Store Policies-Get To Know Them

             Each store has a coupon policy and I realized when a reader asked that there is no sure answer.  And what's really horrible is that each cashier can be different, some not even knowing the coupon policy.  So, it does pay to brush up on the policy of each store.  Yeah, boring.  I usually just "test" it out.  I do remember how annoying it was buying the "free" toothpaste.  It turned out that I couldn't get two coupons doubled for the same item in the same transaction.  So, then just make it two transactions.  I've noticed that when I tell them two transactions, a lot of times they just go ahead and will do it in one.  Not always. 

Of course, you will probably have more items than one tube of toothpaste. 

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     Many of the couponing sites have all the different store policies listed.  If at all possible, try to print out or study the policies for the stores that you go to.  I wasted ink printing out the policy for Rite Aid, and of course, they have never given me an ounce of trouble.  Ralphs on the other hand has been different each time, depending on the cashier.  I have had to file complaints with Ralphs corporate a couple of times.  So far everything has been fine since my last complaint.  Plus, I've learned to get over any embarrassment over doing these things.  

     I haven't memorized all store policies, I'm kind of a wait until the horse gets out kind of person.  I'm not saying that's good at all, since who wants to have a fiasco over toothpaste.  

  

     I've listed a few of the stores in the area, but also know that not all of the stores list their policy on their website.  If that was the case then I just shared a link to a blog where someone had actually written to the store to get the policy.  I tried to get the most updated as possible.  Take a look at it, print it if you want, or just save it in your notepad to study later.   I'd say most of the stores have similar coupon policies, so usually once you get to know one you know most of them.  Some will have a few minor differences.  You will eventually know more than the cashiers too. 

I suggest going to the websites of the stores  that you frequent and consider signing up since sometimes extra deals are offered online.  At many of the sites you can put the coupons right onto your store card.  If you don't think subscribing is getting you better deals then you can always unsubscribe. 

Canning Tomatoes-Conclusion?

Remember I said that nothing goes as planned?  Remember too that I was planning to can 44 pounds of tomatoes?  Yeah, well, so it didn't go as planned.  See, there were really 88 pounds of tomatoes, but half of those were going to be canned on Friday when my daughter came over.  After I spent a miserable day working on the tomatoes, trying to figure out if I could meet this challenge, I found out that she wouldn't be able to make it.  Next morning I was up early with plans to can the remainder of the tomatoes.  I did manage to can all but 23 pounds, and it only took me until 10 p.m. 

     Now that didn't include clean-up. We are talking about tomatoes in a lot of places, cabinets, dishwasher door, floor, and a ton of pots and pans and bowls. Squeezing seeds out of tomatoes is not exactly the cleanest thing to do. 

Aah, but it was nice to get the kitchen all clean again. 
   
But then, I still had 23 pounds of tomatoes left.  Sauce really sounded good, so I started at it again.  Thinking about pizza with pepperoni kept me going.   Plus I managed to get a pot full of tomato juice.   
  

With all said and done, I will have to say that it was well worth my time and trouble when I see all those beautiful jars of tomatoes.  Not only are they organic and healthy, but I did it myself. 

Even though I have done this in the past, I learned a lot. One thing I learned for now anyway is never bite off more than you can chew.  This probably was a decent amount to work with, but due to not having done this in a long while it took a bit longer. If my tomatoes in my garden do well then I am now prepared.
Two sites that helped me along and also to know food safety I've posted here.
http://www.pickyourown.org/canning_tomatoes.htm
http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/index.html

Canning My Tomatoes

    

     By now most of you think I've lost my mind, and well, maybe I have.  Either way I need to take care of 44 pounds of tomatoes.  If anyone knows me at all, then you know nothing I do goes as planned.  I always know this, you think I'd get over it and get used to it, but it is still annoying when you have big plans for tomatoes.
   
     I was up at six this morning so I could load all the jars into my dishwasher, after I unloaded last nights dishes.  Well, of course, no one bothered to turn it on.  No big deal, turn it on and it will be done in no time.  But of course, this is the time when the hard water and minerals take over and make a white coating of yuk.  I throw some citric acid in the dishwasher and let it run again.  Finally, I can load my jars. 

     My jars clean, I now get a few pots on the stove to boil.  One smaller pot to drop the tomatoes in so the skins will slip off easily.  You can tell when the skin is splitting that it's time to take them out, just a minute or two does it.  I quickly cool them in a bowl of ice water. 

     I'm going to attempt to make diced canned tomatoes.  I've never done it before.  I usually just cook the tomatoes in a pot with some spices and can them.  This could be rather dicey for me.
    I'll post pictures and continue this in the next episode.