Feeding a family of 5 on $170/month: the produce stand clearance sale

I'm not posting this for bragging sake, but wanted to show you what's possible by shopping an open-air produce stand's clearance sale. I realize that in many parts of the country, produce stands are shuttered already for the winter. However, in some of the southern tier states, produce stands will continue for a few more weeks. And, this is information that can be tucked away for use next year.

Open-air produce stands typically have great prices. Not to be confused with a farrner's market, I'm talking about the type of place that sits by the side of a highway, has 1 owner/operator, has minimal exterior walls, and is semi-permanently set up. With such exposure to the elements, they close for winter and open again in spring, when threat of frost is reduced.

This morning was my fav produce stand's clearance day. It's always Nov.1. They open at 8 AM to a waiting crowd. I scouted out their supply earlier this week, and picked up a few things I thought they might run short of. But today, I went for their clearance sale, and bought all of this for

$22.76

Yes, that's right, 4 sugar pumpkins, 3 delicata squash, 3 acorn squash, 2 buttercup squash,

10 lbs of oranges, some golden delicious apples, 3 limes, 2 grapefruit,

4 green bell peppers, a bag of marked down pimento peppers, a dozen heads of garlic, and 4 avocados, for $22.76.

I already have quite a bit of fresh produce in storage here. Adding what I bought this morning, it looks like we have enough fresh produce to last through the end of the year, if need be.

You'll notice that for the most part, I stuck with good keeping produce. I won't worry about losing any produce to spoilage, should we not eat all of this soon.

As we're always interested in other people's prices, here's what I paid today:

apples -- 39 cents/lb.
sugar pumpkins -- 29 cents/lb
assorted squash -- 33 cents/lb
limes -- 20 cents/each
ruby red grapefruit -- 50 cents/each (bit of a splurge for us)
garlic -- 3 heads/ $1
avocados -- 4/ $1
green bell pepper -- 39 cents/each
bag of 12 pimento pepper -- 99 cents
10 lb bag of small navel oranges -- $4.49

I think I'll be able to beat some of their other prices just before Thanksgiving, such as on potatoes, and celery.

I'd say, for the month of November, we're off to a good start.

Gifts on a small budget: throwaway containers become gift containers

Thinking ahead to Christmas . . .

These containers still have life in them before being tossed into recycling. The coffee cans will be overwrapped in Christmas paper and filled with flavored popcorn for hubby -- 1 cheese and 1 nutty-caramel popcorn.

And the sparkling cider bottles will be filled with dry, fizzy bath salts -- 1 each, for my two daughters' Christmas stockings. I'll tie on a measuring scoop, and make my own label, and voila -- large, stocking-filling gifts for very little cost. (Dry, fizzy bath salts are just a mixture of epsom salts, baking soda, citric acid, color and essential oils/fragrance. They're even easier than making bath bombs, as you don't have to worry about them not solidifying.)