My Frugal Acts of the past Week:

Here are the frugal things I did in the last week or so. What did you do to save money this week?

• I started keeping a price book again (which I shared here.)

• I made some homemade All Purpose Cleaner. (Listed here with other solvent recipes.)

• I bought a Thermos (with a giftcard I got for Christmas) so I don't spend $5 per week on coffee at work anymore.

• I made my own Valentine's cards with materials I already had.

• I baked banana bread/muffins with overripe bananas from the freezer.

• I made a list of items that I am going to look for in thrift stores (and yard sales when the season begins!)

• Brought leftovers from home for lunch every day at work.

• Combined trips/errands to save gas.

I would love to see your comments on what you did to save money this week! 

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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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The Frugal Townie returns!

Hello readers (if there are any of you left)- I'm back with a quick note on Price Books, but first, to fill you in.

I abandoned my blog because I was pregnant and sick/miserable the whole time. The good news is I now have a 10-month-old daughter who is happy and healthy, and my life is returning to a "new normal" as I like to think of it. I didn't have time have time for a lot of active frugal pursuits, though I did get baby stuff as frugally as I could. I will perhaps post about that at a later time.  So, now you're caught up! As I start to have a little more time again, I plan to post here occasionally.

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!

Freebies for Christmas

Despite that fact that it is not even quite Halloween yet, I've been thinking about Christmas. For several years now I have occasionally gone to "freebie" sites and signed up to be sent free samples of various items. This year, I decided to do this again, but with Christmas in mind.

While I do not recommend giving people on your gift list ONLY random free samples, I think they can be a fun way to add some fun extras to a gift, or to help fill a gift bag or stocking.

 Pictured: freebies I have received in the last month or so.

• Lindt chocolate truffes- got a coupon for a free bag by liking their facebook page during promotion. 
• Harley-Davidson sticker (free by mail. I have some Harley lovers in my family). 
• Ponds wipes samples and blue make-up bag of cosmetics samples (free by mail from Target during promo). Aero Shot energy gel sample (free by mail). 
• Eucerin lotion sample (free by mail).  
• Solar grasshopper (not actually free, but less than $1 on Amazon and thinking a kid in my family would love it.) 
• Not pictured: free mini-candle from Bed Bath and Beyond (got coupon online and picked up in-store).

I've signed up for another dozen or so that I'm expecting in the mail soon, plus I am keeping my eyes peeled for more to sign up for.

These are the sites I check regularly that tip me off to these freebies (I use Google Reader for most of my blog reading, so I'm not actually going to each of these everyday, they just come up in my feed. Easiest way to do it in my opinion.)  Not all of these are exclusively freebies, but I have found them all to be useful for this purpose.

Absurdly Cool Freebie Finder
 Freebie Shark
FreeSamples.org
FrugalFritzie (Actually more of a coupon blog, but does post good freebies sometimes)
HeyIt'sFree!
JustFreeStuff
Living Richly on a Budget (Again not exclusively freebies, but does include sometimes.)
MommySavers (Not exclusively freebies, but does include good ones sometimes.)
Who Said Nothing In Life is Free (Not all freebies, but good.)

Are any of you freebie collectors? What are you favorite sites? Please share in the comments!