Groceries...GRRRRR!!!

[pat fan]

We buy raw sugar for our coffee at BJ's and when I picked it up this week, over $6.00!!! Sugar has made a LEAP!

Also was shopping at Stop & Shop and added up to around $60-ish, threw a couple things in and checked out, over $90! Going back to check my receipt, but good grief!

 

[LovesTimone]

The cost of food is unbelievable ....shocking almost but there are ways around it. I have always couponed, before the shows and all, I have been couponing about 25 years. I buy seasonal items, and stock up on pantry items, head to the farm stands for veggie's and fruit, big box stores some items drinks, adult beverages, I grow my own herbs, and tomatoes.

One of my key things to do is meal plan, then match to sales flyers, next step check the coupons. You have to be flexible to change up things. I am a planner so with the holiday approaching I will start adding things that I know that I will be needing for the up coming season, spices, cookie and cake mixes, nuts, extra baggies, foil and foil pans. I also stock up on personal care items, so if a friend forgets, a toothbrush, toothpaste, whatever I have it on hand.

I try to make a list of events that I will need to take something for pot lucks at work, church, cookie swap parties, school events for the kids or after school activities dance class, sports, band the list can go on and on. DH's office parties, Heading to friends house for watching football, racing, celebrating whatever, Thanksgiving, Black Friday after party, Christmas parties, cocktail parties, or the big Days Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Last year I got my turkey for Thanksgiving in September I used coupons, that butterball had out with a store coupon and sale price, I got my turkey for like 3dollars, It was a 9 pounder but that was perfect for my family. For Christmas I cooked just turkey thighs as my family prefers those, I also had ham but I have a few that don't like ham I bought those in October when my store had them on sale, and I had a coupon for meat when buying other items, and a store coupon. I bought 3 package of 4 thighs each and I spent about 8 dollar, when buying special cuts or pieces the price is always higher per pound.

When using coupons use them on items you know that your going to need and items that you normally use. Otherwise your wasting money if you not going to use it. Make a list an try to stick to it, take all your coupons with you when you go, you might come across something that is a good deal and something that you use, that's when I will add in to the cart.

 

[HeatherC]

I feel your pain! I actually made a trip to Stop and Shop yesterday to see if I could get any beef on sale for the Labor Day weekend. I left with nothing! The prices were outrageous! I was all prepared to lay out serious cash to stock up.

Ground Beef was $5.99 a lb. NY Strip..on the bone was $16.99 a lb.

Food prices are insane! I am thrilled, however, that Market Basket is back. It's the only way to go here in Mass. Is there one near you PatsFan? I don't like their meats, however, so was really disappointed about Stop and Shop.

Seriously, is there a shortage on cows or something? Used to be able to at least get London Broil on sale for $1.99 a few years ago. Now it is like $6.99 on sale.

Good grief!

 

[happily single]

I feel your pain! I actually made a trip to Stop and Shop yesterday to see if I could get any beef on sale for the Labor Day weekend. I left with nothing! The prices were outrageous! I was all prepared to lay out serious cash to stock up.

Ground Beef was $5.99 a lb. NY Strip..on the bone was $16.99 a lb.

Food prices are insane! I am thrilled, however, that Market Basket is back. It's the only way to go here in Mass. Is there one near you PatsFan? I don't like their meats, however, so was really disappointed about Stop and Shop.

Seriously, is there a shortage on cows or something? Used to be able to at least get London Broil on sale for $1.99 a few years ago. Now it is like $6.99 on sale.

Good grief!

Where are you? i am in Rhode Island,but frequently shop in Shrewsbury, Ma as well as RI and both Shtop&Shop have ground beef at $2.99 pound and boneless chicken breast at $1.99 pound in value packs as an everyday value

 

[justlook3]

Seriously, is there a shortage on cows or something?

Actually yes there is. Especially if your meat comes from Texas and California which have been suffering from drought for the last few years. Here in Texas, beef was cheap a couple of years ago because ranchers had to cull their herds because they couldn't afford to feed/water them. But the drought has continued and they can't keep slaughtering their herd if they want to keep in business (get rid of too many then you don't have babies to continue your business). So even though the market price is high, many of the smaller ranches just aren't selling and even the larger operations are being cautious.
We've had more rain this year (not enough but more) so maybe they can start to get back to normal soon.
I've heard the situation is similar in California as well.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Actually yes there is. Especially if your meat comes from Texas and California which have been suffering from drought for the last few years. Here in Texas, beef was cheap a couple of years ago because ranchers had to cull their herds because they couldn't afford to feed/water them. But the drought has continued and they can't keep slaughtering their herd if they want to keep in business (get rid of too many then you don't have babies to continue your business). So even though the market price is high, many of the smaller ranches just aren't selling and even the larger operations are being cautious.
We've had more rain this year (not enough but more) so maybe they can start to get back to normal soon.
I've heard the situation is similar in California as well.

Yes , it is the same here. The drought has hurt the cost of the food here. I can still get chicken at a reasonable rate. But beef, no way. It is very costly. We haven't even had enough rain in the mountains for the water supply. We are only allowed to water once or twice a week, depending on the area. You can get fined for over watering or letting water leak out of hoses. I am hoping and praying that we will get enough rain this year.

 

[lauradis]

Oh I hear you.

Just talking to my girlfriend about this, (over dinner out no less )

The only solution we could come up with is us Americans as a whole eat large volumes of food. We have horrible portion control.

If we slowly scale back our portions back to normal size, then our food budgets will last longer. I highly doubt my husband will do this with us for long, but he is a good sport, with our crazy ideas.

 

[pat fan]

I am thrilled, however, that Market Basket is back. It's the only way to go here in Mass. Is there one near you PatsFan?

No Market Basket near us. Only BJ's, Stop & Shop and Big Y. There's a couple mom & pop type grocery stores, but they're pretty expensive too.

My stupid new chickens aren't laying yet and I bought organic eggs at the local cruncher store for $6.00 a dozen! Those girls better get on the stick!

 

[StitchBuddy]

I hear you loud and clear!! Food has gotten ridiculously expensive!! The packgages smaller and the price gets bigger!!

 

[aprilchem]

No Market Basket near us. Only BJ's, Stop & Shop and Big Y. There's a couple mom & pop type grocery stores, but they're pretty expensive too.

My stupid new chickens aren't laying yet and I bought organic eggs at the local cruncher store for $6.00 a dozen! Those girls better get on the stick!

I'm always amazed and the prices people pay on here for groceries. I just bought organic farm eggs this weekend for $2.79 a dozen, but I normally get them for $2.50 a dozen. Raw, organic sugar is $3 for 5 lb at my Walmart.

 

[superme80]

Ugh tell me about it! I went to Safeway yesterday and spent about $50 for just a small bag of groceries. Now that DS #3 is eating baby food and regular food my bill has gone up even more.

 

[Jeff_G]

Ugh tell me about it! I went to Safeway yesterday and spent about $50 for just a small bag of groceries. Now that DS #3 is eating baby food and regular food my bill has gone up even more.

Wait until the teen years. I just bought a box of cereal Saturday, now Monday its almost gone!

 

[MouseClubMama]

Food prices are insane! I am thrilled, however, that Market Basket is back. It's the only way to go here in Mass.

This!
So happy Market Basket is returning! The Stop & Shop near me has taken full advantage of the Market Basket closings this summer; raising their prices on necessities right across the board, knowing that local customers had no where else to shop. Milk, butter, eggs, beef, bacon & deli were all among the casualties of price increases this summer. Our local Stop & Shop is also poorly stocked, and many advertised sale items are absent from the shelves ...very frustrating and expensive summer in my neck of the woods.

 

[pat fan]

I'm always amazed and the prices people pay on here for groceries. I just bought organic farm eggs this weekend for $2.79 a dozen, but I normally get them for $2.50 a dozen. Raw, organic sugar is $3 for 5 lb at my Walmart.

Well, I normally don't pay anything for eggs as I have chickens. My flock was wiped out this spring and the new hens haven't started laying yet. I shopped at the frou frou hippie store for the eggs because I was baking and I needed them NOW and that store is 5-10 minutes away as opposed to Big Y which is 30 minutes away.

There isn't a Walmart near enough to me to do my shopping at thanks to the Walmart buster Al Norman (jerk).

I do coupons and the like, but really, should we have to work so hard to be able to afford groceries???

Now that DS #3 is eating baby food and regular food my bill has gone up even more.

When my sister had kids and was broke she bought a food grinder and whatever they had for meals was ground up and the baby ate that. Basically make your own baby food!

 

[superme80]

Wait until the teen years. I just bought a box of cereal Saturday, now Monday its almost gone!

Please don't remind me. DS #1 went through a growth spurt this summer. He is up about 2 or 3 inches, up a wardrobe size, and a shoe size. He has been eating me out of house and home. He loves strawberries and I wasn't able to get to the Farmer's Market like I wanted to this summer. I should have bought stock in Safeway this year. Then DS #3 hasn't gained weight so the doctor wants him on full fat dairy and avocados. That stuff is rarely on sale. I am off to go cry in my iced tea.

 

[lvillotta1]

I live in the midwest and our food prices have also risen. I do not coupon. I shop at Aldis for most of our food. For example a gal of milk is $2.99,bag of cheese $2,eggs on sale 99cents etc. I do a lot of stock piling when items are bargain basement. If milk goes on sale for $1.99 I will but ten and freeze them on my deep freeze,frozen veggies, ice cream etc. I also am shocked how much OJ has gone up. If I see it for $1.99 a gal I again will buy five and freeze. My local Kroger store always marks down their meat every am and I can find great deals on beef. About 4mos ago they had Hamburger 85/15 for $1.59 in the clearance section and bought all 15 packages. I would say I can usually keep my grocery budget to 50-75/week.

 

[TravelMommy]

I feel your pain! I actually made a trip to Stop and Shop yesterday to see if I could get any beef on sale for the Labor Day weekend. I left with nothing! The prices were outrageous! I was all prepared to lay out serious cash to stock up.

Ground Beef was $5.99 a lb. NY Strip..on the bone was $16.99 a lb.

Food prices are insane! I am thrilled, however, that Market Basket is back. It's the only way to go here in Mass. Is there one near you PatsFan? I don't like their meats, however, so was really disappointed about Stop and Shop.

Seriously, is there a shortage on cows or something? Used to be able to at least get London Broil on sale for $1.99 a few years ago. Now it is like $6.99 on sale.

Good grief!

*************************************************************
I thought I was the only one who felt there has been such a jump in prices. I did NOT buy burgers and instead defrosted some chicken breasts. Omg, prices are out of control!!!!!

 

[manning]

Officially there's no inflation.......officially.

 

[Disneychick75]

I can tell you that if sugar prices are high, blame the companies that are selling it packaged. Farmers have received very low prices for their crops because foreign imports are flooding in and the price is down. Many have stopped farming because they can't afford it anymore.

 

[pat fan]

I can tell you that if sugar prices are high, blame the companies that are selling it packaged. Farmers have received very low prices for their crops because foreign imports are flooding in and the price is down. Many have stopped farming because they can't afford it anymore.

We have, or have had in the past anyway, a lot of dairy farms around here, so I know how the actual producers get screwed. I should just cut down the sugar in my coffee, but I don't know if I can do that!