How to Price Match at Wal-Mart

Price matching at Wal-Mart is very simple. I started price matching about a year ago and wish I had started sooner. For some reason I was hesitant anticipating push back from the checkers. In my year of match matching, not one checker has ever complained or given me any grief at all. 

Yesterday, I price matched these items.  I asked the cashier, "Do you have many people price match?" 

"All the time," he replied. "I love it because then I know what items to go buy and price match for myself. Last week, a local store was advertising pizzas for 58 cents. Me and my buddies bought a bunch." 

Yes, last week Apple Market advertised Red Baron Pizza's for 58 cents. I assumed it had to be a mistake and that Wal-Mart would not honor the price match. I purchased one pizza and they price matched with no complaint. These pizzas typically cost  in the $2.75-$3.25 range. I could have bought several but decided I really didn't need a bunch of high calorie, highly processed pizzas sitting in my freezer tempting me. I bought one for some night I am feeling exceptionally lazy and unmotivated to cook. 

OK, so enough of my blabbing. Start by going through your local grocery ads (don't forget Target, Menards, CVS and Walgreens). I like to go through the grocery ads with a black marker and circle any great deals I find. For example, this week Aldis has avocado's and lemons for 19 cents each, 1 1/2 pounds of vine ripe tomatoes for $1.69 and a 3 pound bag of onions for 99 cents. Apple Market was advertising red peppers for 55 cents each and cantaloupe for 99 cents each. 

I picked out the items and took to the checkout stand. I always separate my price match items from the regular items and tell the cashier I have a few items I would like to price match. I say "please". I keep my advertisements in hand and point to the advertised price. The cashier inputs the new price. SUPER SIMPLE! Often, after the first ad or two, they don't even look at the ad. They have a line and are in a hurry. 

So, things to do:

1)  Ad in Hand

2)  Items Circled for Easy Reference 

3)  Make Sure Advertisement is for Current Week

4)  Items Must Match Exactly and I have found that often Wal-Mart does not carry the advertised item in the same sizes or flavors

5)  Go early on the first day of the Ad to make sure Wal-Mart has it in stock (they won't be stocking up on other stores sale items and may sell out quickly)

So, how much did I save? Here's the breakdown:

6 Avocado's at 19 cents each, total $1.14

Wal-Mart price for 6 Avocado's (94 cents each) $5.64

I saved $4.50

3 lemons at 19 cents each, total 57 cents

Wal-Mart price for 3 Lemons (35 cents each) $1.05

I saved 48 cents

1 Cantaloupe for $1.00

Wal-Mart price is $1.98

I saved 98 cents

2 red peppers for 55 cents each, total $1.10

Wal-Mart price for 2 red peppers ($1.68 each) $3.36

I saved $2.26

24 ounces of tomatoes for $1.69

Wal-Mart price for 24 ounces of tomatoes ($2.49 pound) $3.73

I saved $2.04

3 pound bag of onion (forgot to include in picture) 99 cents

Wal-Mart price for three pound bag, $2.68

I saved $1.69

Total amount saved with price matching on this trip was $11.95.

If I saved this much every week, it would add up to $621.40 a year in savings. 

I have found that often stores will have one or two items on sale that I am interested in purchasing. Instead of running all over town, I can simply price match at Wal-Mart and save gas and time. 

And, while I am a big Aldi fan, quite honestly the 19 cent avocado's were small and hard as a rock. Wal-Mart's were larger and riper. 

One final note, I have heard (but never attempted) that if another store is advertising their store brand item at a certain price, Wal-Mart will match their store brand item (in same size) for the same price. 

How to Regrow Celery

Being as frugal as I am, I am amazed I am just learning this trick...regrowing celery or as I like to call it "Perpetual Celery". I bought this celery at Aldi and I think I paid somewhere in the $1.19 range for it. 

Next cut off the end of the stalk about 2 inches above the base. I just read that the greener the stalks, the more nutrients they contain.

Pascal celery (pictured above) is in the same family as carrots, parsley, dill and cilantro. Celery is an antioxidant and acts as an anti-inflammatory. It also has quite a bit of vitamin K, folate, vitamin A and potassium. 

Then just place the stump in a dish of warm water in a sunny window. Within days you will start to see the celery regrow.  You can then plant the celery directly into your garden or a pot filled with soil. I am almost ready to "transplant" these little beauties to a jiffy pot for future transplant outdoors. Celery prefers cool temperatures and lots of moisture. I have read it is difficult to transplant and grow. I will let you know how this kitchen experiment plays out. It seems simple but as I seek simple, I find hardly anything actually is simple. Big sigh. 

I am having such success regrowing celery that I took the end of a lettuce stalk and stuck in some water a couple of days ago. My window sill is starting to look a little crowded. 

How to Make Easy, Simple Moist Apple Cake



This is one of my favorite recipes because it came from my Grandma Summers. Once my husband told Grandma how much he liked this cake. Ever after, she make this cake for him almost every time we visited.

 

This is a very easy cake to make and is very, very moist. To begin, chop up 3 1/2 to 4 cups of fresh apples.

 

 

These are the ingredients you will need:

 

 

2 cups Sugar

2 Eggs

2 teaspoon Vanilla

1 1/3 Cup Oil

3 T. Water

3 Cup Flour

1 Heaping Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Soda

1 Teaspoon Salt

3 1/2 - 4 Cups Chopped Apples

1 1/2 Cup Chopped Nuts (Optional)

 

This is what I call a dump cake. You take all the ingredients and dump them together. Stir until well mixed.

 

This is the "dough" before I added in the apples. It's so thick that it is the consistency of play dough. At this point, you will be thinking, "This can't be right". Trust me. It's very right. Pinch off a piece and taste. It's delicious.

 

 

Now mix in those chopped apples and the nuts must if you must. I don't particularly care for nuts so I usually leave them out. It will be hard because the cake mix is so thick. Keep trusting me.

 

Pour into a greased cake pan. Pour is not really the right word. The mixture is so thick that the process is more like dumping and spreading. Bake at 350 degrees until done. The cake is done when an inserted knife comes out clean. I start checking at about 45 minutes.

 

Cut into pieces and put a dollop of whipped cream on top for garnish. The whipped cream is a very important feature. Don't forget it. Eat and enjoy.

Discovery Place at the Kansas Museum of History

One treasure Topeka has to offer is the Kansas Museum of History. The Museum is located at 6425 SW Sixth Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66615.

In honor of Kansas Day, on Tuesday, January 29th, admission to the museum will be free from 9am-3pm. Normal admission to the museum is $8 for adults, $6 for students and children under 5 are free.

Kansas Museum of History

www.kshs.org or call (785) 272-8681 (ext. 414)

Honestly, it had been years since I had visited the museum. A couple of weeks ago on a cold, snowy day, my daughter suggested we take a couple of the grandkids to the museum.  What I didn't know, is the museum offers a children's play area called the Discovery Center which is absolutely free. That's right, you do not have to pay the museum admission to visit the children's discovery area which is located  inside the front door immediately to your right. The area is designed for children up to age 9.

And, the Discovery Center can be reserved between 9am-1pm for playgroups or parties.  There is a charge for parties but you can visit during the public hours of 1:00-4:30 for FREE.   How fabulous is that?

The Discovery Center includes a Laura Ingles Wilder inspired play area. My grandson was fascinated by the miniature cooking stove.  The area also includes kid dress up clothes. What little girl doesn't look adorable in a prairie dress and bonnet?

A dollhouse, barn, farm animals and tractors provide a popular play area.

Or, put on your own puppet show....

Visit the tipi....

Play general store....

Have a Oz themed tea party.....

 Play a carnival game...

Ride a Horse....

 Conduct a train...

Or go inside the museum and visit the GIANT train (admission required)....

Or one of the many other Kansas inspired exhibits.

The Kansas Museum of History is a great winter activity and way to get the kids out of the house. I highly recommend it!!!

Topeka HyVee Deals through January 8, 2012

HyVee Deals

Lately, HyVee has just been blowing away the competition here in Topeka, Kansas.  This week I spent $47.17 (pre-tax) at HyVee and earned 25 cents off per gallon of gas (up to 20 gallons).  I only get gas about every two weeks. The last time I filled up, I saved 63 cents a gallon (two weeks worth of HyVee points).  

Of course, the trick is to only buy items you really need that earn points.  Don't buy something just because it will save you a small amount of money off gas. (And yes, I really needed Angel Food Cake!)

At Dillon's, you basically earn a dime off per gallon for every $100 you spend.  This week, I earned 25 cents off per gallon by spending less than $20.00. Here's how I did it:

Bag of Onions ($1.89) earned 2 cents off per gallon (can always use onions)

HyVee Pizza ($6.99) earned 10 cents off per gallon (with small salad, entire easy supper)

Angel food cake $3.99) earned 8 cents per gallon (was delicious with fresh blackberries and whipped cream)

Tidy Cat Litter (not pictured, $5.49) earned 5 cents off per gallon (cents off gas made it about same price at the store brand litter)

Total:  25 cents off per gallon on up to 20 gallons or to put it another way: $5.00 off my next fill-up at HyVee or Casey's. 

The only problem HyVee needs to work on fixing is that you must use your large loyalty card when purchasing the gas or else fill up, then take your key tag card into the store and get a refund. The key tag card apparently does not work at the pump. 

Other great sales at HyVee this week include blackberries for $1.00 (they are 89 cents this week at Aldi's), Frozen vegetables for 69 cents a package (I stocked up and bought 6 bags), chicken of the sea tuna for 69 cents a can, Old Orchard Juice for $1.99 (on sale this week at Apple Market for $1.25, though I had coupons for some flavors Apple Market didn't have so bought two more), kiwi fruit-four for $1, HyVee tomato soup for 59 cents a can and canned tomatoes for 50 cents a can (I stocked up and bought 8).

Just a reminder, remember to always check HyVee's Topeka Facebook page before shopping for the deal of the day.  If it's a deal you want to take advantage of, you have to tell the cashier you want the deal of the day price at checkout or it will ring up full price.

I only used one $1 off coupon (for the juice).  Lately, I am saving more by shopping the sales, stocking up and of course, planning my meals around the sale items.  

What deals are you finding?

How to Get Inexpensive Juice at Apple Market through January 8

This week I went to Apple Market to buy some chicken breast.  I thought Apple Market had advertised skinless chicken breast for $2.49 a pound but I found these two packages labeled for $1.68 a pound. One package cost $3.11 and the other was $3.48.  

Just an FYI, hamburger seems to always to be cheaper at Apple Market than any other store in Topeka. This package was $2.99 a pound.  Most other Topeka grocery stores are charging $3.99 up.  The meat department at Apple Market is one thing that keeps me coming back.

I had to blog about one really good deal at Apple Market this week.  With coupons, you can get some really cheap juice this week.  How?

First, Old Orchard Juice is on sale for $1.25 a bottle at Apple Market this week which in itself is a great price.  The same juice at HyVee this week is on sale for $1.99.  It's not uncommon  for name brand juice to cost $2.99 on up.

First, you will have to join the Old Orchard Fan Club.  Go to the companys website at www.oldorchard.com. You will see the link in the upper right hand corner labeled "Fan Club". Once you have joined (only takes a couple of minutes), go to the link labeled "Promotions" at the top of the page.

Under current promotions are several coupons you can print. I was able to print a coupon for $1 off two bottles of  Healthy Balance Juice and one coupon for buy one, get one free. All together the four bottles of juice pictured above cost a whopping $2.75 or an average of 68 cents a bottle. The coupons were only good for the "Healthy Balance" juice, not the regular juice. Coupon or not, I am thinking of returning and stocking up on some $1.25 a bottle juice. 

There is also a link on the website to enter a giveaway. The company is giving away 2,013 free bottles of juice. These are the kind of contests I frequently win.  I received coupons for several free items last year.

On the website, you can also accumulate reward points to earn free products and swag.  You earn points by playing games, taking surveys and entering codes off specially marked products.  I have already earned enough points to earn a coupon for a free can of frozen concentrate. You can't beat free!

How to Make an Easy Delicious Pumpkin or Squash Pie

My Grandma Summers Pumpkin Pie Recipe

This recipe holds special meaning to me.  It was my Grandma Summer's Pumpkin Pie Recipe written in her hand and well used over the decades. It is a cherished possession.

The funny thing is, what my family called "Pumpkin Pie" was not Pumpkin Pie at all.  It was "Green Striped Cushaw Squash" Pie.  Whenever I ate Pumpkin Pie at someone else's house, I thought it was just terrible...heavy, thick, overly spiced and not sweet enough. It wasn't until I was almost an adult that I finally learned what I had been eating all those years was not pumpkin pie, but squash pie. My reaction was probably similar to how most people react when they learn Santa is not real...shock, initial disbelief and a little anger. The only difference was I was about 16, not 6.

Grandma called it simply "Crookneck Squash" and I have since learned Green Striped Cushaw is indeed one variety of crookneck squash. You cannot buy canned Green Striped Cushaw Squash. You must buy the whole squash and work it up (see my previous post on working up squash). 

Working up your own squash, pumpkin or sweet potato (basically the all the same process) and making your own crust (see my previous post on how to make pie crust) is really what makes a good pie. It's the same difference as buying hard preservative laden store bought cookies versus soft, warm made from scratch sugar cookies straight from the oven. Or using sweet, melt in your mouth butter over the plastic concoction commonly referred to as margarine. It's the difference between  sun ripened berries you personally plucked over a rubbery processed fruit roll up.

Yes, buying a frozen Mrs. Smith pie is easier but is it really worth it? When was the last time someone praised you extensively for going the extra mile by wheeling your grocery cart over to the bakery section of the grocery store and hefting a pie into your cart? 

"Oh my goodness, Marge!  Did you push that cart by yourself? And picked up the pie off the shelf, too? I wish I had your ability!" 

Here is my Grandma's no fail pie recipe:

My Grandma always made this pie in her blender. I use my food processor.  Begin by adding 2 cups squash (or pumpkin or sweet potato if you insist). 

Add 1 cup sugar. 

Add 3/4 cup milk.

Add the following:

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon flour

Ready to mix.

It's never too early to teach the fine art of cooking. 

Once blended, the pie filling will look like this.  It is not thick.

Pour into a prepared unbaked pie crust. Bake at 425 degrees for about 50 minutes to an hour.  Pie is done when a knife inserted into middle comes out clean.

You can buy a fancy pie crust shield for about $5. I have no idea why I never have done so. I am cheap but usually not that cheap.  So, I always put aluminum foil around the edge of the pie to keep the exposed crust from burning. By this point in my life, I have probably used about $200 in aluminum foil for this purpose instead of investing $5 for a shield. Sometimes being too cheap costs you. 

The finished product was delicious. Add a dollop of whipped cream. This pie is worth the effort!