Buying maple syrup, for less

Out west, where I live, real maple syrup is very expensive. In place of real maple syrup, we use homemade blackberry syrup and homemade imitation maple syrup. For special occasions, I've bought maple syrup in small 12 ounce bottles.

With fall underway, and winter quickly approaching, I'm making pancakes for weekend breakfasts more often. There is something about a chilly morning, and waking to the aroma of pancakes cooking on the griddle. This fall, I found myself longing for real maple syrup. But that stuff can be pricey.

At the regular grocery stores near me, real maple syrup sells for around $7.00 to $8.50 per 12-oz bottle (58 cents to 71 cents per ounce).

Occasionally, I find it on sale for around $6.75 for 12-oz. The other day, at Fred Meyer, private label pure maple syrup was $6.69/12-oz (56 cents/ounce). Considering that would only last my family 3 or 4 family breakfasts, that still a bit steep for my budget.

In my search for real maple syrup, at a price that wouldn't make me choke on my morning coffee, I ventured into the realm of buying in quantity.

Pure maple syrup, sold in quarts, half-gallons and gallons, at places like WinCo, Cash & Carry, warehouse clubs and online (such as through Amazon), can yield a substantial savings over buying it in those pretty little glass bottles. True, you do sacrifice the attractive bottle, when you buy maple syrup in the larger quantities. Larger containers of maple syrup are sold in plastic jugs, whether they be quarts, half-gallons or gallons.

Our solution has been to save one of those glass bottles from Trader Joe's, and refill it with maple syrup from the half-gallon jug that I bought at Cash & Carry. (I knew there would be a reason for me to have saved that glass bottle!)

I bought maple syrup in a 64-oz jug at Cash & Carry, at 44 cents per ounce ($28.08/half-gallon). Our area Costco carries real maple syrup for close to that price. WinCo, has real maple syrup in 32 ounce jugs, for about 53 cents per ounce. Amazon carries real maple syrup in half-gallons and gallons for as low as 43 cents per ounce (bought in a 1-gallon jug). Any of these prices will beat my local grocery store regular and sale price.

The trick will be to not plow through a half-gallon in a month! It does taste wonderful, eat-it-right-out-of-a-spoon, wonderful. The flavor takes me back to my childhood, when my mother would sometimes buy maple sugar candies for my sibs and I.

And as a bonus, real maple syrup contains nutrients. It boasts manganese, magnesium, calcium, potassium, riboflavin and zinc. [http://www.purecanadamaple.com/benefits-of-maple-syrup/maple-syrup-nutrition/]

We'll still use homemade blackberry syrup, from time to time, this winter. But having some of the real stuff, for special weekend breakfasts will be a treat, and especially nice that I found it for less.

November 2016 grocery spending journal

This is the big stock-up time of the year, for me. There is a lot to buy, but fortunately, I have a lot in surplus budget from which to draw.


October 31. This came in after I'd finished up my October tally, so I'm including it in November's. At Fred Meyer, I bought 1 package of flour tortillas for $1.19.

November 1. Senior Discount Day at Fred Meyer. I was hopeful I'd find pecans on sale this month, and I did! $8.99/lb, I bought almost 3  1/2 pounds of pecan halves. They're in the freezer already. I also bought 5 half-gallons of whole milk, at 89 cents each, and 1 half-gallon of orange juice at 89 cents (there was a limit of 6 combined of milk and OJ at the sale price). I bought 1 half-gallon of almond milk ($2.25), 2 lbs of butter ($2.50/lb), 4 2-lb bags of powdered sugar (89 cents each), a box of decaf tea ($2.33), a large can of decaf coffee and a large can of reg. coffee ($4.49 each), a package of hot dogs for 80 cents (easy meals), and 2 18-ct large eggs (89 cents per carton, or 59 cents/dozen). I still have lots of eggs in the freezer, but at 59 cents/dozen I'll continue to buy. Total spent $60.96 (half of that was pecans!)

November 4. WinCo for cases of canned vegetables (12 cans/case). I buy 1 case each peas, corn, cut green beans and French green beans, $3.96/case. I also bought 6 bags of assorted chocolate chips, at $1.68/each, 1 container of salt, 54 cents, 3 29-oz cans pumpkin, $1.78 each, 12 bananas, 48 cents/lb, and 6 acorn squash, 78 cents each. I spent $38.97 (that includes my 3 X 6 cents bag credit).

November 8. Fred Meyer. potatoes are on sale for 88 cents/10-lb bag, limit 2. Today was the day that I discovered FM would have every Tuesday through the holidays as Senior Discount days. So, while here, I bought a few items which would qualify for 10% off, including a can of regular and a can of decaf coffee ($4.49 each), container of salt (53 cents), 4 cans of whole berry cranberry sauce (89 cents each), and a freebie of a Hershey's Kiss deluxe. I spent $14.83

November 11.  I was running errands with one daughter. Since we were near Fred Meyer, we decided to stop in and buy more potatoes, at 88 cents/10-lb bag. She picked up her limit of 2 bags, and I got my 2 bags. While there, we found pasta in a variety of shapes on sale for 50 cents/lb. I bought 19 lbs, mostly linguini and macaroni. I also picked up my freebie of Greek yogurt. Spent $13.02

November 11. Also stopped at WinCo, for another case of green beans ($3.96), some candied cherries for holiday baking ($2.43), candied fruitcake fruit ($2.48), baking cocoa ($1.66), chili powder ($1.69), 1.12 lbs of raisins ($2.00), 1 whole wheat fig bar 26 cents), 4 cans of cranberry sauce (78 cents each), 4 cans olives, 78 cents each, 3 bags chocolate chips, $1.68 each, 4 cans of yams ($1.49/29 oz), 4 cans pumpkin ($1.78/29 oz), 1 qt of whipping cream ($3.18) and a 72-ct pack of corn tortillas ($2.18). I spent $44.94

November 15. Fred Meyer, for another day of Senior discount, plus getting one turkey. I bought 3 packs of lady finger cookies for 50 cents each (for making tiramisu), 1 10-ct flour tortillas, 89 cents, 4 8-oz bags of Italian espresso coffee, for $1.49 each, a box of decaf black tea, $2.33, 3 half-gals of orange juice, 90 cents each, 7 half-gals milk, 90 cents each, 3 half-gals eggnog, marked down, $1.50 each, 8 8-oz packages of cream cheese, 90 cents each, 1 package hot dogs, 80 cents, 8 15-oz jars natural peanut butter, $1.35 each, and a 20-lb turkey at 49 cents/lb. I had a $5 off any purchase coupon to use, so in total I spent $47.75

November 18. WinCo for my 2nd turkey. I buy 3 bags marshmallows, 98 cents each. 14 29-oz cans yams, 98 cents each, 4 lbs butter, $2.48 each, 15 29-oz cans pumpkin, $1.78 each, 5 cans cream of mushroom soup, 58 cents each, 9 cans olives, 78 cents each and a 20-lb turkey, at 48 cents/lb. I spent $73.04

November 22. Cash & Carry. I buy 50-lbs of all-purpose flour for $10.99, 12 lbs of butter at $2.09/lb, 1 gal of molasses, $13.49, half-gal of real maple syrup, $28.08, 3 large bunches of celery, for $2.88, 40-lbs oranges, $16.98, 6 bananas, 42 cents pound. I spent $98.65.

I have spent a whole lot on groceries this month, a whole lot. So far, I've spent $393.35. But, including surpluses from previous months, I had $504.40 that I could spend for November. So, I'm actually doing okay, so far.

November 25. Black Friday. Out picking up some deals, and I found canned pineapple on sale for 99 cents/ 20-oz can. not a spectacular deal, but okay, so I bought 10 cans. Spent $9.90. Also got my Friday Freebie, a Christmas themed Snicker's candy bar.

November 29. Last shopping day of the month, with Senior Discount at Fred Meyer. I bought 3 packages of 10 each flour tortillas (they are often out of these), 89 cents each, 1 large can decaf and 1 large can reg coffee, $4.49 each, 3 more 2-lb bags of powdered sugar, at 89 cents each, 1 box of decaf tea, $2.33, 8 half-gallons of whole milk 89 cents each, 2 half-gallons of orange juice, 89 cents each, 2 16-oz containers of sour cream, 89 cents each, just over 10 lbs of whole almonds, $4.49/lb, 6 bottles of Martinelli's sparkling cider, $1.34 each, 2 lbs of mushrooms, $1.98/lb, and 1 head of cabbage, at 49 cents/lb. Plus I had a $2 off coupon this week. Total spent $89.31.

Total spent for the month of October -- $492.56. I had a surplus plus budget, going into November, of $504.40. So, I actually have a tiny amount of surplus going into December, of $11.84!


What I bought:

Produce (canned, fresh, frozen, dried, juice)

6 half-gallon orange juice
12 cans of peas
12 cans of corn
36 cans green beans
22  29-oz cans pumpkin
18  29-oz cans yams
18 bananas
6 acorn squash
60 lbs potatoes
8 cans cranberry sauce
1.12 lb raisins
13 cans olives
3 large bunches of celery
40 lbs oranges
10 20-oz cans of pineapple
2 lbs mushrooms
1 head of green cabbage
6 bottles of sparkling cider

Meat

2 packages hot dogs
2  20-lb turkeys

Dairy

20 half-gallons whole milk
half-gallon almond milk
3 half-gallons eggnog
18 lbs butter
3 dozen eggs
1 container Greek yogurt (freebie)
1 qt whipping cream
64 oz cream cheese
32 ounces sour cream

Pantry staples

5 lbs flour tortillas
3.5 lbs pecan halves
14 lbs powdered sugar
3 boxes decaf tea bags
3 large cans coffee
3 large cans decaf coffee
4 bags Italian espresso coffee
9 bags of chocolate chips
2 containers of salt
Hershey's Kiss Deluxe (freebie)
19 lbs pasta
1 lb candied cherries
1 lb fruitcake fruit
baking cocoa
chili powder
1 whole wheat fig bar
72 corn tortillas
3 packages lady finger cookies
8 jars natural style peanut butter
3 bags marshmallows
5 cans cream of mushroom soup
50 lbs of all-purpose flour
1 gallon molasses
half-gallon of maple syrup
Snicker's candy bar (freebie)
10 lbs of whole almonds

As the end of the month draws near, our pantry is extremely well-stocked in canned vegetables, flour, sugar, molasses, baking supplies, pasta, coffee and tea, nuts, potatoes, and squash. We have enough butter to last through early to mid-summer, and a year's supply of cream cheese. I have stacks of cases of canned goods on the pantry floor. If I had to, I could prepare meals for at least 3 months, without spending a penny. That's reassuring to know.

And now, at the end of this very spendy month, I am so tired of spending money. I have spent and spent and spent. I'm looking forward to a lean January.

How about you? Do you spend more on groceries in the months of November and December than other times of the year? Or is your spending pretty even throughout the year?