Because I know you’re not yet sick of reading about how much everything costs, I am going to share with you how much I spent at Costco the other day. It made me feel ill.
I’ve been paying attention to how much I spend on groceries. I’ve been interested in reading all the newspaper articles and blog posts about how to save on grocery bills. I love to clip coupons and use them. The problem is, lately, that our newspaper has not included many coupons that I use. I hate the ones that make you buy two of something to get the discount, so those are out. I rarely clip coupons for new products because I am just not that adventurous. Also, even if I do have coupons, I often wind up buying the store brand because it’s just cheaper and usually tastes or works just like the brand. (With the exception of Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup. There’s just no substitute for it in American chop suey.)
I am always jealous of my friends who seemed to be stocked up all the time. You know those people who always have their fridge full of cold drinks, and an extra fridge in the garage with extra cold drinks. They always have some kind of snack at the ready, and they always know what they’re making for dinner. They have defrosted the frozen chicken and their fruit bowl is always full. No matter when you stop by, and with whatever little notice, these friends are ready. Whereas I am usually prepared to offer you a drink of water and some stale crackers. (And a napkin! Say what you want, but I always have enough paper products.)
One of these friends told me that she stays stocked up by sending her husband to Target every time they have a sale on soda. He buys several cases of canned soda when they run those “buy 2, get 3 free” sales. And whenever something goes on sale, she stocks up on that, be it chicken or lunch meat or paper plates. So when I was at the grocery store the other day, I spotted a $4 whole chicken. Six pounds. I had no idea what to do with it but I snatched it up. This is why, a few days later, I was boiling a chicken carcass in the middle of the afternoon on a 105-degree day.
Anyway, back to my point. Since I came back from my week in Connecticut, I resolved to turn over a new leaf. That transformation includes more exercise and better eating, but also being more prepared and stocked up. To that end, I headed to Costco to replenish the paper supplies and to get food for our playgroup and to stock up the fridge and pantry. Here’s what I bought:
Diapers
Paper plates
Kleenex
Paper towels
Animal crackers
Milk
Bread
Juice
Eggs
Ziploc bags
Dayquil
Hydrogen peroxide (about four gallons for 1.79)
A giant Caesar salad
Bagels
Ibuprofen
Cough medicine
Immodium AD
Crystal Light
Parsley
Airborne
Chips
Vanilla extract
Ham
Coffee beans
Pam
Batteries
Bratwurst
Cleaning wipes
Total cost: $318.55
I almost threw up. Maybe I should start bringing a calculator so I know how much I am racking up as I put stuff in my cart. On the other hand, the above supplies should last through many meals, get-togethers, and flu seasons. I hope.
DAAAMN! I thought I spent alot at Costco.
I can be pretty oblivious to prices at the grocery store (much to the exasperation of my huband), and even I have noticed how expensive everything is getting. Yikes.
I always wonder how so few things at the grocery store can cost so much money. And I always think it ought to cost less than it does to feed a family of 3…
I know this may sound ridiculous, but some friends have found that grocery shopping at Walmart saves them money. I’ve even gone to Target when paper goods are on sale and the price is just as good or better than Costco. Also check your local CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid – those are other places to stock up when the prices are right.
I’m a total cheapo at the grocery store too.
I’m with you on the Costco salad, everyone loves that, it’s probably loaded with crap.
Get rid of the paper napkins altogether and most of your paper towels, cheap and cheerful as well as green.
I won’t even start with the crystal light. Are you suicidal?
*getting off her soapbox*
I suggest http://thegrocerygame.com
For a very small fee, this site uses a database to cross-reference coupons and store sales for the best prices on certain products. The goal is to build a stockpile of items you use when they are at rock-bottom prices. The “List” (as they call it) tells you when that is. I’ve been at it a week and have already saved $140. There’s a bit more to it, but you can read about it on the website. It’s all about stockpiling things you use when you don’t need them. After 12 weeks or so, you’ll have your own little store and will only need to buy fresh produce, dairy and meat on a weekly basis. The site has a 4-week trial offer for $1. After that it’s like $5 every 8 weeks or something.
Well, that’s funny. I was going to write about the grocery game and here Anne beat me to it! I’ve been doing it for over a year and it is worth it. My grocery list is shorter and I don’t have to run out for things I don’t have. I also find that it helps a lot to plan menus – saves the headache at dinner time of trying to figure out what to make and you can use what’s on sale at the store and not buy more than you need.
I totally agree on the coupon thing. Every Sunday I look through the ads/coupons that come with the paper and I’m all, now why would I need THREE of those bottles of salad dressing (or whatever) to save 50 cents? It irks me.
I’m still stuck on the 4 gallons of hydrogen peroxide…
Thigns are so cheap at Costco, I am almost compelled to spend money there. The problems is, unlike at a typical store or even target-type place eveything is so big, even if the per-unit price breakdown is low, all the costs add up and your impulse purchases add up so quickly.
Although I try to be green, we go through lots of paper towels, it’s much more hygenic than using a the same rag to wipe up multiples surfaces or spills.
My Costco bill is ALWAYS super high. But I only go once or twice a month and fill out with smaller trips to the grocery. In the long run, I save!
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