Tonight’s dinner is brought to our table by: Stockpile. Budgeting, doing without, coupons, deal hunting, menu planning, it’s all part of savings. Building a stockpile is part of it. It’s not about just getting what you need at the grocery store for this week’s meals. Instead, stock up on things you use for meals when they are on sale and/or have a coupon. Here’s why –
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
16 oz. shredded chicken – If I bought it this week it would be a good deal. Acme has it for 1.99#. However, I bought it at $1.49lb. and STOCKPILED it.
16oz. frozen broccoli – It would have cost me $1.67 this week. I STOCKED UP at Wegman’s with a $1 off $5 frozen purchase. At .99 ea. I paid .80.
1 can cream of mushroom soup – $1.49 – $2 at the grocery. I STOCKPILED it at .50 a can after a sale and coupon the other month.
1/4 cup milk – no deal – $4 a gallon as always at Bailey’s Dairy.
Cheddar cheese – $2.50 a block last week at Giant – Not the greatest deal for me but I needed it for something else. I used half a chunk so 1.25. This week it would be more.
Tater tots – I STOCKED them a few weeks ago with a FREE coupon from Wegman’s. Now it would cost me $2.50 or more.
If I had gone to the grocery store Sunday and purchased all these things for today’s meal I would have paid $8.47. Instead, because I STOCKPILED, I paid nothing this week and it cost me $4.04 over time. That is less than 50% savings. STOCKPILING is especially useful for weeks when money is a bit low or you don’t feel like shopping. Over the last 2 months I haven’t done much shopping. Besides the odd and end trip for milk, eggs, and produce I haven’t done much REAL grocery shopping. We didn’t go hungry and there is still food in my cabinets. My fridge is getting a bit bare but that’s ok. It will be much easier to clean.