Re: Groceries
 

And there I was happy to get them for $14. :lol:

That was the first pack I bought. The single one.

The 4-pack was $10 ($9.99) All you do is heat it (so no shrinkage) and then, if a taco, use the entire contents in your tacos. Nothing left in the pan.

And it's very lean as virtually no fat.

That note on the pack about it being equal to a lb of real meat is that your lb of meat goes in the pan and you don't put the fat in the taco. So out of your 1lb ground beef ($4.89lb is not unusual for extra lean) there is about 12oz that goes in the taco.

So $4.89 for no fat ground beef v $2.50 for no fat veggie ground.

Not really. Just no waste with the Yves product and some difference, apparently, between your ground beef price and mine.

I never pay it but the typical price for extra lean around these parts is getting on for $5 and I'd say the Yves stuff is equivalent to ex lean.
About $3.49 lb for lean when on sale is more what I pay.

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There was one for $15 + but I wanted the smaller, cheaper one.

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My Sobeys receipt today shows normal price for the items bought would be $198.

I paid $113.

So 57%.

Of course I would never have paid $198 for the items I bought for two reasons. Partly because when they do these comparisons they often quote a 'normal' price that is somewhat higher than the real normal price. But mostly because I know virtually everything I bought can be had for much less than the supposedly normal price almost every week of the year just by a five minute detour or being flexible about the day the main shop is done.

But I think that price difference quoted is a new record for me other than when I've specifically just bought one or two products. :nod:

Re: Groceries
 

impressive savings Bristol.

What items in the bill was it that was so expensive [approx] by percentage or dollars?

- Meat

- Produce

- Dry goods

- Canned items

- Cereals

- Staples

- Personal care

- Cleaning, kitchen, Laundry items

- Snack & Junk food

- Misc

Other

- Soft drinks, Booze or wine

- ?

Re: Groceries
 

Among my groceries were 12 x 2l pepsi (diet) - $15. Savings supposedly $17.28 which makes the "normal" price $2.69. I've never paid more than $2. $1.50-$2.00 is normal to me, but every month somewhere has them for $1. Or even 99c.

I bought a butterball turkey. $14.73, supposedly a saving of $20 something. It was $1.49. Superstore doing the same price.

Every year I've been here I've paid that or less. But it's a once or twice a year purchase. I've certainly seen them for $3 a lb or more.

But they're frozen. Just buy one when the price has bottomed out. It's going to be eaten at the same time of year.

I bought a Cauli for $1.49, normally $3.99. If that's the real normal price, and it is sometimes, I'll buy Broccoli instead. ;)

Beef joint (boneless blade) @ $3.99lb instead of $6.99. This was the cheapest I've seen beef for many months. I bought it with a braised/slow cook in mind but it looks good enough to roast in a style that has succeeded beautifully before.

A couple of jars of VH sauces. 2/$5 saving $2.29 each jar. $4.79 per jar? Never in a million years. At some time every month they're $2.50 or $3 each.

I did, however, buy some full priced cheese. Smoked applewood and Gouda.

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Specials at Frescho starting today

2L bottles coke or Pepsi $0.97. We don't do soft drinks.

Also on offer is a 10 lb bag beets for $1.44. So its cooking & bottling beets tomorrow. Saved jars (no mason jars here) add to the sliced cooked beets some vinegar & sugar. That lot should last about one year.

At No Frills starting tomorrow Eye of round roast $2.97/lb. Won't be buying that since I bought a goat leg for Thanksgiving $2.49/lb

Also at No frills, Clarks 12oz canned beans $0.77 which is not a bad price. Will stock up on those.

One can Clarks with whatever goes three ways - the wife, FIL & me (0.26/unit)

A spud (or one egg) each ($0.16/ unit),

Some veg or salad or other (0.10/unit)

4oz of a meat product (0.50/unit).

The meal will be ~$1.00/person. We shall be stuffed for sure

Cuppa tea to wash it down

.

Re: Groceries
 

We spent 122 at Save On yesterday, total savings was $45, we would not have bought most of what we did at normal price.

Mostly processed ready to eat type stuff as the prices were simply too low to pass, 6 pack of hot dogs 99 cents, 3 meals in total per pack, 4 packs, just around 4 dollars, can't be that price.

Frozen burritos and tacos 6 dollars, 10 per pack, 5 meals each.

Ham 2 for 1, 12 dollars for 1 you get 2, a week maybe 10 days of meals with them. (small hams, not huge ones) some bacon, bread, banana's, granola, yogurt, some cheese, tortilla's (make cheap meals with beans and tortillas) some milk.

6 chicken breasts for 6 dollars, can't beat that price. cut in half 6 becomes 12 meals in total.

I can't find the receipt so this list is not in full.

Veggies have gone up considerably and on sale less and less, where processed foods are on sale more and more often.

Re: Groceries
 

You could be teaching the food budget portion of Basic Lifeskills at the food bank, (makes me feel like Caligula). I've lived pretty close to the ground and know how important it is, but I know that indulgence and largesse are good occasionally as well. I remember being broke and thinking, "Darn, I should have bought that big pizza when I had the $20".

Re: Groceries
 

I have been asked on these forums and by others outside about this - about 'what the heck, why on earth are you doing it now, today, what is your purpose'?

Its not that we cannot afford to buy the best cuts of meat or fish, shop anywhere or just pick off the shelf whatever price it is, at wherever, down to the clothes we wear [from the thrift store].

It all goes back to childhood upbringing, post war, rations, blue collar council estate, then arriving in Canada with only a few dollars, doing without, struggling [really tough times] - then everything over time just seemed to get better.

Old habits I guess, make do, try to live frugal - never forgetting the past or our roots.

Something deep inside about 'the fear of having nowt' or losing it all. We have a pantry stored & stacked enough for 6 months if we never bought another food item other than milk, bread, produce.

We keep money in the cookie jar [under the mattress, in a safe, under the floor boards] a dislike or the distrust for the financial institutions or any institution for that matter.

Its bonkers I know almost to the point of being eccentric :eek:

I suppose there other folks like me (us) out there:nod:

.

Re: Groceries
 

and if you had double the income that you have now, would you change anything?

Re: Groceries
 

I think these are skills and attitudes passed down from our depression-era parents and there is a modern equivaent among the nouveau poor. I like lots of mashed potatoes and sausages and gravy and a few drinks.

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Would buy very little frozen foods except for veggies, more organics more fruit, more veggies and whole u processed foods.

We would just eat more healthy. I buy cheap crap food out of necessity if income doubled we would spend more on food by having acess to healthier choices.

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I think it's very commendable that you are living 'lean' but I hope you indulge yourselves from time to time!

You could certainly teach lots of people how to live on a budget, foodwise, have you thought about writing a blog and including some of your hints, tips and recipes? (I'm serious!)

I've got a brilliant book my Dad bought me many years ago called 'Frugal Food' by Delia Smith (1976 version) which has tons of advice and recipes and has come in very handy at times. You can read some of the recipes online via Google Books and also on the website Frugal Food - from Delia Online

Edited to add, if you like making bread this is a recipe my sister has used many times and she swears it's the easiest bread out there and very tasty! http://www.simplysogood.com/2013/03/...ead-bread.html

:)

Re: Groceries
 

Absolutely. But it's the savings that pay for those indulgences.

Like the Beef Tenderloin, Prime rib or Lamb that costs 4 or 5 times what is normally good enough in our household.

Can you mark where you live on a map please? :sneaky:

We've always had a valuable asset to fall back on but actual cashflow was a problem in early years and was supported by use of credit card in the event of unexpected expense. Spending less money than you have to is just sensible regardless of how much income you have.

Double income back then or double income now wouldn't change much. All I'm doing now is paying less for an identical product by shopping in 'that store' instead of the other one or buying the same product 'tomorrow' instead of today - because the flyers are telling me it's cheaper tomorrow or the other store.

Give me twice as much money and I have no doubt that I'd be buying Beef Tenderloin more than occasionally instead of Inside/Outside Round. But I'd be buying it "tomorrow" or at "the other store" @ $12 a lb instead of $22 instead.


Like Jack Monroe (A Girl called Jack) did and is now a success.

The Guardian picked her up so maybe The Mail?

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If & when & even if its after Thanksgiving the price gets to $0.88 range, that's when I buy. Last year Walmart had them on for $0.79/lb (in store special or flyer can't remember). I bought two under 10 lb in weight. One is still in the freezer & likely for this Xmas. Now should there be another sweet deal at Walmart or Food Basics (both usually cheapest price), then it'll be another purchase. No waste on a Turkey, everything gets used & leftovers into soup, packaged & frozen.

Butternut squash on special at the ethnic market for $0.59/lb. Crave that, oven baked, pan fried, mashed with or without potatoes, for soups - diced added to a pot of stock, navy beans, carrot, celery, onions with spices of choice. Divide & freeze.

Wife always wants to have a pumpkin out on the step this time of year. She is looking for a deal. On November 1, pumpkin inside the house she hacks it up, pies, soup & bags it into 'frozen for use later'

Re: Groceries
 

I like Jack's recipes/budgeting, but I tend to skim through her political stuff.

On groceries:
Saturday I scored an 8lb ham (at Maxi AKA No Frills), @ 10,56$ + reduced by 50% sticker.

Slow cooked it in Beer, water, with a carrot, onion, celery, apple, cloves,. Had myself a nice roast dinner with mash, homegrown beans & gravy. Sliced up the rest for salads/sandwiches & the freezer, and made (more) stock with the bone & gubbins.

Swiss chard was on special at 1,99$ for a humungous bunch. I've been eating it with everything... ;)

Re: Groceries
 

Both great bargains, especially the swiss chard [red or white stalks?} as long as it fresh fresh;) We prefer the red stalk type

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Yeah, I was *quite* chuffed by the ham - I even suspected the 50% off was an error, but that's not my problem :).

Red stalks & very fresh. It's yummy :)

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Mentioned somewhere back in this long thread - have you tried beets leaves as an alternative to chard? Simply cut out the stalk, wash the leaves & cook as you would the chard or kale

In two of my local store produce sections, beets will have the tops chopped off & discarded either by the customer or the produce guy.

So I'm always on the look out for these, even have the guys have them to one side for me, along with an early when they open at 8am visit when fresh produce is being stacked on the shelves. They cut back or cut off so much good stuff they I always ask 'can I have the rabbit leaves'

Free produce & whatever else is newly stacked & marked down on the seconds shelf.

Penny saved goes towards the gasoline:nod:

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I rarely buy beets, but when they turn up occasionally in my (summer only) veggie box, yes I eat the leaves :)

I have a similar deal to yours set up at local butchers' for free/50c bags of bones, bits & bobs & scraps for soup/stew making :)

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They had elk and blueberry sausages in the market last evening, how Canadian is that? I went for the Cumberlands. :o

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Wise move. Sausages shouldn't have fruit in 'em!

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Our family borscht recipe uses some of the beet leaves as well as some of the carrot tops (the little baby carrots are best).

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I'd try those.

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Of course you naffing would. :p

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Apple sausages are fairly common. Not that I have them mind.

Turkey and Cranberry would probably work.

And my sausagemeat 'stuffing' works well - orange mashed up in one, plum sauce mixed with the other.

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Someone posted on sausage meat ingredients a few months ago. Suffice it to say, my consumption of the said food has plummeted. Not that it was any news to me, but just made me think a bit more about the type of meat I was actually consuming. No bad thing.

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:goodpost:

that would be to die for caretaker...

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when you say 'sausage meat' - from where, do you make it from scratch pork something, buy the 'sausage meat' in a tube ready to go or use store bought sausages for this?

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Maple Leaf sausage meat.

There was one xmas when it was only two of us (two dealing with ill father/grandfather in Montreal) so I made do with sausages mashed up.

Re: Groceries
 

from about Jack blog, anything or everything is possible

http://agirlcalledjack.com/2015/05/0...he-whole-week/


"I started writing my blog, A Girl Called Jack, in February 2012, in response to a local councillor who claimed that ‘druggies, drunks and single mums are ruining the High Street.’

What started as a local politics blog developed into budget food and recipes, which were picked up with interest by the national press as I detailed living with my son on a food budget of just £10 a week due to delays in unemployment benefits, and sometimes they weren’t paid at all.

Housing Benefit seems to be exceptionally messy, especially if you lose your job or move house, or both."

.

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I don't think £10 a week is possible. Unless you have another source of food.

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Live Below The Line: The Whole Week | JACK MONROE

I wasn't aware of Jack or her blog till Bristol posted it on BE

And a yes from me, '£10 a week is possible'

I need to cut back further after reading some of what 'jack' has posted.

.

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Quite an eye-opener. I best go buy some barley. :lol:

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I know you're probably poking fun at this ....

In a huge pot of goodness (basic basic)

-1 lb bag of pot barley
- 2lb+ Carrots
- large celery
- 1 to 2 lb onions
- large cabbage (optional) navy beans/pinto beans (optional)
- 2lb+ potaotes
- Chicken carcass (after they cut off the chicken breasts & legs) usually sells here for $1.00 for a 5lb bag. Makes stock & has about 1 lb of chicken from the boil off (alternate fish ends as a substitute for the chicken)

- spices to taste

Cook & simmer for a few hours, can feed a family of two for a whole week

A bowl or two per serving, with bread on the side if not full

One dozen eggs to the weekly menu for alternate substitute meals or use in making other food items

Day old /end of day, or marked down grocery shelf items, bread, meat, fish, produce.

Its all doable when & if folks need or want to do it

Breakfast

Tea & toast, with one fruit item, yogurt also if you have the money

Lunch

Mixed bag, leftovers, scraps, as long as its around $0.50/ person

No take out food, minimal processed foods, make & bake from raw ingredients.

I'l stop at that :nod:

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No frills supermarket has the following special this week

$1.87 for each of the following

10 lb white potatoes

10 lb bag carrots

10 lb bag onions

5 lb Turnips

Better still, at Freshco, the same items as above are $1.44 with the addition of

10 lb Beets

.

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You always seem to have the cheapest food prices in Canada it seems....;)

5lb carrots 4.99 (no 10 pound, just 3 and 5)

White Potatoes $2.84/kg

5lb yellow potatoes 5.99

Russets you can get 20lbs for 5.99

3lb of onions 3.99

Turnips Unit Price: $4.39/kg



From your other post, they sell chicken carcass at the grocery stores where you are? They don't even cut meat in the store anymore at the local store where I am, everything comes into the store pre-packaged ready to sell.

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Our local butcher does this, necks and backs and other bits, I buy them by the caseload for crab bait.

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Outside of the supermarkets, the point made by oink above - do you not have a butcher or deli in your part of the world, cos if you do they likely would have meat or chicken ends & scraps, including deli end cuts. You may need to ask the guy in the back that hacks it all up

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We don't have a butcher in town anymore. I don't need a carcass, just wasn't something I have ever seen here in stores before, but guess you need to go to a proper butcher shop.