I'm Competitive, Even When I Shop For Groceries
January 07, 2011
This week I created my first menu of 2011, which I'm entirely afraid is going to look like every other menu I make this year, each breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Now, I should tell you that there's a service that will do this for you - Jenny pointed me toward e-mealz.com - but I actually enjoy going through my weekly newspaper grocery circulars, so I thought I should take a stab at doing it myself before paying someone else to do it for me. Even if the service is only $1.25/week. But! But that is per store, and I like to take advantage of competitive pricing that Wal-Mart and Target offer - which means they'll match any current advertised price. My method is a bit painstaking, and I may not save as much money as my time is worth for the effort, but it's fun for me and I am saving some money, so I keep doing it. This week's trip to the store saved me about $15 in competitive pricing, which I think is fun. If I save $15/week the entire year, that's $780 annually! And just imagine how much more I'll save when I find where Rayah hid my coupon book!
So this is what I do:
1. I arm myself with a Sharpie and every local grocery circular that comes in our newspaper - Kroger, Tom Thumb, (Wal-Mart and Target if they're available), Sprouts (my favorite!), Aldi, Fiesta, and Albertsons. (Dallas/Fort Worth area)
2. I circle everything that I think is a good deal, and only the things that our family actually uses.
3. After I've gone through every circular, I make a detailed grocery list including the item name, restrictions (such as 4.6 oz or larger), advertised price, and grocery store.
4. From that grocery list, I create a menu for the week. I take this extra step for two reasons: (a) to ensure I'm not buying things we won't use, and (b) so I don't end up standing in front of the fridge every night, staring into space, wondering what I'm going to cook.
And then I go grocery shopping! Now, to use the competitive pricing method you actually have to take the circulars to the store with you, which is why it's helpful to write down the price and store on your grocery list - it makes separating the items from your cart to the conveyor belt less painful, and helps you stay organized and on budget when reducing prices at the cash register. It also helps if you find a knowledgeable cashier and go through the same line each week. Because if you find one of these gems, she'll admit to you she does the same thing on her lunch break and has many price items memorized, so you don't have to use your circulars as much. And when you buy a 3-pound bag of Cuties clementines for $3.75, and forgot to note that another store had it for $2.99, she'll make the adjustment for you just because she's awesome.
I posted my first menu earlier this week. If you have menu ideas to share with me, *especially* side veggies, please do. I'm painfully uncreative in the vegetable department, and my family could use some help! What are your favorites to serve, or recipes to share?
Comments
The only tip I have is that frozen vegetables that you steam in the microwave are the ones that retain the most nutrition, more than canned or fresh. Which is a score for our family because I can serve vegetables almost every night and it takes no more time than to just punch, "430" into my microwave. And Bird's Eye have been rated the best brand. Now if you're buying vegetables from a local farmer's market that might be different. But the last time I bought fruit that way I found grocery store stickers on some of them, making me think they bought their fruit from a grocer, removed (most of) the stickers, and sold it at a premium price at the market - rip off. But I don't suppose everyone is as gullible as me. That's all I got.
Posted by: Erica | January 7, 2011 10:34 AM
Very Helpful Article. Thanks! I keep a diary and I found a way to get prices online. I heard about a new site at Church. www.mygroceryspy.com It compares prices at the top stores here in Atlanta. From what I’ve read, it updates twice a week and shows where the lowest prices are on a few hundred items. You can print out your shopping list or have it sent to your phone. (I’m not savvy enough for that though). I email them since their not up yet, and they told me they will be up in January in Atlanta and Birmingham AL. then other cities. I can’t wait to try it.
Posted by: Jazzy L | January 7, 2011 11:04 AM
Erica - I usually buy fresh fruit at the store, and frozen veggies that I steam on the stove. Sounds like we're on similar veggie plans. :)
Jazzy - I've never heard of mygroceryspy.com - I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the tip!
Posted by: Chirky | January 7, 2011 12:16 PM
I liked E-Mealz at first but now I am on the fence because I get the Vegetarian plan and they keep giving me nothing but Mexican food and I can ONLY EAT SO MANY BURRITOS, PEOPLE! Burnout.
I heard something about those sites that compare stores prices too but I can't ever remember the names of all the different sites.
I second the frozen veggies idea. I have this plastic vegetable steamer thing from Pampered Chef that goes in the microwave, you just add water to it and it steams them. Asher likes veggies that way!
Posted by: Jenny B | January 7, 2011 01:09 PM
Frozen veggies are the way to go. If you buy them in bulk - 5 lb bags - you can still steam them in the microwave with Glad steamer bags (I re-use them by the way, just rinse 'em out and let 'em dry!). Best way to serve whole grean beans, whether fresh or frozen (Sorry - can't use canned for this recipe. Bleck!) is Julia Childs style. My dad found this recipe in one of her cookbooks years ago:
Steam your green beans, or put them in boiling water until tender-crisp (5-7 mins). Drain all water off and toss with a tablespoon or two of butter or olive oil. Season with a sprinkle of garlic and onion powder - much like you would use salt. Add kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Then, just before you serve them (while they're not too hot, so the cheese doesn't clump) sprinkle a generous amount of grated parmesan cheese and toss your green beans in them to lightly coat. I would say use a couple of tablespoons to cheese, depending on how many beans you're preparing. Keep tasting them until it's good to you.
This is a family favorite. We've been known to eat them out of the pot with our fingers with my dad when mom wasn't home. It's often requested and we've never gotten tired of it.
Posted by: Bekah | January 7, 2011 01:20 PM
Jenny - yeah, I would get tired of burritos after a while, too. I don't know many vegetarian or vegan recipes, but I wish that I did - I'm stuck on repeat with the ones I do know/like!
Bekah - Thank you for sharing that recipe, sounds delicious! I'm making green beans tonight, and I'll try it. Yay!!
Posted by: Chirky | January 7, 2011 01:55 PM