"I never pay more than ____ for ____" list

[1964pandora]

I want to learn when to stock up on items I use and I am wondering whether there is such an animal as a compiled list of what constitutes a good STOCK UP NOW price on various grocery items. I know it wouldn't be an exact science and that no list would be exhaustive, but has anyone come across such a thing? I am still actually learning what a good price for something is! Thanks in advance.

[AAK]

I think it depends on where you live. I am starting to keep track of prices again; its been awhile. . . so these might not be the "best" prices to look for, but they are better than the "regular" prices here.

Nalley chili--88 cents/can
apples--I won't buy if it isn't less than $1/pound. Often find for less than 75 cents/pound
Cold Cereal--I like it to break down to 16cents/ounce or less.

I wish I had info on rice, beans, flour, and sugar. However, the best prices are at the beginning of the holiday season and I wasn't keeping track then.

Amy

[JTA Mom]

It does vary by area.

However, I found it very helpful to make a list of the lowest regular price for an item, than a 'lowest sale price' price book.

It opened my eyes, really. For example, brown sugar at costco is regularly 48cents a lb. Onions are 33cents a lb. And so on. So, even though the local supermarket is having a 'super sale' on, say brown sugar by having it at 50cents a lb, it makes more sense for me to buy it at Costco, etc.

With what I know now, a lot of what I used to consider 'sale' prices (99cents for a lb of pasta, $1 per box of cake mix) are no longer 'sale' to me, since I can get them at this price at other stores without sales.

Anytime something comes up that beats the 'regular' low price I can find for it, I go for it.

Mind you, I'm in an area with lots of grocery options.

Ami

[mnnice]

I think it depends on what's already in your pantry stockpile and how much you can store.

Right now I would not "buy" laudry detergent, regular toothpaste, adult toothbrushes, or dental floss unless it was a moneymaker because I have so many and the deals are so frequent. Kid toothbrushes I would shoot for free or .50.

Cereal would have to be very, very cheap (.50 or less per box) since we have quite a bit and we eat lots of other stuff for breakfast (pancakes, eggs and toast, muffins, breakfast burritos).


On the other hand I know I am going to have to spend $6 a gallon on organic milk. I am nearly out of soap for the dishwasher after not really buying any for many month, but my free soap ran out and I think I am going to have to resort to paying nearly full price for it

[Jenn_M]

Produce- I rarely pay more than $1/lb, obviously I don't buy all organic but I can find some for this price. And in the summer I'll pay a bit more at the farmer's market for fresh, local stuff.

Meat- For chicken I wait until boneless, skinless chicken breasts go on sale for $1.69/lb. Whole chickens regularly are on sale for $.59/lb. We don't eat a lot of pork but I can get pork roasts for $.99/lb. Beef I pay more for.

Frozen vegetables are $.88 for a 1 lb bag when they are on sale so I wait and then stock up.

I just bought a 15 lb bag of potatoes for $2.99.

[thriftyqueen]

Our grocery prices here are crazy. Produce is always expensive. Apples are regularly $1.29-1.59 per pound. Grapes go as high as $4.00 per pound. Organic lettuce is $3-4 for a small package. It is really hard to buy much on sale. Everything that does go on sale is really unhealthy. I have to shop at all of the grocery stores in town and at Wal-Mart to not break the bank every month. Especially with trying to go gluten free for my son.

[BetsyS]

I live in a place with pretty reasonable prices, too.

I try to stay under $1/lb for produce. There are a few things I'll make an exception for, but mostly, I stay under the $1 mark. It does force me to eat in season, that's for sure. Although, in the summer, I'm much more likely to break this "rule", and I just spend a set amount at our weekly (over priced, boutique style) farmers' market.

I used to stay under $1/lb for meat (just regular grocery store; nothing fancy), but lately, I've had to raise that to $2/lb. I rarely spend more than $2/lb unless it is steaks or seafood (and those are pretty rare in my house). For $2/lb, I can do canned salmon or canned tuna, so we have those sometimes. And pretty much all chicken, most cuts of beef, and almost all cuts of pork. We don't eat lamb as much as I'd like.