I would not buy the foodsaver brand as it is only a toy with those ridiculous bags. I'm told the only good food sealers can be purchased from hunting magazines and cost a minimum of $300.00, To me, the investment will pay for itself very quickly. The other option is to purchase a minus 70 freezer.

I tend to think of things that require a sizeable purchase to start with as a waste of money. And also if you must buy a specific item or brand item to continue using the machine, that's usually bad.

I think the best thing is portioning and freezing and planning ahead to make sure nothing goes to waste. = )

Thank you both for your replies. I'm glad I didn't waste the money on the Food Saver. I don't have the money for a big purchase such as a new freezer or 300.00 vacume sealer. So it does sound alot more sensible to plan ahead with portion control and organize, and rotate my food better. I think I'll sell the upright in a yardsale and buy baskets, one for each month for the chest freezer and just rotate the baskets. That would work.

I did receive a SealaMeal for my birthday (in Dec) but, after reading about it, seeing all the different gadgets you had to purchase, some over and over again..... decided it just wasn't worth the trouble, or expense, so I returned it.

However, I do hate to throw out good food (leftovers) so, I'm try to plan better, as well, so that the leftovers get used in a different dish within a couple of days.

My rule for leftovers is 4 days in the frig and after that if it's still there I toss it out. Always makes me feel bad to throw out food. My grocery bill has exceeded my 2 mortgage pymts. Some things can be refrozen instead of left in the frig. But this is going to take careful menu planning on my part and some extra work to keep from wasting money on food that won't get eaten.

Gee, I almost feel guilty saying I love my Food Saver! It saves me money in the long run. If I buy cheese I taks half of it and super seal it cause there is just me an this way it lasts a long time. Same with salami or cookies I bake. I buy bulk with somethings like hot dogs. I put three in a freezer baggie then several bags inside the sealer bag so I can keep them without opening the pack yet when I do I take out a few at a time and reseal the bag. I order my favorite tea that isn't in the stores and freeze it since I have to buy by the box from them.
I don't always throw the bags away cause they are costly. I wash them and reuse them for most items with no problem. The ones with meat or chicken I mark and use a little clorox in them. Been doing it for years and not sick.
The only meals I ever freeze would be sauce or soup so I can do this with the bags and make them into small servings just for me or take out what I need for company. I love this product and don't throw out much of anything now except a burnt meal LOL

Really? Sounds like it is working out really good for you. Did you get your Food Saver at Walmart or oder it from an infomercial on tv or catalog? I know they make several models and was wondering which model you have? If it works as good as it looks like it does on tv, it would really come in handy. I've been using the Ziplock bags and sucking the air out with a straw, the bags seem to let the air back in over time. Or maybe I'm not getting it all out that way, it's not much fun to do that anyway. I like to freeze alot of cheese too, I grate it up first, it saves alot of time in preparing meals that way. Thank you for sharing your experience - don't feel guilty!

Annie I think I got mine on QVC years ago. But now I see they have one that keeps the bag inside the machine and you just have to push down to cut the bag to the size you want. Now If I could I would trade mine it to have that slicer. Cause you need to cut straight lol and I don't!
I have done that too sucking out the air (funny) and it fills up.
I have the Food Saver but I bought it like 9 years ago. I like mine, and would stick with Food Saver. Check it out on QVC and then find it at Walmart!!!

Thank you sunnierain! If you've had it 9 years and it's still working then I'm thinking it would be a good purchase. I'll look at them on QVC and see if Walmart has it cheaper - the one that holds and cuts the bags. Thanks again, maybe I can stop squeezing and sucking air out, that would be nice. :)

I have had my Food Saver for a long time, at least 5-6 years and I still use it. I agree that the bag are expensive and I usually buy the roll and I reuse my bags as well. Don't buy all the fancy gadgets that go with it, (ie: coffee lid, canisters) they are a waste of time. Of course, I don't use it as much anymore because I have been useing a weekly meal plan and find that my grocery bill has decreased when I plan ahead. No need to use the special bags when I'm only freezing for 1 week. I still use it to re-seal my potato chip bags, or for things I freeze over one week.

I have a vacume sealer but I forget what brand it is. Works just fine. But the trick in saving on bags is to buy the long roll where you cut your own bags. What I do with my frozen pepper is cut a bag about 10-12 Inches long to put 2 cups of peppers in it. That way I cut one end and clean the bad and dry it to use it again for pepper the next year. If you only use a bag to fit the size of the ingredietnt you are freezing then you will wind up tossing the bag away. Unless you have a million uses for a mini bag.

I like to use the Tupperware freezer containers, initially they might seem expensive but will give years of good use.

I agree, don't buy the 50 dollar Food Saver. The power isn't that strong and it is really a waste of time. I bought a unit that ran about 100 dollars and works really well. So I don't think you have to spend as much as 300 on a sealer. Unless it has special features that you want. Using those bags is better than ziploc bags for longer storage. But I use both. And when I bag something I cut the bag much larger than I need so I can cut the end off, clean it out and it is still big enough to use again. This way you are not buying expensive bags each time you want to seal.