It was a beautiful cold crisp Saturday morning. We just had breakfast. We all climbed into the family car to restock our kitchen with some food for the upcoming week.

This Saturday we decided to do something different. So we swung by the local food coop. It had been a long time since we had been there. We all we were long over due.

I think the main reason we had not been to the coop for so long was that we lived on the other side of town and well, their prices are rather high. This Saturday we had a little extra money for groceries so we headed over to the Boise Coop, just for the experience.

It was about 11 am. We pulled into a parking space in the second row. We got the space just as a Volvo pulled out. I felt lucky. The parking lot was so crowded I was afraid we were going to have to park on the street.

Christmas time means a lot of food and a lot of parties. There will be people having parties at work, at clubs, around the neighborhood, and along with the usual family gatherings. One of the main attractions to a party is the food and drink. Without food, drink and the right Christmas music, some people will show up. Others will just walk in the door, say Merry Christmas and leave. It is human nature.

The easy way to serve food at a party is just sitting it on a table in a tray. A good variety of food on party trays can please a multitude of likes and dislikes. A good party tray will have a variety of fruits, vegetables and meats. Hopefully not all on the same tray.

One of the most successful party trays I have found has been bread with spinach dip. It can be bought at Winco  for $4.95. I can make the same one for just under $3.00. Besides saving money, people are impressed with making some over running out and grabbing some pre-made.

This is one of  those Halloween Day where we get to celebrated for the whole weekend plus one day more. On Friday many schools had their Halloween or “Harvest” Day celebration. Some Trick or Treaters were out gathering treats on Friday evening, instead of Monday October 31st is the official Halloween day.

Many community organizations and church groups will have their Halloween or Harvest party either Friday, or Saturday or Sunday evening. Still a few of the more traditionalist will have it on Monday. Many people I have talked with have told me a weekend evening is better on parents, and children over having the activity on a school night.

Over the past several years we have gotten away from giving out homemade treats, because of a sick few individual who have spoil a great time for everyone else. It is a sad commentary on our society where caramel dipped apples and home homemade cookies can not be accepted from our neighbors, for fear of them being laced with something what would harm our children. We have had to turn to only allowing our children to accept factory sealed bagged candy.

For years it has been when you go to a restaurant, like Sizzlers, for a meal you would get to option to have a side salad from the salad bar, or have your meal totally from the salad bar.

This is great especially if you were not that hungry. All you wanted was something lite while those you were with wanted the steak, potatoes and the buttered toast. Maybe you were really hungry and wanted to start with your customized green salad.

Now I do realize that when you go out to eat, you are paying more for the atmosphere, and/or convenience, but check prices! If you were to go down to the local grocery store you would be paying at least 70% at the restaurant for the salad.

You cannot buying anything with your eyes closed, and expect to get a good deal. Just because the label and the commercials says that just by buying and using a particular workout device you will have a beautiful body in a matter of a few weeks. They don’t tell you that diet, lifestyle, and body type affect the kind of result you have with any exercise device. There are things we can do to insure we are really getting the product or service we really need.

In truth buying anything is a gamble. Without the proper research the odds are to less than of pulling the handle of a slot machine, in Las Vegas. The more research that is done the great is our chances of not getting a lemon.

It is that start of a new year and there are many exciting thing we have planned. First off our association with KIDARadio.com. Second is a new Tuesday series of post on the process behind shopping and saving money.

KIDARadio.com is more than just another internet radio station. What the creators have in mind is music, thought provoking shows, and a means for businesses of Idaho to showcase their products and services for Idaho and the world.

I was headed out the door to run some errands when my wife as me to stop by the store and get  Velveeta cheese for dinner. Considering the route I was taking for my errands, I figured it would be simpler to stop by Albertsons instead of Winco.

Since I was in such a hurry, I raced in the store grabbed 2 pound box of cheese, then headed to the self check out lane. I don’t think I spent more than 3 minutes in the store from the time I walked in the door until I walked out with cheese in hand.

Have you ever wondered what Shopping Day is like for The Shopping Nazi?

When I say Shopping Day, I refer to that day twice a month where we restock and upgrade. This day corresponds to the day my wife and I get paid. It is, usually the day we are off work. Yesterday, was one of those days. I thought it would be good for you see how we go through our shopping day.

Today is Saturday. Thanksgiving is over. Black Friday is over. Until Christmas we are not going to be relieved from the bombardment of “DEALS” that we cannot pass. Did you know that there are other stores were you can get fantastic deals for other than electronics, cloths, and stuff?

Last night I had to take an emergency run to Winco, my local grocery store, because we were out of bacon. In our family, Saturday morning pancakes and bacon is a bigger tradition than Thanksgiving dinner.