Affording your new lifestyle: tips and tricks for the grocery store!

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Replies

  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Great post!!!

    I have a tip that I learned recently - my SIL showed me the paper products and how in the bulk sizes, you are sometimes paying a much higher price per unit - which is the opposite of what we assume! So always check the 'per unit' price which should be on the display to make sure you're not paying more by buying more.
  • WVprankster
    WVprankster Posts: 430 Member
    protein will always be the most expensive macro. So, to make it cheaper, look for bulk. Eggs are cheap (eat the yolks, too, for chrissakes), and chicken boob in my area is consistently 1.83$/pound. Big box stores are your friend, for more than just food.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    Great post!!!

    I have a tip that I learned recently - my SIL showed me the paper products and how in the bulk sizes, you are sometimes paying a much higher price per unit - which is the opposite of what we assume! So always check the 'per unit' price which should be on the display to make sure you're not paying more by buying more.

    I always do that! It is surprising when the "bulk" packs can cost more per pound/unit/ect. It's that way with the biggest jar of olives I can get at the store; it's a better value to buy multiple of the smaller containers!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    Great post!!!

    I have a tip that I learned recently - my SIL showed me the paper products and how in the bulk sizes, you are sometimes paying a much higher price per unit - which is the opposite of what we assume! So always check the 'per unit' price which should be on the display to make sure you're not paying more by buying more.

    Yeah it's what it's like for cat litter too. Boggles my mind. And often even on sale, some items are cheaper if you buy a bigger package. Always got to check.

    I assume you have no freezer, but frozen veggies are way cheaper than a lot of fresh produce here.
  • corgicake
    corgicake Posts: 846 Member
    If it doesn't need to be kept in the fridge or freezer, it's worth seeing if it be had on the internet for less. This goes double for non-drivers. Mail order/internet outfits have sale cycles too so learn them along with those of your local grocery stores. If you're vegetarian/vegan, making your own not-meat is cheap and easy and the ingredients travel well. Don't pay full price because "nothing good is marked down this week" - there is always something healthy that can be made using only things on the sale sheet, I promise. Always read package sizing on in-store items even if you're getting multiples of the same item.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    Great post!!!

    I have a tip that I learned recently - my SIL showed me the paper products and how in the bulk sizes, you are sometimes paying a much higher price per unit - which is the opposite of what we assume! So always check the 'per unit' price which should be on the display to make sure you're not paying more by buying more.

    Yeah it's what it's like for cat litter too. Boggles my mind. And often even on sale, some items are cheaper if you buy a bigger package. Always got to check.

    I assume you have no freezer, but frozen veggies are way cheaper than a lot of fresh produce here.

    I like frozen as a last resort; they're easy if what I need isn't in season (like asparagus). Texture wise, I try to avoid them. I also find that fresh produce tastes much better, and I like the texture more when it's cooked fresh.

    But, I cannot get enough of those Steamfresh steamers. When I can get those on sale and with a coupon, I go all out, lol.

  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    My best money saving tip is: meal plan.

    We plan our meals for the week and shop based on that list. That way we are only buying what we will actually be eating and nothing goes bad.

    We usually look at the store ads and plan our meals based on what's on sale. We will shop at three or four different stores (it only takes an hour or so) each week to hit the different sale items.
  • Thank you so much for this excellent post! It helped a lot :smiley:
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    10868216_628577143914439_4043144741882764086_n.jpg?oh=ed516c2db2f5f086a1368ba0d22a3199&oe=54FDBB63
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    yoovie wrote: »
    10868216_628577143914439_4043144741882764086_n.jpg?oh=ed516c2db2f5f086a1368ba0d22a3199&oe=54FDBB63

    Lol!
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Thank you so much for this excellent post! It helped a lot :smiley:

    You're welcome!
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    yoovie wrote: »
    10868216_628577143914439_4043144741882764086_n.jpg?oh=ed516c2db2f5f086a1368ba0d22a3199&oe=54FDBB63

    Lol!
    But, you can buy organic and not turn into the second photo! I actually got a great deal on organic carrots today for a 1lb bag; only $.99! Only reason why I didn't buy the 2lb non-organic bag ($1.99) was because I only needed 1lb for a soup I'm making. So I saved by only buying what I needed. I could have bought a second one as well, and saved a penny on 2lbs total.
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    I recently discovered that my local grocery store has an app where I can download coupons. They even have some for produce and meats. After I spend so much at the store I'll get a coupon for $5 off my next grocery bill.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,839 Member
    Great post! If you are looking for more hints for saving money at the supermarket or cooking, the magic search word is frugal. Google 'frugal groceries,' 'frugal recipes,' etc. and you'll find links to lots of sites with great suggestions.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Great post! If you are looking for more hints for saving money at the supermarket or cooking, the magic search word is frugal. Google 'frugal groceries,' 'frugal recipes,' etc. and you'll find links to lots of sites with great suggestions.

    Yep! I am in the process of making a huge batch of chicken soup right now, and without factoring in the spices I already had on hand, it only cost me $6.97 to make. I'll easily get 4-6 servings out of this. Cooking in bulk with inexpensive ingredients or stuff on sale is so helpful!
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    great post!
  • caseythelab
    caseythelab Posts: 25 Member
    I stumbled across this website and it is amazing what this woman comes up with. I live far from California, so I don't have the same year-round produce available, but it's still pretty awesome: http://www.poorgirleatswell.com/
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    seconding poor girl eats well.
  • tlblood
    tlblood Posts: 473 Member
    *save for later*
  • Phrick wrote: »
    Saw the post up there saying $1.79 for a gallon of milk and I just about choked: a fabulous sale price for 1 gallon where I live is $3.29 for store brand, and they FLY off the shelves when it goes on that markdown. .

    $3.29 is one of the cheaper prices around me for milk also. Kroger has milk 2/$5 right now ( and often do) If I am out of ( or close to it) then I buy 4 gallons at a time. We can easily go through 3 gallons a week with 2 adults and 3 (sometimes 4 or more) kids here.

    Prices on everything else seem to just keep rising. Planning on checking my local Fresh Thyme, as I hear they have good produce prices.

    OP, I'm not a college student but as a mom on a budget, I am constantly looking to save.

  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Dessalena wrote: »
    Phrick wrote: »
    Saw the post up there saying $1.79 for a gallon of milk and I just about choked: a fabulous sale price for 1 gallon where I live is $3.29 for store brand, and they FLY off the shelves when it goes on that markdown. .

    $3.29 is one of the cheaper prices around me for milk also. Kroger has milk 2/$5 right now ( and often do) If I am out of ( or close to it) then I buy 4 gallons at a time. We can easily go through 3 gallons a week with 2 adults and 3 (sometimes 4 or more) kids here.

    Prices on everything else seem to just keep rising. Planning on checking my local Fresh Thyme, as I hear they have good produce prices.

    OP, I'm not a college student but as a mom on a budget, I am constantly looking to save.

    Milk is definitely one of those regional things. Luckily its inexpensive here; I don't drink it, but use it for baking and cooking. I can get one of the smallest bottles for only $1.59, and the gallons aren't much more expensive than what I buy.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Gonna reiterate my point on cheap meat (if you are a meat eater).

    I just got two giant NY Strip steaks today (1.34lb for both) for a little over $7. They usually go for $10.99lb, but I got them on clearance for a little over $3.50 each.

    Their sell by date is in 2 days, which is more than enough time to marinate them, cook them up, and enjoy them. I can also cut them into four separate steaks, so each steak will only be around $1.75 each. What a steal!
  • mykaylis
    mykaylis Posts: 320 Member
    Kenda2427 wrote: »
    The price of food in the US is much lower than Canada. I envy the prices I see. The cheapest bananas ever are is .77/lb at Walmart. We spend $150 every week for two people and I bake snacks for hubby's lunch to keep costs down. That being said he doesn't like a lot of generic brands so that doesn't help and couponing isn't that great here, no double coupon days and things like that.

    i'm with you. there's a site called hillbillyhousewife and they had an "emergency menu" that was supposedly $45 when it was written. i went to my local cheapest grocer and priced it out at over $90. granted a little of that was inflation, but it just goes to show you, prices are really not anywhere near each other!
  • firesweetheart
    firesweetheart Posts: 92 Member
    In to save this for money saving tips! And the great job OP did
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
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    Just got all of this for $10! Huge sale going on at my local store.
    Basil is usually about $1.99 per 1oz container, but they had this 4oz container on sale for $2.50 if you bought four qualifying items.

    Pays to look at the sale flyer. :)
    sale.jpg 111.8K
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I go to a tiny "organic" store across the street. 20 bucks gets me like cottage cheese, eggs, and bread I swear. It is absolutely killing my bank account.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    $20 gets me *non-organic* cheese, $8, ham, $5, eggs, $4, and almost some milk where I live.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Oh okay, maybe it's not that bad then.
  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    $5 for a tub of prepared salad?? How much would a lettuce cost?
  • Th3Ph03n1x
    Th3Ph03n1x Posts: 275 Member
    Great tips I can't wrap my head around the extreme couponing. I know people do great with it but I just don't have the time to devote to this AND pan what I eat, keep up with the kids/cats/house/job and exercise.

    One thing I do is comb my stores flyers for sales and plan my menu around what meats/produce they have on sale when I can (it works out really well in the warm months because they tend to put barbecue favorites on sale a lot. That has saved me a bit. Plus I get rewards points DH can use for gas discounts.
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