Share your Grocery Hacks

[boarder42]

So Aldi Typically runs their avocados for 29c every other week or so. (they are usually small and crappy) 

Thanks to Walmart's awesome Price Match I went to Walmart this weekend showed the add on my phone and picked up nice big avocados for only 29c each. 

[grundomatic]

I started shopping at the "ethnic" grocer where I live...produce is ridiculously cheap. This week: Navel oranges $.25/lb, cucumbers $.25ea, green bell peppers $.33ea, golden delicious apples $.50/lb, and on it goes. They rotate the sales and I just buy (a lot) of what is on sale. However, some things are more expensive there--raisins were $1 more, for instance. So I started shopping there, plus our "regular" grocery store and buying what was cheapest at each store.

I was sharing this with some of the young people that I work with, and one person's mother took your hack to the next level. She collects all of the sale ads for the 6 or more grocery chains in the area, makes her list, and then makes Wal-Mart match the loss leaders from all the different stores.

[boarder42]

i prefer to stay as far away from walmart as possible.  so i just buy the sale items at the stores i typically shop at.  but in the case of avocados i dont really have any other options at this point. 

[merci001]

The love Aldi's and the one I go to almost always has great avacados. Yes-once in awhile they are soft and crappy, but i've noticed the same thing at my local coop as well as at the regular big grocery stores in the area.   Personally, I think Aldi's has some great produce in general. That said, I've noticed if I go towards end of the day, a lot of the produce is picked over and what remains is a bit lacking. But if I go early in the AM, the produce is usually great!  I usually shop on Saturday or Sunday AM. Occassionally I'll go during the middle of the week if I happen to have a day off, and again, earlier seems to be better.

[grundomatic]

I also do not enjoy the shopping experience at the supercenters, but the neighborhood market stores are not nearly as bad.

Having said that, I think I just like the thought of someone really doing their homework and sticking it to Wal-Mart.

[boarder42]

yeah our avocados here in the KC area aldi's are very small not much left after you take out the pit.  walmart usually has much larger good sized ones.  I buy most of my produce at aldi .. its typically decent.

[ioseftavi]

Saving money in NYC on groceries is easy-peasy since the default option is extremely small sizes from extremely expensive grocers.

Anything that doesn't go bad, we can freeze, or that we will use up quickly before spoiling----> Costco, where prices are about half as much for the things we buy.

Anything that needs to be fresh we buy from one of our local grocery stores.

Doing this saves us a small fortune on groceries.

[PMG]

I don't use a lot of milk, if I get it u freeze it in usable portion sizes.  I also buy the juice box sized soy and almond milks at Big Lots. $1 or less for a three pack. That way I always have milk in hand for baking or cereal.  Works for me. 

[Elliot]

I don't use a lot of milk, if I get it u freeze it in usable portion sizes.  I also buy the juice box sized soy and almond milks at Big Lots. $1 or less for a three pack. That way I always have milk in hand for baking or cereal.  Works for me.

Do you find that the milk separate after thawing? It still works fine for cooking, but I don't want to drink it.

[PMG]

I don't use a lot of milk, if I get it u freeze it in usable portion sizes.  I also buy the juice box sized soy and almond milks at Big Lots. $1 or less for a three pack. That way I always have milk in hand for baking or cereal.  Works for me.

Do you find that the milk separate after thawing? It still works fine for cooking, but I don't want to drink it.

I just use it for cooking. 

Added benefit of the small boxes of almond milk is that they don't have to be refrigerated until opened.  Was great when I only had a dorm size fridge.

[Elliot]

I just use it for cooking. 

alas, alack

[h2ogal]

We own a restaurant and so we can shop at the wholesale grocers.  Sometimes Aldi's has lower prices on produce than the wholesale grocer!

At thanksgiving our local grocery stores (tops and wegmans) did a turkey special, but you were limited to 2 turkeys per customer.  We each went to both grocery stores and were able to get about 8 turkeys, which we kept frozen until needed. 

[Stlbroke]

I don't use a lot of milk, if I get it u freeze it in usable portion sizes.  I also buy the juice box sized soy and almond milks at Big Lots. $1 or less for a three pack. That way I always have milk in hand for baking or cereal.  Works for me.

I never finish my almond week within a week or two after I open it so this is news I can use.  Thx

[Unique User]

Three big things keep our grocery bill low (1) Almost all meat from markdowns, prices recently have been $2.50 a pound and below for beef, $1.50 a pound and below for pork and boneless chix breasts, 50 cents a pound for whole turkeys, 99 cents a pound for spiral sliced ham, 75 cents a pound for bone-in chix thighs.  (2) Produce and everything else from Aldi or other grocery stores on sale/in season.  (3) very, very few processed foods or convenience foods

[Thegoblinchief]

Gardening. It's the ultimate grocery hack! Especially if you save seed.

[asauer]

We do three things:
1. ask the produce manager for the "not-so-pretty" stuff- this week I bought 8 apples, 3 eggplant, 1 bunch celery, 3lbs mushrooms (that's ALOT) and an acorn squash all for $3.
2. I garden like a madwoman- in 2014 during late May- early Oct. we spent an average of $30/ week on groceries and I live on .1 acre.
3. We have a CSA box that is delivered weekly with dairy and meat- a tiny bit more expensive than the grocery store but its organic, grass-fed AND it keeps me out of the grocery store where "impulse purchases" happen!

[Thegoblinchief]

asauer - depending on zone, you could do season extension and gain even more garden time. I hope to use some of Eliot Coleman's methods within the next couple years. Just no money for the hoophouses as of yet.

[startswithhome]

Hit up a grocery store the night before a major holiday (Here in Canada: Remembrance Day, Good Friday). Often they have things that don't keep marked down 50%. In store baked good, ground meat, etc. I bought all the ground beef they had left at 50% off. Huge savings as long as you don't just then eat twice as much.

[boarder42]

how do you find this produce manager.  do all major chains have them. 

[2ndTimer]

If you happen to arrive when the produce manager is picking out the withered stuff to throw away, ask for it.  Eat and share as much of the lettuce, cucumbers etc. as you can and process the rest.

My latest haul
Lots of lettuce.  We will be having salads the next few days and I gave some to a neighbor along with some of the nicer looking peppers.  I always pick out the prettiest for  giving away.
3lb strawberries currently being made into strawberry pancake syrup
Asparagus, pick out the bad stuff and run the good stuff through the blender, bring it to a boil on the stove and then freeze it for soup
Broccoli, see asparagus
Potatoes, yams, etc.  Pick out the bad ones and throw away immediately.  Use the remainder as you normally would
Peppers, onions and tomatoes.  Cut out bad spots, lightly saute in olive oil and freeze for chili or minestrone 
Pomegranate.  I don't know what the heck to do with that one pomegranate!

[boarder42]

Is there a time of day that is best for this?

[2ndTimer]

The place I go sorts their produce in the morning.  Don't know if this is the norm. 

[southern granny]

I was sharing this with some of the young people that I work with, and one person's mother took your hack to the next level. She collects all of the sale ads for the 6 or more grocery chains in the area, makes her list, and then makes Wal-Mart match the loss leaders from all the different stores.

If you sign up for walmart's savings catcher program, you don't have to do the price match... they will give you credit for anything you bought that was on sale at another store. All you do is scan the receipt with a smart phone or enter a code on the computer.  When you have built up enough credit you can get a gift card for that amount.

[boarder42]

I was sharing this with some of the young people that I work with, and one person's mother took your hack to the next level. She collects all of the sale ads for the 6 or more grocery chains in the area, makes her list, and then makes Wal-Mart match the loss leaders from all the different stores.

If you sign up for walmart's savings catcher program, you don't have to do the price match... they will give you credit for anything you bought that was on sale at another store. All you do is scan the receipt with a smart phone or enter a code on the computer.  When you have built up enough credit you can get a gift card for that amount.

i would rather trust myself vs walmart.  I would also rather just spend less there in the first place.  The purpose of this app IMO is to allow Walmart to make more money by not including all possible ads in the app therefore making people lazier and becoming complacent by allowing the app to do it for them.

[KD]

Pomegranate.  I don't know what the heck to do with that one pomegranate!

I add mine to sliced pears.  Makes a pretty fruit salad.

[CheapskateWife]

Bountifulbaskets.org

If you have a pickup site near you, a single share is an incredible value, and we often enjoy the extras (organic 9 grain bread).

[KD]

I live near a vegetable canning factory, plus they often have other goods such as paper products, cleaning supplies.  I buy at their factory outlet in case quantity at quite a discount.  Something in the same town at $1.89 a can, I can get for 38-44 cents in case lots. 

I mentioned in another thread - if I'm trying a new recipe and it calls for expensive spices?  I will go and buy in the bulk bins only the teaspoon or so I need.  What if I don't like the recipe and never need it again???  Try it first at the 'yes the clerk looks at you goofy' cuz you just bought 1 tsp. of something at .12 cents price over a can/bottle of something at $1.79-$5.00.  Hey, if I like the recipe and plan to make it again I will buy the larger amounts.  Until I know?  Nope.

I disassemble the vines on the vine ripened tomatoes and leave them in the bin.  What?  I'm going to eat them?  Then why pay for them??

I weigh the 10 lb sacks of veggies to get the heavier ones. 

Buy larger quantity items and repackage at home.

We grate our own cheese.

[2ndTimer]

Hi CheapskateWife:

I went to the Bountiful Baskets site and discovered that we have one in my town.  No descriptions of baskets unless I sign up.  It would be 19.50 with the fuel charge.  Tell me what was in your latest basket.  Is it a good deal at that price?  Thanks.

[clarkfan1979]

We always buy the 1.5 lb. bag of kale and spinach from Costco. It lasts about 1 week. Right around day 5, it starts to turn and the texture is not that tasty anymore. At that point, we juice it with carrots and apples.

[skunkfunk]

I do the Bountiful Baskets as well. I love the bread and get a "normal" basket most weeks. Ridiculous amount of produce for the money, it's a good deal even if you have to throw some of  it out.

Last week I got 8 pounds of fresh strawberries for $14. I vacuum packed and froze most of it. That's pretty much wholesale price, I checked it against my local grocery store for frozen strawberries.

[asauer]

how do you find this produce manager.  do all major chains have them.

I just went to the produce counter and said "hey, can I talk to the manager?" and then "hey, can I buy your ugly produce?"  Two of the 4 stores near me let people do this.  The other two are fancypants markets who probably wouldn't be caught dead admitting they even had ugly produce.

[netskyblue]

I hadn't heard of the Bountiful Baskets before, but I checked it out, and there's one here that has pickup on my Saturdays off (I get every other off).

And the price, after the fuel surcharge & processing fee is right in line with what I spend on produce every 2 weeks!  I typically only buy whatever happens to be on sale anyway.  So maybe I'll end up getting more for my money!

However the next pickup is tomorrow, so I'll probably have to wait a week to sign up for the next basket.

[skunkfunk]

I hadn't heard of the Bountiful Baskets before, but I checked it out, and there's one here that has pickup on my Saturdays off (I get every other off).

And the price, after the fuel surcharge & processing fee is right in line with what I spend on produce every 2 weeks!  I typically only buy whatever happens to be on sale anyway.  So maybe I'll end up getting more for my money!

However the next pickup is tomorrow, so I'll probably have to wait a week to sign up for the next basket.

Sign up for a basket on Mondays at noon. Sometimes they sell out pretty quickly.

[horsepoor]

Hi CheapskateWife:

I went to the Bountiful Baskets site and discovered that we have one in my town.  No descriptions of baskets unless I sign up.  It would be 19.50 with the fuel charge.  Tell me what was in your latest basket.  Is it a good deal at that price?  Thanks.

I find Bountiful Baskets to be worthwhile on the weeks that they have an "extra" that I want, because of the $4 surcharge for each order.  Paying the $4 sort of negates the value of getting just the one $15 basket.  I picked one up this morning, along with the Asian veggie "extra" so my total was $32. 

Off the top of my head I got:

About 8 apples, 5 oranges, a pineapple, 6 or so bananas, 4 limes, 3 giant carrots, 3 bunches of celery, a Napa cabbage, a bok choi, big bag of snow peas, bunch of green onions, bunch of asparagus, cilantro, basil, ginger, a head of garlic, dried chiles, two heads of romaine lettuce, a lemongrass stalk, a pack of wonton wrappers, a few heads of broccoli.  I think that's everything, but I could be forgetting an item or two.  Sometimes there are fun things I wouldn't normally get, like water chestnuts or lychees.  My favorite thing with Bountiful Baskets is getting one-off extras like New Mexico green chiles (have bought and processed 50# each year the past 3 years), a big box of fresh Black Mission figs, or large boxes of cauliflower (which I process into cauliflower rice).  They also offer some pretty fair deals on things like coconut oil and olive oil.  I've heard that their breads and wraps are great, but we don't really eat those, so haven't tried.

[Dimitri]

Last week I got 8 pounds of fresh strawberries for $14. I vacuum packed and froze most of it. That's pretty much wholesale price, I checked it against my local grocery store for frozen strawberries.

Last week fresh strawberries were $0.99 at the Mexican market.  Really nice ones too.  This week they are $1.25 at Sprouts.  And I would have bought some today excepting I still have two pounds in the fridge.  Not that you didn't get a good price, but I guess this kind of shows the price differential due to location.

[horsepoor]

Hi CheapskateWife:

I went to the Bountiful Baskets site and discovered that we have one in my town.  No descriptions of baskets unless I sign up.  It would be 19.50 with the fuel charge.  Tell me what was in your latest basket.  Is it a good deal at that price?  Thanks.

I find Bountiful Baskets to be worthwhile on the weeks that they have an "extra" that I want, because of the $4 surcharge for each order.  Paying the $4 sort of negates the value of getting just the one $15 basket.  I picked one up this morning, along with the Asian veggie "extra" so my total was $32. 

Off the top of my head I got:

About 8 apples, 5 oranges, a pineapple, 6 or so bananas, 4 limes, 3 giant carrots, 3 bunches of celery, a Napa cabbage, a bok choi, big bag of snow peas, bunch of green onions, bunch of asparagus, cilantro, basil, ginger, a head of garlic, dried chiles, two heads of romaine lettuce, a lemongrass stalk, a pack of wonton wrappers, a few heads of broccoli.  I think that's everything, but I could be forgetting an item or two.  Sometimes there are fun things I wouldn't normally get, like water chestnuts or lychees.  My favorite thing with Bountiful Baskets is getting one-off extras like New Mexico green chiles (have bought and processed 50# each year the past 3 years), a big box of fresh Black Mission figs, or large boxes of cauliflower (which I process into cauliflower rice).  They also offer some pretty fair deals on things like coconut oil and olive oil.  I've heard that their breads and wraps are great, but we don't really eat those, so haven't tried.

I just took a look and realized I also got 3 avocados and an English cucumber with all of this.

[2ndTimer]

Thanks Horsepoor, that tells me what I want to know.

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

Our biggest hack is that we don't eat much meat, dairy, or processed/packaged foods. We mostly buy raw produce and beans and then cook them up together in some fashion. Saves a ton and is healthy/tasty.

I have a question about apples. I've been eating an apple and a banana in the afternoon everyday for my snack, but apples (organic and conventional) are so dang expensive. The bananas are $0.49/lb while the apples are always at least $1.99/lb! And this is at the discount grocery store.

Is there a cheaper fruit or veg I could sub in for apples? I've tried pears and oranges but they seem to be in the same price category/lb. Or should I just suck it up and pay for my apples? Am I laboring under some false delusion that apples are super healthy?

[boarder42]

Our biggest hack is that we don't eat much meat, dairy, or processed/packaged foods. We mostly buy raw produce and beans and then cook them up together in some fashion. Saves a ton and is healthy/tasty.

I have a question about apples. I've been eating an apple and a banana in the afternoon everyday for my snack, but apples (organic and conventional) are so dang expensive. The bananas are $0.49/lb while the apples are always at least $1.99/lb! And this is at the discount grocery store.

Is there a cheaper fruit or veg I could sub in for apples? I've tried pears and oranges but they seem to be in the same price category/lb. Or should I just suck it up and pay for my apples? Am I laboring under some false delusion that apples are super healthy?

I would say you're laboring under a false delusion that apples are super healthy.  They have a large amount of sugar and the other nutrients they have can be found readily in cheaper vegetables without the sugar.  If i were you I'd look at what nutrition you are attempting to draw from an apple and replace it with a veggie that has it.  apples are best for high fiber content but you already eat beans so i think they could be done away with ... with little to know health side effects.

[boarder42]

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1809/2

I mean seriously you're just eating sugar and carbs with no real vitamin benefit besides vitamin C.  Of which your banana is providing more of

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1846/2

But still at a high sugar cost.  so you could just eat.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2536/2

a green pepper

less sugar more protein more of every vitamin you thought you were getting in your fruit...

[Bracken_Joy]

I'm gonna second the green pepper recommendation. If your stomach handles them (some people get gassy with raw peppers), you're getting way more bang for your buck than an apple, banana, OR a pear. All those are really high sugar compared to their micronutrients, and you'll get the same fiber if not more from veggies. I'd also put in a vote for things like carrot sticks with guacamole or celery and peanut butter as an afternoon snack. A great protein snack is a hardboiled egg. And seriously, look up choline and vitamin A in egg yolks- its off the chart, so it's actually really really healthy (especially for little frugalwoods down the road, that choline is what makes baby brains!). Sorry, nutrition nerd!

Edit: extra letters

[boarder42]

its crazy how many people think you need fruit.  when really you dont NEED it at all... veggies can provide all the nutrients you need better and with less sugar. 

[Bracken_Joy]

I mainly agree, but counting tomatoes as a fruit, I would say some fruit can give some novel antioxidants especially. Most of your reds and yellows (carotenoids/lutein) are going to be tomatoes, melons, etc, and your blacks and purples (anthocyanidins) are primarily from berries. But as far as foundational nutrients, absolutely you'll get more and better from veggies. I think a major disservice was done when the "fruits and veggies" vernacular came around- as though the two categories are equal. Way too much fruit (at the expense of veggies or other nutrient dense foods) seems to be a really common one for otherwise healthy eaters.

[boarder42]

yeah i put tomatoes in the veggie category though they still contain sugars just less than most of the other fruits

[Bob W]

Two things ---  Look for loss leaders in the ads --- Eggs $1,  Chicken $1.5,  Ground Beef $3.   
Then just price match at Walmart.   

Most Walmarts don't even ask for the ad as long as the price is more than half the marked price.

 I know there are Walmart haters on this site but in my rural community it is the only decent choice relative to price.   The fancy pants grocery stores do have loss leaders but when you grab another item it is often 25% higher that Wally world. 

In any case,  you are wise to focus lot of attention on your food budget.   It is a very controllable item and most people would be amazed at how much they actually spend on groceries and restaurants.  My guess would be that the average family could cut their grocery/restaurant budget in half without much effort. 

[boarder42]

oh yeah i've always been frugal with groceries.  i was just wanting everyone to share any special hacks they may have.

Oh

A big one. AMEX blue cash preferreed 6% off groceries. - works for beer/alcohol too.

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1809/2

I mean seriously you're just eating sugar and carbs with no real vitamin benefit besides vitamin C.  Of which your banana is providing more of

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1846/2

But still at a high sugar cost.  so you could just eat.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2536/2

a green pepper

less sugar more protein more of every vitamin you thought you were getting in your fruit...

This is great, thank you and Bracken_Joy! We eat green pepper and broccoli for dinner almost every night, so I probably won't add another for afternoon snack. I'm thinking I'll do carrots and maybe little tomatoes in lieu of an apple. Carrots are certainly cheaper. I KNEW I was doing it wrong :)

[Bracken_Joy]

oh yeah i've always been frugal with groceries.  i was just wanting everyone to share any special hacks they may have.

Oh

A big one. AMEX blue cash preferreed 6% off groceries. - works for beer/alcohol too.

What's the monthly limit on that 6%? And is there an annual fee?

[boarder42]

Earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations; 3% Cash Back at select U.S. department stores; and 1% Cash Back on other purchases.

annual fee is 79 i think.  but up to 360 bucks back per year on groceries.  i havent found a better deal.

[APowers]

Our biggest hack is that we don't eat much meat, dairy, or processed/packaged foods. We mostly buy raw produce and beans and then cook them up together in some fashion. Saves a ton and is healthy/tasty.

I have a question about apples. I've been eating an apple and a banana in the afternoon everyday for my snack, but apples (organic and conventional) are so dang expensive. The bananas are $0.49/lb while the apples are always at least $1.99/lb! And this is at the discount grocery store.

Is there a cheaper fruit or veg I could sub in for apples? I've tried pears and oranges but they seem to be in the same price category/lb. Or should I just suck it up and pay for my apples? Am I laboring under some false delusion that apples are super healthy?

Green pepper, as many have suggested, is good, but likely not cheaper than your apples.

We can usually get apples at our local "country" store for about $0.99/lb, and if you're eating one per day, you could possibly buy a whole 20# case for less per pound. Right now we're doing oranges (in season) for $0.55/lb by the case-- between the four of us, a case is usually gone within a few weeks. We generally keep oranges/apples in the fridge to extend the shelf life.