Cheapskate Hack to Avoid Buying Expensive Jam for Sandwiches

I don´t know about you...but I find these ¨ extreme cheapskate¨ shows to be great entertainment. Most of the tips are not practical and pretty dangerous....but I have not lost my appetite for a great frugal life hack.

So here goes. If you have a big family...or a small family with BIG appetites, then you may sometimes wondered why even the discount grocery stores still charge a handsome dime for any kind of red jam.

By "red" jam, I mean any kind of jam such as strawberry, raspberry etc....

So, the other day when I was preparing the Canadian Thanksgiving turkey dinner and I opened the can of jellied cranberry jelly, I thought to myself....hmm....I wonder how this would do as a frugal substitute for jam on a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. And so, I tried out the jellied cranberry sauce in every way that I normally use raspberry jam....and was pleasantly surprised.

How does the taste compare? Well, jellied cranberry sauce has a tartness to it, which adds a bit of a kick to it...but it still has enough sweetness to  balance it out. The tartness makes it quite refreshing.

So....if one were to use canned jellied cranberry sauce as a raspberry jam substitute, you could store it in the fridge once you open it and put it into a seal-able glass jar, such as a mason jar with a tight lid.

That´s it. Pretty simple huh? I have not done enough experiments using this to know how long it would stay fresh when stored in a glass jar in a refrigerator, but I have enjoyed trying it out for the first time. Does this sound like something you could see yourself or a family member trying out in the future? Or would you file this idea under something you would do only if you ¨had¨ to?

Well, that´s all for now. Enjoy your days and frugal ways, and not so frugal ways. It´s all good.

Peace,

Carla

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Flashfood App bragging rights !

Hi Friends....what´s the fun of saving money on groceries if you can´t brag about it once in a while?

Yes, I know....I´ve blogged about the FLASHFOOD app before....but i feel like so many people just don´t realize how much it can help them....especially if they have a large household to feed.

So, on the left is a screen shot of this week´s tiny shopping savings. Not a huge amount of items, but the prices were right on the money!

The bottle of 100% pure Sunflower oil was no where near expiry and the  bottle was almost a ful liter....measuring at 946 ml. Being able to pay $2.23 cdn for a full bottle of sunflower oil is a great bargain! Yay!

It´s always good to buy enough pasta to stock up once in a while....and so, to get my hands on a box of pasta (454 grams ) of high quality pasta for only 84 cdn cents per box....was definitely a win win.

So, I bought 3. 

Years ago, it used to be quite common to be able to buy groceries priced at under $1 cdn. But not anymore.....it is harder to find things under a dollar and so when you see something like a staple such as spaghetti noodles, it is a ¨no brainer¨ to decide to go ahead and buy some at only 84 cents a box.

What is the greatest deal you have discovered lately? Do tell!!

Well friends, if you have access to a smart phone or any device upon which you can download the FLASHFOOD app....I highly encourage you to do so. It will save you money on feeding your family and it allows the grocery stores that participate in the FLASHFOOD program to save a lot of  items from going into the landfill.

Thanks FLASHFOOD!

Have a great weekend all!

Peace,

Carla

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Extreme Cheapskates Flashfood Style

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How can a mom not like a food haul for less than 20$ ....loaded with veggies??

And so today, my fellow frugal bugles....Flashfood App won again.....allowing me to score the above listed food items for just under $20 🇨🇦.

I don't know if the Flashfood app is available worldwide...but the last time i checked it has grown by leaps and bounds across North America.

What do i like about my local Flashfood app ?

The food is kept safe and at appropriate temps.....either chilled or frozen or at room temp if shelf stable.

The Flashfood app is easy to use. 

You easily prepay your food order...so no need to even bring your wallet into the store.

You can make your food dollars stretch farther than ever.....all the while feeling grateful that the Flashfood app has diverted thousands ( probably millions) of pounds of food from being wasted. Talk about a win win!!!

If you are a true cheapskate or a gentle frugalista...you are going to love the Flashfood App.

Simply download the app to your Smartphone and it will allow you to explore which stores closest to your location have discounted foods currently available for purchase. Then simply prepay thru the app and collect your items instore during store hours! 

What's not to love?

Have a great frugal friday my cheapskate friends. saving money never tasted quite this good😁👍

Review of Flash Food App

So, If any of y'all are bargain hunters...you are definitely going to want to check out the "Flash Food" app. It is easy to download and very user friendly. You don't even have to handle payments in the grocery store....it is all done online.

So, what is "Flash Food" ? It is a way for grocery stores in Ontario to offer products at steep discounts rather than tossing them in their dumpsters when they are trying to reorganize their merchandising or getting rid of foods that are near their expiry dates.( i am sure that it operates in other provinces too....and maybe even the USA)

Above are all the items I was able to get  this week, for just under 20 Canadian dollars. I know that the choices are heavy on dairy...but that is just the way it is.....Dairy products are most sensitive to expiry dates...and stores have more dairy products near expiry than they know what to do with. It saves the store money to be able to sell these items instead of letting them be disposed of. It is also an environmental and social benefit for stores to be able to claim that they reducing their "land fill" items and offering lower cost food options for those who may need it.

I like that there was a broad assortment....including even some meat and high value cheeses. The yogurts are easy to freeze and kids like them for snacks. 

Do you have Flash Food app operating in your locality? Do you like it? Does it freak you out to buy foods near expiry? Do tell.

I thought those frugal friends of mine would appreciate a glimpse into what a Flash food order can be. Well, that's all for now. Be well....and take advantage of those blessings that God provides. Be well and prosper "biggly"!

Peace,

Carla.

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Winter Wellness!

The following KEY points to think about to maintain wellness during the winter months may assist you and your family:

Chewable Vitamin C tablets-- readily available at pharmacies and grocery stores--follow the instructions on the label.Vitamin C is said to boost the immune system and prevent vulnerability to colds and flus.
Raw Ginger-- peel a raw chunk smaller than a dice and swallow it with water like a supplement. Take care to chop it small enough that you can comfortably swallow it easily.
Raw Garlic-- One raw peeled clove of garlic taken at night, chopped into small size pieces that you can easily swallow with your favorite beverage. Raw garlic has been praised in numerous books and articles and is also being studies for it's effects on prevention of cancerous tumors.
Sunlight-- even though there isn't much sun these days in the winter time, your mood will lift if you are able to get outside even for a ten minute walk in cloudy weather. Even through the clouds, there are small amounts of sunshine that seep through, that can help you maintain a joyful mood and help infuse your body with small amounts of Vitamin D, aka, the sunshine vitamin. Of course, you must observe your own doctor recommended forms of sunscreen through the use of sun screen, sun block, proper protective clothing and hats. Sunlight that reflects off of objects around you outside will still impact you under any hat you may be wearing.
Probiotics- Doctors have finally come to the conclusion that our digestive tract may occasionally needs some support with the assistance of supplemental probiotics. Talk to your doctor about taking probiotics to assist your digestive system. Some individuals find that taking probiotics regularly helps them prevent cravings, gas, bloating, and constipation. Winter months can be more sedentary for many people, and therefore some people find that they are tempted to eat more food during the winter. Probiotics are sometimes helpful in curbing those uncontrollable cravings for carbohydrates.
Iron supplements for Women-- Seek your licensed medical practitioner to have regular testing of your iron levels, especially if you are in your years of menstruation. Women battling fatigue often discover that they have been low in iron, which is easily fixed with proper doctor recommended levels of iron supplementation.
Oregano Oil-- These pure oils are VERY VERY potent and should always be used sparingly. Just one or two drops of oregano oil in your coffee or tea can help build up your immune system against winter time colds.Most health food stores and some pharmacies carry these kind of oils. If you can, try to get the organic form.
Simplicity-- Keeping your food regimen simple and fresh. Perhaps this is obvious, but note that even though there really isn't much seasonal fruits and veggies locally available in the winter, that you don't necessarily need to neglect your good fresh food habits. You can gain great benefit from simple winter wonders like
homemade chili made from whole canned tomatoes, canned kidney beans, onions and garlic and bits of your favorite proteins such as meats, cheeses, or tofu.Season generously with rich chili powder and kosher salt. Serve your chili with a spoon of fresh sour cream, for that finishing touch.
Other fresh wonderful winter comfort foods include Homemade Chicken stew made with your
favorite seasonings such as parsely and curry powder. Basic healthy items are hopefully available year round in your grocery store, such as carrots, potatoes, apples and bananas. Keeping those items around will help you have fresh items available to nibble on when you or your family get the munchies. Oatmeal is available as a great breakfast food to have with your favorite natural sweetener and/or frozen/canned berries.

May you be blessed with the info you need at the right season in your life to learn what works well for you and your family in maintaining a happy life with more than enough energy and zest to accomplish all that God has called you to do.
Peace.
Carla
Disclaimer: This list is intended for conversational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, and is not intended to replace medical advice. This blog post is not intended to suggest treatments, cures, diagnosis, or prevention of any disease. Always consult your licensed medical professional for medical advice. The author and publisher of this blog post hold absolutely no liability for any ideas discussed in this post
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