceries?
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
My "Buying Points"
This post will continue to be updated as prices change and new foods are added.
Am I missing a food that you buy on a regular basis? Let me know!
Meat
Fruit
Fresh Vegetables
Am I missing a food that you buy on a regular basis? Let me know!
Meat
| Food Item | Buying Point | Stock Up Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken, whole | $0.89/lb | $0.60/lb |
| Chicken, breast | $1.99/lb | $1.50/lb |
| Chicken, leg or thigh | $0.79/lb | $0.50/lb |
| Crab legs, snow | $5.99/lb | $4.99/lb |
| Pork, chops | $1.89/lb | $1.69/lb |
| Pork, loin | $1.89/lb | $1.69/lb |
| Pork, other | $1.19/lb | $0.99/lb |
Fruit
| Food Item | Buying Point | Stock Up Price |
|---|---|---|
| Avocado | $0.89/lb | $0.60/lb |
| Blackberries | $2.50 for 6 oz | $2 for 6 oz |
| Blueberries | $0.79/lb | $0.50/lb |
| Cantaloupe | $2.00 each | $1.50 each |
| Peaches | $0.99/lb | |
| Raspberries | $2.50 for 6 oz | $2 for 6 oz |
| Strawberries | $2.50/lb | $2.00/lb |
Fresh Vegetables
| Food Item | Buying Point | Stock Up Price |
|---|---|---|
| Green beans | $1.29 | $1.00/lb |
| Squash, yellow | $1.29/lb | $1.00/lb |
| Zucchini | $1.29/lb | $1.00/lb |
What I'd Buy at Target: May 22-28
I don't normally shop at Target for groceries. Mainly because I just know that Target sucks me in to their dollar section and cute clothes and all of the sudden I've forgotten to buy butter but have new shoes. You know what I'm talking about.
Here's what I consider to be good deals on groceries this week at Target:
Strawberries 2/$5 (making them $2.50/lb)*
All brands of soda 12-packs 4/$11**
*This is my personal "buying point" for strawberries. I don't buy strawberries unless they are $2.50 per pound or cheaper.
**This is my personal "buying point" for name-brand soda. We don't buy a lot of name-brand soda (I'll drink whatever's cheapest, but my husband is picky so I buy branded soda for him), but I won't purchase it for more than $2.75 per 12-pack.
Regular Target shoppers, is there anything on this week's ad that you consider a stellar deal?
Edited 5/25/16:
Rebates and other earning opportunities at Target this week:
Here's what I consider to be good deals on groceries this week at Target:
Strawberries 2/$5 (making them $2.50/lb)*
All brands of soda 12-packs 4/$11**
*This is my personal "buying point" for strawberries. I don't buy strawberries unless they are $2.50 per pound or cheaper.
**This is my personal "buying point" for name-brand soda. We don't buy a lot of name-brand soda (I'll drink whatever's cheapest, but my husband is picky so I buy branded soda for him), but I won't purchase it for more than $2.75 per 12-pack.
Regular Target shoppers, is there anything on this week's ad that you consider a stellar deal?
Edited 5/25/16:
Rebates and other earning opportunities at Target this week:
- On Ibotta (referral link), there is a $0.25 rebate for any brand of soda.
- Other notable Ibotta rebates for Kroger:
- $0.25 back on any brand of baby food
- $0.25 back on potatoes, red bell peppers, loose apples, onions, broccoli, oranges, and brussels sprouts
- $0.25 back on any brand of bacon
- $0.25 back on any brand of eggs
- $0.25 back on any brand of bread
- $0.25 back on any brand of ketchup
- $0.25 back on any brand of ice cream
- $0.25 back on any brand of on hamburger buns
What I'd buy at Publix: Wednesday, May 25 through Tuesday, May 31
I love Publix. Shopping there truly "is a pleasure", as their slogan claims. However, I generally do not shop at Publix because I have found it to be more expensive on the whole than other grocery stores in my area. Shopping at Publix is like a splurge for me.
Here is what I would buy at Publix this week.
Avocados 10/$10
Raspberries 2/$5
Sweet corn 10/$3
12-packs of Coke or Canada Dry products 4 for the price of 2*
*The ad states that you can save up to $10.58 on 4 12-packs of soda. This leads me to believe that 4 packs would cost $10.58. This is a good price for soda. It is $0.42 also cents cheaper for 4 than Kroger this week.
Price comparisons:
If you buy crab legs this week, it is $3.00 per pound cheaper to buy them at Kroger.
If you buy Boston butt this week, it is $1.00 per pound cheaper to buy them at Kroger.
Do you think I missed something that's a great deal?
Edited on 5/25/2015:
Rebates and other earning opportunities at Publix this week:
Here is what I would buy at Publix this week.
Avocados 10/$10
Raspberries 2/$5
Sweet corn 10/$3
12-packs of Coke or Canada Dry products 4 for the price of 2*
*The ad states that you can save up to $10.58 on 4 12-packs of soda. This leads me to believe that 4 packs would cost $10.58. This is a good price for soda. It is $0.42 also cents cheaper for 4 than Kroger this week.
Price comparisons:
If you buy crab legs this week, it is $3.00 per pound cheaper to buy them at Kroger.
If you buy Boston butt this week, it is $1.00 per pound cheaper to buy them at Kroger.
Do you think I missed something that's a great deal?
Edited on 5/25/2015:
Rebates and other earning opportunities at Publix this week:
- Coke and Canada Dry products are 4/$10.58 at Publix this week. On Ibotta (referral link), there is a $0.25 rebate for any brand of soda.
- Heinz ketchup is BOGO. Ibotta has a rebate for $0.25 on any brand of ketchup.
- Other notable Ibotta rebates for Publix:
- $0.25 back on any brand of baby food
- $0.25 back on potatoes, red bell peppers, loose apples, onions, broccoli, oranges, and brussels sprouts
- $0.25 back on any brand of bacon
- $0.25 back on any brand of eggs
- $0.25 back on any brand of bread
- $0.25 back on any brand of hamburger buns
- $0.25 back on any brand of ice cream
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Why did you tell me to buy crab legs?
Um, because they are delicious?
I am a lover of seafood. Especially expensive seafood. I order the scallops, lobster tail, or crab legs every time. My all-time favorite words on a sign may be "All You Can Eat Crab Legs." And you know I'll get my money's worth. Yummy.
However, my crab leg addiction doesn't jive with my frugal mentality. I just can't justify going out to eat every time I want to dip sea creatures in melted butter. So one day, I bought crab legs at the grocery store. They were on sale, and I was curious. I'm a passable cook, but I was nervous, because I figured delicious crab legs would be almost impossible to imitate at home. Imagine my surprise (and delight!) when I found out exactly how easy it is to make crab legs in the comfort of my own home. Where no one except my husband judges me for how messy I get when I eat them.
Note: In my house, unless it's for dinner in the next day or so, in the freezer it goes! My favorite foods are those that can go straight from freezer to heat source to table. Enter crab legs, which are an excellent food for the lazy (Hello! It's me. Nice to meet you.) or beginner cook.
Recipe (if you can call it that) source:
Ingredients:
Crab legs (bought on sale, of course)
Butter for melting and dipping*
Instructions:
Boil a large (very large) pot of water
Drop in crab legs
Cook for 8-10 minutes
Drain
Melt butter in the oven or microwave according to your preference.
Serve. Try not to burn your fingers on the hot, buttery goodness.
That's it. The only downside to crab legs at home is that you have to clean up the mess you make when you're finished, unlike at a restaurant where you can just wipe your mouth and leave.
*While I will use cheap butter for things like bagels, I prefer Kerry Gold grass-fed butter for dipping and cooking meat. (And eating while I cook -- no shame.) You really can taste the difference.
I am a lover of seafood. Especially expensive seafood. I order the scallops, lobster tail, or crab legs every time. My all-time favorite words on a sign may be "All You Can Eat Crab Legs." And you know I'll get my money's worth. Yummy.
However, my crab leg addiction doesn't jive with my frugal mentality. I just can't justify going out to eat every time I want to dip sea creatures in melted butter. So one day, I bought crab legs at the grocery store. They were on sale, and I was curious. I'm a passable cook, but I was nervous, because I figured delicious crab legs would be almost impossible to imitate at home. Imagine my surprise (and delight!) when I found out exactly how easy it is to make crab legs in the comfort of my own home. Where no one except my husband judges me for how messy I get when I eat them.
Note: In my house, unless it's for dinner in the next day or so, in the freezer it goes! My favorite foods are those that can go straight from freezer to heat source to table. Enter crab legs, which are an excellent food for the lazy (Hello! It's me. Nice to meet you.) or beginner cook.
Recipe (if you can call it that) source:
Ingredients:
Crab legs (bought on sale, of course)
Butter for melting and dipping*
Instructions:
Boil a large (very large) pot of water
Drop in crab legs
Cook for 8-10 minutes
Drain
Melt butter in the oven or microwave according to your preference.
Serve. Try not to burn your fingers on the hot, buttery goodness.
That's it. The only downside to crab legs at home is that you have to clean up the mess you make when you're finished, unlike at a restaurant where you can just wipe your mouth and leave.
*While I will use cheap butter for things like bagels, I prefer Kerry Gold grass-fed butter for dipping and cooking meat. (And eating while I cook -- no shame.) You really can taste the difference.
What I Would Buy at Kroger: May 25-31
Kroger's Weekly Ad deals start on Wednesdays! For the full ad, you can go to kroger.com. Other bloggers such as Southern Savers also post the full ad in various formats.
Here're what I consider to be great real food deals this week at Kroger:
Crab legs $4.99/lb
Here're what I consider to be great real food deals this week at Kroger:
Crab legs $4.99/lb
Pork Boston butt $0.99/lb
Heritage Farm chicken leg quarters $0.49/lb
Atlantic salmon fillets $4.99/lb
Mangoes 4 for $5
Blackberries 2 for $5
Peaches for $0.99/lb
Let me know if you've seen these items cheaper elsewhere!
Edited on 5/25/16:
Rebates and other earning opportunities at Kroger this week:
Let me know if you've seen these items cheaper elsewhere!
Edited on 5/25/16:
Rebates and other earning opportunities at Kroger this week:
- Coke and Canada Dry products are 4/$11 at Kroger this week. This is my "buying point" (i.e. the most I will pay for a product). On Ibotta (referral link), there is a $0.25 rebate for any brand of soda.
- Hamburger buns are 10/$10. Ibotta has a rebate for $0.25 on hamburger buns.
- Other notable Ibotta rebates for Kroger:
- $0.25 back on any brand of baby food
- $0.25 back on potatoes, red bell peppers, loose apples, onions, broccoli, oranges, and brussels sprouts
- $0.25 back on any brand of bacon
- $0.25 back on any brand of eggs
- $0.25 back on any brand of bread
- $0.25 back on any brand of ketchup
- $0.25 back on any brand of ice cream
Welcome and About Me
First of all, I want to welcome you to my newest endeavor. I am excited about putting one of my skills (being frugal almost to a fault) to good use.
Here is a little about me and what you can expect from this blog:
I have heard from many of you that meal planning and saving money on groceries is time-consuming and generally just a drag. Let me help you with that!
My grocery shopping philosophy is this:
Buy in bulk when it's on sale and freeze. Meal plan around sales and what's in season. Only buy what you need.
(I would love it if you would fill out a 6-question survey to help me tailor my content to your needs.)
Here is a little about me and what you can expect from this blog:
- I am married to a health nut. We eat mostly low-carb foods. For this reason, you will not find very much information here on how to save on packaged foods. However, I consider myself very frugal when it comes to fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood, so expect a lot of information about these foods!
- I am a mom and a nurse who works full-time. This is why a lot of my recipes and tips are for people who don't have all the time in the world to shop at 6 different grocery stores to find the best deals. My recipes tend to be quick or employ the crockpot.
- I am a picky eater attempting to expand her horizons. I would expect a lot of the recipes I feature to be hits with kids because I'm basically a 7-year-old trapped in an adult's body. If I could eat dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets every day, I totally would.
- I am located in Athens, Georgia. This means that the circulars from which I am posting deals pertain to the Southeast and the Metro Atlanta area.
I have heard from many of you that meal planning and saving money on groceries is time-consuming and generally just a drag. Let me help you with that!
My grocery shopping philosophy is this:
Buy in bulk when it's on sale and freeze. Meal plan around sales and what's in season. Only buy what you need.
(I would love it if you would fill out a 6-question survey to help me tailor my content to your needs.)
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