I have two things prohibiting them from being cost effective. The first is that they aren't available at all in my small town and I have to travel a distance to find them. The second is that over the years their price has steadily climbed. While the prices aren't horrendous the cost is getting closer and closer to $1.50 a packet unless I can find a good sale, which rarely ever happens.
I set about on a search to find the best price. So many of our UK friends talk about Approved Foods and I was wishing we had something similar here. They seem to get great prices on things often bought in bulk. If we have something similar here in the US I cannot find it. Vitacost didn't have what I was looking for, but Amazon did. Since I pay a once a year fee for two day shipping from Amazon (and yes we always save more than the cost of the one time fee because we buy text books for homeschooling and college on Amazon) I knew they would be my best bet.
I ordered 2 boxes with a 24 count each of seasoning packets.
Each box has a use by date of late 2014 so no worries there.
Cost breakdown when I finished was 76 cents per packet of broccoli and beef
and $1.06 per packet of fried rice seasoning.
(I did end up having to pay shipping on the fried rice seasoning and that cost
includes shipping.)
I've already sent home a couple of packets of broccoli and beef seasoning with daughter in law.
Now that the fried rice seasoning has arrived I'll be giving her a few of them, too.
I like having these on hand because I almost always have supplies on hand to pull together some sort of stir fry. Also by having a larger supply on hand should I need to pull together a double batch (when son and daughter in law are visiting for example) I can easily do so.
Of course, even when I add in the cost of ingredients...a batch of homemade stir fry will feed three of us for far less than the $30+ it takes for us to pick up Chinese in town.
Excellent point about the cost of the Chinese in town verses making it at home with these packets. A great deal indeed! :)
ReplyDeleteIt truly is amazing how we can't eat out for less than $30 and somehow I can make multiple meals at home for that same amount of money.
DeleteI have a good friend who buys her gluten-free grains through Amazon. She's able to get gluten-free oats for her son at a much reduced price over what that particular grain would cost at out local mill store. And she too uses the Amazon Prime for shipping. So, that isn't a factor in her cost.
ReplyDeleteI have been amazed at what I have been able to find on Amazon if I take my time and do some comparisons. For me there is an added bonus of not being in the store -- if I am not in the store there is no chance I am spending.
DeleteI didn't know about the gluten free grains, but I have a friend who has celiac disease and I will let her know.
Hi Shara, what a great idea. I know just what you mean, it is a challenge for me to find certain international food items in my little country town. Even in Savannah it can be challenging. I hope you enjoy these new seasoning packets. I love chinese food too. We have a favorite little place that does a sunday special and we go a couple of times a month, after Bible study, sometimes alone or with a big group of friends
ReplyDeleteThanks for the meatball soup recipe too! I love homemade soup it is so comforting and delicious! I grew up eating a lot of homemade sweet cornbread and every time I smell soup bubbling I long for a slice with a little melted butter. :) We had breakfast for dinner tonight and I made french toast from some dry bread. It was really tasty. Dry bread is great because it soaks up a lot of the egg mixture. Sometimes I just use plain beaten eggs and other times I'll add cinnamon and a little vanilla to give it an extra kick, and take a walk on the "wild side"! :) Have a good night's sleep and thanks for sharing all of your tips! With Love, Delisa :)