We have to be honest. The last few weeks we have not done a regular shopping trip due to the holidays and the hustle and bustle. We just haven’t looked at most of our grocery coupons for a while. Thankfully, for our stockpile at home from food on the shelf, fridge and freezers, we can go a few weeks without a real shopping trip.
We are getting back into the swing of things and back to normal life – but it is taking us time. 🙂 With that in mind, we had to do something that we warn against – running to the store to just get milk.
Is running to the store to just get milk the real danger we warn against?! Well no, of course not. But the idea that “I went in to just get milk and came out with everything except the kitchen sink” story will destroy a grocery budget faster than anything. It is that impulse buying, the this-sounds-good-too thoughts that has just “budget danger” written all over it.
However, this time it worked in our favor. We have ran to the store just for milk a couple of times the last few weeks. We stay on a one track mind and one goal in mind – JUST MILK, with two exceptions. I do allow myself two places to wander during my quick trips – the produce section for discounted markdowns (we LOVE produce for cheap – we hit the jackpot on this one) and the clearance section for new items. When I came home, Cassie and I were doing backflips – here’s why!
- 4 gal milk marked down to $0.99 (on sale for $2.48) – $1.49 each savings – $5.96 total savings
- 3 16 oz. organic baby spinach marked down to $1.99 (normally $4.99) – $3 each savings – $9 total savings
- 1 16 oz. baby spinach (not organic) marked down to $1.99 (normally $3.99) – $2 each savings – $2 total savings
- 3 organic Romaine heart leaves marked down to $1.49 (normally $2.99) – $1.50 each savings – $4.50 total savings
- 2 organic baby Italian style mix marked down to $1.49 (normally $2.99) – $1.50 each savings – $3 total savings
After all is said and done, we paid $19.37 instead of $43.83 and saved 56% – and on mostly organic products! Not bad for a quick trip to the store for milk! 🙂
alison
Do you (or how do you) freeze the greens so they keep?
amy
I’ve never tried to freeze lettuce…we just eat it fresh, but i do freeze spinach a lot and use it in sauces or soups to boost my family’s nutrition. If you have a pan with a pasta insert or steaming basket, just place a little water in the main pan, bring to a boil and then place the basket or pasta insert into the pan. Fill with spinach and let wilt with a lid on. It doesn’t take long and sometimes you need to use some tongs to wilt the middle of the pile. Just flip it around in the pan and replace the lid. If you don’t have a pan like this you can use a large saucepan, but the spinach and water will be in the same space which adds liquid to your spinach. Cool and place in freezer bags.
Mama's Frugal Finds
WOW! $0.99 for MILK! Here in the North East it can cost as much as $6 per gallon!