Pantry Check-In: Expiring in August!

An important part of stockpiling is to make sure your stockpile doesn't go to waste.  I try to keep my stockpile organized with the items that will expire soonest in front and with things like cereals I can manage to always keep on top of that chore.  Sometimes there are small odds and ends that get lost in the pantry and for that reason I like to do a monthly check-in where I poke around the pantry for a few minutes (maybe 15) and see what's lurking. 

These items will expire at some point in August.  I don't mind using some items that are slightly past date, but I prefer to not let it go too far out.  Since, I snapped this picture we have already used up the Chow Mein mixes and some of the popcorn. In order to ensure that we use up the rest before too, I've packed these soon to expire items together in the pantry.

They are now front and center to help me remember to use them first.

One more tip:  When doing my monthly pantry check I like to keep an eye out for items that are expiring in a few months and any items that seem to be untouched.  If our tastes, needs, or desires have changed and these foods will not likely get used up, now is the perfect time to pull them out to donate!

Recommended Reading: "That's Not Trash; That's Dinner"

"...the edible vegetable begins with the sprouts and does not end until the leaves, vines, tubers, shoots and seeds have given their all" 

Head on over and read the full article!

May 18th---Green Awareness for the Consumer---Port Ewen, NY

5/18/2011 6-9pm
Ulster Boces Adult Education Center
Port Ewen, NY 12466
845-331-5050

What does the word "green" mean for average consumer? This course will look at how you can maximize the energy efficiency of existing equipment and explore available options for more efficient systems for both fuel sources and water consumption. Learn how to reduce energy costs and explore "green" concepts from green heating to green plumbing. Free

Mexico Freeze = Increase in produce prices and decrease in supply

Freezing temperatures across a wide swath of Mexico the night of Feb. 3-4 could have a huge effect on supplies of tomatoes, peppers and other winter vegetables.

Love = Money

Photo Source

Americans spend about $14 billion on Valentine's candy, flowers, gifts and cards.  Women spend an average of $72 while men spend an average $135. 

Source: Family Circle Feb 2011

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

How do you stay on budget?

We celebrate by doing something together.  We cook a nice meal together, perhaps rent a movie and enjoy the time we have with each other.

Feb 2---Buying Local Foods Seminar-- Newburgh, NY

Wednesday, February 2 • 6:00 p.m.

Adams Farms- Newburgh

Route 300
845-569-0303

 

Buying Local Foods

with Debbie Decker

Debbie will show you some of her favorite locally produced foods available at Adams. Free samples!

I'd suggest calling ahead to confirm this has not been cancelled due to snow/ice.

Saturday, January 15th---Thrift Sale- Grahamsville, NY

Three Floors of Items!!!

9 a.m. Saturday, January 15th

United Methodist Church

356 Main Street

Grahamsville, NY 12740

Why I buy Organic Ketchup! and How you can Save even without Coupons!

Brand Name Ketchup $4.25

12c/oz

We recently ran out of Ketchup. We had been purchasing store brand Organic Ketchup at Hannaford for around $2/bottle.  When I stopped in to buy a new bottle, I found the price had gone up to 2.69, so I checked out the regular ketchup to see what ingredients differed.  I was expecting the same ingredients but organic vs non-organic.  I was SHOCKED to find the non-organic ketchup was all sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup.  We try and avoid HFCS, but it does occassionally slip into our house.  As I contemplated my options, images of my DD4 pouring disgusting syrup over her food flashed through my mind.  You see, she puts ketchup (loads of it) on everything she eats and that is TOO much HFCS for me to handle.  I stopped in to the local health food store in hopes of finding a bigger bottle that would make the cost per ounce a better deal.  What I found was more expensive ketchup.  I bought the best priced bottle for lack of wanting to run around town anymore.  The next week Stop & Shop ran a promo on their store brand Organics where you received $3 off your next order if you bought $15 in products.  I jumped at this opportunity, knowing there are rare opportunities for savings on organic ketchup!  So, after my careful research and a little over spending at the health food store, I managed to still work out a deal for ketchup without having to compromise on my standards!
Lessons:
1) Compromise where you can and stick to your guns where you feel it counts.
2) Recheck prices.  Hannaford had previously been the best deal, but even without the special promo, Stop & Shop now offers the best deal on this product. 
3)  Buying in bulk can save money, but be mindful of expiration dates!

                                                                 

8 bottles of Stop & Shop Store Brand

Organic Ketchup $2*8=$16

Received $3 ONYO

Final Cost = $13 or $1.63/bottle

8c/oz

You must go read this!

Jenn at FrugalUpstate is working on a series she calls the "Frugal Living Primer".

I've just finished reading her first post titled, "What is Frugal Living?". 

It is a must read for everyone! 

The Most Important Money Principle

This is an older post from Dave Ramsey's Myspace Blog that seems completely appropriate for this time of year when we are particularly prone to overspending and breaking the budget/bank.  As you fight the urge to go on a last minute shopping spree, bear these words in mind.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007



The Most Important Money Principle


The answer might surprise you.


When you understand this concept, all the other concepts work, and until you implement it, none of them will work. When you stick to this concept deep in your soul, it becomes easy to save money and even have money to invest. Getting out of debt happens quickly once you learn how to apply this concept in your life. Budgeting is made easier, and your marriage and relationships regarding money are freed up and made smooth.


Contentment. That's right, contentment.

Contentment brings peace, not apathy. Not the deadhead fog of Prozac or Valium. Only contentment brings peace. We live in the most marketed-to society, and the very essence of marketing is to disturb your peace. We say things to ourselves like, "I'll be happy when I get that house;" or "I'll be happy when I get that job." Or, or, or, or!


NOT TRUE. Happiness is sold to us as an event or a thing, and consequently, our finances have suffered. Fun can be bought, not happiness.


We live among a bunch of people who are deeply in debt and have no money saved because their emotions were tricked. You probably think I'm writing about someone else, but I'm not. I am writing about you. I know because I suffer from the same disease of "stuffitis" - but I am recovering and so are many of you. The human spirit was not created to attain peace, contentment, or fulfillment by gathering more stuff.


You can get out of debt, save money, and get on a budget, but until your intellect forces your emotions and your spirit to accept that stuff does not equal contentment, your money will always feel stressed. It's time to change your focus and your life for the better!

Here's another link to a Ramsey article on Holiday Spending!

WHAT WE DO TO SAVE, WHAT WE GAIN AND WHAT WE SACRIFICE

Saving money is so important for so very many of us. The ways we go about that can be as varied as the patterns in a patchwork quilt. My methods meet my needs at any given moment in time. Even my own needs can change on a daily basis.
When I first began my journey into the world of serious couponing, I felt I needed to get in on every good deal at every store in my area. I quickly realized that greats deals come back around and if I spend my days running from store to store and checking the internet for deals, I will have a house full of stuff and nothing more than that. I will be stuff rich for cheap and have neglected my family and other passions and callings in life. During that initial period of heavy deal seaking, I would go to sleep anxious about tomorrow's deals.
I now sleep soundly at night knowing that there will always be another deal.
While I have no plans on curbing my use of coupons, I do feel I have found a good balance in my life. I rarely spend more time shopping than in my pre-coupon days!

I intend to use this blog to explore great deals, but more than that to explore the many varied ways in which we can live a life within our means.