Bargain Victory!

So, I already told you a little about how I afford to feed our rather large family on a rather small food budget.  Part of it is cheap dinner recipes.  Another part is cheap stores.  Literally, we call it "the cheap store."  I've been shopping there for a while and for some reason I thought that the owners were Amish. Now I think they're Mennonite.  Either way, I feel like a heathen when I go there.  I've considered buying a proper jumper to keep in the car for when I need to go serious bargain hunting.  But I can't bear the humiliation.  So, I'll just be friendly and hope they know that I love the Lord, too.
Not that it matters what they think, that's just my weirdness.

So, on to my awesome grocery haul.... Check this out!

Yep, that's what fifty bucks will get ya, if you're not too proud and you don't mind expiration dates being in the past.  : )
I especially appreciate the coffee, since I've been reduced to Chase and Sanborne, which tastes more like cigarette ashes than coffee.  Even a tightwad like me has limits!  But, alas, my addiction is renewed with delicious Columbian!  I saved so much, I even bought some real cream to go with it.  Yeah, life is good.

Oh, and that's 72 good-tasting protein bars for a measly six bucks!  Those things are helpful when feeding teen boys.

And just in case you didn't notice...

 A couple of my other favorite things in the world.


Twizzlers, 12 for a buck.  TWELVE!

These oreo packs were eight for a dollar.

I'm planning on using them for bribes...
or rewards.  Either way, they're a good deal!








Here's what I got the last time I went there.  All this was less than 50 bucks:

These little bargain outlet stores are popping up all over the place.  I guess it's become a pretty successful business venture for the Amish.  They keep the store so nice and neat, even though the food is all strange and mismatched.  It's a cultural experience, too.  So, I guess you could call it a field trip!

But, I've got to warn you before you go out and buy a bunch of expired stuff expecting it to be good because I said so...  Some of it is GROSS.  Yes, very GROSS.  You've got to experiment a bit before you go buy a bunch of something.  Expired coffee is nasty.  It's OK if the only thing that's wrong is a damaged package, though.  Whole wheat flour goes rancid if it's not refrigerated, so it's best fresh. Nuts can get funky tasting, too.  Any cereal with nuts or seeds tastes kindof bad.  It's edible, but not preferred.  The chickens eat all the stuff we don't, so it's still a good deal for us.  But if you don't happen to have scavenging pets, better safe than sorry...buy small quantities at first.  Also, watch out for any products packaged in cardboard without a plastic liner.  That's an invitation for bugs, which the chickens adore, but literally make me gag.

You've got to be a little price savvy to get the best deals because these shop owners are no dummies.  They'll price suave shampoo at $1.50, and I'm sure some people fall for it.  Not everything is a good deal, so if you can't remember what you normally pay for something, it might be a good idea to write down your best prices before you go.  I like finding some unusual products that aren't normally at the store, though, like Kiss My Face body wash.  Who could resist that?  It's definitely an adventure.  It's also a little like a victory.  Yeah, I'm weird.  But you already knew that.

If you live around here, our store is called The Bread Basket.  If not, ask around.  The store where we used to live was called Global Liquidators, the one before that was Grocery Outlet.  You'll probably end up just calling it "the cheap store."  And if you love a great bargain, you'll call it your friend.

Happy hunting,
jen