Teri's Blog

Learn the Lesson of the Peanut Butter

I keep shouting this out… “Please don’t pay full price for your groceries, EVER!” And that includes , household items, toiletries, paper goods, etc… ever! I can buy the exact things you pay full price for, for half price or better. How?

“Grasshopper, learn the lesson of the peanut butter.” (Remember Kung Fu? SO cool!) Rather than get into long explanation, I copied a portion from my book (all I have to copy is an uncorrected proof, so go easy on me), “Shop Smart, Save More”, which is invaluable, the best book ever written on saving money on groceries. And I’m not the only one saying that. http://www.thegrocerygame.com/con_Shop_Smart_Save_More_Book.cfm

And I don’t feel bad saying that, because I had an incredible co-writer, Sheryl Berk (XOXOXO Sheryl!) and great publisher, Harper Collins, and went through the school of hard knocks for 8 years to learn what’s in that book!

Now, Grasshopper, listen carefully and take it to heart…

Chapter 4: Stockpiling

Shopping for stuff you need is a no-no. “Teri,” you say, “What are you talking about? Don’t you go out and buy OJ if your son finishes the ½ gallon in the fridge? Don’t you purchase pecorino romano cheese on a whim?” Nope. And you shouldn’t either. The whole idea of meal planning for a week of menus (or god forbid, for a daily menu) is so yesterday, not to mention the single biggest way to spend a whole lot of dough unnecessarily.

            Instead, you’re going to buy more than you need when you don’t need it. It’s called “stockpiling,” and for me, it all started with a jar of peanut butter. It was my “Aha!” moment, the beginning of my Grocery Game strategies, and to this day, I smile whenever I see a jar of Jiffy on a shelf. I was about 13 years old, shopping at a supermarket in Orange California. I had my grocery list of things that we “needed” for our family. I thought I was already a smart shopper, looking for the best deals on the things that we were out of in the cupboards. I was going to stick to that list, as always, and find the best deals for each item, using a coupon whenever I could.

I was rushing down an aisle, heading for some bread, when I spotted a particular brand of peanut butter on sale. And it was a good sale! It was even the brand that we liked (although we were far from brand loyal by that time). I didn’t even have peanut butter on my list, because we weren’t out of it yet. But when I saw that sale, which was half off, I thought, “Too bad we don’t need peanut butter right now. That’s a great price.” Right then and there I had an epiphany. It’s sort of like when you are watching TV or listening to the radio, and an announcement comes on and declares, “We interrupt this program to bring you a special message!” I stopped and looked at that peanut butter high up on the shelf. As I think back on it now, I honestly think there was a ray of sunlight streaming through a window on that jar—as if the angels above were trying to tell me something. “To heck with it!” I said, grabbing the jar and throwing it in my cart. It went against every fiber of my being. I probably only had about $20 for that shopping trip. So I was paring down and trying to figure out what we could do without, rather than adding items to my list. I’m surprised I even considered it, I was so trained to get only the absolute must-haves for that week. But the price was so good, and I knew we would need it later (we all loved peanut butter)…somehow, I managed to break free. It felt good. It felt liberating. There was a new spring in my step. I was on to something, and I didn’t even know what it was. I had stepped into the world of “stockpiling.”

A lot of people email me and tell they can’t afford to stockpile. They explain that they are on a tight budget. There is nothing left in their bank account after they buy what they need. They tell me they simply can’t afford too build up their stockpile. This is a mindset that has to go. If you’re tight on your grocery budget, you can’t afford NOT to stockpile. Get stockpiling into your brain. It’s important to re-program old habits and old thoughts that are chipping away at your wallet. Stockpiling does not break the bank. By stockpiling with a strong savings strategy, you should come home with more groceries and still spend less. Stockpiling is a key strategy to winning The Grocery Game.

I understand the hesitation. At first, it might sound a little wasteful (okay, ridiculous) to buy three boxes of cereal when you only need one. Well, most of what I share with you will probably strike you that way initially. That’s because most of what I do to win The Grocery Game is the opposite of what you’ve been taught.

I’m not telling you to go out and buy 300 rolls of toiletpaper if you live in a 1-bedroom apartment. What I am telling you to do is buy more than one package of TP if you have a great coupon for it, and the timing is right (there is a categorical sales trend on paper goods, they’re offering double coupons, etc.). Carpe diem! Seize the day! Seize the sale. Don’t pass it by—like I almost did with that peanut butter—because you only came in to get a loaf of bread and some milk and it’s not on your list.

Stockpiling is not buying large packages or buying in bulk. In fact, stockpiling often means buying smaller packages rather than bigger ones (more about that later). Stockpiling is simply taking advantage of great sales with or without a coupon to buy what you need before you need it. Stockpiling is also NOT about being brand loyal. You only like your special brand of chips? Get over it. I can show you a bag for half that much or even better. Sure, once in a while, your brand of chips will be on sale, and you should go for it. But guess what? You just might find that another brand is just as good or better.  And the bonus is this: Stockpiling frees up money in other areas. Once you stockpile in all areas of your groceries, the day will come when you are so far ahead in your savings, and your cupboards are so bursting, and your bank account is so much fatter, that you can afford to splurge and maybe grab that bag of your favorite brand of chips. Lots of Grocery Gamers are saving enough to go organic on their produce. The benefits of stockpiling are boundless.

Note: This is the end of the copy from the book. There is much more, and if you don’t understand “Categorical Sales Trends”, you don’t know what happens every 12 weeks in the supermarket, and why you have to stock up, or “invest” in your groceries, etc. Another subject for another day. Or get the book, or visit our message board.

Adversity gives birth to opportunity

This is SO hard. I feel overwhelmed with the stories of hard times, from close friends and family to those I hardly know. Layoffs, increasing debt, foreclosures… and the list goes on and on. My heart aches, because I’ve been there.

I read a number of posts on our message board about how www.TheGroceryGame.com has helped members through hard times. Some posted about having found us when they hit hard times years ago. Others were more recently affected by the economy and sought out a way to put good food on the table for half the cost. The re-curring theme was that they have “learned so much”.

http://terismessageboard.thegrocerygame.com/showthread.php?t=125696

Then I thought about what I learned through my hard times. I can’t hardly say I’m glad I went through it, as it was SO painful and extremely frightening. But maybe I am glad I HAD to go through it. Because what was born out of those hard times was www.TheGroceryGame.com. I HAD to be pressed into a corner, in order to learn valuable skills for keeping good food on the table. I HAD to go through hard times, or I never would have been pressed so hard to make $35 a week feed my family of four so well. I HAD to, so that I would survive. And… I HAD to so that now thousands of families would not just survive, but thrive.

Not to be cavalier, or insensitive, but I challenge anyone who is going through hard times. And the challenge is this: Ask yourself these questions:

What can I learn from this?

Is there anything I am doing that is keeping me here?

Is there anything I am not doing that I should be doing?

What opportunities are out there that I’ve never pursued?

What might I be missing?

Is there anything more I can do to change this situation, even in a small way?

Is there anything that “might” make things better, that I haven’t tried?

What skills do I have that I haven’t used in a long time?

What new skill can I learn?

What productive things can I do with my time?

I suppose there are lots more questions to ponder. When I was going through my hard times, I asked God those kinds of questions every night as I laid in bed. I guess he answered them.

Economy changes laundry

The economy has dramatically affected the way we do laundry and sales of laundry detergent.

Proctor & Gamble, who have controlled 60% of the laundry detergent market (5 times the share of its nearest competitor), and the makers of Tide, the #1 selling laundry detergent have been affected in some areas. In one particular supermarket chain, Tide dropped in sales by 46% this year, while Purex shot up 38%. In another supermarket chain, shoppers remained loyal to their higher priced Tide. Sun liquid laundry detergent saw an increase in sales nationwide of 132%!

Another smaller supermarket chain said they are starting to carry obscure brands that no-one would have previously bought. On that note, a recent market research revealed that shoppers will take into consideration the cost per ounce, without considering whether one is more concentrated than another.

Some supermarket chains are increasing their offerings of club size multipacks of laundry detergent. Buy in bulk to save is their MO.

Sales of store brand laundry detergent are up to one degree or another in all chains nationwide.

So what’s the million dollar answer for consumers?

1. Make your decision based on cost per load, not cost per ounce.

2. Don’t be brand loyal.

3. Use half as much detergent as called for.

4. Don’t assume largest package is best value. Smaller packages on sale will sometimes beat larger non-sale packages. Add a coupon to the mix, and the scales almost always tip in favor of the smaller package.

5. Don’t wait until you run out of laundry detergent to buy some. Chances are it won’t be on the best sale on the day you rush out to buy it. “Invest” in laundry detergent when it is on a rock bottom sale and with a coupon. This week Ralphs CA Purex Ultra 5.99 down to 1.29 (today’s the last day). The deals are nationwide, Fry’s in AZ (also a Kroger store) will have it for final price 1.29 on this coming list at www.TheGroceryGame.com. King Soopers (another Kroger) in CO had Purex at a final price of 1.49. Albertsons Oregon just had it for final price 2.49. A few weeks ago, Gamers in FL invested in Fab for 1.65. And the list goes on and on… I just “invested” in laundry detergent yesterday. And I wasn’t anywhere near out of it yet.

4. Pre-soak, pre-treat spots, and run shorter cycles to save on energy.

5. Wash in cold water to save on energy, and keep colors and fabric new.

Still stuck on Tide? It’s an amazing phenomenon. Believers in Tide swear by it. Just know this, Tide is always more expensive, even on sale with a coupon. But if you’re a loyal Tide user, at least “invest” in it when it’s on sale with a coupon.

Don't eat out, and don't cook!

I just got got a cartload piled high and stuffed underneath for $90 (all good quality brand name stuff!). That’s typical for Grocer Game players. We usually save about 67%.

A lady in front of me got less than half as much as me, paid over $200, and had that bewildered look as she stared at her receipt, “What did I buy?”. That’s why I’ve heard people say, “Groceries are so expensive, it’s cheaper to just eat out.” Yes. That can definitely be true, if you don’t know how to play The Grocery Game.

A report was just released by Food Marketing Institute, that 69% of US households said they are eating out less often this year, compared with 46% in 2008. That’s an improvement. But the scary thing is that I know they’re paying twice as much on groceries than they should. Gamers buy all the same stuff for about 67% off. Yes, same brands and everything.

For those who don’t want to cook every night, supermarkets nationwide are ramping up their service delis. Just about every one of them now offers take out dinner options for a family of four for about $15. While that’s about half the cost of eating out, there’s an even better deal… and you still don’t have to cook…

Dinner for four for less than $6, and you still don’t have to cook!… Invest in frozen family size entrees when they are on sale and with a coupon, add a salad, and voila! For example, just pulled from Grocery Game databases: Stouffers Family size entrees which feed up to five people were just on sale in lots of supermarkets nationwide for $3.99. Throw together a salad: Fresh Express salad mix on sale for $1. Add veggies in season, sliced tomatoes for about 50 cents, Fresh Gourmet salad toppings for FREE, and Kraft salad dressing for FREE = $5.49. Again, this is not unusual for Gamers.

The key is this: We “invest” in things we know we like, different things each week. When I put together a meal, I use things that I “invested” in for the past 2 or 3 months. It all makes its appearance to make a well rounded meal. Only the produce is weekly, and even that is on sale.

Now, don’t be a snob about frozen foods… Most of the time, I cook from scratch too. But I have busy days when I intended to make dinner, but football practice ran late, or laundry was piled high, or I had too many meetings, or I’m just plain pooped! That’s when my investment of a frozen entree saves me from doing something more expensive like eating out, or getting takeout, or calling for pizza.

NOTE: Coupons are not just for pre-made food. It’s for all the food that you buy every week: cheese, yogurt, pasta, tofu, whole grain bread, orange juice, etc. Today’s topic was just about avoiding eating out when you’re too busy to cook.

Start "investing" now for FREE!

The tough times are getting tougher. People are coming to us in droves, hoping we can help them put food on the table. That’s why we now have a “FREE Trial” for 4 weeks. Those who have tried us for 4 weeks, have more food and even better food, for less money. They’re emailing us with comments like “answer to prayer”, “lifesaver”… And it is gratifying to say the least! But…

Many are desperate by the time they give us a try. Then, once they finally do, they wish they had started years ago. Just not necessary! Don’t wait until you’re desperate to get started. Begin to “invest” now. And it’s now FREE for 4 weeks. I urge you. Not because we need the business, but because it’s wise and prudent. Why complain about what you don’t have, when there’s something you CAN have!

www.TheGroceryGame.com

A cure for migraines?

This week, a friend of mine has been tormented with debilitating migraines. So aweful! Her struggle reminded me of Joe’s ordeal as a little boy, in about 5th grade. He had migraines so bad, that when they would hit, he would become sick and begin to vomit. Then, he would come home from school, and lay sick in bed under the covers all day and sometimes into the next, just suffering. It just broke my heart to see him like that.

We took Joe to the doctor a number of times, and he got some sort of prescription. Can’t remember exactly what it was, but it only took some of the edge off of the episodes. It didn’t cure him, or make them stop. They would just hit him hard, and knock him down again and again.

I heard that a chiropractor may be able to help. So one day when I got a call to pick him up from school with a migraine, I rushed him down to the chiropractor, who was fortunately just five minutes from the school. Joe was already really sick, and had been vomiting. Just miserable. He went into the office for about 30 minutes, and came out with a big grin on his face! Wow! I almost cried! He went home and slept for while, but had no more pain.

The chiropractor told me that most migraines are from a certain place in the neck that is out. Once that is fixed, and cold compresses were applied, and he was able to lie in the dark and rest, he was fine! The doctor told him that it may re-occur a few more times, and to come in at the onset, before he gets too sick.

The best news is, he only had two more very mild episodes, along with two more chiropractic treatments. And then he was cured for life. He’s never had anymore of those nasty things!

He's becoming a good MAN!

Father’s Day can be very difficult for alot of people. I have friends who didn’t have the kind of Fathers that they wish they had. I had a wonderful Father, but he’s gone now. Thankfully, I got over my pity party a few weeks ago about that, as we approached Father’s Day. And now, I can just be grateful that I “had” a wonderful Father. Plus I have another reason to celebrate… I’m SO grateful that my boys have a wonderful Father. Greg is an awesome Dad in so many ways.

Greg knew how to raise boys! Greg is more of a disciplinarian than I am. Over the years, I’ve been the “softie”. If it weren’t for Greg, my boys would have probably grown up lazy and selfish, and who knows what else. But Greg wouldn’t allow that. When he was tough on them, most of the time, I just cringed and bit my tongue (of course, sometimes I didn’t do so well on that either). But I knew that sometimes Dads have to be tough to make their boys into men. 

Greg is also a very loving Father. Oh, yeah, totally! He tells his boys that he loves them, and hugs them often. He has always been attentive to their emotional and developmental needs, and proactive about looking for ways to build up their character, spend time with them, and take interest in what they’re interested in. To know Greg, you would think he’s a tough guy. And he is. But his heart is for his boys. Throughout their lives, they have always known for sure that their Dad loves them. I’m so grateful for that!

I’ve been able to watch my boys transform into the kind of man their Father is, a gentleman, and so much more. I watched Joe grow into being a good man and husband. What a beautiful transformation that was at about the same time as Christian. Now, Christian, at 17, is just blowing my mind too. First of all, yesterday (the day before Father’s Day), I reminded him to buy Dad a card. He already had, and had searched high and low and found a particular scuba knife that Greg wanted. All without saying a word, or any prompting from me. That’s the first time he’s self initiated a card and a gift! Wow! He’s finally becoming a man.

But that’s not all… In the past year, we’ve noticed Christian being more and more outwardly focused, and less self focused. Ahhh… a good sign! Nothing against him, just typical teenage behavior. He’s normal! For example, on our vacation in Hawaii, every day, he was constantly right there when we were loading or unloading the car with all our gear, ice chests, etc. and just “doing it”, like a man! “Here mom, let me get that. It’s too heavy for you.” Then, walking out on uneven lava rocks at the beach, just when I saw a gap that looked treacherous, there he was with his outstretched hand. He had waited for me, and kept an eye on me, ”Be careful. I gotcha.” Makes my heart melt. What a good husband he will be!

So I have much to be grateful for on this day. And I can look forward to watching them passing this on to their children. (sigh of relief, and picture me sitting back with my feet propped up with a tall glass of lemonade) Phew! Seems like our work is done.

Keeping fresh fish fresh for up to 5 days!

This is fantastic! When Christian caught his 110 pound tuna in Hawaii, we brought home 2 big hunks to make 10 steaks. We packed it in an ice chest with blue ice and checked it into baggage. I was skeptical about it being fresh when we bar-b-qed it 2 days later. I knew it would be “fresh”, or safe to eat, but I don’t like “fishiness” at all.

Here’s the trick. And I don’t know if it will work for up to 5 days, but I’m thinking it may… The deckhand on the fishing boat is a self professed gourmet chef specializing in fish, of course. He said iti could be good as the day you caught it for up to 5 days, if you do this:

Pat the chunks dry with paper towels. Then, wrap them each in fresh dry paper towels, then into a ziploc in the fridge. Then, at least every 12 hours, repeat the process. I lovingly did that (which was a bit of a hassle morning and night, but worth it), and 2 days later, when we bar-b-qed it, it was NOT fishy at all! We caught it about noon on a Monday, and bar-b-q-ed it Wednesday night. Made me crazy to wait that long. I was SO worried I would hate it! I’m VERY picky about my fish! But it was the freshest fresh fish I have EVER had. And I felt it tasted fresher than other fish we caught and cooked the same night. I had steaks for those who don’t like fish. But even people who don’t normally like fish, ate only the tuna, because it was like steak!

We just rubbed the tuna with olive oil, nothing else, and grilled on medium high heat, just a few minutes on each side. We served it with lemon wedges and sea salt on the side. I didn’t use lemon, because it was so good without it. It was awesome!

Make Your Groceries Last Longer

www.TheGroceryGame.com is all about about cutting that big $1,000 a month food bill in half whether you cut coupons or not. Feeding a family is a huge un-necessary drain on the budget. Everyone should just stop eating! Or get on board with The Grocery Game, where families of four are saving an average of $512 a month! In fact, during the 4 week $1 trial, most people save enough to buy a deep freezer. Fanastic! Boy it feels good to be in a business that trully does help people! But then, if you let your food go bad, what good are your savings? So…

Keeping food as fresh as it can be is so important that I decided to write a whole chapter on it in my book, “Shop Smart, Save More”, which was recently published through Harper Collins.  http://www.thegrocerygame.com/con_Shop_Smart_Save_More_Book.cfm

The book is all about saving money on groceries, ease of preparation, and a lifestyle of good eating for less money and less time. The book is actually an amazing education on how groceries are marketed and how to play The Grocery Game and win! But there’s more. Oh, so much more… Chapter 5 is entitled “Storing Your Stock”, and it covers everything about keeping all your food as fresh as it can be for longer periods of time, from meat, fruits and vegetables, cheese, rice, cereal, and more.

So, I guess because of the the book, www.TheGroceryGame.com is featured in this week’s issue of “Woman’s World” magazine in an article about keeping food fresh. Apparently, this is such a hot topic right now, that it has spurred a flurry of press. I’m going to Philly and NY next week to do several more segments on the same subject. That’s sort of how this press world works. Sing it, “One thing leads to another… “

So, at the last minute yesterday, I got a request to go to San Diego for a segment on keeping food fresh to air live this morning. San Diego is only a 3 hour drive, but I have to go the night before. And I already had family and friends coming for a big bar-b-q last night to feast on Christian’s 110 pound ahi tuna (which I knew how to keep fresh as the day we caught it until we could eat it 3 days later, and it was awesome)! So I couldn’t leave until about 10 last night, which got me to the hotel and in bed by about 2AM, and up at 6AM to get to the studio. BTW, I really hate going on camera with 4 hours of sleep. Needless to say, with all of that, I’ve been on the run for the past 36 hours to say the least! Look away I’m hideous!

But it was worth it, because I love my friends at “San Diego Living” channel 6. They’re so nice and they have a great show. Of course, we only had time to touch the tip of the iceberg on the subject of keeping food fresh. But I think it was a nice and informative segment. Here’s a link to it. And if you want to know about a hundred times more on how to keep food fresh or if you plan to continue to eat for the rest of your life and would like to cut your cost in half, I guess you’ll have to buy my book! :) (That was a “run on” sentence, I know. But I’m on the run)

http://www.sandiego6.com/content/sandiegoliving/default.aspx