Buy American?

SVreX wrote: In reply to wbjones: The point was not to brag on Publix. There are plenty of other stores like them (it was only an example of a store perceived as "expensive"). The point was that WalMart has a crappy coupon and discount policy. Others are much better.

You know, when I made my original quip about WalMart, I had completely forgotten they were selling food these days. We don't touch them for food, either (I read your other post). Ours is Kroger, SWMBO actually worked at the one we use a few years back. Not only is she a coupon fiend, she also knows which night each manager is going to do the famous "Manager's Special", and how aggressive each individual dept. manager is about discounting stuff.

Guys, I disagree with SVreX on a lot of the "WalMart & wages" question, but not on this. It's entirely possible for he & his to do exactly what he's claiming. Between coupons & discounts $300 of food for $140-$180? Piece of cake, we do it every week.

EDIT: Kroger Manager's Special http://www.stockpilingmoms.com/2012/02/what-is-a-managers-special/

I am on a Aldi kick now for groceries now that I live only a couple of miles from one. $.80 for a loaf of bread and $2 for a gallon of milk works damn good for me.

I shopped Aldi in college. Not a single name brand item in the store. Closest one here is 45 mins away so I don't get to go there anymore.

friedgreencorrado wrote: I actually consider myself lucky, I learned harsh lessons about why to live debt-free & within my means in the first couple of years after my divorce. A lot of the people I was laid off with are *exactly* in the mess you describe below.

Yessir, that's a hard lesson but a good 'un.

There's an Aldi pretty close to me. Lots of their stuff is good quality and low priced (I buy milk, bread, bacon, salad dressing, stuff like that), but like everything you gotta be careful. For instance, their premium frozen pizza is cheaper than Di Giorno at Wal Mart BUT: it's smaller by about 30%. That means when you compare the per oz price the WM Di Giorno is as good a deal and, when you are shopping to feed multiple mouths, that kind of thing can become very important.

Curmudgeon wrote: There's an Aldi pretty close to me. Lots of their stuff is good quality and low priced (I buy milk, bread, bacon, salad dressing, stuff like that), but like everything you gotta be careful.

Only thing I don't like about Aldi is their cheese. It had a funny taste.

I love Aldi's. They make my decision making easier. They carry 5 salad dressings. The Jewel Food Store (part of Supervalu) is really expensive and offers 75 salad dressings.

Around here Aldi's carries a tone that it's for the poorer folks but I find it ironic they are owned by one of the richest families in the world that also own Trader Joes that carries a yuppie feel to it. (do we still use the yuppie word?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_Albrecht

SVreX wrote: BTW: Nothing wrong with BiLo (price wise) if you do it right. Here's a website my wife uses frequently comparing Publix, WalMart, and BiLo: Southern Savers

as I said .... as much as I've like the product that I've gotten from Publix ( when I've had the chance to shop at one) the nearest is in Greenville .... ~ 60 - 70 miles away

Speaking of Trader Joes, that's a store that consistently surprises me, pleasantly, with regard to price. Every time I walk out of there, I have spent considerably less than at my usual grocery store, and usually for better quality items. I rarely buy highly processed, packaged foods, and that seems to be the divide between high and low prices at Trader Joe's.

BAMF wrote: Speaking of Trader Joes, that's a store that consistently surprises me, pleasantly, with regard to price. Every time I walk out of there, I have spent considerably less than at my usual grocery store, and usually for better quality items. I rarely buy highly processed, packaged foods, and that seems to be the divide between high and low prices at Trader Joe's.

We haven't tried Trader Joe's yet. We agree about trying to get all the processed food out of the diet, but since she knows the Kroger manager running the produce department (see my previous post), we get organic produce at greatly reduced prices just before they go off. Only thing is that we have to cook it & store it really quick. I wish the meat dept. manager wasn't such a bastard, we'd be getting real meat as well. She says I should start deer hunting again.

canoe wallets?

SVreX wrote: In reply to wbjones: The point was not to brag on Publix.

We used to throw rocks at the "L" in the Publix sign to knock out the lights so it said "Pubix"

That is the only thing I have to offer to this thread

Damn, the canoes are forming a flotilla tonight!

Good thing we do what we do here...