Groceries Spending

[spaniard999]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the place for this post
This is my first real post, so be gentle please.
So everyday I put a lot of thought in what can I do to spend less and save more.

Most of the time I go to the same topic: Groceries.

I'm a software developer, so I try to attack every issue with a program.
In this case it is an Android APP.

The idea is to scan the barcode of the item you are buying, search in the database (http://www.upcitemdb.com/) and if an item is found (50% chance) then get the data. Then you add the price for that item, and a price threshold.

Once you set it up for the first time, when you go to do groceries, you scan an item and it will show you what price is normal, what price is low and what price is high.
This way you know with a simple scan if you should buy just until next time, or not buy or stack your pantry with the item.


But I have an issue now, which is to determine which is the normal price of an item.

Is $2.99/lb a good price for pork? what about chicken?

Maybe I'm approaching the application the wrong way. Your input would be much appreciated.

Thank you

[bassguitar115]

This sounds interesting, but what about produce and items without barcodes?

Also, I would think a database of your historical purchases would be helpful (over time). For instance, if you scan an item the app tells you the lowest & highest prices you've ever paid personally for it in the past.

[bigalsmith101]

I like your idea.

When I think about grocery shopping, this could be useful for a lot of people, such as my wife, who doesn't always know if particular pricing on certain items is "good" or "bad".

On the other hand, I know IMMEDIATELY if the price of any item on my regular grocery list is currently "on sale" or "overpriced", simply by looking at the price tag. I grocery shop once a week, and numbers have always been my forte. This enables me to achieve great results, and not buy items when they are overpriced, and instead choose an alternative.

I'm sure that your program would add even more cost savings even to a seasoned shopper though, as there is always a level of uncertainty.

Good luck!

[spaniard999]

This sounds interesting, but what about produce and items without barcodes?

Also, I would think a database of your historical purchases would be helpful (over time). For instance, if you scan an item the app tells you the lowest & highest prices you've ever paid personally for it in the past.

My app has an option to add the item manually, you will fill a few fields like the price threshold, title, price per lb.
And then find this item manually in the list. Or I can add a search input to the view and let the user search manually too.

I buy in Costco and everything has a barcode.

[RoostKing]

Not sure if this is helpful, but I dont buy anything unless its on sale(And if its something that I can freeze and its a great price, I buy it all lol). I am single, no kids though, so that makes shopping and saving easier.

[Greenback Reproduction Specialist]

We usually get pork and chicken on sale and stock up like you suggested.

Chicken $0.89 /lb
Pork ~$1.50 /lb

I have no idea if $2.99 / lb is a good deal where you live

[ketchup]

We usually get pork and chicken on sale and stock up like you suggested.

Chicken $0.89 /lb
Pork ~$1.50 /lb

I have no idea if $2.99 / lb is a good deal where you live

It also depends a lot what cuts of meat we're talking.  $2.99/lb would be an OK price for boneless skinless chicken breast or pork baby back ribs, but a bad price for bone-in chicken thighs or pork heart.

[spaniard999]

We usually get pork and chicken on sale and stock up like you suggested.

Chicken $0.89 /lb
Pork ~$1.50 /lb

I have no idea if $2.99 / lb is a good deal where you live

It also depends a lot what cuts of meat we're talking.  $2.99/lb would be an OK price for boneless skinless chicken breast or pork baby back ribs, but a bad price for bone-in chicken thighs or pork heart.

So for example. Chicken was $4.99/lb. 5.64LB -> $28.14. It is Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breats.

[ketchup]

We usually get pork and chicken on sale and stock up like you suggested.

Chicken $0.89 /lb
Pork ~$1.50 /lb

I have no idea if $2.99 / lb is a good deal where you live

It also depends a lot what cuts of meat we're talking.  $2.99/lb would be an OK price for boneless skinless chicken breast or pork baby back ribs, but a bad price for bone-in chicken thighs or pork heart.

So for example. Chicken was $4.99/lb. 5.64LB -> $28.14. It is Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breats.

I guess my point is that you have to be more specific than "chicken" or else it isn't very useful.  Unless you only ever buy one cut of chicken, I suppose.

[spaniard999]

I guess my point is that you have to be more specific than "chicken" or else it isn't very useful.  Unless you only ever buy one cut of chicken, I suppose.

I thought I specified. :(

[StockBeard]

But I have an issue now, which is to determine which is the normal price of an item.

Is $2.99/lb a good price for pork? what about chicken?

The first answer that comes to mind and which sounds obvious to me is that the "good" price should be the average price of similar items in the area, provided through your users:
each time a person buys an item, they enter the description/weight/etc... + price into the app, as well as their zipcode (that you get from the GPS). This helps the app with one more data point, this way the app is able to say that "1lb of boneless pork filet" costs on average $xx.xx in your area. This way you know if you're getting a deal or not.
The rest can be finely tuned (zipcode? city? specific store? do you want the average over the past month, week, year? how do you ensure people enter the right price... bell curve limits to eliminate "off" data points?)

Alternatively, scrape that data from sites like Numbeo?

[Goldielocks]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the place for this post
This is my first real post, so be gentle please.
So everyday I put a lot of thought in what can I do to spend less and save more.

Most of the time I go to the same topic: Groceries.

I'm a software developer, so I try to attack every issue with a program.
In this case it is an Android APP.

The idea is to scan the barcode of the item you are buying, search in the database (http://www.upcitemdb.com/) and if an item is found (50% chance) then get the data. Then you add the price for that item, and a price threshold.

Once you set it up for the first time, when you go to do groceries, you scan an item and it will show you what price is normal, what price is low and what price is high.
This way you know with a simple scan if you should buy just until next time, or not buy or stack your pantry with the item.


But I have an issue now, which is to determine which is the normal price of an item.

Is $2.99/lb a good price for pork? what about chicken?

Maybe I'm approaching the application the wrong way. Your input would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Welcome!

Per your question on where to get the price:

For my old fashioned price book, I would enter the price of the item from the weekly flyer, and the grocery receipt.  Better prices would over ride higher cost ones and be entered with a date.... why?  I was mainly trying to identify the 12 week cycles for sales to know when to pass, buy 1, and when to stock up.

One challenge with bar codes -- is that I don't care really if it is Alymer diced tomatoes size 14oz; or Hunts diced tomatoes sized 14oz, or Alymer diced tomatoes in multiple case pack sized 14oz * 12 pack; or Alymer Diced tomatoes in the 28oz can.... or even if it is the no-name diced tomatoes size 14oz.

All I want to know is if this is the 50 cents a tin diced tomatoes (14 oz) OR the $1 diced tomatoes (28oz), and should i buy a 3 month supply today?

See what I mean? -- there could be 40 different bar codes for essentially (to me) the same product.


If you do want to use barcodes, just start by scanning your own cupboards and grocery cart after you buy.   80% of what we buy are the things we buy over and over again.

Good luck.!

ETA -- re:  where to scrape data from -- see if one of the coupon deal sites (where you pay to subscribe to a service where another person tells you what is on sale in your local area this week, how much, and if it is the 12 week deal cycle.   There are a few of these sites, so you may find one with data in a useful format for you to scrape.   You would have to pay for the service for a while to get you started, though.

[Morning Glory]

Here is a price list available for free. Note that you will need to match coupons with sales to get these prices.

http://prod-cdn.thekrazycouponlady.com/wp-content/uploads/Stock+Up+Price+Sheet.pdf

This site posts a list of Aldi's regular prices every week. To know if a sale at another store is good, just compare it to Aldi's price.
 
http://www.pocketyourdollars.com/category/lists-with-coupon-match-ups/aldi-weekly-deals/


Lots of sites are out there that publish deals at chain stores. A DIY list like you are talking about would be really helpful for those of us who do not live near or shop at national chains, or who don't like to use coupons.

[Greenback Reproduction Specialist]

We usually get pork and chicken on sale and stock up like you suggested.

Chicken $0.89 /lb
Pork ~$1.50 /lb

I have no idea if $2.99 / lb is a good deal where you live

It also depends a lot what cuts of meat we're talking.  $2.99/lb would be an OK price for boneless skinless chicken breast or pork baby back ribs, but a bad price for bone-in chicken thighs or pork heart.

So for example. Chicken was $4.99/lb. 5.64LB -> $28.14. It is Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breats.

I guess my point is that you have to be more specific than "chicken" or else it isn't very useful.  Unless you only ever buy one cut of chicken, I suppose.

Oh, I didn't even think about that...

We are buying chicken legs or thighs in packs of about 20 at a time for $0.89/lb, or Whole fryer chickens for the same price.

The pork is usually pork butt or chops or T-bone, or precooked ham with the bone in.

[Heart of Tin]

You could use Bureau of Labor Statistics data: https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/data/AverageRetailFoodAndEnergyPrices_USandMidwest_Table.htm

[batemama]

One challenge with bar codes -- is that I don't care really if it is Alymer diced tomatoes size 14oz; or Hunts diced tomatoes sized 14oz, or Alymer diced tomatoes in multiple case pack sized 14oz * 12 pack; or Alymer Diced tomatoes in the 28oz can.... or even if it is the no-name diced tomatoes size 14oz.

All I want to know is if this is the 50 cents a tin diced tomatoes (14 oz) OR the $1 diced tomatoes (28oz), and should i buy a 3 month supply today?

See what I mean? -- there could be 40 different bar codes for essentially (to me) the same product.

This! I also am not brand (or store) loyal.  I just want to know what is the best price for tomato sauce, BUT I don't care about the lowest price of tomato sauce if it is some garbage brand that shoves a bunch of sugar or bizarre ingredients (it's tomato sauce; the ingredient list should literally be just tomatoes and maybe salt). 

[Rosy]

I don't get it. If you are new to grocery shopping or your area (groceries have different prices depending on where you live) then why don't you pick the five stores that are on your way to work (to save time and gas) and/or close to home and see how much they want for a pound of chicken or hamburger or a bag of apples or whatever.
Do that for three months, then whittle it down to the three stores that you like best - they all have apps these days anyway or at the very least sales flyers on line - voila.
Trust me, within 3 months you will know the prices in your area inside out.

If there is an Aldi nearby that is a good starting point - don't overcomplicate things. There is an app for everything and some will even pay you if you scan your grocery receipts each time you shop and they do tell you which stores have your favorite items at the best prices.

Another thing, make it your business to know when your favorite food goes on sale and stock up so you don't ever have to pay full price. We like a particular oatmeal that only goes on sale once every three months at BOGO prices - you bet I stash away enough to last us.

There are so many ways to save money on groceries from finding a neighbor to buy in bulk with and split half a pig or toiletpaper or go shop with a friend on a military base - no tax and 30% savings on meat for sure - to knowing when your favorite store marks down their meat that is near out of date .....
Determine which of your preferred food items is the most expensive and make it your mission to find it cheaper, hunt it down on line, find a warehouse grocery chain .... make it a game, a challenge where in the end you are the guaranteed winner.

Have fun with it - good food at the best prices and more money in the bank:)

[ENT Doc]

Ditto above.  The other thing complicating this is time and search costs.  If your app told me that there was chicken being sold at $0.05 less per pound a few miles away, am I really going to not buy that at the place I'm at where I know things to be less expensive, and drive there only to buy the chicken?  You'd have to barcode search every item to see if you were getting the best price and if a superior price existed elsewhere...and decide if the search costs and time is worthwhile.  You could see how this might result in a shopping experience taking a long time.  With things moving to online shopping, as noted above, and with people having a tendency to know which stores discount certain items they routinely buy, it's probably easier just to do a quick search on the stores' apps to see what's discounted.  You can even build lists of commonly purchased items to make the search easier.