I see "prices 20% higher this week", "doubled in last month", etc.
I guess they know what they are talking about - but it sure isn't happening here.
I do believe we have maintained pricing or lowered for at least a year. Now I know this part of the country is known for lower living costs than most of the nation. Housing, food, gas, etc. are generally less expensive than other areas.
We have been having fantastic sales on all types of meat for at least the past 6 - 8 months. Meat sales have given us meat for cheaper prices than we have seen in years. Most of us know this probably won't last - thus stocking up big time when the opportunity presents itself.
Milk and other dairy and eggs have been cheap for most of the year. I never pay over 1.39/gallon for milk. Eggs range from .49 - .99 dozen. I remember paying as much as 1.99 last year. Milk was almost $3 or more last year. Cheese has been quite inexpensive.
I see sales for canned goods 3/$1 - super cheap here. Many items that have been close to a dollar are now .59 - .69 a can.
I have to admit that it IS SALES that offer these great prices, but they have been happening a lot!!!!! Meat that isn't often on sale (like steaks) is still too pricey in my opinion.
Now I have to admit the BOGO generally aren't all that great. I tend to find sales that make items cheaper. 10/$10 isn't always a deal either. Many weeks stores have specials that are cheaper.
EXAMPLE: I noticed 6 pack bottles of pop were BOGO - reg. price 4.99/a 6 pack. That makes them 2.50 each. Kroger often has sales for 6 packs for 1.99. Doesn't sound like much but .51 here and there adds up (I don't hardly every buy - just noticed prices).
Pasta is often 10/$10. Certain times in the year I find it on sale for .69 - .89/lb. I generally find it in the clearance aisle for .39 - .49/lb. I stock up then.
I know that come November and December sugar, flour, all baking goods, stuffing mix, cream of soups, broth, rolls, bread, certain meats, fresh produce, etc. will be reduced. TAKE ADVANTAGE - I know I will.
I am just hoping that the prices continues to maintain or stay low for the near future. we have truly been enjoying the discounted prices. Blessed for sure.
What is going on in your area? Increasing? Decreasing? Same?
Do you take advantage of cheap prices when you can?
I love hearing about other areas and countries.
WHAT SAY YOU
I have found that prices are actually cheaper except for fresh fruit and veggies. this is good except for the farmers that produce our food. When food becomes really cheap that usually means we are headed for a recession. Something has to give some where. This is why I stock up.
ReplyDeleteI do realize the farmers can't be making a decent living any more. I have heard of several cattle farms that have gone under or sold off in the past year or two. That is incredibly sad.
DeleteI never really thought about a recession - I am sure it could happen.
I want to be prepared for anything as well. You just never know now days.
It's perplexing here in NE Texas. Most of our vegetables and fruit for sale in the markets come from other countries! It seems to me that we would be able to buy Texas raised vegetables at a reasonable price, but apparently they get a better price shipping them out to other states and countries.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that something? I have heard that about crops grown in Hawaii and in Florida as well.
DeleteSeems like homegrown would be what people want - but I guess the growers look out for themselves.
It’s been something for many years now
DeleteThat seems such a shame
DeleteHere in florida you would think citrus,seafood would be cheaper.
ReplyDeleteIt is not so,oranges are always higher priced. Seafood is high also. Those products are shipped to other states and sold there. I read frugal bloggers who talk about double coupons,Aldi giving coupons. There is no one here doubling coupons. As for aldis coupons,I don't know anyone here who's seen one yet.
I never buy produce at the grocery store,we live in a very rural area and buy from farmers markets or the farmers themselves.
I follow your example miss cheryl,love the dollar tree store, aldis and salvage stores. I purchased very expensive tea at the salvage store. It came in fancy tins,20 bags to a tin. I paid fifty cents a tin. When I looked up the price on amazon it was
10.99 to 14.99 depending on the flavor. I went back and bought almost all of it! Frugal luxuries are the best. I read your blog
Almost daily and enjoy it immensely.
It is so crazy that you can't get your own states products cheaply.
DeleteNo one doubles coupons here any more either. it has been several years now. Generally each fall Aldi in our area has $5 off coupons if you spend $25 or $30. That only happens around the holidays.
What an absolute fantastic deal on the tea! I would have bought it all too. Good job.
I love that sentence - "frugal luxuries are the best".
Thank you for following and contributing. We all work this together!
Hi Cheryl and everyone,
DeleteOur Kroger stopped doubling coupons too. I was disappointed when that happened. Aldi gave out coupons to get us to visit a different location while our regular store was being renovated. They needed to as the other store was in a BAD neighborhood! Sometimes (around holidays) there is a $5 off of a certain amount bought coupon attached to the Sunday newspaper. That is rare, though.
I have been taking advantage of sale prices too, to add to my storage. Trying to keep storage to 6 month's due to space limitations and just 2 of us. I am good about rotating items. If I throw out food, it wasn't a bargain.
I too worry about the farmers and our future crops due to the crazy weather. God is in control, though, so I do what I can to be a good steward, and leave the rest up to Him. Perhaps we are all being called to be like Joseph on the Bible, and store up during the "fat" years for the lean years to come.
Ellie I think being a good steward of what we have is the way we should all live. We have been blessed and should not be wasteful. There are so many who have nothing.
DeleteYes mam, God is in control of everything. Good analogy - I do believe that is what we are all doing.
Thanks for that view.
The tea would also make nice gifts.
Deletesandy it sue would. Maybe add a pretty little thrift teacup?
DeleteWith all the storms won't some grocery items go up in price?? for one thing I was told those states raise a very big portion of the chickens we eat. What have you heard? Sarah
ReplyDeleteI do believe that pecans and peanuts may go up in the next year. There were some pecan groves that were completely destroyed by the last hurricane. I am not sure about chickens and where the most of them are raised.
DeleteAny crops that are primarily grown in the south will probably go up.
Good reason to stock up now and prepare.
Mainly stuff is increasing but especially meat. In Australia we have had a huge drought over a big area. So this explains a lot. But also.... fuel prices have gone up hugely so everything trucked costs more to move... this is going to really add to prices I think. Also possibly some trucking companies will go under. All this means we watch for deals like crazy and are very careful with food. Waste nothing! And another is getting ahead in other ways so there is some spare money when we do see good deals we can swoop!
ReplyDeleteYou have really had dry weather for ages there. we think about what the hurricanes can do here - but drought can be even more devastating. Gas prices have so much to do with pricing. We need the truckers and the grocery companies know it.
DeleteThey kind of have everyone in a vice. We have to eat, so we will pay.
You are wonderful about bartering and gleaning. You use everything up. YOU my lady, are a great example of a good steward. You are a motivation to us all.
After reading this and all the comments, I want to just stay home and grow everything I eat!! Lol The only real food sale I got this week was red and yellow delicious apples from Waverly Mo, for 75 cents a pound. They are little apples and really good! I ordered a hydroponic tower off ebay. I think dh got tired of listening to me about it! I can get the jest of how it all works from this one, then make my own from now on. Can't wait to be eating fresh spinach and kale all winter! BTW, garden class stunk again, maybe next week will be better!! LOL Have a great weekend Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteI know right? It would be cheaper and healthier to grown as much as we can.
DeleteCool on the hydroponic tower. Hope you get it to perform well for you and you have lots of good yummy fresh greens this winter!!!!
Sorry the class has been hit or miss. I guess all classes were that way (at least for me). Some days I liked school others I didn't.
You have a good one as well.
I am curious if you have priced milk at your Sav-a-Lot. Here it is $3.79 a gallon. No stores in my area have milk as cheap as you are finding it.
ReplyDeleteSav-A-lot is the most expensive here (on milk). I think it is close to $3. Aldi is cheap and I usually get mine at Kroger - never more than 1.49
DeleteI have noticed it changes at WalMart - cheap to expensive - you just have to catch it at the right time.
I have heard East and West coasts are pretty darn expensive on milk - don't know where you live.
Good luck
I think food prices are higher. I am out of ground cloves, so had hoped to pick up a container on my last shopping trip. I went to several stores, the price was over $6 for the smallest container. I did without and will look around at the dollar store or for a little baggie of it at a better price.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that your area is expensive. yes, you may find that spice at the dollar store or if you have an Asian (India) store - you might check them.
DeleteSpices are probably the most expensive thing I see at the store. It pays to shop around - and definitely check ethnic stores.
Is it a recipe you could substitute something else for? Maybe pumpkin pie spice or just cinnamon.
Hope you find it cheaper.
I live in VA,and we have been having some good sales lately. Do hope it continues so I can keep stocking up before the holidays.
ReplyDeleteI did read that a lot of dairy farmers are struggling and going out of business which may make milk and cheese cheap now, but it will be more expensive later.
I like the analogy about Joseph. I wonder if we are being nudged to stock up now for the lean years ahead.
Kathy I hope the good prices continue through the holidays as well. There are so many special items that will be cheaper for the holidays - I like to get enough to last the year.
DeleteIt is so sad that many farmers can't make it any more.
The prices can't last forever - so we should be vigil now.
Yes I liked that analogy as well. I don't believe anything JUST happens - definitely think we are being nudged!
Cheryl, apparently I'm your problem poster! Even though I can't post replies to you on my computer, I have been able to read. But today your blog and Rivercrest Cottage got red flagged for malware. :( I wanted to let you know.
ReplyDeleteWHAT? Oh my, I have not had any problems. I keep deleting a person that appears to be spam. No one else has said they had a problem. Goodness I hope nothing is wrong.
DeleteSorry!!!
I'm computer illiterate so I know nothing, but I wanted you to be aware, just in case. Nothing bad shows up on my phone so I'm stumped.
DeleteThanks Debby - hoping there are no problems.
DeleteAldi here has the cheapest 15 milk was $2.10 then went to $2.25 two weeks ago. Still the cheapest around here though. I live in S. California. Getting milk for $1.49 a gallon would be unheard of !! LOL Eggs off and on 99c at Aldi and occasional at other stores but then Aldi as well as others go up to close to $2 + for a dozen large ones. They had been $3 or more for a while this spring. This was unusual though. We have had lots of good meat sale but many I hear on blogs have been cheaper. But for here they were lower than a normal sale price. As you say we just have to do the best we can. I think of it as a game and don't get stressed over it all. So many times we get wins so we are ahead !! Sarah
ReplyDeleteSarah you are correct it is a game and the grocers don't want us to win. It feels good to get one up on them now and then!!!
DeleteGlad you are getting some decent sales and taking advantage.
I guess regions of the country are all different. Depends of the cost of living.
Stay steadfast and get those deals.
I have gotten to a point in my pantry where I ONLY buy what is on sale each week. Kroger often has a few Friday Saturday specials where you can buy special products at a very discounted rate with your shoppers card. They limit it to 5, but often times that may be the only item I get that week. I'm also seeing a nice decrease in our budget by doing that and just shopping sales.
ReplyDeleteRachel same here. I generally only buy sale/clearance items. That is why it pays to have a stocked pantry and know how to cook from scratch.
DeleteKroger really does have some great deals. I do Aldi once in a while - but Kroger is my main go to.
Keep on saving!
I just got 38 boxes of pasta on sale. They were 88¢ each. So I bought 20 originally. Then the register spit out a $2 off 6 boxes so I did that 3 more times. I gave my last coupon to a friend that was happy to use it. I am good for 6 months on pasta and it is the brand hubby loves.
ReplyDeleteChicken has been cheaper this year. We have been eating a lot more of it because of the price. I only buy red meat when it is on a great sale or marked down.
Thanks for another great article. Stores are always trying to trick us into spending more money. We really have to know our prices. I am lucky because I have so many different store close by. I just go and get the best priced item at each store. If I lived far from stores I wouldn't be able to shop this way. I would have to take gas costs into the equation then.
Great deal on pasta - you go girl.
DeleteThat is the key - KNOW YOUR PRICES! I am close to many different stores as well - so it can be done easily here as well. I can just make the rounds and hit most if needed.
There are a couple a distance away - so trips to those are planned to do other errands.
Gas is also a thing we need to save on as well!
Thank you