Yams and Sweet Potatoes

What To Stock Up On In November

It’s all about what to stock up on in November today. Here’s the deal: if we have a list of things we need, let’s try to purchase them at rock-bottom prices. I’m updating this post today; it’s good to know the typical items to stock up on this time of year. This year may be a bit different because of the recent Hurricanes that hit the southeastern states, droughts in the western states, and high gas prices to transport everything we depend on to its destination. Plus, the economy is in rough shape, so prices will not get any better soon.

What To Stock Up On In November

If you see what you want or need, don’t wait for items to be discounted this year. We may have to buy a smaller turkey if you can even get one for Thanksgiving. I’m shocked at how high the prices have risen in just a few months. I mean double in price and yet the packages are smaller.

Thank goodness most of us have stocked up, we must be optimistic, gloom and doom are not my forté. If you see something, get it now.

Every month, stores reduce their inventory by marking down products we may need or want. If you haven’t signed up for newsletters from the stores you shop at the most, do it now. They notify their loyal customers before the public hears about a sale.

This month is no exception for saving money, a lot of money. Just think, Thanksgiving and all the trimmings, yay!

You can buy fresh or frozen turkeys, then add the stuffing mixes and the pie crusts.

Before you head to the store to save money, organize your pantry and freezer so you can make room, but also to inventory what you have and what may be needed. Be ready to stock up big time with just about anything you can use in November and December. I always make it a point to put a list together of what I need, that way I’m less likely to forget an item or be tempted to buy stuff I really don’t need. I have this great app, Any List, for my phone that I use now, and it works super.

If you have plans for Christmas Eve or New Year’s Day be ready to stock the food, snacks, and appetizer fixings.

What To Stock Up On In November

Thanksgiving

Everything you need for that special day, you can find on sale this month. Everything from turkeys, spiral hams, yams, potatoes, whipping cream, etc. Yes, the prices may be higher than last year, but still on sale in many locations.

I love this month as I fill my freezer and pantry with things marked way down from the original price in anticipation of the pending holidays.

November 3rd is National Sandwich Day

Sandwich Day

Now, if you have a favorite sandwich shop, they may have a special like two sandwiches for the price of one! Watch Facebook and Instagram for specials too.

Don’t forget to watch for coupons in your email and the weekly flyers in your mailbox or newspaper. The stores will send out emails to their customers, so sign up for their newsletters today.

Budget Laptops

Laptops

November is a great month to look at buying low-end laptops. If you don’t need a super-fast laptop, you can look for great buys for a starter unit

It may fit into your budget if all you’re looking for is a computer that you use to check your emails, do some word processing, or follow your favorite blogs. Although seldom on the cheap side, Apple just had a major announcement regarding new iPhone and laptop offerings. That usually means that the previous generations will be reduced enough to pique your interest.

Read More of My Articles  What To Stock Up On In October

TVs and Other Electronics

Televisions

If you’ve been wanting a new TV with more gadgets, or your current TV is on its last leg, watch the Sunday paper or your weekly ads in the mailbox.

You will see specials on televisions, to purchase, so keep an eye out for what you want to buy before the sales hit.

In other words, shop BEFORE you need the TV. Then be patient and watch for the rock-bottom prices on the model you want.

You’ll find discounted prices on some of your favorite small electronics as well. Watch for stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts at reduced prices on last year’s models of many items. Be sure to check out the small appliance aisles for specials.

Halloween Leftover Stuff

Halloween Costumes

This is when you’ll want to grab some leftover candy and use your FoodSaver to remove the air in the containers for the candy you love to eat. Please remember, if they have nuts in the candy, I would freeze them.

Nuts have a high oil content and can go rancid very quickly. Yes, even in candy. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

  • Leftover Halloween candy
  • Costumes
  • Candles
  • Decorations
  • Halloween masks
  • Halloween lights
Halloween Candy

Pumpkins and Winter Squash

Pumpkins

Watch for pumpkins after Halloween and also winter squash. They will be marked way down in price. You can store the squash and enjoy it throughout the next couple of months. Have you tried cooking a pumpkin in your Instant Pot?

Winter Squash

Garden Seeds

We all need to keep garden seeds so we can grow our food, even if it isn’t until the next planting season. My favorite place to buy my garden seeds is SeedsNow I have two of these containers below. They are perfect for storing my garden seeds. Photo Case 4″ x 6″ Photo Box Storage and my label machine are easy to use to organize my entire house. Brother P-Touch Label Maker

Garden Seed Container

Wedding Dresses

Yes, the stores mark down wedding dresses. Just think of it this way, out with the old and in with the new spring styles. The long-sleeved dresses have to go and the new summery dresses are on their way to being hung up for the warmer weather.

If you know any bride-to-be, tag them about sales on wedding dresses, they are out there. Be ready to save a lot of money, in some cases 70% off.

Yes, the supplies may be limited, but someone can alter the sleeves or length if you need something a little different. It’s all about saving money while getting something nice for that very special day in your life.

Veteran’s Day Sales

Veterans Day Large Appliance Sale

Woohoo! This is the holiday weekend people wait to snag a large appliance they need for the kitchen or laundry room. You will see markdowns on this year’s models, along with specials on the previous year’s units.

The stores want to get rid of the old to make room for the new models coming in December.

We bought our gas stove with a huge 50% discount. It was truly worth the wait to get an older model. I didn’t need one with all the bells and whistles, so to speak.

If you have been looking for a sale on a special baking pan, look at your local stores this weekend and save a lot of money.

Baking Supplies

Baking Supplies

Look for mailbox flyers with coupons galore and emails from your favorite grocery store to save money throughout the month. This is the month I stock my freezer with butter and my pantry with canned pumpkin.

I typically buy ten packages of cream cheese this month when it hits around $1.00 for an 8-ounce package. Other things to consider stocking up on are listed below:

  • Sugar
  • Flour
  • Spices
  • Cream cheese
  • Canned pie filling
  • Chocolate chips
  • Baking mixes
  • Butter
  • Pie shells
  • Canned pumpkin
  • Marshmallows

Fresh Items

Did you know you can freeze whipping cream in the carton as shown below? Buy it at rock-bottom prices and thaw it in the refrigerator the day before you need it. Gotta love it!

Whipping Cream

If the turkeys get down to $.89 a pound or less, I like to buy three or four of them and fill the freezer. I love baking a turkey on Sunday and freezing the leftovers in 2-cup freezer bags.

Read More of My Articles  What Life Looks like When You Budget

I also freeze cranberries to use throughout the year.

Cranberries

Ready to bake frozen pumpkin pies for those who want to buy ahead of time and bake them the night before Thanksgiving, or anytime during the holidays.

Pumpkin Pie
Yams and Sweet Potatoes

Frozen Food

Here again, if the turkeys get down to .89 cents or less per pound, I grab a few for the freezer. Cool Whip isn’t my favorite choice for cream, but if the large container goes for just over $2.00 now, I buy 4 or 5 for the freezer.

Cool Whip

I have a few salads I use Cool Whip in like this Watergate Salad.

  • Turkeys
  • Hams
  • Cool Whip
  • Pie crusts

Then let’s talk about making soup with the turkey carcass, life is so good. It’s all about saving money, and this month rocks with savings.

Turkeys

November is a great month for spiral or regular hams. I love baked ham and then enjoy ham sandwiches for a quick meal.

Hams

Canned/Boxed Items For Your Pantry

Pumpkin

It’s a great month to stock up on some of these items. With the holidays ahead, I’ll be using several of these, so it’s a great time for me to stock my pantry.

Stuffing or Dressing
  • Broth
  • Canned soups
  • Green beans
  • French’s Fried Onions
  • Stuffing mix
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Pumpkin 100% and Pumpkin Pie Mix
  • Pumpkin donuts
  • Pumpkin cookies
  • Pumpkin cake
  • Crackers
  • Spices
  • Olives, green and black
  • Canned vegetables
  • Yams
  • Peanut butter

I love having peanut butter in the pantry! I just bought a bunch since I heard there may be a shortage this winter due to the recent hurricanes in states like Georgia.

Peanut Butter

This is a great time to stock up on frozen pie crusts.

Pie Crusts

Do you make a green bean casserole? We make it every year.

Green Bean Casserole

Small Appliances-Black Friday & Cyber Monday

What To Stock Up On In November

This is a great time to find that special gift for someone at Christmas time. You’ll find just about every kitchen appliance for holiday gifts, wedding gifts, and housewarming gifts.

If you need a FoodSaver, this is the month to watch for one.

Black Friday

These two days (the day after Thanksgiving and that Saturday) you will find the lowest sales of the year, literally. Watch for Amazon, Target, and Best Buy to start with as you look for prices that may be below their cost. You may call them “teasers,” but they are real. I bought the camera for my blog that way, it was a great deal.

What to Stock Up On Each Month:

Unique November Holidays

  • November 1: All Saint’s Day 
  • November  2: Deviled Egg Day 
  • November 3: Sandwich Day 
  • November 4: King Tut Day 
  • November 5: Men Make Dinner Day 
  • November 6: National Nacho Day 
  • November 7: Bittersweet Chocolate with Almond’s Day 
  • November 8: Cook Something Bold Day 
  • November 9: World Freedom Day 
  • November 10: Forget Me Not Day 
  • November 11: World Origami Day 
  • November 12: Chicken Soup for the Soul Day 
  • November 13: National Indian Pudding Day
  • November 14: World Diabetes Day 
  • November 15: Clean Your Refrigerator Day 
  • November 16: National Fast Food Day 
  • November 17: Homemade Bread Day 
  • November 19: Have a Bad Day Day 
  • November 20: Beautiful Day 
  • November 21: World Hello Day 
  • November 22: Go for a Ride Day 
  • November 23: Eat a Cranberry Day 
  • November 25: National Parfait Day 
  • November 26: Thanksgiving
  • November 27: Black Friday 
  • November 28: French Toast Day 
  • November 29: Square Dance Day 
  • November 30: Stay at Home Because You’re Well Day

Final Word

Let me know your thoughts on what to stock up on in November, I love to hear. What do you have on your “I need list”? Let me know what you hope to buy in November that will save you a lot of money.

It’s all about being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Small Pumpkins in Wooden Box Deposit photos_84642240_s-2019

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78 Comments

  1. I love your “What to Stock Up On” articles. I would add vegetable seeds to the list and get them well before the Spring rush.

        1. Hi Ray, I agree about the seed shortages. I have stocked up well, but I always feel like “do I need more seeds?”. I have to be realistic and I realize seeds do not last forever. Linda

          1. for longer viability of seed, place in ziplock bag with some rice, that has been rotated thru the freezer, 2x..and put in refrigerator drawer. friend has some things uses that are 8+ yrs. does sprout tests before starting seed…

  2. Love this! Even though it’s mid-October, I just started stocking up for the holidays. I do have a question. Can you freeze whipping cream? I’ll need to use some of our stuff in the freezers before I can buy some to freeze. I try to buy up what we need when it’s on sale all year long. This week at our local grocery store, they have pork chops on sale BOGO free. I bought several. If it’s on sale and we use it, I’ll buy it.

    1. Hi Deborah, yes, you can freeze whipping cream similar to milk. You can also whip it and freeze dollops. I think whipping cream will be on sale through December. I would rather buy fresh and whip as needed. It’s been so crazy lately we never know what will become shortages! Linda

  3. Please watch the dates on your seeds. Some, like corn are only good for 1 yr. Otherwise they may not sprout well the next year. OP varietes may do better. Just a note. I have had trouble in the past.

  4. Regarding freezing heavy whipping cream… Do you just put it in the freezer in the carton and thaw in the refrig when you are ready to use.??

    1. Hi Cheryl, I would pour into a mason jar or something similar so the cream can expand without making a big mess in the freezer. Always thaw in the refrigerator. Linda

  5. I freeze whipping cream in its original container as I do with other products….they all have room to expand bc they are not ever filled to the very top. Never had a problem…just thaw in frig. when want to use.

    1. Hi Sandra, oh I love hearing this! I’m always afraid stuff will expand in the freezer! Thanks for the tip! This would make it so much easier to freeze whipping cream!! Linda

  6. I know this isn’t November, but our local farm store has generators on sale for $100 off. Now might be a good time to buy one if you are interested. Look around for the best deals and the size you need before you really need it!

    1. Hi Cheryl, wow, that’s a great deal. I can’t get one because I don’t dare store gasoline on my property. AND it doesn’t make sense for my budget. I can make do with what I have. Linda

  7. I, also, love your what to buy in the month lists. I have a good stock of stuff but will always take advantage of a good sale. I always buy more that one turkey but buy several turkey breasts when on sale!
    I enjoy all the articles you write. Good info in them all.

    1. Hi Doris, thank you for your kind words, they mean so much to me. I looked the other day at the store for turkeys and turkey breasts and they are not in stock yet. Can’t you just smell the turkey or turkey breast baking? Mark and I will be staying home for Thanksgiving this year, I’m worried about spreading the COVID or getting it! So I need a turkey breast or a small turkey. Mark likes the wishbone, I like the turkey breast with zero bones! LOL! Life is so good! Linda

      1. Linda: I checked with our small town Wegman’s store yesterday and the meat department employee said they are ordering in a LOT of turkeys by next week. He did not know if they would put them on sale for Thanksgiving like usual or not. At this point, I don’t really care all that much. We could have a baked chicken or even just have our Adirondack tradition of making Venison and Onions for Thanksgiving this year.
        Just wanted your New York State/and some PA/Virginia readers to know Wegman’s still is bringing in a supply of turkeys next week, but who knows at what price!

        Joyce S.

    2. Do you can any turkey, if so how do you cut it up? I already pressure can lots of other meats, so I understand the process, just wondering size of chunks if you can. Thanks in advance for your answer.

  8. Not sure if I will be having Thanksgiving by myself or going to spend it with my daughter and her family – not sure how I feel because they are not so careful about staying away from people!! Want to see the grandkids but not at the risk of my health right now or still!!

    So, since I am single, I will plan on roasting a game hen or a turkey 1/2 breast with all the fixings in just micro sizes!

    As for the other things on the list, I have most of them already and just went through my long term storage – have plenty of sugar and such so not going to go all out in November. My waist cannot handle lots of baking if I am going to be alone!

    **Just an aside – I ran to the pharmacy this afternoon and when I came home, there were 3 boxes at my door full of canned goods, rice and beans, apples, potatoes and onions. I am SET!! Don’t know for sure who dropped them off but I will gladly add this to my preps!

    1. Hi Leanne, oh my goodness what a wonderful surprise and a blessing at the same time!! There are good people in the world, that’s for sure! Mark and I are not going anywhere for the holidays, we are in a Code Red Zone. We can’t risk it. Stay well, Linda

    2. Leanne: You are a blessed lady, and I think you must be a good friend to many people, too, to get such loving generosity delivered to your front step! Good on ya, Lady!

      1. Joyce, I know I am very blessed. I mentioned the other day to a friend that I was flying to see my daughter, son-in-law and grandkids (they are moving out of state right after Thanksgiving) and I was looking into the shuttle to the airport on of all days – December 24 and returning on December 31. Well, she said “I’ll take you and pick you up!” What a blessing!!

        I must say, though, that I would rather be the one blessing others!

          1. Linda, they are moving to Wyoming! Just north of Cheyenne. So that is a good long way away! But, I’m likely going to move there next summer when my lease is up. Not sure how I’ll deal with the winters!

          2. Hi Leanne, I’m the same way about the winter weather. We left the desert and moved back up north where it snows. Half of my grandkids live here, Mark misses his golf buddies but our grandkids are growing up way too fast! I missed the family activities. Hopefully, you can move there next summer. Fingers crossed it works out for you. Linda

  9. Linda, love all the ” What to ” articles. Really appreciate links to different products. I just ordered a set of the photo cases, as my seeds are getting out of hand! Also looked at the P touch label maker, but not sure on ordering one right now.

    God Bless us all this holiday season.

  10. Linda, your what to stock up on articles are the best. I really like how you store your seeds, keeping them organized. Most of mine are stored in their original envelopes, inside larger envelopes labeled with “Warm Weather,” “Cool Weather,” or, since I have lots of bean and pea seeds, “Beans” with the varieties listed on the larger envelopes. I also use various size plastic containers with tight fitting lids, and even small Mason jars. Most of my seeds are stored in the refrigerator, some in a freezer.

    I’m harvesting cherry tomatoes, bok choi, lettuce, chard, carrots and shell peas right now and my Contender beans are about ready to flower and set fruit. My broccoli won’t form heads at least for another month. We’ll eat most of the shell peas fresh but I’ll can some of them as well as some of the carrots.

    Since there’s only two of us at home now we rarely cook a whole turkey–usually just get a turkey breast. But when turkey gets cheap I buy a whole one and can some for use throughout the year. I do the same with chicken.

    1. Hi Ray, oh my gosh, you know I love hearing what you’re doing! I love hearing about your garden, oh my gosh, what joy that brings! I hope to have a bigger garden next year. We moved up north, so I’m not sure what is going to happen. At least we sold our home in 12 hours, packed up, and moved so quickly it is still a blur, but a good one. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to grow and preserve our food? I love what you grow! Linda

      1. Linda,

        Wow! You sold your home in 12 hours? That’s amazing. So glad you’ve moved somewhere with no HOA’s. Now you can have chickens. I recommend the Delaware breed. Docile disposition, excellent layers and good meat too. And maybe you can put in a well and be water independent too.

        1. Hi Ray, it was crazy, they bought the house sight unseen based on the pictures our realtor had taken. The buyer did not want a bidding war so we agreed to sell it for full price. We feel very blessed. They came the next day and loved the house so we never really had to show it. So grateful! We won’t be able to have a well where we are moving but there is no HOA! YAY! LOL! When we get to that point I will need all the help I can get. Thank you, my friend, Linda

      2. I am so glad you were able to sell and close on your home so quickly. I confess my back aches just THINKING about trying to move all your emergency prep items. We downsized 6 years ago. I cleaned, cleared and used up everything I could, which is why we had to restock the last several years.

        1. Hi Chris, we were so lucky to sell so fast, we never had to show our house. I gifted some fuel in buckets to my close neighbors, and a few propane tanks to them as well. We gifted the food that was not still in cases. We had the movers put the shelves with the #10 cans on the truck to be delivered to my daughter’s home. She and her husband met the movers with all of our stuff. Whew! Then the stuff that couldn’t go on the moving truck they drove down and picked up and drove them to their home. It worked out so well. Boxing up everything was a pain, but we are blessed to have the stuff to box up. We will restock now that we are up north. It feels so good to downsize but still have my preps and food storage. Linda

  11. It will be interesting to see what happens on holiday food sales this year with all the shortages. Maybe the sale prices will be what “normal” prices were last year! I’m noticing you have to shop at the beginning of the grocery store sales or they are out of items so no more waiting until the last few days of the ad to shop.

    1. Hi Kay, I saw turkeys yesterday for $.89 a pound. I’m buying a turkey breast, at my stage in life, it’s easier. I picked up odds and ends for Thanksgiving just in case they are not available. All my pantry food storage is in boxes, I need to unpack. So it was easier to pick up what I needed yesterday. I’m not a fan of shopping with crowds. I agree if you see what you need, get it. Linda

      1. Linda: You are SO SMART! I have always told my family “IF you see what you need at an O.K. price, just buy it (i.e. don’t wait) cause tomorrow it will be gone!!!” And that is true of nearly everything, whether for prepping or anything, even Kleenex and T.P.!! 🙂

        Joyce S.

        1. Hi Joyce, you are so cute!! Mark and I are going to get together tonight and we needed crackers to go with a dip. Oh, my gosh last year they were 2 boxes for $5.00, then around Christmas, they were 2 for $7.00. Today 2 boxes for $9.00!!! I said we are not going to offer to bring “crackers” and dip to any party this year. I will make homemade brownies, a cake, or cookies. The Tillamook block cheese (medium) my absolute favorite is now $13.99 for 32 ounces. It’s always been $9.99. I still bought two because I looked at Costco, and it was sold out. That organic chicken is awesome!! Wow, that’s all I can is wow. Linda

    2. Kay, yes same here in Tn.
      Must be there when meat sales is first put out on display. The market manager here orders and store whse. sends only what they want. they may send only 2 cases of leg quarters that are 69c lb., knowing many will come to store for them. On re order for “same sale” will not be any on truck.
      The price i gave for the turkey was higher by 20c lb than one i bought last year. I have canned turkey, roasted turkey is for Thanksgiving… and possibly Christmas. IF i can find a deeper sale i will take advantage. can not raise them that cheaply.. neither chicken nor turkey.

  12. You mentioned buying sandwiches. Watch for fast food sandwiches to be on sale. Our local fast food places have
    breakfast sandwiches either 2 for $3, or 1.99 each at another place. I can eat one and freeze one. I try to do that just so I can have something different for breakfast I don’t have to fix, just warm up. Those places also have $5.00 menu’s or
    dollar menu’s. You can throw a few things in your freezer cheaper.

    1. Hi June, I love this, I love getting a few of those 2 for $3.00 breakfast sandwiches! Sometimes I get up and I just want something quick to heat up or a muffin, but something yummy! Great tip! Linda

  13. Hi Linda – I just wanted to talk about the AnyList app. I’ve been using it for sometime now and I absolutely love it! In fact I subscribe to the recipe part of it which allows you to input your recipes, create grocery lists based on those recipes, and create meal plans. I got rid of all of my paper recipes and put them in the app. You can also download recipes from the Internet I find that very handy. It costs $7.99 a year, so it’s well worth it. I bought gift subscriptions for my daughters and now both of them use it as well as my granddaughters. We all have access to the same recipes. It makes it very nice because all of my mothers recipes are in there, as well as my recipes and that’s how we’re handing them down from generation to generation. Several of us use it several times a day.

  14. Sorry – something else about the AnyList app. I downloaded your cream cheese jalapeño dip recipe with just a couple of clicks. And then once it was in my list of recipes I simply opened it and clicked on the items that I need to buy and they were automatically put onto my grocery list!

    1. Hi Kathie, I just looked, I have that AnyList App. I use it to organize my grocery lists for different stores, Home Depot list of items I need, etc. I had no idea I could add recipes. I have the FREE one but $7.99 is a bargain, thank you so much!!!! Linda

  15. I scrolled down so I am not sure if anyone else said this but I buy bulk walnuts and pecans this time of year to freeze for the year. They are ripe in late October and November around here so I can get them fresh and sometimes discounted for a reasonable price. If you are willing to shell your own even better prices can be had.

    1. Hi Leann, I like to buy my walnuts, pecans, and pinenuts this time of year as well. I used to shell them. Great reminder about saving money on them if you shell them yourself. Linda

  16. I haven’t seen any turkeys in any of the grocery stores where I shop yet. We like to get a whole turkey because the family likes both light and dark meat. I hate to think what the price will be if I can find one! At my Walmart the other day, a 5-pound bag of potatoes was $6. The guy stocking the area told me to get some while they were this cheap because the price was going to be raised next week!

    1. Hi Paula, thank you for sharing about the potatoes. I did see some turkeys for $1.99 a pound. I didn’t buy one. I just shake my head at the prices of everything these days. Linda

  17. I have not seen any sales on turkeys this year yet. prices at aldi 1.69#-1.99#. and they were small -10-12#. wally store had for 99clb and i picked up a 20#. small family- still eat meat and leftovers are good.
    Guess i am just a dinosaur. i am glad you have phones and apps you like- I don’t want a phone for anything but emergency calls. don’t carry or refer to it. I already know when phones are upgraded to new ones i will no longer own one..It must be small and fit in my pocket.Can’t see print on daughters phone so IS USELESS, tho phone is way too big to go in my pocket. give me paper lists and recipe cards. Never shop from a list.(LOL) What happens to those precious “Great Grandma” recipes when your phone or net goes down.. ?
    we don’t do cheese, any regular milks, creams, or creamed soups,or dressing mixes.. too many unknown ingredients with too many intolerances…just don’t marry well. already have cranberry sauce, pumpkin, sweetpotato,string beans, frozen peas carrots,and onion, eggs, butter,vinegar,deep dish pie shells and base ingredients for things we Do prepare.powdered mushrooms, seasonings..canned greens..

    1. Denise: I am glad I am not the only one that thought “What about when the grid goes down? Or cell hones are gone?” Well, the good news is that a person could SAVE those recipes in a box or somewhere safe and still use the shopping list app for now, when it is super-convenient. Yeah, today is my daugther’s last day of working for Walmart, after 6 years there. She told me certain things at Wally World were filled with chemicals, so buy them at Wegman’s. Other things are fine. All I can tell you is that I went to buy a deli precooked (no antibiotics) whole (small) chicken with barbecue seasonings at Wegman’s last night, gasped and walked away. They raised the price from $5.99 to $6.99 each a couple of months ago. BUT when I looked at them last night, they were up to $9.99!! Well, I has just left the Organic whole chickens counter, where I could buy a MUCH larger ORGANIC chicken for $10.03!!! That turned out to be a no brainer for me and we had baked organic chicken with roasted veggies for dinner last night. Who in their right mind is going to pay $10 for a teensy pre-cooked conventional chicken, when for 4 cents more you can wait 1 hr. and get a 2xs larger ORGANIC chicken for dinner?

      1. HI Joyce, I sure hope people are printing out their favorite recipes. I truly believe we will have a grid down. Our country has antiquated equipment, when it breaks, we will not be able to get “new” stuff for many years. Great comment, Linda

      2. Joyce,
        There is a book by Ted Koppel. He did an investigative piece… title of book “lights out”. In an interview..He told interviewer….” investigation left him so moved , it moved him t o purchase fd food for one year for all of his children and their families”..I have not read the book.
        Yes, i know those recipes can be saved on their index cards or in Grandma’s favorite cookbook. I have those. I am a dinosaur.It’s ok. I don’t use a phone except for phone calls. If someone is tracking me by my phone, they would have a hard time unless i am on a trip. it is often laying in a place where it will not receive a call. I rarely use a list for a recipe(only if it has been a very long time since i made).. there are so many foods i can not eat, or if i can another family member can not.It limits many things we do and don’t add to certain dishes. cheese, milk, nuts, most beans.. green leafy’s… our food is simple compared to most. we tend toward carnivore.
        MY concern is that those who only know how to use a exact recipe( don’t know how to ‘wing it’.). will get hungry and families will get bored if they have not used the recipes enough to know what goes in them, and what seasonings are used with each meat for family preferences.
        So many ppl are purchasing “take out” , most have no idea how to cook/season that Organic chicken. We don’t have a Wegmans in our state..guessing the closest comparative would be Kroger/Smiths/King Soopers. 4cents more for double the meat sounds much more affordable.

  18. In the past I shopped to see us thru the winter weather, and always at the lowest possible price. Since the pandemic, and following your writings for the last three years, I have shopped for a longer duration and while price is always important, it has become more about finding what we need. I will have to wait till closer to Thanksgiving for turkey since our freezer is currently stocked. We are over half done with Christmas shopping. Stay safe and healthy everyone.

    1. Hi Chris, I just looked online at Walmart and they have turkeys for $.98 Jennie-O brand (16-24 pounds). You can get Butterball turkeys for $1.18 (10-16 pounds)/ They are on sale and not sure for how long. This is the lowest price I have seen. I. need to run and get one. What a blessing to be over halfway through your Christmas shopping. Love it! Linda

  19. Linda,

    Two more good reasons to stock up in November. First, our country only has a 25 day supply of diesel on hand and with current climate change restrictions on production shutting down refineries, we may not be able to build that supply back up. Everything in our stores comes in by truck–often after being delivered by rail to a central warehouse distribution hub. Run out of diesel and vital supplies will not be delivered before shelves are empty. No food, no medications, no mail–so there goes Amazon down the tube. And there aren’t enough EV trucks to do the job even if we could keep them charged.

    The second reason is that two Unions just voted NOT to ratify the agreement touted as heading off the railway strike. The deadline for a new agreement is November 19. The only hope right now is that the two largest Unions haven’t voted yet, but right now that is a dim hope. This spells huge supply chain problems in it’s own right.

    Be smart. Stock up while supplies are available.

    1. Hi Ray, wow, a 25-day supply of diesel! You are not the first one to mention this. I have a post going out tomorrow encouraging people to stock up once again. I’m going to be 73 in January, I would have never guessed our country would have so many shortages. Well, now the entire world has shortages. If people can’t see the writing on the wall, good luck. Great comment, Linda

  20. Oh my Linda I forgot to tell you of my best buy when I went to smiths Wednesday, I found 2 capons for $5 each. They are huge! The are almost as big as a Turkey. I was over the wall to find 2 chickens for that price. I am still gob smacked that I bought $850 of food that we needed for $550 and it only took us 1 1/2 hours to check out. LOL. I got fresh hamburger buns for $0.50 and so much more. It was unbelievable. Now I don’t know what I am going to get when we go shopping Wednesday at Smiths, Sprouts and Sam’s club but I know it won’t be like we got this past week.

    I noticed a couple posts talking about stocking up and the best thing I can tell someone is if you can get fresh fruit or vegetables then get enough for canning or freezing. If you know someone who raises cattle, goats or pigs you might want to see how much they will charge you for half a animal if you are a small family or the whole animal if you have 5 or more i n your family. I know my husband said this coming year we will get a whole cow and if we can get some 4H pigs we will get a 2 whole ones. Now all I have to find is someone who raises chickens or Turkeys we can buy from I would love to get ducks and geese but my daughter is allergic to them. I would also like to find someone who will sell Turkey eggs.
    Now to stock up on canned foods also. I like to buy the gallon cans of canned foods. Then I just put the extra in freezer bags and heat seal them so they don’t go bad.
    Our smiths said they may have their box sale this month and I hope it is this week.,

    1. Hi Jackie, I had to Google what a Capon is, I had never heard of those chickens. Wow, you amaze me with the bargains you find. I love it! Raspberries are in season here, I hope to make some frozen raspberry jam. I hope to find a beef farmer nearby once our home gets finished we are not even half way yet. Patience, Linda, Patience. It’s all good, but it’s getting old living in one room. It will be 2 years in October. The city permits were the hold up. Oh well, such is life. Linda

  21. Capons are just roosters that have been fixed. They are supposed to be more tender that regular chicken. (don’t worry I had to do a search for it myself), but they grow bigger and more tender then hen chickens.
    As for the price they were marked down because they had probably been left over from Easter or Passover. We have a large Jewish community in Albuquerque and Smiths carries a lot of Jewish foods and when I can get the Jewish foods I grab them up. They don’t have the additives in them that regular food does. It can’t have additives and still be called Kosher.

  22. Linda ~ I had to chuckle about the Cool Whip selling for less than a dollar!! Better update this post as I doubt anything on the list is anywhere near a dollar anymore! I am, however, sending this post to my daughter to look over. They didn’t have much of a harvest from their garden due to hail storms and damage back in June and July. I held a baseball sized hail stone in my hand! It was unbelievable and I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it myself! They covered their garden but still had a lot of damage. They have plans for protecting the garden next year but will be purchasing much of their vegetables at the stores this fall/winter/next spring.

    As for much on your list, I am going to get the baking supplies I need for holiday baking and storage. But, other than that, not going to indulge in most of it. When I moved in late July, there was a lot of baking things that I gave away to neighbors because those things were open and would not travel well. So, I am having to stock up on several things.

    I would also like to mention Azure Standards – bulk, all organic foods – my daughter buys all of her flour and sugar as well as many other things through Azure. (side note – I take containers to her house to shop her supplies!!)

    1. Hi Leanne, LOL! Thanks for letting me know about the Cool Whip! Oh my gosh, Great Value is $1.07 but the Cool Whip Brand is $1.98! Thanks for the heads up!! I love it! Oh, I love Azure Standards, most people here in Utah use them for so many things! Thanks for the reminder about them! Linda

  23. I’m hoping and praying that in November folks can still stock up and the silliness dies down post election.
    I’m about 50/50 on what will happen

  24. Love, love, love reading through the older comments!!
    Just checked Safeway app – Cool Whip is now $2.50 WITH a coupon!! Off brand is $1.50!!
    I can honestly say that I do not “fear” the coming months because I am prepped! But I have been seeing a lot of posts by preppers on “Stock up NOW!!” I agree that we all need to stock up and stay stocked up. I always try to purchase additional things like rice, beans and such for storage but I don’t obsess about it now.

    1. Hi Leanne, you know its a way of life for us, we don’t need to fear, we have food and water stocked. We will make what we have work. I did stock up several 32 ounces bags of chocolate chips from Costco $12.98, each I think, I need chocolate! LOL! I heard chocolate will be in short supply, well, not for me, I also picked up unsweetened cocoa. LOL! Linda

      1. Yes to chocolate. I have even been saving a recipe or two to make my own chocolate bars!! I don’t have a mold yet but soon! Then I will try it!

        I do need to get some chips though as I want to make fudge for some friends for the holidays. I need both semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips as well as some dairy free chocolate chips (friends are dairy free). My fudge recipe for the dairy free friends is this: In a crockpot, add 1 can of sweetened condensed coconut milk and a 6-ounce bag of dairy free chocolate chips. Set the crockpot on warm or low with the lid OFF! Stir every once in a while, until the chocolate is melted, and you can stir the chocolate and condensed milk together. Pour into a greased or parchment lined baking pan. Refrigerate for several hours until firm. Cut into pieces. Keep refrigerated. AND, of course, one can double or triple this depending on how large your crockpot is.

        I still use my mother’s fudge recipe but may switch over to the crockpot method using only 2 ingredients of regular semi-sweet chocolate and regular sweetened condensed milk. So easy and doesn’t require the muscles that my mom’s recipe does!!

        1. Hi Leanne, now I’m going to make fudge in the crockpot! The price of the single bag that used to be 12 ounces then went to 11.5 ounces are now 11 ounces. And the price is double of course! LOL! Linda

          1. Linda – my experience (and taste buds) indicates that the 2-ingredient fudge in the crockpot was “almost” as good as my mom’s recipe. Of course, mom’s recipe makes significantly more and certainly at a much higher cost!! So, this year just may be the year I make ALL my fudge in the crockpot. A couple of things I might also try is adding chopped hazelnuts to my fudge or just placing whole hazelnuts on top before the fudge sets (in a grid so each piece I cut has a nut). I like to eat walnuts out of hand but not “in” things!! But I think any nut would work.

  25. Even though this will be responding to some pretty OLD comments (including my own!), I must tell you all there is an excellent, healthy substitute for Cool-Whip that tastes like a million bucks and is SO MUCH BETTER FOR YOUR HEALTH: TRU WHIP, available at Wegman’s Grocery Stores and Walmart in our area! If you switch, you will thank yourself a thousand times over and so will your health!

    Linda, I cannot make pumpkin pies anymore, because most family members ended up being violently allergic to eggs! BOO-HISS!! Well, I just ordered a whole case of canned organic pumpkin puree from Azure, anyway, because there have got to be other ways to serve it. So, it was great to see a fantastic article come out about how nutritionally packed pumpkin is, PTL!! My husband looked at the canned pumpkin sideways and thought I was crazy, but somehow I just sensed that we needed a case on our pantry shelves (for emergencies)!! We also have plenty of freeze-dried butternut squash from last fall, and I have 17 new ones in the garage staying “cold”, too. Trying my best to be nutritionally AWAKE/AWARE with all of this prepping, now that I have finished sending oodles and oodles of things to North Carolina for victims of the Hurricane-induced flooding. Went for broke for awhile there, but am satisfied that when we finally get our extra generator down there, as well, we will have definitely saved lives by supporting MDs that are helping those victims. Our dear friends are driving down as volunteers around Nov. 7th. THEN God let me find out about something just yesterday afternoon….we would never have known, if our friend who lives 1+ hr. away had not told us! There is a large Presbyterian church outside of Rochester, NY, that has 2 hrs., twice a month, where they open their “clothing closet” to anyone. You can take whatever you need/want in any quantity for FREE! My friend and I are going to drive over there and load up more warm clothes for N. Carolina on Saturday, I believe. WHOO-HOO, NO MORE HAVING TO GO NEARLY BROKE TRYING DESPERATELY TO RESCUE DESTITUTE PEOPLE!! The Lord is SUCH a blessing to our lives and those of others, all day, everyday!!!

    1. Hi Jess, that really is a blessing to be able to help others for sure. That clothing closet sounds awesome, free for those I need. They are becoming more the norm these days, Utah has several “closets” for homeless kids, yes, homeless kids living on the streets. We take for granted what we have, May God bless those in need and who share their excess. Linda

  26. Jess – Just read your comment about pumpkin puree!! Here is something that I make quite often using that ingredient.
    First let me just say, I know, I know – I CAN make a spice cake from scratch, but I don’t – I wait until the cake mixes in the box are on sale and purchase 3-4 to have on hand.
    SO, my recipe for a 2-ingredient pumpkin muffin: 1 boxed spice cake mix (dry powder ONLY) and 1 can of pumpkin puree. That is it, unless you want to make this a 3-ingredient by adding additional spices (I like to add pumpkin pie spice!! Mix until well combined. Makes 12 muffins. Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffins comes out clean.

      1. Of course you can!!!! I am also working on a pumpkin protein bar! I have the ingredients written down on a scratch paper but not the measurements! I have made them before but guess I just winged it! I’ll send it to you when I have all the measurements to my satisfaction as well as the directions. They are no-bake!
        Guess I LOVE pumpkin! I have 2 pie pumpkins on my table and soon I will be roasting them so I have some “fresh” in the freezer!

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