Here are some suggestions for saving money on your bakery needs for every level of expertise.

1.  If you are sick and tired of paying $3.00-$4.00 for a loaf of bread, now is the time to look for those discount bakery outlets.  Usually they have a special line of goods from Taystee Bread, Sara Lee,  Hostess, and others.  These are overstocked–not only do they offer discount prices, but usually have some daily or weekly specials.  Many have a  free club membership where you get your card punch for each minimal purchase.  When you fill-up your card, you usually get a $amount of items for free.

2.  Check your local bakery for day-old merchandise.  Rolls, bread, and sweets can usually be purchased for half their price.  Trying hitting these places on Monday since what the bakery didn’t sell over the weekend, will be discounted and this is the time for the best selection of day-old products.

3.    Want fresh baked goods, but don’t have a lot of time to spend with cookbooks, measuring, etc.? Then look for markdown mixes.  Markdown Mom has found a number of items not only at Target for their Archer Brand mixes, but at Goodwill since Target sells many of their overstock items to them including bake mixes.  Always check to see if the package has been opened.

4. Speaking of mixes, check out deals at online stores like King Arthur Flour that for the next 4 days is giving a 25% discount on mixes when you buy 10 or more.  Look for these specials, well worth the shipping costs.

5.  Finally, now is the time to get out your breadmachines.  Do you know that a 1 lb. loaf of bread can run you 40¢ a loaf instead of $4.00!  Don’t have a breadmachine, check out your local thrift store, Markdown Mom found a used  Zojirushi Mini Bread Maker for $3.99!  Works fine.  You can get the instructions and recipes online for most machines.  To save even more money check with your local Whole Foods Store and take advantage of buying flour  in bulk.  Don’t want to mess with measuring, etc., you will still save money by buying the bread mixes from your local grocer.

Think of all the money you’ll be saving,  plus the smiles on your family members’ faces!