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Coping with the Grocery Shrink Ray

Did you know that your groceries may be shrinking? Yesterday, in Beware of the Grocery Shrink Ray, I talked about how many manufacturers are shrinking the amount of product in their packages, making them more expensive. This shrinkage, as I mentioned earlier, can also cause problems with recipes and meal planning. Here are some of the practices I do to cope with the shrink ray. Many packages are shrinking just in time for back to school. These include items, such as peanut butter, frozen waffles, etc. Harried parents need to pick up these items quickly to prepare for the hectic … Continue reading →

Beware of the Shrink Ray

Packages of food in grocery stores are shrinking faster than anything these days. In fact, the practice has escalated so much that a common term has developed among consumers, the “shrink ray effect.” Some manufacturers are using this idea to their advantage. I spotted one message on a recent bottle of Kraft salad dressing that proclaimed, “Still no shrinkage.” Manufacturers are not only raising prices, but they are also shrinking the amount of product that gets put into the package. I’ll discuss the products I have most frequently seen that suffer from the shrink ray. Later, I’ll address some ideas … Continue reading →

The Grocery Report

After being absent from the grocery store for about three weeks, we had a grocery shopping trip today. Although I know that food prices are rising, I was still shocked by how much some things cost. Other items stayed close to their previous prices, although the amount of the product shrunk. Here is a comparison of price changes on items that I found in one store in the span of those three weeks. The pricing may shock you. The first place I examine prices was in the baking aisle. I was in there anyway, picking up some cornstarch and baking … Continue reading →

Families.com Homeschooling Blog Week In Review

This has been a fun week for at the families.com homeschooling blog. I returned to families.com after a long absence and was welcomed back with open arms by Valorie Delp who will still guest blog for families.com as she has time. Meanwhile she is busy with the baby blog and food blog. I have wasted no time jumping back into my work as the homeschool blogger. Sunday 09 Mar 2008 Edventures Online by Valorie Delp This is one of the best kept secrets of the kid-friendly website world. It is a subscription service, but I have to say I think … Continue reading →

Shopping the 10 for $10 Sales

It seems that all of the grocery stores around here are running a lot of multiple unit specials, such as 10 items for $10, or 6 items for $8, etc. Sometimes you can get some good deals with these sales. but unfortunately, most of the time you can get taken. Often, the sale price of the 10 for $10 is more than the item is without a sale! And even if the price is less with the deal, chances are that you can find the item in a better sale or find a generic version of the product for a … Continue reading →

Save Money on Butter

Butter can be one of the most expensive staples in the refrigerator. we tend to use a lot of butter in our household, so much so that we have labeled ourselves the “Buttertons,” just as in that margarine commercial. We eat pretty healthy elsewhere and are of a good weight, so I am not yet too concerned about the extra fat and calories of butter. I am concerned, however, at the increasing cost of butter. So here are some ways I am trying to save on butter. The first and most obvious way to save on butter is to use … Continue reading →

Tips for a Frugal Thanksgiving

Serve a vegetarian meal. The cost of meat is usually a big part of any meal, whether you serve the traditionally turkey or a ham or both. My Italian family always served a lasagna for Thanksgiving, and it was a long time before I ever knew that a Turkey was the traditional main course. When hosting a family Thanksgiving get together, ask the relatives and guests to contribute to the meal by bringing a dish. You can assign dishes ahead of time. There are two ways of doing this. You can ask your sister to bring a “green vegetable,” or … Continue reading →

Save 50 Percent on Meat, Fish and Poultry

Here is a special secret for saving as much as 50 percent on meat, fish and poultry at the grocery store. Meat seems to be one of those foods that just seems to go up in price by the month. Incorporating meat-less meals into your diet is one way to save on the cost of it all. But unless the members of your family are ready to become vegetarians, you still want to be able to provide them with meals that contain meat, and fish and poultry. One strategy is to wait for the buy one get one free sales. … Continue reading →

3 Meals that Feed Your Family for $1.50 or Less

Yes, you can actually feed a family of four or more for $1.50 or less. Keep these meals in mind during emergency times or add them to you regular meal planning. Here are three meals that will cost just pennies to create. They are completely flexible. These aren’t recipes, per se, but meal ideas that you can adapt to fit your family and what you have available. I didn’t count in the cost of drinks, since we usually just have water, which is free or sometimes milk, which can add to the cost of the meal. With these meals, you … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Week in Review: October 8th Through October 14th

Are you ready for Halloween? Nicole has posted a bunch of Halloween articles that will help with your planning. For the more day to day, check out info on milk prices and school lunches. And, can you adopt the philosophy to “buy nothing?” This and other interesting articles are all here for you in the Frugal Living Week in Review: October 8th Through October 14th. October 8th Frugal Living Week in Review: October 1st Through October 7th This has been a weird week here in Pennsylvania. The weather can’t seem to make up its mind whether it wants to be … Continue reading →