Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Price of Saving


I price match.  I coupon too.  It’s a commitment, takes an hour to two hours a week, but I think it’s worth it.  I estimate that I take $25 to $35 off of my grocery bill every time I shop.  It would be even more if they doubled coupons around here, but so far no luck.

I don’t want you to confuse me with those extreme couponers you see on TV.  That’s not me.  No chance of me dumpster diving even if you gave me the whole store for free.  I don’t get 55 copies of the Sunday paper nor do I consider it an enjoyable evening to cut the same thing over and over and over again.  I’ve never spent 8 hours in a grocery store.  In fact once I hit the hour mark I start to panic, after an hour and a half I’d probably break out in hives. You won’t catch me buying 176 bottles of mayonnaise and storing them in my kids’ shower.  No wack-a-doodle stuff, but if I can get what I need and spend less, I feel a sense of accomplishment.

I think I’ve always been this way.  I remember one time, quite a few years ago, I found a pair of Joseph jeans at Marshalls for $10.  I bought them, of course.  I remember wearing them to go apple picking with my family and 2 other families.  We had a great time apple picking, then sat and had some apple cider and caramel apples.  I didn’t have anything to eat or drink, just stood by my friends and family.  I had to lay the car seat all the way back for the ride home as I had for the ride there.  The Joseph jeans were a size 25 waist, I could neither eat nor sit in them, but d*mn (darn) they looked good, and they were only $10.

I think you all know by now that I bake to relieve stress.  The truth of the matter is, though, that I do save a lot of money on snacks by baking.  Especially given the accelerated rate at which my kids and their friends seem to be increasing their eating.  I price match my flour, sugar, butter and eggs.  I buy local and in-season when I can, so I don’t pay what has in the past 6 months become an absurd price for my ingredients. 


Mixed Berry Pie | www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe

Mixed Berry Pie

There are things that are out of bounds when it comes to saving, though.  Well, yeah, the refusal to store 176 bottles of mayonnaise in the shower thing, but it’s more than that.   Quality matters.  Not that I didn’t already know this, but I learned it again when I tried to buy some of those “no name” items.  Some are just as good as the brand name, and some have gone straight into the trash.  Equally important, the boys only wear a certain brand of socks (skateboarding), shoes (skateboarding), shirts (skateboarding), and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  What they like matters.


Then there are the things that are just out of your hands.  Prices we pay that have nothing to do with money.  Each new instance, new issue, new experience has a price.  There seems to be a direct correlation between the amount of energy I expend in anticipation of any given circumstance (first day of school, grades, driver’s license, etc.), and the ease of the actual event. Something like this:

The Price of Saving | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphic

When it comes to kids and stress you can pay up front or on the back end, but pay you will.  Full price.  And I keep looking, but I just can’t seem to find a coupon for that.





Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics




Mixed Berry Pie
                                   ©www.BakingInATornado.com


Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 pair Pie crusts  (my Mom makes the best from scratch, but I use boxed. Shhh, don’t tell)
1 Tbsp flour
6 cups mixed berries (my favorite is strawberries and blueberries)
1 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
Splash of lemon juice

Directions:
*Spread 1 Tbsp flour over the bottom crust.  Turn it upside down (flour on bottom) into a 9 inch pie plate.  I do this with all fruit pies, it helps the bottom crust not to stick to the pie plate.
*Mix the rest of the ingredients (except 1 Tbsp of sugar) gently together.
*Put into bottom crust, top with top crust and seal well.  Lightly moisten top with a little water and sprinkle with the 1 Tbsp sugar.  Cut 4 small slits in the top crust.
*Fully line the bottom rack of the oven with tin foil or you’ll be sorry.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
*Put the top oven rack so it’s about 2/3 of the way down in the oven.
*Bake for about an hour or until bubbly and browned.  Start checking half way through to be sure the edges aren’t burning.  I put a pie shield on half way through to protect the edges.

36 comments:

  1. I am a 'thrifty' shopper myself. Was not, really, but the way things are right now I had to adjust. I make sure I shop wisely, what we need in the best quality and the best price! Unfortunately, Greece does not do coupons, it's rare. I try to avoid 'generic' products unless I know they're good. Quality first! When you find coupons for the price we pay for stress and kids please send me one...and I'll make copies!!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I agree, you do what you have to do, especially with prices skyrocketing right now, but quality does matter...no sense buying it for less if no one will use or eat it.

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  2. Truth! Kids come at a price but they are awesome so I'd pay full price except for their clothes... I always hit the jcp clearance at the end of the season for the oldest girl and boy less than $200 a year and I can clothe all 5

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    1. I miss the days when I could go out and pick up clothes for them as I saw them. Didn't realize how good I had it. I do have to admit though, I like their choices (minus the occasional "no, you CANNOT buy that, it's inappropriate")!

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  3. Oh man looks delish!!! Sounds so lovely! I can't wait to try this recipe! ...maybe when I'm not on a diet HAHA As for being a thrifty shopper...i'm slowly learning how to but it's tough!

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    1. It is rough to learn to be thrifty, especially for those of us who previously just bought what we wanted and didn't look at the price. Times change, guess we just have to change with them!

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  4. I loved double coupons! They don't have that here (Utah), either. It feels so satisfying to see what you saved at the bottom of each receipt..The man's grandma used to have me drive across town to save 10 cents on bananas. Cost of gas, I would think to myself, but she loved it. :) Kids, especially teenager (and now my college kid) = all kinds of money spent. Ugh..Your pie looks wonderful. Size 25 jeans = XS yoga pants...and this comment, my friend, looks like my ADD is showing through :) Enjoy your day!

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    1. Here's the difference, those size 25 jeans were years ago, couldn't get them over my baby toe now!

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  5. Yeah, I'll admit I was a little jealous reading that part about the size 25 waist jeans....see, I always say, "Never trust a skinny cook." That pie, however, looks to die for. It would be awesome for a July 4th party! Thanks for sharing the recipe--think I'll give it a whirl!!

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    1. Those jeans were a good ten years ago, before all the stress and the baking and the venting and the blogging...

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  6. It sounds like you've hit a pretty good balance of saving without going too crazy or devoting your life to it (i.e. the mayo). And it's true--sometimes the store brands or the cheapest version of a certain item tastes great...other times you have to stick to a more expensive brand. Yes, it's more expensive but you'll get better enjoyment and use out of the product, so it's worth it.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. The real problem is the things you try and then end up throwing in the trash. Once you figure out which items you like, it's a lot easier. Then there are the things I can bake myself, that's always cheaper than buying the pre-baked goods.

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  7. Yum to the pie recipe, sounds delicious! I love anything sweet :)

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    1. You'd get along well with my kids. Well maybe not, they'd fight you for the pie!

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  8. oh I wish I could coupon!! I've tried but you are right it is a commitment.

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    1. True, it is a commitment, but getting out of the grocery store without taking out a second mortgage on the house to feed these growing boys is quite a challenge these days!

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  9. This pie looks delicious! I have tried the couponing thing but I don't have the time for it. Plus, most of the food deals are on foods that I wouldn't eat i.e. prepackaged foods. I have gotten some good deals on soaps, deodorant and dental products, though.

    Thanks for sharing on Marvelous Mondays!

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Couponing does take time for sure. I've gotten some good deals on milk, butter, flour, all of my baking ingredients too!

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  10. Your pie looks so yummy. I don't cut coupon too much, I guess I did more when I was younger.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I know so many people who don't coupon, but I can't help it, I just love getting stuff for less.

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  11. I don't coupon that much anymore. It always seems like a competitor offers the product for the same price I would get from all that clipping! I did go through a phase where I kept my coupons in a binder, but I just don't have the time anymore.

    Your photos are beautiful! Nice to meet you on Monday Mingle!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I get what you're saying about time, that's why I clip the ones I get at the house but don't go out searching for more (no dumpster diving for me)! I do save money with them, no question!

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  12. Yum! I do a little couponing too, but I don't go crazy with it. Thanks for visiting from the mingle. Now following :) Have a wonderful week!

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    1. No, I don't go crazy with it either, but I'd miss the little I do. I just love getting a deal!

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  13. Loved this post. I'm with you...I love a good deal, but I don't go cuckoo crazy to get it. Thanks for stopping by today and leaving me a sweet note about the Caramel Frosting. I'm your newest follower. I hope you'll be back for a visit soon. Have a great week!
    Blessings,
    Nici

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Most people I know try in some way to get more for less, but most of us have our limits. Thanks for the follow!

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  14. I think it is great that you take a moment to coupon. Here we don't have coupons so I never have to do it, but we do try to go through the flyers each week to see where the better sales are at.

    I really should start baking to start saving in the snacking area too... If I every find the time, maybe some day. I would love to bake my own bread and buns.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I just love seeing everyone's faces when I bake. The dinners usually some like and some don't but everyone loves the baking.

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  15. Hi Karen,thank you for visiting my blog so often!
    I am following you via GFC and look forward to your posts - have a great week,
    Linda Nortje

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  16. We don't get to use a lot of coupons here in Greece, but I do hunt sales and discounts and I'm pretty good at it :) Thank you for stoppng by , I love your blog, especially the dessert section :) following, so I'll see you soon :)

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    1. Thanks, Mireille, you do get good at it, that's when it starts taking less time. I really like saving.

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  17. I use coupons alot, but I definitely agree with you that it can take a lot of time. That's why I've been focusing lately on the healthy deals. Every week there's healthy produce, meat, yogurt, and things like that on sale.

    I came across your site from the Naptime review. Feel free to check out my site https://fashionablysaving.wordpress.com/
    http://www.facebook.com/fashionablysaving

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    1. I have to admit that it took more time when I first started making an effort to save, now I get through the process faster as I'm more organized about doing it. I'll stop by and see what you're up to!

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  18. Hi!

    I found you through the blog hop and started following. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. :)

    I tried couponing for a while. If FL would double coupons, I could have saved so much more money!

    xo
    alexis
    www.livingthewifestyle.com

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    1. It's frustrating to go from living somewhere where they will double coupons to somewhere where they don't, but nothing I can do about it. Does make saving money a little more labor-intensive,though!

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