Chicken, Chicken, and More Chicken

I bought 36 pounds of chicken for $28. Seriously.

I was at SAMS Club last week and had my list of things to pick up (I'm there about every 3 weeks). I was doing pretty well sticking to it with only 2 impulse buys, one of which was Christmas wrapping paper for $1, until I got to the chicken counter. There were no prices posted. A big no-no in my shopping book.

I grabbed a man working and asked him what the prices were for the whole chicken (a staple in my house, as you know) and the legs and quarters (thigh and leg together). First, I am happy to report that whole chicken was 11 cents per pound cheaper at SAMS than CostCo - down to 78 cents, so I picked up a pack of two. The next thing he scanned were the quarters, and my mommy antennae caught the look of confusion on his face from the first few packages he priced. So then he says to me, these have been marked down because the expiration date is tomorrow.

Well almost everything goes in the freezer when you shop in bulk and have only 4 people, so I picked up two packages with the next day's date and headed for the check-out. Well the chicken came up to $5.12 for 7 quarters or 7 pounds of meat (73 cents/pound)! Wes headed back to get the rest and I spent some time when I got home packaging up quarters.

Some people don't eat dark meat and that's fine for you. But my kids love legs, and dark meat is less expensive and just as easy to be creative with. It makes great chicken pot pie, chicken tacos, and chicken noodle soup or chili. It works in casseroles, as barbeque, braised in your pan or baked in a 1-dish casserole. Plus it isn't as dry.

I joked at preschool the next morning that I would be eating chicken every other day for 2 months (it isn't that bad, really, I got 9 meals of quarters and the two whole chickens). But for THAT price, it is worth going off my shopping list and taking the time to package it appropriately and update my freezer list and start thinking of recipes that include either chicken legs, chicken thighs, both or pulled meat.

Again, you know my shopping rules:

• make a list
• only go when you absolutely have to have it
• don't go hungry
• don't impulse shop

So this was the exception to my rule, buying something off my list, but it DID fall into earlier advice that it is OK to buy clearance products, such as meat, fruits, or vegetables - so I broke a rule to follow my own advice.

And by the way, I showed my brother & sister in law my chicken trick - to bake a chicken, make a casserole with the leftovers and then make stock with the bones, all in one afternoon! I think it might take off!

You Can Get It All on EBAY

I tend to get excited about things I like, and EBAY is one of those things. You can get just about anything and you can sell just about everything. And I DO! I get rid of my old stuff and buy some new stuff - clothes for me, the girls, stuff for the house, coupons and there are good brands that I like, such as Gymboree, Vera Bradley & Lilly Pulitzer! And best of all I can do it whenever I want money to get my new stuff (I'm not one of those people who make a job out of buying discontinued/used stuff and reselling it - I just sell the girls' clothes and my stuff).

It IS more work than consigning. It IS more work than a garage sale. And it is DEFINITELY more work than donating. But you get more money for your efforts, and that means you can get more stuff (and not just eBAY stuff - lots of small businesses use PayPal, like Custom Crops). And with PayPal, you can sit on the money or transfer it to your bank account, if you don't use all that you make.

I don't garage sale because people who do are looking for bargains and probably won't pay $10 for an outfit from Gymboree or $40 for a gently used Vera bag. When you consign, you get 40% of what THEY want to sell it for - where's YOUR input?? And handing down to friends is nice, as is donating to the cause of your choice. But I do that with things that don't sell first on eBAY.

My husband is better at taxes than I am so he tells me we either get the money now or get it back with a deduction. But a tax deduction doesn't mean a refund, and it doesn't help me get the new VB patterns that came out this week or use all my Gymbucks before January 25. So here are some of my tips to help you get started cleaning out your junk and buying new treats when YOU want them!

1. RESEARCH - whether you are buying or selling on eBAY, make sure you research what you want to get or get rid of. To do so, search for your item using a regular search option and then search for it again using the completed sales option in ADVANCED SEARCH. The list populates with all completed sales using your key words, whether they sold or not. Again, being aware of prices makes you a better consumer.

2. SELLING HINTS - first organize all your sale items and then take good pictures. It takes less than 10 minutes to list an item (and borrow the text from me to get started). Describe liberally and accurately. And do it while you are watching TV at night or before your kids wake up or whenever you want. Just keep in mind there are best days & times for your auctions to end, and lures like free shipping motivate buyers (but I don't do any of that and still make money). With few exceptions, everything I list starts at 99 cents, and I try to take advantage of any promotions eBAY offers its sellers (presently sellers get 1/2 price listings for 1 and 3-day auctions). If you aren't comfortable with my way, for a small fee you can put a reserve price on your auction that means you don't have to part with it if you don't get your minimum reserve. You CAN list on eBAY if you can read. It is VERY easy to do - and if you are intimidated, ask me for help.

3. BUYING HINTS - when you search for what you want, select buy it now and then select the dropdown option "price plus shipping lowest first." That should get you the best deal. If there's an option to make a best offer, don't just buy it now, make an offer~ the worst they can say is no thanks. If you want to take a chance with auctions, bid your highest price and don't go over it if you get outbid. It is easy to get caught up in the thrill of the bidding. And chances are another item just like it will be up for auction soon, if it isn't already there. Another hint is to try misspellings for common brands - like Lily Pulitzer or Hannah Anderson - sometimes you get good deals that way.

I just made $275 this week, and after I paid my fees (about $40 I think for both eBAY & PayPal), I bought new Ginghers, a Mirabilia pixie pattern to stitch, a Lilly skirt for Maggie and a Lilly dress for Maggie, which puts about $150 back in my checking account towards the new Vera & my Gymbucks. This helped me, and I hope it helps you, too!

My Name is Jenni, and I'm a CostCoholic

Well, anyone who knows me probably knows that I love shopping in bulk. I don't like running out of things - I have stashes of chocolate in my car, in every room in the house, in my desk at preschool, I have enough cardstock to finish every album I've started scrapping, and I REALLY like buying pork loin whole. But probably not why you're thinking...

I think every family should shop in bulk (and avoid ukrops, but that's just me). I also think CostCo has the best prices on things, with few exceptions, with WalMart running a close second. I think many people are put off by wholesale clubs because they come out spending $150 and only got 10 things. Just remember the likelihood you'll be getting those same 10 things during your next trip is very low. And while CostCo is pretty bare bones, boxes only if you ask, remember that you pay for all the perks you get at nicer grocery stores in the form of higher prices. Here are some of my ideas to save even more at CostCo.

A few years ago I tallied up in my head about how much I was spending there per month and realized that I would make back the cost of the membership upgrade ($50). Besides, if you are unhappy, they refund the cost, so it costs me nothing to try, I figured. The upgraded membership gives you extra hours in the morning, which I don't need, and 2% back on all purchases in the form of an annual rebate check. So the minimum I'd have to spend to make the cost of the upgrade is $2500/year or about $100 per paycheck. And CostCo keeps track of what you buy and how much, so all you have to do is ask someone at Member Services. Anyway...

I found that I was motivated to do more shopping there because it was like getting 1/2 VA sales tax back with each purchase, just like a good rewards credit card (CostCo also offers an AmEx with a rebate but I'm not an advocate for it). I buy as much as I can at CostCo! In addition to almost all of my consumables, I purchase birthday gifts, furniture, tires (these are from SAMS, actually), fresh flowers, magazines (save 30%!!), pajamas, and batteries, just to name a few.

Here's a sample of my grocery shopping - every single week I buy skim milk, organic milk, half and half, organic eggs, bananas, 1 fresh vegetable, 1 fresh fruit, 1 - 2 meats, US Weekly & People. I then buy what is on my list (could be anything - at present it is rawhide, can mushrooms and Cascade). Unless it is the deal of the century, don't get anything that isn't on your list - if you still have to have it, put it on your list for the next shopping trip so it is in your budget (budgets are a good thing).

Finally, flip through the coupons that CostCo sends in the mail. Rip out the ones you use and give the rest to a friend (or toss them) - you won't be tempted to impulse-buy then and really, no one is too good for coupons. As a matter of fact, I just bought oatmeal (60 packs) for Lily for only $7 with my latest installment of coupons - 11 cents for her breakfast?? Am I for real?

In the end, to become a CostCoholic like me, or really, just to maximize your savings at a CostCo, consider the following:

• purchase the upgraded membership - this should be prorated if you're already a member
• make a list of exactly what you are planning to purchase (making a freezer list and a menu afterwards helps, too - again, another blog for another day)
• use your CostCo coupons for items you use regularly and stock up
• plan ahead for purchases at Christmas or special occasions for gifts or flowers
• don't get sucked in buying things NOT on your list (I bet it will be there next week)

And those tips work for ALL stores, not just CostCo.

PS - what really makes CostCo fun for me is that annual rebate check. I remember in 2006 I bought 4 Disney costumes for my girls right before our Disney trip, something I wouldn't have put in my budget. This last year I only used $50 of it, paid for my groceries with the rebate check and they gave me the balance in CA$H! Which I used to buy a new Vera bag :)

If any of this helps you, let me know what treat you get with YOUR rebate check!!

Not-So-Sloppy Seconds

So I remember when I was growing up, my parents taught us not to waste much. Not to be environmentally friendly or particularly financially savvy, just doing so because it was right. Things like shopping at the discount bread store (always got Hostess cupcakes as a treat there), saleable but bruised fruits and vegetables to make pies or soups, and meat, for starters.

(Mom is adding the PS here - try garage sales for new-to-you toys and spare winter coats - much cheaper than consignment shops. Now I haven't done much of this but I DO shop and sell EBAY, another post for another day.)

I know some people, even my husband, would turn up his nose at some of this. But people before us and those not as fortunate live off the land and use all of what they have. Since when did we get so self-righteous? A store won't sell you something that would make you sick, for pete's sake. Take a deeper look into what I'm saying:

First, consider the discount bread store - I LIVE for it at Myrtle Beach outlets!! They sell frozen garlic bread and goldfish and milanos and GODIVA there (among other things, but I just highlight the important things). We all know bread freezes just fine. And so does chocolate (if you can't eat it fast enough, though how that could happen, I'm not sure, but anyway). And I don't know many preschoolers who have noticed their goldfish are approaching the sell-by date. So the next time you wander by, pop on in and get some of the things on your grocery list!

Next I mentioned bruised fruit and vegetables. Usually these are on a layered cart in the back of the store within the produce section. Fresh is always better than frozen and especially canned - have you looked at the amount of sodium in canned vegetables?? Brown bananas make terrific banana bread. Bruised apples make a yummy pie (have an easy recipe for that one, too). Bruised vegetables can be added to a vegetable soup or boiled in a stock, even cooked in a chicken potpie. I think that stores mark down produce early in the morning.

But you don't have to just buy discounted produce - be creative with what is starting to go bad in your house.

Finally the discount meats - I remember when we (Wes, few-month old Lily, and me) lived in Phoenix, I'd go to Frye's Marketplace, which is owned by Kroger, and I'd go right at 8:30 in the morning. That's when the meat manager would mark down meat and I would follow her around to buy my meat for the week. Anything that not used in 48 hours would go into the freezer and added to my freezer list posted on the side of the fridge. Discount meat is just meat that is within 24 or 48 hours of the sell-by date, not the eat-by date - and beef can go much longer than fish, chicken, and pork. Wes calls it aging; with beef I call it buying a better cut of meat for the same price as a cheaper cut.

A final thought about meat - buy a fresh turkey the week after Thanksgiving and freeze it for a cold weekend in February or buy a ham the week after Easter and save it for May (hams have lots of preservatives and last a while longer in the fridge, if you have the room).

By both buying discounted consumables and using all of what I have, I'm getting more for my money or saving money that I can use on other treats, like that Godiva at the Pepperidge Farm outlet at the beach. Hope this works for you, too!

The Price is Right, Anyone?

So recently I went to BJs with my friend in NC, just to check things out (we don't have close in Richmond). As a dedicated member of SAMS and CostCo, I had to check out the competition, and I was pretty impressed. But she was AMAZED that I knew how much things cost off the top of my head. (The girls' shampoo costs $1.92 at Target but a 4-pack at BJs cost only $5.99 - I bought it). She asked me if I liked the game show The Price Is Right - and who doesn't like the longest running game show of all time?

Knowing how much things cost has always made sense to me. If you read my earlier post about chicken, you know fresh chicken is presented in a variety of ways. So think about all the different stores around you and by how much the prices vary (or maybe you haven't but you should). I am not saying compare whole chicken to cut up chicken to boneless/skinless chicken, though you could and will find that whole chickens are cheaper, but I digress...

First off always compare apples to apples - this means to compare price per pound or per ounce - sometimes though not often the smaller quantity is better deal. On each price sticker on the shelf of a store is a small box that lists the cost per unit. For items you buy regularly, record them and get to know where you need to buy what, and go there!

EXAMPLE: Organic Milk
CostCo 3-pack = $9.99
SAMS quart = $2.82
Kroger = $3.89
Target = $3.89
By my calculations, the best place to buy organic milk this week is SAMS - if you're a member of both - but if not, CostCo, by almost 55 cents, which is 15% higher (if I did my math right) at Target or Kroger. That adds up to hundreds of dollars per year, just with MILK!

Here's another example - bananas cost 60 cents per pound at Kroger, and 3 pounds are $1.29 at CostCo (roughly 8 bananas). You might tell me your family can't eat three pounds of bananas before they go bad. Well, there are two ways to look at it - if you have three or fewer bananas left, you can either toss them (therefore cost breaks even) or take 5 minutes (and yes, I mean FIVE) to make banana muffins using those black, mushy, squishy bananas. They taste delicious and you can whip them up while your kids set the table for you so you can have them for dessert after dinner - YUMMY!! And if you really can't spare 5 minutes for baking, just freeze them.

When I joined CostCo way back when, I took a pen and paper and marked down the price of all the meat and produce I knew I'd buy on a regular basis. I occasionally go to the grocery to pick up something Costco and SAMS don't carry (like flavored applesauce or Yoplait Whips, because we can't eat REGULAR yogurt like everyone else) and check out the prices. Sometimes sale prices or the clearance meat (I'll blog on this and the bananas later) is a better deal and you have to snap it up!

Anyway the lesson learned in this post is to chuck the idea you are saving time shopping in one place. Does ANY mom really go to the store only once per week? I'm NOT saying drive all over the place, but here's the trick:

• confirm prices of your consumable staples at all stores you frequent
• keep a running grocery list in 1 place (I email mine to myself) and divide it up by store
• visit that store ONLY as often as needed to reduce impulse buys
• go on a full tummy (to my car post for more on this)
• ALWAYS use your list and only stray from it if there's a super-good deal

Knowing the costs of what you consume makes you a better consumer. In the grand scheme, you wouldn't pay more money for a car just because it got free car washes every week - so don't make that mistake with your groceries.

My Car Is My Second Home

As a working mom of two girls, I spend lots of time in the car trucking kids around and running errands. One of the EASIEST ways to save money is to leave a little survival kit in the back of your car.

Well, I am generally running late, which means I haven't had time to pack snacks and drinks for the girls or myself. By keeping a pack of juice boxes, lollipops, and prepackaged snacks IN the car at all times, you end up saving money in odd places, such as

• going through drive-through and not ordering drinks (saves me $4/trip)
• eating in a restaurant (note that not all kid's meals come with drinks)
• shopping at the grocery

I also keep 2 boxes of crayons and 2 coloring books from the Dollar Tree for entertainment both inside the car and out.

Someone might point out to me that if you are actively trying to save money, you wouldn't be eating in a restaurant or buzzing through the drive-through. Well, to you I say you'll still save money on those impulse-buys if you shopped while you or your kids are hungry. You ALWAYS buy more if you are hungry. So drink up and fill up before you get there!

And I might point out that you CAN order fast food or eat in a restaurant occasionally, just use the drinks in the car to $ave money and ALWAYS use coupons! ValPack is my friend! But if you don't use coupons, try to go where kids eat free (Buffalo Wild Wings on Thursday night has 99 cents kids meals).

My car might not be too neat, but my survival tote has served me & my girls well - and this tip has worked for several other of my friends. Hope it works for you, too!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

The cheapest, easiest, non-pasta/bean dinner on a budget - roast a chicken. A whole chicken is 89 cents per pound at CostCo or WalMart, so for roughly $7 you can feed your family of four twice, eek out a third meal and find yourself not wanting to pay $4.99/pound for boneless, skinless breasts EVER AGAIN.

First - bathe your chicken in the sink and remove his innards. Pat him dry, then quarter an onion and insert in the body cavity (he doesn't feel a thing). Then slice up a clove of garlic into fourths. Stab your bird in some thick places (think breast and thigh) and insert the clove in the hole. Rub with butter, salt, pepper him and shove him in the oven breast-side up (oven preset to 375, of course). Then sit down and read a magazine until it starts to smell good (try not to do chores, it ruins the atmosphere). Make easy sides during the last bit, remembering he has to rest after you take him out of the oven.

After you've eaten dinner, immediately strip the remaining meat from the bones. Put it in a zip bag and save for later in the week or freeze. Take all the bones and the carcass and dump them into a big pot. Cover with water, add vegetables like celery or carrots, another quartered onion, lots of S&P, a bay leaf and a granny smith apple, quartered, if you have it. Boil then simmer until bedtime. Stock is healthier for you than canned stuff and you can use it to eek out that third meal - soup!!

Please note the second chicken meal is a casserole of your choice, but I have plenty of suggestions if you need one. YUMMY!

If you shop in bulk like I do (and you SHOULD) and you walk out of CostCo with two chickens, consider this - if you chop up the raw chicken yourself before you freeze it, you have another meal prepped for later the next week. Pre-cut chicken is at least $1 more per pound and the cost only increases as the butcher does more work for you. Besides, I have a kindergartner missing 5 of her front teeth and the LOVES chicken legs. Did you when you were a kid?

Anyway, I imagine you'll find you're a winner with your cheap & easy chicken dinner and you might have some money leftover for Godiva!