High on a Bargain

I know I've posted some grocery shopping tips on here before and I feel like I spend way too much time on my blog bragging about shopping, but I love saving money and I love food! I have really gotten into stocking up my pantry and saving money, so I get excited when I can do that. Today I went to the grocery store and managed to save 35 dollars while spending 40. I love it when I do that. First of all, I've recently realized (duh) that many dairy products like cream cheese and sour cream are sold at least a month or so before their expiration dates. So now when I see them on sale, I buy a few packages and just keep them in my fridge for when I need them. For example, I've decided that I really like Daisy sour cream since it has no additives. Our store had it on sale for $1.50 off the regular price, so I grabbed three containers this week. Same thing with cream cheese; I'd rather buy a few bricks while it's only a dollar each than suddenly need it and have to pay $3.00. Today I was most excited about the fact that the store had five-pound bags of flour on sale for $1.00 each. I totally stocked up; now if there's some kind of disaster I'm ready with flour and cream cheese. Oh, and coconut. It was also a dollar a bag and I like to use it in granola or cookies. The coconut is a good example of how you don't have to buy tons of one product to stock up. I often think of stocking my pantry as spending lots of money for mass quantities of food. But things like coconut or chocolate chips don't used up that frequently. Even still, spending four dollars for four bags that will last about six months is a great idea. Also, if you are patient, most things eventually go on sale. Our store seems to rotate which brands of dairy products are on sale and so every few weeks I can count on the brand I like being available for cheap. I'm almost embarrassed to post my most exciting bargain. As I was leaving, I noticed a cart full of discontinued health and beauty items that were all one dollar. I found a tube of my favorite toothpaste, and then I found a package of Monistat cream. I know, that's kind of gross. But it usually costs ten dollars and I got it for one dollar. It doesn't expire until next September and knowing my body, chances are good that I'm going to need it. Don't worry, I won't tell you about it when I do. I'll just gloat over the fact that I got it at such a deal and that it's waiting in my house for that awful moment late at night when you realize you need to run to the drugstore and cough up insane amounts of money to feel better.