Ethnic grocery stores can be amazing money saving opportunities for a few reasons. They offer different types of items allowing you to expand your menu without expanding your budget. They have great produce and butcher prices for the items that are the staples of their store and it has been my experience that they have produce that travels a little less — meaning fresher to you when you pick it up.
I kicked off my Vallarta Sales round up this week and am really excited to share their great prices and fresh produce with everyone in Southern California unfamiliar with their store.
I will be honest…when my husband asked me to pick up some Carne Asada there a few years ago I was hesitant. It was not in the best part of town and I envisioned communication issues. Walking into the store to see Gala apples on sale 5 POUNDS for $1 helped me get over both of those VERY quickly. Do you know those apples lasted almost 3 weeks? I digress…
They are a weekly stop for me these days and I have appreciated boneless skinless chicken breasts for 1.59lb a few times in the past few months. What I have also enjoyed is the opportunity I have had to connect with new people and learn. I have learned how to select a sweet watermelon, pineapple, and coconut when people just offered the information as I knocked and poked on the produce. I was thankful for the assistance and I doubt that people in my other regular stops would have offered to share such information if they even knew it.
I realize that not everyone lives in an area as diverse as Southern California but if you have a local ethic store — be it Latin like mine or any other — I encourage you to stop in and see how they might help you not only stretch your grocery dollar — but also expand your dinner menu and challenge you to try new recipes!
How do you save the most money on produce and meat?
Share with us in the comments. For more Frugal Friday visit Life As Mom. She has a great article today on Seasonal Produce and making the most of it.
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YUMMY!!! I LOVE the Carne Asada at Vallarta, thanks for adding this store to your line -up
Great tip! I have noticed several in my area that I would like to check out. Even states like Jersey are full of diverse people!