Caveat Emptor, Grocery Bargain Shoppers

I  first typed "carpe diem" for the title. Now, that is not a bad sentiment--to seize the day-- but this is a warning to those who bargain shop for groceries.

"Buyer Beware"

Nor long ago, at a smaller store in my quest for bargains, I found Miracle Whip for $1.29 for a quart/30 ozs. in the ads I search. I did check the date on the jar. I use lots of Miracle Whip, so according to the date, I could buy more for later or just buy one. I know the food is not expired!

Well, I looked at the use by date and it was two weeks away. I had just opened a jar of MW and would not finish it in two weeks! Plus, I had another jar on the shelf. I was planning on buying at least three at $1.29 and I had coupons! I never want to be out of Miracle Whip.

This incident caused me to check use by dates more carefully when things were on sale. I ate a can of tuna two years past the date on the can. It was fine. It had gotten shoved back on my shelves. However, I did not want MW to go runny, or off tasting even if it was still safe to eat! MW is the staff of life around here. Just kidding.

Plus, when I get a sale on canned goods, I do not want to be buying many if the cans are near the best-if-used-by date. I might buy two cans of green beans close to their date. Might!

This one event is the thing that has caused me to price-match because WM food from their warehouses turns over so quickly. The other store had been offered food from a warehouse and took it for a sale. I have found too-good-to-be-true prices in other smaller stores have the same problem.

Even if the food is near the date on the merchandise, sometimes I do buy it, knowing it will not be used by that date. It depends. Each person can make the decision on what they can deal with eating and how much there is on hand of that item in the home.

I won't purchase it or accept past-date, but if I have it on hand, I will eat it if the can is in good condition. Now, I am not talking decades-old cans.

Oh, I would not serve it to my children or grandchildren without my children's permission.

Dominique gave me an egg today!

UPDATE: Anne mentioned coffee. Here is my coffee story.

Your turn
Do you ever check dates on sale cans and find the food is two weeks from that date? Would you do a stock-up with cans close to the date on the can? Will you eat the food in your own stock if it is past the date?

Check the Ads

another good deal

Before I went to Walmart one day last week to get another prescription, I checked 8 local grocery ads. Lucky me. Kraft Cheese was on sale for $1.50 for the 8 oz. chunk or shredded. I bought four Medium Cheddar. There was no more energy left for shopping. Once I saw the cheese ad, I left for meds.

I came home and was searching for something in the refrigerator meat drawer, aka "Cheese Drawer." There in the back was an unopened 8 oz. package of Kraft Cheese, Medium. You may think I don't keep track of my food very well, but let me assure this was so far in the back of the drawer that I have trouble bending far enough to see what all is in there. My food is a casualty of disability!

The use-by date is Sept 2013. Yes, I am eating it instead of one of the newer ones I just bought. If it had been opened, it would have been all mold.

Maybe I can rummage around and find chocolate! Actually, I have found stashed chocolate in the past!

While I still had a bit of cheese besides what I found, I still bought more at this great price. I try to always check the ads before going to the store for anything. It pays off most of the time.

That day, I bought $2.98 cheese for $1.50, a savings of 50%.  You do realize I don't get all my food for 50% off? Sometimes, it is more like 96% saved. However, there are things that I pay 100% to bring home. I can only buy these goodies at full price because I shop sales, reduced for quick sale, clearance, and with coupons. I think my savings are more like 30% to 40% overall since very few full-price items come into the house.

No proofing once again. I still feel ill and tired.

Your turn
Would you eat unopened cheese that was six months past the use-by date? Don't you love finding food you did not know you had? Do you go to the trouble to figure what percentage you saved after a grocery trip? Have you ever found a stash you forgot?