Okay, I confess -- I LOVE bread stores!!!  Do you have a thrift bread store in your area?  I hope so.  We actually live in a city that doesn't have a single one!  In my area, there isn't one for 50 miles as near as I can tell (this is a disclaimer -- unless you have a HUGE freezer, a 50 mile drive to the bread store is probably not a thrifty choice....having said that, I'd probably still go!)

Anyway, our favorite place to spend time is next to this very small town that features not one, but TWO breadstores (competitor bread companies)!!!  They've been there for years and have everything from the obvious bread to pastries, pasta, brand name chips of all types, spaghetti and gravy sauces and even bargain priced dairy items and soda.  All name brands -- everything from Entemann's to Little Debbie's, etc. 

On average, a loaf of bread that would be $3.59 (or more) in the store is probably less than $1.00 here.  English muffins are 50 cents.  A family sized bag of chips is a dollar (or less).  While I, personally, do not need carbs (and am also the proud owner of a bread maker and have enough baking pans to start my own bakery), I do believe that for those on a serious quest for savings need to find their local bread store.  I don't pretend to know what the average family uses, but my family easily goes through a loaf of bread every couple of days and we're not big sandwich people either.  I figure that just 3 loaves of bread is over $11.00 a week and that doesn't include any other bread type items.  The same 3 loaves, same brand is, on average, $3.75 at the breadstore.  Last year, milk was $6.00 per gallon in the grocery store and approximately $3.00 at the bread store -- same brand, same date stamp. 

Oh, here's another tip -- they have senior citizen days!  So, have girls day out -- grab Mom or Grandma (or both, if you're so blessed) and team up!  In my case, I achieved AARP status years ago thanks to hubby.  That's great for travel discounts and some insurance things, but it doesn't have much cache' at the bread-store.  There, you're pretty much persona non grata until 62 or 65.   There's nothing immoral or unethical about going to the breadstore with Mom.  I look at it this way.  My mother used to buy triple of everything and drop it off at my brother's and my houses, so I can't see any difference between that and me picking out my own.  (And certainly not any different than my over 50 husband shopping at the local department store on Tuesday's and getting an extra 5% off on OUR children's clothes.)  Businesses offer discounts to generate business. 

Mission accomplished! 

This is probably old news to many, but it's worth the reminder in these times.  Besides, I don't know about you, but I just plain think it's fun to save money!  Sometimes I think that I might even think it's more fun to save it than it is to spend it -- what do you think!