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Wow, I'm getting great ideas, thanks! We do have to buy a twin bed for our older daughter pretty soon, so I'm on the lookout for a good local furniture store. We don't mind consignment stores either. As for food, as soon as I can get my bearings, I need to calculate how to bring down our grocery bill. I'm not that familiar with the mainstream grocers here yet. We used to shop almost exclusively at Trader Joes, so I'm just not familiar with prices outside of that. I just got our first full week's groceries at Hannaford and spent almost 40% over our usual weekly average. Granted, I did buy prepared dinner at the same time, but most of it was staples. And I hardly bought any produce, so I'm choking and scratching my head at the same time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by notdancingqueen
Agree, agree, agree! We just bought DD's new bunk bed (twin on top, double on the bottom) from a local furniture maker up the street; we buy all our veggies from the local farm (for less than half of what the grocery store charges), eggs from the farm market, etc. We buy as many local foods as I can find, even if they cost a bit more (my new favorite is Kate's butter, made in Maine -- a bit more costly but I made DH do a taste test and there was just no comparison.) I just make sure to squeeze every bit out of the food that I can -- I have scraps and bones from 2 local chickens in my freezer for stock; ditto for lobster shells, etc. for a lobster bisque.
Not only is it more convenient to shop at the local hardware store than a big box store (because of where we are located) but I, too, have found better service and knowledge -- no surprise! Same with the local auto shop -- and courtesy rides home or a courtesy loaner vehicle. Though the Dealerships say they give you loaners, they were never available when I needed them and they were only for jobs that would take several days.
Local Local local -- support your local economy and small business owners!!!
This is a really cool site for anyone interested in eating local. It's about eating as much as you can from within 100 miles of your location -- there's a nifty little tool that draws a 100 mile radius for you.
I thought the local corner hardware store was totally killed off by Lowe's and Home Depot until I moved to NH. I have a corner hardware at the end of my street which I frequently go to. You can spend an hour in Home depot looking for 1 thing, it's very hard to find someone to help you, and half the time they can't answer your questions. The local guys know what you need, find it in a couple of seconds, and you're in and out, unless you end up staying for a little conversation....
In Londonderry I grocery shop at both Shaw’s and Hannaford’s depending on what I need. I have my cars repaired at LBP towing near the corner of Rt 28 and auburn road in north Londonderry. I have known the owner since he was in high school. He and his mechanics do a good job and back up their work. I use Messier and Lesseur (sp?) on West Hollis St in Nashua for tires. All these are local shops and provide great service at decent prices. Please consider this as endorsements and not advertising.
I thought the local corner hardware store was totally killed off by Lowe's and Home Depot until I moved to NH. I have a corner hardware at the end of my street which I frequently go to. You can spend an hour in Home depot looking for 1 thing, it's very hard to find someone to help you, and half the time they can't answer your questions. The local guys know what you need, find it in a couple of seconds, and you're in and out, unless you end up staying for a little conversation....
No kidding. Today I went to both Target and Lowe's looking for that little screen you put over the drain in your shower to catch hair. Neither had it. The guy at the Lowe's said it was one of those not often sought, hard to find items. People were helpful, they just didn't have what I needed. Guess I'm going to the local hardware store.
In Londonderry I grocery shop at both Shaw’s and Hannaford’s depending on what I need. I have my cars repaired at LBP towing near the corner of Rt 28 and auburn road in north Londonderry. I have known the owner since he was in high school. He and his mechanics do a good job and back up their work. I use Messier and Lesseur (sp?) on West Hollis St in Nashua for tires. All these are local shops and provide great service at decent prices. Please consider this as endorsements and not advertising.
GregW, I gorcery shop in Bedford, and there's only Stop and Shop and Hannaford. Do these stores put out circulars every week?
thanks for the rec. on auto mechanics. Good ones are always hard to find!
One of my favorite stores to get little things like that is Saigon Market, the Oriental grocery in Manchester. I was having a hard time finding the screens to put in the kitchen sink, and that's where I ended up finding them, along with lots of other kitchen items. I buy about 90% of my spices there as well as produce, baby bok choy, ginger, etc. because it's so much fresher than the regular grocery store. And it's great to find cool exotic fruits like leechee (spelling?) and other things that are not in your typical grocery. Note: it doesn't feel like a bistro like Hannafords does, it's a little grungy and gritty. But for me, that's part of what I like about it, having enjoyed some of the best meals of my life in Chinatown, having my stuff ordered not from the menu, but by a friend who has traveled to China many times, and has now brought home a wife
Quote:
Originally Posted by maestramommy
No kidding. Today I went to both Target and Lowe's looking for that little screen you put over the drain in your shower to catch hair. Neither had it. The guy at the Lowe's said it was one of those not often sought, hard to find items. People were helpful, they just didn't have what I needed. Guess I'm going to the local hardware store.
Don't eat Chinese food but used to work in china town in Boston and I got to know many Chinese restaurant owners.
They all said that the Chinese food they serve in most restaurants is not what they would eat in China.
They said they could never eat what they give to most Americans and that most Americans would be surprised to see real Chinese food
Well there is a place called I think now China pearl and that is one place where all the Chinese go for food away from tourists.
I looked at the food and thought
In England I took my wife to a Chinese reastaurant and she found that the lo mein is actually called chow mein and vica versa
Wow, I'm getting great ideas, thanks! We do have to buy a twin bed for our older daughter pretty soon, so I'm on the lookout for a good local furniture store. We don't mind consignment stores either.
Same here! For awhile I thought we were going to get one we saw on Craigs' List in Nashua but I decided I really wanted the double bed on the bottom for when guests visit. Freecycle.org is also a good resourse sometimes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by maestramommy
As for food, as soon as I can get my bearings, I need to calculate how to bring down our grocery bill. I'm not that familiar with the mainstream grocers here yet. We used to shop almost exclusively at Trader Joes, so I'm just not familiar with prices outside of that. I just got our first full week's groceries at Hannaford and spent almost 40% over our usual weekly average. Granted, I did buy prepared dinner at the same time, but most of it was staples. And I hardly bought any produce, so I'm choking and scratching my head at the same time.
I really miss Trader Joe's. My SIL just brought me a case of Two-buck Chuck when she came to visit this past weekend! I found we spent a lot at Hannafords the first few times I shopped there because a) I was replacing a lot of pantry staples and b) I was enthralled with a lot of cool new products I'd never seen before like various yogurts from vermont and canada, and all the Vermont BUtter & Cheese Co. offerings that we didn't have in Maryland. We reigned it in after a few trips though. Some folks I've met recommended Market Basket but I didn't think it was all that compared to Hannafords -- to me, not worth the extra 15 minute drive, anyway.
One of my favorite stores to get little things like that is Saigon Market, the Oriental grocery in Manchester. I was having a hard time finding the screens to put in the kitchen sink, and that's where I ended up finding them, along with lots of other kitchen items. I buy about 90% of my spices there as well as produce, baby bok choy, ginger, etc. because it's so much fresher than the regular grocery store. And it's great to find cool exotic fruits like leechee (spelling?) and other things that are not in your typical grocery. Note: it doesn't feel like a bistro like Hannafords does, it's a little grungy and gritty. But for me, that's part of what I like about it, having enjoyed some of the best meals of my life in Chinatown, having my stuff ordered not from the menu, but by a friend who has traveled to China many times, and has now brought home a wife
OMG, there's an Asian market in Manchester?? Hallelujah!! Whereabouts?
Where's the happy dance smilie?
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