Has the Rising Cost of Food Changed Your Shopping Habits?

April 23, 2008

It seems like there's a new story about the rising cost of food each and every morning. That combined with the current economy, makes me wonder what you're spending your money on at the grocery store. Have you changed your shopping habits at all? Or have you not been paying attention?

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36 Comments

aimeeb 5 years 3 weeks

Not really I've always been thrifty and read the flyers.

Baby Girl 5 years 4 weeks

I've been really paying attention to sales now and making sure I eat everything I buy.

Jude C 5 years 4 weeks

"I filled up my VW Golf with $52.46" Woooow. Ouch!

MissMarisol 5 years 4 weeks

To be honest, I don't really notice until someone points it out to me. However, yesterday it finally hit me how much the price of gas has gone up. I filled up my VW Golf with $52.46. Daaaamn!

aphill4 5 years 4 weeks

You will always spend money on food. When cooking, a lot of foods cannot be subsituted by knockoffs or cheaper (sometimes lighter) versions of the real thing. If you are cooking for yourself and don't mind suspending the taste for the budget (and I myself am all for this method) go ahead, but from previous personal experience, there is no substitute for the real flavor that you are going for, which pays for itself in the compliments you receive when everyone is asking for the recipe later.

JaimeLeah526 5 years 4 weeks

I always try to buy what is on sale but now I really need to.

fuzzles 5 years 4 weeks

For non-food (mostly) purchases, the Walgreen's Rebate Catalog is great. Every month they have a few free items...you just have to send in your purchase tape with the applicable products circled. There are also Walgreen's store coupons in the catalog which you can couple with Sunday paper coupons for the same product purchase. If you take a little bit of time, you can can save a buttload!

wackdoodle 5 years 4 weeks

The current economic situation is not making me price conscious - I have always been very price conscious. I actually write out my shopping list and go to three different grocery stores without buying anything. I take a notebook and my list and I write down the price of each item and its size. Then I go home and calculate which store had the best deal for my dollar on the items I want. I take into account club cards and coupons when calculating the price of an item. After I've figured out the price per unit for each item I then write out my shopping list placing each item on to a page for the store where I should buy it. The I plan on how to go about my actual attack. My sister stopped doing this and she recently told me that when she looked back at how much money she had wasted because she didn't pre-shop and comparison shop for price per unit beforehand she was angry with herself. This month she's gone back to pre-shopping instead of just going to the Albertson's next to her house. She then sent my nephews in to Albertson's to gather the price per unit on the things she bought and they were shocked at how much money she saved by not going to the closet most convenient store. My sister saved $300 on her groceries this month. Instead of spending $1000 plus for groceries and supplies she spent $699 by going to three different stores. And she didn't use up any more gas than she would have if she had bought everything at Albertson's because she would have had to made multiple trips there on during the coming month because they don't stock everything that was on her list. She shopped at Costco, The Naval Commissary and Smart&Final and she got everything she needed from those 3 stores in one trip. She's patting herself on the back for doing what my mom taught us and what her husband used to love - saving money. Yeah its a lot of work, or so it seems to someone who didn't grow up doing this, but its not. I save A LOT of money comparison shopping from my list before I buy. It's good exercise for me because I walk to each store and leave my car parked. The money I save goes into books, music and other entertainment.

AujahAcorn 5 years 4 weeks

i am starting my own veggie garden because of the price increase. that should help.

Jude C 5 years 4 weeks

We have Food For Less out here, but the closest one to my place is so far that the extra gas I'd use to get there would negate the grocery savings :(

Jude C 5 years 4 weeks

You guys with your Aldi's and Cub Foods make me nostalgic for the Midwest! (Only places I've seen them--never seen them out here in SoCal.)

mjane79 5 years 4 weeks

I have been buying more at places like Aldi's and trying to make larger meal that I can stretch into other meals. Like I made a filling for some burritos earlier in the week with some chorizo (from Aldi's), black beans, corn, peppers and tomatoes. It made a lot so my plan for tonight is to take that and make enchiladas with the enchilada sauce that I had in my freezer. Also, I've been eating out less and making more at home. I don't eat out often, less than once a week, but I've been trying to do things like make my own pizzas at home. I made a big batch of dough and sauce and put enough in the freezer for three other pizzas.

Dana18 5 years 4 weeks

I always watch what I spend at the supermarket. Food has gotten so expensive that it can put a dent in your budget.

fuzzles 5 years 4 weeks

I've always been a big fan of sales and coupons, now more so than ever with the price of gas. I am buying more store brands than ever. Cub Foods has a great line of generics, some of which I actually prefer over the big name brands! And I have pretty much cut out dining outside of the home opting to cook healthy meals at home. Not a problem though, as I love puttering in the kitchen!

akrsouth 5 years 4 weeks

We shop at cub and plan all our meals now

sonnabobble 5 years 4 weeks

i buy stuff on sale, and use coupons when the store puts them next to items, but i buy what i want!! i love to cook and i'm not gonna stop...plus, it's still cheaper than eating out.

lightheaded 5 years 4 weeks

One more reason for me to go on a no-food diet! kidding....

marcella 5 years 4 weeks

I have very specific needs when I grocery shop -- usually produce, grains, and nuts. I have noticed the increases in costs, but I buy what I need. I shop for all my groceries at Trader Joes, Whole Foods, local farmer's markets, and local health foods stores. These aren't the kind of grocery stores for coupons and sales. I'd rather spend the extra money and get very healthy foods, rather than cheaper pre-packaged meals.

Jude C 5 years 4 weeks

*food staples, not staple staples.

Jude C 5 years 4 weeks

I've gotten a lot better at looking for deals and making staples and stuff last longer.

partysugar 5 years 4 weeks

Although I always try to buy on sale, I buy what I want and do think twice about the price when I get to the cash register and the bill is enormous.

LilyBiscuit7 5 years 4 weeks

I hate the fact that the sizes are getting smaller while prices go up. Also, the strategy of doing a sale then a price increase....like the consumer won't notice!! If I sound annoyed....it's because I am.

ella1978 5 years 4 weeks

Flyers, coupons, buying generic... our bill is still about twenty dollars a week higher than it was six months ago. I hope there is a good outlook on the future of this stuff. It really stinks that all the good food, costs more money. Why can you buy a bag of m&ms for 2 bucks, but a bag of tomatoes cost 8? Doesn't make sense. Produce prices are riduculous right now. Milk and eggs are high too! Which makes cheese & bread prices get even higher. Walk around the perimeter of the store, where you are supposed to do the bulk of your shopping, and that's where the prices have gotten outrageous!