First off - let me apologize for being so far behind on everything. The last few weeks were a whirlwind of "offline" celebrations and obligations. I took Saturday off and had a hard time "getting back in my groove" Sunday and yesterday. But I'm back!
Many times I post grocery deals and get comments or emails that I missed a few coupon matchups. Occasionally it is because I just plain missed it, but more often it is because, even with the coupon matchup, the price is still to high for me to consider it a good deal worth listing.
Regular reader Lauren emailed me with a suggestion that I list my top prices that I am willing to pay for things. it sounds like a great idea! While I can't control some prices on things that I use every week (especially fresh produce), I can control other prices that I am willing to pay. I may be having a huge craving for asparagus, for example, but if it $3.99/lb, there is no way that I am buying it!
So here are the most I will pay for things:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: $1.99/lb
Bone-in chicken: $.89/lb
All other meat: $2.00/lb (note: we almost never eat beef in our house, so I am talking poultry or pork)
Asparagus: $1.99/lb
Lemons: 3 for $1
Oranges: 2 for $1
Grape Tomatoes: $2.00/pint
Bottled juice (apple): $1.67 (before coupon)
Juice box packages: $2.00 (before coupons)
Cereals: $.99 (after coupons)
Canned Tomatoes: $.50 (after coupons)
Ice Cream: $1.50 (after coupons)
Frozen Veggies: $.50 (after coupons)
Butter: $2.00 (after coupons)
Convenience Baking items (cake, baking & cookie mixes): $.50 (after coupons)
Salad Dressings: $.75 (after coupons)
Toothpaste/toothbrushes: Free after coupons
Shampoo/Conditioner: $.50 after coupons and any drug store deals (although right now, it has to be free because I have enough of a stockpile)
So that's just a few of the items that I could think of. Feel free to ask me about any items I left off the list!
What is the top price that you are willing to pay for grocery items?
SHannon
Great Post!
I have become really particular about buying things over a certain price. I think it helps if you keep a price book for the things you buy on a regular basis.
Celia
This is a great post and an excellent reference.
I have different criteria for our shopping. Because of some unfortunate health problems I have(hypoglycemia and some other stuff) so I have a strict diet from my nutritionist that I must follow 75% of the time.
But I challenge myself to spend as little as possible on organic, low fat,high fiber food. I am very pleased to say we are at about 75% organic and the amount of money I spend has stayed the same.
I get sad when I thing how much cheaper I could do it, but I am still proud of what I have done.
I love to read your blog, it is so inspirational. I spread my shopping out at four stores, buying the natural products on sale at each. From price comparisons, I know that the Trader Joes I shop at almost always has the best deals on organic products. I use Trader Joes as my base and fill in from Pathmark and Giant.
My husband does not have the dietary constraints that I do, so I can buy regular things for him. He loves cereal, so I am forever on the hunt for the cheapest Shredded Wheat and Frosted Flakes.
I have to be more flexible with organic food, since the prices can be scary. But I just use the stockpile method. I have been fairly successful at using coupons to cut down on other areas of our spending so that I can spend five dollars on a pound of chicken.
Liz
This is a great topic. I'm with Celia, above. I also have restrictions on diet and personal issues (no factory meat) that really jack up costs. Also my DH is pretty inflexible (e.g. Kashi bars, accept no substitutes!) I've been able to trim about 15-20% off our food budget with stockpiling and some couponing. But I think that I may not be able to do too much better than that.
I try to buy Friskies cans at $.29-.34, and Dannon yogurt at about the same price. I put extras in a small spare dorm fridge, where they keep about 6 weeks. I bought 4 boxes of Bran Buds (which, being an old--ahem--fogie I need to eat for breakfast every day) at $3.50 the other day. That's a great price for All Bran, usually I pay $5+. If I had had more Kelloggs coupons I could have knocked off another $1. Raisin Bran I try to stockpile at around $1. I buy store brand frozen vegies usually at $1 or less/lb., but for petite peas, brussels sprouts or other "exotics" I'll go to twice that. Organic milk I'm now seeing at $3.69/ half gallon.
It all depends on how flexible you're willing to be, IMHO. This is a challenge with my DH, but I suppose I'm not going to divorce him over the issue of Dannon yogurt. 🙂
Nique
This is a great idea! I made a spreadsheet and followed sales on my top 20 items, to teach myself what a good deal did look like.
Avacados!!! They are an all time favorite but unless they are 2 for $1, we won't buy them. This is a great price here in Nashville, but back "home" (Colorado) they were regularly 3 or 4 for $1.
Soda. $3 for a 12 pack of cans. Now my man won't drink store brand soda and also won't go without soda in the house. So when Coke hits $3, I buy cases and cases of it.
Bonnie Kendrick
Thanks so much for this post, this is a fantastic reference! Keep the great posts coming, yours is one of my favorite sites!
BusyMom
I've thought about this before, but I guess I've never put togeter a formal list. Some of your numbers astonish me. I'm not sure that I could get that type of deal routinely.
Adriana
When I read this earlier today, I thought "Gosh, there's no way I could get ice cream for $1.50", Yet, when I went to Walmart, I noticed that Breyers Ice Cream was on rollback for 2.25; add in the $0.75 coupon from 4/5, and I now have ice cream for $1.50 xD
I don't really have a set price list, as I haven't been couponing for long, but if I had to give prices on a couple of things, I'd say:
1.29/lb ground beef
1.99/gallon milk
1.00 cereal {1.50 if it's Kashi}
0.60 15 oz peanut butter
1.25 lb strawberries
0.50 avocados
10/$1 small navel oranges {this one is almost wishful thinking; they haven't been this price for ages! Hopefully with summer, they'll lower the price on oranges}
I can't really think of anything else right now. Oh, shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste all has to be free. And if I don't use or need it, it has to be free {stuff like shave gel, chocolate, cookies...etc}.
I'm curious about your butter price. Is that per pound? It seems a bit high for me, even though I only buy SmartBalance. Are there guidelines in Pennsylvania that you can't sell butter under a certain price {like milk}?
Mindi
My butter price is based on real butter. I really can't stand margerine or any "blends" (even though I know that I could get them for much cheaper)
$2/lb is the highest that I will pay for butter, but I can frequently find it for as low as 3 for $5.
I'm really not sure if the state regulates butter and egg prices like it does milk. I did some Googling, but could only find the references to milk regulation!
Kris
How 'bout cleaning products? Please don't flame me if you use all homemade stuff - I just don't do that......So, I had the Mr. Clean BOGO coupon and my store had them for $2. So, I got two bottles of cleaner for $1 each. Seems good to me, but I'm also thinking there will be a better sale a week or two down the road and I'll be kicking myself......
Mindi
Oh please - I have enough to do without trying to make my own cleaning products! 😉
I do the same thing as you...I wait for a good coupon combined with a good sale, Catalina deal or drug store deal and stock up. My husband is also a retail manager, so he often brings home HUGE bottles of Windex, Clorox Cleanup, etc that he got for $2.
As for paper towels, I wait for the good Viva coupons and use them at SuperFresh when they are having Triples, or take advantage of $.99 Bounty Sales combined with a $1/2 Bounty coupon!
Manisha
There are plenty of things I just "know" aren't good deals. A frequent conversation at the store:
Him: but it's on sale
Me: it is, but we can do better
Him: but i want it now
Me: you'll have to wait, there are coupons in the paper for it tomorrow
Him: *pout*
My basic list of top prices:
Bananas: 40 cents/lb (at the farmers market, I can get them for 25 cents)
Cucumbers: 2 for $1 (also farmers market)
Strawberries/Blackberries/Blueberries/Raspberries: $2/container (acme sometimes does B1G2 free and then we eat them all in a day or so)
Apples: $1.29/lb
Cereal: $1.50 with coupon (although I often pay much less)
Yogurt cups: 25 cents per cup (but I usually do better)
OJ: $2 with a coupon
Bread: $1.50 (at the bread outlet)
Crackers: $1.50 with coupons
Frozen Fish Tenders: $3.50/pack with coupons
nichole
i dont know if i have a MAX price to spend but i dont buy it if its not on sale and/or without a coupon (i strive to have both) i always use my "club" card (price plus, greenpoints, etc.
thats all.