Grocery Stores - Do prices vary very much?

I'm asking this because of a recent shopping trip.

I was picking up a few groceries at Stop & Shop recently... not really anything you're gonna find a huge sale on... I grabbed some milk, orange juice (yes, it goes on sale, but I ran out), potatoes, veggies... all while having a discussion on my cell phone with my mother.

I remembered I needed to pick up some butter for mashed potatoes (yum, yum)... I saw the price, and was pretty shocked. I can't recall what it was, but I think it was close to $3... maybe even a little over - and this was for the store brand. I asked my mom if it was a normal price, and her reply was, "no, that's absurd".

Are certain grocery stores notably cheaper than others in a general, all around sense? Stop and Shop is really the only grocery store in walking distance (there are a couple of others I'd walk to, but wouldn't walk back from lugging few bags of heavy cans, milk, juice, etc...)

Coupons...

I'm probably going to be joining The Grocery Game soon... but I get a little discouraged with coupons sometimes, because it's rare I ever find a coupon for something I'll actually buy.

In fact, a lot of times coupons just tempt me to save $1 on something that's $3.69, and I wouldn't have bought in the first place.

In the few times that I see a coupon for something I like, it'll be something ridiculous like SAVE 50¢ on six... when I really don't want or need that many... and in some cases they'd expire before I used them all.

Expiration Dates

I'm a stickler with them. "When in doubt, throw it out." When I was a kid, my mom yelled at me for throwing away sliced cheese that was like 5 days past the date. "Cheese stays good", was her claim. A roommate stopped me from tossing a couple of passed date eggs recently, claiming that they'd be fine... I was like "they're all yours buddy..." Milk, even if it's not passed date, I sniff it suspiciously if it's been around for a while. When do expiration dates REALLY matter? What's safe to keep, and what should be given the boot right away, if it comes to it?

More Shelf Life

If I buy a sack of potatoes, a bag of apples, any random fresh fruit or vegetables - exactly how long do I have to eat them?

Freezing Stuff

Aside from meat and bread, what else can I freeze to keep it fresh longer?

How long can meat and bread be kept frozen, and how does it effect expiration dates?

How long does spaghetti sauce last frozen?

Miscellaneous...(half joking)

How come everyone can spread peanut butter on to white bread, but when I do it, I rip the bread to pieces?

I love the idea of Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Is it EVER cheaper to buy food there?

Do vegetarians feed their cats and dogs vegetarian pet foods?

Good grief dude, have you been saving up questions all year so you could pour them all out into one post? I'll take a stab at a few.

Yes there is huge variation in prices among grocery stores in general, and at times, with certain products especially. It pays to get to know the general prices at different stores in your area. Personally, I routinely shop at 4 different supermarket companies (and several different stores among one of those brands), in order to get everything I regularly buy.

In Texas we have an awesome regional chain called HEB, which both has the best selection, and is cheapest -- and is therefore the most popular (business schools should study how they compete with Wal Mart). In particular, HEB has an excellent store-brand strategy: anything good that comes along and that people like, HEB manages to convert it to a store-brand deal and cuts the price in half.

Wal Mart is almost as cheap in general but has a mediocre selection, by my tastes. Albertsons is expensive and has a spotty selection but is the only place of the bunch to get bagels the way I like them. And Whole Foods is expensive and extremely limited (or should I say "specialty") but has certain items I can't get elsewhere, like fresh dates and certain organic frozen entrees, and has the best fruits and vegetables.

[By the way, I don't give a crap about organic farming or philosophy and would be happy to avoid organic food on principle. But I do try to eat healthy and avoid certain things, and I've found with frozen entrees and a few other items, the hippies are putting a lot of care and attention into making them good.]

Yes Whole Foods is sometimes cheaper ... than Albertsons (case in point: Amy's organic frozen entrees, yogurt, etc).

A not uncommon price difference is that something at HEB costs as little as half what it costs at Albertsons or Whole Foods (but that certainly doesn't apply to everything).

Regarding freshness of fruits and veggies, you don't need any rules. Just look at them and feel them. It's pretty obvious when they've gone bad. If they look and feel normal, you can eat them. If the potato has sprouted a bunch of buds, or if the apples are bruised and mushy and gushing fruit-pus, or if the bananas are mushy and black, or the strawberries have grown gray fuzz, toss them out.

Oh yeah, I could also mention Target and Costco and Amazon.com's grocery section, but I just hit them occasionally for certain out-of-the-ordinary things.

And, any vegetarian who'd feed a cat a vegetarian diet should be shot.

Mushy black bananas can be used to make banana bread (or muffins) and potatoes with eyes can have the eyes cut out and still work well in soups (don't try to bake them). strawberries with fuzz are definitely for the trash.

Additionally, I don't coupon. I rarely use the stuff they are for and it is too much of a headache for me. I know lot's of people swear by them though, claiming they get some stuff for practically free. I've never been able to do that.

Meat can be frozen for 6 months in the refrigerator freezer and 12 months in a deep freezer (if you have one).

We buy bananas a lot just for the above reason - if they do go black we make banana bread! They're also pretty cheap.

You can freeze just about anything - we freeze eggs a lot because the 18 packs are always on sale buy 1 get 1 free. Deli meats (all meats) cheese, milk, bread, most fruits and veggies. Frozen bagged fruits are just as good nutritionally as fresh fruits so if you're using them for smoothies, in oatmeal, in yogurt, etc just buy the frozen stuff! Same goes with frozen vegetables - I steam them a lot.

When buying fruits and vegetables rather than sticking with the norms (potatoes, apples, etc) when buying fresh buy what is in season and what's on sale. It will help with your bill AND you may just learn some new meals!

Whole Foods and Trader Joes are much more expensive. I don't really know why someone would shop there unless theyre buying a lot of pre-packaged food and believe their stuff is healthier. Whats healthier (and cheaper) is to MAKE the foods. You want Hamburger Helper? Buy some noodles, canned tomato paste, a couple fresh tomatoes, hamburger, salt, pepper, garlic powder and chili powder. MUCH healthier - you know 100% whats in your meal and it has no/low sodium/cholesterol. All those spices are staples - if youre a gardener the tomatoes are free. All you need is pasta ($2 a bag... you're not going to use a whole bag tho... maybe 1/2) tomato paste ($0.59) and hamburger.... just an idea but you get the picture. You can also go with WW pasta which is WAY better than the complex carbs that come in the pre-packaged meals. OK, sorry for my tirade...

When shopping you always want a list with a weekly or bi-weekly meal plan to go with it. If you don't veer off that list you will save. A good place to save on fruits/veggies is to buy from farmers markets.

I, personally HATE coupons and heres the reason - theyre almost ALWAYS for name brand stuff and you have to buy multiples. Many times its cheaper to buy the store brand than the name brand WITH the coupon. The Grocery Game was a joke to me... most of that stuff I'd never buy in the first place. Last thing I need is to buy stuff that we won't eat... I may as well just take my cash and burn it.

I'll admit, I don't do this as much now as I did when DD was a baby, but....

I kept a cheat sheet in my pocketbook. I would write down the brand of diapers I liked, the formula, etc... and across the top the 4 or 5 stores I frequented. I wrote the regular every day price and the size of the packaging. That way, if I was out somewhere and knew there was a "sale" I knew if the sale price was good or just a gimmick.

I don't buy a lot of canned and/or boxed goods, so I'm pretty much at the mercy of whatever produce costs that week. I'll buy my fish from Costco and freeze each fillet individually and find that is the cheapest way.

So, it takes a little homework.... I suggest using your own cheat sheet and the weekly circulars. I won't chase down sales at 3 different stores in a week. I look for which store generally has the most on sale I want, and then just bite the bullet on everything else.

some, yes.

I'll take a shot at your miscellaneous questions


Warm up the peanut butter a little bit, or at least leave it out of the fridge a little bit before spreading. The colder it is, the harder it will be to spread.
Also, don't buy the cheapest white bread out there (it's generally not very good for you, anyway). Higher quality bread doesn't tear as easily.
Last tip, take thin slices of peanut butter out of the jar at a time. The thicker the glob, the more difficult to spread. Take a nice thin slice and spread gently.


No.
The only stuff I buy there is stuff I can't get at another grocery store.


Some do, and it's very bad for the animal, because cats and dogs are both technically carnivores (even though they eat a small amount of veggies, dogs more so than cats). They have evolved as meat eating animals, and by denying them real meat their bodies can not function properly. They can not substitute meat with other products like humans can.
Humans can get away with it because we're omnivores, people will debate about whether or not it's the healthiest for us.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! The cheat sheet could help on certain things I think, although I have a 20% discount on everything at CVS, and a 30% discount on all CVS brands... so that's kind of a no brainer.

I really think the meal plan could help out... often times I kinda of shop for food aimlessly... I'll buy what I know I'll need (milk, juice, etc...) and just kinda of get what I'm in the mood for as I go along. I'm not as bad as I may sound though... I stay away from buying excessively priced processed foods. The most common processed foods I buy are the ones that can be made in under 10 minutes, and cost under a dollar for multiple packages.

You can freeze eggs? I never knew that, it seems weird.

I was already considering growing my own herbs this spring... the ones at the food store seem ABSURDLY priced... $3.00-$6.00 depending on the spice, for a tiny little bottle... CVS and Walgreens sell bigger bottles for 99 cents each, but logic tells me it's gotta be imitation, or just not nearly as good somehow.

The aimless shopping with a mini list is the worst. Supposedly people that run to the store to grab a few things spend 50% more on food in a month than people who shop once a week or bi-weekly with a list.

You can totally freeze eggs - I didn't believe it until I tried it.

Why not add some veggies to that herb garden? This will be the first year I do a garden. Hopefully I dont kill all my food like I kill my plants...

I think my aimless shopping is spurred by me thinking, "let's see... milk, eggs, juice, salad, pasta, bread... what was that other thing I needed? oh well, I'll remember when I see it".

I might try some veggies - but no tomatoes... raw tomatoes... I don't like them...

As George Carlin once said, "Tomatoes look fine, tomatoes look lovely on the outside! But on the inside, something has gone wrong. Something has gone afoul inside of a tomato! It doesn't look like it's finished yet for one thing. It looks like it's still in the larval stages."

Frozen eggs... still seems really strange... I can't imagine waiting on an egg to thaw. I might need to buy a hen to help speed up the thawing process.

never shop without a list.

there are supplements that can provide the nutrients for pets. it is much more important for cats to have meat than for dogs. my vet says 90% of mass produced cat food is not good for them; even the expensive stuff she sells...that grains can irritate the intestines and therefore she recommends we make our own cat food and/or buy brands that do not use any grains (Before Grains is one brand).

Innova (innovapet.com) is one of the best foods you can give your pet .... it is 25% protein which is important for all animals.

Ingredient list - notice how the MEAT is first - not grains and there are fruits and veggies in it - its expensive but really is the best you can get unless you do a raw diet or make your own food. I mix innova with about a tablespoon of canned duck meat and feed my pup twice a day.

Turkey
Chicken
Chicken Meal
Barley
Brown Rice
Potatoes
Rice
Chicken Fat
Flaxseed
Herring
Natural Flavors
Apples
Carrots
Pumpkin
Egg
Sunflower Oil
Sea Salt
Potassium Chloride
Herring Oil
Cottage Cheese
Alfalfa Sprouts
Direct-Fed Microbials
Lecithin
Rosemary Extract
Vitamins/Minerals

Sorry this was a bit off track but I believe the health of your pet is just as important as your own health. My baby eats better than me a lot of the time!

My husband hates tomatoes too.

You dont like freeze a whole egg... lol - you take them out of the shell and freeze the insides in tupperware.

I suspect that explains the frequent puking. I've been trying several brands lately and trying to avoid corn, but it's hard to find a dry food my cat will continue to eat that doesn't make her chunder on my carpet (or on my computer). Perhaps I should switch to all wet cat food.

"before grains" comes in dry and canned. it might be worth a try. It is not more expensive than other "gourmet" foods (if that is the right term LOL )

Have to second HEB.

Their store brand stuff is great. I have some of their marinated beef fajita meat in the fridge right now. And their OJ is just like Tropicana Pure Premium (pulpy, not from concentrate), but costs much less.

But they are not the closest store, and I still occasionally have to visit another store for gluten-free products for my daughter. HEB has some, but not as much as I'd like to see.

They're supposed to be building a new HEB by me, but I have a feeling that with the economy being so bad it will be delayed.

Yes.



It could help. It may not. Depends on you, the individual, and your shopping needs.



I'm with you. I throw out milk before the expiration date all the time. But then again, milk always smells rancid to me anyway (even when it's fresh). But if it's past the "sell by" date I throw it out. I don't' care that it's not the same as an "expiration date" (as some tell me). I ain't eatin' jack crap that ain't good to be sold for consumption.

ETA:


I HEB. Like their Central Market chain too.

then you're just wasting milk

You have NO idea how much I *MISS* HEB...that is all.

Well, I'll just waste it. I don't much care for milk and don't drink it (unless it's drenched in chocolate or strawberry syrup, or in cereal)

I can't resist...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDsj5UZ_1bA

One of those guys reminds me of a guy I went to school with.

ok, I know this is going off the OP's original topic (actually, not, since s/he asked about pet diets

Hege - do you have a decent cat food recipe? One of the furballs is stuck now on eating only cooked chicken, or chicken or turkey baby food (expensive!!) - and I'm wondering what else should be included, if I can sneak it in.

Thanks!

we have not made our own. but i did see some webpages with advice on this when I was searching about it. sorry

Thanks, anyway!

For the OP I am from the Boston area-

Make sure you are getting the ads from Stop and Shop, Shaws and several of the smaller chains. I do most of my shopping at Stop and Shop-as I know when their chicken, ground turkey and they do mark down on steak (which we usually grill on sundays) by 9am each day. I throw it in the freezer.

I do ocassioanlly go to a smaller grocery store because they occassionally have a great loss leader the front page ads for meat and I will stock up.

I can't afford to shop at "Whole Paycheck Foods".

I have been to Trader Joe's... I think it is owned by Aldi's...correct me if I am wrong.

I shop at Aldi's, Marcs (Cleveland area), Sav-A-Lot.

Yesterday I went to "Valu King", owned my Giant Eagle.

Meat looked like it came from a third world country. Veggies were the same price if you bought them at Giant Eagle, as I was there before picking up a Rx. Prices were much higher that Aldi's. It was a clean store, but the employees looked unhappy. No "Fuel Perks". They sell wine and beer.

Just my 2 cents.