Everyone is a buzz with the costs at the grocery store. Yes, things have gone up and they will continue to go up for a while. The powers that be can say - we are GOING into recession - in my opinion we are there!!! Have been for a while. Just me.
As much as prices have gone up, you can still save and get a deal or two. You have to pay attention - close attention. You have to be selective. You need to buy those loss leaders.
When I do go to the store - it is basically only for the loss leaders and clearance - that is it (except cat food).
When you can get a deal - get as many as you can or as many as you can use in the next few months. Add to your deep pantry and freezer.
I only buy fresh fruit and veggies IF on a digital coupon sale or clearance - period! Otherwise I will get frozen.
I only get meat on digital coupon or clearance as well - period!
The best deals I have noticed over the past month in our area:
Ground beef - 2.49/lb.
Bacon - 3.99/lb.
Milk 1.29 half gal. (way better than gallon price)
OJ - 1.29 half gal. (way better than gallon price)
Watermelons - 2.99
Melons - 2/$4
Peaches - .99/lb.
Ribs - 2.99 lb.
Butter - 2.79 lb.
Chicken parts - 1.29 - 1.99 lb.
TP - 8-12 packs from 3.99 to 4.99 BIG rolls
Seedless grapes - .99 lb.
I get produce in the clearance bin for .99/bag. Being just me - I don't need as much per week, and I can get extra and freeze or can. I often get bags of 6 - 8 nice baking potatoes for .99. There are always bags of Roma tomatoes (12-15 per). Colored bell peppers 3-4 per bag for .99. Banana - .39 lb.
I wait for any sales on meat. I can get sausage, hotdogs, burger, pork loins, etc. on the digital coupons. Clearance meat in my area is usually still way overpriced and not fresh looking.
Check your main aisles for assorted clearance - it can be anything from pet supplies, to OTC medical to food items. Most stores have a main clearance section.
I also look at the bakery markdowns - there is always a rack full of things.
Bread clearance - bread, buns, bagels, donuts, etc.
Freezer department usually has a section with clearance as well. I have even purchased ice cream on clearance.
If you have the time and you are disciplined to not over shop - also look for manager's specials. Kroger does these all through the store - these are items that they plan on removing from their inventory in the future. They have stuff marked way down to get rid of it. I have in the past purchased canned tomatoes for .29/can or rice products for .59/box. I even got hickory flavored canned Spam for a huge discount. (Yes, I like Spam now and then).
You really need to pay attention and always be alert. You need to get those digital items (and only those) when you see a deal. They are trying to draw you in with those deals, hoping to get you to spend on other stuff. Hey, we can PLAY to GAME too!!!!!!
ALWAYS check the clearance sections.
Get to be friends with managers or workers - to find out when most markdowns happen.
Have a friend or relative that let you know when there is a deal you could use. We all need that support group or person.
So yes, my friends, prices are up - but do not despair. You can still get deals and find decent priced items. It takes patience. It takes attentiveness. Make sure you stock up when you can.
ONLY YOU can prepare your lauder for the future.
SAVE, SAVE, SAVE
Your grocery prices are amazing compared to the PNW! We still, like you, shop sells and loss leaders and save lots of money. Having a freezer and watching for sells is a huge help. Also, eating leftovers and/or freezing for another meal helps a lot! Fortunately, my husband enjoys leftovers . . . Blessings.
ReplyDeleteI realize that prices vary in different regions - but yes, you can still get deals like you said. You just have to shop smartly.
DeleteFreeze, can, pantry, it all adds up. Cooking from scratch and eating at home saves a on and eating them leftovers for sure!!!!
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Your prices are certainly much better than ours. None of our grocery chains have clearance bins for produce - those are given to the local food bank and I've only ever seen clearance bread items at Walmart.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't disagree that there are bargains out there, but one needs to know the regular prices to find them. I've seen signs proclaiming a sale on something, when in fact, it is just a few cents below the regular price. I'm so fortunate to have four grocery stores within a 5-10 minute drive from my home so I can price compare.
Indeed, you need to know the prices!!!! Good tip.
DeleteI don't do Walmart much - so I can't compare them. We have a variety of different stores, so lots of competition here.
We most generally have clearance in every department at our stores. Watch, know prices, and gather those deals. Wise.
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Seldom are there sale prices on items I buy. Cheese is an exception and I stock the freezer up to 10pounds when it is on sale. Clearance is nearly nonexistent here.
ReplyDeleteCostco has monthly specials and a few items we use hit 1-2x/year.
Depending on what it is I may stock up 6m worth but not on every item.
We eat whole foods and mostly organic so we've made the choice to spend more.
Bananas have not been below $0.59/lb for over a year. That said, they haven't gone up here either-I just bought organic bananas yesterday at that price.
I know I would shop/choose differently if I were restricted to $100/month as many people are. I don't take my Blessings for granted.
I even find organic produce on clearance at times. Not often. Cheese has been on sale a lot around here all summer. Super prices.
DeleteBanana average 59/lb. here - but now and then there are some in clearance and they are .39/lb.
Absolutely, we make our choices and do what we can within our means. We are indeed, blessed!
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Wow! Those ARE good deals, Cheryl. Like Maebeme, I haven't seen prices that low in our area, and our stores also don't have produce (or bakery) clearance bins. There are manager's unadvertised specials, though, on rare occasions. On Sunday I found 16 oz. packages of bratwurst sausage links at Safeway for $1.99, which is $5 off the Johnsonville brand price. I bought 4. Could've bought a bunch more, but didn't want to be greedy.
ReplyDeleteAll great ideas that you've shared! May I just add that for those of us over 60, many chain stores have a senior discount day? Usually that's 10-15% your total purchase. Even of sale items.
--Elise
Oops! Forgot to sign in! Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Delete--Elise
The mid section of the country is a rather inexpensive place to live. We do have good prices, I generally see good stock and variety as well.
DeleteMost stores around here, did away with senior day a few years back. I am glad some are still doing that.
Thant was a good deal on the brats! I don't clear a shelf generally, but it is OK to be a little greedy sometimes, to fill your freezer and feed your family!
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I pretty much just shop at Aldi- preCovid I might go to 3 other stores but now I am in and out in 15 minutes. I do shop with a list and buy very little meat. I get my produce from a weekly farm share. It’s not cheap but just picked so lasts a long time. Today I’ll be getting Romaine lettuce, SC peaches, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and Vidalia onions- I choose from a list including fresh bakery Artisan bread. I pick 5 but can add on for $3 each. I’m fortunate I don’t have to pinch pennies but I’m still frugal. Nan
ReplyDeleteAldi is a great place. I usually go to one store - maybe 2. Love the idea of the farm share - fresh is wonderful.
DeleteI totally understand about JUST being frugal - it is plain old wise to do. Sure you can buy what you want, but why not stretch it as far as possible? Love that.
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Great tips! Our major chain stores don't have the good clearance racks, but our smaller locally-owned stores do, and one of them has GREAT deals and packaged in more usable quantities.
ReplyDeleteI'd also add a couple of other things -- If you have a rural farming area nearby, consider buying your fresh produce directly from the farm stand and support local agriculture. Farmers Markets are nice to have in the community, but you're still paying for the transport of the produce and you'll likely pay more than if you went to the farm.
Also, for things you don't use often, go with a smaller size, even if it's more per-ounce. In times like this, it doesn't pay to buy the larger size and throw out what you don't use. For canned vegetables, I like to have a variety and have been purchasing the small single-serve cans (I'm widowed and cook for one), rather than the family size. Although the per-ounce price is higher, I'd rather spend $0.49 than $0.95 and throw away half a can. I'm no longer buying full-size packages of bacon. The stores near me have thick cut and peppered bacon in the meat case (or deli case, at one store). I'll buy it 3-4 pieces at a time, or maybe 6 pieces if I'm making BLTs for dinner and may want a heftier sandwich. Don't be afraid to ask for 1/4# of deli ham, one scoop of coleslaw or potato salad. Get the quantity you'll USE. For meat for a casserole, I'll go to the meat case and get 1/2# of ground beef or 1/4# Italian sausage, or one pork cutlet. Yes, I could buy a 5-pack of sausage links and cut one open, but why, when I can get exactly what I need for about 1/4 of the price and it doesn't have to have the casing removed. Freezer space is limited for me, so I've been getting a 4-pack of HB and/or HD buns, when I can find them, because I know I can use that quantity before they turn green; an 8-pack, not so much. Hope this helps.
Great suggestions, especially for those shopping for one. Those smaller cans are wise if you don't eat leftovers or only want something once in a while. I still get bacon by the pound - fry it all up - then freeze what is left for other meals. Just pull out what I need and reheat - always crispy.
DeleteI buy meat in regular packs as well, and repack and freeze - BUT I have a big freezer. That makes a big difference. I have never seen a 4 pack of buns around here - that is neat!
You gave some great ideas.
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When the store does loss leaders we'll use, I absolutely stock up. But out of the 10 or so from last week? I got peaches!
ReplyDeleteThat's it! Lots of chips and stuff that we don't use. About twice per year I actually find something good in clearance. I just happened to be standing there when the employee pulled up with a cart of shampoo and such. But never food. It's usually home decor, make up, and a couple of vitamins or such. And while we have a mark down area for produce, it's either empty or has something I can't identify lol!! Lots of okra lately. Ugh. Bargains are tough to find right now. And our store has no competition. The best deals are a bit of a drive to Aldi and Trader Joe's. Our local milk is up to $4.59 per gallon. Cheese is the one thing that we can regularly find a good deal for. Fortunately we're not food snobs so we make do. And we always have our monthly fancy date for hot dogs at Sam's club!!!
I'm definitely gonna start asking around about a farm share. Our peach farm should open any time now and they might be able to hook us up.
Peaches are so good fresh and now is the time. Orchards are a good place to look for all kinds of fresh produce.
DeleteSome days it is YOUR day - when you are in the right place at the right time! That is crazy price on milk. Thank goodness, I can still get milk at a reasonable price - I love milk.
I may go to a farm stand on Friday - to see what they have.
A deal is a deal and we need to grab them when we can.
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Yes! The deals are there but you have to look hard and work to get them. We went to two stores and got ten bags of groceries including meat, eggs, butter and produce for about $40 today. These were the high priced stores in our area.
ReplyDeleteI would say you did fantastic! 10 bags for $40 sounds like a deal to me. Yes, one has to look - they aren't as abundant as the old days!
DeleteYou are the Queen of Finding Bargains! We usually go to Meijer for the majority of our shopping and Fresh Thyme if there is something in the ad that looks intriguing. The Farmer goes to the eye specialist tomorrow so I will probably stop at Trader Joe's to check things out. Even though we didn't have enough tomatoes or green beans to can, we are enjoying the produce from the garden. Looks like we are going to have a ton of sweet potatoes. Cukes and zukes are mostly done.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you but I'm about ready to some cooler weather.
LOL - thanks. It takes some searching and paying close attention. I wish Meijer was a bit closer, I would go there more.
DeleteAnything we get is wonderful - I know some people are canning like crazy, and others not so much. The heat has affected things this year. It sure has been humid!
I wish we could get the sales that you do. It takes a bit of hunting up here in small city Saskatchewan, but I still manage to find a few.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
We just have a lot of competition, so there are decent sales. Prices have gone up here, but I don't see what a lot of people are seeing. Must be all about location. Glad you are finding deals here and there.
DeleteWhat is a loss leader? Thanks!
ReplyDelete—Melanie
That is that crazily priced item to get you in the doors. The stores actually lose money on them - but it gets you in. Their hope is that you will buy other things, and they will make some money off you.
DeleteWe can all play the game. I go and get those super-duper specials and that is it!
They aren't tricking this gal!