I’m hoping you’ll take time to help me with grocery cost comparisons?
When I wrote this post to share about grocery costs that I’ve discovered that have NOT increased, some of your comments got me to thinking: What does inflation look like across the U.S.? Obviously I only know how it is affecting us here in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Will You Help Me with Grocery Cost Comparisons?
I know for sure that what I experience may not be what you are experiencing. So if you don’t mind taking some time to answer a few questions, I think we would all benefit. My goal is to always be helpful. I think I can be more helpful if I know more about how your grocery stores are behaving. :)
So to start with…
Those of you who shop at Costco and Sam’s:
- Can you get Chicken Legs for $0.98/pound like I can?
- Do they still offer Rotisserie Chickens for $4.99 where you live?
- Is your 1-pound package of Organic Spinach and Spring Mix $5.00 or less?
- Can you find Organic Hamburger Meat for $4.98/pound like we have here?
- Are the (in season) fresh fruits and vegetables relatively similar in price compared to what they used to be? I’ve found that berry prices have increased quite a bit. :( But apples, bananas, oranges, pears, and grapes (in season) are hanging in there at prices that don’t make me flinch.
At Walmart:
I mentioned here that I still see pasta for $0.98 for a 1-pound package. I see off-brands at other stores for this price too. Is this price the same from state to state? What have you found where you live?
I double checked my information and took this photo at Walmart last week:
I snapped this one too, showing that the Whole Wheat Pasta (what we prefer) is also a really good price at just $1.43 for a pound:
I’ve definitely seen prices jump quite a bit on many food items at Walmart, which makes me shop elsewhere for most of what we need. But there are some of these basic items (like pasta) that has stayed low in cost.
At every grocery store:
- Have you noticed that the price of processed/frozen prepared foods is OUTRAGEOUS? This has been my biggest jaw drop while shopping.
- Are your store’s weekly sales and loss leaders decent? Some of the ads I see make me cringe – like “THAT’s your sale price? Ouch!” But I also see prices that draw me in and make me feel like if I really pay attention, I can stock up on basics when they are sale at very reasonable prices.
An example: Last week one reader, Julie, let me know that our Nebraska/Iowa chain, Super Saver, was having a Mega Meat Sale and suggested that I check it out. I’d never been there before, but the meat prices they advertised were AMAZING and well worth the trip! ($1.18/pound for pork roast?! $1.58/pound for pork loin?! Yes please.)
Meanwhile, almost everything else I saw there was pretty high in price compared to what I pay at Costco, Sam’s, and Aldi. But the Super Saver loss leaders got me in the door and I saved a lot of money taking advantage of their extreme sale prices. I need to pay attention to their sale flyer in the future!
Store Markdowns:
Are you able to snag some mark-downs that make you happy? I’m still finding GREAT markdown items at all the stores I go to: Aldi, Sam’s, and Walmart (with some fun clearance items at Costco). Specifically, I always check the meat at these stores to see what might be marked down.
Chicken Breast for just $1.76/pound after mark down —>
Overall:
- Have you found that if you avoid high priced processed/prepared food and stick with basic, whole food, homemade meals – your budget isn’t taking too hard of a hit?
- Have you tried shopping around and trying new stores to see if something else works better for you now compared to what used to work for you before inflation hit us so hard?
I appreciate any questions you might take the time to answer so that we all might learn something new that works in our area. I’m very curious what you’ve found that works and what prices you’ve found that haven’t increased during the past few years.
While grocery prices have increased in some ways, we can still save and feed our families well!
Free Worshop!
This is great timing as I just came across a FREE Crush Inflation Challenge offered by Tiffany at Don’t Waste the Crumbs. She’s so practical and everything she shares is very doable. Sign up for this free challenge here.