An update on my continuing quest to find (ideally organic) vegan stuff on the cheap

[LeftyMom]

Today I tried Grocery Outlet. I went to one of their stores years and years ago, I think back during the brief transitionary time when I was ovo-lacto (which mostly meant lacto 'cause I always thought eggs were nasty and would only eat them baked into stuff.) At that time, I didn't see much worth noticing and didn't bother checking them out again.

Well, there is a new location in Elk Grove (locals: where the SNFC was,) I was out there getting the kid's mohawk redone at the nearby hair place, so we ducked in.

I found a ton of bodycare and packaged food stuff for very cheap, and some really good deals on toys and housewares and other stuff I didn't expect to see there.

Highlights:

the really large cans of organic tomatoes 79 cents
Bearitos chips 99 cents
KMF bar soap 99 cents
a couple of different brands of vegan shampoo and conditioner for 1.99, shave lotion, deodorant, body scrub and body lotion for same
6 bags of Barbara's snackimals for 99 cents
3 single-serve cartons of chocolate Silk for $1
add-water Fanstastic soup cups and Health Valley chili microwave cups 1 for $1
organic tomato paste 39 cents

I was hoping to score some cleaning stuff, but I didn't see any brands I use, though with close-out type stores that changes fast.

[peacebuzzard]

1. wow! great prices! I would have stocked up.

I never get deals like that around here. Although, I have bought Full Circle Organic beans, canned tomatoes, and chips for those prices.

what brand of vegan shampoo did you see?

[RebelOne]

2. I bought those Fantastic soup cups at Big Lots for 88 cents.

If you have a Big Lots near you, check it out. You can get some great bargains.

[Treclo]

3. I LOVE Grocery Outlet!

I always call it the Big Lot's for food. You never know what you are going to get from one week to the next, but they do seem to consistently carry Annie's and Amy's brands, as well as Bearito's among other organic lines. I have bought a lot of organic products there, including toiletries, dairy, wheat-free, and vegan items. But it's very hit or miss as to what is in stock from one week to the next. This week I bought a case of Rice Dream @ 99 cents a box, Eden stone ground organic pasta, Eden brand organic apple juice, some Amy's frozen dinners, Horizon grated cheddar, organic blue corn chips and salsa, and some Ben and Jerry's. (hey- it's still summer!)

Many of these foods are convenience foods, but I also have scored a lot of canned staples such as organic tomatoes, beans, salsa, pasta sauce, etc. The big problem for me is trying to avoid all the JUNK that they carry, and leaving with only the good stuff.