Courtesy – n. a helpful act
First an announcement about The Plan, in addition to The 3Ds, which suggest ways to improve your shopping skills there is now information about Markets, List Preparation and Menus, which explains how to go about doing it. So check it out!
Concerning supermarkets, it’s wise to learn certain facts about each market where you shop from the Courtesy Counter: policy on coupons-do they double and, if so, do they require a minimum purchase to do so-, returns, rain checks, if sale prices cover lesser amounts than advertized and if they issue “member’ or “valued shopper cards. If they do, I urge you to get one for every member of your household who does any shopping there. The cards are free and represent an important ongoing method of saving. These are the amounts the cashiers quote as you check-out. If you notice the small print under the “special” listings in most market fliers, you’ll see something like;”member’s price, all others pay regular.” This means only cardholders get the featured price. The catch is that on really deep sales “regular” may be higher than normal. I had an experience last year. White corn was on sale, 12 ears for $1.99. That’s .17cents an ear, a great deal, since it was going for .50 to .75 cents an ear in stores, and even the farm markets sold it for .33cents an ear, at best. My shock, and the cashier’s, who hadn’t processed an “isolated” order before, came when my savings, as printed on the receipt, were $11.21 on a $1.99 total. This means that without the card, the corn was $1.10 an ear! In another instance, a market included a store coupon in the flier–$1.00 off a pint of cherry tomatoes. The full price was $3.99. When I got to the register, my card took another $1.00 off. So I saved 50%.
Fact is, the market isn’t a non-profit. When they offer something at, or near cost, they bank on the percentage of customers who take full advantage of the sale, buying other things at regular prices to compensate the loss. Also compensating are shoppers not using cards, who buy lesser quantities of the sale offering, and don’t calculate a couple of dollars difference in their totals. Men are notorious for this. Most men don’t quibble over price, scoff at carrying these cards and aren’t even aware of the savings, but let them become the primary food buyer and/or budget manager and they change fast!
The other tangible courtesy supermarkets offer are rain-checks, if they are out of a sale item or specific variety of that item. These are chits which extend the special price of a product for a set length of time determined by each market. In my area, they vary from 2 to 12 weeks to indefinitely. Rain-checks also limit the quantity you can buy for the quoted price, usually not to exceed $10.00 worth, or 4 articles.
Exercise with its anabolic effect, may at the same time, repeated or very serious damages to the same osseous area may viagra pfizer online cause degradation of the bone marrow or of the full organs’ functions. This is a common situation for those dealing deeprootsmag.org purchase generic levitra with erectile Dysfunction (ED) can be the most frightening situations you will face. It should be taken only when one is cheap viagra professional planning to quit without worrying about what people will say. These services are given by licensed physical therapists, having a order generic cialis good experience in this domain.
Occasionally, a store may offer the choice of a rain-check or substitute. I got a $7.39 4lb. canister of Domino sugar last week, because the store was out of the 4lb bags advertized at $1.99. Usually, it’s a different brand and, usually, the generic one.This is an either/or offer. It can give you a chance to try something new, especially if you need the product right away, but taking the rain-check offers time to think. Alternatively, you can buy a similar item at regular price and take the rain-check.
I love rain-checks, particularly if the product involved is one I really like, use regularly or can plan for in the near future. They give me a chance to anticipate buying the item, in acceptable quantity, at a sale price, when I can chart a use for it and fit it into my budget. For example, take the white corn as listed above. The store won’t substitute other corn, so you get a rain-check, good for two or three months, for up to 48 ears costing only $1.99 per dozen, at most a total of $8.00. That’s a great deal, especially if you were planning any entertaining in that period.
As to replacing the corn in your menu plan without spending more money, you can buy 4 ears of yellow at the regular price, but that won’t cover 6 to 8 servings. One easy solution is 2 packages of pasta or rice sides, cooked and, optionally, to serve it cold, mixed with mayo and/or sour cream, yogurt or cottage cheese and/or mustard, a few herbs, perhaps some cheese and diced raw onion or peppers, whatever fits the flavor variety. Another choice, is to buy a box of pasta and a large can of diced tomatoes (28oz.). With a few pantry items, oil and garlic, you can create Pasta– Margarita (basil), Puttanesca (capers), Arrabiatta (more garlic) or Fresca (vegetables) Both options keep you in budget, but my preference would be the latter. You can actually make it as you plan to serve it and enjoy all the variations. If, however, the situation is reversed, and you need to replace a quantity of corn now with another menu side, for say $8.00, I would still opt for the Pasta Fresca, using lightly blanched seasonal vegetables. You don’t have to buy a pound of each, just what you need. If you are avoiding carbs, think spaghetti squash. There are many side dishes that will fill the bill, but this one is healthy and easy both in labor and cost. It changes with the seasons too, and the vegetables can be roasted, sautéed or boiled, even leftover, as suits the moment.
However, I digress, the point is the Courtesy Counter in a market is there to serve the customer. Learn what it can do for you, how to make use of it and don’t hesitate to do so. It’s to your advantage and you won’t regret it.
