Keeping A Price Book

How a Price Books saves money:
This works on the bulk buying principle.  When you find the very best price you can, you buy in bulk to "lock in" that price for yourself for as long as that price lasts you. For example, a few weeks ago Hy-Vee had a sale on shredded cheese, $1.00 per 8 oz. package. This was really a HELL of a deal, as I regularly pay $1.99 for 8oz of cheese at Aldi or on sale other places. I have payed upwards of $2.49 for 8oz of cheese when I was in a pinch and needed it right away for an event.

I bought TWELVE 8oz bags of shredded cheese. That seems crazy, right? Let me tell you why I did that. The expiration date on the bags were all August 2014 or later. So I calculated how much cheese I would use between now and August.  2 bags a month was my (conservative) estimate, so I bought enough cheese to maybe last us the 6 months, effectively locking in my cheese cost for the next 6 months at $1.00 per 8oz.

Had I not had a price book, I may not have realized what a great deal this was. I knew within seconds that I had been recently paying $1.99 or more for 8oz of cheese, so I could easily see this was HALF PRICE CHEESE and folks, it doesn't get better than that.

How I Keep My Price Book:
Since I've now got a 3rd eater at my house, it was high time for me to pick up the price book I started a few years ago and make it work. My original book was paper/pencil, though I've now advanced to an iPhone app: ValueTracker, which costs $0.99.  The buck was worth it to me to always have my price book with me (since I've always got my phone.)  The price book doesn't really work unless you always have it with you when you are at stores.

I put in prices using my receipt after I get home, and calculate the per unit (ounce, pound, whatever) price. I also update prices using the weekly sale flyers. If I used a coupon I note that (though really I don't use coupons often).  (I Plan to share my personal price book here soon!)


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Grocery Deals Round-Up: 7/11 - 7/17 Back To School Already?!

Can't believe it's back to school time already. But it is one of my favorite times of the year because I love school supplies. :)

Aldi is selling back to school college dorm room gear this week including a great deal on collapsible storage cubes $5.99 for 2 and nice prices on bedding and cheap kitchen stuff. 

Dillons has back to school supplies in their ad,  including Crayola Crayons 24 pk for $0.29 and notebooks for $0.19.

HyVee is doing a "One Day" sale on Friday July 13- click the link for the ad, but the highlights include half gallon milk for $0.99 (limit 2) and Banquet meals for $0.69. I'm not sure the prices on the other stuff is anything to get super excited about when you compare to Aldi or Checkers.

Great deals on strawberries abound. Romance on a Dime is featuring a 30 Minute Strawberry Freezer Jam this week- check it out!

Produce:
Apricots- $1.48/lb @ Checkers 
Avocados (Large)- $0.88/ea
Bananas- $0.19/lb @ Checkers on THURS only.
Bing Cherries- $2.48/lb @ Checkers
Blueberries- $1.29/lb @ Aldi
Cherries - $1.29/lb @ Aldi
Sweet Corn- 5 / $2 @ Dillons
Broccoli Crowns- $0.88/lb@ Checkers
Carrots- $0.88/ 2lb bag @ Checkers
Iceberg Lettuce- $0.78/ head @ Checkers
Limes- 6 / $1 @ Checkers
Peaches or Nectarines- $1.28/lb @ Checkers
Pineapple- $1.29/ea @ Aldi
Strawberries- $0.99/lb @ Aldi

Other Grocery:
Bacon (Private Selection)- $2.88/ lb @ Dillons
Bottled Water- $2.29/ 24 pack @ Aldi
Butter (salted or unsalted)- 2/ $4 @ Dillons
Chicken Breasts (boneless skinless)- $1.88/lb @ Checkers OR Dillons
Chicken Thighs or Drumsticks- $0.98/lb @ Checkers
Cheese (block or shred)- $1.79/ea @ Dillons
Cottage Cheese- $1.49/ea @ HyVee
Feta Cheese- 2/ $5.00 @ Dillons
Greek Yogurt (HyVee brand)- $0.89/ea @ HyVee
Milk (half gal)- $0.99 (limit 2) @ HyVee Friday only, OR Dillons $1.25/ea all week
Pork Steak (Bone in)- $1.98/lb @ Checkers
Vinegar (gallon)- $1.98 @ HyVee (vinegar is SO useful, click here for uses)
Yogurt (Yoplait)- $0.50/ea @ Dillons

photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/984616

Summer Vacation 5/30 - 6/13

Hello friends, I'm taking a few weeks off for summer vacation. In the meantime, here are some resources for you:

Previous entries from The Frugal Townie:

• My Guide to Yard sales, auctions, flea markets
• The Value of a Freezer
• Lawrence Thrift & Bargain Stores Listing

Weekly Ads for Lawrence:

• Aldi Weekly Ad
• Checkers Weekly Ad  
• HyVee Weekly Ad
• Dillon's Weekly Ad
• Target Weekly Ad
• Wal-Mart Weekly Ad

Other Frugal Blogs:

• Coupon Mom Blog    Best couponing blog! Great for sales too.
• Frugal Fritzie Blog   Nice frugality/sales blog
• Who Said Nothing in Life Is Free? Blog Tips on how to get stuff for free (usually using coupons, sometimes samples, etc.)
• Romance on a Dime Blog   Lawrence frugal/project blog.

[photo credit]