Free Event This Weekend in Fairfield: What are GMOs?

Learn what a GMO is and why it affects all of us at a free community event in Fairfield, CT. GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM (Photo credit: live w mcs)

Information Event: What are GMOs and Why Frugal Consumers Need to Know

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It’s tough to weigh the choices at the grocery store: Do I buy only when I have a coupon or only what’s on sale?  How much fresh food can I afford?  Organic vs. Conventional?  And now, there’s the issue of GMOs.

First…a little history on why this event is important: Fourteen years ago, genetically modified (GMO) crops were introduced into our food system.  Since then, studies point to evidence that shows that ingesting GMO ingredients leads to the basis of many health problems ranging from food allergies to infertility. Based on this research, over 50 countries of the world label any food product that contains GMOs.  Find out about the documented health risks of GMOS here: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/

According to national polls, over 90 percent of American consumers want GMOs labeled. Connecticut is one of several states currently considering mandatory labeling of foods containing GMOs. Bring your questions and concerns, and learn more at this free community event:

What Are GMOs and What Does the Bill Mean for Consumers?

CT GMO Labeling Bill Informational Meeting and Q

Saturday, March 10^th

10:00 – 12:00 Noon, Pequot Library

Free and open to the public

Representative Tony Hwang, a member of the Environment Committee, will discuss HB 5117, An Act Concerning Genetically-Engineered Foods, and the state legislative process.

Analiese Paik from the Fairfield Green Food Guide will share testimony she delivered to the Environment Committee, which was reported in the Wall Street Journal, and discuss ways to support the bill.

Tara Cook-Littmann, a holistic health counselor, will discuss GMOs, how prevalent they are in everyday foods, and how the labeling bill supports our right to make informed choices.

Aimee, TFF

 

Organic Food is Not Just for Rich People

Organic food with this label is truly organic. Frugal shoppers can find a lot of great organic purchases in traditional stores now, such as ShopRite, Stop & Shop, and more. Image via Wikipedia

Why the Frugal Should Care about Affording Organic Food

(Please note TFF’s new category: Affordable Organics)

It’s been said that organic food costs at least 20 percent more than conventionally-grown food. Anyone who shops at Whole Foods Market can attest to that. So why is it important for frugal shoppers to care about being able to afford organic food?

As frugal shoppers, we need to prove to everyone that it’s important to put your money where it counts–in our own health and in the health of the next generations to come. It can cost an arm and a leg for our local farmers to obtain organic certification, which is part of the issue. As a result, it’s still the prevailing perception that organic food is only for wealthy people.

This weekend, I was at Manchester Community College for the 30^th Annual Conference of the CT Northeast Organic Farmers Association (CT-NOFA) where I was able to be amongst our state’s farmers. (As a brief backgrounder, fourteen years ago, genetically modified (GM) crops were introduced into our food system, and studies show that ingesting GM ingredients leads to health problems which is why supporting organic growers is so vital.) Before the keynote address, Bill Duesing, Executive Director of CT-NOFA, opened his annual review by saying, “Organic Food is Not Just for Rich People.” I couldn’t agree with him more.

To make important and frugal organic food choices, download a wallet-sized list of which fruits and vegetables contain the most harmful pesticides here: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/guide/

Get a free app or download the Non-GMO Shopping Guide at www.NonGMOShoppingGuide.com

Learn about the documented health risks of GMOS here: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/

Frugal shoppers take note: It is not just an old adage–“Health IS Wealth!”

~Aimee, TFF

Criticizing Couponers: C’mon, Leave Us Alone!

 

Couponers don't care about the dirty looks we get at check out. We still love to get our coupons (especially those P&G newspaper inserts!) To find out when your next P&G newspaper insert is coming your way, click on this photo. Photo: Courtesy of P&G/PRNewswire

Never did I think that couponers would be criticized for their actions. There are certainly more extreme problems in the world than extreme couponers. After reading way too many long and scathing articles about how awful couponers act, you’d think we were a bunch of Bernie Madoffs. C’mon, folks, we’re just trying to cut our grocery bills, not swindle people out of peanut butter.

Now, I’m not an extreme couponer, but I do coupon, and I see the benefits of saving 50 to 60 percent off my groceries at check out, and I will continue to coupon to feed my hungry crew.

I have seen some strange reactions to my coupons, though—from positive to downright rude. I’ve had a handful of people at check out comment that I know how to shop right, to a handful of people at check out give me the once over, tell me they think TLC’s EC show is dumb (I am a fan of the show because I learn a lot from it), then ask me if my family really needs ten boxes of typically expensive cereal and thirteen boxes of juice packs (uh…yes!).

The benefits of couponing became crystal clear the day before school started when I was running ragged through Target, picking up groceries willy-nilly without thinking about cost or coupons. My thought process went something like this: paying this much for single packet Pringles is crazy, but I will get back to couponing once the kids are back in school… I wonder why other people are willing to pay these prices without coupons…how is it that the woman down the aisle can just throw groceries in her cart without coupons or looking at the price?

After the sticker shock of that little shopping spree, I vowed to get back to couponing asap. Happily, I used my Catalina coupons at Stop & Shop yesterday and walked away with my free toothpaste, $1.00 boxes of Keebler fudge granola bars, and paid pennies for Pantene shampoo and conditioner.

Ahhh, it’s good to be back in the couponing business. I can’t wait for the second season of EC to start. And, I couldn’t care less who gives me the evil eye at check out. ~TFF

Bargain Alert of the Day for Fairfield, CT — Part Two, How to Shop Price Rite

As promised in Part One, there is a 5-step process to shopping at Price Rite that you will want to follow to make your trip easier. There will be a Part Three –there is more information from Price Rite that needs to be investigated another day (loyalty cards, etc.).

Address: Price Rite is at 4425 Main Street in Bridgeport. The easiest way from Fairfield is to drive towards Stop & Shop on Madison Avenue, take a turn on Vincelette Boulevard, and follow it to Main Street. Price Rite is on your left.

Note: Price Rite is not a luxury grocery store. You will be going outside of your comfort zone, but in many ways, it is worth it. We know many people have never been to a Price Rite, or avoided the one on Boston Post Road in Bridgeport, but the new one on Main Street is more convenient, cleaner, brighter, and seemingly safer.

Though this is odd to say, when shopping at Price Rite, you don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb there while fumbling around and looking lost. Really–trust the Two Frugal Fairfielders on this one–we’ve shopped Price Rite for years, but took a break–now it’s back to Price Rite…

How To Shop Price Rite in Bridgeport:

1. Go as early in the day as you can. Mornings are best.

2. Go on a weekday — weekends are jammed and not fun to shop.

3. Bring your own bags but when you shop, but do not pack them as you shop. You need to put all your groceries on the belt for check out. You can bag groceries AFTER you check out at the front of the store. Just glance up to see what everyone else is doing. Or, you can buy Price Rite bags (they are roomy and durable) for .10 cents each. Many people buy 10 and keep them in the car for reuse.

4. Do not bring coupons, Price Rite does not accept them.

5. They accept all forms of payment.

6. Most important–do not to there and expect to get out quickly. Do not rush through the aisles. People who shop Price Rite are surveying for bargains, so don’t bang into anyone, rush around them or act rude. This Frugal Fairfielder has experienced incredibly rude behavior by Fairfield shoppers towards other shoppers in Trader Joe’s and in the Stop & Shop by the circle near the beach. You must act like a human being in Price Rite because you are also shopping with people who are the salt of the earth and who are on strict budgets.

7. Be courteous to the check out person. REALLY! Again, there is absolutely awful behavior going on in Fairfield in various stores (personally witnessed), but if you are nice to the check-out person, especially at Price Rite, you will have a better experience.

4. Go for the store and generic brands (some of the store brands come directly from sister chain, ShopRite–that’s the store that is taking over Shaw’s on Black Rock Turnpike). Most of the generic products that you will find at Price Rite are just like the generic store brand products you will find at any other are store, and they are just fine, taste great, and are well worth it.

5. The meat department seems quite limited–lots of chicken, but no great bargains, so don’t go expecting to find the best bargains there. For example, you can buy boneless chicken breasts for $1.99 at Price Rite, but you can find them for that price mostly anywhere during a sale.

Have a fun and frugal time at Price Rite!

Bargain Alert of the Day for Fairfield, CT

On sale for .65 cents a canister at Stop & Shop on Villa Avenue 1-27-10.

 

If you love peanuts, this sale is for you! 

Stop & Shop on Villa Ave. has what seems to be an unadvertised buy one, get one free sale on Emerald Peanuts (honey roasted or dry roasted). Each 16 oz. jar is $3.29. 

Good Bet: buy two jars for $3.29 so you pay $1.65 for each jar. 

Best Bet: there are $1 coupon peelies on top of each jar! Use them for the best bargain on these peanuts. If you use the peelies + the BOGO free sale, you will get each jar for just .65 cents each. 

Caution: You can try to download another Emerald Peanut coupon from the manufacturer to try to stack savings, but the site isn’t easy to navigate, and they don’t have the coupons available all the time. Best to use the peelies in-store.