NFriday wrote:A lot of the people that shop at Walmart do not compare prices. They are just looking for one place to do their shopping.

I think I would rephrase your statement:

A lot of people do not compare prices.

I see really full baskets at other stores, who are not reputed for lower prices.

I don't always think Aldi is consistently cheaper. There are facebook pages with dedicated fans who buy almost exclusively Aldi.

Aldi's milk pricing from store-to-store varies wildly on the very same day. I went to two locations: Cicero AVe south of the airport and another on Pulaski. The prices for a gallon of milk was quite different. I saw a guy loading up gallons of milk in a cart. I told him the price at another nearby Aldi. He did not seem particularly impressed.

Those who really track prices and sales are special ... us!

Regards,
CAthy2

Cathy2 wrote:I think I would rephrase your statement:

A lot of people do not compare prices.

I see really full baskets at other stores, who are not reputed for lower prices.

I don't always think Aldi is consistently cheaper. There are facebook pages with dedicated fans who buy almost exclusively Aldi.

Those who really track prices and sales are special ... us!

Regards,
CAthy2

The thing that I have realized is that there is NO ONE place that has lowest prices. I was honestly shocked how high the prices were at ALDI. It made me happy that ALDI was my last stop.

Even my local Safeway which is so overpriced, has an occasional great deal that can't be ignored.

The positive thing about the current situation is that MOST of the prices are online among the major players. If you are in a store and a price seems high, you can always check to see the prices elsewhere.

The problem though is a mother that is working full time does not have time to go to five grocery stores, and in Evanston 15% of the residents are not online, or don't have English as their primary language.

I bought a dozen eggs last week at Jewel on sale for $2.79 a dozen. Yes, I could go to Woodman's and get them cheaper, but their closest store is 15 miles away, and I never have any other reason to go to Buffalo Grove. I do try to watch the sales, but I have just relegated to the fact that I am going to have to spend more on groceries. I used to get lots of deals at the farmers market, but the farmers that I used to get the deals from, are no longer there, and it is hard for me to get out of there, without spending $35 or more.

When volunteers in the city of Evanston, knocked on doors in the fifth ward to find out why people were not getting the COVID vaccine last year, they found out that a lot of people did not know about it, and they weren't online, or English was not their primary language. Hope this helps, Nancy

I know this has been discussed before but at some point, the savings from chasing sales all over town has to be negated by the cost of the gas and wear & tear on the car unless you’re buying in bulk. Not to mention the value of my time. If I’m driving all over town(s) it’s to get things I can’t at my primary store —not to save $1.50 on a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk.

On the other hand, for brands I purchase regularly at Whole Foods, which is a 30 minute drive for me, I will make sure I go when I see them on sale. But only if I happen to see the email flyer—most of the time I don’t.

boudreaulicious wrote:I know this has been discussed before but at some point, the savings from chasing sales all over town has to be negated by the cost of the gas and wear & tear on the car unless you’re buying in bulk. Not to mention the value of my time. If I’m driving all over town(s) it’s to get things I can’t at my primary store —not to save $1.50 on a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk.

On the other hand, for brands I purchase regularly at Whole Foods, which is a 30 minute drive for me, I will make sure I go when I see them on sale. But only if I happen to see the email flyer—most of the time I don’t.

You shop your garden, which is pretty cool.

I like to be aware of prices, because eventually I am near stores just due to various activities.

Woodman's has the double-advantage of less costly gas as well as eggs, but Jewel and Mariano's have cheaper milk if you buy two gallons.

I thought when Woodman's moved just 15 minutes from home that the mystic would die. Nope, I still enjoy my visits there.

Jewel and Mariano's are close, so I might just go there. Everywhere else, it is because I am doing something else in the vicinity.

As for time, I like saving money because that is non-taxable.

It would be interesting to know what you will devote time to visit Whole Foods. I really cannot recall the last time I visited one. I may learn there is something I may want there.

Regards,
Cathy2

I'm lucky to have a Tony's, 2 Jewels, and 2 Aldis all within a stone's throw of the house. Loss leader cherry picking is a sport since I'm a work from home sissy. I can easily do Jewel and Aldi at 1pm when there's tumbleweeds in the aisles. I also have 3 pretty damn nice fruit markets - one just a block down the street, that I hit pretty much every 2 days to grab a veggie for dinner, and see what fell off the truck. I view the ads online on Wednesday am, and get my list of worthwhile loss leaders / price comparisons. It's a whole thing - but I think it's fun. I can get my list together while halfway watching a Sunny In Philly episode - no biggie.

Lol - I laugh at myself on the regular at the suburban "dad" I have morphed into. Last weekend I laughed at myself for being ticked that Fitzgerald's didn't have Michelob Ultra. And yes, I was wearing Khaki cargo shorts. I still refuse to rock the New Balance tho. I mean, I have some dignity. Gotta go - some kids walkin on the lawn...

World food prices have fallen for a fifth consecutive month but are still nearly eight per cent higher than a year ago, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Friday.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1125971

Cathy2 wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:I know this has been discussed before but at some point, the savings from chasing sales all over town has to be negated by the cost of the gas and wear & tear on the car unless you’re buying in bulk. Not to mention the value of my time. If I’m driving all over town(s) it’s to get things I can’t at my primary store —not to save $1.50 on a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk.

On the other hand, for brands I purchase regularly at Whole Foods, which is a 30 minute drive for me, I will make sure I go when I see them on sale. But only if I happen to see the email flyer—most of the time I don’t.

You shop your garden, which is pretty cool.

I like to be aware of prices, because eventually I am near stores just due to various activities.

Woodman's has the double-advantage of less costly gas as well as eggs, but Jewel and Mariano's have cheaper milk if you buy two gallons.

I thought when Woodman's moved just 15 minutes from home that the mystic would die. Nope, I still enjoy my visits there.

Jewel and Mariano's are close, so I might just go there. Everywhere else, it is because I am doing something else in the vicinity.

As for time, I like saving money because that is non-taxable.

It would be interesting to know what you will devote time to visit Whole Foods. I really cannot recall the last time I visited one. I may learn there is something I may want there.

Regards,
Cathy2

My WF every-time items are produce (Strack’s is fine for most things but WF is generally fresher/better selection); bakery bread (sourdough/Seeduction loaves/baguettes); Talenti ice creams (our family’s fave); Maple Hill milk; Kalona Buttermilk, Air-Chilled chicken (I’ve also been buying chicken delivered from Cook’s Venture); other sale meat; good canned tuna; cheese from the cheese bar; Turkey, cheese & ham from the deli (sometimes buy at Strack’s but prefer the on-site prepared Turkey and ham at WF). These are a lot of our staples, and along with Strack’s and monthly CostCo and Chicago Asian market trips, the bulk of our shopping.

Whole Foods does have better produce than Mariano's or Jewel, and their bananas are only $.59. Jewel now charges $.69 for their bananas. Their regular price for their baby organic carrots is also cheaper than Jewel or Mariano's.

This last winter WF had Amy's burritos on sale for two weeks for $1. I bought 25 of them . They currently have their AmyLu chicken sausage on sale for $4.09 with prime, and I love their Michigan cherry chicken sausage. Their sausage does not have any onion powder in it like most chicken sausages do. Most companies add the onion powder because it acts as a preservative similar to nitrate. That way their sausage keeps for months, but they can advertise that it does not have nitrates. I also love AmyLu's chicken burgers, but they are not on sale right now.

I buy most of my peanut butter at WF too. It is $2.29, and I like it better than I do Food4Less. I also buy their bean and cheese burritos. They used to be $1.69, but they have recently gone up to $1.99.

I don't buy a lot of it, but I buy their air chilled chicken and ground turkey. I won't deal with factory farmed chicken.

Record Turkey Prices Are Coming for Thanksgiving

Inflation is coming for Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey supplies have become stretched this year after an avian-influenza outbreak devastated flocks in the springtime and threatens to re-emerge in the fall, meat industry executives said. Reduced flocks have lifted turkey prices to record levels, analysts said, and price tags for the holiday staple are likely to remain high through Thanksgiving.

Breast-meat prices for consumers have climbed above $6.50 a pound this year, compared with less than $2 a pound two years ago, according to market -research firm Urner Barry. Turkey hens—which represent the majority of birds served on Thanksgiving—currently cost 57% more than the five-year average, the firm estimated. Both prices represent all-time highs.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/record-tur ... 1662117778

boudreaulicious, I hope you won't be offended but from your WF shopping list it sounds like you aren't very price-sensitive. My kid recently moved to a dorm at UMKC across the street from a Whole Foods. A family friend gave him a gift card so he wouldn't starve. He goes to Jewel, etc fairly often and was gobsmacked by prices at WF.
I do agree that making special trips to save a few bucks is silly. But I, and I think maybe Cathy too, drive all over town for work and other activities so it's easy to stop on the way. And it breaks up some pretty depressing drives. On the other hand it can lead to a lot of munching on the car.

I have a friend that lives near the WF in downtown Evanston, and he does all of his grocery shopping there, except for the occasional trip to the farmer's market. He does not have a car, and he has decided that if WF does not have it, he does not need it.

I just went to WF last night, and spent a grand total of $4.39. The only thing I bought was a package of Amy Lu Michigan cherry chicken sausage that was on sale. I also considered getting a jar of peanut butter for $2.29, but I passed on it. I rarely buy anything in the deli department, but I never do at Jewel or Mariano's either. It is rare that I will spend over $15 at WF. Starting Tuesday, they have all of their supplements 25% off. I did buy some omega 3, the last time they had their supplements on sale. I don't buy it a whole lot, but I do prefer WF's rotisserie chicken to Jewel's. Occasionally they have the air chilled chicken on sale really cheap. One thing I rarely buy at WF is milk. Evan their nonorganic milk is about $2 more than Jewel. I do buy their WF nonfat organic yogurt though. It is $3.19 a quart, and even the nonorganic yogurt at Jewel is $3.59 if it is not on sale. I used to make my own yogurt, but I decided it was too much trouble.

tjr wrote:boudreaulicious, I hope you won't be offended but from your WF shopping list it sounds like you aren't very price-sensitive. My kid recently moved to a dorm at UMKC across the street from a Whole Foods. A family friend gave him a gift card so he wouldn't starve. He goes to Jewel, etc fairly often and was gobsmacked by prices at WF.
I do agree that making special trips to save a few bucks is silly. But I, and I think maybe Cathy too, drive all over town for work and other activities so it's easy to stop on the way. And it breaks up some pretty depressing drives. On the other hand it can lead to a lot of munching on the car.

Not offended at all, mainly because you’re correct

NFriday wrote:Occasionally they have the air chilled chicken on sale really cheap.

Can you define really cheap? I'm now curious to try better chicken but not curious enough to spend a lot.
Milk, I've found that the Mariano's/Kroger half gallons @ 1.29 keep until past their expiration date even when opened, which I can't say about Jewel/Lucerne, Aldi or Prairie Farms. Perhaps tighter control over storage temperatures in trucks and store?

It's been a while since I have bought any, but you can get air chilled b/s chicken breast for $4.99 a pound on sale.

I have a genetic cholesterol problem, and I was on 40 mg of lipitor, and my cholesterol was still 239, and I thought I would have to add another med that would cost me $50 a month, but my sister the lipid specialist, told me to first try cholestoff, which I can get 100 days worth at $14.99 at Walmart, and it worked. But this is why I do not buy the $.99 burgers and pork roast that other people here eat. If I did my cholesterol would be close to 300. It costs more money to eat healthy. I love Amylu's chicken burgers, but even when they are on sale, they are $2 a piece, but they are way more healthy than the pub burgers, and they taste better. They do have Amylu's chicken sausage on sale right now though, and they have their store made chicken sausage on sale too.

The closest WF is a 15 minute walk from my condo, and the farmer's market is a 10 minute walk. The closest Mariano's takes me 25 minutes to drive too. Hope this helps, Nancy

NFriday wrote:It's been a while since I have bought any, but you can get air chilled b/s chicken breast for $4.99 a pound on sale.

I have a genetic cholesterol problem, and I was on 40 mg of lipitor, and my cholesterol was still 239, and I thought I would have to add another med that would cost me $50 a month, but my sister the lipid specialist, told me to first try cholestoff, which I can get 100 days worth at $14.99 at Walmart, and it worked.

I know this a food forum, but a suggestion for lowering cholesterol is a supplement of high quality red yeast rice, which contains monacolin K, a chemical that's identical to the active ingredient in many statin medications. Cholestoff is working for you than no need to supplement with Red yeast Rice and it could be dangerous using both vitamins that has similar modality in the body for cholesterol as this is just a suggestion as an alternative if Cholestoff stops working as intended.

Hi- Miller's and Bell and Evan are also chicken brands that I recommend. They are not available at Jewel, but might be available at Mariano's. You can get air chilled chicken on clearance at Jewel occasionally, but most of it is Harvestland, which is sold by Perdue. I don't trust it.

I was at the downtown Evanston Whole Foods today, and I spent $3.44 there. I bought a jar of peanut butter, a bunch of green onions, and two jalapeno peppers. While I was there, I also compared prices on chicken there. The 365 b/s breast was only $4.99 a pound, but you had to buy a package of three breasts. The organic chicken was of course lots more money. I think they put their Pine Manor, which was $6.50 a pound, on sale for $4.99 occasionally. Cook's Illustrated particularly likes Bell and Evans and Mary's air chilled chicken, but nobody in the Chicago area has Mary's chicken. WF does carry Mary's ground turkey. I think Mariano's carries Bell and Evans chicken. WF carries some of the frozen Bell and Evans chicken, such as burgers and chicken nuggets.

I have noticed that decent bread at Jewel has gotten expensive. I usually only buy brownberry, Pepperidge Farm or Rosen's whole wheat. On Thursday, the cheapest bread out of those three they had was Rosen's for $4.29. I ended up getting a loaf of that, but if it was cheaper, I would have bought two loafs.

EddieK wrote:The 1/2 gallon milk $1.29 digital deal at Mariano’s is what I usually purchase. Since I live alone, I would never be able to use the 2 gallons for $5 or $6 deals before they went bad. In the past, they have offered the $1.29 digital deal every third week. If they stay true to form, the deal should be offered the week of Wednesday, August 24th through Tuesday, August 30th.

It’s back.

It will be interesting to see the impact of the Amtrak strike.

Regards,
Cathy2

Note that the strike is against freight railroads, not Amtrak. Striking Amtrak would have little or no impact on food prices.

This impending strike makes me glad that I buy 90% of my produce at the farmer's market. The farmers never go on strike.

ekreider wrote:Note that the strike is against freight railroads, not Amtrak. Striking Amtrak would have little or no impact on food prices.

Sorry, though some news reports added Amtrak. Freight is king! One trucker last night commented one railroad car is the equivalent load of four trucks.

What shoe is going to drop next?

Regards,
CAthy2

Food prices are still soaring — here's what's getting more expensive

Inflation may be slowing, but food prices are still through the roof.

Food costs spiked 11.4% over the past year, the largest annual increase since May 1979, according to data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Americans browsing the supermarket aisle will notice most food items are far more expensive than they were a year ago. Egg prices soared 39.8%, while flour got 23.3% more expensive. Milk rose 17% and the price of bread jumped 16.2%.

Meat and poultry also grew costlier. Chicken prices jumped 16.6%, while meats rose
6.7% and pork increased 6.8%. Fruits and vegetables together are up 9.4%.

Overall, grocery prices jumped 13.5% and restaurant menu prices increased 8%.

Cathy2 wrote:

ekreider wrote:Note that the strike is against freight railroads, not Amtrak. Striking Amtrak would have little or no impact on food prices.

Sorry, though some news reports added Amtrak. Freight is king! One trucker last night commented one railroad car is the equivalent load of four trucks.

What shoe is going to drop next?

Regards,
CAthy2

Amtrak (and Metra) will be impacted by any strike but as ekreider noted it's the disruption of the freight lines that impacts commerce.

CNN has a pretty good summary of a rail strike impact that is not behind a paywall.

Most of the food impacts are longer term due to ingredient and packaging shortages for food manufacturers and possible crop losses from fall harvests if local storage is inadequate. Farm impact could become substantial in terms of handling the corn and soybean harvests and fertilizer supplies for fall application. There are direct impacts on gasoline supply and indirect impact on all petroleum product supply if refineries cannot ship out sulfur removed in the refining process.

The impact on Amtrak and commuter railroads would be huge. About 97% of Amtrak routes are on freight railroads. Metra only owns tracks and operates trains on the Electric Route and Rock Island route.

It looks like the strike has been averted.

Food4less has sugar on sale for $1.99. Their milk is currently $3.01-$3.31 a gallon.

Yesterday when I was at Henry Brockman's stand at the Evanston farmer's market,m there was one gentleman who had a basket with some of Henry's heirloom tomatoes, which were $5 a pound or 3 pounds for $12. He also had some hybrid slicers that were $4 a pound or 3 Pounds for $10 or something like that. I do not buy his hybrids. I pointed out that the tomatoes that he had in his cart were a different price. He did not seem to care, as he was mixing them together. He probably had close to three pounds of tomatoes. If he would have traded the slicers for heirloom, which are way better taste wise, he could have bought all of them for $12. I am sure that the person checking him out, was able to sort through the tomatoes though.