Challenge for Groceries!

[happyscooter]

I have been doing this for a while. If I am having fried chicken, I will buy 1 box of wild rice and one can of green beans. I don't stock up on anything even if I have the space. It will always be on sale somewhere next week.

[quotequeen]

I understand your point with respect to food that goes bad, but why would you expand that to shampoo? You know that it isn't going to go bad and eventually you are going to need it. Unless you are the type that is constantly switching what brand you use to try the latest thing? Otherwise, if you wait until you are out, you have to buy it at whatever the price is. Why not stock up when there's a sale if it's something you will definitely need eventually? Shampoo, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and also non-perishable foods like pasta.

[Malarky]

Because I do buy in bulk, for the past month the only things I've had to buy are veggies, fruits and milk.
That didn't stop me from buying a 10# pork loin last week to freeze/cook so that I won't be in the position of having to buy something not on sale.

[Deleted]

The only things we buy in bulk at BJ's or Costco are:
- paper towels
- toilet paper
- tooth paste
- soap
- laundry detergent, etc
- deodorant

etc.

Things that usually don't expire... food we usually buy for a week or two.
Meat we buy no more than enough for a couple of days

[zibazinski]

I buy soup in bulk from Costco because we eat a lot of soup. Also, paper goods/garbage bags in bulk.

[mtshastawriter]

I typically do stock up on things as they go on sale. However, with some huge repair bills this month, we are doing a "clean out the pantry" month and I am trying to preserve as much cash for paying bills as possible.

I agree that stocking up all the time can be an added expense, but we do live 30 miles from town, so going to the store all the time isn't an option either.

I think the true key is balance.

[whoisjohngalt]

It totally depends on what kind items you are talking about. My DH LOVES chicken marsala and chicken parm, so why would I pay 3.49 for a bottle of marsala wine if I can get it when it's on sale for 2.99 using a $1 coupon that doubles? You better believe it I am going to buy 10 bottles. Same with pasta sauce that I use. Why would I pay 1.79/jar if I can get it on sale for 1.00?

Eating what's on sale might sound good in theory, but I am not shoving down hotdogs instead of chicken down anyone's throat just bc it was on sale this week.

Lena

[whoisjohngalt]

It totally depends on what kind items you are talking about. My DH LOVES chicken marsala and chicken parm, so why would I pay 3.49 for a bottle of marsala wine if I can get it when it's on sale for 2.99 using a $1 coupon that doubles? You better believe it I am going to buy 10 bottles. Same with pasta sauce that I use. Why would I pay 1.79/jar if I can get it on sale for 1.00?

Eating what's on sale might sound good in theory, but I am not shoving down hotdogs instead of chicken anyone's throat just bc it was on sale this week.

Lena

[NancysSummerSip]

I do a combination of shopping methods. There's just the two of us, plus two cats. We have a Costco membership, and we use it for bulk purchases of drinks, baking ingredients (when I have a major baking project coming up) and some paper products. We have purchased non-consumable items at Costco (our bedroom mirrors) and the money we saved paid for our membership that year.

Most everything else is cheaper, even in large quantities, at other stores using their sales plus coupons.

Some items I would not stock up would be things like olive and sesame oils, which I use, but can go rancid if not used in a relatively short period of time.

Eating out of the pantry to reduce the stock is not a bad idea. Donna Freedman at Smart Spending has mentioned it, and it's a good way to make sure food you invest in actually gets used. There are a couple of food drives in the area each year, and that's another way I reduce the amount in my pantry.

[dancinmama]

I already bought (30) 4-packs of toilet paper this morning. I paid $2.79 (sales tax only). But I guess that doesn't really count cuz it's not food.

[Gardening Grandma]

I do buy more when things are on sale, but my focus is on less waste of what is in the pantry and in the freezer. Every so often we'll go through the refrigerator, freezer and pantry checking pull dates. I really hate throwing food out, so my focus this year is to plan menus based on what I have already.
We have the space, so I do buy TP, paper towles, shampoo, etc in bulk from Costco (or from a grocery store if their sale price can beat Costco's). I had been using a price book, but let it lapse - I'm restarting it again because it really does make a difference. I'd like to find an app that will let me keep it on my iTouch - any suggestions?

[whoisjohngalt]

But, I have found that if I stick to what we will actually consume, that it saves money. Just thought I would toss out there a challenge to view it in a different light for a week or two. YMMV.

I will absolutely take on your challenge for things such as produce and other perishables. For some reason I always think that THIS time it will be different and I WILL make that eggplant dish.

I really need to get back to planning menus again

Lena

[Deleted]

I stock up on dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, tooth paste, paper towel, cheese and meat. They all seem to go on sale in 12 week cycles so I buy enough for 3 months. I live alone so that is not a huge amount. Perishables I am working on only buying what I will eat and eating what I do end up buying. That is my waste area.

[Poppet]

Snerdly, I love that you question the norm. I am not a fan of couponing or chasing sales and loss leaders. I just don't do it, it doesn't work for me.

What I do is maintain the pantry principle. That is, I keep my pantry full of the makings for our favorite meals. For example, we always have potatoes, eggs, milk, frozen chicken breasts, a case of canned tomatoes, a case of chili, refried beans, tortillas, salad makings, and other stuff on hand.

and I MUST have plenty of TP stocked up as well as Trader Joes's boxes of mac n cheese just in case we have some sort of zombie armageddon.

So none of the above goes to waste.

if we get a new shampoo bottle, we always open it and start using it or anything else preferentially to the old instead of using what is there until it is gone.

So don't open a new bottle until the old one is gone.

[bobbysgirl]

I think the true key is balance.

We came up with the 'in balance theory' on the SS boards. What is good for one, needs to be tweaked for another. You can bet, though if I can get Special K at zero dollars this week, I'll be in line for it. Even if I have 4 boxes in the cupboard. I'll be in line for the free tp at rite aid this week too. The vitamins that are BOGO with a 6.00 coupon won't be passed up either. You can spend your cash anyway you like. My challenge would be to spend nothing and get what I need. I am getting rich slowly, but I'm well on my way.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I've been one of those pantry principle/loss leader/stock up types for years. I kept a close eye on weekly grocery sales and went out and stocked up on loss leaders even if I didn't need it yet or plan to use it in the near future.

But, I too have been thinking differently as of late because cash is tight for now and I'm trying to think of a way to increase cash flow temporarily. So, that might mean only buying what I need for each week and dipping deeply into my pantry and freezers.

I sort of gave it a try last week. I went out one day and hit the sales at all of the usual haunts. I stocked up and haven't been back since. There is nothing that we "need". I'm going to see how long I can stretch it -- although I will have to make a milk and produce run by the end of the week.

I am concerned, however, that if I deplete my pantry/freezers too far I will not have the cash to replenish them anytime soon.

Not sure which way to go on this. But I like that you're thinking outside of the box on this one too.

[phil5185]

There seems to be a notion that you should buy in bulk, stock up on specials, buy what is on sale. My challenge is to ONLY buy what you absolutely need and will use this week to make your dinners and eat.

Agree completely, we've done that for many years. As others said, buying bulk promotes over-consumption, spoilage, getting stuck with the wrong thing, obsolescence, and so on.

But my main issue is 'time value of money" - if we have $500 worth of 'future' tied up in the pantry/freezer/bathroom, on a continuous yr round basis, that is $500 that I can't add to a Roth - and after 30 yrs of that, the lost opportunity cost is quite high.

[schildi]

Jan 16, 2011 19:57:16 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

But my main issue is 'time value of money" - if we have $500 worth of 'future' tied up in the pantry/freezer/bathroom, on a continuous yr round basis, that is $500 that I can't add to a Roth - and after 30 yrs of that, the lost opportunity cost is quite high.

Especially when invested in a 12% product. Phil: I am happy to see you here!

We bought a quarter cow not too long ago, that will last us a year. I guess that qualifies as buying bulk. It was living outside, no hormones, no antibiotics, etc. And it was cheaper than beef even on sale in the grocery store. We do that every year. Got a deer also. There was no option of only shooting a few pounds, so bulk here as well.
There is no way that we will eat what's on sale just to save money for as long as we can afford to buy what we want to eat / what's good for us.

[The J]

Jan 16, 2011 19:57:16 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

There seems to be a notion that you should buy in bulk, stock up on specials, buy what is on sale. My challenge is to ONLY buy what you absolutely need and will use this week to make your dinners and eat.

Agree completely, we've done that for many years. As others said, buying bulk promotes over-consumption, spoilage, getting stuck with the wrong thing, obsolescence, and so on.

But my main issue is 'time value of money" - if we have $500 worth of 'future' tied up in the pantry/freezer/bathroom, on a continuous yr round basis, that is $500 that I can't add to a Roth - and after 30 yrs of that, the lost opportunity cost is quite high.

Phil, this is bull. Because if you eat $500 worth of food over the course of a year, then that's money you're either spending at once in January, or spread out over the course of the year. If you spread it out over the course of the year, then assuming your investment actually returns 12% steadily over the course of that one year (which there is a very high standard deviation from 12% in a single year period), you might be losing out on all of $40 or so.

[phil5185]

Because if you eat $500 worth of food over the course of a year, then that's money you're either spending at once in January, or spread out over the course of the year. If you spread it out over the course of the year

No, I'm talking about keeping a rolling inventory of an extra $500 (for example) for the entire yr - ie, starting the yr with a $500 inventory and ending the yr with a $500 inventory. So I would have an extra $500 tied up forever.

We bought a quarter cow not too long ago, that will last us a year. I guess that qualifies as buying bulk. It was living outside, no hormones, no antibiotics, etc

Good plan. We raise two on pasture, have them butchered, sell 1 1/2, put a half in the freezer. Like you say, no steroids, no growth hormones, just grass-fed lean beef.

[The J]

Jan 16, 2011 21:14:47 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

Because if you eat $500 worth of food over the course of a year, then that's money you're either spending at once in January, or spread out over the course of the year. If you spread it out over the course of the year

No, I'm talking about keeping a rolling inventory of an extra $500 (for example) for the entire yr - ie, starting the yr with a $500 inventory and ending the yr with a $500 inventory. So I would have an extra $500 tied up forever.

Then it would $500. Not $500 every year.

[cronewitch]

I stockpile and always will for things that never spoil and are cheap in bulk. I just bought 700 coffee filters at costco they cost as much as about 100 in a grocery store, I use two a week so that is a 7 year supply. Same with trash can bags, I use one a week or less so will buy a few hundred for the pantry. I have the same box for many years so don't even think about them in the grocery store. My freezer is full of meat, fish and poultry. I have 4 turkeys at free to 29cents a pound a couple hundred pounds of fish we caught and a dozen pounds of hamburger I got at 79cents a pound.

I took out some gizzards to fry as football snacks and some halibut for dinner last night. I need to stop buying protein for a while so told boyfriend if he goes to the garage to bring in whatever he thinks should be in the house to eat, his choice. I know there is an entire salmon in a big vacuum bag and pork roast and all kinds of good food. We have about 150lbs or more of raw tuna we vacuumed this summer and lots of jars we canned so now are stupid not to eat tuna more often instead of buying meat.

It is really nice when I grocery shop not needing protein or paper or plastic products. I don't buy much in cans or boxes and have found I don't really use them when I stock pile so I am cutting back on them. I like some frozen things like veggies will get used. This week they are 69lb for bags of veggies, if I shop at all I will get at least 10lbs if they are something I will eat.

We are mature enough not to open new shampoo until we need new or at least just use it once then finish off what we had opened. I got three kinds last time and still have two kinds unopened, I like what I am using and after I try the others I might buy 10 more like this one so I don't need to shop for shampoo for a very long time.

I don't really want to shop much and don't really use coupons but watch the sales to see if it is worth going.

[Poppet]

I just caught an interview with Carla Ulrich, author of The Real Cost of Living.

She said that clipping coupons and chasing loss leaders won't save you the most money.

Cutting down on food waste will boost your budget.

20 - 30% of the food budget is blown just by wasting food by.....drumroll.....not planning your weekly meals.

I knew that. Uh-huh. Now if I'd only do it. I can't count how many time my lettuce has gone bad because I ignored it.

[debtheaven]

I wondered about that too. (The 500 once / per year / per month).

[whoisjohngalt]

Well, I just found out that I wasted $4 bc of my stockpiling. I used to stock pile our laundry detergent when it went on sale for 1.99, regular price over $5. I haven't bought LD in about 4 yr and still have two bottles. But we just bought a new washer and it says that I only can use HE laundry detergent, so I have to give away two bottles.

If I only was a smart as Phil, I wouldn't have tied up that $4 and may be could have been retired by now

Lena

[readsalot]

I have used regular laundry detergent in my front-loading washing maching. You just have to use a lot less.

[whoisjohngalt]

Sales people really scared me that I will void all kinds of warranties if I do
Lena

[patchwork150]

I am not interested in saving 'the most' amount of $ possible in my grociery budget if it costs hours of my time to do, and extra space in my tiny apartment. I AM interested in saving as much $ as possible given the time and space I am willing to give. One of my biggest problems is waste. My household is 3- me, DH, and DH's cousin. If I cook too much, no-one wants to eat it after 2-3x. If I freeze it, it sits in the freezer because DH refuses to eat frozen leftovers. I also have a major problem with perishibles going bad- veggies mostly, and they are the most expensive items to buy most of the time! I have given up the argument about the frozen leftovers, so I recently made my new ambition in grociery shopping to buy only what I will use- and cook smaller batches, even if it means I have to cook almost every day. We grociery shop every two weeks. So, I'm in for this challenge : )

[Deleted]

The last time i used non he in my front loader, i shut down the system with too many bubbles... i'll just stick with he...

[Clifford]

Crone (and others with big frozen hoards),
With the value of your frozen items, do you have a generator or something to make sure that the freezer stays on? We have twice lost freezer-fulls due to power outages, so are reluctant to stock up again...if only to avoid that incredible stench that we could smell from the mailbox.