SPUD - Organic Local Produce Delivered to Your Front Door

Last week I saw this Social Shopper add in the local news paper for "SPUD." 

Basically, I paid Social Shopper $20 for a $40 gift certificate at SPUD, a sustainable produce company. I've often wanted to buy more organic, but with the prices being so high, I've stuck to organic apples and spinach (two of the top "Deadly Dozen" offenders for chemicals and pesticides).

Don't I wish I was getting paid for this. Anyways.

I purchased the Social Shopper Gift Certificate and went immediately to the SPUD website.

Basically, it's a company where you get local organic groceries delivered to your front door, a wonderful company if you're into sustainable living.

I checked out their website for a while, then I ordered a box of assorted organic local produce, to be delivered the following Wednesday (today).

When I came home from my errands this morning, there it was at the front door: my box of sustainably harvested local, organic produce. I got apples, beets, carrots, corn, fennel, romain, crimini mushrooms, pepper, nugget potatoes, and a pound of tomatoes. 

I am really pleased with this company - my only complaint is that the website is a bit complex (it needs to be with all the choices involved for online grocery shopping), but with a cup of tea and a few minutes, totally do-able.

If you want to try it out, they sent me a coupon for friends: 

Referral Code: CRVAN-BURVIC

If you use that code, we both get $20 of free SPUD groceries.

Love, Victoria

Just One Cuppa Joe: UPDATE

If I try to count how many times I have given up coffee, I end up somewhere around six. It's not that I can't do without the rush of caffeine coursing through my system - in fact, I adjust to missing that fairly quickly. It's the comforting ritual of it that I am truly addicted to. I make it to anywhere between three weeks and a few months, and my mornings start to feel so... spartan. Like a bedroom without any colour in it. I've tried herbal teas, hot water, juice - and nothing is quite as satisfying as a cup of coffee.

Right now I am nursing, and my son, an adorable little twenty pounder, suffers from Reflux. They tell me it's likely he'll grow out of it, but in the meantime no dairy, wheat or caffeine for me. Can we just all collectively gasp in horror at the self control I am having to exert (before I confess that I've been cheating with wheat. Just a little bit. Okay, I ate three hotdogs in their buns yesterday. [CRINGE]). Anyways, he responds very badly to caffeine. But he seems okay with decaf. So I am now a dairy-free decaf girl.

But no one else wants a cup of decaf at 2 in the afternoon.

I tried making smaller pots of coffee, but if you try to make anything less than six cups of coffee in my coffeemaker, you end up with something that tastes like dishwater with sugar in it. Not good. And then you are tempted to purchase coffee out, which is NOT FRUGAL at all.

But look what I got:

A one cup coffee filter. So I can make just one cup. 

I have NO idea how much money this saves, wether its pennies or quarters, but it certainly does the trick. 

(Well, I tried this. It works in a pinch, but the coffee tastes like dirt. So I tried a french press, which is slightly more palatable, but still not quite the same. So guess what? I bought instant decaf, and would you believe that it's the best tasting option? I was shocked! It costs $6.50 for approximately 80 cups, which works out to $0.08 a cup. Cheap, CHEEP!)

Detox Darling - Feindish Fruit

I was recently was reading "Psychology Today" as I waited for Aria to finish out her allotted half hour on the library computer and there was an article on pesticide contamination in produce. If I didn't already have curlies, I would now. Pretty much made me sick to my stomach. And it wasn't fear mongering. It is well documented that, "The fruits and vegetables on “The Dirty Dozen” list, when conventionally grown, tested positive for at least 47 different chemicals, with some testing positive for as many as 67." and those 47-67 chemicals have some NASTY side effects (cancer, for instance). Go on, google it for yourself if you doubt me. And they test for chemicals after they have washed the produce.

So, without further ado, here are the Dirty Dozen:
(the food you want to buy organic to avoid contamination)

Apples
Celery
Peaches
Nectarines
Domestic Blueberries
Strawberries
Sweet Bell Peppers
Spinach, Kale and Collard Greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported Grapes
Lettuce

I was displeased to note that these are the items I purchase most.

Anyways, Superstore seems to only have Organic Apples, Strawberries and Spinach. But I know that Pricemart has a much better selection of organic produce.

And to celebrate my new organic produce, I dried organic apple slices yesterday. Mmmmm, good.

Extreeeem Frugality - When a sale is a bad thing

I'm feeling pretty nast right now. NAST. Yep. What is nast you ask? Well, it's a combination of heartburn, gas, and bloatation that renders the sufferer a useless lump. A burpy useless lump, who is suffering extreme regret over the money I saved at Superstore last week.

Back story: I've been a bit under the weather lately, and have been trying to purchase inexpensive and easy to prepare meals. Normally I make most of our food and don't buy pre-packaged, but feeling ill can change a woman's priorities. So I bought fish sticks and french fries (big hit). Perogies and sausage (score). Delissio Pizza on special for $5 (rock on). And then I saw the sale sign in the freezer section:

Regular $9.99, on special $6.99 - Frozen Lasagna.

So I thought to myself - that big lasagna for 7 bucks? This is too good to be true. It's big enough for two meals for three adults - almost a dollar a meal! I am the FRUGAL QUEENNNNNN MUAHHHAHAHAHAHHHH! And I put it on the cart (wince) and paid $7 for it (dismayed sigh).

Now I happen to know from years of stretching bucks that there is a difference between a good deal and a good fleecing. And I should have known that for $7 there is only one kind of lasagna possible. The gross kind. The kind that tastes like ravioli out of a can. The kind you will never, ever taste lasagna again without remembering.

That's not frugal. It's cheap. WHITE TRASH CHEAP! Do you hear that, Superstore?

Oatmeal on the Cheap

I don't even know if I have mentioned it before, but a big savings in our monthly grocery budget is oatmeal. A big 1 kilo bag of it is between 5 and 6 bucks and will last a month. Considering that a box of cereal is the same price and will last a week, oatmeal is a good idea, even every few days.
Here is our tried and tested recipe:

Burton Oatmeal
(1 serving)
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
Handful of raisins or cranberrys (optional)

mix in a microwavable glass bowl (make sure you've room to spare because oatmeal grows). Microwave uncovered for 3 minutes, then stir. Microwave for 3 more minutes. Stir again and let sit for a minute or so.

We eat it with brown sugar and milk, but I've been tempted to try honey... mmmmm....

Roughing It - Homemade Laundry Soap, The Verdict

Alright, I have been using homemade laundry soap long enough to feel like I know a bit about it, and here is my official tried and tested opinion.
This is the best recipe with the clearest and easiest to follow instructions. It was the first one I used, and it turned out the best.
For really dirty loads, I add an extra cup of washing soda to boost the cleaning power. And you really CAN use vinegar as a fabric softener (I noticed no fading or bleaching, but I don't use it in every load). The  "Dryer Balls" or reusable fabric softener sheets work fabby (just not on fuzzy baby blankets. Trust me)
BUT
Even with bleach and hot water, homemade laundry soap just doesn't cut it for whites or heavily soiled light colors. I have a baby, and a lot of her white & pastel colored items are now super stained.

So I recommend homemade soap for all medium and dark loads and the occasional light/white load. Which means that I went out today and purchased liquid laundry soap (a bit defeatedly, I assure you).

Along that train of thought though, YOU SERIOUSLY NEED TO TAKE A CALCULATOR, PEN and PAPER to the grocery store. I went in thinking I would pick up the cheapest detergent I could find and was all set to grab the biggest box of NoName powdered stuff when I noticed the amount of loads the box yielded. So I made my way down the isle with my calculator figuring out the price per load, and WONDER OF WONDERS, I got a name brand concentrated liquid detergent for way cheaper than the "economy" sized box. It just goes to show. They'll gouge you if they can so SHOP SMART!

Also, (although you thrifty animals probably already do this) today I bought the huge NoName brand dish detergent refill bottle and am just going to fill my empty Sunlight bottle up. It saves a bit of money, and it saves on packaging, so double bonus.

And can I just say that buying bulk is not always cheaper. Walnuts were twice the price in bulk as in the baking isle.

Grocery Scrooge - Bread

I always do my grocery shopping first thing on Tuesday mornings. I try to get to the store between 8 and 8:30 - I love getting there when the displays are perfect and well stocked and I can take my time without being stampeded by 14 other people in a rust to get home.
Today my husband had a dentist's appointment on the other side of town, so I used that hour of dead space to save my self the trouble of having to shop tomorrow. I stopped at three different stores to price compare and bought a bit at each. It's worthwhile, at least where we live because the stores are very close, to go to each because each one has their specials meant to pull you in. Kin's Market has oranges for $.39 a pound, Safeway was scandalously expensive, and Superstore has cheap bread along with the lowest prices.
In Superstore, if you go early in the mornings there is always a rack near the bulk/meat departments FULL of day old bread and buns that are marked 50% off. Today I got 14 Grain Bread for $1.25, 12 Rolls for $1.25, 8 Wonder Hamburger Buns for $1.10 and a loaf of Sourdough for $1.20. Because they aren't fresh I  always freeze what we aren't going to eat that day.
I am a big advocate of making your own bread, but for the healthier loaves, you can't really beat prices between $1-2. And after trying my hand at bun making, I have to say that I prefer store bought buns for flavor, but it's just so much easier. And 12 cents a bun is pretty cheap.
Haha - cheap buns!

A Green Experiment

I am going to try and grow a few herbs.
If you know me very well at all, you will know that I am very adept at killing plants and may be inclined to laugh, but I feel a new phase coming on, so I am willing to try and see if my brown thumb has turned green.
I purchased chives and rosemary at $1.79 a packet, and Stevia at $3.79 a packet. It cost about $6 for some seed starter and I am going to look at BFM for pots today. But I am also going to try using the bottom of a 4L milk jug as a starter container. If I  get a decent crop of Chives and Stevia, will definitely make back my expenses within a few months, so I think it's worth a gamble.
But I also (... I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew...) picked up onions and garlic for $2 a piece. I haven't decided yet how to plant them (in a container or the ground, but I would definitely make the money back if I can actually grow them.
Wish me luck... I am going to get started today.

Frugality's Pea Soup

I am going to share one of my cheapest recipes with you. I made it for lunch today and I don't think I will ever get over how easy it is to prepare. It's simple, but yummy. It's SO inexpensive, and it's got protein in it.

Frugality's Pea Soup

8 cups soup stock (beef, chicken or veggie)
2 cups dried split peas (green or yellow)
2 onions, chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash Original (or alternative no salt seasoning blend)

In a big soup pot (bigger than you think you need, because when you blend it later you'll be grateful for the splash guard) add all the ingredients and bring to a boil on high heat. As soon as it starts boiling, cover it and reduce heat to medium low. Cook it for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally. When you are ready to eat, use a braun hand mixer and blend it right in the pot (careful not to burn yourself - it splashes) and you're ready to serve. I have also done this in a slow cooker, or reduced the cooking time by increasing the temperature and stirring more often.

In other news, due to a 'budgeting hickup' I am going to do a Pantry Challenge for the next two weeks. I am sure you've all heard of it (and I know at least 2 of you have done it) - but just in case someone hasn't, you basically try to use up all the stuff in your freezer and your pantry and stick to only buying fresh stuff instead of your usual monster shop. Today I compiled a list of what I've got and this afternoon I am going to make a rough meal plan. I've meant to do this a few times, but never got around to it, so I am actually glad for this opportunity. I'll let you know how it goes :0D

DAY 4 and going STRONG

Alright, darlings.

Day four of the Gypsie Challenge.

Frivolous $ Spent?

Absolutely nothing.

Granted (and suddenly I feel like I am confessing), I used my Starbucks Gift Card once this week, and bought a coffee another time with money that had been given to me, but I am not really counting gifts as part of the challenge. Is that cheating?

Wait... I am the BOSS. I get to make the rules.

So, lets start that again.

In case you are wondering, fellow gypsies, gifts don't count in the challenge. Heh.

In other news, I made a transaction on the down low this evening. No names named, no faces seen. Just a farmer, his free range chickens and my hungry family. You can save around $2 a dozen (if you know the right people) on free range eggs by finding a local chicken farmer.

This gets 4 out of 5 stars because:

PRO - Eggs keep for months in a cold place. So when your supermarket eggs have a best by thats only a few weeks away? YOU ARE EATING REALLY OLD EGGS. When you go to a local farmer you guarantee yourself fresh eggs.

PRO - You are supporting local businesses. This is good. If you don't know why, pull your head out of your bottom and ask someone. After washing your hair. And possibly brushing your teeth.

PRO - You save money. And isn't that why you're here?

CON - It's less convenient to drive out of your way, with cash, to get them than it is to pick them up along with the milk and cheese.

Grocery Scrooge - Meat

While I am not personally an avid fan of anything that has a history of breathing (bones, blood, gristle and veins.... blech), we consume a lot of meat. The men in my house aren't huge eaters (thank God), but they definitely look at me funny when I try to sneak a meatless meal in once in a while, and my husband makes a big show of getting out some yoghurt or cheese while mumbling about protein.

A little while ago I did a random months tally of our grocery bills, and I have to say I nearly lost bowel control on the spot.

SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS.

For those of you who don't think that's very much - that's a $20 bill per DAY.

Granted, that included all household supplies, toiletries and baby needs, but it seems a bit much to me for three adults and a 20lb drool machine.

Obviously, something needed to be done.

So, what were we burning all of that money on?

Well, the occasional pre-packaged pizza, for sure. And cheese.

But I think it was the meat that was killing us.

So here are my MEAT MONEY tips:

(don't read this if you are a meat snob)

1) I get a 5 pound tube of ground beef at PriceSmart for between $11 - $14 (prices fluctuate). When I get it home, I cut it (still in the plastic) into 5 pieces and wrap them individually for freezing. This is WAY cheaper than buying the individual packs. For those of you that prefer extra lean ground beef (I have a sensitivity to cooked fat, so I know all about that), I just rinse the meat with hot water when it's almost done cooking.

2) Instead of buying different cuts of beef and pork for stirfry's, stroganoff and all manner of cooking, I cut up a cheap roast (or pork loin) into cubes and steaks. I know, I know, it's not the SAME, but we are talking about when you need to save money, and this is SO MUCH cheaper.

3) For tuna, I purchase the enormous can at costco (unless I hit a wicked sale on the small cans). I drain the can at home and using a heaped 1/2 cup measure, portion it out in to ziplocks, which I freeze. I got 12 out of my last can (but I forget how much I paid for it - maybe $8) and each baggie makes 2 sandwiches.

4) Sandwhich meat? Just say NO. That stuff is BAD for you. They are charging you $15 a kilo for pig lips and *ssholes peppered with nitrates. Okay, enough preaching.

5) Okay, and here's my weakness. Chicken. I just can't stomach the little wings and thighs. They still look so... chicken like. I tried. I really did - it was so much cheaper. But I'll go vegan before I do that with any regularity. So what we do is get the $26, 4 Kilo Box of frozen chicken breasts from PriceSmart. I know, I know. There's meat protein in it. But it's that or no meat for me. Yuckies....

And after all of that, you can always do what my friend does to stretch the budget. "Essence of Meat"... which means just use a little bit of meat in the meal and increase the amounts of your cheaper ingredients.