Yesterday there was discussion on another thread about food bargains in the SE. Some thought it was a good idea to publicize bargains, so I'm here with a midwest report. I'm not sure how widespread ALDI Food Stores are but in the circular that just came out this week they have oil and water-packed tuna for .39; pink salmon for $1.29 and for special occasions, albacore(white) tuna for .89. I would suggest looking closely at all grocery store ads just before Lent begins because there should be good bargains on these types of fish. The thing I like most about Aldis is there is so much buying going on there that their stock is always turning over. Aldis has many of the necessary items at the cheapest prices all the time. I would also like to suggest Big Lots and other close-out stores. Last week I found boxes of nutritious green tea with mint for .69(18 bags). They also had the silica and alum deodorant stones for $1.99. I use these anyway and pay $5.99 at the drug store. These are great and last almost 1 year. It takes awhile to get used to them because they're not anti-perspirant. I could go on and on giving other examples, but you know what you want and need. I do have an opinion about preparing for Y2K especially where food is concerned. I'm finding that I'm interested not so much in foods that my family likes to eat, but in the things that are going to keep us healthy. I have never purchased bulk wheat, corn, soybeans, etc. but now realize these are the types of food we have to eat, along with other grains and legumes, as opposed to the highly processed foods we've been used to. Although I know most of the the best buys are in canned goods, I'm wondering if anyone has thought of the disposal problem? I'm trying to buy as much as I can packed in some type of paper so it can be burned. Is there a way to recycle the cans? I appreciate all the good suggestions I read on this forum. God Bless. Mary

-- Mary (SWEEP@prodigy.net), February 05, 1999

Answers

I've opted for rice over wheat because there's no processing involved, you just cook it & eat it. Pasta also is fairly simple. Wheat, OTOH, first has to be ground, & there's that yeast thing that has to happen (you can see I'm no cook), then finally baked. It's too involved.

MT cans might be a problem, but I suppose you could use them to hold candles. At worst they'll attract bugs, & we can eat them. Any good cockroach recipes....?

-- not looking (forward@to.it), February 05, 1999.

One of my favorite haunts up here in the Great Lakes :-)

No fancy displays. You bag your own stuff. They only take check or cash...not sure about food stamps.

Some people poo-poo these type of stores ("Ewwww...that place is for low-lifes"), but I've seen women pulling up in Mercedes wearing mink coats with cash in hand, looking for bargains!

Y2k or not, it's good to be frugal with one's money...better to keep it in your pocket than put it in to theirs :-)

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), February 05, 1999.

As for the cockroaches -- beware of high fat content --- and pesticide poisoning -- I'm goin' for the grasshoppers and ants (high protein) -- snakes are good if you know you're venonmous vs. non types.... and don't forget all those yellow small sunflowers along the road side: they have tubers that are like potatoes.... My brother and I used to troll (no pun intended) the countryside with Gibbons foraging books in hands... loved it!

-- Shelia (shelia@active-stream.com), February 05, 1999.

Unless you are REALLY sure that the storage area is dry, paper packaging is NOT a good idea. It is also NOT vermin resistant, even. Mylar bags at least. Cans or buckets too.

Chuck

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), February 06, 1999.

Put the left over food cans in the attic and forget about it.

-- smith (ma0@tv.ne), February 06, 1999.

You could use the leftover cans to make hobo stoves (use some yourself, and give some away to those who need them), store hardware in them (nuts, bolts, nails, etc), and other things.

Look up the Tightwad Gazette (3 volumes) at your local bookstore.

-- Bill (billclo@hotmail.com), February 06, 1999.

I like the Aldies food stores also. Just be careful what you buy. My daughter and I were very sick for a week from food poisoning last year. It was from some Ramen Noodles we bought there. UG.

I like the chunky soup they have availablae. Jelly is a good price also.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), February 06, 1999.