Maximizing Your Grocery Budget in Hard Times with the Day-Old Bread Store

One often overlooked way to maximize your grocery budget is the "day-old bread store" or bakery outlet. The prices vary from store to store, but each holds its own bargains. While the average loaf of bread at the grocery store is $2.89, you can pay as little as 69 cents per loaf at an outlet. Even buy-one-get-one-free specials are more expensive than utilizing an outlet.

While some outlets are brand specific, such as only selling Wonderbread products, some have a variety of brand offerings. Almost all outlets offer an array of baked goods, including buns, bagels and doughnuts as well as bread. Some will also offer the individual pies, brownies, or other snack treats at a fraction of the regular cost.

My favorite outlet offers many different brands of bread, name brand as well as store brand. They are all the same price, as well at the buns of varying brands. High end whole wheat versions are available as well as kid friendly favorites.

One concern with buying from outlets is freshness. No one wants to buy stale bread, or bread that is going to mold too quickly. You are not saving money if it becomes inedible before you have finished it! I have had nothing but wonderful bread from the outlet stores. If you have a large chest freezer that enables you to buy large quantities of bread at a time, you will find that each loaf thaws as fresh as if you had just purchased it from a regular grocery store. Sometimes it seems terrible to turn such fresh bread into toast for breakfast!

Some outlets also run specials for senior citizens. For my favorite store, Monday is Senior Day, and they can get just about anything in the store for 49 cents. This is marvelous for those on fixed incomes. If you are helping an older family member grocery shop, they will surely appreciate Senior Day at a bread outlet to stretch those dollars out.

Another benefit is the low priced goodies. Large families know how quickly a one pound bag of miniature doughnuts runs out, and at $2.69 or more a bag, it adds up. Such bags of doughnuts typically run 99 cents or less at an outlet store, and everyone can get their sweet tooth satisfied without breaking the budget. These items usually get eaten before they have a chance to get stale!

If you compare the cost of retail prices for 6 loaves of bread, plus two bags of doughnuts for $22.72, or you could walk out with the same items from an outlet for $6.40, which makes more sense? What you save could be a ten pound bag of ground beef from the butcher shop, and how many meals does that make for your family?

As the economy grows worse, every little way to cut costs can help.