Bulk Buys: Week of 2/12/14

Items that have hit STOCK UP PRICES this week:

Apples:
Aldi (mixed bag of red/gala/granny smith)/ 1.88 per 3lb bag/ 63c per lb / 2/12/14
Apples stay fresh in the fridge for 1-2 months, so buy as many as you will use in that time.

Carrots:
Checkers/ 48c per lb- fresh/whole/ 2/12/14
Carrots stay fresh in the fridge for 4-5 weeks, so buy as many as you will use in that time. This is a good enough price that it beats frozen carrots prices, so if you've got the time, chop them up and freeze them. They'll last in the freezer 8-10 months!

Grapefruit:
Checkers/ 3/$1 / 33c each/ 2/12/14
Grapefruit stay fresh in the fridge for 2-3 weeks so buy as many as you will use in that time. This is a good enough price that it beats frozen grapefruit prices, so if you've got the time, chop them up and freeze them. They'll last in the freezer 8-10 months!  Click the link to find out how to prepare for freezing.

Hot Dogs:
Checkers (Bar-S brand)/ 88c per 1lb pk/ 2/12/14
Check the use by date on the package. Buy as many as you will use by that date. Also, they can be frozen for 1-2 months if you freeze them before the use by date.

Onions:
Aldi (yellow)/ 79c per 3lb bag/ 27c per lb / 2/12/14
Onions can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 months. Buy as many as you can use in that time. Also, this price beats BY FAR the pre-chopped frozen onions.  Chop them up in the food processor and freeze- they will stay good in the freezer 10-12 months. 

(Maybe) Pork (chops):
Checkers/ 1.68 per lb in econopk / 2/12/14

I'm not completely sure this is a GREAT price on pork chops, but I know it's a pretty darn good price. If you are needing some meat, this is a good price.  They last up to 5 days in the fridge, but up to 4-6 months in the freezer so buy as many as you can use/store in the freezer. 

Have you spotted any STOCK UP priced foods I missed?

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My Price Book

Wanted to share with you all what I've got in my Price Book so far. (What is a Price Book!?) Feel free to use this, and please comment if/when you find better prices in Lawrence or online. I will also take suggestions of items to add- this is just my "staples list". Obviously this list is incomplete, please fill me in on the great prices you find elsewhere!  Unless noted otherwise, the prices are for store-brand items and without coupon use.  Update: I've made a Price Book page that I will keep updated. Click here, share, and bookmark!

Item: Store/Price/Price per Unit/Date

Beans (black, canned):
Checkers / 70c per 15oz can/ 5c per oz 2/1/14

Beans (chili/kidney, canned):
Aldi / 59c per 15oz can / 4c per oz / 2/1/14
Checkers/ 49c per 15oz can/ 3c per oz / 2/1/ 14

Beans (white/canellini/butter, canned):
Aldi/ 69c per 15oz can/ 5c per oz / 2/3/14
Checkers/ 69c per 15oz can/ 5c per oz / 2/1/14

Beans (refried):
Checkers/ 0.70 per can / 2/1/14

Beef (ground, 85% lean):
Aldi / 2.89lb (frozen) / 2/1/14

Bread (multi-grain or whole wheat):
Aldi/ 1.69 per loaf 2/3/14
Dillons/ 2.89 per loaf 2/1/14

Broccoli (florets/crown only):
Aldi / 1.09lb (frozen) / 2/3/14

Brownie Mix (family size):
Aldi /$1.29 / 2/3/14
Checkers/ $1.19 / 2/1/14

Buns (dog or burger):
Aldi / 0.89 8pk / 11c each 2/1/14
Dillons/ 0.99 8pk/ 13c each 2/1/14

Butter:
Aldi / 2.49 per lb/ 2/3/14
Checkers / 2.69 per lb/ 1/28/14

Cheese:
Aldi/ 1.99 per 8oz / 4.00 per lb / 2/3/14
Checkers/ 1.67 per 8oz / 3.38 per lb / 2/1/14
HyVee/ 1.00 per 8oz/ 2.00 per lb/ 1/31/14

Chicken (boneless, skinless thighs)
Aldi/ 6.29 per 2.10lb bag /2.10 per lb / 2/3/14

Chili Powder:
Aldi/ 0.99 per 8oz / 25c per oz/ 2/3/14

Coffee:
Aldi/ 5.49 per 32oz/ 2.75 per lb / 2/3/14

Corn:
Aldi/ 0.99 per 16 oz frozen/ 0.99 per lb / 2/3/14

Crackers (saltine type):
Aldi/ 89c per box / 2/3/14
Checkers/ 99c per box/ 2/1/14

Cream Cheese:
Aldi/ 0.89 per 8oz block/ 2/3/14
Checkers/ 0.99 per 8oz block / 2/1/14
HyVee/ 0.99 per 8oz block / 2/1/14

Eggs:
Aldi/ 1.33 per doz / 11c per egg / 2/3/14
Checkers/ 1.34 per doz / 11c per egg/ 2/1/14

Flour:
Aldi/ 1.19 per 5lb/ 24c per lb/ 2/3/14

Green Beans (canned):
Checkers/ 45c per can/ 2/1/14

Macaroni and Cheese:
Aldi/ 39c per box / 2/3/14

Olive Oil:
Aldi/ 3.49 per 25oz / 14c per oz/ 2/3/14

Orange Juice (frozen concentrate):
Aldi/ 1.29 each / 2/3/14
Checkers/ 1.49 each/ 2/1/14
Dillons/ 1.21 each/ 2/1/14

Parsley (dried seasoning):
Aldi/ 0.99 per 0.5 oz / 1.98 per oz/ 2/3/14

Pasta (white durham, any shape):
Aldi/ 1.69 per alb box/ 85c per lb / 2/3/14
Dillons/ 99c per lb box/ 99c per lb/ 2/1/14

Peas: 
Aldi/ 0.99 per 16 oz frozen/ 0.99 per lb / 2/3/14

Pork (ground): 
Checkers/ 2.28 per lb/ 2/1/14

Rice (long grain white):
Aldi/ 1.59 per lb bag / 53c per lb / 2/3/14

Sour Cream:
Checkers/ 2.29 per 16oz/ 14c per oz/ 2/1/14

Sugar (granulated): 
Aldi/ 1.79 per alb bag/ 45c per lb / 2/3/14
Checkers/ 1.69 per alb bag/ 43c per lb/ 2/1/14

Sugar (powdered): 
Aldi/ 1.69 per alb bag / 85c per lb / 2/3/14

Taco Shells:
Aldi/ 99c for box of 12/ 8c each/ 2/3/14

Tofu (firm/v. firm): 
Checkers/ 2.89 per cube / 2/1/14

Tomatoes (canned): 
Aldi/ 59c per 15oz can/ 4c per oz/ 2/1/14

Tortillas (soft taco size):
Aldi/ 99c per 10 pack / 9c each / 2/3/14
Checkers 1.79 per 10 pack/ 18c each/ 2/1/14

Tuna (in water): 
Aldi/ 68c per can/ 2/3/14

Turkey (ground):
Aldi/ 1.69 per lb frozen / 2/3/14
Checkers/ 2.68 per lb fresh / 2/1/14

Turkey (deli meat): 
Aldi/ 2.49 per 7oz/ 36c per oz/ 2/3/14

Vanilla Extract: 
Aldi/ 1.99 per 2oz bottle/ 99c per oz / 2/3/14

Vegetable Oil (soy): 
Aldi/ 2/39 per 48 oz bottle/ 5c per oz / 2/3/14

________________________________________________
Non-Food Items:

Ammonia:
Checkers/ 1.26 per 64oz jug/ 2c per oz/ 2/1/14

Diapers:  
Aldi/ 31ct size 4/ 4.99 pk/ 16c each / 2/3/14
(Click here for Diaper Prices Page!)

Dish Soap:
Amazon.com/ Dawn NonUltra $32.37 per 448oz in 8 bottle case / 7c per oz / 1/31/14
Dollar Tree/ unknown brand 1.00 per 24oz bottle/ 4c per oz/ 1/31/14

Tampons:
Amazon/ Femtex brand $38.34 per 480ct box/ 8c each 1/30/14

Vinegar: 
Checkers/ 1.78 per 64oz jug/ 3c per oz / 2/1/14

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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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BareMinerals Foundation Deal

One of the items that it is worth it to me to not buy the very cheapest option is foundation make-up.  I use BareMinerals foundation, and I just wanted to share the place to get the best price.  Just because I'm willing to pay for it doesn't mean I want to OVER pay for it!  This make up is regularly priced at $27 most anywhere you can find it- and if it is online it, it is $27 PLUS SHIPPING.

However, for the last few years I have been buying it on amazon.com for way less.  The price varies at any given time, but I regularly get it for $20 or less.

I just ordered some today, and it was $15.88 (including shipping!) By doing a simple amazon search to see what price I could get, I saved more than $11 on this makeup.

bareMinerals ORIGINAL SPF 15 Foundation with Click, Lock, Go Sifter - Fairly Light

Yes, that is an Amazon affiliates link. :) Even if you don't use my link, I wanted to share this good deal with everyone!

Grocery Deals Round-Up: 2/29 - 3/6

Lots of good deals on seafood everywhere- now is the time to stock up if you’re interested.  Also intriguing deal at HyVee- if you buy a Haier chest freezer for $199, they give you $200 worth of coupons. However, I have not seen the coupons so I have no idea if its worth it or not. If there are a lot of coupons you use, or if they are for store brand items that would be better. They are selling the SAME freezer at Dillons for $159, with no coupons. Worth investigating if you’re interested! Haiers are supposed to be good freezers.  It is the same size of freezer as mine and I LOVE having one!

Avocados- $0.19/ea @ Aldi
Broccoli Crowns- $0.99/16 oz @ Aldi OR Checkers
Brussel Sprouts- $0.98/lb @ Checkers
Carrots- $1.98/ 5 POUND bag @ Checkers
Celery- $0.68/ bunch @ Checkers
Grapes (Red or Green)- $0.79/lb @ Aldi
Mushrooms- $0.69/pk @ Aldi
Onions - $1.69/ 3lb bag @ Aldi OR HyVee
Potatoes (Red)- $2.49/lb @ Aldi OR HyVee
Red Bell Peppers - $0.68/ea @ Checkers
Strawberries- $1.68/lb @ HyVee
Tomatoes (Roma)- $0.79/ 20oz @ Aldi OR HyVee
Tomatoes (Grape)- $0.68/ 8 oz @ Checkers

Cheese (shredded or block)- 3/$5 @ Dillons
Coffee (Folgers Country Roast) - $6.77/ 34oz @ HyVee OR $6.99 @ Dillons
Kellogg’s cereal & bars- 50% off at Hyvee, 29% off at Checkers
Soy Milk- $2.39/64 oz store brand @ Aldi, OR $1.29 7th Continent w/ coupon @ HyVee OR Silk $2.29 w/coupon @ Dillons
Tortillas (Flour, 6”)- $1.49/20 pk @ Aldi
Tortillas (Flour, 10”)- $1.29/8pk @ Aldi
Tortilla chips (rest. style)- $1.49/ 13oz @ Aldi
Mexican-style diced tomatoes (like Rotel)- $0.59/can @ Aldi
Yogurt (non-fat Lemon or Banana)- $0.39/ea @ Aldi
Yogurt (Greek, Kroger brand)- $0.80/ea- 5/$4 @ Dillons


Wondering what to do with all those veggies? Check out Romance on a Dime's coordinating recipe! Four Cheese Vegetable Lasagna