It's less than 2.5 months till Pesach. I know that Pesach always costs more money than a regular week. We eat differently, and buy matzah (which is expensive) and use lots of wine, grape juice, and even some exotic items. And before Pesach, comes Purim, and I need to make room in the budget for Mishloach Manot, Seudat Purim, and most importantly, Matanot L'evyonim.
So since I know that Purim takes a bit of a bite (I like to splurge a bit for the Seudah, and I like to be as generous as I can with Matanot L'Evyonim), and the week of Pesach usually costs me at least twice as much as a regular week, I think it's time to do a little bit of cutting back so there is room in the budget. (You can check out my article on Joy of Kosher about this, too!)
Lucky for me, I have a freezer full of I don't know what. My kids hate surprise freezer food, but if I plan this far in advance, we only have to use a little bit each week!
My goal is to cut my grocery spending by at least 15% this month. If last month I spent 2100 shekels, this month I want to spend less than 1800 shekels.
It should be doable. Who else is in?
I'm so excited to bring you my favorite tips, deals, great things to know and do for your life in Israel or for when you visit Israel! (please note: this blog contains affiliate links)
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Do you compare prices?
According to a Globes report, 31% of Israelis do not bother to compare prices when they shop.
Reasons vary from "I believe there are no real differences in prices" to "I don't know how to compare prices" (and many in between).
As a dedicated frugal homemaker, it is hard for me to understand how so many people just pick up items and put them in their carts, without checking if they could be paying less buying a different, yet comparable product.
I started thinking it may be time to explain the ins and outs of price comparisons.
Some things are simple: Produce is almost always priced as shekels/kg. It is easy to tell where you are getting a better deal when it's priced this way. (Some items are priced per piece or per bundle/pkg, like celery, herbs, and the occasional specialty item, and these are somewhat more difficult to compare, but not impossible.) Cheese at the cheese counter is priced as shekels/kg. It is nearly always cheaper to buy cheese from the cheese counter than it is to buy packaged cheese from the refrigerated section. Meat and Chicken are also priced in shekels/kg, and you can easily compare.
It's the things that come in various types of packages and weights that always trip people up. I carry a little calculator in my purse. It's been there for so many years, and it's been used so much that I've managed to rub most of the numbers off!
Some things are easy - legumes usually come in 500g or 1kg bags (but watch out, I have also seen 400g bags!). You can simply compare the prices by multiplying the price of a 500g bag by 2, and comparing that to the price of a 1 kg bag. Sometimes it will come out a LOT more expensive, and sometimes you may be surprised to discover that it is cheaper to buy 2 500g bags than 1 larger 1 kg bag. If you have a 400g bag to compare, multiply that by 2.5 to get the cost of 1 kg.
Become inseparable from your calculator. if you divide the price by the weight, you will get a comparable value. Just be sure you know if you are comparing grams or kilograms. It would not be fair to figure out the price per kg for one bag of rice and for the other to find out price per gram.
One other thing a lot of people do - keep a price book. If you are lucky enough to live near a few different stores, you can start to keep track of prices in each store. That way you can figure out which store has the best deals FOR YOU. Not the "shopping cart" some organization assumes you want to buy, but the items you actually buy. For example, I know that I can usually find whole wheat flour at Mega for 5.05/kg, at Yesh for 5.65/kg, and at Osher Ad for 4.00/kg...
When prices change, be sure to take note of the new prices. Also you may want to get to know the local sales rhythm - I've noticed honey can be found for much less than usual in the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashana, so that's a good time to stock up on honey.
Of course, some stores have price wars and that changes the game entirely. But staples like rice and flour and beans are rarely the discounted items. So it always pays to know what the normal price point is, and when and where it is worth it to stock up!
Are you a dedicated comparison shopper? Do you check price comparison websites or store ads before you go to the store? I'd love to hear about your strategies!
Some useful websites:
WebFlyer - where you can check ads for nearly every store!
Pricez - people report prices for various products at various stores, so you can see where the deals are
HaSuper - compares online supermarkets
Zap Market - compares online supermarkets
Reasons vary from "I believe there are no real differences in prices" to "I don't know how to compare prices" (and many in between).As a dedicated frugal homemaker, it is hard for me to understand how so many people just pick up items and put them in their carts, without checking if they could be paying less buying a different, yet comparable product.
I started thinking it may be time to explain the ins and outs of price comparisons.
Some things are simple: Produce is almost always priced as shekels/kg. It is easy to tell where you are getting a better deal when it's priced this way. (Some items are priced per piece or per bundle/pkg, like celery, herbs, and the occasional specialty item, and these are somewhat more difficult to compare, but not impossible.) Cheese at the cheese counter is priced as shekels/kg. It is nearly always cheaper to buy cheese from the cheese counter than it is to buy packaged cheese from the refrigerated section. Meat and Chicken are also priced in shekels/kg, and you can easily compare.
It's the things that come in various types of packages and weights that always trip people up. I carry a little calculator in my purse. It's been there for so many years, and it's been used so much that I've managed to rub most of the numbers off!
 |
| My calculator. It uses solar power with a battery back up. I've never had to change the battery. |
Some things are easy - legumes usually come in 500g or 1kg bags (but watch out, I have also seen 400g bags!). You can simply compare the prices by multiplying the price of a 500g bag by 2, and comparing that to the price of a 1 kg bag. Sometimes it will come out a LOT more expensive, and sometimes you may be surprised to discover that it is cheaper to buy 2 500g bags than 1 larger 1 kg bag. If you have a 400g bag to compare, multiply that by 2.5 to get the cost of 1 kg.
Become inseparable from your calculator. if you divide the price by the weight, you will get a comparable value. Just be sure you know if you are comparing grams or kilograms. It would not be fair to figure out the price per kg for one bag of rice and for the other to find out price per gram.
One other thing a lot of people do - keep a price book. If you are lucky enough to live near a few different stores, you can start to keep track of prices in each store. That way you can figure out which store has the best deals FOR YOU. Not the "shopping cart" some organization assumes you want to buy, but the items you actually buy. For example, I know that I can usually find whole wheat flour at Mega for 5.05/kg, at Yesh for 5.65/kg, and at Osher Ad for 4.00/kg...
When prices change, be sure to take note of the new prices. Also you may want to get to know the local sales rhythm - I've noticed honey can be found for much less than usual in the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashana, so that's a good time to stock up on honey.
Of course, some stores have price wars and that changes the game entirely. But staples like rice and flour and beans are rarely the discounted items. So it always pays to know what the normal price point is, and when and where it is worth it to stock up!
Are you a dedicated comparison shopper? Do you check price comparison websites or store ads before you go to the store? I'd love to hear about your strategies!
Some useful websites:
WebFlyer - where you can check ads for nearly every store!
Pricez - people report prices for various products at various stores, so you can see where the deals are
HaSuper - compares online supermarkets
Zap Market - compares online supermarkets
Monday, January 14, 2013
Printable Coupon (Israel)
Don't forget to get your coupon from Tzuriel Cheese!
This coupon is valid thru the end of March, 2013.
This coupon is valid thru the end of March, 2013.
Food Recall Notice (Israel)
Following last week's recall, Shamir Salads, together with the Ministry of Health, is recalling ALL 250g containers of egg salad with expiration dates up to, and including, 30.1.2013.
Consumers who have this product at home should NOT eat it. Please call Shamir Salads' customer service line at 03-9067744 for more information.
Consumers who have this product at home should NOT eat it. Please call Shamir Salads' customer service line at 03-9067744 for more information.
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| image from www.shamir-salads.com |
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Kosher Cooking Carnival - Shvat Edition
I am so pleased to be hosting this month's Kosher Cooking Carnival (KCC). It's a tradition dating back to long before I started blogging, and it's so much fun to discover other Kosher Food (and related) blogs.
So here is the Shvat Edition!
Soups and Main Dishes
Chaviva presents Vegetarian Sheppard’s Pie posted at Challah Maidel, sharing her no-tofu version of vegetarian shepherd's pie.
Batya shared The Winds Whistle and The Soup's Cooking posted at me-ander.
I posted a summary of some of my favorite winter soup and stew recipes in Wintery Food, here at Frugal and Kosher.
Chaviva also shared her Oven Baked Felafel recipe at Challah Maidel.
Desserts
David shared Chosen Eats: A Good Apple (Cake) posted at JewishBoston.
Mrs. S. presents Freshly Baked Goods Friday: Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes Edition posted at Our Shiputzim: A Work In Progress.
I posted my vegan Chocolate Chip Squares, here at Frugal and Kosher.
Kashrut Concerns
Batya presents Shabbat Menus, Very Tricky Especially When "Milky" posted at me-ander.
Restaurant and Book Reviews
Batya presents me-ander: Eating Out, Don't Be Shy About Complaining posted at me-ander.
Hannah reviews the book A Practical Guide to the Laws of Kashrut at Ilana-Davita.
That concludes this edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival. Submit your blog article to the next edition of kosher cooking carnival-kcc using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page, and you can find us at the KCC Facebook Group, as well.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Chocolate Chip Cookies/Squares (vegan)
This post is long overdue.
We had some family over for Shabbat a while ago, and I made these chocolate chip squares. Well, the guests wanted the recipe, and I promised I would write it up.
I'm a little late, but trying to keep my promise!
Ingredients:
3 Tbp ground flaxseed
2/3 cup near boiling water
1.5 cups sugar
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2.5 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
6 oz chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 190C
First, mix the flaxseed with water in a large mixing bowl. Let cool for about 10 minutes before you continue.
Then add the rest of the ingredients (except the chocolate chips, save those for the end) and mix well.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Spread the mixture out on a large cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 15 minutes MAX. Take them out a bit BEFORE you think they are done. Trust me, if you wait till they are "done", they will get rock solid.
You can also form these into cookies and bake for 8-10 min
While they are still warm, cut into squares.
This recipe yielded 4 dozen smallish squares.
Watch them disappear, while you smile that your kids are eating a treat that has a few slightly healthier ingredients!
We had some family over for Shabbat a while ago, and I made these chocolate chip squares. Well, the guests wanted the recipe, and I promised I would write it up.
I'm a little late, but trying to keep my promise!
Ingredients:
3 Tbp ground flaxseed
2/3 cup near boiling water
1.5 cups sugar
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2.5 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
6 oz chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 190C
First, mix the flaxseed with water in a large mixing bowl. Let cool for about 10 minutes before you continue.
Then add the rest of the ingredients (except the chocolate chips, save those for the end) and mix well.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Spread the mixture out on a large cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 15 minutes MAX. Take them out a bit BEFORE you think they are done. Trust me, if you wait till they are "done", they will get rock solid.
You can also form these into cookies and bake for 8-10 min
While they are still warm, cut into squares.
This recipe yielded 4 dozen smallish squares.
Watch them disappear, while you smile that your kids are eating a treat that has a few slightly healthier ingredients!
Another Recall (Israel)
The Ministry of Health has found additional salads contaminated by Listeria. These salads are manufactured by Shamir Salads and are sold under private labels.
The following are being recalled due to contamination:
Green Techina Salad - Yesh brand, 350 g, expiration date 18.1.13
Techina Salad - Yesh brand, 700g, expiration date 24.2.13
Egg Salad - Yesh brand, 350 g, expiration date 10.1.13
In addition, the following are being recalled out of precaution:
Green Techina Salad, "HaMutag" brand, 400g, expiration date 18.1.13
Techina Salad, HaMutag brand, 500g, expiration date 24.2.13
Techina, Kimat Chinam brand, 700g, expiration date 24.2.13
Please call Shamir Salads costumer service line with any questions - 03-9067744
The following are being recalled due to contamination:
Green Techina Salad - Yesh brand, 350 g, expiration date 18.1.13
Techina Salad - Yesh brand, 700g, expiration date 24.2.13
Egg Salad - Yesh brand, 350 g, expiration date 10.1.13
In addition, the following are being recalled out of precaution:
Green Techina Salad, "HaMutag" brand, 400g, expiration date 18.1.13
Techina Salad, HaMutag brand, 500g, expiration date 24.2.13
Techina, Kimat Chinam brand, 700g, expiration date 24.2.13
Please call Shamir Salads costumer service line with any questions - 03-9067744
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Printable Coupons (Israel)
In addition to those Emek Cheese coupons I posted a few minutes ago, Tnuva has several other coupons available too!
Find all their coupons...
You'll find Yoplait coupons and Emek coupons.
They have varying expiration dates, so look carefully!
While the Emek ones are valid at Shufersal stores only, the Yoplait ones are good at ALL STORES.
Enjoy!
Find all their coupons...
You'll find Yoplait coupons and Emek coupons.
They have varying expiration dates, so look carefully!
While the Emek ones are valid at Shufersal stores only, the Yoplait ones are good at ALL STORES.
Enjoy!
Printable Coupons (Israel)
Tnuva has 3 printable coupons for Emek Cheese (the prepackaged kind) available on their website right now! You'll get 15% off your purchase.
These coupons are valid at Shufersal Deal and Shufersal Sheli.
Valid from Jan 1 - Dec 1, 2012
Have your printer ready, when you click for the coupon, it sends it right to the printer.
These coupons are valid at Shufersal Deal and Shufersal Sheli.
Valid from Jan 1 - Dec 1, 2012
Have your printer ready, when you click for the coupon, it sends it right to the printer.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Food Recall (Israel) - Listeria alert
Shamir Salads is recalling their "Home-style Egg Salad" because of possible contamination with a Listeria bacteria strain.
The recalled salad was sold in 250g containers, and has a sell-by date of 22.01.2013
Consumers are being asked NOT to eat this salad. Please call Shamir Salads' customer service line at 03-9067744 to arrange a refund.
The recalled salad was sold in 250g containers, and has a sell-by date of 22.01.2013
Consumers are being asked NOT to eat this salad. Please call Shamir Salads' customer service line at 03-9067744 to arrange a refund.
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