What $10 gets you at ALDI, what $11 gets you at Pete's
Sometimes... I just don't feel like couponing. You get that too? In honor of today's 6 year blog-iversary and Jewel's MyMixx launch, I was thinking back to 2009 this morning: AKA, The Best Year To Shop Jewel In the History of the World. Those days, alas, are long gone and most of us have changed our shopping patterns. This morning I thought about going to Jewel to try out MyMixx and grab that free 12 pack of sparkling water, but the siren call of cheap avocados and good bread proved too hard to resist -- so I did the ALDI-Pete's run instead.
ALDI
9 avocados, $4.41.
Mini sweet peppers, $1.49.
Salsa verde, $1.69.
2 packs mushrooms, $1.38.
Baby carrots, $.49.
Paid $9.63.
Pete's Market
Organic lacinato kale, $.75.
2 limes, $.24.
Overpriced garlic, $2.03.
Apples, $.98.
Sourdough bread, $3.29.
Meat ends, $2.01.
Cheese ends, $1.57.
Paid $11.06. $21 in non-couponing dollars did me OK today I think -- now if you'll excuse me, I have a grilled ham, cheese, & avocado sandwich to eat. 🙂
I have to admit I rarely coupon anymore. Once the "buy stuff at Walgreens, get groceries at Jewel" ended (oh, register rewards, how I miss you), I just didn't feel it was worth my time anymore. Plus I don't live near a CVS. So, as I've gotten older, time seems more valuable than the money I could save. Plus, the frustration with arguing with cashiers and trying to make sure I hit x amount of dollars to get the deal...it was just stress after awhile. I TOTALLY get why people do it and kudos to them (and you) for keeping it up, I just couldn't after awhile.
However, I'm always on the lookout for other deals, so I have stuck around :). I think I may even remember the raspberries... 🙂
Happy Blogiversary!
Overpriced garlic. Hahah. 🙂
I love Aldi. I love them for being small and still offering MOST things I want (and all things that get me through the "crap, we are out of ____" moments) and I love them for not taking coupons, because that means I spend about 50% less time getting in and getting out. Which says something about our time also being money.
I too love Aldi. The quick in and out means I get what I need, don't spend too much more on stuff I don't really need. I had to go to Jewel today for some herbs (there is NOTHING nearby to buy any of those!) and get the Pringle Pop Popcorn deal for my kiddos. sometimes I bite the bullet and go into Jewel. Today was a nice, calm, shopping trip and I stocked up big time. Aldi is beckoning me though. Maybe tonight.... We could eat 20 advocados a week here. So your lunch sounds divine!
What are meat and cheese ends?
They are the end bits or leftover slices of deli meat and cheese that are randomly packaged up -- Pete's sells them for $1.99 a pound.
I coupon for shelf stable items like laundry detergent, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. Anything else, not so much. I shop at aldi for shelf stable foods, and I think I'll start shopping at fiesta for fresh produce, lunchmeat and meats. Still looking to fill the food for less void. Fiesta DOES accept coupons now, and they carry the everyday essentials brand. So might be worth checking out more.
What kind of stuff did you used to buy at Food 4 Less that you're missing at the other stores?
What is your plan for the mini peppers? I got some too---so pretty!
Now I might stir fry them with the baby bok choy I got at Jewel, lol. I have also used them in fajitas before, or just slice them up and dip them in hummus.
I was thinking fajitas, too, (but now I'm looking for flank or skirt steak). I also noticed when you linked to a recipe on a paleo site (a mother/daughter blog) they had a nice recipe for ginger chicken over riced cauliflower. That might be good with the peppers and the bok choy.