June 9, 2008 | Everyday Wisdom, Groceries, Questions Answered

The very pretty Laura writes:

Dear Mir,

If you have the time and space to tackle this topic, I’d be forever in your debt (at a 0% APR, hopefully…) because my husband and I are hoping to baptize our two kids sometime this summer. What I’ve learned from hosting their birthday parties (they are 4 & 2) is that, even with a short guest list and an eye on the bottom line, the cost of having even a simple, casual gathering always ends up blowing past the original budget.

I know you’ll have some sage advice, and I’m sure your readers will also chime in with a gaggle of great ideas.

Thanks, in advance, for your help…

This is my kind of question, because I’m all about entertaining on a budget. Let’s get to it. (more…)

June 4, 2008 | Groceries, Hot Hot Hot!

You’d have to have a lot of snackers in your house (or a team to feed, like maybe at baseball?), but check this one out: Right now at Amazon, 12 14-count packages of organic raisins are marked down to just $25.20. Apply coupon code MAYGRCCL for another $10 off, and it’ll still qualify for free Super Saver Shipping, but you’ll be paying $15.20 for 168 boxes of raisins. That’s less than a dime a box!

And who doesn’t love raisins? Communists, that’s who.

June 2, 2008 | Groceries, Hot Hot Hot!

I am not generally a potato chip person, but I’ll confess I have a real weakness for kettle-cooked chips. I’m not sure whether it’s the super-crisp texture or the fact that they seem to have more salt than regular chips (mmmm… salt), but I am a fool for ‘em. Especially the Sea Salt & Vinegar ones. Now you know my secret!

Anyway. While I’m generally an advocate of reaching for the carrot sticks rather than the chips, sometimes you’ve just got to have the chips. Am I right? Yes. (Also, sometimes you throw a party and need a lot of chips.)

So check out this June grocery deal at Amazon: Right now eligible Kettle Chips are already marked 38% off, and if you buy any of them you can use coupon code KETTLE45 to take another 40% off. The end result is some delicious snacky goodness for less than the inferior, store-brand chips.

I have to go get something to wipe the drool off my keyboard, now.

May 28, 2008 | Groceries, Hot Hot Hot!

So, you know that Amazon does a new crop of grocery deals every month, right? But it can be hard to keep track of what deals are on when, and which things that qualify for promotional discounts are on sale.

That’s why you have me! I check this stuff obsessively, because I really need to get a life and possibly a hobby or two. Ahem.

Anyway! Right now there’s a deal on eligible grocery brands like Kellogg’s and Keebler where you can take $20 off your $49+ purchase. That’s pretty good, anyway, but there’s a number of available products that are already on sale, making it a great way to make your grocery dollars go even further.

Also, cookies don’t have any calories when you buy them on sale. I’m sure I read that somewhere….

May 6, 2008 | Groceries, Hot Hot Hot!

Hey, I forgot one thing in my previous post about saving money on groceries—I totally scoop up the food deals on Amazon. I get snacks for the kids and such for less, plus it gets delivered right to my door. Score!

I just came across this deal on qualifying Beigel Beigel snacks. Spend $29+ and you can take off another $10 with coupon code BEIGEL05 (and it’s all already on sale, too). Their pretzels are 100% natural, made of whole grains, and really, who doesn’t like pretzels? Communists, that’s who. (I’m kidding. Please, no hatemail from people who are allergic to pretzels or who are friendly communists.)

Although I’ve taken to making most of our snack food from scratch, I’ve yet to figure out how to make pretzels. This may be an acceptable alternative.

Everyday Wisdom, Groceries, Mindful Money

I have a confession to make.

Prior to the current financial situation in this country (you know, the whole “we’re not saying the ‘r-word’ therefore it’s not actually that thing that rhymes with concession!”), even as frugal as I generally am, I struggled to avoid falling into one of two extremely un-thrifty habits.

It seemed like I had two modes of operation: Either I went to the grocery store nearly every day, or—if I managed to keep my shopping to just once a week—I was constantly throwing away food that had gone bad before I had a chance to use it up.

Here’s another confession: I’m still struggling to figure out how to avoid doing this, and I do mean struggling. (more…)

April 17, 2008 | Groceries, Quick Tips

My love for The Consumerist cannot be adequately described, so I’ll just refer you to this informative and hilarious post wherein they let us know that Kroger is offering a 10% bonus on federal stimulus checks converted to Kroger gift cards.

Hey, you’re buying groceries anyway… why not make a little extra?

Groceries, Hot Hot Hot!

I’m not a big fan of Tetley, but then, I’ve never tried their British Blend version before. I’d be willing to try it for free, I think.

Answer the questions, get free tea and coupons.

(That’s the best I can offer in the morning before I’ve had my tea, I’m afraid.)

April 9, 2008 | Groceries, Hot Hot Hot!

Coming in just behind my love affair with chocolate and bacon (not together) is my deep affection for olive oil. We use olive oil in, well, nearly everything. It’s good for you! And it’s tasty! And if you’re a wannabe-foodie you can pour it into pretty jars with some garlic cloves and/or the spices of your choice and give it away as gifts. (If you do that, I recommend tying a pretty ribbon on it and saying, “I made you some gourmet olive oil” rather than “Dude, I totally just dumped some oil in this jar with this rosemary I grew!” Of course I am being completely hypothetical.)

Do you cook with a lot of olive oil? Scoot on over to Amazon, where this two-pack of Colavita extra virgin olive oil is currently $23.80. Then use coupon code OILOIL22 to save another $5. That’s 68 ounces of the primo stuff for just $18.80—much cheaper than you’d get it in the store. (Too much oil for you? Split it with a friend and you each take one 34-ounce tin for $9.40.) Add a filler item and it’ll ship for free with Super Saver Shipping, and if you’ve seen a price like that at your local grocery store, I’ll drink a glassful of oil, rosemary and all.

March 25, 2008 | Groceries, Hot Hot Hot!

Having some cereal for breakfast? If you go fill out this form, you could be having Total Cranberry Crunch for breakfast someday soon, for free. (Yeah, it’s just a sample. But did I mention that it’s free? The only thing I like better than “free” is “free food.”)

Some days it really doesn’t take much to make me happy, you know.