Groceries...GRRRRR!!!

[Eureka]

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

Amen to that. DS13 and DS11 eat a ton. I made cookies yesterday, froze a bunch but the two dozen I left out are already gone. Ds11 did have a couple friends over, but still.

 

[PattnFmly]

Count me in the camp that is glad Market Basket is back! Grocery costs are driving me crazy! DS's are now 13 and 15. I do also go to PriceRite and BJ's for some items, but I have to get back to couponing I guess. Used to be very good at it, but when life got so busy I stopped clipping. Time is money too, but now, I need all I can get! Ugh.

 

[java]

I coupon, but lately there have not been many food items, mostly health and beauty. So yes i save on those items. But the food! Yikes. And I have teenagers. One of them ate an entire pork tenderloin the other night. I left it on the stove to cool before i could stick it in the fridge. Guess i was too slow.

Bj"s did have some food item coupons, so i saved about $20 there yesterday. Hoping either prices fall a bit or salaries start to rise again. When they were talking about rising food prices abput a year ago i stocked up on some items, but now we have gone through that stuff. This week our store has oven stuffers on sale for .99 a pound. Guess I will be stocking up on those.

 

[kymom99]

I wanted to get some ground chuck for burgers and the price was high. Nothing on sale. So I looked at the frozen patties in the bag and they were $13.99 for a bag! I think they used to be less than $10! Crazy! But we gotta eat so I guess we just have to pay it.

 

[threecrazykids]

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.

I do this as well...but in a different order. I check the sale flyers first, match up any coupons (few and far between on food items) and then try to make my meal plan off what is the cheapest that week.

We have been very blessed that my mother gets me and my brothers meat for part of our Christmas present. She buys a cow and hog (or maybe 1/2...I don't know lol) and we split it, which gives us close to a full year of meat.
I only have to buy chicken throughout the year, which I buy from a friend in bulk when they butcher.
My husband also hunts so we have venison that I mix with the hamburger.

So meat isn't a huge portion of my budget, but with 3 teenagers my bill it still outrageous.

Also - I typically try to make the two stop shop - Aldi and Wal-Mart. BUT, if I don't have time to go to both places, I just price match everything at Wal-Mart - they price match Aldi's prices at our store as it's right next door and they know their every day prices as well as special ad prices. Between Hy-Vee, Fareway, and Aldi's sales I can make one stop at Wal-Mart and get my lowest possible prices.

 

[hsmamato2]

it's a part of rising costs globally.... droughts,storms,freezes,etc cause food supplies to rise in price-supply and demand is part of it.....that said I still do NOT enjoy the price hikes! I am thankful that I can still get what we need, but it is so much more $$$ than a year ago....Just a straight up Aldi run for the basic needs for the week (4 people,bunch of pets, all BIG boys except me) and I easily hit 130.00 in 10 minutes of shopping.
Aldi is still way cheaper than the local grocery stores.... but urgggg..... I recall about 1 1/2 years ago at Aldi I could get by easily on 60-75.00 per week..... in the short run, still the best deals for lots of good basic foods(much of it organic or GF) but oh the costs...as my DH says, compare that to just one average restaurant meal and he is still not stressed......

 

[MouseClubMama]

Last Thursday a pound of the Stop & Shop brand butter was $2.79, I returned to the store today and the butter was up to $3.19. Even fresh produce is outrageous; $2.00 a pound for red onions, and nearly $3.00 a pound for tomatoes, and even more depending on the variety. Not sure where this will all end, but I do know that rapidly rising food prices, combined with increases in utilities and housing, are taking a toll on family budgets nationwide. I like to keep a positive attitude, but I do have to admit these increases have me a little concerned for the future.

 

[Arielle22]

I buy most of my meat at BJs. I have a food saver machine and freeze what I am not eating that week.

One DD is a vegetarian and the other doesn't eat much meat so the meat lasts a while.

Shaws has a sale every 6 weeks or so on meat 4/$20 and I stock up on Perdue chicken then. I buy the perfect portions for convenience. I usually also get shredded steak and pub burgers then.

I started going to a local dairy over the summer for organic milk. It comes in glass bottles which I find quaint and good for the environment. It is pricey but I like the idea of supporting the local economy. I also buy my eggs there.

I coupon for paper products, cleaning products, health and beauty and some boxed food. I figure what I save there helps stretch my budget for the rest.

My DDs were home for the summer. Younger DD is back at college and I spent quite a bit getting her apt kitchen stocked up. Older DD is in the Disney College Program and we stocked her up when we dropped her off.

So for the next few months I am looking forward to lower food bills.

 

[mrodgers]

I come back to look around the forum and you folk are still talking about extremely cheap groceries as if it's killing you.

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.

$2.99 for a gallon of milk? When, 1984? Gallon of milk runs over $4/gallon and has for years. Eggs are cheap, even at $2. How often do you use eggs? If we don't have any from my wife's sister, we'll buy a dozen every 2 weeks or so.

If I saw $1.99 for OJ.... wait, you're saying $1.99/gallon? Orange juice run anywhere from $399-4.99 for a half gallon!

85/15 hamburger, I don't recall ever seeing it for $1.59/lb. When it was that price, I was just a kid. The cheap crap stuff at 85/15 is about $4.29. The crap 90/10 or 95/5 is about $4.99. If you get the stuff that is decent enough to eat, you're looking at $5.99. Thank goodness we have cows in the family. I have about 150 lb of hamburger in the freezer, and that was after splitting it up 4 ways. It's not that garbage corn fed stuff either. Rotationally grazed grass fed. We can't eat corn fed beef. There's no flavor whatsoever and it is like rubber.

I still think you all are stretching the truth. We spend about $250/week and we don't even buy many vegetables, any beef, or any eggs.

 

[The Wise One]

I come back to look around the forum and you folk are still talking about extremely cheap groceries as if it's killing you. $2.99 for a gallon of milk? When, 1984? Gallon of milk runs over $4/gallon and has for years. Eggs are cheap, even at $2. How often do you use eggs? If we don't have any from my wife's sister, we'll buy a dozen every 2 weeks or so. If I saw $1.99 for OJ.... wait, you're saying $1.99/gallon? Orange juice run anywhere from $399-4.99 for a half gallon! 85/15 hamburger, I don't recall ever seeing it for $1.59/lb. When it was that price, I was just a kid. The cheap crap stuff at 85/15 is about $4.29. The crap 90/10 or 95/5 is about $4.99. If you get the stuff that is decent enough to eat, you're looking at $5.99. Thank goodness we have cows in the family. I have about 150 lb of hamburger in the freezer, and that was after splitting it up 4 ways. It's not that garbage corn fed stuff either. Rotationally grazed grass fed. We can't eat corn fed beef. There's no flavor whatsoever and it is like rubber. I still think you all are stretching the truth. We spend about $250/week and we don't even buy many vegetables, any beef, or any eggs.

I was thinking the same thing!! I've never seen groceries so cheap. I pay AT LEAST $4 per gallon for milk and $5.30 for ground beef (and that's ON SALE). I don't drink OJ but I pay at least $2.50 for store brand apple juice. Do I live in a crazy expensive area or something? I buy all of my groceries either at Walmart or Publix.

 

[mrudman]

All depends on cost of living also. Yes, I can buy a gallon of milk here for $2.99 easily. But I also make 10-15k less than a nurse in, say, California. So can't really just look at grocery prices alone,

 

[usnuzuloose]

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.

Have you gone to the farmers markets? At least it is reasonable.

 

[MataHari22]

Food prices really are getting crazy. Wish I could get milk for $2.99 a gallon. I'm in PA. Here, a gallon of milk, is $4.17, and that is just the store brand. To get a "name brand" like Valley Farms is $4.70. I drink a lot of milk and it kills me to spend over $4 a gallon. I switched to the 2% just to keep it under $4 a gallon.

I do the best I can trying to watch my spending, but it's still more than I would like it to be, and it's just me that I am buying for! I have been tracking my spending this year, but I fell behind. I need to record my receipts from June until now. I think I was running about a $4.50 a day average on groceries. That isn't just food though. That is basically everything I buy from the store. I am thinking the average total will come down when I catch up on my records, because I had veggies and herbs from the garden during the summer, which was great. Never mind that I ate squash everyday for 4.5 weeks straight. Helped out my food cost. lol.

I do use the store flyer and buy things on sale, shop seasonal produce, and I hardly eat any meat, chicken thighs, mostly. Try and get those when they are 99¢ a pound.

As for coupons, they don't really work for me, every time that I ask my parents if they want their coupons, and they never do, so I go through them, and 95% of what is in there, is prepackaged food, which I do not buy. The bulk of my food is produce and dairy, followed by grains like quinoa, rice, oats and pasta, a lot of beans and very little meat. If I could get coupons for fruit, veg and milk, now that would be a help. The only "prepared" item in my cart today, was a treat of Oreos for myself.

I shop at the closest stores super Walmart (17 miles) or at Weis (14 miles). There is a Giant about 22 miles away, and a Wegman's, which is expensive IMO, about 30 miles away. I find the better prices to be at the first two stores anyway.

 

[tasha99]

All depends on cost of living also. Yes, I can buy a gallon of milk here for $2.99 easily. But I also make 10-15k less than a nurse in, say, California. So can't really just look at grocery prices alone,

Exactly. I've lived all over the continental US, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Higher grocery prices usually mean higher wages as well.

 

[superme80]

Have you gone to the farmers markets? At least it is reasonable.

When I can. The one in my town is pitiful. The one a few towns over is much nicer, but my car has been a pain this summer. So I haven't always made it down. I am going tomorrow!!!!

 

[leebee]

We have limited options on grocery stores up here- basically Hannaford and Shaw's, with a couple IGAs in the area. Milk is over $4 a gallon, butter over $3 a pound, eggs around $2.50 a dozen, $4.15 for a half gallon of half&half, and a "sale" on OJ is $2.50 a HALF gallon- and most of this is for store brand (except the OJ, won't do 'from concentrate'). Store brand bread is about $3 a loaf, $5 for any of the "name" whole-grain breads. Unfortunately, northern Maine isn't known for it's high income. It's getting really bad. I follow the sales as much as possible, but even then, I'm going to pay over $4 a pound for 25/75 hamburger. I buy a LOT of marked down meat, and freeze as much as I can. We have a Walmart, but the meat is peculiar, and having to buy in bulk at Sam's isn't cost effective for just 2 of us. The farmer's markets aren't a lot of help for produce; there's plenty, but it costs as much or more than in the grocery stores! And soon, there'll be heating oil to buy… but that's another story for another thread!

Thanks to all of you in MA and NH who held tight, spent more money, and supported the workers at Market Basket. When I go visit my sister in southern Maine, I try to stock up at the Market Basket in Portsmouth. It's just SO much cheaper than anything in my neck of the woods. I know it was a tough, expensive summer for you guys, but Artie T is back and Demoulas/Market Basket is open for business!

 

[java]

Yesterday I saw Regular OM bacon on "sale" for $7.99!

My options are getting pretty limited. Oven stuffer roasters were on sale for .99 a pound so i stocked up as much as i could in my small freezer.

 

[Judique]

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 really want a few chickens also! I used to have an employee who supplied me with country eggs for $1.25 a dozen, but she is now retired. Not sure I'm allowed to keep chickens on my property but just recently I've been hearing a rooster crowing in the distance. Our area is a mix of small farms and residential, so I will have to check zoning.

 

[Jeff_G]

Have you gone to the farmers markets? At least it is reasonable.

In my area most of the produce sold at the farmers markets is trucked in from out of state!

Vendor after vendor we asked where does your produce come from and their answer was California... Only a few vendor selling things grown locally. As far as prices, they are more expensive then the grocery stores...

I think the farmers markets in my area have become the next fad / scam. Sad really.

 

[cdrn1]

My hubby is the shopper in our family but I went last night for a few things for the weekend. Talk about sticker shock! I bought a chicken for $9 and a 2 pound chuck roast was $9 something as well. A box of club crackers was $4.17. I spent over a hundred bucks and only had three bags.