Being observant means being quick to notice things. When it comes to money, I am extremely observant! Down to the penny. I had a very profitable week this past week, simply by being mindful of what I was doing and how I was spending my money.
So, imagine my surprise when I ordered 6 boxes of Tetley British tea from one of Amazon’s vendors and I only received one box!

The second thing I noticed this past week was another surprise charge on one of my charge cards. I had been charged a $40 annual fee. I had never been charged a fee like that before. Again, a quick telephone chat with a supervisor (the original responder couldn’t waive the fee) and I got the fee taken off. Permanently! Never to be seen ever again!

Twice a year, hubby and I shop the infamous can-can sale offered at a local grocer here, Shop Rite. We personally have been doing it since the late 1980’s. Shop Rite’s been offering this sale for fifty (50) years! Although our can usage over the years has gone down (as our kids are now gone) nonetheless, we still enjoy our Sunday night pasta dinners. Thus we still continue to stock up and buy our fave canned Tuttorosso tomatoes and Botticelli olive oil at tremendous savings. What was different this year was I tried to buy these items off their internet/grocery drop-off site but was disappointed their website would not fully honor the reduced can-can prices. The canned tomatoes normally sell at $1.25 a can. On the internet I could get them for $1.00 but if we went in to the store, we could get them for .66 cents a can. We’re trying to stay out of the stores lately as the covid-19 cases rise but we really wanted the savings. So hubby physically went in to the store exactly as they opened at 7AM, bought two cases of the tomatoes and 4 cans of the olive oil (which will last us the 6 months till the next can-can sale) and we were able to save the $20 vs the $12 off the internet. Hubby stayed safe because there was no one in the grocery store that early. He was back home by 7:45AM.


In the food department, while doing our bi-monthly Aldi shopping, I noticed these smallish, boneless sirloin pork roasts at $2.00 off. Most were priced at only $4.00, so it was like getting a 50% discount. I bought three of them. They fit perfectly into my 2 quart-size slow cooker. I popped one in this morning and hubs and I had a pulled pork dinner by 6PM. Total savings for the three pork roasts came to $6.00. I know, I know, I know I’m supposed to be eating more vegan meals, and I am. But who could resist a good pulled pork dinner, on sale?! We teamed up the meal with some potatoes hubby sliced up as French fries, seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika and popped them on a silicone mat (no oil needed) for 40 minutes at 375F degrees.
Voila! Dinner is served (and the pulled pork made great sandwiches the next day!)




Lastly, another way I saved money this week: I’m still having mostly oatmeal daily for breakfast. This week however, I made it with cut up pears and a tablespoon of coconut sugar. Delish!

And I purchased a super large butternut squash which was ample enough to make two bowls of soup for hubs and I, with seconds! And enough left over to fill two plastic storage pints. One I put in the freezer for another meal. The other I put in the fridge for a lunch coming up this week.


TOTAL ACTUAL, REAL MONEY SAVED THIS WEEK: $85.82. Just by being observant!
Hi Cindi, Way to go, Mrs. Frugalista! I thought you weren’t going to Aldi’s only sending Nick. I bought Aldi’s half pork loin with Instacart price @$1.89 lb. and cut it in three small roast. I had my first one and it was delicious. My new favorite vegetable is Brussels sprouts chips instead of Kale. I also am enjoying cauliflower as rice with coconut amino and mashed with roasted garlic. For Christmas I got the Martha Steward stainless steel grater with an attach storage container. The handle of my 1974 grater broke off, I hope this last as long!
Sincerely, Lara
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I went that one time to Aldi’s with Nick because I wanted to look at al the new vegan choices (which we bought!) I didn’t touch anything. I just pointed and Nick put it in the cart. Then I went back to the car and I waited for him. We went at the senior citizen early hour.
I like to roast the brussel sprouts till they are browned and crispy. I throw in some garlic and it’s delish. I only use kale in soups and rare at that.
Every day is a new adventure! LOL!
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I am proud of you for letting Nick go out and you hanging in there for the trip. I know that had to be a tough decision. Those early hours are great and the food you got was a real find. I am praying we will be out of this by summer. Stay warm.
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Thanks bowen. The pulled pork was delish! Tasting even better when you know you got it at a great price!
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Cindi, Thanks for reminding me to check my credit card charges. I found out Sirius deal had elapsed and they had tripled their monthly fee without the notice of renewal the original customer service had said they sent. From $6.44 to $21.94 monthly! Calling I got switched back and supposed to get a callback from their claims department on Monday for a credit. I find this happens with the electric suppliers teaser rates too. It’s a bait and switch scheme, just one month after the great deal expires their new rate gives them more profit then staying with the original utility company rate. Buyers beware! Lara
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Ouch, Lara. That hurts! Glad you found it. Hope you get your money back. That’s always the toughest part. Good luck!
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So checked my emails and CVS sent the offer: get a $5 reward for spending $15 on their Total Home products. On the 20th I got my $10 CarePass. So I purchased two 20 count Total Home dishwasher detergent pods and Total Home gallon ziploc bags. $16.35 total with tax minus $10.00 CarePass= $6.35, free shipping and in a few days I will get $5.00 rewards on minimum $5, to buy something else. I have found with having a little stockpile of the items I use enables me to wait for these great CVS deals for basic items I routinely use. Lara
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