Comments on: Grocery Spending and Menu-June 20th http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/ cheerfully living on less Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:14:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: casey http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/#comment-13704 casey Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:33:03 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=2396#comment-13704 Our local Stop & Shop has a scanner thingy you can use while you're shopping that adds up all your purchases (aside from produce by the lb). Not only does it give you a rough running total, but it speeds up the checkout process - they just download the contents of the scanner. You scan in your "value" card beforehand so you get all the sales. Here's a link: http://www.physorg.com/news139225121.html. Our local Stop & Shop has a scanner thingy you can use while you’re shopping that adds up all your purchases (aside from produce by the lb). Not only does it give you a rough running total, but it speeds up the checkout process – they just download the contents of the scanner. You scan in your “value” card beforehand so you get all the sales. Here’s a link: http://www.physorg.com/news139225121.html.

]]> By: Battra92 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/#comment-11873 Battra92 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:13:38 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=2396#comment-11873 It really took me a while to find the spider. :) It really took me a while to find the spider. :)

]]> By: WilliamB http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/#comment-11768 WilliamB Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:19:48 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=2396#comment-11768 I have a treasured collection of "green bags." They really work. The following numbers are for cut, washed produce, which goes bad faster than uncut and unwashed: they keep my broccoli for 2-3 weeks, romaine for 10-12 days, carrots forever, celery 1+ month, chard leaves 2.5 weeks, and so on. Mine were made by Glad. This particular type is no longer on the market but when I heard I could order them from Glad directly, I bought a case - 16 boxes - and do everything I can to make them last. I have washed and reused them more times than I can count (by hand) and they still work. My bags are 10+ years old, I'd bet a week's worth of groceries that the more recent technology is even better. Julia, why not used bags with holes? The only reason I can think of is that the holes cause the food to deteriorate more quickly. Did you run a side-by-side comparison to check? Any thoughts on what happens if you wash the bags more than 10 times? Other than you use what you have and don't buy more from the maker. I have a treasured collection of “green bags.” They really work. The following numbers are for cut, washed produce, which goes bad faster than uncut and unwashed: they keep my broccoli for 2-3 weeks, romaine for 10-12 days, carrots forever, celery 1+ month, chard leaves 2.5 weeks, and so on.

Mine were made by Glad. This particular type is no longer on the market but when I heard I could order them from Glad directly, I bought a case – 16 boxes – and do everything I can to make them last. I have washed and reused them more times than I can count (by hand) and they still work. My bags are 10+ years old, I’d bet a week’s worth of groceries that the more recent technology is even better.

Julia, why not used bags with holes? The only reason I can think of is that the holes cause the food to deteriorate more quickly. Did you run a side-by-side comparison to check?

Any thoughts on what happens if you wash the bags more than 10 times? Other than you use what you have and don’t buy more from the maker.

]]> By: Julia http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/#comment-11633 Julia Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:39:09 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=2396#comment-11633 I have used those "Debby Meyers green bags" because my husband got them as a sample at work. (This is a benefit to having a husband who works in retail, as I commented in the Goodwill shorts thread!) They work pretty well, but I don't know that I've ever left anything for weeks. I think a week to 10 days is as long as I've gone. Nothing has spoiled while being in one of the bags. It says you can wash them and reuse them, I think the maximum is supposed to be 10 times or so---but of course, being frugal, I have washed and reused them many more times than that. Um, I've stopped using them only when they developed holes. And actually my son took 2 clean ones with holes into the bath tub and played with them there, so we really got our "free" money's worth out of those! When the free ones all eventually died, I bought another box. I have used those “Debby Meyers green bags” because my husband got them as a sample at work. (This is a benefit to having a husband who works in retail, as I commented in the Goodwill shorts thread!) They work pretty well, but I don’t know that I’ve ever left anything for weeks. I think a week to 10 days is as long as I’ve gone. Nothing has spoiled while being in one of the bags. It says you can wash them and reuse them, I think the maximum is supposed to be 10 times or so—but of course, being frugal, I have washed and reused them many more times than that. Um, I’ve stopped using them only when they developed holes. And actually my son took 2 clean ones with holes into the bath tub and played with them there, so we really got our “free” money’s worth out of those! When the free ones all eventually died, I bought another box.

]]> By: Dana http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/#comment-11522 Dana Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:09:32 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=2396#comment-11522 Hi Kristen~ Your produce looks so yummy! Have you ever seen those green bags on T.V. that say they can keep produce fresh for many many weeks?? I also saw them at Wal-Mart last week. Do you think they work? I feel weird thinking about serving produce that is weeks and weeks old...gross! It must lose some vitamins or something. One more idea...when I am trying to keep track of my grocery spending, instead of bringing a calculator I keep a pad with tick marks with my shopping list. I just put one tick mark per dollar...it ends up to be surprisingly accurate. I know I'm blabbering, but I'd like to see how you organize your shopping list. I have a clipboard with one market on the left, one on the right, coupon items marked with a *, and so forth. I'm sure you have a great system down and you could give me some tips. Thanks for continuing to inspire me, Dana Hi Kristen~

Your produce looks so yummy! Have you ever seen those green bags on T.V. that say they can keep produce fresh for many many weeks?? I also saw them at Wal-Mart last week. Do you think they work? I feel weird thinking about serving produce that is weeks and weeks old…gross! It must lose some vitamins or something.
One more idea…when I am trying to keep track of my grocery spending, instead of bringing a calculator I keep a pad with tick marks with my shopping list. I just put one tick mark per dollar…it ends up to be surprisingly accurate. I know I’m blabbering, but I’d like to see how you organize your shopping list. I have a clipboard with one market on the left, one on the right, coupon items marked with a *, and so forth. I’m sure you have a great system down and you could give me some tips.

Thanks for continuing to inspire me,
Dana

]]> By: Kolfinnas Korner http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/#comment-11508 Kolfinnas Korner Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:07:00 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=2396#comment-11508 Mmmm Chicken & Bacon Quesadillas.....that I must try. Chicken and bacon are 2 staples at our house and we do like quesadillas. What else besides cheese do you add? Mmmm Chicken & Bacon Quesadillas…..that I must try. Chicken and bacon are 2 staples at our house and we do like quesadillas. What else besides cheese do you add?

]]> By: Frugal Liz http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/#comment-11506 Frugal Liz Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:48:51 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=2396#comment-11506 I wouldn't worry too much about overspending a little on groceries. You can feel good knowing that your kids are getting lots of healthy, good meals every day. No crappy ramen and white bread in your family! I would never feed that junk to my kids either...Not even if we were really poor. I mean you have a family of 6! I can't believe you're able to keep it under $100 per week! I wouldn’t worry too much about overspending a little on groceries. You can feel good knowing that your kids are getting lots of healthy, good meals every day. No crappy ramen and white bread in your family! I would never feed that junk to my kids either…Not even if we were really poor. I mean you have a family of 6! I can’t believe you’re able to keep it under $100 per week!

]]> By: Tina http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/grocery-spending-and-menu-june-20th/#comment-11495 Tina Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:37:06 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=2396#comment-11495 I'm loving the pompom worm (?) relaxing on the bananas! And all that fruit looks so yummy! I’m loving the pompom worm (?) relaxing on the bananas! And all that fruit looks so yummy!

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