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The CentsAble Shoppin

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White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse in cups are the perfect dessert - and come together in less than 15 minutes with the most delicious ingredients that will have you aching for more!

White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse

Praying Hands to Slot Rock Trail in Apache Junction is a really 4.30 mile loop in the Superstition Mountains that is moderately challenging, yet provides the best views of the desert and accompanying mountains!

Praying Hands to Slot Rock Hike Apache Junction

The Lava River Cave is just 30 minutes away from Flagstaff, Arizona. The cave itself was formed 700,000 years ago - at that time, molten lava erupted out of nearby Harts Prairie. The cave was founded in 1915 by lumbermen in the area.

Lava Cave – Flagstaff (Know Before You Go!)

Crockpot Slow Cooker Soy Honey Garlic Chicken - simple, delicious and perfect topped on rice for a beautiful family meal!

Crockpot Slow Cooker Soy Honey Garlic Chicken

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Reducing your Grocery Budget: Using Farmers Markets and Price Matching to Score on Inexpensive, Healthy Produce Items

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Reducing your grocery bill goes much farther than using a few coupons; I know for us, it also requires we find great opportunities for Fresh Produce as well – couponing and saving money is great, but eating healthy is also important.

Believe it or not, coupons DO sometimes exist for produce- not as in “mass abundance” as the boxed items, but you have to look. AND you have to get creative with what you buy — buy in season .. price match, and more. It’s relatively easy once you have a system down.

Many of you new to couponing may be curious as to ways that you can reduce your bill in the area of produce – if you have been reading my site long enough, you’ll know that I will often use Farmers Markets and 2 local grocers to score cheap produce by price matching.

A few Farmers Markets that I use regularly include:

  • Vertuccio Farms – Power Road just south of Elliot in Mesa
  • Superstition Farmers Market – On Main just East of Greenfield in Mesa

AND…….I shop regularly at Pro’s Ranch in Mesa, and at Food City (or I’ll price match).

If you are in Arizona you can actually see a large list of Farmers Markets HERE – including Peoria, Avondale, Scottsdale + more.

This is what you can score THIS week by price matching – remember that you can use this Weekly Essentials List to price match on your “must have” items.

  • Peaches 2 lbs/$1 (Food City)
  • Mangos 4/$.99 (Pro’s)
  • Avocados 5/$.99 (Pro’s)
  • Bananas 4 lbs $.99 (Pros)
  • Red Bell Peppers 3/$1 (Sprouts)
  • Strawberries 4/$5 (Sprouts)
  • Red Raspberries $.99 (Safeway)
  • Cucumbers 9 for $.99 (Food City)
  • Jicama 3 lbs/$.99 (Food City)
  • Bulk Carrots 3 lbs/$.99 (Food City)

This is what I do to minimize my produce spending:

I use Food City, and Pro’s Ranch to my advantage by price matching to Walmart once each week (not all Walmart stores will price match so check your local store first.)

I will buy what is on sale that week. For ex. If tomatoes and lettuce are inexpensive, then my meal plan will revolve around using what’s on sale for what I need to make.

I avoid getting my produce at the  regular grocer whenever possible or, if I do, I will use overage from other items to bring down their cost. .. and then donate those extra items if I don’t need them.

Go to the Farmers Market at the end of the day. Sometimes they are willing to markdown at day end.

I buy what is in season – if I can’t wait, I force myself to wait!

I freeze my produce.  The produce with a high water content will not freeze as well…….  but other items will – so I will chop up that stuff in freezer bags and freeze for stew, etc.

I know I’m not the only one who does this – please share your tips for saving money in this area – not only will it help those who are new, it might just give everyone fresh ideas on ways that they can help their budget.

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Comments

  1. Diane Zielinski says

    June 23, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    I like getting Manager’s Special items at Fry’s. They reduce soon-to-expire items such as bagged salads,  portobello mushrooms, Wholly Guacamole, and more. I also shop their reduced bakery and meats. Walmart doesn’t reduce their produce, they just throw it out.

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  2. silshu says

    June 23, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    are you saying that you do price matching in Farmers Market? I didn’t know they do that. Anyway, I found most farmers market produce is pricier so far…I’ve gone to Chandler Farmers Market and Gilbert Farmers Market

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    • sherylcuevas says

      June 23, 2012 at 3:56 pm

      No – I price match Pro’s & Food City to Walmart IF I don’t get to the market.
      Our Superstition Farmers Market is cheaper than any other market. Most of the Farmer Markets (i.e. Scottsdale, Chandler, Vertuccio Farms) are very expensive – but.. their supports will shop there to support local.
      Superstition does not use local – they get their produce from Mexico; Strawberries 3/$1 and sometimes 4/$1; Peppers 5/$1 is much cheaper than any other market. But, that is that specific location. No other market is as cheap.
      Some people prefer to shop and support local – I am all for local but, I am looking out for my pocketbook more, hence why I choose to shop at Pro’s & Food City and support the Superstition Market.
      Sent from my iPad

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  3. Kristeen Stokes says

    June 23, 2012 at 4:31 pm

    Your link for the list of Farmer’s Markets doesn’t work. It takes you to Fandango Visa.

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  4. Melissa Reynolds Van Leuven says

    June 23, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    Sheryl – so i can take the essentials list to Walmart and if they are a price match store, they will honor all the prices you listed above? 

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    • sherylcuevas says

      June 23, 2012 at 5:36 pm

      Walmart does not require an ad to price match; so I bring my essentials list. They don’t double coupons, and one of my local Walmarts will not price match Pro’s/FC (Superstition); but the Walmart on Signal Butte does just fine, and they are super about it. That’s what i do each Sunday with the hubby/kids, we just make one trip to Walmart to get everything I don’t wan tot buy at Fry’s.. makes it easier.
      Sent from my iPad

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      • bethstlaurent says

        June 23, 2012 at 7:43 pm

        I agree completely! Walmart is too far away for me to regularly pm but I got bb for a couple weeks and pricing out what I would be willing to pay for those product items it ends up being the same or a little more expensive than the sale produce at frys/sw/albies (where I would go instead). I get bb occasionally still but only when there’s a good add on item (and most aren’t. ex: the flat of strawberries was about 1.25/lb when we can buy them for $1 or less at the stores). Plus you really have to inspect your stuff I’ve gotten rotten garlic and really unripe tomatoes and oranges before. IMO, not worth the hassle!

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  5. Kairegan says

    June 23, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Have you ever heard of or tried Bountifulbaskets?  They are local AZ co-op.  I luv my co-op been doing it for 5 years now, and my kids would rather have carrots and celery then ice cream and cookies.. weirdos I know. check them out they are all over the valley, and there is other states as well.  http://www.bountifulbaskets.org 

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    • sherylcuevas says

      June 23, 2012 at 7:27 pm

      I have.. but they are pricier than what I pay actually. I prefer to actually pick what I get; I have heard so many horror stories on BB – and they seem expensive to me. Last time I did my trip to price match Pro’s my total was just over $7 for 20 lbs of produce….. I dont know if BB could match that.

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welcome, i'm sheryl!

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