$470 Grocery bill at checkout.

[Xolodno]

Thankfully it wasn't me, it was the older guy in front of me. The clerk asked if he had the app which he said no, she then told him to get it as it would no doubt saved him some money. Which he responded "with a nearly $500 dollar bill, probably wouldn't put too much of a dent into it". His basket was slightly more full as mine, but he was buying more name brand, specialized items, etc.

Then I quipped, "its not like those tariffs are doing it". He started busting up as did the clerk (and I now live in a red area). Mine was $130, would have been less, but I bought some booze. Plus as my wife says "I married a cheap bastard", which I always respond "YES. I. AM." I get the store brand, manager specials, I even compare the price on the bagged cereal vs. box per oz. And even whip out my calculator on my phone to do the math on specials. Saw one other person doing it at the store as well. Every bit counts.

[ret5hd]

1. how long do you expect that $130...

of groceries to last? just curious.

[Xolodno]

5. If that's all I had, about a week and a half.

But we have a good sized pantry and a small drop freezer. So it may be yogurt and fruit for the first few days, then pancakes or waffles the next. Dinner, have a big bag of rice and beans, bought some El Pato so I can change the rice into Mexican rice, have plenty of Tapatio and one pack of chicken breasts should last us awhile for Chicken Burritos.

I grew up poor as did my wife, so we know how to make things strech. Sure, I've toured Europe, Egypt, etc. eaten at some really fine places, but once I was unemployed, reverted to poor mode instantly. Won't be unemployed for much longer, I put my self through college (even had family members try to sabotage it), now I'm getting some licensing that will get me a job for the time being while working on my teaching credential.

[ret5hd]

16. we are about the same...

we add in some foraged foods - yucca pods, nopales, lemonberry sumac, apples, beauty berries, plums, wild onion etc when the opportunity arises.

[soldierant]

21. I'm right in between you and the $470 guy

I do as many sales and coupons and markdowns as possible - but since the first thing I have to do is exclude comestibles I am allergic to, that isn't always possible. Sigh.

[gab13by13]

2. Was at the grocery store yesterday

An Amish lady was ahead of me. Her bill was $550.00. She peeled off 6 100 dollar bills.

[senseandsensibility]

4. You have to wonder how many people she was feeding with that

and for how long.

[The Blue Flower]

3. Count the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves

That's how I was raised, and that's how I lived for decades as a single, working mom. Shopping the specials and reading the unit pricing has been second nature to me forever. I didn't just buy the dried beans, I bought the cheapest dried beans. I have no doubt I'll get through the rising mess.

[Xolodno]

7. When you are at the bottom...

...and hard times come back, you know exactly what to do.

I knew of one couple who fell on hard times, wife was hit with cancer, his income wasn't enough to support everything, etc. So they moved into a hotel with weekly rates. Did not get any government services, too proud and worried what others would say about them. Good fucking grief. I went straight to the services, why not? I've been paying into them since I was 16. That's what its there for! Shit happens and you need at times a little help to get you over the hump. No one ever wants to stay on government support, it isn't much, red tape will drive you crazy, etc.

[Hornedfrog2000]

19. Went through college on medicaid.

I am back in school now, but i have a nursing license and that will pay for what i need until I finish my doctorate. I take pride in overcoming adversity, and being able to relate to my patients.

[Skittles]

27. everyone needs help sometime on this earth

no one should feel shame requesting assistance......seems like it's the "pro-life christian" crowd who love to judge people, make them feel bad about it

[IbogaProject]

23. My wife hates that I keep an eye on gas prices

She feels its a poverty mondset. I just enjoy trying to recall the best price that isnt out of the way. And with groceries working to get basic staples down where the quality isnt large. One ssue is to avoid south eastern american rice as it can have arsnic. Bringing lunch most days and even bringing a meal on a long journey helps.

[Skittles]

28. curious if you been through hard times

my parents were like that - Depression era survivor and WWII survivor - and yes, I picked up a lot of their habits (not all of them)

[IbogaProject]

34. My Mom was a widow

My Dad grew up poor born in 1931. He was a fully retired Army Lt Colonel though he took lowest survivor amount, he passed 6 moths after his masters in urban planning. His thesis became the template for the precurser law to the American Disability Act. He took his medical construction experience to create standards for inpatient care for the developementally disabled. My Mom went to grad school in her 50s and worked as a high school librarian to age 74. Been low financially a few times in the aughts but pulled through those times. I just really keep an eye on prices, as a dollar saved is kind of like a tax free dollar earned. In NJ the gas all comes from the refineries, just with different detegergants added.

[Skittles]

35. I hear you

I helped with family financial stuff when I was a teenager and my dad was hospitalized for a year - we lived off his savings, and it always stuck with me, wondering what would have happened if there had been no savings

[democratsruletheday]

6. Three words....

Aldi, Aldi ALDI!!!!

We used to shop at Meijer here in West Michigan which is a huge grocery chain and we were at about $240ish per week for 3 of us. My son eats like a tank and so we made the switch to Aldi about 2 years ago on a friends recommendation. We are now at about $175 per week. Just have to bag your own groceries. Love it.

[IbogaProject]

24. Aldi & Trader Joes are owned by same family

Joe retired awhile ago.

[Skittles]

29. I like TJ but Aldi misses the mark for me

not impressed by a lot of their merch

[Lifeafter70]

32. That is partially correct

Trader Joes started in southern ca. Joe sold it to to one of the Albrecht brothers just not the one who owns Aldi in the states. Joe has passed and so has the Albrecht brother and his son, the grandchildren inherited it in a trust. Trader Joes is still run by corporate offices in Monrovia, California. Trader Joes is not part of Aldi.

[Intractable]

30. I have to second this. Aldi is my primary supermarket.

Been that way for years.

I was there yesterday at my local Aldi in southern Florida.

Prices are up on some items, but not like what I hear going around.

[Keepthesoulalive]

8. Have you tried the name brands lately

The store brands in some instances are far better quality.

[Maninacan]

12. Graham crakers.

Crav'n brand grahams are 1/2 the price of Nabisco. Woodmans in WI. has store brands that are good. Oatmeal has doubled in just a few years. I had to give up Quaker oats for a store brand 1/2 the price

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Let me guess the store . . . . .

Stew Leonards.

I see that tab on a regular basis and we have an app.

[madinmaryland]

14. LOL! I used to go to their store before Stew Sr. Got...

Busted before skimming off of the food carts they had throughout the store. I think his one of his sons got busted also. Reagan gave Stew Sr a medal of some sort before all that happened.

I’ve been to the Norwalk, Danbury. And Yonkers stores.

The thing that was fucked up is Stew was making a ton of money with the Norwalk and Danbury store that he had no need to skim money.

[IbogaProject]

25. I've been to the Yonkers Stew Leonards

I wasnt a fan, but I wasn't shopping too intensely.

[Xolodno]

15. Vons...California version of Safeway.

The other store is Raleys, much more expensive. I think their "organic" produce section is bigger than the one that isn't. But if you look at thier add, digital coupons, etc. sometimes it makes more sense to go to them for certain items. Thankfully, the two are just across the street from each other.

[Maninacan]

10. Discount store

I don't shop at stores where you have to be a member. Usually a clerk will scan discounts from a flyer if you are not in the club.

[Ms. Toad]

11. Name brands, specialized items - that's exactly were many of the loyalty app savings are.

Penny wise and pound foolish. Not only for buying specialty brands - but for not using the loyalty app that would have made them cheaper.

[Maninacan]

13. Loyalty brands

Loyalty brands don't help when i am on the road. I take a bin of food when i go on a trip.

[Ms. Toad]

31. Or you can just sign up for the loyalty cards wherever you shop on the road.

Most work instantaneously.

You do have to decide whether selling your shopping information in exchange for discounts is worth it . . . but they work almost as well on the road as they do at home.

[newdeal2]

17. All of the packaged stuff is outrageously expensive

Chips, crackers, soda, cookies etc. will add so much to your bill. Those used to be the “cheap” food items but something switched five years ago and they’ve never lowered the price without some sort of special deal.

[ret5hd]

18. our method is: shop the perimeter...

avoid the aisles.

[newdeal2]

20. Yes they've lost me as a custoner

Good job, Lays and Nabisco.

No way I’m paying $6-10 for a bag/ box that is half empty and has cheaper ingredients than before. I noticed most of what’s in the frozen aisle can no longer even be called ice cream legally because they’ve changed the recipes.

[HuskiesHowls]

22. I sometimes wonder about people's shopping habits

I drink Pepsi products. One of the local chain stores has 6 packs of 16 ounce bottles for $4.99 most of the time. Sometimes they'll have it at $3.99.
What I find most interesting is that people will pick up those 6 packs of 16 ounce bottles, when 5 feet further down the aisle are 6 packs of 24 ounce bottles for $3.99.

Or, another chain store has jars of Skippy peanut butter on sale--2 40 ounce jars wrapped together for $14.99. Right next to that, they have single 40 ounce jars for $6.99. Even the checkers don't understand it!!!

[Karasu]

26. This cannot hold.

[Warpy]

33. I was poor for a long time thanks to an illness that disqualified me from health insurance

so I got used to keeping protein at a minimum. Fortunately for me, I like beans and am perfectly happy with beans, bean burgers, loaves, soups, stews, spreads....you get the idea. I'm not back to beans yet. In fact, I'm still able to buy some processed stuff that's bad for me (except at my age, who cares?) and which I've been able to enjoy on my inherited income.

I wonder how many people that poor guy was feeding, I see bills like that when someone comes through from one of the reservations and you know s/he is probably shopping for a bunch of elderly folks. If he was buying tobacco and/or alcohol, that could have jacked the cost up, also. Or if there were half a dozen cans of coffee. Because of his stupid blanket tariff on Mexico, friesh veg are also through the roof.

I don't know what families are expected to do, especially the ones with botttomless pit teenaged boys in the house. You know that arse Johnson is never going to allow a minimum wage hike proposed on the floor of the House, let alone get one passed.