I know I am certainly not alone in suffering from overpriced groceries and inflated food budgets. We are a small family of 4 and I am increasingly amazed at how much it costs to feed us on a monthly basis. I’ve recently begun trying to find ways to save a little money and have been re-thinking my shopping habits. I have to admit I’ve always been a bit of a grocery store snob. I really appreciate the little luxuries like clean floors, helpful store clerks and someone bagging my groceries that you get at some of the higher-end grocers. It’s probably due to the fact that I spend my entire day serving someone and appreciate getting a little extra pampering. (Okay, that’s just sad.)

So, my sister-in-law Sara calls me up and invites me to do a little shopping at, you got it, Canned Food Warehouse. I will admit, I have shopped there before but have usually picked up Laura Scudders cheddar mix and Hot Tamales in the party size. But on this particular day, we were going to do some shopping. Sara kind of eased me into it by starting us off in the beauty aisle. Now, I could shop for beauty in a nuclear arms facility so Canned Food Warehouse was really no problem. I was a little nervous about venturing into the “food” part of the warehouse, but neverthless, off we went.

People, my jaw hit the floor! That place is so cheap! Next thing I know I’m throwing crap in my cart right and left. I’m talking everything! I’m picking up bananas and cereal, English muffins and industrial-sized pizza sauce. Did you know they actually sell car parts at Canned Food Warehouse. I get on the phone and call Jer to make sure we don’t need any new oil filters for the car. I was actually considering buying a gigantic ficus tree. Why? Because they were going for $9.99! And it was gigantic. I worked myself into a frenzy over the amazing prices and huge selection. I was like a kid in a candy store…a shopaholic at a sidewalk sale – or in this case a Canned Food Warehouse.

Okay, so I overdid it a little. But the moral of the story is this…don’t discount your local discount store. There is a lot to be found by discriminate shoppers and quite a lot of money to be saved.

Oh, and right now they are running a killer special on ficus trees!

Love to all, Mindy