tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post6818084191169011807..comments2024-03-28T15:22:23.142-04:00Comments on Blue House Journal: Boot Camp Graduation: KP Dutyterricheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-76361991139187276862016-08-11T23:32:45.824-04:002016-08-11T23:32:45.824-04:00Hi,I really like your website and visit often, I o...Hi,I really like your website and visit often, I once typed a big post but lost it.you are doing a awesome job, just wanted to share, Kroger has big tubs of blueberry yogurt.I buy them for my kid and pack small Rubbermaid container.livAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-30910568099127882872016-08-11T12:14:44.094-04:002016-08-11T12:14:44.094-04:00Many bloggers have said they get celery to last a ...Many bloggers have said they get celery to last a very long time by wrapping it in aluminum foil. I like the heavy grade for this purpose.<br />Have you seen the replaceable white plastic tops for canning jars? Walmart has their own brand of them + Ball brand. That way the rings do not get rusty in the refrigerator or freezer. They of course cannot be used for actual canning.<br />I am still reading Heloise's kitchen hints. I usually have a couple books am reading in the same time period.<br />We do not have Kroger but their affiliate Ralph's. They do not have any free coupons. In their ad they have one or two pages of digital coupons though. I don't bother with them but do note the lowest price if using them. I can usually find the same price on those things without printing off a coupon. <br />In our budget book I note cost of groceries and many other things for reference. On the back of each month I tack any receipts that need keeping for a while. Like something that we might want to return. Then throw them away. I usually list toiletries and any over the counter medical things separate though. <br />Just for reference. They can all be totaled together. I started the budget book before hubby retired. That way I had a good look on paper of what we usually spent for everything including bills that come semi annual etc. For my peace of mind I wanted to know if our retirement money could support us and have enough $ for emergencies. I just kept it up but changed it around a bit. Now I am ready to pretty much close it. I will keep only information to use later for taxes so that is recorded each month for easy reference. Or notes on large purchases etc for reference. Also tests or x-rays, shots etc the doctor or dentist ordered. And any other reference information to have in one place. <br />I think I will get out my old price book and get it updated. I know some prices in my head but some not so. It is amazing though that some things have remained the same price for years. That is on a good sale they are still the same!! lol Used to be one store had salt or no salt tomato sauce for 6 for !.00 pretty often. Now it is like once a year but we are there! <br />I don't can much any more but do note the things that cost the most at the store but cheap if canned from home grown produce and do that. Also drying the same way. When buying any trees think fruit trees. You wanter both but can eat from one of them. Also if you only have space for one or two fruit trees think which fruit or nut costs the most at the store that you like and use a lot. Plant one or two if they need a pollinator. If you cannot eat all you get from it or can or dry it find some people that can share it. They might have trees you don't and can give you some of that. Same with a garden. Winter squash is heavy. So the cost per pound is high. Grow it. I have never had luck growing cantaloupe. But our stores always have large ones for $1 each every summer so why keep trying to grow it. It takes a lot of garden room that can be better used for other things. Growing a few berry vines takes little space and many kinds now are even thornless. I had a trellis I have a flowering vine on. When it needed replacing I put 1 grape vine in and now get over 35 big clusters of grapes I can dry for raisins or make jelly or juice from. Also we freeze some and have tiny pop cycles out of them! :). <br />You have to think ahead though. More things means more work. In one way or the other. Planting, fertilizing, picking etc. Also always think of dwarf or genetic dwarf trees. In the ground or in large containers. The ones we have had have given us enough produce and you don't need a ladder to lick them. Also you can squeeze more in your yard if thy are a bit smaller. I hope something i have mentioned is a help to someone. It is just basic and everyone might have thought of all of it. SarahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-22814062229447756762016-08-11T08:53:27.491-04:002016-08-11T08:53:27.491-04:00I love how hard you're questioning your curren...I love how hard you're questioning your current status quo. Definitely something I need to revisit as well.Lake Livin'https://www.blogger.com/profile/09965188246981544601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-37811153874708833502016-08-11T08:48:24.145-04:002016-08-11T08:48:24.145-04:00An article I ran across this AM about figuring out...An article I ran across this AM about figuring out what your grocery budget should be. http://thriftylittlemom.com/2014/07/23/how-much-should-you-spend-on-groceries/Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-34720887931331910712016-08-11T08:26:55.433-04:002016-08-11T08:26:55.433-04:00Where do you count your savings with the CVS eb...Where do you count your savings with the CVS eb's. If i take them off the total bill then they are not a savings the next time I go into the store. If i dont use them then they dont even count and they are like i never had them. Because i dont shop there often i never count my eb's as savings until i actually use them on something else and if i happen to get them again i only count them as savings when i use them. Wasnt quite sure from your posts on which end of the purchase you use them. There have been times i havent found things and have let them go because i did not find anything i needed there that was lower price than somewhere else. If i get an expensive shampoo, when i have a cheaper one i like as well i dont count it as a savings. This is also ehy i dont use a lot of coupons. They are often on expensive items thay i buy cheaper versions of,, things i dont use or you need to buy more than i need. I have always counted only actual food in my grocery budget. Often a lot of things that i pick up are not food,such as laundry supplies, otc drug items, snacks (snacks are an extra item, a couple bags of chips, Aldis wonderful little chocolate cakes and ice cream add up). When i check my lists, sometimes a third of what i buy is not actual food and i dont consider it groceries. Just my way of shopping. Something i learned from Joann York many, many years ago as a young bride living on a lot of love and little money, and now as a retirees with no pensions living on a lot of love and life experience and little money , i am thankful for her lessons! Gramma D Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-75656878538951650052016-08-11T07:43:29.787-04:002016-08-11T07:43:29.787-04:00Earth Fare is the store I could not remember. My ...Earth Fare is the store I could not remember. My Bi-Lo meat man worked for them in the meat dept for 7 years and is the one who said that Bi-Lo/Winn Dixie meat sources are the same as Earth Fare.Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-2685842088467276112016-08-11T06:55:29.090-04:002016-08-11T06:55:29.090-04:00Periodic evaluation helps take up the slack where ...Periodic evaluation helps take up the slack where lazy habits have started to intrude! As I read your post, I identified a few of mine and will "nip them in the bud"! Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08740950362293427086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-90378646429059599322016-08-10T21:27:56.530-04:002016-08-10T21:27:56.530-04:00I have enjoyed this series. We needed an easy, qui...I have enjoyed this series. We needed an easy, quick meal tonight as I had a bad headache. I pulled a box of mini frozen pizzas I bought on impulse. While eating it I thought why pay for those... I could look at purchasing the mini deep dish pans and make my own version to freeze and bake later. I am sure the cost would be much less not to mention the flavor.<br /><br />I haven't made granola in a long time. I will have to dust the recipe off soon. Wendihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02547001714523524390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-46879291768202863662016-08-10T21:06:43.576-04:002016-08-10T21:06:43.576-04:00Forget to say that Brandy's granola is wonderf...Forget to say that Brandy's granola is wonderful. I don't mix in the cranberries but add them as I eat it. They tend to dry out and get chewy if added and stored. One time when I made it I forgot to add the vanilla and I could not tell any difference so I no longer put it in since it a whole tablespoon of vanilla I can use somewhere else. I also sub 5 T brown sugar and 1 T water for the honey since I don't like honey and that saves money too. I keep it in a canning jar and it will keep for 6-8 weeks that way.Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-49254396180636113732016-08-10T21:02:46.385-04:002016-08-10T21:02:46.385-04:00I love The Fresh Market's ground chuck. At my ...I love The Fresh Market's ground chuck. At my local store, it is $1.99 per pound every Tuesday. It's the only type I buy now.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840913102234982646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-29756273628643425652016-08-10T20:52:30.635-04:002016-08-10T20:52:30.635-04:00I have enjoyed reading your tips about boot camp. ...I have enjoyed reading your tips about boot camp. Thank you for sharing with us.<br />I like money saving mom's lazy granola http://amysfinerthings.com/crystals-lazy-granolaKathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16710629007170091862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-28308654398197786172016-08-10T20:29:24.583-04:002016-08-10T20:29:24.583-04:00I think you are right about individual packages ea...I think you are right about individual packages eating up your budget. I have not really ever purchased food that way except on a rare occasion of a sale and matching coupon. I dole out portions of larger packages every weekday morning for my husband's lunch and have done so for over 38 years.<br /><br />One tip about making homemade ice cream is that we put it in 4 ounce containers for the freezer and it is easy to take one out and eat it. When we froze the whole batch it got so hard that we could not scoop it and often wasted it. I can also hand the small portions to the grandchildren with a spoon and they love it.<br /><br />A friend of mine purchases whole turkeys and thaws them in the fridge just enough to cut them up and then freezes them in pieces. She saves up the wings and then does them like chicken wings. I prefer to just thaw and cook the entire bird and package out the cooked meat. But, for me I will mostly not do turkey at all since it requires the big roaster and all that. I stick to chicken breasts on sale for the most part as it is just easier for me.<br /><br />I have pretty much stopped shopping at Publix. The prices there in my area have gone up so much that it just costs me too much to shop there. Plus our stores no longer double coupons. I have switched over to Bi-Lo and am saving more money and am quite pleased with them. You may have Winn Dixie? If so you may want to talk to the meat man about their meat. Our meat man told me that Bi-Lo/Winn Dixie are sourcing their meat from the same suppliers as _______, I cant remember the name of the store! Not Whole Foods or Fresh Market but the other one. Perhaps their meat would work for you? They run great sales and most of our meat comes from there or Ingles which sources theirs from better suppliers, too. I am sure the meat man would answer any questions you have if they are not crazy busy.<br /><br />Our food only budget is $250 a month. I have all other purchases coming from another budget which is helpful for me so that I know exactly how much I am spending. At the end of the month leftover food money goes into home improvement which We are always doing.<br /><br />Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.com