Monday Q&A | Family, Warehouse Clubs, TV, and Stocking Up
These first questions were emailed in response to last Monday's post, where I shared pictures of our weekend activities, which included my cousin's wedding and a trip to the pool.
I loved this post. You have a beautiful family---extended family as well. I noticed your dad is in uniform. You will have to tell us about him sometime. Do your parents have a pool? That must be nice if they do. The flowers on the steps were very pretty. Do you have a green thumb that helps you make beautiful flower pots on a nickel?
-Sheila
1. My dad is now retired, but he was a sax player in the U.S. Army Field Band for many, many years. He still plays at church sometimes, and he played the prelude music at my cousin's wedding along with my brother (who played the piano). I think my mom might have talked him into wearing his uniform to the wedding because she kind of has a thing for his uniform. 😉
2. My parents do indeed have a pool....they got one when I was in my early teens, so I got to use it for a lot of years when I lived at home. And now my children get to use it, which is lovely. We go swimming usually once a week with my sister and her boys (you've seen her littlest here a number of times before) and my aunt and her kids (this is the aunt who is mother to my cousin who got married in June, my cousin who got married on Saturday, my cousin who graduated this spring, and 6 other cousins. This is why I often say that I "only" have 4 kids!).
3. I wouldn't exactly say that I have a green thumb, but I do like to try to grow things! The flowers on my front steps are from Aldi (the Caladium), and Lowe's (I got the marigolds and the pink flowers when they were have a ridiculously cheap flower sale).
Hi Kristen,
What do you think about shopping at wholesale stores like BJs and Sams? Are they worth it in your opinion?
Kim
That depends...I wouldn't say a resounding yes or no to that question because the answer will vary depending on your situation and circumstances.
We have a Costco membership and I used to use it more before I discovered Aldi. That's because I've found that I can often beat Costco's prices at Aldi and I don't even have to buy items in enormous quantities.
Yeast is probably my most favorite thing to buy at Costco ($4 for 2 pounds of yeast? Yes, please!). I also buy contact solution, soy sauce, some crackers, vanilla, some spices (ones that I use often, like cinnamon), laundry detergent, and dishwasher soap among other things.
We also buy gas at Costco when it is convenient (I don't think it's worth it to drive out of my way to get gas), so that helps to make the membership more valuable.
If you don't have an Aldi or other similar discount store in your area, I'd say that a warehouse club could be very worth it. If you are like me and have an Aldi, though, it's probably not quite as great a deal (if we didn't have our membership, though, I'd have to get a friend to pick up some yeast for me. If I used supermarket yeast, I'd bake us out of house and home!).
Probably my best warehouse advice is to avoid the trap of assuming that everything will be a good deal. There are indeed great deals at warehouse stores, but some of the bulk items can be had for less money at other stores, so you need to know your prices in order to be a discerning shopper.
How did the 700 Club hear about you? What was that experience like? Was it tempting to take whoever up on the idea of a show?
-Sheila
Well, Dana Brown Ritter, who is a producer for CBN, happens to be a reader. And she happened to get the idea to do a little feature about me and my blog.
It was definitely a unique experience for me...I was really nervous about it at first, but it ended up being a lot of fun. I felt like a reality show participant with my mic clipped onto my jeans!
Though I hate watching myself on TV (I've managed to watch the interview only one time!), I'm really glad that I did the interview. I write my blog for the purpose of helping people, and I'm grateful that the interview helped me reach more people that I'd have been able to otherwise.
The reality show idea cropped up a long time ago (not from CBN), and I have to say, it wasn't very hard to say no. Though blogging and the accompanying criticism has helped me to develop a thicker skin, I know myself well enough to know that I am not prepared for the barrage of criticism that would come from laying our lives out on reality TV. Plus, I don't think any amount of money is worth the loss of privacy that would come from that. 😉
I was wondering if you only buy the groceries you need for that week or if you sometimes stock up on stuff when it's on sale?
Angie
Oh yes, I definitely stock up when I find things on sale. I do this a little less than I used to now that I shop at Aldi because Aldi's prices are low every day (for instance, I can count on paying less than $2 for a pound of butter there each week, whereas before I had to keep an eye out for a $2 sale on butter so that I could stock up).
I often buy chicken and shrimp when they are on sale and I freeze the excess to use on non-sale weeks. I also am a big fan of stocking up on flour...it often goes on sale for a great price at Easter and Christmastime, so I buy a LOT of it at those two times of year.
_________________________________________
Readers, what do you like to stock up on? And what are your thoughts on warehouse clubs?
What a wonderful interview, Kristen! I wasn't sure at first if I have seen this one before but I think not. You seem very relaxed and gracious and I think the interviewer and you together captured the essence of your excellent blog. Thank you for posting it!
Oh, I'm with you - I hate seeing myself on television, and for a while I was an accidental celebrity. My son tells me I am telegenic and cameras just follow me - now that I am Plain, I get photographed more often but filmed much less! As for warehouse clubs - my experience has been to go to them with friends who have cards, and they always overbuy. I can't remember buying anything there, because back when I lived alone, I really couldn't use 100 lbs of flour or 2 lbs of yeast, and I didn't want a case of taco sauce...
We buy extra meat or flour when it is on sale at our local supermarket, but we don't really 'stock up" such as buying six months' worth of anything. The chance of spoilage is too high for food, and since we use mostly natural cleaning supplies that don't vary in price much, there's no need to stock up.
We've been members of a warehouse club for as long as I can remember. My parents were members when I was little so it's something I grew up with. I agree with Kristen that it really depends on how you shop and your family make up. We are currrently members of BJ's.
We've got 2 clubs near us, one of which I pass everyday on my way home from the college where I teach. Their gas prices are much lower than anywhere else around. We also have four cats and the litter and cat food prices there are much lower than even Wal-Mart. One of the big things I like about our BJ's is a deli, which slices to order, so you don't have to buy 8 pounds of American cheese to get a good deal. Of course, there is also the yeast. When a small jar of yeast costs $7 at the grocery store, 2 lbs for $4 is awesome. I've also found that with BJ's, as compared to the other clubs, they offer smaller quantities of things. Plus, BJ's accepts coupons which you can match with the store coupons they send once a month.
I'm another Kristen who's been following your blog for some time now. I also play / teach piano, love to bake and try to live frugally. I enjoy the glimpses into your family life as well. I also try to stock up on deals as I find them - including flour. My favorite baking thing to stock up on is Nestle or Hershey chocolate chips when they go on on sale during November and December. Chocolate chips freeze great and make my CHRISTmas baking a lot more frugal!
We have a Sam's Club membership. It's pretty much the only place I get gas anymore because it's at least $.04 cheaper which, to me, is worth driving an extra mile or two to get that great of a price. I also buy my yeast there. Actually, I've only bought yeast once there, way back in February because I STILL haven't used it all, even though I bake all of my family's bread. It's a great deal. We also get things like napkins, paper towels, gatorade, and occasionally wine there.
I stock up when something is on sale. A few months ago, three supermarkets in town had chicken on sale for $1.99 a pound. I drove to all three and kept my family in chicken for weeks!
Have you done the math on the gas savings? It can't be worth it to drive even 1 extra mile to save .04 per gallon.
I find with teenagers in the house, the more I buy, the more they eat. Even healthy foods go quicker. Wow, Mom got this big box of cereal, cheese, strawberries, etc. We can have an extra lage serving!
I love this! It's always fun to put a voice with your blog.I agree you did a wonderful job...so poised and pleasant! It's inspiring you to know that you have had the opportunity to share you life with so many people! On the Costco subject...my friend (who is a single twenty-something like me), said that it wasn't great for everything, but good for non perishable items that you had storage space to put in. Like laundry soap, paper towels canned soup. I'm thinking about getting a membership but still not store about the storage situation. Frugal storage anyone? 🙂
You are right that warehouse club memberships definitely have to work for your personal needs. For me, Sam's Club is right on my way home for work so it's easier for me to run in there weekly as opposed to places like Walmart. I also love the convenience they offer of having things in bulk, especially if you do a lot of entertaining. I like only having to buy things like dishwashing detergent, laundry soap, cleaning supplies, etc only a couple times a year.
Some of their weekly stuff that are great deals include eggs, milk, yogurt, boxes of lettuce or spinach, lunch meat, sometimes butter, spices, bread products like high fiber sandwich rolls, tortillas, etc, chocolate chips (if you are partial to Nestle), and my favorite - chix and beef bases (about 1/6 the price of grocery store containers!). I also would recommend some of their restaurant equipment (saute pans, stock pots, cookie sheets, rubber spatulas, etc).
I buy their Tyson frozen chix and fish as well. I work full time so I don't have the time to go to several stores and have found that Sam's really save our family a lot of time and money. I like that I can usually get name brand items here for generic store brand prices. I don't know that it would be worth it if you had to drive a long ways to get to the store...
CVS has free contact solution this week if you do the extra care buck program.
I have a small growing family so I dont currently have the need to buy in bulk. I know some of you aren't a huge fan of coupon clipping, but I "steal" my mom's coupons every Monday morning and clip like crazy. The one item I can think of off hand that I have had an exceptional deal on - 3 times no doubt - was tomato paste. 3 times I have managed to buy 6 cans of tomato paste and had the grocery store pay ME $0.04 per can after the coupon and the store sale! (we make a LOT of spagetti and tomato based soups!)
The pink flowers are petunias. 🙂
Ohhh, that's right! I kept thinking geraniums, and I knew that wasn't right! lol
great post & loved the video 😉
Great interview. I share a Sam's club membership with my sister-in-law, so we each pay half the cost of the membership when it is time to renew, and we each get our own card. I am careful what I buy there, though. There are some things that are great deals--yes, the yeast, spices I use a lot of, my allergy medicine, some of my OTC supplements like calcium and fish oil capsules, milk, cheese. eggs, bananas, pasta, etc. I think you have to have will-power to shop there, though. The samples they offer are generally for frozen entrees or other highly prepared, expensive items, and it is tempting to pick up what you just tried. If you stick to those things that are cheaper than what you can get on sale in the local grocery store, then you can get some good deals. And I do stock up, I try to keep a year's supply of food on hand, so a 50 lb. bag of something is not a big deal for me. I just try to store it properly so it keeps for a long time.
I WISH New York City had an Aldi. As it is I'd have to go to New Jersey to shop at one... 🙁
My husband is piggybacked on his mother's Costco membership and we definitely put it to good use. My favorite things to buy there are milk (2 gallons for $3) and chicken ($0.99/lb). I'll also purchase eggs, butter, parmesan, almond butter, unbleached flour, soy sauce, coffee beans, shampoo, dog food & trash bags from there without hesitation. And, of course, we fill up the tank whenever we go. Fortunately, our local Costco is quite close, so most of the gas we use comes from their pumps.
Great video. I agree with the other comment that its nice to put a voice to your writing. You did a great job.
I'm in Queensland in Australia & I've just started baking my own bread as well. My husband & son are Gluten intolerant so I make their bread to save money. And the rest of us get better quality bread if I make it.
I took your idea for Christmas presents too (buying used stuff online) & just bought 3 different little people sets for our 18month twin boys for Christmas. It was only $25. I can't imagine I could get it at the shops for even $50. Now I just need to find things for the other two kids.
Thanks for all the great ideas & sharing your story.
Hi Frugal Girl!
I have a question about coupons. I know you don't use them a whole lot - why is that? I tried to use them for awhile and I found that I could buy the generic form of something for much cheaper than I could get the name brand item with the coupon. Am I doing something wrong? Seems like so many people are into coupons - but I feel silly using them when I can get the generic for less.
Often if you pay attention the name brands will go on sale cheaper than store brands, but you have to pay close attention. For instance Kraft cheese just went on sale 3/$5 but the store brand cheese was over $2 per package. We only eat Kraft anyway for the most part so with a coupon we payed a few pennies for name brand items. As far as club memberships, I compared costs of warehouse prices for frozen food with the costs of a regular grocery store that doubles coupons, and the unit cost for the grocery store was far cheaper than the warehouse club. Now if I could split the cost of the membership with someone I would because they carry things my local, rural stores don't often carry like the leanest ground turkey breast i love so much. It's expensive so I rarely buy it but when I do it's difficult to find. The warehouse club nearest to my home is an hour away in a bigger city so they carry more items, and always have more meat choices. The prices are better too! We recently decided to split the cost of the membership with my parents if they renew so we'd have access to the same perks, as neither of the homes have more than 2 people in them plus pets. It's Sam's Club and they don't take coupons so what we do buy will be things that cannot be bought with coupons. I also LOVE their book and clothing sections!