The Astronomical Price of Strawberries

Okay, by now I am getting used to the cost of food rising everywhere, but when thing rise more than 100 percent in a single week, it can be a bit intimidating. Such is the case of strawberries here in my local town. Exactly two weeks ago, I did some shopping for produce at our local farmer’s market. The prices there aren’t the best I can get, but I always know that the food is fresh and in good shape. Having to throw out produce from our grocery store lately, I figure extra price is worth not having any waste. … Continue reading

What is the Dirty Dozen List?

One of my little frugal dreams is to one day walk into a store and see plump juice organic strawberries for very little cost. That dream may have a hard time being actualized, since organic strawberries, even when in season, can get expensive. Conventional strawberries, on the other hand, may be on sale or even available as a “loss leader,” an item that the store loses money on in the hopes of getting shoppers in the door. Still, it is a rare day when I buy conventional strawberries. They are just too high on the list of produce with the … Continue reading

Twice the Farmer’s Market

My wife and I recently took our son to a farmer’s market. It is often in these public situations that we really see our child shine. His personality seems to escape more easily from his body for some reason. We’d already kind of decided that he was a very sociable person but this trip only confirmed that even more. He’s a happy child and he enjoys other people. It was also really nice for my wife and I to get outdoors for an extended period of time with our son. The farmer’s market provided an interesting enough location with the … Continue reading

How to Deal with an Allergy in Marriage- Part 2

So, you’ve got an allergy or your pattern has. Allergies can be a problem when you eat out. We often come up against the problem when Mick and I go out. We often have to end up taking food for me to functions because it is not catered for. Recently at a party Mick stood guard over our gluten free sausages so they did not get mixed up with the others on the barbecue. And on Monday when we went out for Australia Day, lunch was provided for our choir but we learned the hard way the year before that … Continue reading

How to Deal with an Allergy in Marriage- Part 2

So, you’ve got an allergy or your pattern has. Allergies can be a problem when you eat out. We often come up against the problem when Mick and I go out. We often have to end up taking food for me to functions because it is not catered for. Recently at a party Mick stood guard over our gluten free sausages so they did not get mixed up with the others on the barbecue. And on Monday when we went out for Australia Day, lunch was provided for our choir but we learned the hard way the year before that … Continue reading

Five Little Grocery Shopping Tricks: The Limit Sale

Have you been wondering why your grocery bill seems to be increasing every month? Maybe it is because you don’t know about these five little grocery shopping tricks. Grocery stores often use different marketing techniques to get you to spend more than than you planned to spend. don’t be sucked in to the madness. Know ahead of time just what the store is trying to do so you would stay from your budget. In this series, I’ll go through the five little grocery shopping tricks and tell you all about them, including how to avoid having the store take advantage … Continue reading

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

Frugal Living Month in Review: July 2008

July went by so quickly for us! There were so many fun and frugal activities and events for us to explore, from a science camp to free movies and sand sculpting. I hope your July was equally fun and frugal. Summer is a busy time, I know. Did you miss any frugal articles last month? If so, here is an opportunity to catch up on what you missed. There are new ways to save money on food, clothing, kids, gas and more. Feel free to leave a comment on any frugal post. I read all of the comments myself, no … Continue reading

Six Reasons to Grocery Shop in the Morning 3

Just as the early bird catches the worm, the early grocery shopper can catch the best value for her money. We are in the home stretch now with this series that talks about the very real benefit of doing your grocery shopping in the morning. If you missed those earlier two posts, you can click here to catch up: Six Reasons to Grocery Shop in the Morning and Six Reasons to Grocery Shop in the Morning 2. Now, here are the last two reasons why you can positively affect your grocery bill by shopping early. 5. Have you checked out … Continue reading

Six Reasons to Grocery Shop in the Morning 2

The next time you get ready for your grocery shopping, also plan on getting up early, throwing on some clothes, grab a quick bite to eat and head out. Getting to the grocery store early can really save you some money on your food. We’ve already covered two ways this is true, now let’s explore some more. The early bird gets the best deals! 3. When you shop early in the morning, you don’t have to fight your way through the crowds. You won’t have to wait on a long line or say excuse me twenty times just to get … Continue reading