Better, Less Money & Local or Where Do Your Veggies Come From?

If you are fortunate enough to be near the Eaton/ Oxford area, you have a fantastic resource in the Boulder Belt Eco-Farm.  Right now they are featuring carrots of all colors: orange, white, yellow, red and purple that they just dug up this morning! Wouldn't this be a beautiful and tasty addition to your Thanksgiving feast?  

They are $3 a pound. Just call (937) 456- 9724 to make an appointment and go pick them up. They are located on the west side of US 127, a mile north of the Eaton Wal-Mart and 3 miles south of I-7- (exit 10). They have other wonderful items available, too, so  if you're close, check them out!

Be sure to ask about the Farm Share Initiative for 2012. I believe the regular shares work out to just under $21/ week, which always makes me reconsider if I'm really too far away from this farm when Lucy posts photos of the weekly shares! (You're not going to find this amount or those particular organic veggies for that price in the stores, and they won't be local.) 

DLM Best Buys through 11/14

Here are the highlights of Dorothy Lane Market’s specials running through Tuesday, November 15th.

Remember to sign up for the “Club DLM” card (ask for an application in the store) to receive offers by email based on your purchases.   You’ll get occasional rewards ($3 off Deli meat, for example) that, I suspect, are based on your spending patterns.  I don’t shop at DLM that frequently, or spend much when I do, so it’s possible that you’ll get “better offers” than I do.   I’ve received a nice page full of coupons in the past, but I have not for a while.

Every time you swipe your Club DLM card, you are entered for their monthly drawings, too.  Three prizes per month are given away at each location.  

Also, DLM does double coupons of .50¢ or less up to $1.  (Coupons over $1 are face value.)

On a “foodie side note”, DLM’s “Joke of the Day” tickled me on my way out:

“Why was the celery arrested?” (See the answer at the end of the post…)

Kroger Best Buys 11/14 till 11/20

PRODUCE

Org. Russet Potatoes 3 lb. $1.99

Org. Celery .99¢

Private Selection Organic Mini Peeled Carrots, 16 oz. $1.50

Private Selection Organic Salad, Select Varieties, 5 - 9 oz. $3

DAIRY & EGGS

Chobani Greek Yogurt, 6oz, $1

USE.30¢/1 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

FINAL COST: .40¢

Fage Greek Yogurt $1

EggLand’s Best Organic Eggs 12ct. $2.99

                USE .50¢/1 dozen FROM THE 7/31/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 12/31/11)

                OR .75¢/1 dozen FROM THE 11/13/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 3/31/12)

FINAL COST: $1.99 *This is considerably less than the Kroger brand org. eggs.

(I intend to post about the Kroger re-launched “Simple Truth” organic line soon.)

ON THE SHELVES

Meijer Best Buys 11/13 till 11/19

ON THE SHELVES

Northland 100% juice, 64 oz. $2.50

USE $1/2 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

OR $1/2 FROM THE 10/09/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 12/31/11)

FINAL COST: $2 ea. IF YOU BUY 2

PANTRY/ BAKING ITEMS

Barilla Whole Grain Pasta .99¢

                USE $1/4 All Varieties MEIJER COUPON HERE

(must buy 4 to “stack” this coupon with the other manufacturer’s coupon. See how to use the Meal Box HERE)

                AND

USE $1/2 Whole Grain variety from the 9/18/11 SmartSource insert (***exp. 11/13/11)

OR

USE $1/2 HERE (you will need a box of the product present to enter a code)

FINAL COST: As low as .96¢ total for 4 boxes depending on your coupons!

Carapelli Olive Oil 25% off (**I’ll update the price once I get to the store.)

(With sales like this, I like to buy smaller bottles of Extra Virgin Olive Oil for salad dressings. Eventually I’ll usually come across a BOGO deal on larger bottles for cooking.)

USE $1/1 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

FINAL COST: **

Better Than Bouillon $3.59 (except the reduced sodium variety)

                (They make organic varieties, but I did not see these at the Meijer I went to, so I, really would like to recommend asking the store manager to carry them and ask them to give you a raincheck.  They’d probably price the organic ones higher if they did have them, but it’s worth a shot!)

                USE $1.50/1 COUPON HERE

FINAL COST: $2.09

Diamond Crystal Sea Salt $1.79

                USE .40¢ COUPON HERE (WILL DOUBLE TO .80¢)

FINAL COST: .99¢

Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt $1.25

                USE .40¢ COUPON HERE (WILL DOUBLE TO .80¢)

FINAL COST: .45¢

McCormick Herbs, Spices, Extracts & Grinders 25% off  (see their line of organic spices HERE)

USE $1/4 All Varieties MEIJER COUPON HERE

(Buy 2 and receive a $2 Catalina TYNO, buy 5 and get a $3 Catalina)

FINAL COST: varies

BREAD

Aunt Millie’s “Family Style” wheat bread & white hamburger buns $1.33 

 (The coupons online and in the Red Plum insert 11/06/11 are for a different variety.)

Remember that you can buy this, as well as Meijer Organic Bread, for .65¢ HERE.

Kroger Best Buys 11/07 till 11/13

*M* Price listed is after the Mega discount for buying 10 participating items. 

(If there is an applicable coupon it is factored into the FINAL COST listed.)

BEVERAGES

1 Liter SmartWaters .75¢ *M*

USE $1/3 COUPON HERE  (LOAD ONTO YOUR KROGER, FRY’S OR SMITH’S CARD)

FINAL COST: .42¢ ea. When you buy 3

20 oz. Vitamin Waters .50¢ ea *M*

Blue Diamond Almond Breeze ½ gal. $1.99 *M*

OR .55¢/1 BLINKIE (coupon dispenser on the shelf) exp 1/31/2012 (if you find one)

OR $1/2 COUPON FROM THE 10/16/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 1/31/12)

FINAL COST: $1.49 IF YOU BUY 2 OR .99¢ EA. w/ the (DOUBLED) BLINKIE COUPON

**Also, through 11/27 ~

Buy any combination of Blue Diamond Almonds (6 oz+), Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Nut Thins or Nut Chips & earn $$ toward your next order (TYNO) in the form of a “Catalina” that will print out with your receipt.  See more about Catalinas HERE. The Nut Thins are also on sale for $2 (but not part of the Mega event) and they remain on sale through 12/04/11. Depending on your coupons, you may be able to purchase 4 Blue Diamond items for $4 and get a $4 Catalina TYNO!

Buy 2 = earn   .75¢ TYNO
Buy 3 =    “  $1.50 TYNO
Buy 4 =    “  $4.00 TYNO

Pepsi 2 liters .99¢ *M*

(I include this only because it is part of the Mega event, and I want to point out that Sierra Mist and the seasonally available Cranberry Sierra Mist are made without HFCS.  It is, to some degree, the lesser of the soda evils. You might enjoy mixing Sierra Mist with real fruit juice.)

* UPDATE 11/13/11 There is a coupon for Sierra Mist in the Red Plum insert in today's paper that would make this item FREE at Kroger TODAY ONLY!

DAIRY & EGGS

EggLand’s Best Organic Eggs 12ct. $2.99

                USE .50¢/1 dozen FROM THE 7/31/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 12/31/11)

                OR .75¢/1 dozen FROM THE 11/13/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 3/31/12)

FINAL COST: $1.99 *This is considerably les than the Kroger brand org. eggs.

(I intend to post about the Kroger re-launched “Simple Truth” organic line soon.)

ON THE SHELVES:

Annie’s Natural Mac & Cheese .69¢ *M*

USE .75¢/2 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

OR .75¢/1 Printable (if you printed when it was available)
FINAL COST: as low as FREE, OR .19¢ ea. IF YOU BUY 2

Blue Diamond Nut Thins $2

                USE .75¢/1 (will double: $1) FROM THE 8/28/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 11/30/11)

OR $1/2 COUPON FROM THE 10/16/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 1/31/12)

FINAL COST: as low as $1 ea (Also, see Catalina offer above)

Green & Black’s Chocolate Bars 3.5 oz. $2.50

USE $1.50/1 COUPON (See my previous post HERE.)

FINAL COST: $1 (!)

Wonderful Pistachios 8 oz. $2.99

USE $1/2 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

OR $1/2 COUPON FROM THE 9/18/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 11/25/11)

OR $1/2 COUPON FROM THE 11/13/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 11/25/11)

FINAL COST: $2.49 IF YOU BUY 2

Imagine Organic Broth, 32 oz $1.99 *M*

USE $1/2 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

OR $1/1 COUPON FROM THE 10/16/11 SMARTSOURCE INSERT (exp 1/31/12)

OR $1/1 BLINKIE (coupon dispenser on the shelf) exp 1/30/2012 (if you find one)

FINAL COST: as low as $0.99 ea. (Great Stock up price for Winter soups, etc.!)

C&H Cane Sugar 4 lb. $2.79 *M*

(I don’t think our Krogers carry this, but their affiliate stores (Fry’s/ Smith’s) apparently do, so I’m including it only as a possibility.  They may have it and it may be part of the Mega event. )

PRINTABLE COUPON HERE$0.50/1 4-5 lb. Bag

$1/2 Red Plum Insert 8/28/2011 exp 11/25/2011

$1/2 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE exp. 12/05/2011

$0.75/1 Red Plum Insert 8/24/2011 exp 11/25/2011
FINAL COST: as low as $1.79

FROZEN FOODS:

Cedarlane Entrees 9-11 oz. $2.49 *M*

(I really like these, and this is a great “Stock-Up” price. A great easy organic product to keep in the freezer, and you can still “embellish” them with extra veggies or whatever! The “better” Kroger stores will have more selection… as usual.)

USE .75¢/1 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE (exp 1/14/2012)

FINAL COST: $1.49

Kashi Pizza $4.49 *M*

USE $2/1 Recyclebank coupon (See more about RecycleBank HERE.)

FINAL COST: $2.49

Kashi Waffles $2.49 *M*

USE $2/1 Recyclebank coupon (See more about RecycleBank HERE.)

FINAL COST:  .49¢

MorningStar Farms EntreeS $3.19 *M*(We really like the “Griller’s Prime” burgers and the “Chicken” patties.)

USE $1/3 PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

OR $1/1 PEELIE COUPON ON PRODUCT (if you find one) (exp 3/31/2012)

(OR) There were some booklets hanging on the freezer door w/ coupons, but it is empty now in some stores. 

OR $2/1 MorningStar Farms AND 1 Wholly product PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

FINAL COST: as low as $2.19

NON-FOODS

No-Nonsense Socks, various packages .96¢ - $3.34 *M*

I was excited to see several varieties of organic cotton, Made-in-the-U.S.A. socks included in this sale! Consider using your “Consumer Voice” on these items so they continue in this direction!

Scotch Brite Sponges 2-3ct. $2.49 *M*

(various products included)

USE .50¢/1 Botanical Disinfecting Wipes PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

OR .75¢/1 3pk Sponges PRINTABLE COUPON HERE

FINAL COST: VARIES

 Remember to keep count your Mega Items carefully so you DO get the best price!