Food prices are out of control

amother

OP ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:24 pm

Just came back from the grocery and I feel like I’m being choked.
Eggs $5.89
Cream cheese $4.99
Cottage cheese $6.99
Yogurts $1.69 each
Medium sized container chummus $8.99
ONE red pepper $2
Eight plum tomatoes $7

This was only a fraction of my shopping list and it’s already almost $40. The rest of my shopping list was also crazy expensive. The only things I ended up taking (from what I wrote here) were the vegetables and the cream cheese. How is anybody keeping up with these prices Sad

amother

Zinnia

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:31 pm

amother Rose wrote:

Don't shop at kosher stores.

This is the answer. Aldi and Walmart are amazing options for getting affordable fruits and vegetables, and pantry items.

If you eat chalav Stam then the yogurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese are available for a quarter of the price compared to Jewish stores.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:32 pm

amother Rose wrote:

Don't shop at kosher stores.

I go to target and ShopRite often. But I don’t eat chalav stam and besides for that there are other things I need in kosher stores like meat and chicken. So only shopping in non kosher stores is not an option

amother

Snow

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:32 pm

I buy from Costco mostly. I get snacks and chicken and eggs and cheese for a month and keep them in my closet and bring them out daily. I get produce from Costco twice a month. The only thing I get from a kosher store is milk and bread, which I have a friend pick up so I’m not tempted by everything else.

amother

Ultramarine ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:33 pm

amother Zinnia wrote:

It’s chalav Yisroel that’s the killer. I live out of town and buy everything at non Jewish stores literally everything except dairy and fleishigs. And we are drowning. $6.99 for cottage cheese. I have prediabeties I need protein. $6.99 for a package of cheese. $5.99 for whole milk yogurt, $4.99 for a bottle of milk. It’s insane

amother

↑ Rose ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:33 pm

amother OP wrote:

Obviously you get what you have to at a kosher store, but everything else get at a cheaper store.
For example, I would never get produce or snacks at a kosher store.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:34 pm

amother Zinnia wrote:

I don’t live near any Aldi or Walmart and don’t eat chalav stam.
And I feel like the kosher groceries are just taking advantage of us. Yes I know there’s inflation but if all these non kosher stores are half price there’s something seriously wrong here

amother

Arcticblue ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:35 pm

amother Zinnia wrote:

I went to Aldi yesterday to try to get cheaper produce and there was literally hardly anything in the grocery dept place was crazy busy and there where lines to get to the produce.
I went to keyfood after, prices were pretty comparable to the local corner kosher grocery a block away. Yogurt was 1.29/1.40

amother

Aster

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 10:26 pm

I try to eat somewhat healthy and make myself whole grain honey muffins with sugar free chocolate chips. Pareve from not Jewish chain store. I just got such sticker shock. I treated myself to a few but this might be it. Or maybe I'll use less in each recipe.

amother

Hawthorn

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 10:31 pm

amother Arcticblue wrote:

Yesterday was a holiday so no fresh produce.

I agree non- kosher local stores are usually not much cheaper.

Personally I minimize dairy.

amother

↑ Arcticblue

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 10:33 pm

amother Hawthorn wrote:

Yesterday was a holiday so no fresh produce.

I agree non- kosher local stores are usually not much cheaper.

Personally I minimize dairy.

Oh I didn't think of that! Good to know for the future. I'll try again next week

amother

Taupe ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 10:36 pm

amother OP wrote:

If I can buy it from Walmart, I buy it from Walmart. Eggs are up again where I live, but they are $3/dozen, not $6/dozen. Walmart brand chumus is $3, sometimes I splurge on Sabra for $4. Red peppers are expensive, at Walmart they are $1.50 here. I don't buy them. I get Roma tomatoes for about 25 cents each.

If there is a Walmart in your area with a grocery department, they deliver. I have a Walmart+ subscription so I don't have to pay per delivery.

Dairy, meat, bread, etc. I have to buy from kosher stores, but I limit them as much as I can. We don't get cream cheese, cottage cheese, or yogurt on a regular basis.

notshanarishona

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 10:37 pm

amother OP wrote:

Eggs - you can get for $2-3 a dozen at Walmart or aldi
Chummus- you can get for half that
Yogurt- are you buying the more expensive brand? Cleveland food prices are pretty bad but a yogurt is typically.89

amother

Slategray

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 10:39 pm

Everyone always says to go to the non Jewish stores... I don't really find them so much cheaper usually.
Eggs happens to be very expensive this week but the last time they were very expensive I did buy in Costco.
I find Costco produce to be expensive and very good but I don't buy it often.
A lot of my sibling shop at Aldi but I personally really don't like the store. Most of the time I went there there are stuff that are cheaper but lots of it is actually comparable and more expensive to my Jewish store.
For the most part, I shop at one Jewish store that is closest to me. Usually about once a month I stock up at a cheaper grocery store. Once in awhile I'll go turn on Jewish store and get stuff. We don't have any Walmart near us. Aldi is a 20-minute drive away and I can go but since I don't love the store I don't bother you usually.

Inflation sucks

amother

Oxfordblue

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 10:59 pm

I don’t live near (walking distance) to super stores so I learned some tricks for the local stores.
Buy large yogurts- not individuals. If you need it for takeaway, buy small containers on Amazon. It’ll still be cheaper.
Vegetables- only buy the count you need. No buying for the fridge.
Some vegetables you can get for cheaper, like peppers are tomatoes have a variety.
Stock up on eggs when they’re cheap. Skimp on them when they’re charged as gold.
Chummus- buy sabra on sale or make your own from beans. Much cheaper and tastier.

Sorry but this is thanks to Biden.

amother

Obsidian

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 11:11 pm

I don’t feel like my prices are so expensive. I buy chicken cutlets for $5.49 at Costco, (thighs are $2.49), Along with my shredded cheese, Munster/variety pack.
My produce comes from the cheap fruit store ((grape tomatoes $0.99/apples $0.79/kiwi 3/$1.00…)
I do eat OU-D so my yogurt and cottage cheese does come from Aldi’s, as does my eggs, chummus, and bake-yourselves bread.
I buy meat on sale (this week, meat maven was $6.99/lb for top of the rib and $7.99/corn beef.)-I keep a stocked freezer.
Other staples I buy on sale or store brand.
Groceries are more than 2 years ago, but B”H not crazy

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 11:31 pm

amother Obsidian wrote:

Costco has kosher chicken cutlets?? What hechsher?? That’s an amazing price

amother

Charcoal

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 11:40 pm

amother OP wrote:

Costco has kosher chicken cutlets?? What hechsher?? That’s an amazing price

They are empire brand. They usually carry chicken/turkey products, ground beef as well

If you buy their salmon without a hechsher (I do) it’s also well priced. Though some stores like Monsey have the hechsher anyways I think