How is everyone managing high grocery costs? I’m coping by shifting 75-80% of my grocery shopping to Aldi. In Florida, where I live, Publix is the large grocery store chain. It seems like they’ve nearly doubled the cost of their groceries. I can’t go in there and buy much of anything for at least $35. It’s exhausting.
I also use Costco, but not a lot for groceries. I can only get certain things at Publix, like nuts, seasonings, etc., but today I bought my weekly groceries at Aldi and I spent like $62. Last week I went grocery shopping at Publix, and bought lots of non-food items that I needed, making it more expensive. But my bill ended up being $180! Granted, I did a bunch of impulse buying, but really, $180 is not sustainable for one person every week. How is everyone else managing?
I wish we had an Aldi nearby, I hear so many good things about it. I save by cooking meals around whatever is on sale during the week. I tend to cook meals that yield leftovers the next day as well. Our food spending is still pretty high compared to other families I’m sure but we try to get lots of fresh fruits and veggies for the kids and good nutrition overall. And we also like to have meat each meal as well. We ended up canceling our Costco membership to save money – i can’t seem to get out of that store without spending $200 every time. The result is not that our other grocery spending went up by $200 it’s just less miscellaneous things that we buy (for example, i just do without cases of lemon bars). Also, we often found ourselves unsuccessful eating all the perishables before they went bad.
I also use Aldi for the majority of the household food. It’s significantly less expensive than the other grocery store in town-Hannaford’s. My husband works at Hannaford’s and when I ask him to pick up something he does it where he works, and I wish he would just cross the street to go to Aldi.
Regardless, we use Aldi, and make a trip to Costco for a few things in bulk. But I go with a list and stick to it pretty well since I bring cash to use. (we buy paper products and meat there)
I use cash for all groceries since it is so easy to spend on food. We spend $500 a month for 4 people. Our meals are pretty basic. I buy frozen veggies but fresh fruit. Lots of chicken. We eat leftovers.
Yes, @lismox . It’s challenging, and I too do a whole lot of shopping at Aldi and HEB. What I do is buy gift cards each month for those two stores (I usually have carryover from month to month), and then when I see nice specials at other stores (Randall’s, Kroger, etc.), then I go there. Like now, I’m buying up roasts when I can get them for $3.99/$4.99 per lb. for my winter cooking. First up when my appetite improves, is Mississippi Pot Roast.
Lest I forget, I also hit Trader Joe’s for some things as well, but the bulk is done at HEB and Aldi. It helps. You know what else helps? When I shop, I’m not shopping for staples except for things like eggs, bread, almond milk. I make sure I always have a variety of rice, pastas, tomato sauces, almond milk, canned meats, pancake mix, cereals (I’m up to two cereal keepers now), olive oil, avocado oil, canned and frozen veggies, and my rock star…chicken broth and stock–on hand always. Should my freezer die tomorrow, I could still get a meal on the table. So I know what my staples are and let them be my guide. If I were a baker, then I would have baking supplies like flour, sugar, etc., on hand, but I’m not so I don’t load up on those until I have company, One other thing, when butter was on sale throughout the year, I was buying up for my sister-in-law who is a baker. I noticed butter coming down, and eggs are back in the reasonable area.
Sadly, I let my Costco card expire but will pick it back up in the new year.
I haven’t shopped Aldi’s in a long time, but I do enjoy the low prices and customer service. Food Lion has been my grocer of choice for over a year now. The prices are generally good plus they have great BOGO sales and I enjoy their customer loyalty program.
We’ve switched up our purchasing style a bit, but anticipate having to increase our budget soon. Still go to Aldi and FoodsCo. (Kroger). No more processed meats, less beef, very little seafood, more vegetables. Focus on loss leaders. When we eat carbs it’s usually from scratch stuff unless the discount bin has it cheaper. No sodas or chips. I cook meats in the crockpot and use them for lunch and supper. We check out the discount (produce and baked goods) bins more consistantly. Since we buy cleaning supplies, personal care and household goods with the “grocery” money it’s hard to tell how much we spend on food alone, but total it’s $60 a week for two. Gratefully we live in an area in California that grows produce and has dairy farms, so compared to central Pennsylvania (where we come from) food is cheaper here. We got a Costco membership to get discounted eyewear but found the food prices aren’t usually that wonderful.
Those are all great things to do, Olivia! I’m trying to avoid all fast food now, as much as is possible. I don’t think eating over-processed meat is a good idea in the long run. When I eat out, I want to eat whole foods.
I don’t eat a lot of meat, mostly chicken and fish. I do really like Costco, not so much for food, but more for cheaper eyewear and their pharmacy, which is way less expensive for me than the local drug stores. With the Good Rx subscription I have it really brings prescription costs down for me.
Flashflood app to look and see if anything we use is on sale. (Usually at 50% off)
Checking grocery store ads online for loss leaders.
Not being brand loyal, but pocketbook loyal.
Going to meat packing place for deals on meats by buying 1/4 cow, 1/2 pig, etc.
Not shopping hungry.
It’s worth it to pay a convenience fee to not be tempted by extra things in the store (such as Aldi’s Aisle of Shame - you know the aisle with all the gadgets in it that you look at it and say “I need that for the house”?)
