that most of those prices seem very expensive, even on the store brands. (I live in Missouri). Like Guest, I do most of my shopping at Aldi. Nearly everything they sell is a "store brand", and almost all of it is very good quality. The exception for me is their coffee; I try but I just can't like it. In any case, if there is an Aldi nearby, it's worth checking out.
Even breastfeeding families use bottles. Otherwise what to do with expressed milk? It is the stuff itself which is healthy (even if baby doesn't get the live delivery system every time).
There are special nylon-lined bags for freezing or refrigerating breastmilk designed not to hold white blood cells, etc. Medela makes them.
To note on the comment above mine (I'm the Gardiner Hannaford supporter...), Maine has a distinct lack of grocery store selection, and as a result prices are crazy.
I also shop at BJ's Wholesale Club when I can - there are definitely good deals there.
I lived in NH for a time and really miss Market Basket - now that was a great place for deals.
It's also good to know that I am saving more by shopping at Hannaford. I live in Gardiner and there's a Hannaford in-town - to go to Shaw's I have to travel to Augusta, and that Shaw's is pretty much unmentionable. The one in Waterville, near where I work, is OK, but still more out of the way then our neighborhood Hannaford. There is an IGA across the bridge but I almost never go there; it's just so much smaller than Hannaford, with a lot less selection. There are also lots of local options in the area, and I buy what I can from them, in season.
I do pretty well with coupons, too, and often save 20-25% using them. I am just a little jealous of the crazy deals I read about on blogs, where some people are able to actually get money back and end up with hundreds of dollars worth of groceries. On the other hand, I wouldn't eat all the processed foods they end up with. The savings game is such a balance between getting what you need and "saving" based on buying something you don't. But it is possible to play along here in Maine - just watch the sales and clip the coupons for things you'd buy anyway.
I am not quite sure what city you're in, but holy cow! Those prices are crazy!! Even the store brand ones.
I was oddly enough checking out the price of a #3 can of "Crisco" at Aldi and it was $3.29. Plus they were charging $1.99 for ALL gallons of milk. And they were NOT close to expiring, most were 2 weeks from the date.
I do realize that Aldi is not in every city/state.
The US federal government is certainly battered, bloodied, and taking on lots more debt than is likely healthy. However, our system will not fail anytime soon and we will likely even become a beacon of relative safety in a world economy that is rapidly collapsing.
Money market funds taking losses and slowing liquidity is worrisome, and everyone should take steps to safeguard their holdings. The advice above is a good first step, but there are other things you should consider.
Depending on where you are in your life-career spectrum, the weightings for the following options varies:
- Bonds ... start with a solid holding of varied government (mainly federal, but also municipal) issues, then consider high quality corporate debt that is high yielding and realistically not all that high risk. if going the corporate bond route, stick with relatively safe sectors of the economy, don't load up on Lehman bonds!
- TIPS ... Treasury Inflation Protected Securities: these are government bonds that adjust returns for inflation. I broke these into a separate category due to their supreme importance for inclusion into your portfolio!
- Preferred stock for relatively secure companies can yield high single digit fixed returns with exposure to potential cap gains. Again, stick with stock for secure companies!
- Portfolio insurance ... for the savvy investor who knows how to pick up market insurance products or execute insurance strategies, this is a good time to do so. This includes various shorting, puts on index shares, puts on index futures, or writing calls on any of these. Visit my site if you want to learn any of these strategies.
Technically, you could save the most by buying the store brands from both stores. Buy the coffee, bread, milk, and green beans at Hannford and the rest at Shaws.
You may use the extra payment method or a biweekly method, but there is a third method that uses a line of credit as your primary checking account. Monthly you pay your mortgage as normal from your line of credit and then pay an additional lump sum from your line of credit. Your income is deposited into your line of credit to cancel out the interest during the month.
There are now about a dozen or so companies out on the market now that offer a service/product to create a customized plan that will maximize your mortgage payoff date and save you thousands of dollars in interest. The cost for the service ranges from $200 to $3500. Follow my link if you want to learn more about this mortgage acceleration method and view a list of these companies.
I have been trying hard to be more environmentally conscious. I don't have a car. We try to make good use of the library. I do recycle (what is okay to recycle as per the city of NY) but I know that I need to do more. We still generate so much household trash, and our very old (1900) apartment is energy inefficient. I worry about all of the toys my kids are surrounded with as well.
This book sounds very good, and I am always looking for more tips on going green.
Andrea,
What is the story with canned foods? They are normally only in metal containers. What is the risk there? I sometimes give my baby canned fruit/vegetables. Thanks.
I just moved from an apartment to a house about 6 months ago. Having such a bigger place to heat and power, I am constantly trying to find new ways to adapt my usual green ways. This book looks like it would help a lot!
Two things to consider:
1) I think families can benefit from the non-financial aspects of home-ownership.
2) I've seen time and again where an income-based analysis of home values encourages owning dilapidated properties. That's where personal values have to kick in.
I heard the author of this interviewed on the Jumping Monkeys podcast (it's one done by Leo Laporte and Megan Morrone who were both on TechTV's ScreenSavers "back in the day") recently, and she was quite interesting. I liked that she was realistic (Prius is dandy, but not practical if you've got 3-4 little kids and carseats to shuffle).
The other "green" (actually "blue") podcast on the TWiT network that I love(d) was Roz Rows, and so my recent "green" thing has been to buy the reusable grocery bags (I went CFL a year ago because I was trying to save money, not be green :D), to try and be lest "waste"y.
Certainly, if you choose to breastfeed, this isn't necessarily an issue. I say that without certainty, as I was one of those mothers who did nurse her infant, but found that it was necessary to supplement with formula due to a health issue in both the infant and myself. I was grateful to be able to provide my son with the extra calories that he needed to grow healthy and strong!
Since this isn't a discussion on nursing vs. formula, I'll agree that this is a scary issue, because it affects infants on so many levels. (Babies who have been adopted, sick infants, etc.) They certainly didn't ask to have their only food source tainted by a poisonous "filler."
And to answer the commenter regarding Ebay, Craigslist, and garage sale: Many people have purchased from these places (although it is always Buyer Beware.) I can understand garage sales and Craigslist in my area, because it is a very small community and everyone knows everyone. It's not unusual to see a mom with a few cans of brand new formula on her garage sale and see another mom who knows her personally. The same goes for Craigslist sometimes. I'm not sure of anyone who buys from Ebay, but I know people do, because I see listings all the time.
Your best bet would be to try to buy the infant formula coupons and use those to purchase your own formula from a reputable retailer.
@Kevin: It's fine to buy houses for the non-financal advantages of home ownership. A lot of people, though, having decided that they'd rather live in a house they owned than rent, then try to justify their decision with a faulty financial analysis. I say, do a proper financial analysis, and if you still want to go with the less-advantageous choice for non-financial reasons, that's perfectly fine. It's the "fooling yourself" aspect that bugs me.
@Anna_esq: I suspect that the people whose home ownership spending is really "far" less than the cost of renting are probably skimping on something. I've seen more than a few homes owned by elderly people on fixed incomes with a lot of deferred maintenance. (It's actually worth acknowledging that as a plus for home ownership. Unlike a renter, who will be evicted if he stops paying his rent for even a few months, a home owner in financial trouble can suspend payment of a large fraction of the costs of home ownership--potentially for years--and still have a place to live. Of course, its value as an investment will decline rapidly, and someone will eventually have to make up all those missed payments.)
that most of those prices seem very expensive, even on the store brands. (I live in Missouri). Like Guest, I do most of my shopping at Aldi. Nearly everything they sell is a "store brand", and almost all of it is very good quality. The exception for me is their coffee; I try but I just can't like it. In any case, if there is an Aldi nearby, it's worth checking out.
Even breastfeeding families use bottles. Otherwise what to do with expressed milk? It is the stuff itself which is healthy (even if baby doesn't get the live delivery system every time).
There are special nylon-lined bags for freezing or refrigerating breastmilk designed not to hold white blood cells, etc. Medela makes them.
To note on the comment above mine (I'm the Gardiner Hannaford supporter...), Maine has a distinct lack of grocery store selection, and as a result prices are crazy.
I also shop at BJ's Wholesale Club when I can - there are definitely good deals there.
I lived in NH for a time and really miss Market Basket - now that was a great place for deals.
It's also good to know that I am saving more by shopping at Hannaford. I live in Gardiner and there's a Hannaford in-town - to go to Shaw's I have to travel to Augusta, and that Shaw's is pretty much unmentionable. The one in Waterville, near where I work, is OK, but still more out of the way then our neighborhood Hannaford. There is an IGA across the bridge but I almost never go there; it's just so much smaller than Hannaford, with a lot less selection. There are also lots of local options in the area, and I buy what I can from them, in season.
I do pretty well with coupons, too, and often save 20-25% using them. I am just a little jealous of the crazy deals I read about on blogs, where some people are able to actually get money back and end up with hundreds of dollars worth of groceries. On the other hand, I wouldn't eat all the processed foods they end up with. The savings game is such a balance between getting what you need and "saving" based on buying something you don't. But it is possible to play along here in Maine - just watch the sales and clip the coupons for things you'd buy anyway.
I am not quite sure what city you're in, but holy cow! Those prices are crazy!! Even the store brand ones.
I was oddly enough checking out the price of a #3 can of "Crisco" at Aldi and it was $3.29. Plus they were charging $1.99 for ALL gallons of milk. And they were NOT close to expiring, most were 2 weeks from the date.
I do realize that Aldi is not in every city/state.
The US federal government is certainly battered, bloodied, and taking on lots more debt than is likely healthy. However, our system will not fail anytime soon and we will likely even become a beacon of relative safety in a world economy that is rapidly collapsing.
Money market funds taking losses and slowing liquidity is worrisome, and everyone should take steps to safeguard their holdings. The advice above is a good first step, but there are other things you should consider.
Depending on where you are in your life-career spectrum, the weightings for the following options varies:
- Bonds ... start with a solid holding of varied government (mainly federal, but also municipal) issues, then consider high quality corporate debt that is high yielding and realistically not all that high risk. if going the corporate bond route, stick with relatively safe sectors of the economy, don't load up on Lehman bonds!
- TIPS ... Treasury Inflation Protected Securities: these are government bonds that adjust returns for inflation. I broke these into a separate category due to their supreme importance for inclusion into your portfolio!
- Preferred stock for relatively secure companies can yield high single digit fixed returns with exposure to potential cap gains. Again, stick with stock for secure companies!
- Portfolio insurance ... for the savvy investor who knows how to pick up market insurance products or execute insurance strategies, this is a good time to do so. This includes various shorting, puts on index shares, puts on index futures, or writing calls on any of these. Visit my site if you want to learn any of these strategies.
Technically, you could save the most by buying the store brands from both stores. Buy the coffee, bread, milk, and green beans at Hannford and the rest at Shaws.
Just a thought.
And an excellent breakdown. You always do such a thorough job.
Guest -
Thanks for clarifying that!
Linsey Knerl
"...suppliers in China have been found to mix it into some products to make them appear higher in volume"
Actually - the Melamine is used to make the product appear richer in protein. This is done after watering it down to increase the volume.
You may use the extra payment method or a biweekly method, but there is a third method that uses a line of credit as your primary checking account. Monthly you pay your mortgage as normal from your line of credit and then pay an additional lump sum from your line of credit. Your income is deposited into your line of credit to cancel out the interest during the month.
There are now about a dozen or so companies out on the market now that offer a service/product to create a customized plan that will maximize your mortgage payoff date and save you thousands of dollars in interest. The cost for the service ranges from $200 to $3500. Follow my link if you want to learn more about this mortgage acceleration method and view a list of these companies.
I have been trying hard to be more environmentally conscious. I don't have a car. We try to make good use of the library. I do recycle (what is okay to recycle as per the city of NY) but I know that I need to do more. We still generate so much household trash, and our very old (1900) apartment is energy inefficient. I worry about all of the toys my kids are surrounded with as well.
This book sounds very good, and I am always looking for more tips on going green.
Andrea,
What is the story with canned foods? They are normally only in metal containers. What is the risk there? I sometimes give my baby canned fruit/vegetables. Thanks.
I just moved from an apartment to a house about 6 months ago. Having such a bigger place to heat and power, I am constantly trying to find new ways to adapt my usual green ways. This book looks like it would help a lot!
-b
Two things to consider:
1) I think families can benefit from the non-financial aspects of home-ownership.
2) I've seen time and again where an income-based analysis of home values encourages owning dilapidated properties. That's where personal values have to kick in.
This book sounds amazing! I love any tips on going green! I try everyday make less of a carbon footprint! I would love to read this book!
wow, just found this site today! sounds like a great book. i love ecofriendly stuff. would love to read this book!
Oh, I do understand -- I had to exclusively pump for my first. I know it's hard sometimes.
looks like a great book and don't forget to pass it on
I heard the author of this interviewed on the Jumping Monkeys podcast (it's one done by Leo Laporte and Megan Morrone who were both on TechTV's ScreenSavers "back in the day") recently, and she was quite interesting. I liked that she was realistic (Prius is dandy, but not practical if you've got 3-4 little kids and carseats to shuffle).
The other "green" (actually "blue") podcast on the TWiT network that I love(d) was Roz Rows, and so my recent "green" thing has been to buy the reusable grocery bags (I went CFL a year ago because I was trying to save money, not be green :D), to try and be lest "waste"y.
This sounds like an amazing book. I love books that give actual, practical, do-able advice. Count me in please! Rhonda
Certainly, if you choose to breastfeed, this isn't necessarily an issue. I say that without certainty, as I was one of those mothers who did nurse her infant, but found that it was necessary to supplement with formula due to a health issue in both the infant and myself. I was grateful to be able to provide my son with the extra calories that he needed to grow healthy and strong!
Since this isn't a discussion on nursing vs. formula, I'll agree that this is a scary issue, because it affects infants on so many levels. (Babies who have been adopted, sick infants, etc.) They certainly didn't ask to have their only food source tainted by a poisonous "filler."
And to answer the commenter regarding Ebay, Craigslist, and garage sale: Many people have purchased from these places (although it is always Buyer Beware.) I can understand garage sales and Craigslist in my area, because it is a very small community and everyone knows everyone. It's not unusual to see a mom with a few cans of brand new formula on her garage sale and see another mom who knows her personally. The same goes for Craigslist sometimes. I'm not sure of anyone who buys from Ebay, but I know people do, because I see listings all the time.
Your best bet would be to try to buy the infant formula coupons and use those to purchase your own formula from a reputable retailer.
@Kevin: It's fine to buy houses for the non-financal advantages of home ownership. A lot of people, though, having decided that they'd rather live in a house they owned than rent, then try to justify their decision with a faulty financial analysis. I say, do a proper financial analysis, and if you still want to go with the less-advantageous choice for non-financial reasons, that's perfectly fine. It's the "fooling yourself" aspect that bugs me.
@Anna_esq: I suspect that the people whose home ownership spending is really "far" less than the cost of renting are probably skimping on something. I've seen more than a few homes owned by elderly people on fixed incomes with a lot of deferred maintenance. (It's actually worth acknowledging that as a plus for home ownership. Unlike a renter, who will be evicted if he stops paying his rent for even a few months, a home owner in financial trouble can suspend payment of a large fraction of the costs of home ownership--potentially for years--and still have a place to live. Of course, its value as an investment will decline rapidly, and someone will eventually have to make up all those missed payments.)
Who buys formula from Ebay? Craigslist? Garage sales? That's gross.
We've been trying to be more green at home, but I would love some more ways to help my 7-year-old get more involved in the process!