Wowie Zowie this was an expensive week! We stocked on foods that we love up and went waaaaay over budget. I’m excited to share some new recipes with you as soon as I can get them typed up. Saving money is a little trickier when you aren’t coupon obsessed and buying filler food {junk food} to feed your family all the time. Real food costs money, and that’s okay with me.
Albertsons $22.74
Albertsons had 2-pound baskets of peaches on sale for $.99 each so I stocked up. Mangos were also $.69 each too. Yee-Haw. This was an in store special so I’m not sure if this will be available in your store.
Zaycon Foods $120.19
On Saturday the HH and I processed 40 pounds of Zaycon beef. We made over 30 freezer meals {I’ll be sharing the recipes soon} and I think this is how I’m going to stock up on meat from now on. Spending a couple of hours preparing freezer meals ahead of time is SUCH A TIMESAVER down the road. And I’m all about saving time!
If you are interested, Zaycon is taking pre-orders for 40 pound cases of boneless, skinless chicken breasts right now.
Fred Meyer $4.99
The Girl was craving oranges so we grabbed a sack.
Costco $42.86
I’m headed out of town next week for our road trip to St. Jude and decided to stock up on supplies for the HH and Monkey Boy. We needed butter and chocolate chips for cookies and I splurged and picked up the HH’s favorite yogurt too.
And last but not least, here’s what I picked up from Mr. Produce Guy last week for free. 🙂
~Mavis
How about YOU? How did you do this week? Any cool deals in your area?
Total Spent This Week $190.78
Total Spent This Year $1,409.35 – It’s official, I’m over for the year!
Total Spent This Year on Garden Seeds/Supplies $893.99 {I bought a Meyer Lemon Tree, Rhubarb crowns, 6 Fruit Trees , 16 yards of soil}, Walla Walla Onions and 90 pounds of seed potatoes. Plus, supplies to make my own potting soil. I also picked up a boatload of heirloom tomato plants at the Seattle Tilth sale.
Read more Shopping Trip Stories.
Maryellen says
Hi Mavis! Have you ordered anything else from there other than beef? I see that they have chicken coming up, and also offer filets and bacon…. I was just wondering if you were happy with the quality of the meat? The chicken breast is certainly the CHEAPEST per pound I have seen! Thanks! ~Maryellen
Robin says
Maryellen,
I have purchased the chicken and bacon for the last 3 years. They are wonderful! Taste yummy and an excellent value. My friend has gotten their cod and my daughter their chicken bites. No one I know has ever been dissatisfied.
Maryellen says
Thank you! I’m going to look into this further. I’ve apparently missed the beef deal in my area, but I’m going to look into the Chicken ASAP! I just bought a 12 cubic ft. deep freezer and I’m excited to fill it. I too do some freezer cooking and I LOVE it! This would be a GREAT deal for people looking to go in on some meat as a group too. 🙂 Thanks for all your tips. My husband and I BOTH love your blog! ~Maryellen
Lisa says
We also regularly do Zaycon chicken (80# each time) and just recently did the bacon (LOVE it). The chicken comes in a huge box, 10# per bag and the breasts are still attached, so it takes a bit of processing…cut in half, trim just a bit, then bag. Last time though I got one box that was great and my second box was almost frozen solid! It took a while to thaw it enough to process but not so much that I couldn’t refreeze. They say their chicken is never frozen though so not sure why my box was. It doesn’t change my opinion though and we will still buy next time.
crlzmmr says
I’m curious.
Years ago didn’t you mention using Miracle-Gro in your garden ?
How many years will it take to get those chemicals out of your soil
so your garden could be considered vaguely organic and “Monsanto-free” ?
( I know different people consider different things acceptable as “organic/healthy” )
It does rain/snow a lot where you are…
maybe that leaches it from your soil faster then it would in San Diego (where it doesn’t rain).
crlzmmr says
Never mind.
It occurs to me that you eat what Mr. Produce guy gives you
so you are not an “organic” eater (you don’t have to worry about chemicals in your garden).
I got “healthier” mixed up with “organic”.
jill says
Hehehehe. What part of San Diego??? I lived there(Mission Valley/Serra Mesa area) over 4 years, husband 25 years….believe me, it can RAIN!!!
blessings, jill
Wynne says
I wish I could score that peach deal! I’ve been wondering–I’ve never noticed a post where you buy rice or flour or beans or salt, those kinds of staples. Do you buy them in mega-quantity at Costco? I’ve been wondering if you’re saving big bucks on them. Thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
Costco or Winco. 🙂
Dianna says
I live in Ohio close to Indiana border. We have many Amish here and I transport them to shop etc. Stopped at a bulk foods store today that had anything you could want, and were taking orders for peaches at $20 a bushel! ( bushel weights 50#). Am ordering!
Carly says
Since you are eating healthier and buying other foods than previously purchased with coupons you are definitely spending more than $100 a month and I see you noted that in this post. So are you going to change the name of your blog? I feel like it’s a little deceiving now. Although I agree with your healthier diet. My family is vegetarian/vegan.
Mavis Butterfield says
Sorry you “feel like it’s a little deceiving now” Lisa. 🙁
BY says
Why would you change your blog name? Just because that is the name doesn’t mean we have to be so exact about this. We all have goals and they can be reflected in our blog titles. Just because you went past $100 a month doesn’t mean you don’t still aim for that. Don’t feel like you have failed or that what you do hasn’t meant a certain standard. You and your efforts help a lot of folks. Recently I read an article about how “organic” type people can come across as “jerks” because some people get very legalistic about it and feel they are superior because of the way they eat or purchase things (or fertilize their yard – which is funny, because you don’t know what they did to the yard before you moved in), etc. Wish I didn’t see evidence of that so often. Take care Mavis, the rest of us love you and wish you only the best. Its like people on TV, people pick them apart because they aren’t perfect. I guess that is what you are now – a Rock Star! God bless.
Mavis Butterfield says
I just want you to know that in no way do I feel like I have failed. 🙂
BY says
I’m sorry I’m not very good with words – my perception is that other people want you to feel that way so they ask certain questions in certain ways, I don’t feel you have. I guess I’m not really talking to you, I’m talking to them. You are a grown up, you don’t need me to do that. I just like your blog so much and I’m sure you work very hard on it. And I really dislike when people don’t appreciate that. Sorry about my mini-rant (yes, I’m a mother, I can rant much bigger and louder). Take care.
christine says
Hi Mavis,
Love to hear about your shopping adventures! What will you do with all those peaches? I love the idea of buying in bulk but I wouldn’t have a clue about what to do with all those peaches and all that ground beef! Take care, Christine
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ll show you tomorrow. 🙂
Jennifer Chalton says
Hi Marvis,
I am a huge reader of your blocks and have read them for over a year now. I was curious since I know you get a lot of your produce from your produce man if you have ever looked into U-pick farms?? I have been picking once a week and it is a screaming deal to pick it yourself.
Also I live outside of Salem, but they do what is called the Salem Harvest here where you volunteer to go to a farm and pick produce. Half of what you pick, you take home for your family and the other half is donated to the marion county food bank here. I love it because I help my community and I help my family. This year alone I have brought home 40 lbs of cherries (picked about 80 lbs, donated 40 lbs and brought 40 lbs home). Last week I brought home 38 lbs of green beans and donated the same amount to the marion county food bank. I love it!
Great job on your gardening. I have a small garden but yours puts mine to shame ; )
Lisa says
Love you Mavis! 🙂
jill says
Thank you so much for the link to Zaycon Foods. My husband has been in school the last 2 years with another 18 months to go….with that he is unable to go hunting(deer, turkey, pig, bison). I did not realize how spoiled I was before. Going to place an order for chicken breasts in my area(Redlands). Great price for the chicken breast.
Last year we moved and I started shopping again at Staters(local store). I discovered Randall’s chicken breast(skinless, boneless) which were actually very good. At first, I could get 6 LARGE breasts on sale for about $8.00 (easy two-three meals for the three of us). Then, it was 5 for $8….now without looking at the store, I picked up 4 for $7. And I thought I was getting a really good deal this time. HA! Gosh, food prices are crazy.
Thanks for such wonderful tips on food and gardening.
blessings, jill
Lissa says
Yours is the only blog I read Every. Single.Day. Thank you for the infomative, free, wonderful entertainment. If someone doesn ‘t “like” the name of your blog maybe they should stop reading. WE LOVE MAVIS! Keep up the fantastic work.