Buy Realistically and For Convenience

It's important to live healthfully, but it's equally important to be realistic. Fresh produce and fresh meat that requires assembly is much healthier than ready made food. But purchasing healthier choices that you never use is self-defeating. Then you're just wasting money, and either you go hungry or you spend money elsewhere, as well. I'm not suggesting that you stock up exclusively on canned goods and TV dinners. But if it's unlikely that you'll finish that box of fresh corn, it's preferable to buy canned or frozen corn. The dilemma for me is choosing between frozen and canned. I have more cupboard space than I do freezer space, but filling up my freezer makes it more efficient. Then again, if I have a blackout, I'll be unable to access food from my refrigerator or freezer. Plus, I have to thaw or cook frozen foods, while canned versions are ready to cook or eat.

99 Cents or One Dollar Tree Stores

99 Cents store or the Dollar Tree store offers an abundance of products we normally get at K Mart, Target, Walgreens, or Wal-Mart for no more than a dollar! Don't believe the misconception that the products are inferior. While there are some uncommonly known products, there are also a lot of other familiar products. Here are some brands I've found:

1720 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91106
Cross street: Meridith

-Baby Ruth
-Colgate
-Fun Dip
-Hershey's
-Hidden Valley
-Kit Kat
-Lysol
-Milky Way
-Nerds
-Pop Rocks
-Sally Hansen
-Snickers
-Softsoap
-Sugar Daddy
-Toffifay
-Totally Juicy
-Twix
-Windex
-Zote

I've also found fresh produce (apples, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries, garlic, jalapenos, potatoes, raspberries). You can also get bacon, canned tomatoes, coconut flakes, Oscar Meyer ham, seasoning salt, gift wrap, gift bags, basic cups, tupperware, buckets, candles, etc. etc. CAUTION: I recommend staying away from products that don't offer an expiration date. This applies to any place, though. For binder papers, folders, envelopes, journals, and stuff like that, you can go for the cheap stuff. It's all the same. It's definitely worth investigating. Go there. If it's not your thing, then go elsewhere. I like to stay away from their generic brands because I don't know if it'll work well or not, so I go for the tried and true versions. If you want to experiment with new products, don't go overboard. Spending $5 on five products you'll never use isn't money well spent. You're better off buying one product that you actually use. Things I suggest you buy elsewhere: kitchen products, tools, dried fruits and nuts (they're often times rancid and rarely restocked).

ONE FINAL NOTE: I know someone who found the Texas Instrument scientific calculator valued at around $50 for only 99 cents at this location.