Barganista Blog

Lesson 5: Garage Sale Tips and Tricks

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:11:14 GMT

A 12-Month Series by Guest Blogger Julia Wessels, from The Frugal Find

It’s that time of year again: it’s Garage Sale Season! Yes it's a season, look... Fall, Winter, Spring, Garage-Saling, and Summer. See? I told you!

I absolutely LOVE to go out on a Saturday morning and hit multiple garage sales. It’s a fun hobby, but it’s also a frugal way that I provide for my family. If there is something that we need, say clothes for the kids, a griddle, a printer, a patio table, etc., it goes on my Garage Sale Hunting List. We have envelopes for these expenses already budgeted, so I figure out the funds and plan my trip.

Here are a just a few tips to make the experience worthwhile…

1. Have a plan. I use the iGarageSale app on my iPhone to help me along the way, but beforehand I search Craigslist and the newspaper for ads that look like they may have a few of the items I’m looking for. I gather the address and add them to my GPS, optimizing them so that I’m not driving back and forth across town.

2. Have a budget. Bring a certain amount of cash and leave the rest at home. You’re much less likely to overspend if you simply don’t have a way to do so.

3. Show up on time, but not early. I like to get to a garage that I know has something I want on-time, but if you're there early you risk being annoying. If you annoy the seller, they're less likely to want to bargain with you. Plus it's just rude, they had to roll out of bed much earlier than usual on a Saturday morning and they're probably feeling a bit stressed as it is.

4. Practice negotiating. People that are selling the items you’re shopping for consider much of it “junk” and that works to your advantage. Many times I’ve been blown away by what people consider junk because to me it’s a treasure! With that said, always ask if they’ll take less. More times than not they will. Now don’t undercut them to the point of insulting them, but it is a garage sale and bargaining is the game.

5. Be prepared. Pack a snack, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lots of water – but not too much because you’ll have to find a restroom!

What are some of your best Garage Sale tips? Let's talk selling and shopping!

Fan Fiesta Sweepstakes!

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:13:11 GMT

We're happy to announce our Fan Fiesta Sweepstakes, where you can enter to win a 2012 Ford Fiesta and several other great prizes! Celebrate with us by entering our contest—click here to get started:

Enter Fan Fiesta Contest!

Lesson 4: Tax Refunds Are Not a Good Savings Plan

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:15:23 GMT

A 12-Month Series by Guest Blogger Julia Wessels, from The Frugal Find
April 15th is just around the corner and it’s time to tackle the topic of taxes. Every year around this time, Americans look forward to a large chunk of change coming their way in the form of a tax return. Now if this was free money, I could understand why everyone gets so excited. However this isn't free money at all—it's money you've earned in your hourly wage all year long that you've essentially loaned to the government. The numbers below should be proof enough. This isn’t a new concept, but it’s one that many Americans don’t understand or choose not to adapt into their lives.

In 2010, the average Tax Refund was $2,869. So if you work 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year you're basically taking a $1.34 per hour pay cut. You know what that means don’t you? It means that the average American loaned the government (interest free) close to $3,000 each last year.

Maybe you didn’t know that you could keep that money in your pocket each month instead. Would you turn down an extra $240 per month? Personally, for our family we’ve NEVER received a Tax Refund instead we’ve always had the extra cash in our bank each month—and trust me we needed it and found a way to use it. All you have to do is claim the correct number of deductions on your W4 form. Just ask your employer to change it based on the calculations you’ve made here or have figured out with your tax consultant based on your family's situation.

Maybe in your case you’re financially stable and you don’t need that $240 per month (likely not the case for the average American) but if that IS you, have you considered investing that money?

Here are 3 different things you could do with your a $240 per month income:

1. If you continued to loan the government $2,869 per month for 10 years at the end of 10 years (if you didn’t spend a penny of your tax return) you’d have $28,690. If you’ve been doing this since you were 30 until you retired at age 65, you’d have $100,415.00.

2. If you invested the $240 per month for 10 years in a slow growth mutual fund with a 10% return at the end of the 10 years you’d have $50,296.92 – a much prettier number than the interest free loan you’ve been giving the government. If you’re 30 years old today and you did this until retirement at age 65 you would have $855,325.80 in your account. You can run the numbers using a Compound Interest Calculator.

Let’s put the numbers side by side here…
Loan the Gov’t - $2,869 X 35 years = $100,415.00
Invest the $$$ - $2,869 X 35 years = $855,325.80

Maybe you’re thinking “I don’t get anywhere near that amount”. Let’s say you get $480 at the end of the year – if you invested that $40 per month ($480 per year) at the end of 35 years you’d have $153,131.07 or $18,200 if you continued to loan it to the government.

3. If you have ANY amount of debt (and this is a no brainer), that $240 should go to pay down your debt. Let’s say you’re sitting on $15,000 worth of car loans or credit card debt at an interest rate of 16.86% (average American credit card interest rate). Just guessing here, but I’d venture to say this person is already paying $300/month towards the debt on the low end. At this rate they would have their debt payed off in 6 1/2 years and paid $10,000.00 in interest! INSTEAD, if they put the extra $240 towards debt along with the $300 they’re already paying they’d have their debt payed off in just under 3 years and paid only $4,100 in interest. You can run the numbers using an Amortization Calculator.

Let’s put the numbers side by side here…
Debt of $15,000 @ 16.89% = 80 months (6.5 years) + $10,092.22 in interest paid
Debt of $15,000 @ 16.895 = 35 months (3 years) + $4,100 in interest paid

I know this can be a bit overwhelming, but this simple fact is that it is YOUR money, you’re working every day to earn each and every one of those dollars. Take charge of your finances and put the ball back into your court!

Cooking with Wine

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:47:59 GMT

With our wine sale earlier this month, you probably have a bunch of bottles stocked up. Inevitably, there’s half a bottle lying around after dinner that you cork back up and then forget about, and before you realize it, it’s turned to vinegar. Such a waste!

The great news is that there’s a simple way to use up leftover wine—cooking! You can up the Wow Factor of any dish by adding a little bit of wine to the recipe, which saves you money and cuts down on waste.

Here are some ideas on how to add wine to your cooking:

Add wine to your marinade. The acid in the marinade will help the meat absorb the flavor of the wine.
Replace some of the water, vinegar, broth, or fruit juice in a recipe with wine for a richer, fuller flavor.
Use a little bit to add flavor to soups, stews, gravy, and hearty dishes.
Make sangria! Add chopped fruit and a little sugar and you have the perfect summer beverage.
Mix with oil and spices to baste turkey, roasts, or braise vegetables.
Make a pan sauce using the juices from the meat, some wine, and some spices. Perfect for sautéed or browned meats.
Create a classic French dish like Coq au Vin. Julia Child’s classic recipe is worth a try: Coq au Vin Recipe

The rule of thumb is to pair red wine with heartier fare, and white wine with lighter dishes. But we say experiment! Your palate is what’s most important. Try a bunch of things and find out what works best for you. Always consult the recipe if you’re cooking with wine—the author may have had a specific flavor profile in mind and has done the legwork ahead of time.

What do you like to drink with different foods?

Lesson 3: Dumping Debt By Doing it Yourself

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:54:27 GMT

A 12-Month Series by Guest Blogger Julia Wessels, from The Frugal Find

One of the #1 ways to save money is to become debt-free. I know that isn't a common way of thinking for most Americans, but I believe it's 100% doable. I'm speaking mainly of consumer debt, student loans, car loans, etc. I understand that in most areas of the country dropping a few hundred thousand dollars to buy a house outright isn't feasible. If, however, you'd like to pay down debt, you may want to follow my new series over on The Frugal Find called Debt Free in 52.

Here are just a few tips that will help you to dump debt this year...

Can it be MADE from scratch for less?

Paying retail is already out of the question for those of you who are dumping debt, but even with coupons there are some household necessities that can be made cheaper from basic ingredients. I wanted to revisit the various posts we’ve written in the past about DIY household products and Cooking from Scratch recipes such as…
1. Homemade Dog Food Recipe
2. Frugal DIY: Turn Your Magazines into Christmas Bows!
3. Homemade PB&J and Grilled Cheese Uncrustables
4. Homemade Liquid Fabric Softener
5. Homemade Granola Bars
6. Freezer ‘BRC’ Beans, Rice, and Cheese Burritos
7. Homemade All Purpose Cleaner
8. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
9. Homemade Laundry Detergent
10. Homemade Strawberry Jam

As you can see many of the things we buy can be made for just pennies on the dollar, especially when you find a deal on your ingredients at Grocery Outlet!

Can you FIX it yourself?

Chances are there is something in your life that needs to be fixed, tangibly speaking. I could start a pretty good list myself from the back hatch of our Sequoia that doesn’t open any longer, the 2 small holes in our walls, the small tear on our couch, and on and on. I’m sure several things will quickly come to mind for you as well. When you’re on a budget and paying down debt the last thing you want to do is hire out help for things you could do yourself. I say this within reason—if your husband is working 10+ hour days making a decent wage and the lawn needs to be mowed, paying a local teenager $10 every couple of weeks to get the job done can be a worthy investment.

However, there are very likely tasks that you’ve been putting off for one reason or another. Maybe it’s too technical for you, such as a computer issue or a check engine light in your car? YouTube, Google, and your neighbors are a good place to start when you haven’t a clue where to begin. It’s very likely someone, somewhere, has had the same issue you’re having. In most situations, labor is the most costly expense there is: parts are minimal and elbow grease is free. So the next time you have a broken this or that, consider repairing it yourself – you might find it wasn’t all you thought it would be.

Here’s what I have learned from just doing it ourselves:
1. It’s never as hard as we imagined.
2. It’s never quite as time consuming as we thought.
3. It’s never as costly as we expected.
4. The gratification that comes from a job done with our own hands – priceless!

Bargain TV: Wine Sale Reviews

admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:10:25 GMT

Wow! 20% off every bottle in the store! It only happens twice a year and the time is now. Watch this week's Bargain TV as Christopher reviews just 3 of the hundreds of different wines available at our Big Wine Event.

So, thoughts on Chris's beard? Or your favorite wine? Leave a comment and let us know!

Semi-Annual Wine Sale!

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:25:41 GMT

Starting tomorrow, March 7th, wine is 20% off at Grocery Outlet! For 5 days only, from March 7th-11th, all wine company-wide is 20% off. With this discount added to Grocery Outlet’s everyday low prices, you can save from 40-70% off what you’d pay conventionally. Come in and stock up!

And here are some tasting notes on some great wines we currently have in stock to give you some ideas on what to get during the sale:

The 2008 Renwood “Red Label” Barbera displays aromas of black currant and cola. On the palate, the wine has more tannin than we normally see in a Barbera, with a smooth core of dark fruit flavors, and crisp acidity—this varietal’s signature trait. A finish that lingers, with flavors of plum and cassis, balances the wine.
Grocery Outlet price: $3.99
With 20% off discount: $3.19
Save $5.80—65% off the retail price!

The Bixler Vineyards Union Island Red Table Wine exhibits rich, ripe, forward fruit, with flavors of ripe cherries, plums and berries, with a hint of French oak. This hearty wine is very approachable, pairing nicely with most any grilled red meat, sausages, winter stews or soups, pizza or marinara pasta dishes.
Grocery Outlet price: $2.99
With 20% off discount: $2.39
You save $7.60—76% off the retail price!

The Bixler Vineyards Union Island White Table Wine smells of citrus, with rich, ripe fruit and flavors of grapefruit and a hint of banana. No oak was used during aging, allowing the ripe fruit to be fully expressed in the finished wine. This white wine blend will complement grilled chicken, pasta with pesto or white sauce, or any fish dish.
Grocery Outlet price: $2.99
With 20% off discount: $2.39
You save $7.60—76% off the retail price!

If you’re a chocolate lover, the best wine to drink with chocolate is chocolate wine! Recommended by The Seattle Times, Chocolate Shop Red Wine is a deep, ruby red wine blended with rich, velvety chocolate. Inviting aromas of black cherry and dark chocolate combine in the glass and continue on the palate surrounded by hints of cocoa powder.
Grocery Outlet price: $9.99
With 20% off discount: $7.99
You save $7—47% off the retail price!

Bargain TV: Frozen Food Month!

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:23:19 GMT

March is National Frozen Food Month and Grocery Outlet is celebrating in a big way with spectacular deals! Get a peek "behind the curtain" as Christopher tours the cold distribution facility that all frozen food and deli items are received and delivered fresh to our stores.

If you were an ice sculptor, what would you sculpt? Do you ever get nosicles? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Bargain TV: What to Get your Valentine

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:35:00 GMT

This Valentine's Day, we've got you covered at Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. Let Christopher show you all of the great deals that you can pick up for your sweetheart without causing heartache for your wallet!

What are you planning for your valentine? What's the best valentine you've ever received?

Assignment time: what's your favorite chick flick? Leave a comment and let us know.

Lesson 2: The Cash Only Diet

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:39:51 GMT

A 12-Month Series by Guest Blogger Julia Wessels, from The Frugal Find

I'd like to talk today about the "Envelope Budget" or the cash-only method. I'd like to suggest that you'll actually save money every month by using cash. Seems like a contradiction right? I’m suggesting that by spending CASH (note – not debit, credit cards, or checks) but hard cold CASH, you’ll actually SAVE money! We are a cash-only family – simply put if you can pay cash for it, you should. I know at first it might sound crazy, you might think if I have cash I will just blow it! However, I think quickly you will see just the opposite happen. You will begin to ask yourself, do we really need this? You will find yourself meal planning. You will find yourself with money at the end of the month.

“When you pay cash, you can “feel” the money leaving you. This is not true with credit cards. Flipping a credit card up on a counter registers nothing emotionally. A study of credit card use at McDonald’s found that people spent 47% more when using credit instead of cash. This is money you could have saved!” – Dave Ramsey

We do not pay cash for any bill that can be paid through our online bill pay, and I highly suggest online bill pay – it’s free and you’ll never incur a late payment again. We get our cash out each week and divide it up between our envelopes, some of them accrue while other are spent each week.

For example, our Car Registration envelope accumulates while our Grocery Envelope is spent in full each week. The difference is that you do not want or need for your Grocery Envelope to have excess, it is not a “savings account”—if you have extra money in there every week, I’d bet that there's another category that could use a little bump up or, if you’re working on paying down debt, it should absolutely go there first.

Hopefully these steps will help you to understand the process...
Step 1 – Define your categories. What can you possibly pay for cash with? One key here is to only include categories for things that you can’t pay online or through an invoice or bill. Anything that doesn’t come as a bill in the mail is probably a good candidate for cash.

Here's a list of our envelopes. You may notice that we do not have an envelope for gas. It’s not that we don’t have it budgeted; it’s because I don’t want to leave the kids in the car while I go into the gas station to pay the attendant. We use our debit card for this expense. You’ll need to figure out what best fits your family's needs.

ENVELOPES
1. Groceries
2. Toiletries
3. Clothes
4. Gifts (Birthdays, Christmas, etc)
5. Date Night
6. Eating Out
7. Spending Money
8. Car Maintenance
9. Kid’s Date
10. Kid’s Allowance
11. Trip Money
12. Car Maintenance
13. Car Registration
14. Hair Cuts
15. School Supplies/Events

Step 2 – Determine how much you spend in several categories per month, ie. groceries, toiletries, clothing, etc. Not while on a budget, but what you have spent on a regular basis. This make take some time, and you may have no idea because you haven’t kept any track at all so you may have to start this process now for the next 30 days. Now hold on to your seat, you’re going to be shocked.

Step 3 – Figure out how much you THINK you will NEED in each category. The key here is to be flexible, because it will change. It will change more than once, twice, and possibly even three times. Life is always changing and so will your budget. Another baby? Up goes the toiletry budget! Or maybe you just potty trained your 2 year old, well that saves $30 a month!

Step 4 – Get the cash! We go every week to withdraw our cash, it is easiest if you can keep it to an even $20 amount so you can go to the ATM machine at your bank, saves you a trip inside the bank. This has got to be the best part, it’s like playing a game of monopoly. Divide your cash, you may need to go into the bank every once in a while to get $5’s, $10’s, etc depending on your envelope amounts.

Step 5 - Start saving money! When the envelope is empty, that’s it, your money is gone and you CANNOT purchase anything in that category until the next envelope payday. But remember, the first couple of months you need to be flexible. Also, please remember to make your budget realistic, if you undercut yourself too much, you will give up. So that is why my family has an eating out budget, because the reality is, while we shouldn’t eat out, we do. We put $15 a week into our eating out budget, if we save it up we can go out to a sit down dinner, otherwise it gets us a pizza night once a week.

“Hey I just wanted to share with you that after starting the envelope system 3 months ago we have finally met budget AND we were able to UP-IT! Also my husband told me the other day that for the first time he doesn’t feel like we are living paycheck to paycheck. We are buying things dirt cheap before the real need for them hits. It has been a hard but wonderful journey. One I really didn’t think we could do! Thanks so much.” – Cassandra

That is just one of hundred’s of reader’s experiences. I’d LOVE to hear about yours in the comment section below. Do you use cash or an envelope budget system? What does it look like for your family?

See the first post in Julia's series here: Saving Money by Meal Planning.

Shaping and Toning All Over Town

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:34:38 GMT

Check out the latest from Chris as he strides all over town in his new Aspire Shaper sneakers (only $14.99 at Grocery Outlet!). These shoes use the same technology as Skechers Shape Ups to tone and firm your muscles as you walk.

Are you ready for the big game on Sunday? We have a bunch of super savings for your game time party!

What resolutions have you been able to keep? Or have you broken them? It's okay! Just leave a comment below to tell us how you're doing.

Cut Back on Food Waste

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:03:57 GMT

This weekend I finally cleaned out my fridge. It was scary.

In December we had the holidays, followed by the mad rush to get back into the normal swing of everyday life, and as a result, my refrigerator hadn't had a good going-over in quite some time. I lost a lot of food due to my negligence, and I'm sure I lost quite a bit of money to boot.

Food waste is a serious problem. As of 2011, it's estimated that 1.3 billion tons of food (about 1/3 of total worldwide food production) were lost. In developed countries like ours, most of that waste happens at the consumption stage, when the food has already reached the consumer.

I was pretty shocked at how much I had to throw in the compost bin and trash can, and it made me wonder how I might cut back on food waste in 2012.

My plan:

1. Plan my meals. It always feels like a hassle, but I just do better when I have a plan. It cuts down on shopping time, helps me eat healthier, and I know what's in my pantry and fridge so that fewer products go to waste.

2. Shop my kitchen first. Look at what you have around you before you spend. You might have the kitchen staple you've just put on your list, so check your fridge and your pantry before you head to the store.

3. Store produce properly. Tired of finding a drawer of wilted, slimy vegetables? Some fruits emit ethylene, an odorless, colorless gas that speeds ripening and can lead to the premature decay of nearby ethylene-sensitive vegetables. It's important to store foods that give off ethylene gas separately from those that are sensitive to it. Check out this guide for tips on how to store produce and when to eat it.

4. Use less-than-perfect produce to make stock. If you've never done this before, it's pretty easy and uses up any discarded vegetable bits you've got in your fridge. This website has several different stocks to make with instructions: Reluctant Gourmet.

5. Eat leftovers. When I put mine away now, I put them at the very front of the fridge at eye level. Sometimes I even write the date on the top of the box, so I know how long I have.

If I follow these rules, I should have a much more pleasant fridge, and less of my money and my food will end up in the scrap heap.

What about you? How do you reduce food waste? Share your ideas with us.

Saving Money by Meal Planning

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:54:35 GMT

A 12-Month Series by Guest Blogger Julia Wessels, from The Frugal Find

Saving Money by Meal Planning
I love that the New Year means new resolutions, new goals, and a fresh start! What I don't love is the feeling we get when I realize I've not kept up with my resolutions, and I find myself slacking big time. The simple fact is that often times we set ourselves up for failure from the get-go by taking on way too much all too quickly. I want to help you tackle saving money in the new year in a way that is managable and that will make a difference to your bottom line when 2013 rolls around.

I'd encourage you to break up your resolutions and goals into bite size chunks, and spread them out over time. Statistics show that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. With this plan you'll add one new resolution to your plate each month of the year thus forming great habits all year long! Trust me - it's a lot less painful this way, and at the end of the year you'll be in much better shape financially, which will feel great! Today I'll share the money saving tip for January, and in the months to come we'll tackle topics such as budgeting, how to know when a sale is really a sale, when to stock up on a particular item, why you shouldn't treat your tax return like a savings plan, and much more!

This month I'd like to encourage you to tackle meal planning. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Basically, it is as simple as you make it. I try to sit down each week, usually on Saturday or Sunday with the store ads to see what is on sale, then I make my meal plan based on these deals. Of course I use whatever I have in my pantry and freezer first then buy as needed the extras. Also, if there is something I see that is a “stockpile price,” I will add that to my list for future week’s meals plans.

Why Meal Plan?

It’s healthier. Meal planning allows you to think in advance about preparing a meal adding a key ingredient from each food group instead of throwing something together last minute that is maybe carb laden.

Saves money. If you go grocery shopping with a list, you will be more likely to avoid impulse purchases. Also it gives you the time to organize and sort your coupons BEFORE you shop.

Saves time. I can’t stress this enough. While it may seem tedious to sit down and plan out your meals for the week. It is much more time efficient than standing in front of the fridge or pantry blankly staring at the shelves of food, while you think “There is nothing in this house to eat!” Either you will just grab something out to eat, or you will end up making several small weekly trips to the grocery store to grab key ingredients that had you meal planned you would have already had on hand.

Tips for successful Meal Planning:

Use those leftovers! Plan it into your Meal Plan. I enjoy cooking, but the truth is at the end of the day sometimes I am just not in the mood or I am just plain tired. I try to plan ahead for these nights, if I know I will be working until 6 on Wednesday, I will plan a meal on Tuesday that can carry over. Or I will double up on cooking the ground beef the night before so we can use it in another meal.

From Love Food Hate Waste I found the following statistics:

Each DAY we waste…

1 Million Slices of Ham
1.3 Million Yogurts
7 Million Slices of Bread
5.1 Million Potatoes
1.6 Million Bananas
4.4 Million Apples
2.8 Million Tomatoes

Use Rice/Potatoes/Pasta as the base for your meal. If you can build the main part of your meal around a grain, you will save money and fill up on less. Use small amounts of meat, poultry, fish, or eggs. Of course I would suggest whole wheat grains to get the maximum nutritional value.

Plan snacks around nutritionally sound choices. This helps your budget because as we know, typically fruit, veggies, granola, etc enable your body to go longer stretches between meals as opposed to it’s sugar enemy – fruit snacks, candy, juice, etc. The denser the snack the more bang for your buck and almost always this is the cheaper option anyway!

Eat before you shop. Do not go grocery shopping when you are hungry. The best time to go is after you have had a good meal, or at least a snack to hold you over. When you are hungry, you are much more likely to pick up impulse purchases which can just throw your food budget out the window!

Let’s Practice.

Step 1: Make 3 Lists; Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Breakfast
Monday – Cereal, OJ, and Fruit
Tuesday – Oatmeal, Milk, and Toast
Wednesday – Scrambled Eggs and Toast, Milk or OJ
Thursday – Cereal, OJ and Fruit
Friday – Bagels & OJ
Saturday – French Toast and Sausage
Sunday – Cereal, OJ and Toast

Lunch
Monday – Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Tuesday – Tuna & Crackers/Sandwich, Fruit and Yogurt
Wednesday – Bean/Cheese Burritos with Chips & Salsa
Thursday – PB&J, Fruit, Pretzels and Yogurt
Friday – Macaroni & Cheese and Fruit
Saturday – Leftover Pizza
Sunday – Smorgasbord, what sounds good?!

Dinner
Monday - Lasagna, Corn and Garlic Bread
Tuesday - Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Pot Stickers and Chinese Fried Rice (make extra rice)
Wednesday – Chicken Enchiladas and Spanish Rice (using extra rice from Tuesday) (make extra chicken)
Thursday – Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches and Potato Salad (make extra)
Friday – Pizza (Eating Out)
Saturday - Hotdogs, Potato Salad and 5 Bean Salad
Sunday - Broiled Salmon, Brown Rice and Asparagus

Step 2: Prepare Ingredient List and head to your pantry & fridge. Cross things off as you find them or leave the ingredients on your list, you now have your shopping list! Make sure to pull out any coupons you have and put them all together in a place where you can find them easily.

Step 3: Go shopping and save! The best part is because you've planned ahead, without even trying you'll have saved money. You won't head to the store on a weeknight at 5 pm for a "few ingredients" and come home having spent $50 or worse. You're saving loads of time because everything you need is accessible when you need it, no more wasted trips to the store or to a restaurant for takeout.

Now, it's your turn. Please share your best meal planning tips. And resolve to save money in 2012!

Stocking Stuffer Savings

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:39:07 GMT

With all the festivities and shopping lists, we're all strapped for time and money during the holidays, and stockings are often overlooked until the last minute. Often, this means paying premium for those sock-sized items, and the stuffed stocking can end up costing more than the big gift. The Bargainistas at Grocery Outlet have some simple suggestions to help you save time and money and deliver stocking bliss.

Be Convenient. You don't need to make a special trip to a special store. Look for stocking stuffers at the places you normally frequent, like Grocery Outlet.

Be Sneaky. Sneak in some practical items like a toothbrush, socks, band-aids and school supplies. These are things you'll need to buy anyways, so you'll be stuffing two socks with one dollar. And, one less trip to the store when your kid needs new socks.

Be Consumable. If you're one of those parents that feels like all the little toys are overtaking your home, stuff those socks with consumable items, like their favorite candy, gum, fruit snacks and granola bars.

Be Thematic. Follow a theme for all the items. Have an art enthusiast? Fill the stocking with art supplies – markers, crayons, glue, and butcher paper rolled up. It will give you back a fridge door full of artwork to display.

Be Silly. Throw in a couple things that will make them laugh. Maybe a whoopie cushion or a pet rock.

Happy sock stuffing and Happy Holidays from everyone at Grocery Outlet!

Holiday Memories Worth a Fortune

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:39:58 GMT

The holiday season is a wonderful time to bring together families and friends, and celebrate the season with festive traditions, old and new. But it's also easy to get caught up in the holiday spending trap for the sake of making holiday memories. So this year, our Season of Sanity pledge inspired us to consider holiday merriment that won't break your budget. In fact, many of these fun and festive ideas are free!

Light Drive. Surprise your family or friends with a tour of the local holiday light displays. Put on some cozy pajamas, pack some cookies, then start driving. Don't forget the holiday tunes!

Seasonal Song. Bring back an old-time tradition with an evening of caroling. Dress in warm and festive attire and surprise your favorite neighbors with carols at their door. It will surely put a smile on their faces. And, you might be invited in for some hot cocoa and conversation!

Give Service. It will only cost you time, but you'll receive much more and lasting memories. Schedule time to visit a local shelter or food bank and lend a helping hand. Include the children to inspire the next generation of do-gooders.

Winter Wonderland. December 22nd marks the Winter Solstice this year, welcoming longer days of sunlight, and a day many cultures celebrate with winter festivals. Host your own winter wonderland celebration, even without snow outside. Build a paper snowman, make homemade ice cream and go ice gummy fishing in a bowl of ice!