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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: scrubbyfish on February 11, 2014, 03:01:50 PM

Title: grocery help, please! (Trader Joe's, Costco, Fred Meyer - Bellingham, USA)
Post by: scrubbyfish on February 11, 2014, 03:01:50 PM
Hi folks,

I'm going to try it again -shopping for my groceries in the US, because so much of it is half the price (vs Canada).

Can anyone give thoughts on what is cheaper between Trader Joe's, Costco, Fred Meyer, or another store in Bellingham?

If you could only cope with going to 1 or 2 stores in a day, which would it be?

I prefer organic produce, pastured meat, free ranged chicken eggs.

What sort of prices should I be looking for in any of:

-leafy greens ($3 at Costco USA, identical box in local shop $7 - sigh)
-yogurt, lots and lots of plain yogurt
-milk to make into yogurt and kefir
-cottage cheese
-wieners
-chicken
-white fish
-beef
-frozen fruit (any)
-frozen veggies (peas, green beans, stir fry medley, broccoli)
-other produce: mushrooms, cauliflower, etc

Thank you!
Title: Re: grocery help, please! (Trader Joe's, Costco, Fred Meyer - Bellingham, USA)
Post by: the fixer on February 11, 2014, 03:43:57 PM
TJs doesn't have pastured meats. Most of it is very low quality. I don't think they even have any grass-fed beef. The best I've seen is an incomplete smattering of organic meat options, and organic cage free eggs.

Prices in Seattle, obviously Bellingham will be a bit different, and all these prices are off the top of my head so they may not be exact:
Costco is probably cheaper but I don't shop there.
Title: Re: grocery help, please! (Trader Joe's, Costco, Fred Meyer - Bellingham, USA)
Post by: Greg on February 11, 2014, 04:29:29 PM
The food Co-Op in Mt. Vernon is a good place to get organic and bulk foods.