how do groceries in yur area compare to the hillbilly housewife list?

[meowee]

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm

I was looking at her emergency menu and the prices she lists are 50% of prices in my area. I live in NYC but not in manhattan (where prices are very high). I've shopped in other states and prices aren't all that much higher here really...

So anyway how do groceries in your area compare?

[SneakyPie]

Yeah, that menu costs $60 around here. In just one year prices have increased almost 20%.

[CarrieMF]

I was rounding up to the nearest dollar.

$103 without

2 lb bag of cornmeal
20 quart box of instant nonfat dry milk
2 pounds lentils @ 60¢ a lb
2 lbs pinto beans @ 65¢ a lb
1 lb black beans
1 lb lima beans
15-oz can green peas
15-oz can greens
15 oz cans spinach

[Marcee]

I can replacate that list for about 50-55 dollars. I am in southeast washingotn state.

[Sharlla]

It's about the same here.

[SugarAndSun]

I'm on eastern Long Island and there is no way. Also, I would not want to eat jelly that costs $1 or the peanut butter that costs $1.50. These are some of my main staples. Are spices seriously $.50 somewhere?

[steffanie3]

Spices are way cheaper if you can buy them in bulk. It is amazing to me the difference.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I live jsut outside Philly and there's no way I could buy her list for under $100 - probably closer to $120.

[momto l&a]

One pound of hot dogs for .89 :Puke

[savithny]

I'm in Central NY, and my price book doesn't include any canned veggies other than beans/tomatoes, so I can't say for sure, but I don't remember ever seeing hot dogs or margarine that cheap anyplace I shop around here.

Caveat: I don't shop at Walmart, ever. *That* might be the big difference? My price book has all three of the major groceries in town - I'd have to drive 15-20 minutes to a Shur-Save. We do have an Aldis, and I might find some of it there...

I could probably find much of that list but I'd have to drive to 6 stores to do it (hint to the Hillbilly Housewife, not everywhere *has* a Walmart with a grocery, believeitornot).

Don't think I've ever seen flour that cheap either, and I buy house brand. That price for juice also seems really low.

[mum4boys]

I think her point is to buy the cheapest food possible just to survive. You have $40 left and its a week before you get any more money. I know around here hot dogs go on sale for less then 50 cents a pack. GROSS and the dollar store has spices 2 for $1.00. It is nothing I would buy but if I had only $40 to eat for a week and no food in the house well then maybe.

[KariM]

I didn't feel like tallying up the total, but looking item by item many of her prices are half of what I'd pay here in WI.

For instance, regular old eggs (not free range or organic) are $1.38/dozen. I've *never* seen them less than 99 cents a dozen and that's a great sale price.

I still like some of the scratch recipes and menu plans she has up, though, even if I can't shop at her prices.

ETA: I just read that her prices are 2006 prices from Dollar General and Wal-Mart. I know our Wal-Mart prices aren't that low - even their store brands and I don't recall ever shopping for groceries at a dollar store.:

[DesireeH]

Also, I would not want to eat jelly that costs $1 or the peanut butter that costs $1.50.

I was thinking that about some of the stuff BUT....Trader Joes has some compareable items for similiar prices that are healthier. Like I get organic all fruit spread (aka jelly) for 1.99 for mango and 2.29 for raspberry...organic PB there is 1.99.

I'd just take out the nasty meals and double up on the better ones...

[superstella]

Those prices look pretty right on, for sale prices of the cheapest stuff possible.

[celestialdreamer]

It would probably be about $60-70 here, even with buying store brands. If I was super limited on money I probably would make different shopping choices than what she has listed, as different things are less expensive in my area. Also I think that I could make some healthier choices and still be able to feed my family.

[lmonter]

Originally Posted by meowee

So anyway how do groceries in your area compare?

Geez. That might work if I didn't do my whole stocking-up-while-on-sale thing, but regular prices? Even the generic brands cost more than that, and *gasp* I do try to snag organic things when I can.

Let's see... the only things she has remotely close are the...

Nonfat dry milk, maybe
Lentils
Pinto beans
Cinnamon (bulk, not jar)
Garlic powder (bulk)

Most of her prices are what I'd be excited to see as sale prices. Well, and we're snobs about hot dogs and get the local-ish stuff for $2-$3/package.
Plus I'm afraid of any mac & cheese that's only 3/$1, I'm a devout Annie's consumer nowadays (which means I get it cheap at Costco, but still).

[Marcee]

Originally Posted by SugarAndSun

I'm on eastern Long Island and there is no way. Also, I would not want to eat jelly that costs $1 or the peanut butter that costs $1.50. These are some of my main staples. Are spices seriously $.50 somewhere?

While I can understand not wanting to eat the peanut butter or the jelly. Some people don't have the luxury of choosing more high end organics. : That is really what this list is for, kwim. Hence her use of the lovely hotdogs...

[lmonter]

Originally Posted by SugarAndSun

Are spices seriously $.50 somewhere?

The Dollar Store. The hillbillyhousewife got her prices from her local dollar store and Walmart. I buy pregnancy tests and glow sticks at the dollar store, that's about it.

[savithny]

Originally Posted by superstella

Those prices look pretty right on, for sale prices of the cheapest stuff possible.

But they're not on sale all the time, right? If the premise is that you're going to go to the store and buy everything on her list, its kinda cheating to list sale prices, since there's no way to guarantee that the week you're that broke is the week hot dogs are on sale, KWIM?

[flminivanmama]

we have a good brand of cheap spices here in FL - Badia. they are that cheap and they are all good fresh spices