items I have to give up at the store? help?

**kellydoeshair** · 03-04-2008, 10:42 AM

okay so I decided to start my first grocery challenge
the problem is so many of my VERY favorite foods are NOT frugal and practically never on sale
ei
Pine nuts
candied ginger
gourmet apple juice *aka simply apple*
is there a way to find these on sale?
should I take from other parts of my budget
or should I just give them up?

**M55FF** · 03-04-2008, 10:47 AM

I never use those things but once I got some candied ginger after christmas on clearance.
What you decide to use or keep using really depends on your goals and personal choices.
I could easily give those things up because I have no interest in them... but ask me to give up my Costco hazelnut coffee?
I'd put up quite a fight

**suki** · 03-04-2008, 11:02 AM

I only get specialty items from the salvage grocery bargain store in my town. I don't pay $4 or whatever a bottle for Newman's organic dressing (or insert specialty item here), but I do pay $1.25 for it when it's available.

I love certain items and when they are available on sale or in the bargain store, I go ahead and purchase them. But, they are not worth blowing my budget or restricting other needs to have in my regular diet.

The choice is yours depending on what you want to achieve.

**ellendanis** · 03-04-2008, 12:08 PM

I can relate! My 'thing' was a large bottle of Evian water - EVERY day. When I first 'got frugal' I bought the 6 pack at Wal-mart once a week for a savings of $10+ each week.

Next, the water became something that comes out of my personal money - NOT the grocery budget . . . an additional grocery savings of $30 per month!

Now, I buy one 6 pack a month! I put Evain (and other 'treats') on my "gimme list". Sure, it's kinda odd to get gourmet water (or toothpaste, or cocoa or whatever) for Valentine's Day - but, it is something I LOVE and will rarely buy for myself. You could also use the purchase of those items to celebrate financial milestones along the way.

In my opinion, if you just 'cut it out and go without' you will feel deprived - which could lead to a budget busting spree down the road.

Hope this helps - good luck!
Ellen

**leezza** · 03-04-2008, 01:01 PM

You don't say where you live so I don't know if this will help.......

Example: Pine Nuts, (my parents love these things.....much to expensive where they live....but here there is a store called Trader Joes that I can get them for $5.99 a bag......) I would suggest looking around.

Asian Market, is there one near by that you could get the ginger at???

Also on your favorite items try checking their websites and see if they have any coupons.....or free samples.

Good Luck,
leezza

**stinkbug** · 03-04-2008, 01:42 PM

I can get the pine nuts and candied ginger in the bulk section of several stores.

**Dancing Lotus** · 03-04-2008, 03:15 PM

IT all depends on how tight your budget is and what else you might want to do without so that you can have those things. When I was first trying to be frugal I cut out the least important stuff first. Then I eased off some of the slightly more important. Once I got used to those changes I went to for it and cut way down on the things top on my list. I suggest you pick one thing at a time. And maybe trying to reduce the amount of the item. For example if you eat a 1/2 cup of pine nuts everyday , cut it back to 1/4 cup. That way you still get your treat but you will save 1/2 your money by buying half as much.
I only have 1 must have item , coffee. I only want two brands so I stock up on those brands when they are one sale.

**AmyMCGS** · 03-04-2008, 03:38 PM

There are several things I pretty much "have" to have for my family (of course by choice)-- there are probably about ten things on our list. We use store brands or coupon/ loss leader deals on everything else to make up for it.

I think it's up to you.... do you want to sacrifice elsewhere to have your favorites, or, do you want to do without them?

You could also just cut down on how often you use them... maybe buy generic apple juice, but buy your favorite every so often as a treat. Or try the cheaper varieties and see if there's one you can live with, and if not, stick with your favorites.

**Cricket1** · 03-04-2008, 03:42 PM

Are there specific brand names associated with those items? See if they have coupons on their websites, if so.

**boogiemum** · 03-04-2008, 04:18 PM

My hubby and I both have our "things" that we don't really want to give up. We have reduced how much we buy those "things" and take the cost of them out of our budgeted personal "fun" money. We learned to appreciate them even more while reducing how often we buy them.

**perSue** · 03-04-2008, 04:23 PM

oh wow!
i love pine nuts & candied ginger!!

I get pine nuts in bulk at someplace like CostCo or Sam's Club.
Candied ginger i get at a farmer's market for really cheap!

Otherwise, make them a specialty you buy only occassionaly. This is what i do.

Or if you can't live without them, any way to move other things around in your budget to afford these things?

I'd check in some local food markets (like foreign food markets) and see, they usually have way better prices on specialty foods.

**enkmom** · 03-04-2008, 04:27 PM

We love Simply Apple also, but we have cut back on it. I buy it once a month, and we drink water or tea when it runs out (other apple juices just don't taste as good to us). Knowing that we can still have what we want, just not as often, keeps us from feeling overly deprived and makes sticking to the budget much easier for our family.