Barganista Blog

Shaping and Toning All Over Town

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:34:38 GMT

Check out the latest from Chris as he strides all over town in his new Aspire Shaper sneakers (only $14.99 at Grocery Outlet!). These shoes use the same technology as Skechers Shape Ups to tone and firm your muscles as you walk.

Are you ready for the big game on Sunday? We have a bunch of super savings for your game time party!

What resolutions have you been able to keep? Or have you broken them? It's okay! Just leave a comment below to tell us how you're doing.

Cut Back on Food Waste

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:03:57 GMT

This weekend I finally cleaned out my fridge. It was scary.

In December we had the holidays, followed by the mad rush to get back into the normal swing of everyday life, and as a result, my refrigerator hadn't had a good going-over in quite some time. I lost a lot of food due to my negligence, and I'm sure I lost quite a bit of money to boot.

Food waste is a serious problem. As of 2011, it's estimated that 1.3 billion tons of food (about 1/3 of total worldwide food production) were lost. In developed countries like ours, most of that waste happens at the consumption stage, when the food has already reached the consumer.

I was pretty shocked at how much I had to throw in the compost bin and trash can, and it made me wonder how I might cut back on food waste in 2012.

My plan:

1. Plan my meals. It always feels like a hassle, but I just do better when I have a plan. It cuts down on shopping time, helps me eat healthier, and I know what's in my pantry and fridge so that fewer products go to waste.

2. Shop my kitchen first. Look at what you have around you before you spend. You might have the kitchen staple you've just put on your list, so check your fridge and your pantry before you head to the store.

3. Store produce properly. Tired of finding a drawer of wilted, slimy vegetables? Some fruits emit ethylene, an odorless, colorless gas that speeds ripening and can lead to the premature decay of nearby ethylene-sensitive vegetables. It's important to store foods that give off ethylene gas separately from those that are sensitive to it. Check out this guide for tips on how to store produce and when to eat it.

4. Use less-than-perfect produce to make stock. If you've never done this before, it's pretty easy and uses up any discarded vegetable bits you've got in your fridge. This website has several different stocks to make with instructions: Reluctant Gourmet.

5. Eat leftovers. When I put mine away now, I put them at the very front of the fridge at eye level. Sometimes I even write the date on the top of the box, so I know how long I have.

If I follow these rules, I should have a much more pleasant fridge, and less of my money and my food will end up in the scrap heap.

What about you? How do you reduce food waste? Share your ideas with us.

Saving Money by Meal Planning

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:54:35 GMT

12 Lessons for Frugal Living in 2012
A 12-Month Series by Guest Blogger Julia Wessels, from The Frugal Find

Saving Money by Meal Planning
I love that the New Year means new resolutions, new goals, and a fresh start! What I don't love is the feeling we get when I realize I've not kept up with my resolutions, and I find myself slacking big time. The simple fact is that often times we set ourselves up for failure from the get-go by taking on way too much all too quickly. I want to help you tackle saving money in the new year in a way that is managable and that will make a difference to your bottom line when 2013 rolls around.

I'd encourage you to break up your resolutions and goals into bite size chunks, and spread them out over time. Statistics show that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. With this plan you'll add one new resolution to your plate each month of the year thus forming great habits all year long! Trust me - it's a lot less painful this way, and at the end of the year you'll be in much better shape financially, which will feel great! Today I'll share the money saving tip for January, and in the months to come we'll tackle topics such as budgeting, how to know when a sale is really a sale, when to stock up on a particular item, why you shouldn't treat your tax return like a savings plan, and much more!

This month I'd like to encourage you to tackle meal planning. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Basically, it is as simple as you make it. I try to sit down each week, usually on Saturday or Sunday with the store ads to see what is on sale, then I make my meal plan based on these deals. Of course I use whatever I have in my pantry and freezer first then buy as needed the extras. Also, if there is something I see that is a “stockpile price,” I will add that to my list for future week’s meals plans.

Why Meal Plan?

It’s healthier. Meal planning allows you to think in advance about preparing a meal adding a key ingredient from each food group instead of throwing something together last minute that is maybe carb laden.

Saves money. If you go grocery shopping with a list, you will be more likely to avoid impulse purchases. Also it gives you the time to organize and sort your coupons BEFORE you shop.

Saves time. I can’t stress this enough. While it may seem tedious to sit down and plan out your meals for the week. It is much more time efficient than standing in front of the fridge or pantry blankly staring at the shelves of food, while you think “There is nothing in this house to eat!” Either you will just grab something out to eat, or you will end up making several small weekly trips to the grocery store to grab key ingredients that had you meal planned you would have already had on hand.

Tips for successful Meal Planning:

Use those leftovers! Plan it into your Meal Plan. I enjoy cooking, but the truth is at the end of the day sometimes I am just not in the mood or I am just plain tired. I try to plan ahead for these nights, if I know I will be working until 6 on Wednesday, I will plan a meal on Tuesday that can carry over. Or I will double up on cooking the ground beef the night before so we can use it in another meal.

From Love Food Hate Waste I found the following statistics:

Each DAY we waste…

1 Million Slices of Ham
1.3 Million Yogurts
7 Million Slices of Bread
5.1 Million Potatoes
1.6 Million Bananas
4.4 Million Apples
2.8 Million Tomatoes

Use Rice/Potatoes/Pasta as the base for your meal. If you can build the main part of your meal around a grain, you will save money and fill up on less. Use small amounts of meat, poultry, fish, or eggs. Of course I would suggest whole wheat grains to get the maximum nutritional value.

Plan snacks around nutritionally sound choices. This helps your budget because as we know, typically fruit, veggies, granola, etc enable your body to go longer stretches between meals as opposed to it’s sugar enemy – fruit snacks, candy, juice, etc. The denser the snack the more bang for your buck and almost always this is the cheaper option anyway!

Eat before you shop. Do not go grocery shopping when you are hungry. The best time to go is after you have had a good meal, or at least a snack to hold you over. When you are hungry, you are much more likely to pick up impulse purchases which can just throw your food budget out the window!

Let’s Practice.

Step 1: Make 3 Lists; Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Breakfast
Monday – Cereal, OJ, and Fruit
Tuesday – Oatmeal, Milk, and Toast
Wednesday – Scrambled Eggs and Toast, Milk or OJ
Thursday – Cereal, OJ and Fruit
Friday – Bagels & OJ
Saturday – French Toast and Sausage
Sunday – Cereal, OJ and Toast

Lunch
Monday – Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Tuesday – Tuna & Crackers/Sandwich, Fruit and Yogurt
Wednesday – Bean/Cheese Burritos with Chips & Salsa
Thursday – PB&J, Fruit, Pretzels and Yogurt
Friday – Macaroni & Cheese and Fruit
Saturday – Leftover Pizza
Sunday – Smorgasbord, what sounds good?!

Dinner
Monday - Lasagna, Corn and Garlic Bread
Tuesday - Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Pot Stickers and Chinese Fried Rice (make extra rice)
Wednesday – Chicken Enchiladas and Spanish Rice (using extra rice from Tuesday) (make extra chicken)
Thursday – Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches and Potato Salad (make extra)
Friday – Pizza (Eating Out)
Saturday - Hotdogs, Potato Salad and 5 Bean Salad
Sunday - Broiled Salmon, Brown Rice and Asparagus

Step 2: Prepare Ingredient List and head to your pantry & fridge. Cross things off as you find them or leave the ingredients on your list, you now have your shopping list! Make sure to pull out any coupons you have and put them all together in a place where you can find them easily.

Step 3: Go shopping and save! The best part is because you've planned ahead, without even trying you'll have saved money. You won't head to the store on a weeknight at 5 pm for a "few ingredients" and come home having spent $50 or worse. You're saving loads of time because everything you need is accessible when you need it, no more wasted trips to the store or to a restaurant for takeout.

Now, it's your turn. Please share your best meal planning tips. And resolve to save money in 2012!

Stocking Stuffer Savings

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:39:07 GMT

With all the festivities and shopping lists, we're all strapped for time and money during the holidays, and stockings are often overlooked until the last minute. Often, this means paying premium for those sock-sized items, and the stuffed stocking can end up costing more than the big gift. The Bargainistas at Grocery Outlet have some simple suggestions to help you save time and money and deliver stocking bliss.

Be Convenient. You don't need to make a special trip to a special store. Look for stocking stuffers at the places you normally frequent, like Grocery Outlet.

Be Sneaky. Sneak in some practical items like a toothbrush, socks, band-aids and school supplies. These are things you'll need to buy anyways, so you'll be stuffing two socks with one dollar. And, one less trip to the store when your kid needs new socks.

Be Consumable. If you're one of those parents that feels like all the little toys are overtaking your home, stuff those socks with consumable items, like their favorite candy, gum, fruit snacks and granola bars.

Be Thematic. Follow a theme for all the items. Have an art enthusiast? Fill the stocking with art supplies – markers, crayons, glue, and butcher paper rolled up. It will give you back a fridge door full of artwork to display.

Be Silly. Throw in a couple things that will make them laugh. Maybe a whoopie cushion or a pet rock.

Happy sock stuffing and Happy Holidays from everyone at Grocery Outlet!

Holiday Memories Worth a Fortune

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:39:58 GMT

The holiday season is a wonderful time to bring together families and friends, and celebrate the season with festive traditions, old and new. But it's also easy to get caught up in the holiday spending trap for the sake of making holiday memories. So this year, our Season of Sanity pledge inspired us to consider holiday merriment that won't break your budget. In fact, many of these fun and festive ideas are free!

Light Drive. Surprise your family or friends with a tour of the local holiday light displays. Put on some cozy pajamas, pack some cookies, then start driving. Don't forget the holiday tunes!

Seasonal Song. Bring back an old-time tradition with an evening of caroling. Dress in warm and festive attire and surprise your favorite neighbors with carols at their door. It will surely put a smile on their faces. And, you might be invited in for some hot cocoa and conversation!

Give Service. It will only cost you time, but you'll receive much more and lasting memories. Schedule time to visit a local shelter or food bank and lend a helping hand. Include the children to inspire the next generation of do-gooders.

Winter Wonderland. December 22nd marks the Winter Solstice this year, welcoming longer days of sunlight, and a day many cultures celebrate with winter festivals. Host your own winter wonderland celebration, even without snow outside. Build a paper snowman, make homemade ice cream and go ice gummy fishing in a bowl of ice!

Party On!

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:01:07 GMT

Chris gets his party on with festive ideas on how to save money on holiday entertaining. He also previews our latest ad on Bargain TV.

What's your favorite holiday song of all time? Leave us a comment and let us know.

The Bargainista's Guide to Holiday Entertaining

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:00:44 GMT

This month is sure to hold holiday gatherings galore! It's the most wonderful time of the year to gather family and friends for a night of holiday merriment. So whether you are hosting or attending the festivities, use these ideas to help you enjoy the holiday party season without sacrificing your savings or your sanity.

Simplify. Your friends and family don't expect a Martha Stewart-style soiree, so don't stress-out about making it elaborate. In fact, a casual and understated event will be a welcome respite from all the craziness of the holidays. But make sure the holiday tunes are plentiful!

Skip the meal. Keep the focus on your friends, not the food. It's a great reason why you don't have to slave away in the kitchen all day to serve a full-on meal. Just two or three appetizers will do. Consider a weekend afternoon gathering with mulled wine, cheese and crackers.

Salud! Add some holiday cheer to your party, but keep it limited to one or two choices, not a full bar. Serve just eggnog or just wine, but not both. Try our Novella Synergy Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon, just $4.99 per bottle (you save $7). And the kid revelers will enjoy toasting with our Martinelli's Northwest Blend Sparkling Apple Cider for just $1.79 per bottle (you save $1.90).

Say Thanks. Certain holiday traditions never go out of style, like arriving at a holiday party with a gift for the gracious host/hostess. We suggest some gourmet chocolates like our Brown & Haley Candy Cane Roca for $2.99 (you save $2), or a festive 4” poinsettia for $4.99 (you save $4).

Surely, you have your own budget-friendly party tips, and we'd love to hear them. How do you entertain during the holidays without blowing the budget?

Happy Holidays from everyone at Grocery Outlet!

Gifts Under $10!

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:28:29 GMT

Check out this week's Bargain TV and see the amazing Holiday Gifts that you can find at your local Grocery Outlet for less than 10 dollars!

Christopher outlines this week's ad, which is full of great deals that are surely on your Holiday shopping list, so hurry in and don't miss this opportunity to save big!

Be Gifty and Thrifty!

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:36:41 GMT

The holiday season is in full swing! Gift giving is an age-old tradition in the holiday season. But this year, don't let your holiday budget and your sanity fly to the North Pole. Consider giving homemade, personalized gift baskets with items you can find at Grocery Outlet for 50% less than traditional stores. Follow these simple tips for a gifty and thrify holiday:

Gather an assortment of small, inexpensive items with a common theme that the recipient will appreciate. No need to go overboard, just three or four items will do. Here are some ideas:

Chocolate Lovers—chocolate of every kind, don't forget the hot cocoa
Foodie Friends—gourmet cheeses, crackers, olive oil, nuts and a unique cooking tool
Wine Enthusiast—red, white and rosé varieties, with fresh grapes, wine glasses and a corkscrew
Home Spa—beauty care products, bath salts, loofah sponge, cozy socks
Tea Time—a combination of black and herbal teas, a pretty mug or tea cup and specialty cookies
Pet Perfect—pet toys, pet treats and a pet dish
Movie Night—DVDs, microwave popcorn, candy and a blanket

Find a decorative basket or container. Check your cupboards and storage space, you probably already have something laying around that you can use. Place items in the basket, using tissue paper or old gift wrap to help stabilize the items inside the basket. Finish with festive trimmings, like ribbon, raffia or even old-fashioned tinsel, then add a homemade gift tag.

Your family and friends will be thrilled to receive something you know they'll love. And your wallet will say thanks, too. Wishing you a simple holiday season!

All Wrapped Up

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:08:11 GMT

Bargain TV's Christopher explains how you can save big on your holiday wrapping paper and gets a little out of control with his wrapping enjoyment!

So you tell us, turkey or tofurkey?

Thanksgiving Bounty

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:33:38 GMT

Grocery Outlet loves Thanksgiving because it's a holiday focused on family and food. All year long, we are helping families save money so they can prepare bountiful meals for their families. And we can't think of a more bountiful meal than Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas to help you save time and money as you prepare.

Tips to Simplify Your Thanksgiving and Save Your Sanity:

Share a slice of the pie! Ask your guests to bring the dessert. Sometimes the cost of the desserts winds up being more expensive than the main event!
Ask visiting relatives to prepare breakfast that morning, so you can focus on the turkey.
Plan your menu and stick to your list. You’ll save money.
Quality over quantity. You don’t need seven vegetable sides and six pies. Really, you don't. Keep it simple.
Dice your fruits, vegetables and herbs for cooking the day before and place them in plastic bags or storage containers. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Fake it. Not everything needs to be made from scratch. Delicious cookies, desserts and candy can be bought pre-made.
Organize your grocery list by department to save time at the store. Shop your own cup- boards first to see what you already have.

Then sit down and enjoy the American tradition of gathering your favorite people and sharing your gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Grocery Outlet!

Season of Sanity Thanksgiving Menu

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:47:12 GMT

We've got less than a week to Thanksgiving and we're here to help you Simplify the Season with our $3 Thanksgiving Menu. Check out the latest Bargain TV to help you save your money and your sanity!

You can download the Thanksgiving menu that Christopher mentions in the video by clicking here: Download Thanksgiving Menu.

What's your favorite holiday movie? Leave a comment below.

Pledge to Simplify the Season

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:14:47 GMT

Joy? Peace? Yeah, right. It's easy for the holidays to become more stressful than joyful. It’s time to stop the holiday insanity and get back to the basics. At Grocery Outlet, we believe it's time to simplify the season. Cut back on the extra stuff. Be frugal with your time and money. Avoid overstressing and overspending and you might actually enjoy the holidays. Remember these tips to help you stay focused on what’s really important this season.

Tips to Simplify the Season
- Get ready. Inventory your supplies early on. Get wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, stamps, boxes and pantry staples (such as sugar and flour) well in advance of the holidays. You may find discounted items when you’re not rushed.
- Revisit family traditions. Think about holidays past. Which activities were most worth the effort? Focus on what makes you and your family happy and eliminate what doesn’t.
- Don’t over-commit. You don’t need to say “yes” to every invitation. Save room in your schedule for things that might pop up.
- Keep it simple. Don’t overdo the table settings and decorations. Your guests will enjoy themselves just as much even without a complicated, expensive centerpiece.
- Focus on gifts from the heart. Give gifts that show your love—not the size of your wallet. Grandparents will likely value a photo album or a framed piece of children’s art far more than expensive presents.
- Shop strategically. Sometimes the places that save you the most money might surprise you. We have a selection of toys, personal fragrance sets, home products, and other gift items that may fit someone on your list.

Now, take this Simplify the Season Pledge by signing your name in the comments below. Then embrace the joy!

Simplify the Season Pledge
I pledge to STOP the Holiday insanity.
I will make every effort to simplify the Season.
I will not stress out over decorating, wrapping, buying and baking.
I will not buy thoughtless gifts.
I will not over-commit my time.
I will plan my schedule with free time to sip hot cocoa.
I will enjoy the true spirit of the season – joy, peace, giving.

Crock-Pot Cook Off!

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:38:22 GMT

With the chillier weather, Crock-Pot recipes are high in demand. In our latest episode of Bargain TV, Chris announces the winning Crock-Pot recipe from last week's contest (which we're posting below). Also, look for sneak peeks of Doug the bobblehead and Chris's favorite wine picks for our upcoming 20% Wine Sale!

Jeana's Winning Crock Pot Recipe

1 & 1/2 lbs meat (usually ground beef) of your choice from the fresh Grocery Outlet Meat Case
1 yellow onion
2-3 carrots or bag of GO baby carrots
2 large russet potatoes
2 cups beef or chicken broth
1 cup water (or red wine)
2 cans kidney beans
splash of Lea and Perrins
salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut up veggies and meat into sizeable chunks, throw in the crockpot
2. Add liquid ingredients and beans
3. Add salt and pepper
4. Cook for 4(high)-8(low) hours (the longer it cooks, the better the flavor!)
5. Enjoy!

20% Off All Wine Sale November 9th!

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:04:28 GMT