With Groundhog’s Day come and gone and President’s Day just around the corner, don’t forget about St. Valentine’s Day—this Thursday! Grocery Outlet has everything you need and more to surprise your sweetie—whether it’s Valentine’s Day cards for an elementary class (just $0.99 for a whole pack!) or some Chocolate Calcium Chews as a healthier alternative to boxed chocolate (just $2.99 for 60 chews!)—Grocery Outlet has you covered.

We’ve got: cards, trinkets, sparkling wines (and nonalcoholic cider), flowers, chocolates, wines, perfumes, cosmetics, and candles—everything you’ll need and want to create a very special day with your very special someone.

 

 

 

 

Visit your local store and find an assortment of sure to please sweets from Ghirardelli, Lindt, and Mrs. Fields OR great smelling bath sets from Dove, Axe, and Baylis & Harding (Bath Sets & Fragrances ranging between $2.99-$8.99). There’s something for everyone, I promise!

 

 

Whether it’s pretty soaps for Mom or Grandma, fragrances for a special young man or lady in your life, or even taking advantage of some of our great closeouts on bath sets for yourself—Grocery Outlet will get you more for less.

 

 

If you happen to have some special plans this Valentine’s Day—or perhaps packing for a weekend getaway, let Grocery Outlet help you glam up with our awesome selection of brand named cosmetics! Check out our selections from Revlon, Sally Hansen, L’Oreal, E.L.F, and Rimmel! Your favorite brands in cosmetics ranging from $0.99 to $3.99! Stock up for yourself for gift some as very affordable and very thoughtful Valentine’s Day gifts.

 

‘Tis the Season!  Since Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have come and gone, this time of the year goes from being "The Season of Giving" to "The Season of Over-Spending."  Even though you’ve checked your Holiday Gift List multiple times, it’s easy to lose track of things in your holiday bows and wrapping paper.

Let Grocery Outlet be your one stop shop for holiday gifts!  There are all kinds of wonderful finds for the holidays—at amazing prices!  The Health & Beauty Department has all kinds of gift sets and stocking stuffers that will be sure to WOW on Christmas morning.

 

 

 

 

• Nail Polish
• Hair brushes & Accessories
• Tooth Brushes
• Tooth Paste
• Whitening Kits
• Small bottles of perfume
• Makeup Sets
• Nail Clippers
• Nail Files
• Body Lotions
• Lip Gloss
• Travel Kits

Some great brand names to snatch up and stuff into stockings: Revlon, Sally Hansen, Bert’s Bees, Tim McGraw, Katy Perry, Trim, Marvel, Star Wars, Crest, E.L.F., Adidas, Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Disney, Justice League, Baby Phat, and much more!

Gift Sets From: 

• E.L.F
• Adidas
• Disney
• Trim
• Baylis & Harding
• Assorted Fragrance Sets
• Burt’s Bees
• Crest

Don’t forget, you can also create your own unique gift sets! Grocery Outlet has everything you need—from bags, baskets & boxes—to ribbon, bows, & cards!

No matter how big or small your holiday budget is, Grocery Outlet can help you bring tremendous value to your holiday. Save time shopping—spend time with those you hold near and dear.

Remember gift sets and quantities vary from store to store—but each Grocery Outlet is stocked with extraordinary finds! Enjoy the treasure hunt—we’ve loaded the stores up with all kinds of goodies this year!

by Amy Sherman, of Cooking with Amy

The holidays mean friends, family and, of course, food. Lots of food.

While it may seem like a lot of cooking, many holiday dishes can become the base for great meals the day after the holiday and all weekend long. Best of all, you’ll be saving money and trips to the grocery store too.

Instead of a cold turkey or ham sandwich, I like grilled cheese sandwiches with ham or turkey. These versions don’t feel like leftovers, but something special that everyone will enjoy. With people stopping by to drop off gifts and visit, it’s nice to have something warm on the stove to serve. Split pea soup or turkey rice soup are warm and soothing and can be served for lunch or a light supper. For bigger appetites, serve soup and a sandwich.

 

 

Shopping at Grocery Outlet, you will find lots of special ingredients that can help add pizzazz to your holiday meals without adding a lot of expense, whether you are serving a holiday meal or dressing up leftovers. To make a festive holiday salad, I used a pomegranate that was only 69 cents and some roasted salted pepitas, which were also a great buy. While there is a lot of rich food at the holidays, look for dried fruit, nuts and pies on sale.  They are all wonderful choices for dessert and will give your holiday table a traditional feel—all while saving you money.

It's that time of year. The magical and joyful holiday season, with twinkling lights, festive music and parties galore. It's a time to reconnect with loved ones, and embrace the spirit of giving. And while kids are making their holiday wish lists and hoping to make the “nice list,” grown-ups often become too over-committed and overstressed to enjoy the season. At Grocery Outlet, we hope to inspire our customers, employees and friends to be nice to themselves by keeping the holidays simple.

 

 

We put together this Grown-Up Holiday Wish List to remind folks to keep it simple and enjoy the greatest gift of the season – making holiday memories with family and friends.

A Grown-Up Holiday Wish List

• I wish to embrace the joy of the holiday season
• I wish to not exhaust my energy and financial resources
• I wish to resist the urge to do it all
• I wish to plan ahead to avoid last-minute stress
• I wish to ask for help when I need it. Even Santa has lots of helpers.
• I wish to stick to my holiday budget
• I wish to give gifts from the heart more than the wallet
• I wish to leave room in my schedule to slow down and enjoy the small things
• I wish to slow down and keep it simple

Throughout the season, we will be sharing tips and ideas for a simple holiday. We hope you'll join us and wrap-up 2012 on the “nice list.”

A 12-Month Series by Guest Blogger Julia Wessels, from The Frugal Find

When I grew up, Halloween costumes were made from "scratch" around the house.  Today, however, costumes can cost upwards of $50 each just for the kids!  This is just silly.  They're worn for a couple of hours then tossed in a bin to donate next year when they've been outgrown.  Now, I realize there are those kiddos that wear their costumes night and day for months—we have had a couple of those around here, however, I still cannot justify the $50 price tag.  So with this in mind, I thought I'd share a few DIY costume ideas from around the web.  I hope you find something here that will save you a few bucks.

Tip Junkie has a slew of great Halloween DIY ideas, everything from food, to decor, to costumes.

Real Simple has a photo slide show with 16 DIY Costumes for Kids.  They're really cute too!  I especially love these because most of the costumes are from your kiddos' gear that they already have at home!

 

 
Photo Credit: Real Simple

 

Of course we can't forget Pinterest, especially when DIY is in mind.  Check out this Halloween Costume board over on Pinterest for some great costume ideas for all ages.

I'd love to hear from you.  What are some of your frugal, tried-and-true costumes?  Has your child ever won a "Best Costume" award and you were grinning from ear-to-ear because you knew it cost you practically nothing?  Leave a comment on our Facebook post and let us know what your best costume was!

This Valentine's Day, we've got you covered at Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. Let Christopher show you all of the great deals that you can pick up for your sweetheart without causing heartache for your wallet!

What are you planning for your valentine? What's the best valentine you've ever received?

Assignment time: what's your favorite chick flick? Leave a comment and let us know.

With all the festivities and shopping lists, we're all strapped for time and money during the holidays, and stockings are often overlooked until the last minute.  Often, this means paying premium for those sock-sized items, and the stuffed stocking can end up costing more than the big gift.  The Bargainistas at Grocery Outlet have some simple suggestions to help you save time and money and deliver stocking bliss.

• Be Convenient. You don't need to make a special trip to a special store.  Look for stocking stuffers at the places you normally frequent, like Grocery Outlet.

• Be Sneaky.  Sneak in some practical items like a toothbrush, socks, band-aids and school supplies.  These are things you'll need to buy anyways, so you'll be stuffing two socks with one dollar.  And, one less trip to the store when your kid needs new socks.

• Be Consumable.  If you're one of those parents that feels like all the little toys are overtaking your home, stuff those socks with consumable items, like their favorite candy, gum, fruit snacks and granola bars.

• Be Thematic.  Follow a theme for all the items.  Have an art enthusiast?  Fill the stocking with art supplies – markers, crayons, glue, and butcher paper rolled up.  It will give you back a fridge door full of artwork to display.

• Be Silly.  Throw in a couple things that will make them laugh.  Maybe a whoopie cushion or a pet rock.

Happy sock stuffing and Happy Holidays from everyone at Grocery Outlet!

The holiday season is a wonderful time to bring together families and friends, and celebrate the season with festive traditions, old and new. But it's also easy to get caught up in the holiday spending trap for the sake of making holiday memories. So this year, our Season of Sanity pledge inspired us to consider holiday merriment that won't break your budget. In fact, many of these fun and festive ideas are free!

Light Drive. Surprise your family or friends with a tour of the local holiday light displays. Put on some cozy pajamas, pack some cookies, then start driving. Don't forget the holiday tunes!

 

Seasonal Song. Bring back an old-time tradition with an evening of caroling. Dress in warm and festive attire and surprise your favorite neighbors with carols at their door. It will surely put a smile on their faces. And, you might be invited in for some hot cocoa and conversation!

Give Service. It will only cost you time, but you'll receive much more and lasting memories. Schedule time to visit a local shelter or food bank and lend a helping hand. Include the children to inspire the next generation of do-gooders.

Winter Wonderland.  December 22nd marks the Winter Solstice this year, welcoming longer days of sunlight, and a day many cultures celebrate with winter festivals. Host your own winter wonderland celebration, even without snow outside.  Build a paper snowman, make homemade ice cream and go ice gummy fishing in a bowl of ice!

This month is sure to hold holiday gatherings galore! It's the most wonderful time of the year to gather family and friends for a night of holiday merriment. So whether you are hosting or attending the festivities, use these ideas to help you enjoy the holiday party season without sacrificing your savings or your sanity.

Simplify. Your friends and family don't expect a Martha Stewart-style soiree, so don't stress-out about making it elaborate. In fact, a casual and understated event will be a welcome respite from all the craziness of the holidays. But make sure the holiday tunes are plentiful!

Skip the meal. Keep the focus on your friends, not the food. It's a great reason why you don't have to slave away in the kitchen all day to serve a full-on meal. Just two or three appetizers will do. Consider a weekend afternoon gathering with mulled wine, cheese and crackers.

Salud! Add some holiday cheer to your party, but keep it limited to one or two choices, not a full bar. Serve just eggnog or just wine, but not both. Try our Novella Synergy Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon, just $4.99 per bottle (you save $7). And the kid revelers will enjoy toasting with our Martinelli's Northwest Blend Sparkling Apple Cider for just $1.79 per bottle (you save $1.90).

Say Thanks. Certain holiday traditions never go out of style, like arriving at a holiday party with a gift for the gracious host/hostess. We suggest some gourmet chocolates like our Brown & Haley Candy Cane Roca for $2.99 (you save $2), or a festive 4” poinsettia for $4.99 (you save $4).

Surely, you have your own budget-friendly party tips, and we'd love to hear them. How do you entertain during the holidays without blowing the budget?

Happy Holidays from everyone at Grocery Outlet!

 

Check out this week's Bargain TV and see the amazing Holiday Gifts that you can find at your local Grocery Outlet for less than 10 dollars!

Christopher outlines this week's ad, which is full of great deals that are surely on your Holiday shopping list, so hurry in and don't miss this opportunity to save big!

The holiday season is in full swing! Gift giving is an age-old tradition in the holiday season.  But this year, don't let your holiday budget and your sanity fly to the North Pole.  Consider giving homemade, personalized gift baskets with items you can find at Grocery Outlet for 50% less than traditional stores.  Follow these simple tips for a gifty and thrify holiday:

Gather an assortment of small, inexpensive items with a common theme that the recipient will appreciate.  No need to go overboard, just three or four items will do.  Here are some ideas:

• Chocolate Lovers—chocolate of every kind, don't forget the hot cocoa
• Foodie Friends—gourmet cheeses, crackers, olive oil, nuts and a unique cooking tool
• Wine Enthusiast—red, white and rosé varieties, with fresh grapes, wine glasses and a corkscrew
• Home Spa—beauty care products, bath salts, loofah sponge, cozy socks
• Tea Time—a combination of black and herbal teas, a pretty mug or tea cup and specialty cookies
• Pet Perfect—pet toys, pet treats and a pet dish
• Movie Night—DVDs, microwave popcorn, candy and a blanket

Find a decorative basket or container.  Check your cupboards and storage space, you probably already have something laying around that you can use. Place items in the basket, using tissue paper or old gift wrap to help stabilize the items inside the basket. Finish with festive trimmings, like ribbon, raffia or even old-fashioned tinsel, then add a homemade gift tag.

Your family and friends will be thrilled to receive something you know they'll love.  And your wallet will say thanks, too.  Wishing you a simple holiday season!

Bargain TV's Christopher explains how you can save big on your holiday wrapping paper and gets a little out of control with his wrapping enjoyment!

So you tell us, turkey or tofurkey?

Grocery Outlet loves Thanksgiving because it's a holiday focused on family and food.  All year long, we are helping families save money so they can prepare bountiful meals for their families.  And we can't think of a more bountiful meal than Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas to help you save time and money as you prepare.

Tips to Simplify Your Thanksgiving and Save Your Sanity:

• Share a slice of the pie! Ask your guests to bring the dessert. Sometimes the cost of the desserts winds up being more expensive than the main event!
• Ask visiting relatives to prepare breakfast that morning, so you can focus on the turkey.
• Plan your menu and stick to your list. You’ll save money.
• Quality over quantity. You don’t need seven vegetable sides and six pies. Really, you don't. Keep it simple.
• Dice your fruits, vegetables and herbs for cooking the day before and place them in plastic bags or storage containers. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Fake it. Not everything needs to be made from scratch. Delicious cookies, desserts and candy can be bought pre-made.
• Organize your grocery list by department to save time at the store. Shop your own cup- boards first to see what you already have.

Then sit down and enjoy the American tradition of gathering your favorite people and sharing your gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Grocery Outlet!

We've got less than a week to Thanksgiving and we're here to help you Simplify the Season with our $3 Thanksgiving Menu. Check out the latest Bargain TV to help you save your money and your sanity!

 

You can download the Thanksgiving menu that Christopher mentions in the video by clicking here: Download Thanksgiving Menu.

What's your favorite holiday movie? Leave a comment below.

Joy?  Peace?  Yeah, right.  It's easy for the holidays to become more stressful than joyful.  It’s time to stop the holiday insanity and get back to the basics.  At Grocery Outlet, we believe it's time to simplify the season.  Cut back on the extra stuff.  Be frugal with your time and money.  Avoid overstressing and overspending and you might actually enjoy the holidays.  Remember these tips to help you stay focused on what’s really important this season.

Tips to Simplify the Season
- Get ready. Inventory your supplies early on. Get wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, stamps, boxes and pantry staples (such as sugar and flour) well in advance of the holidays. You may find discounted items when you’re not rushed.
- Revisit family traditions. Think about holidays past. Which activities were most worth the effort? Focus on what makes you and your family happy and eliminate what doesn’t.
- Don’t over-commit. You don’t need to say “yes” to every invitation. Save room in your schedule for things that might pop up.
- Keep it simple. Don’t overdo the table settings and decorations. Your guests will enjoy themselves just as much even without a complicated, expensive centerpiece.
- Focus on gifts from the heart. Give gifts that show your love—not the size of your wallet. Grandparents will likely value a photo album or a framed piece of children’s art far more than expensive presents.
- Shop strategically. Sometimes the places that save you the most money might surprise you. We have a selection of toys, personal fragrance sets, home products, and other gift items that may fit someone on your list.

Now, take this Simplify the Season Pledge by signing your name in the comments below.  Then embrace the joy!

Enter to win a $15 Grocery Outlet Gift Card!  Watch the below video on early holiday deals at Grocery Outlet and follow the assignment for your chance to win!

Good luck!

We've been using vlogs to highlight some of the amazing bargains on our ads.  In this latest one, we talk about graduation gifts and other awesome finds at Grocery Outlet.  Check out our homepage (click the Grocery Outlet icon on the upper left-hand side) or your store's page for your version of the ad.

We're trying something a little different over here at Grocery Outlet HQ.  Chris, an employee in our South Tacoma store had been making videos about all the affordable and fantastic food and merchandise you can find at Grocery Outlet.  Since he's become an expert, we invited him to start making video blogs, or vlogs, that we'll be posting here on our Barganista Blog.  We're very excited to share Chris's enthusiasm for saving money and showcase our incredible deals.

Here is our inaugural vlog, this time about our Easter ad which breaks today. Enjoy!

The holidays are about giving, right?  At Grocery Outlet, charitable giving is one of our core values.  With combined giving forces among store owners and individual employees, we embody the Anti-Scrooge Spirit.  In fact, the owners of local Grocery Outlet stores make it standard operating procedure to give back to the community via local food banks, Habitat for Humanity, school groups, church organizations and more.  They've built a solid reputation as local leaders in the giving department and they want to inspire others to do the same, because it's the season of giving.  And the world doesn't need any more Scrooges.

Last year, individual donations to charities and non-profits took their biggest one-year drop in two decades, dropping 11 percent among the nation's biggest charities. It's no surprise that local charities are in the same boat, so it's more important than ever for people and business owners to think about giving to their local community and channel the Anti-Scrooge Spirit.  Here are some tips for aspiring do-gooders:

Research.  Before making a commitment, make sure the charity will use your money wisely.  Check with the local Chamber of Commerce, or a website that rates charities, including Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) or the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (give.org).

Passion.  Tap into your passion, expertise and resources to determine the best approach.  For example, if you love animals, volunteer some time at your local animal shelter.  A marketing professional could offer to design and produce a non-profit's quarterly newsletter.  And a grocery store can contribute food to a local food bank.

Focus.  Don't overextend yourself and your business.  It's tempting to support every good cause in the community, but you can make a greater impact by focusing on just a few charities you feel most passionate about.

However you choose to give back, we hope you'll join the Anti-Scrooge Spirit and help make the world a little bit brighter this holiday season and in 2011!

Happy Holideals from everyone at Grocery Outlet!

Celebrate the season with appetizers, cheeses, and other party platter staples from Grocery Outlet.  We have everything you need for your next holiday party!

Want to start your party with something warm?  Claim Jumper buffalo chicken wings are only $4.99 for a 22 oz box.  You save $3.  El Monterey Taquitos are $2.99 for a 10 ct package, and you can choose from chicken or steak.  You save $2.  Or start off with a Tiger Bay shrimp ring, 10 oz for only $3.99!  You save $2.  President Brie is only $1.49 for a 6 oz wedge.  You save up to $3.50—pop out the crackers!

For a quick and easy holiday dip, try this recipe.  You can find all the ingredients at Grocery Outlet.  The green spinach and red bell pepper make it super festive.