Yummy focaccia bread! Credit: jspatchwork/Flickr
James has a specific question about saving money on bread in the San Fernando Valley.
Hi: I don’t know if you already have covered this, but the Entenmann’s/Oroweat/Bimbo Bakeries outlet store on Strathern in Canoga Park has closed permanently. We used to go there all the time to find cheap Boboli pizza crusts and discounted bread. Do you know of any other bakery outlet stores in the West Valley now? Thanks.
James, have you checked out the almost-stale bread rack at your local grocer? I know most grocery stores have a bread rack with bagels, muffins, and other bread products that are about to expire. I’ve snapped up delicious loaves of focaccia bread for $.99 this way!
Anyone else got advice for James? Leave a comment so everyone can benefit.
Got a hot savings tip or question? Email us!
This post is brought to you by Coupons220.com, offering coupon codes for thousands of online stores.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Meat muffins - yum!
I have recently discovered many mini-foods I can make with my muffin pan. I’m not really a muffin person, so the pan has lingered unloved in the cabinet next to the oft-used cookie sheets. Until now!
My new uses for muffin tins include:
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
istolethetv/flickr
I remember my grandmother telling me how when she was a little girl she used every part of the chicken. She raised them and ate their eggs. When it was time for that chicken to pass onto the big chicken coop in the sky, the feathers went into pillows.
She cooked and ate the meat. Chicken fat (schmaltz) was rendered and kept for frying. The liver was made into pate. The bones helped make healthy chicken broth.
I thought that was the end of the chicken, but apparently I was wrong.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
serenejournal/flickr
In my post on snagging free and deeply discounted food, I listed a meal swap (or meal sharing) as a way to save money on food. Here’s how to set one up.
The idea behind a meal swap is that each person makes a big batch of what they are cooking and then divides it into smaller servings, packing the food so it is freezer ready. Everyone in the meal swap meets once a week or once a month (whatever is decided upon) and swaps what they have made.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Craft service menu on a TV shoot. AverageJane/flickr
A friend of mine recently asked me, “So, where can I get free food?” Of course, this was just too good of a challenge for me to just let go.
The fact is that there are lots of ways to get free or deeply discounted food. I will start with deep discounts and work my way down to free.
- Grocery store clearance. Fresh & Easy grocery stores discount food on the day of expiration. They discount up to 75% off and place them in a clearance section of the store. More ways to save on groceries.
- Vendors at Farmer’s Markets offer deeply discounted fresh fruits and veggies in the last 15-30 minutes of the market.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Stop wasting money and food! The folks over at All You shared a handy inforgraphic that compares the shelf life of food kept in the freezer and the pantry so you know how long items keep. Taking advantage of sales and stocking up is a good way to save money on groceries, but throwing food away is wasteful.
This weekend I’m taking inventory of everything that’s in our pantry. I want to cut down on my grocery bill even more and this is the first step to lowering my food budget. The fridge also needs a good scrub down. I’m using baking soda to leave it smelling fresh. Check out these other secret uses for baking soda.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Substitute out pricey saffron - Klearchos Kapoutsis/flickr
With all the holiday cooking and baking that goes on, it is likely that you will open a recipe (like one of Yazmin’s non-traditional desserts) and discover you are out of an ingredient. Sometimes going to get that missing item can be impossible (snowed in) or expensive (saffron is $40 per ounce or more). What’s a cook to do?
Substitute!
If you understand what each ingredient is doing in the recipe, you can find something else that will do the same thing.
MizGingerSnaps / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Dining out? Save money on eating out with these ten tips. (The Digerati Life)
The most common car repairs and how to avoid them. (Mainstreet)
Money managment tips for newly married couples or spouses who argue about money. (Money Crashers)
Save money and energy! Reduce your heating bill with these frugal ways to keep your home warm this winter. (Wisebread)
Frugalista? Stay in fashion and learn how to buy shoes on a budget. (The Centsible Life)
Fast food is NOT cheaper: NYT
With fast food prices ridiculously low – every chain has a dollar menu, it seems – it’s not surprising that so many people believe junk food is cheaper than healthy grub. But it’s not, says a recent New York Times article:
In general, despite extensive government subsidies, hyperprocessed food remains more expensive than food cooked at home.
The writer compares the price of a McDonald’s meal for four with a home-cooked chicken dinner and a home-cooked rice and beans dinner. Guest how much more expensive fast food is???
Wahoo! If you missed this year’s Frugal Fest, watch it on video! Many thanks to Herber Lovato for making this piece. Love the music!
I was invited onto NBC to talk about the Festival the night before (June 24, 2011). Check out my conversation with Ana Garcia on Nonstop LA!
View more videos at: http://www.nbclosangeles.com.
I promise this will be the last post about the Festival until next year! I wrote a quick recap on the Frugal Festival blog, including dozens of photos. Thanks for a great Festival!
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
A picture of one of my salads with sliced baby squash.
I love a good salad. I’ve been told by many that I make FABULOUS salads. I tell people that it is easy. Just open the fridge, chop up whatever is in there and, ta-da, you have a salad. Let me be more specific.
Grab a large container. Get out your cutting board and your best knife for cutting veggies into small pieces. I like my salad pieces to be smallish so I can combine different flavors for the perfect bite.
Here are the ingredients I used for the last awesome salad I made.
Tips on preserving summer fruit at the Festival!
Want to learn how to preserve summer produce that is ridiculously low-priced? Albertsons specialist Heidi Diller will show you how at Frugal Festival Food! on June 25 in LA.
Today’s book giveaway is for “Vegan on the Cheap.” Contest ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. EST so make sure to comment today for a chance to win.
Comments poured in for yesterday’s contest to win “Poor Girl Gourmet.” The five winners have been announced!
Don’t miss the first ever festival to save money on food! Frugal Festival Food! is June 25 in LA and supports the LA Regional Food Bank. Get your tickets now!
Greencolander / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Women’s skills are profitable for companies. So why is it that CEOs are not scrambling to attract and retain female employees? (DailyWorth)
Renting a car? Before doing so, read about 6 car rental rip-offs to watch for. (MoneyTalk News)
Start gearing up for the summer heat. Here’s how to buy a window AC unit. (Fabulous and Frugal)
What’s better: being self employed or having a 9 to 5? Before deciding between the two different work lifestyles, compare these four factors to make the best decision for YOU. (The Digerati Life)
Could you eat for $4 a day? Donna did! She had three meals plus snacks on what the government considers a limited budget. (Surviving and Thriving)
Big news as we approach Frugal Festival Food! on June 25 in Canoga Park!
LOZO is raffling off five $50 American Express gift cards to celebrate it’s upcoming new tool that finds coupons for your grocery list. You get one free raffle ticket with admission so everyone is eligible to win!
The Stand is bringing free hot dogs and chili to share with everyone at the Festival. YUM!
