Pinching pennies

View Larger Map

I spent $40 at Petal Discount Grocery Saturday and got enough food to feed my family of four for the week or longer. My two sons are in college and eat quite a lot, so let's just say I'm proud of my penny pinching.

Of course I couldn't stop there. I went over to E&B and stocked up on meats and even got some luxuries – smoked almonds, Jones Lemon Drop sodas and camembert. Yep, discount camembert.

I've mapped my favorite salvage stores along with some deals I found this week. More and more people seem to be crowding the aisles at E&B and Petal Discount Grocery. I was a little surprised to see the price of beans is up to 39 cents now at the Petal shop. I remember not too long ago it was 10 cents a can. I think I still have some of those dime cans in the pantry.

Some shoppers may prefer other salvage stores. I personally have not found a good deal at Hudson's since 1981, but that's me. I know others swear by the place. It probably depends on what you usually buy.

I remember making a trip to Campbell's Commodities near Purvis years ago where I found some incredible 10-cents-a-can deals, but I don't know if the place is still there or what it's like now. In Oak Grove there used to be a couple of supposed salvage stores, but the prices were more similar to what you would pay at a "regular" grocery store.

These places sometimes pop up and disappear before I even know about them. Is there a good place I'm missing? Of course, if it's really good you may want to keep it a secret.

I love Kamper Park. Sue me.

I love public parks. They are a cross section of the community.

Where are your favorite places? My job often requires that I find average joes and talk to them about different issues. I shy away from private property because owners are often mean. That's fine - I shoo people off my property, too. I respect the concept and gladly comply with laws and decent behavior.

I'm not sure where in Lamar County I could stop someone on the street. It's not exactly a pedestrian friendly place. I know I don't venture into gated communities, so that's out. I mean the gate is there to keep people out and I must assume they mean me.

Frustrating to live in a doughnut hole.

Anyone want to meet at Shipley's?