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 5/16 - 5/22

 Hi all- there are some nice produce deals this week, plus good prices on some standard pantry / freezer items. This week I have also included some of the best "everyday" non-sale prices I've pulled from the price book I keep. It's always good to be informed, and I noticed when looking at the ads today that some of the sale prices on items at the other stores are higher than the everyday prices on the same items at Aldi. These are things I buy there all the time and have always been completely satisfied with the quality of the items. This week I also made sure to include cookout type items. Enjoy!

The coordinating frugal recipe from Romance on a Dime this week is Summer Berry & Plum Pudding - try it and let us know what you think!

Produce:

Avocados- $0.89/ea @Aldi (everyday price)
Blueberries - $3.98/ 18 oz pkg @ Checkers
Carrots (baby)- $0.59/bag @ Aldi
Corn (Sweet)- $0.99/ 4 ears @ Aldi
Cucumbers- $0.29/ea @ Aldi
Green Beans- $0.88/lb @ Checkers
Lettuce (Iceberg) - $0.59/ head @ Aldi
Limes- $1.00/ 10 limes @ Checkers 
Mushrooms- $0.99/ pkg @ Aldi (everyday price)
Onions (Vidalia)- $0.50/lb @ Checkers
Peppers (Bell multi color)- $2.29 for pk of 3 ($0.75/ea) @ Aldi (everyday price)
Pineapple- $1.29/ea @ Aldi
Raspberries- $1.98/ 6oz @ Checkers
Strawberries- $0.99/ lb @ Aldi
Tomatoes (Vine)- $0.99/ 24oz bag @ Aldi
Watermelon (seedless)- $3.69/ea @ Aldi

Grocery:

Bacon (Farmland)- $2.98/ lb pkg @ Checkers
Beef (ground, 85% lean)- $2.69/lb @ HyVee
Buns (Dog or Burger)- $0.79/ea @ Aldi
Cheese (shred, slice, or block Kroger)- $1.79/ pkg @ Dillons
Chicken Breasts (frozen)- $5.49/ 3lb bag @ Aldi
Chicken (drumsticks or thighs)- $0.99/lb @ Aldi  OR $0.88/lb @ Checkers
Coffee Creamer (assted flavors)- $2.19/ 32oz @ Aldi (everyday price)
Cottage Cheese- $5/ 3 ($1.67/ea) @ Dillons
Hot Dogs- $0.75/ pkg @ Aldi
Ketchup- $1.19/ 32oz @ Aldi (everyday price)
Milk (vit D, 2% or 1%)- $1.99/gal @ Aldi (everyday price)
Mustard (yellow)- $0.69/ 14oz @ Aldi (everyday price)
Olive Oil (extra virgin)- $3.49/ 16oz @ ALdi (everyday price)
Soy Milk (organic)- $2.39/ 64oz @ Aldi  (everyday price)
Suddenly Pasta Salad Mix - 3/$3 @ HyVee
Vegetables (assted, canned Kroger)- $0.69/ea @ Dillons
Yogurt (Kroger Greek)- $4/5 ($0.80/ea) @ Dillons

photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/721013

Grocery Deals Round-Up: 3/7 to 3/13

Wondering what the criteria is for my weekly grocery deals? Unless otherwise noted, they are:

1. Limited time sale prices, not everyday regular prices.
2. The sale price is low compared to food prices in general (meaning, I tend to list the cheapest foods. Notice that few things are more than a dollar or two per unit.)
3. Sale price is considerably lower than regular price, or compared to prices at other stores.
4. Basic, whole foods rather than processed/packaged foods. Whole foods are often healthier and cheaper! The idea being you could make many different things from these basic ingredients. (Occasionally I will add packaged foods when they are a really good deal, though, or if they are something that is hard to make yourself.)
5. I bold items that are especially good deals that I am excited about!

That being said, here are the deals for this week!

Produce Items:
Asparagus- $1.18/lb @ Checkers
Avocados (Hass)- $0.88/ea @ Checkers
Broccoli- $0.88/lb @ Checkers
Carrots- $0.99/ 2lb bag @ HyVee
Grapefruit- $0.29/ea @ Aldi
Grapes (Green)- $1.00/lb @ HyVee
Green Beans- $0.88/lb @ Checkers
Kiwi Fruit- $0.99/ 16oz @ Aldi
Lettuce (Romain, Red, Green) - $0.78/bunch @ Checkers
Mangoes- $0.78/ea @ Checkers
Oranges-  $1.48/bag ($0.37/lb) @ Aldi
Peaces/Plums/Nectarines- $0.20/ea @ Aldi
Potatoes (Russet)- $1.18/ 5lb bag @ Checkers
Strawberries- $1.29/16oz @ Aldi
Yellow Squash or Zuchinni- $0.58/lb @ Checkers

Other Items:
Chicken (thighs or drumsticks)- $0.98/lb @ Checkers OR Dillons
Breakfast items: cereals, meats, pancake mixes, frozen meals, etc- on sale @ Aldi
Steel Cut Oats- $2.49/ 28oz @ Aldi
Tortillas- var. sizes- 2/$3.00 @ HyVee
Pet Food- many varities on sale @ HyVee

photo from:  http://www.sxc.hu/photo/609376

In our continuing weekly series, here is the coordinating recipe from Romance on a Dime: Fruit Smoothies!  There are such good deals on fruit right now, what a great way to use it up!