Archive for Shopping Trips

Pots, Pans & Prices (The Cute, Affordable Kitchen to be)

 Not that my boyfriend is really going to care what I use for pots, pans & utensils, but I do.
Shop Online:
KMart
Bed Bath & Beyond
Macy’s

I’m after some affordable, yet not chinsey kitchen utensils & tools. I’m going to price shop at 3 different stores again. This time I’m comparing KMart (where I’ve found tons of stuff at a great price for the apartment already), Bed Bath & Beyond (an all time favorite), and William-Sonoma, the top of the line for cookware… just kidding, I’m not willing to put an entire month’s worth of pay into my cookware. My third store will be Macy’s just because it’s Macy’s, it needs no further explanation.

I’m actually looking for a cookware set so I don’t have to buy each pot & pan individually. My goal is to find a cookware set that’s durable, includes much, and around a budget of about $100. I also refuse to purchase stainless steel. If you’ve ever bought quality cookware, this may sound like an impossible task, but let’s see if we can master this anyway.

11 pc Black & Copper Aluminum Cookware Set

11 pc Black & Copper Aluminum Cookware (39.99)

KMart
I found a very cheap & simple set from KMart, featured on the left. It has a total of 11 pieces. It’s pretty ugly, but only costs $39.99.

You can by an additional 3qt saucepan for $12 each, and other matching accessories. If copper isn’t your look (as it isn’t mine), they also offer this set in a hideous Red & Silver Aluminum, see here. It’s difficult to deny the words “last resort” are a compliment to this set.

Essential Home 10 pc Aluminum Cookware
Essential Home 10 pc Aluminum Cookware (49.99)

 On the other hand, if you’re willing to throw down an extra ten dollars, you could own a cookware set that isn’t so ugly. The inside is Teflon to prevent sticky foods from, well sticking. A great starter set if you ask me. If you’re looking for color, specifically blue, I found a really nice 8-pc set for 59.99 at  KMart as well. I think though, the Essential Home 10pc Aluminum Cookware set gets my vote.

Invitations™ Everyday 8-Piece Non-Stick Cookware

Invitations™ Everyday 8-Piece Non-Stick Cookware (59.99)

Bed, Bath & Beyond

If you can still have at this, then do so. Only 59.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond is this triple value set that you can’t afford to miss. (Unless you don’t have $60 available credit on your card.)  I need to tell you everything that you get:
- 2 qt covered saucepan
- 10″ skillet
- 6 qt covered dutch oven
- 1 qt covered sauce pan
- 8″ omelet pan
- 6 pc nylon kitchen tool set
- 9 1/4″ square grill pan
- 13″ x 9″ lasagna bake pan w/ cover

 Macy’s

Tools of the Trade 12 pc Cookware

Tools of the Trade 12 pc Cookware (99.99)

It almost seems as though I should have just picked WS with the top of the line cookware at out-of-my-budget prices they offer at Macys. I was able to find ONE not stainless steel cookware set for under $100.

I’ll admit, this looks nice. Really nice, the handles on the pans look really “handleable”, if you will. The set totals at 99.99, which with tax is over my proposed budget for cookware. This set includes:

- 1qt covered saucepan
- 2qt covered saucepan
- 3qt covered saucepan
- 8qt covered stock pot
- 4qt covered saute pan
- 8 x 10″ fry pan
I’d plan on heading to Bed, Bath & Beyond first. If that doesn’t rub you the right way head over to KMart. But I’d advise you avoid Macy’s if you’re trying to save money.

Leave a comment »

Appliances. Trip 1.

Tons of Stuff...
Tons of Stuff…

The lines at West Seneca KMart were pretty much unreal last night! We only went shopping out of convenience..it was beside the grocery store, and we had just finished weekly grocery shopping. I told myself that I would only buy “one thing” for the apartment. I went in there, with all intentions of only buying, a pillow or toaster, but failed. Hard.

My trip totalled to $55.96. Which was a little bit over half of  my weekly pay from my part time job. The remainder of my paycheck will be drained into my gas tank. I’m also on a bit of a budget currently, because I’m going to Las Vegas at the end of the month to meet my boyfriend’s family and help him move furniture out of his apartment to his Mom’s condo, where he’ll be living for a month.

In total I bought.. 4 Toss Pillows - $23. Coffee maker - $20. Toaster - $9. Everything except the toaster was “on sale”. 

2 of 4 Beige Pillows

The Futon with my Pillows

The Futon with my Pillows

12 Cup Coffee Maker

12 Cup Coffee Maker

Our Toaster

Our Toaster

Looks like there is more in the cart because my mom bought me a can opener ($14) and herself a new microwave, so I can have the old one. So I had to “clean the old one”, which I bought for her about 2 years ago. I bought the cheapest one, karma.

Before

Before

I brought out the SOS, Dawn, a dish sponge & lots of paper towels and got down to work at 9:30 last night. This thing has survived hundreds of bags of popcorn, many spills of ramen noodle, a lifetime of oozing hot pockets, and countless frozen dinners. Thirty minutes later, it still looks awful.

After 30 Minutes

After 30 Minutes

Cat in a Box

My Cat in a Box

I’m saving myself possibly $40 to $60 though, which could be better used on possibly more pillows. Josh says he is bringing out his toaster oven. I’ve never used one but he claims they’re amazing, and it was from his Grandma, so he wants to keep it. Fine. : )

Everyone is being very helpful in collecting things. Looks like even my kitty wants to help.

There’s an estate sale todaynear my work. I may go check it out, or see if my Dad wants to check it out with me. I’m tight on cash, but it looks like they have dressers & miscellaneous necessities.

Leave a comment »