Stocking up for the holidays ..

One of you gals mentioned buying nuts after the holidays and freezing -- that's a great idea that I often use.

Another is to buy marked down Halloween or Easter or Xmas candy -- the type that can be frozen and then used in baking. If you're making chocoalte chip cookies you don't REALLY need semi-sweet morsels. If some goblin wrapped chocolate bars are half prize -- all you have to do is chop them up. I've also found that it is often the time to buy some of the so-called better quality chocolates, etc. And sometimes I come up with some interesting substitutions that become family favorites.