Ways to save $$ at Costco

If you are a 'warehouse' store shopper, you know like many of us do, that it is hard to leave those stores without spending your MONTHS grocery budget. Yes, bulk can save you money on certain items, but you have to be careful when shopping at this type of a store! These stores do so well because people assume that because it is a warehouse store and they sell items in bulk, they are ALWAYS good prices. This is FAR from the truth!

Many people ask me if I have certain items I buy at Costco. Yes, I do! MOST items will go on sale for 'red' prices that will be LESS than Costco, and when that happens, I stock up. However, there are a few staple pantry/food storage items that I try to always have on hand and that if I am out of, I buy ONCE a month at Costco. I have noticed the months I go to Costco more than once (or less) a month, I spend MUCH less than other months. The reason...there are SO many fun things to buy at Costco, whether it is clothes, decorations, nonfood items, premade/quick & easy meals (that are MUCH less to make myself), etc. So..it is better and will save you money if you only go to 'warehouse' stores ONLY when necessary.

Here is a quick list however, to help you know which items are 'generally' LESS at Costco and that are great to stock up on, add to your food storage and keep in your freezer:

cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, feta, blue cheese)
butter
string cheese
lunch meat
lettuce
mushrooms

apples/strawberries
salt
honey
flour
rice
tortillas
baking soda, powder, yeast
SOME spices (ANY spices you can buy at Walmart for .50 is BETTER than Costco's prices. The name brand spices however are MUCH less at Costco--McCormick Lemon Pepper, Montreal Steak Seasoning, etc.)
McCormick Chicken & Beef Base (One of my favorite ingredients, found by the spices! It's just like bouillon cubes but MUCH more convenient.)
soy sauce

white vinegar
olive oil & balsamic vinegar
nuts--pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc. Keep in your freezer and they will last MUCH longer.
lemon juice
raisins
garbage bags/kitchen liners
Ziploc bags
laundry detergent/softener

dishwasher detergent
batteries

Something also to consider: Some items at Costco are better quality than items you can find at Walmart or other grocery stores. Once you find those items that meet your quality and price expectations, then sometimes it is worth spending the extra money. However, if you watch the sales, you can many times find the EXACT items for LESS at other stores. Whether you buy food at Costco or somewhere else, the important things is that you are stocking up and becoming prepared ;)

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Vitamins-an important part of your food storage!

For those of you who are Costco members, in their last coupon book that was mailed out, they had a coupon for their Children's Daily Multi Vitamins. Costco has GREAT prices on their vitamins and this is an important part of your food storage. Many people don't think about vitamins being an important part of your year supply, but it is. In the event we were to need to live off of our food storage, we would need vitamins and minerals as a supplement. If fresh produce, meat and fish were unavailable we would need to get these vitamins and minerals from another source. Many of the white flour grains we are accustomed to eating (flour, pasta, rice, etc.) has been stripped of many of the nutrients our body needs. Wheat flour, pasta, other grains and brown rice are also important to have in your food storage to be able to give your body the added nutrients that white flour products will not give you. It is recommended to have a year supply of vitamins and minerals for your family in storage. This is a great week to take advantage of the coupon and get your vitamins at an even better deal! If you don't have a coupon, you can call Costco and see if they have one there you could use.

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Life's Lessons

I don't know about you, but the last few weeks of economic uncertainty have had me ponder more deeply on the affairs of my family-economically, spiritually, financially. I was reading online an article written by Glenn Beck and thought it had some good advice in it on how we can prepare our families for what is to come. The link is
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/16799/?ck=1 . I think sometimes Glenn Beck can be a little much, but overall he had some great ideas to keep in mind with the upcoming election, the stock market 'crash' and how to prepare our families for what is to come. It isn't something we have never heard before, but another great reminder. He was talking the other day on his show about how for many of us the hardships of the economy have not hit home and that we need to prepare NOW, before they do--because he claims they will effect everyone eventually.

I can testify of the importance of this! About 5 months ago my husband lost his job of 10 loyal years. It came at us without any warning and has been a life changing experience for him and our family. Our income was cut more than in half and we soon realized how volatile and unsure a persons future can be. Just when life seems to be going smoothly it seems to throw you a curve ball that helps you learn many important lessons. I tell you this not for sympathy (there are obviously much worse trials we could go through), but to encourage those of you who have not been effected by the curant economic downturn to NOT delay and begin to get your houses in order. We have learned many things in these last 5 months and I thought I would share a few (thanks for humoring me :)
*There is safety in counsel! One of my favorite talks was given by President Henry B. Eyring titled "Safety in Counsel"..here is a link if you are interested(http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=22a73b4c3713a110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1 )
*When we listen to the counsel of our inspired leaders we will be blessed! I can't tell you the peace of mind it brings knowing that our family has plenty of food to eat and our basic necessities taken care of. It seems silly to say that food storage is a spiritual matter--but it truly is! As you follow the counsel and begin to get prepared you will find that it becomes a spiritual and an uplifting experience, for you and your whole family.
*There has been counsel given to 'treat debt like the plague'. Thankfully we have been able to do this and what a blessing this has been for our family! When income has been scarce, it has been a blessing to not be obligated to pay anyone (except our mortgage company). President Monson has said, "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food...and were debt free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in revers: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free."
*Material items don't mean as much as I thought they did. The peace of mind that comes when we are prepared is MUCH more important than having material goods. It has been a great wake up call for us to focus on the things that bring true happiness and lasting joy.
*We should not get overwhelmed. President Hinckley has said, "Begin in a small way...and gradually build toward a reasonable objective." We will be blessed if we will begin!

I am grateful for life's lessons, and trials, that help us to become better. May God bless each of you as you strive to prepare your family for an uncertain future and may you find 'joy in the journey' as we all are learning and growing together!

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"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear"

I was forwarded this email from a friend and I am posting it to my blog because there are simple and important reminders that each of us can use to help become better prepared. I have a cousin that lives near the path that hurricane Ike striked and her story sounds similar to this womans story. As of a few days ago they are STILL out of power, stores are nearly empty and without food storage and emergency preparedness items, life would be MUCH harder for their family as well. What an amazing blessing we have to know that if we listen to the counsel of the latter day prophet we will be blessed!

"Dear Friends: We have a 6'x6' hole in our roof, no electricity or running water, Trees down everywhere. How ever, because we listened to the counsel of our prophet we are prepared. In fact it seems to me that it's only the members of the church who seem to be calm, prepared, and helping one another with trees in roofs, flooding, etc. There is a POD or Point of Distribution in> Tomball where we live. There you get water and ice IF you have enough fuel to wait in the 3-hour lines. We don't have to do that because we have 3 full water barrels, 75 juice bottles filled with water, and our pool, which is dirty, but we use it to flush. It is very difficult to get gas. Police guard the stations when fuel is delivered and you might wait half a day to get up to the pump just to have them say, 'Too bad, we are out'. I am grateful that we have a generator. We run it 4 hours a day to keep our fridge and light. I am grateful that we have had fuel for it. You can't even by gas containers as they are rationed. We can only by bread once a week and limite d to 2 loaves at a time. Water is rationed by the case at the grocery store - 3 cases per family. The ATM machines do not have power. For the past 6 months I have stashed small bills away because I have had such a feeling of foreboding. We have >cash because of that. LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT. Get cash in small bills because the stores can't make change and credit and debit cards often don't work. I had to pay 5 dollars more for an item because they couldn't make change for me. and . . . PHONES ONLY WORK OCCASIONALY. Believe it or not...I have not had a bath in 4 days, Today was the first day I got to wash my hair with pool water. I haven't fixed my hair in a week!!! It just doesn't matter anymore. We cannot do laundry because we don't have water. So, we wear our clothes until they are literally disgusting. When we do finally get water we will have to boil it since it is contaminated.I am grateful for my parents. When we got low on generator fuel they drove 45 minutes to help us. They filled up their cans and brought us 10 gallons of fuel, which kept us going until this morning at 6:oo, am when we finally found some gas. A prepared Family and a loving extended family is the key to survival and making it through right now. I know that my parents would drive to the end of the earth to help me and it's nice knowing they are there. I know that I would do the same for my children. I want all of you to know that I have such a testimony of following the counsel of our living prophet. There really is safety and peace in your heart if you are prepared. Please get your generators, 5 gas cans full of gas, canned goods, baby items, baby wipes to bathe, and all the water you can store...even if you have to trip on it in your home. Have your lanterns, crank flashlights, tarps, rope, etc. ready to go because you never know when it will be your turn to endure the test. It's overwhelming, but it's going to be ok eventually. I have a> home, I have food, and I have water, because I listened to the counsel of the prophet. Please make sure you do the same. It's time to have your life in order. Tomorrow may be too late. "

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