I’m reaching out to you today hoping you can assist me with a grocery cost comparison.
After sharing in my recent post about grocery prices I’ve noticed that haven’t increased, some of your comments sparked a thought: What does grocery inflation truly look like throughout the United States? My perspective is naturally limited to my experiences here in Lincoln, Nebraska. To get a broader picture of grocery costs, I need your help to Compare Grocery Costs from different regions.
Will You Participate in Our Grocery Cost Comparison?
I understand that my local grocery shopping experience might be very different from yours. That’s why I’m asking for your input. If you would be willing to take a few moments to answer some questions about your grocery shopping, I believe we can all gain valuable insights. My aim is always to be helpful and provide practical information. Understanding more about how grocery stores are operating in your area will help me achieve that goal even better. 🙂
Let’s begin with those of you who frequently shop at warehouse stores:
For Costco and Sam’s Club Shoppers:
- Are you also able to purchase Chicken Legs for around $0.98 per pound?
- Do Rotisserie Chickens remain at the $4.99 price point in your local stores?
- Is a 1-pound package of Organic Spinach and Spring Mix still priced at $5.00 or less?
- Can you still find Organic Hamburger Meat for approximately $4.98 per pound in your area?
- Are the prices of fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables comparable to what they were previously? I’ve observed a noticeable increase in berry prices. However, fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, pears, and grapes (when in season) seem to be holding steady at reasonable prices.
Walmart Grocery Prices:
In a previous discussion, I mentioned finding pasta for $0.98 per 1-pound package at Walmart. I’ve also seen similar prices for store brands at other grocery stores. Is this consistent across different states? What are your experiences with pasta prices at Walmart or similar stores in your location? Knowing this will help us compare grocery costs effectively.
To verify the information, I recently took this photo at my local Walmart:
And here’s another photo showing that Whole Wheat Pasta, which we prefer, is also very reasonably priced at just $1.43 per pound:
I have definitely noticed price increases on numerous food items at Walmart, which often leads me to shop elsewhere for the majority of our grocery needs. However, some basic staples like pasta seem to have maintained lower prices. Comparing these staple items helps us understand where we can save when grocery costs are rising overall.
Prices at All Grocery Stores:
- Have you also been shocked by the outrageous prices of processed and frozen prepared foods? This has been one of the most significant price jumps I’ve observed while grocery shopping.
- Are the weekly sales and loss leader deals at your local grocery stores worthwhile? Some sale advertisements I see are disappointing – the sale prices don’t seem like much of a deal. However, I also come across prices that are genuinely appealing, making me feel that with careful planning, I can stock up on essential items when they are on significant sale and at reasonable prices. These sales are crucial when we compare grocery costs and look for savings.
For example: Last week, a reader named Julie informed me about a Mega Meat Sale at Super Saver, a grocery chain in Nebraska and Iowa. I hadn’t shopped there before, but the advertised meat prices were truly impressive and worth a special trip! ($1.18 per pound for pork roast?! $1.58 per pound for pork loin?! Amazing!).
While most other items at Super Saver seemed pricier compared to my usual purchases at Costco, Sam’s Club, and Aldi, these loss leader meat prices were a great incentive to visit and allowed me to save considerably by taking advantage of their extreme sale prices. I’ll definitely be paying closer attention to their sale flyers in the future! Exploring these sales is a key strategy to compare grocery costs and find the best deals.
Store Markdown Finds:
Are you frequently finding good markdown deals that bring you joy? I consistently find excellent markdown items at various stores I visit: Aldi, Sam’s Club, and Walmart (and occasionally interesting clearance items at Costco). I make it a habit to check the meat section at these stores for potential markdown deals.
Chicken Breast for just $1.76 per pound after markdown —>
Overall Grocery Budget:
- Have you found that focusing on basic, whole foods and preparing homemade meals, while avoiding expensive processed and prepared foods, helps to keep your grocery budget from being too severely impacted?
- Have you experimented with shopping at different grocery stores to determine if alternative options might be more cost-effective for you now compared to your pre-inflation shopping habits? Sometimes, comparing grocery costs involves trying new stores.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to answer any of these questions. Your insights will help us all learn about effective grocery shopping strategies in different areas. I’m very interested in knowing what you’ve discovered to be effective and what prices you’ve noticed that haven’t increased significantly in recent years. Sharing this information is crucial for us to compare grocery costs and find solutions together.
Even with some grocery price inflation, we can still manage our budgets and feed our families well!
Free Workshop Opportunity!
This is perfect timing as I recently discovered a FREE Crush Inflation Challenge offered by Tiffany from Don’t Waste the Crumbs. She offers very practical and achievable advice. Sign up for this free challenge here.
Heavenly Homemaker’s Club Members: Access your member homepage and resources here! Not yet a member? Join our community today!
