the 99 cent store- my love !!

my new-found love is the 99 cent only store. they're all around LA and everything in the store is only 99 cents (or less). they have almost everything you could ever want-- including produce, eggs, dairy, and special (expensive) treats that you can only find at the grocery store. a recent trip found some of the following treats they had in stock were:

pricey things from the grocery store-- here only 99 cents !!
pillsbury pie crusts (normally $3-4)
pillsbury crescent rolls (normally $2-3)
pillsbury cinnamon twists (normally $3-4)
pillsbury breadstick twists (normally $2-3)
pillsbury cookies (normally $2-3)
wheat thins crackers (normally $3-4)
danish cream butter (2 sticks, normally $3)
land-o-lakes sour cream (normally $2-3)
farmer john thick ham slice (normally $2-3)
oscar mayer sliced deli turkey breast (normally $3-5)
hoffy turkey franks (normally $2-3)
marie's caprese salad dressing (normally $3-4)
kraft catalina dressing (normally $3-4)
farmer john sausage (normally $3-4)
sargento shredded cheddar cheese (normally $3-4)
sargento shredded mozzarella cheese (normally $304)
kraft cracker barrel sharp cheddar cheese squares ($4-6)
pepperidge farm tahoe white choc macademia nut cookies ($3-4)
quart of kroger orange juice (normally $2-3)
quart of milk (normally $2-3)
half & half (normally $2-3)
fat free half & half (normally $2-3)
1 dozen large eggs (normally $3-4)

great produce finds:
3 pack yellow bell peppers (normally $3-4)
3 pack of orange bell peppers (normally $3-4)
3 pack red bell peppers (normally $2-3)
1 lb. bag of potatoes (normally $2-4)
3 green zucchini (normally $2-3)
3 yellow squash (normally $2-3)
3 heads of romaine lettuce (normally $3-4)
big bag of cilantro (normally $2-3)
bag of green onions (normally $2-3)
bag of carrots (normally $2-3)
bunch of asparagus (normally $3-4)
shitake mushrooms (normally $3-5)
sliced mushrooms (normally $2-3)
english cucumber (normally $2-3)
bag of dole classic iceberg lettuce (normally $2-3)
bag of dole romaine salad (normally $2-3)
head of cabbage (normally $2-3)
bag of bananas (normally $3-4)
bag of apples (both green and red- normally $2-3)
bag of oranges (normally $2-3)
container of kiwi (normally $2-3)
large container of strawberries (normally $3-4)

cheap & cheerful $5 chicken enchilada cassarole (feeds 4):
from the 99 cent store, you will need:
1 can of chicken breast = 99 cents
1 can of red enchilada sauce = 99 cents
1 packet of corn tortillas = 99 cents
1 container of sour cream = 99 cents
1 bag of of shredded cheddar cheese = 99 cents

directions:
open can of chicken breast, drain & put into a bowl.
mix sour cream, 3 spoons of enchilada sauce, cumin & 1/2 pkg of cheese w/ chicken.
put 4 spoons of enchilada sauce on bottom of cassarole dish.
heat some enchilada sauce in pan & dip tortillas in warmed sauce to soften.
lay warmed tortillas on the bottom & spread 1/2 the chicken mixture on top.
lay down another row of warmed tortillas & remain chicken mixture.
lay another row of warmed tortillas & cover with enchilada sauce & remaining cheese.
bake at 350* for 45 minutes. serves 4. enjoy :-)LW

my favorite "cheap & cheerful" grocery store

you're probably thinking it's trader joes...

and it was-- until I discovered FRESH & EASY !! they are the best. they're basically the same as trader joe's (modeled after tj's) but they carry name brand items too (i.e. clorox, heinz ketchup, listerine, etc) and the BEST part of the whole store is a little corner shelf next to the butter & yogurt... it's the "SELL BY" discount section. fresh & easy is so fresh that if it hasn't sold by the "sell buy" date (say august 18th)-- it goes in that section on that day (august 18th) and you get it for a deal (50-70% off).

for example, I bought the following items today saving me $22.70

bag of broccoli/carrot slaw for .99 (reg. $2.50)

prepared penne arrabiata w/grilled veggies for $2.47 (reg. $5)

a (costco sized) container of spring lettuce for $2.95 (reg $6)

6 ct bag of big beautiful nectarines for $1.49 (reg $3)

a honeydew melon .74 (reg $2)

8 individually sealed chicken breasts for $6.98 (reg $15)

8 yummy chocolate chip cookies for $1.30 (reg $3)

2 slices of gourmet cheesecake for $2.00 (reg $4)

wheat bread (10 carbs per slice- perfect)- for .88 (reg $2).

the rest of my groceries were 26.08-- so basically, I got (almost) 1/2 my groceries FREE !!

they also have a great demo section where they usually sample up to 3 items at a time, plus if you ever want to try something-- you can just bring it to the demo table and they will open it up and serve samples of it. all of the cash registers are self service and you bag your own items (or you can have someone bag them for you) but there's rarely a line, and there's always someone around who's happy to help or answer a question.

question of the day:

what would YOU do with $22.70 ??

I would get a $20 student massage at a massage school

well gotta go-- it's time to grill my .87 cent chicken breast for dinner !!! :-)LW

what is "cheep & cheerful" ??

"cheep & cheerful" is a lifestyle choice.
it's a way to live a cheerful life and have everything you need-- by consciously spending less money. in my posts I'll share tips on how you can live this lifestyle where you deny yourself nothing, and watch your savings add up !! for just about everything you could ever need or want-- there is a cheaper way to get it !! sometimes it may take a little extra time & effort on your part-- but the results are well worth it !!

a bit about me...
the bargain huntress
I come from a long line of bargain huntresses, and have been practicing the "cheap & cheerful" lifestyle my whole life. I remember, as a young girl, being dragged around by my mom to swap meets, thrift stores and clothing outlets to buy clothing and necessities, and to this day, even as an adult, I'm still the gal who is constantly seeking out "the deal."

from riches to rags
during my 20 year long career in entertainment, I lived pretty well by LA standards. I had an impressive home in the city, a "weekend" beach condo and a BMW in the driveway (all were great deals, by the way). my amex bill was routinely $3000+ a month, and I thought nothing of it (everything I got was a deal-- right??) well, unfortunately my ride came to an end when I lost my job, most of my 401K, and a chunk of equity in my 2 homes. now, like everyone else these days-- I've had to scale down, re-examine my lifestyle and discover what makes me happy. in my case-- I definitely think simpler is better.

how I practice being "cheap & cheerful"
in the old days I would think nothing of spending $100 on a fabulous lobster dinner at the palm (they had an $89 lobster special- such a deal), but now I buy a lobster tail at ralphs (on sale) for $5.99 and I'm just as happy !! these are the kinds of things I will share on a daily basis.

the foodie
you will probably notice from my posts that I'm a total foodie. I love to eat, cook, entertain & explore the culinary world, and will be sharing tips on how to do this cheeply & cheerfully, as well-- so stay tuned !!

cheap & cheerful recipe of the day:
melinda's $7 bruschetta pasta salad
my pal melinda made this several years ago (during our disney days), and I just love it !! it makes a ton of pasta-- and is the perfect "cheep & cheerful" dish to take to a BBQ or party.

ingredients: (all from trader joes):
1 bag farfalla pasta = 99 cents
2 containers of (refrigerated) bruschetta sauce = $3.98
1 jar of sun dried tomatoes in olive oil = $1.99

boil all of the pasta, drain & cool. add the containers of bruschetta sauce and the jar of sun dried tomatoes in olive oil (chop the large sun dried tomatoes into smaller pieces) and toss together. garnish with salt & pepper, parmesan cheese & basil, if desired. you can eat this hot-- but it tastes soooo much better if you let it chill in the fridge and eat it cold. delish !!