Bulk Bins for the Win

Shopping at WinCo's bulk bin section is one of my favorite ways to save on groceries. There isn't a WinCo close to us, but when I make a trip up to visit my mom, I make a stop in to refill my pantry. Beans, grains, pasta, baking supplies, tea bags, spices, and treats can be bought in any quantity at a huge bargain, so I can really stretch my budget.

Today, I spent $108.44, including $29.80 in ground beef (I'll share how I prep it later this week!), $8.98 in olive oil, asparagus for $.98/lb, and *lots* of rice and beans!

Beans and lentils are almost always cheapest out of the bulk bins, but I was a bit surprised to find that a 10 lb. bag of rice in the aisles was cheaper than bulk rice. I bought the 10 lb. bag for $4.54, whereas the bulk bin was $.54/lb - making 10 lb. $5.40. Occasionally, the packaged product is on sale or has a coupon making it cheaper as well. If you're shopping in bulk, always double check that the packaged version isn't a better deal!

Our everyday oatmeal  breakfast is made with steel cut oats, bought in bulk for $.63/lb.

 When baking goods go on sale around the holidays, I can often find a 4 lb. bag of flour for under $2.00, but I've never seen it as low as the everyday price of $.35/lb at WinCo.

 Refilling my spice containers out of the bulk bins is one of my favorite ways to keep my meals flavorful on a budget. Today, I completely refilled an empty container of cumin for $.42.

Bulk tea bags! It doesn't get much cheaper for this variety. I get chamomile, lemon ginger, orange spice, chai, peppermint, green tea, and earl grey here.

Frozen spinach is so versatile, and SO cheap! I especially like adding it to my beans, sausage and greens soup, to meatloaf, and to quiche.

I stock up on orange juice concentrate at $.99 a frozen can, and we drink about one each week. I've also used this in orange chicken recipes.

Using the pantry principle to grocery shop, I have a set price point I won't spend over on particular items. I shop to replenish my stock rather than for specific meals, so it's helpful to know where I can get the best deal on things I buy regularly so I can restock and stay on budget. 

Do you have stores with bulk bins in your area? What are your best finds? 

Weekly Menu Rotation

There are lots of methods for menu planning. Some people go to the store and buy what looks good, then plan their menu around their purchase. Some sit down with the sales flyers and plan based on the weekly sales before going to the store. Others make a plan a week or a month ahead, regardless of sales or current taste. All of these have their place, but none quite work for me. 

What works for me is using the Pantry Principle, which I learned about in The Tightwad Gazette, a newsletter about frugality that ran in the 1990's and (while a bit dated) is worth a read in book form. Author Amy Dacyzyn explains: "The basic premise is that you stockpile your pantry (and/or kitchen, freezer, basement, closet and/or the space under your bed) with food purchased at the lowest possible price. The sole purpose of grocery shopping becomes replenishing your pantry, not buying ingredients to prepare specific meals."

This shift in mindset has made the biggest difference in my food budget!

My menus are based on pantry staples, and then I shop sales to maintain those staples. I will stock up on an item when it hits a rock bottom price, even if I don't need it that week. Then I have enough on hand to make my meals with the least expensive option and I am not compelled to spend more for the same item when it isn't on sale.

My weekly menu rotation is flexible enough that I can plug in something I find on manager's markdown while shopping, but rigid enough that I don't come home after work wondering what's for dinner. It's a balance that works for me. 

Here's our weekly rotation: 


Sunday - Something Special 
I do meal prep for the week on Sunday evenings. I cook something like a roast chicken or meatloaf on Sunday nights, and then pack leftovers up for lunches throughout the week. I also make a big batch of steel cut oats to have for breakfasts throughout the week, boil eggs and cut veggies for snacks, and pack lunches. A solid two hours of prep on Sunday evening makes the rest of the week smooth sailing! 

Monday - Meatless
I make a big pot of beans and we start eating them Monday night, often with rice. Rice and beans are the rock stars of the frugal kitchen! Bean leftovers are then incorporated to bulk up other meals throughout the week. 

Tuesday - Tacos
Simple, fast, cheap and we never get bored of tacos! 

Wednesday - Whatever's On Sale 
I generally grocery shop on Wednesdays, when there's an overlap of two weeks' sales flyers and my local Mexican market has a meat special of the day. Dinner is whatever meat special I've bought, or more of Monday's beans, spiced up in a new way.

Thursday - Fish
My spouse, Starling, has dinner with his family on Thursdays, and he doesn't care for fish, so it's a perfect night for the kids and I to enjoy a meal featuring canned tuna, sardines, or salmon, or fresh or frozen fish found on sale.

Friday - Leftovers
Having a specific night for leftovers has proven an absolute necessity to avoid food waste. On any budget, wasted food is money in the trash; on a tight budget, money in the trash is not an option! 

Saturday - Soup
We eat soup year round. Chili, stew, chowder - it's all hearty and filling, and a good way to feed a crowd affordably.

Do you menu plan? What method works best for you?