What first comes to mind when you hear the word "savings?" Money, probably, but in this time-crunched world, hours and minutes mean something too! And certainly it's environmentally (and fiscally) wise to save on energy, fuel and other resources. At Giant Eagle®, our Savings Squad puts the focus on five areas that are important to our customers and offers some tips to make it happen:
Save on Food — Food gives us the nutrients we need for health but also provides us an opportunity for enjoyment and sharing with others.
- Use weekly specials in the Giant Eagle® circular as a starting point for planning meals.
- Shop for Return On Investment (ROI). Put your focus on quality, nutrition and taste so your food dollar gives you the satisfaction you want from food.
- Use coupons and weekly specials and buy Giant Eagle® brands to expand the savings.
Save Fuel — By taking care of your car and adopting some energy-savvy shopping practices!
- Start by observing fuel-smart practices, such as properly inflated tires, observing speed limits and using cruise control.
- Do one-stop shopping rather than cruising around from store to store, generally in traffic. That's why Giant Eagle® offers many services such as in-store banking, Dress for Success® dry cleaning and photo development in addition to grocery shopping.
- Cook at home and eat in rather than driving for take-out or having it delivered! Prepared foods, like a rotisserie chicken and a stop at the salad bar from Giant Eagle®, make a quick meal you can pick up as you do your shopping.
Save Time — One-stop shopping is a time saver but there are some other ways to save.
- Plan ahead by stocking up on a favorite item (especially when there is a lower price) for more than one meal.
- "Planned-overs" (leftovers you've thought out in advance) are huge time savers! Tonight's ground beef makes a meatloaf or meatballs; tomorrow it's crumbled into chili, sloppy Joes or vegetable soup!
- Keep the tools on hand to freeze extras for another meal.
Save on Money — All of the tips above are money savers but also think about:
- Planning a budget — and sticking with it!
- Teaching children the value of money by making them responsible for price checking!
Save on Health, Pharmacy and Beauty Needs — Our line of Top Care® products gives you national-brand quality at prices up to 50% less. Plus discounted generic drugs (30-day supply for $4; 90-day supply for $10), and free antibiotics make staying healthy and saving money easy.
Add fuelperks!® and Giant Eagle Advantage Card® benefits and the many faces of savings become a crowd!
Quick Tips — From the Savings Squad at Giant Eagle®
Start your meal planning with the Giant Eagle circular. Plan your meals around the specials that fit your family's tastes and nutrition needs. And stock up on those items that can be frozen or have a longer shelf life.
Stock up on freezer storage containers or bags. Cooking for more than one meal and freezing the extras saves time. And pulling a ready-prepared meal from the freezer rather than starting from scratch or ordering take-out saves time and money!
Keep some family favorites readily on hand for a quick meal: chili, soup, casseroles, shredded cooked chicken or other meat (for wraps, grilled sandwiches or barbecue sauce), meatballs and pasta sauce to name a few. Remember to freeze in microwave-safe containers or thaw in the refrigerator.
Looking for savings? Try Giant Eagle® brands! Did you know that Giant Eagle® brands are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied? Look for Giant Eagle®, Nature's Basket®, Market District® and Top Care® products in the health and beauty aisles. Stock your pantry with some basic foods that make it easy to change the taste or appeal of yesterday's dinner: frozen or canned vegetables and fruit, noodles, rice, pasta, soup, basic spices and herbs like cinnamon, basil, oregano, and broth or stock (beef, chicken or vegetable).
How many ways can you think of serving a rotisserie chicken from Giant Eagle® besides slicing and enjoying? Try these: in barbecue sauce, a hot chicken sandwich with gravy, wraps, stir-fries, in chili with beans, in soups, on a salad or combined with rice or noodles for a casserole.
Save the Bits and Pieces to Save Big!
- Last of the ketchup bottle — add water or broth and shake to add to sauces and soups.
- Cooked veggies or meat — place in a freezer bag to add to a casserole, stir-fry or soup.
- Gravy — freeze in ice cube trays and add to soups, sauces or stocks
Have a question for Judy about this article or like to know more about special dietary substitutions for favorite recipes?
Send her an e-mail at nutritionist@GiantEagle.com.
November 2009