FreeSalsa
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Post by FreeSalsa on Feb 11, 2013 22:50:26 GMT -5
We are very rural, the nearest whole foods or trader joes is at least 1 hr 15 away. We have several small local places. They are pricier. And meat will be pricier. You are getting what you pay for though. It can help to buy 'in bulk' say half a pig, or a whole lamb... Etc. if you have a freezer. And still shop different suppliers. Pick up brochures at the farm market, and call them bout bulk prices, etc. I looked up a little deeper and the Village Farmers Market I guess is a real good one for grass fed beef..the problem is I don't have a big enough freezer ...yet lol. So I learned some scary things..everyone is aware of the dangers of BPA in plastic containers like baby bottles and water bottles...but did you know that almost ALL canned foods and aluminum cans (think Pepsi and Coke) contain BPA as a liner for the cans? Scary stuff...we all know its "inconclusive" to scientists right now, but many, many countries have banned BPA use in food containers and even call it toxic to humans...I found a list that contains canned goods WITHOUT BPA in it..enjoy! inspirationgreen.com/bpa-lined-cans.html Thanks for the can list. That will help.
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FreeSalsa
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Post by FreeSalsa on Feb 15, 2013 23:53:09 GMT -5
Sprouts this week... 2 Cascadian Farms organic cereal and granola bars $2.50 - $.75 IP = $1.75 ea. + 20 Swagbucks, reg. $3.99+ 2 Think Thin Divine bar $1.39 - store IP for a free bar = FREE, reg. $1.39 2 Rudi's organic whole wheat bread $3.99 - $.75 MC IP and $1 store IP = $2.25, reg $3.99+ 3 Westsoy soymilk made with organic soy $.99 clearance sale - $1 IP = FREE 1 Westsoy soymilk made with organic soy $1.69 sale - $1 IP = $.69 6 Koyo ramen organic noodles, no MSG or preservatives, $.50 clearance sale, reg. $1+
Saved over 50%.
The clearance bin now has Arrowhead Mills organic flour in it. I think there are some IPs so I'll go back for some of those if I can print them. They're marked down to $2 for the small ones and $2.50 for the 4 lb. bag. I'll also pick up another Rudi's bread and Think Thin bar next week. Probably some Cascadian Farms too. The ramen noodles were really good. I'll grab more of those if they still have them.
ETA: This is what I posted on the Grocery Challenge thread. I know it's not all from scratch but it's organic and I got good prices on it.
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FreeSalsa
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Post by FreeSalsa on Feb 16, 2013 15:50:44 GMT -5
I am excited. Aldi's just came out with a new line of organic products. Nice to have some more affordable options. I've heard Aldi's owns Trader Joe's so that may be help drive costs down on both sides I am seriously going to have to buy a lot of food off of Amazon, even though I live in "hippie" land, it is still somewhat difficult to come by other organic things, i.e, organic flours and corn products, or to come by it at a decent price I didn't think of this before. I get all kinds of free points using Swagbucks and I can get free Amazon gift cards. Then I can use the Amazon cards to buy organic ingredients. Thanks for the idea! (BTW, if anyone wants to try Swagbucks just PM me and I can give you a referral. I get lots of free stuff, just by Internet searching, which is something I have to do anyway. I can get about $5 at Amazon a month. Shameless plug over now....)
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FreeSalsa
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Post by FreeSalsa on Feb 16, 2013 15:51:46 GMT -5
Watch for Groupons too. DH got a Groupon for $80 of stuff from a Gluten Free store for $40 a few months ago. He did get a lot of things that were on sale but also stocked up on flours and things like hummus, spag. sauce, salsa and pastas. And it had free shipping. Another great idea!
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FreeSalsa
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Post by FreeSalsa on Feb 16, 2013 16:02:46 GMT -5
Twinmama - check out this website. I get my grass-fed beef and organic chickens from here. Maybe there's a farmer's market near you that he attends? Otherwise, you can order online: www.bestbeefever.com/I can't remember where I heard about this site but I've looked into it too and it seems pretty good. I think the price (of any meat of this quality) is the only thing stopping me right now. Also, it's a little far from me, I was hoping to find something a little closer to home. I can't remember if I've seen them at my farmer's market or not.
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FreeSalsa
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Post by FreeSalsa on Feb 16, 2013 18:52:48 GMT -5
Went to Trader Joe's last night to get some fruits and veggies..did you know the price difference between organic blueberries and non-organic was only .50?? I looked at their ground beef again, it was $6.29/lb..not sure if I am going to find it cheaper than that. Going to the CSA tomorrow and see what they have. Our organic, grass-fed ground beef is normally $6.99/lb. at the minimum. But sometimes there are sales or coupons and I've been able to get it for $3.99 or $4.99, which is almost what regular beef goes for these days. Then I stock up. I usually shop at Sprouts. I don't think Trader Joe's has many sales.
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kittensaver
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We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
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Post by kittensaver on Feb 16, 2013 19:58:16 GMT -5
Twinmama - check out this website. I get my grass-fed beef and organic chickens from here. Maybe there's a farmer's market near you that he attends? Otherwise, you can order online: www.bestbeefever.com/I can't remember where I heard about this site but I've looked into it too and it seems pretty good. I think the price (of any meat of this quality) is the only thing stopping me right now. Also, it's a little far from me, I was hoping to find something a little closer to home. I can't remember if I've seen them at my farmer's market or not. FreeSalsa: I only recommended these folks because I know they are near to Twinmama. Hopefully you have someone similar close to you
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twinmama85
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Have a blessed New Year!
Joined: Dec 28, 2010 9:48:38 GMT -5
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Post by twinmama85 on Feb 16, 2013 20:50:26 GMT -5
Just wanted to share something that almost made me cry when I saw it
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twinmama85
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Have a blessed New Year!
Joined: Dec 28, 2010 9:48:38 GMT -5
Posts: 1,627
Today's Mood: Blessed
Location: Home
Favorite Drink: Wine
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Post by twinmama85 on Feb 16, 2013 20:54:32 GMT -5
Went to Trader Joe's last night to get some fruits and veggies..did you know the price difference between organic blueberries and non-organic was only .50?? I looked at their ground beef again, it was $6.29/lb..not sure if I am going to find it cheaper than that. Going to the CSA tomorrow and see what they have. Our organic, grass-fed ground beef is normally $6.99/lb. at the minimum. But sometimes there are sales or coupons and I've been able to get it for $3.99 or $4.99, which is almost what regular beef goes for these days. Then I stock up. I usually shop at Sprouts. I don't think Trader Joe's has many sales. Closest Sprouts to me is in Thousand Oaks..stopped there yesterday (had to goto UCLA, my son had to have a follow up with the pediatric urologist) and went to the California Science Center and then on the way home, stopped (I LOVE their Macadamia nut coffee) and pretty much wiped them out on their grass fed cross rib steaks lol,(bought 4)
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kittensaver
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We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
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Post by kittensaver on Feb 17, 2013 10:16:18 GMT -5
Just wanted to share something that almost made me cry when I saw it Isn't it awesome?! When if started its final journey, it spent half a day in a parking lot within shouting distance of my home, waiting for the traffic lights to be taken down so it could move through the city streets. Looks like you got closer than I did! We're going to have to take the time to see it in its new home . Thanks for the pic!
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Wisconsin Beth
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No, we don't walk away. But when we're holding on to something precious, we run.
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 11:59:36 GMT -5
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Feb 22, 2013 13:10:16 GMT -5
Just wanted to share something that almost made me cry when I saw it Isn't it awesome?! When if started its final journey, it spent half a day in a parking lot within shouting distance of my home, waiting for the traffic lights to be taken down so it could move through the city streets. Looks like you got closer than I did! We're going to have to take the time to see it in its new home . Thanks for the pic! But I'm still sad about no more shuttles. I don't like completely turning space flight over to commercial companies, you know?
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FreeSalsa
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Post by FreeSalsa on Mar 9, 2013 13:01:24 GMT -5
I just read a good idea. We've been saving organic chicken bones in the freezer and making soup from them when we get a bunch. DH made three pots of soup while I had the flu.
Anyway, the idea I read was to take the ends of the celery, onions, carrot tops, etc., even potato peels and apple and pear cores, the stuff you normally toss, and save those in a baggie in the freezer to make soup. Boil 'em up in water to make a veggie broth, strain and toss them in the compost when you're done. Voila! An extra use out of the stuff you were going to throw out anyway. Just another way to stretch what you already have. Then you don't need to buy Swansons once a year at Thanksgiving and find a place to store it all year.
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