In the original Demons journal (AOL version), I used to review new snack foods...chips and such. You'd think I enjoyed writing the bad reviews more than the good ones, but the opposite is true. I liked finding a new flavor of chips that I could rave about and recommend to blog-readers unconcerned with their sodium intake. Things have changed, though. Gone are those careless snacking days. Times are tough and most people are scrambling just to put the basics on the table... mindless junkfood is a luxury now.
I know.
We've had to cut back around here. It's been a single income household for many months now, and an identity thief (fucking bastard bought golf clubs) cleaned out my checking account back in September. Add a few emergency visits to the vet and we found ourselves really strapped for cash.
Luckily, my better half knows a thing or two about grocery shopping on the cheap. I used to mock his scrimping and saving and buying generic stuff, but no more. I dare anyone to fill up a grocry cart for less money than Lumpy. He goes to a run-down bargain grocery store called 'Aldi's' to do alot of the food shopping. It's a depressing, soul-killing dump right across from a creepy daycare with an asphault playground (imagine all the skinned knees!) For the most part, I can deal with the cheap versions of namebrand stuff. What I want to do here is seperate out what is worth the quality sacrifice and what isn't. Hence "Recession Snacking".
CLANCY'S SNACKFOODS
Clancy's is the generic equivalent of Guy's or Lay's. The basic potato chips are acceptable as are the corn chips and the popcorn. DO NOT pick up the Clancy's version of Cheeto's or Dorito's unless all of your tastebuds are dead and you don't mind acid reflux. I give the company credit for producing a party mix that is positively identical to the much more expensive 'Chex Mix'. Get that.
GT COLA
Ugh. No matter how bad this recession Bush left us with gets, I will NOT give up Diet Coke. I won't. Aldi's cheap version of my soft drink of choice falls extremely short. I made Lump drink the remaining 23 cans of the case we mistakenly bought. Steer clear! It's like a bad copy of Diet Pepsi -- if you can imagine such a thing. BARF!
Be well and snack cheaply, Blog Buddies!
