jen maiser
I get a lot of questions about what my personal buy prices are for specific items. Some people (that are more organized than I am) actually have little books that they keep track of prices in. Then they know exactly what the lowest price is on specific items. Usually I just have prices in my head. I don’t like to share my prices because I really think buy prices vary so much according to your specific situation. For example, my buy price for 32 oz loaves of cheese is $5.00. That is pretty much the lowest it gets around here and I actually make a trip to Costco to get that price. In this week’s Safeway ad, they have 32 oz loaves of cheese for $3.99 in the Northwest. So clearly the buy price there would be much lower.
I think the prices change as well according to your needs. I have 2 girls in diapers- so my buy price for Jumbo packs used to be $4. That was managable when I just had one kiddo to worry about. Now that I have two in diapers I raised the price to $6.00 since I need to find double the deals. It also depends on your time. If you simply don’t have the time to visit more than one store a week than your prices might be a little bit higher than other people.
So I don’t think it is neccessary to focus on every single item you buy. But you might take a look at the items you consisently buy (like diapers) and try to determine what a great price is in your area. Also, I am a vegetarian so we don’t get very fancy around here with proteins. I asked my friend Shannon to share her prices for meats. This was actually great information for me as well. Since proteins are a huge part of your weekly budget- this can easily help shave some money off your weekly budget by trying to stick to the prices she has outlined for us.
Beef
- 93% Lean Ground Beef $2.25/lb
- 80% Ground Beef $1.59/lb
- Ground Chuck $1.99/lb
- London Broil $1.99/lb
- Rump Roast $2.99/lb
- Pot Roast $2.29/lb
Poultry
- Boneless Chicken Breast $1.99/lb
- Whole Chickens $.89/lb
- Chicken Quarters $.79/lb
- Split Chicken Breast $.99/lb
- Chicken Thighs/Drumsticks $.79/lb
Pork
- Porkchops (boneless) $1.99
- Pork Tenderloin $2.99
- Pork Butt $1.49
- Pork Cased Sausage $1.19
- Porkchops (bone in) $1.59
So thanks to For the Mommas for creating this list. I am actually going to print this out and keep in in my coupon pouch so I know when I am getting a good deal!
I am LOVING the print this post option! Thanks for adding it!
Oh good! I switched over just for this feature really so I am glad someone is using it 😉
I think this is great. I wish I would of had a starter list to go by. When I first started watching my grocery budget I saved several shopping lists and entered them into a database that I could print out. I found that I often encountered “deals” only to consult my list and find that I had previously purchased the same item (often NOT on sale) for much less only a short while before. I also later broke the items down to unit price. That way I know that no matter if it is a 4, 12 or 24 pack of bath tissue my best price is around 60 cents per roll. This saves time while standing in the shopping store trying to get the best deal. It also triggers me to stock up if I find a really good price, before I often missed out because I didn’t recognize a good deal when I had it!
Well, I know we are in the same area, and my buy price for cheese is $3 a pound – viva la difference! I only have a Sam’s card and don’t go there often for fear of buying things I don’t need.
I have prices in my head too. I noticed I’m opening my last bottle of ketsup so I’ll be looking for that on sale so I can stock up.
I also buy by the season. I know that baking items will be on sale till New Year’s, so I’ll be on the lookout for flour, sugar, brown and powdered sugars and chocolate chips. I just opened my last 2 pound bag of brown sugar I got last holiday season, so I guessed pretty good on that. I still have 4 bags of chocolate chips, but I’ll use them up this baking season and restock. Safeway had some good prices last year if I remember.
Summer time is the BBQ sauce, soda pop, chips season. I got me some good prices on BBQing supplies around this time last year that I used this summer, things like rubs and flavored woods to impart those good flavors into meats.
Sorry, I ramble on – I’ll stop now.
dicity
Where is Shannon located at? I know you are in Sac, CA. I am in Nor Cal also, and I can get prices a little lower than this for meat.
Any help on breakfast meats like bacon and sausage? That would help me greatly! My hubby is a carnivore extrodinare!
Kim, This is exactly why I don’t like to post prices. These price books are not meant to be hard and fast rules just in general to give you an idea for a decent price. If you can get products for less than that is great! Everyone’s situation will be a little bit different.
WinCo in Roseville sells boneless chicken breasts on sale for 1.78 a pound, which is the best deal I have seen. I still have to check Costco!
Safeway seems to go the lowest but it is not that frequent. Seems like it is closer to 10 weeks. $1.78 is an excellent price!
I live in nor cal too, so if you want my little Costco price book, i’m happy to share (drop me an email). I find things like wipes, cheese, dish sponges,trash bags, etc and some produce are just worth getting at Costco – but I try to only make 1 trip e/o month. When I had two in diapers, it was Costco diapers or diapers.com (aren’t they terrific!).
Thank you Susan. I have quite a few items I usually buy at Costco. I live about 1 mile away and my girls just love all the little treats they get through the store.
Hi… what about fish/seafood? We love fish but I’m reluctant to buy it because I have no idea what a good buy price is. I’m in northern-cali as well… so if you have buy prices for seafood, please share!!! 🙂