Yesterday I read an interesting article on Kiplinger's website entitled 14 Grocery List Staples That Are Getting More Expensive.  I have mentioned a few times that I've noticed that grocery prices are gradually going up in our area -- apparently the Marketbasket Survey has confirmed that nationwide.  14 of the 16 items that the survey tracks have increased this year including russet potatoes, sirloin roast, bacon, apples, and other items.  I do recommend reading the Kiplinger's article as it's not a total downer.  It also offers some helpful tips to help you save money on each item of the items they tracked and help offset the rising costs.  Hang in there Rochester shoppers, keep reading my blog, and we'll get through it together!!

I’ve noticed lately that a lot of recipes tend to call for a few strips of bacon.  A little bit of bacon can go a long way in flavoring many different dishes.  As bacon tends to come in 16 oz packages, you either end up with a lot of wasted bacon or else it gets gobbled up by little gremlins (which isn’t exactly the most healthy option.)  Next time, this happens to you, try freezing the leftover.  You can either pre-cook it or leave it raw -- it’s up to you.  Spread out the slices on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for about an hour or until they’re frozen completely.  Once they’re frozen, you can transfer them to labeled freezer bags.  Next time you a recipe calls for bacon, you can use as much or as little as needed.  No more waste!

Lately I’ve noticed that my favorite CVS hasn’t been very good at keeping their best sale items in stock.  While most customers will get annoyed and give up, this might actually work to your benefit.  Instead of just walking away, ask the cashier or any other employee for a rain check.  CVS rain checks are sort of like the Holy Grail – you’ll get the sale price and any Extra Bucks that are supposed to come with the deal when the item is back in stock.  And the best part – CVS rain checks never expire.  If you want, hold onto it until you get a coupon for the item and you can really maximize your savings! 

I really like the idea of using fresh home-grown food as much as possible to feed my family.  Often, it’s not only healthier; it can often save you money.

If you read my last post, I bought a sugar pumpkin last Saturday at the Rochester Public Market.  I decided to go ahead and make my own pumpkin puree for use in all kinds of tasty fall treats. 

With this whole experiment, I really want to answer one question.  Is it worth the effort? 

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If you need a little inspiration to get up early and hit the Rochester public market this Saturday, a little run-down of my trip last weekend might just do the trick.

Here’s what I was able to pick up:

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Here’s a few simple tips to help you save a little bit here and there in the kitchen!

• When your recipe calls for a small amount of herbs or veggies, don’t let the rest go to waste.  Chop them up and freeze them in a freezer bag.  That way, they’re ready for use in your next recipe.  Saves time and money next time around!

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Have a family member that refuses to turn on your car’s air conditioner during the summer claiming that it wastes gas?  According to www.Edmunds.com experts, the drag created by keeping your car’s windows down uses just as much gas as using the air conditioner.  Feel free to do what’s comfortable!

• Throw your sponge in the dishwasher with a load of dishes every few days.  This will sanitize it and you’ll get an extra week or two of “sponge life.”
• Turn off the drying cycle on your dish washer.  When the load is done, just open the rack and let the dishes air dry.  Easy way to save on your electricity bill.
• Reduce your paper towel usage by keeping plenty of dish rags on hand.  Get in the habit of cleaning up spills and messes with your washable rags and you’ll cut down on waste and expenses at the same time.

There are a ton of ways to save money at CVS that even the most savvy shopper might not know about.  This multi-part series will attempt to change all that. Follow these tips and you will find that you can easily find great deals on products you use every day and save more cash! 

#1 – Get a CVS Green Bag Tag!

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Now hear me out.  I really do think that there are tons of magazine subscriptions that can actually save you money.  For instance, a 12-month subscription to Health magazine costs $9.95 on www.amazon.com .  That makes the cost of each issue about $.83.  Not a bad price you might think?  Well it gets better!

Coupons and Offers

Every issue of Health magazine comes with a bunch of money saving coupons and offers.  The March 2010 issue of Health magazine contained the following:

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