I want to take a minute and share my praises of Grocery Outlet. This is just in case anyone out there harbors wrong thinking about what is for sale there as I used to. About six or seven years ago my two youngest daughters were taking ballet classes half an hour from where we live. The class was an hour long and I decided to poke around what I considered the 'dented can store' for the first time. I expected to see a lot of dents and missing labels. I figured there would be a lot of no name 'ugly' food that would never find its way to my table. What a pleasant shock to find that the opposite is true. In fact, much of what I now buy there is the same as what I just walk by in the regular grocery store because of the crazy prices.
The deal with this store is that you don't know exactly what you are going to find from one week to the next. Some things are standard but always discounted, while others are overstock and largely discounted. when things are close to expiration the price is incredible. I love to stock up on close to expiration items that freeze well. This time I purchased mushrooms at $0.97. They were in fine shape. I bought enough to completely stuff a gallon sized zip-lock freezer bag. When I need some for a stew or casserole I can just grab a handful and toss them in as is.
The fun thing about the unpredictable inventory is that it lends itself to creative cooking... which I love. Remember that I am a recipe rebel? It's always so much fun when the cashier hands you your receipt and tells you how much you saved. My goal is to save as much as I spend. This was a tremendous haul. I saved almost 2/3 more than what I paid! I still purchase most of my grains, sweeteners, nuts and seeds from the co-op that comes by truck once a month (I posted about it here) and I usually purchase the bread that I keep in the freezer (for no bake times) at the Franz bread outlet. Between these three resources the only time I hit another grocery store is when the weekly coupons are worth my time.
Audrey no longer takes ballet and Erin's teacher is here now, so I would now have to figure gas into my spending. Luckily that isn't an issue as several years ago we received our own Grocery Outlet right in this here little town! That's it. I just thought I would share...
Blessings, Debbie
I remember in Florida my mom always shopped that type of grocery store. One time when I was visiting I opened her fridge and it was like a jungle in there. She had so many different types of greens and was always going home with something different. We don't have much choice around here and nothing is discounted -- highly inflated, at least 3 times what it would cost in the States, sometimes more. No such thing as coupons either. I've gotten to where I just don't think about it anymore. No way around it, so I just buy what I can. Try to get some local stuff, although local doesn't always mean Kuwait. It might mean it comes from a surrounding country, like Lebanon or Saudi. Kuwait doesn't do a whole lot in the way of agriculture unfortunately. They bring dates in from Saudi instead of harvesting their own which totally does not make sense to me. Looks like you got lots of yummy stuff! Enjoy! and have a great weekend. Tammy
ReplyDeleteYou have given me a new perspective on this, Debbie. I confess that I am one of those who suspected sub-standard, out-of-date merchandise. (Shame on me for not checking it out.) I think that I will make time this week to check out our local grocery outlet. I'll let you know what I find!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that your grandmother is feeling so much better! Wow...you have had a week of it! Sometimes I look back on stressful times and wonder how in the world I did it. And almost as soon as I think that, I KNOW how I did it. Only by His grace. Praying His grace for your weekend and the days ahead.
(Don't you just love having a Kati/Erin girl around the house? ;-)
Sounds like a great store! I see they're only on the west coast-bummer. I'd almost be afraid to ask how much the coffee was-enjoy:@)
ReplyDeleteSadly we do not have that kind of store in our area, or I would be shopping there! Have a lovely weekend!!
ReplyDeleteThis is great and you're story is nearly like my own. We live about an hour and a half from the one we like to shop at (there are others in between, but eh...) and so we make it a monthly grocery shop. It's fabulous.
ReplyDeleteMakes for a fun and LONG day. For sure! But worth every penny spent.
Wow! I love the photos of bargains.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of a few weeks ago when a friend and I went to the dollar store to buy stuff for the school "event" I help with. I was amazed at all the good deals!
Smart you are to freeze those mushrooms. Yummy good forest food, I say.
We used to live by one of those stores. I think it helped to get the boys through college with the savings. Really miss it. Like you, I enjoyed the adventure of trying out new products and brands. We used to come home with the entire trunk filled with groceries for $50 (this was ten years ago)!
ReplyDeleteI am now total envious! I really do wish we had one of those stores here. I am still working on producing all of my food, but there are things I need to step into a store to purchase, which I do about once a month. I am always shocked at the sticker price of items and wonder how people without gardens can afford to eat! You are blessed Debbie!
ReplyDeleteYou are a savings bandit! Looks like you did quite well. :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to have all those groceries here!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have a Grocery Outlet, but you have sure made me wish we did! You did a wonderful job of savings that will provide lots of great meals, too!! I can already see some great ideas out there! Amazing. blessings ~ Tanna
ReplyDeletePS love those St. Patty's pancakes!! ;)
ReplyDeleteWow! What a wonderful find!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of the Philly Cooking Cream in your top picture and had to give it a google. I learned something new today.
ReplyDeleteOh you have one of those stores! My big brother has one of those near him and he gets so much there. I wished we had one but I will just have to be content with what we have here. ( trying not to sigh [o; )
ReplyDeleteBut we do benefit when my brother comes to visit and brings all kinds of goodies for us.
Blessings and ((HUGS))
-Mary
I've never heard of such a place - sounds great. (love the green shamrock pancakes!)
ReplyDeleteWow that is amazing!!! I can't believe the price on those mushrooms!
ReplyDeleteYou are so blessed! We used to have one not far from here, and I would make a regular pilgrimage to the place. I loved it. You're so right about the changing inventory. I actually tried things that I had never tried before. I could also get the BEST of some things like olive oils and balsamic and other vinegars that were out of my regular budget.
ReplyDeleteI wish we still had our "dented can store".
* Debbie - I thought of you this evening at the supermarket. I got a 5 lb. bag of organic red potatoes for $1.00!! I don't know why they were in the reduced produce section - they look fine. But I'll try to use them soon. Potato soup, I guess, for a start.
ReplyDeleteGosh, what great purchases...we do not have a store such as that which is so sad...food prices are so out of control; no wonder people are going hungry!
ReplyDeleteWe have a few places like this - BB's which is an Amish owned business and Sharp Shoppers. Both are really good!
ReplyDeleteDeanna
I never thought to freeze mushrooms - what a great idea.
ReplyDelete