Do you have a dent and bent store near you? I recently discovered one in my area and have since become a regular customer. It’s owned by a really nice family that just bought it from the previous owner and they’re working hard to update and clean it up. Just like shopping at a flea market or garage sale, when I shop at dent and bent stores, I take my time and look over each product carefully before I purchase it.

Today I spent $20.98 and this is what I bought.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the products. Scroll past this part to shop for best selling books that will show you how to save money on your food bill.

1) Boxed or bagged items
Two boxes of Muellers ziti: 50 cents each
Two 6 pack boxes of Act 2 microwave popcorn: $2 each but it was buy one, get one free, so $1 each
A 10 pack box of Disney Princess Fruit Snacks: $1
A box of Hersheys Mini Cookies: $1
Two 10 pack boxes of Capri Sun Fruit Drinks: $1.50 each
One 10 pack box of Carpri Sun 100% Fruit Juice: $1.50
One 8 pack box of Back To Nature cheddar crackers: $1
4 packages of Earth’s Best Organic cookies: 25 cents each

My tips for buying boxed or bagged items:
When the item is loose and not packaged seperately inside the box or bag (like pasta is) I don’t buy them if they were opened and taped closed and I’ll only buy boxes that have slight creases in them. When the food item is packaged seperately inside the box and not loose (like everything else on the list), I’ll allow for more damage to the outer box and will buy a box that was opened and resealed.

2) Canned items
One can of Chicken of the Sea Whole Baby Clams: $1
One can of Armour Vienna Sausages: 50 cents
Five cans of Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore Tuna Fish in water: 75 cents each

My tips for buying canned items:
I only buy cans that have very small or no dents at all. Out of the five cans of tuna, only one had a very small dent.

Here’s some information I found online about buying dented cans.

Department of Agriculture (was on a page for canned fruit but would pertain to all cans) When buying canned fruit, avoid cans that show signs of bulging or swelling at the ends, or of leakage. Small dents in a can usually will not harm the contents unless the dents have pierced the metal or loosened the can seam. Badly dented cans, however, should always be avoided.

Purdue University Extension
Bulging cans — Spoiled! Throw away!
Dented cans — Do not buy cans with dents on the side seam of the can or on the rim seams at the top or bottom of the can. Check carefully for leakage, especially around the seam. Throw leaky cans away.
Rusty cans — Check for leakage. The rust may have penetrated the can.

With some common sense, shopping in a dent and bent store can save money. I try to go by there once a week because they constantly get more things in and rotate their stock.

By the way…my dog Mini seems to think everytime the camera comes out she has to be in the picture so here she is. LOL

Instant Bargains: 600+ Ways to Shrink Your Grocery Bills and Eat Well for Less Perfect for anyone who wants to buy smarter, spend less on food, and get the best nutritional and economic value for their buck. Price: $6.00

Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America’s Cheapest Family: Includes So Many Innovative Strategies You Won’t Have to Cut Coupons Readers learn how to plan their shopping to save big bucks, effectively store food and save cash, identify products that save time and money, beat the grocer at pricing games, and more! Price: $9.82

How To Save Money on Grocery Shopping Written by experts in the field, Quick Easy Guides share little-known trade secrets and helpful hints to get you moving in the right direction. Price: $4.95

Supershop like the Coupon Queen: How to Save 50% or More Every Time You Shop Shows readers how they can save 50% or more every time they shop. Samtur’s is the first system that converges new supermarket savings technologies- rewards programs, store cards, websites-with traditional proven techniques, like couponing and refunding. Price: $6.95

Better Homes and Gardens Supermarket Shortcuts: Shop Smart! 365 Recipes to Save Time and Money (Better Homes & Gardens) Supermarket Shortcuts will get you in and out of the supermarket quickly, efficiently, and cheaply with strategies for streamlining your shopping, then preparing hundreds of delicious, quick meals, almost from scratch. Price: $7.98

Shop Smart, Save More: Learn The Grocery Game and Save Hundreds of Dollars a Month Teri Gault’s groundbreaking website, The Grocery Game, has already helped millions save serious money. And now she shares the secrets to sensible shopping in one essential volume, so you can feed your family and take care of their needs for thousands of dollars a year less!   Price: $3.01

20 Grocery Store Savings Ideas: Grocery Coupon Savings Tips For Those Grocery Shopping On A Budget This book focuses on how you can earn huge savings through the use of coupons and savvy shopping techniques. Learn how to get the most with your grocery dollars weekly and how to feed a family on a shoestring budget with this book. Price: $9.95