Clearance Bins

A lot of stores have clearance areas in the produce section. They put produce that's on it's last legs in re net bags for $.99. Sometimes it's all one thing, sometimes it's a combination. A lot of the time the produce is perfectly ripe so no waiting! It's a great way to save money and stop food waste. This stuff is all going to just be tossed in the trash.

I love these personal watermelon because I can't always eat fifteen pounds of watermelon myself, but these are often more expensive than the bigger ones, or the same price and I always go for the best deal so I rarely have these.
I work at a grocery store and I watch people throw stuff in their cart with reckless abandon. I'm always slightly envious of that. It seems like such a luxury. You know how when someone is trying to lose weight they say  practice mindful eating? Well, if you're on a budget you have to practice mindful shopping. Which means it takes a little longer because you have to look at prices, and compare and all of that. I also check all the little clearance areas, and of course have to hit the bulk aisles. So I guess between cooking and mindful shopping it is a bit more time consuming to be on a budget but honestly most of the time I don't mind. In many ways I feel like being on a tight budget has improved my cooking and kind of forces me to get creative in the kitchen.

All kinds of ice creams and popsicles were on sale for Labor Day and I finally found the chocolate cookies and cream on sale for under four dollars! It lives up to it's name. Rich, chocolate-y with decent sized chunks of cookie!

Kiki and Joan having a nap. Joan was actually resting peacefully by herself when Kiki kind of forced the cuddle as she does.