I’m always looking to save money…especially at the grocery store. It seems like every month the prices for food cost more than the month before. How are we to feed our families with the prices for groceries rising so quickly? Seriously! To help keep our monthly food budget in-check I’ve started seeking out groceries in alternative places BESIDES the neighborhood grocery store!
*** This post may contain affiliate links.
In our community we have 2 discount bakeries, 2 discount food outlets and then various other “bargain type” of stores that sell some shelf-stable food items at deeply discounted prices. I like to check out stores like Ollies Bargain Outlet, Gabe’s and a few others in our area. Some of the packages may have a scratch or two or a minor dent. Some of the shelf-stable items may be out-of-date by a month or getting ready to hit that stamped date. Regardless, those groceries are still SAFE to EAT!
When I buy those type’s of food items I make sure that my family consumes them within the next 60 days. They don’t get shoved to the back of my kitchen cabinet or in the back of the pantry. I like to keep a bin front and center in my pantry where I place those items so that we can see them and use them quickly.
We were at Ollies looking to buy some new bath linens (it’s a discount store on the east coast) and decided to check out their shelf-stable food aisles. They offer all kinds of snack foods, breakfast cereals, canned goods, baking mixes, condiments, beverages, spices and seasonings, pasta, etc. A good mixture of different things.
On my most recent trip to Ollies I stumbled upon Betty Crocker Soft Baked Cookie Baking Mixes. They were discounted to begin with…but that particular weekend they marked those discounted prices another 50% off. They’re large bags!!! Each one came down to .99 cents at the register. The package is 2-3 times the size of the ones you find at the local Dollar Store that cost $1.25 each, so I knew they were a deal.
I got a box of Wheat Crackers for $1.00, a plastic tub of peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets for $5.00, a box of onion soup & dip mix for $1.00 and a bag of marshmallows for .60 cents! Wow….looking back, I wish I would of grabbed a few more of those Betty Crocker Soft Baked Cookie Mixes! My grandchildren love taking a few cookies in their lunch bags or they eat them as an afterschool snack.
Anyway, I just wanted to mention that if you’re trying to save money on groceries to think outside of the traditional grocery store. Look for food outlets, bakery outlets and some discount bargain retailers in your community may have shelf-stable food items as heavily discounted prices. A good way to save some money!!!
Shopping Tips:
1. Some stores, especially the small mom & pop stores only accept debit cards or cash. Make sure you have them both along with you.
2. Take your own reusable shopping bags! It’s environtmetally friendly and it can save you money when you’re shopping at discount stores. Several in our area will charge you .10 to .25 cents per bag. Take your own!
3. Only buy what you need! Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you should buy it. You don’t want it sitting in your pantry for the next year. Only buy what you know you will consume within the next 30-60 days. Be willing to try new brands too!
4. None of our discount grocery outlets or bargain stores take coupons. The items are already heavily discounted.
5. If you want to avoid crowds and long lines…try to do your shopping during a weekday.
Leave a Reply