Holy Smokes Groceries Are Expensive!!

[organica]

I got a sales commission at work & I thought, good, I'll get some real groceries so I don't have to eat at Subway.
I bought a lot of produce, soymilk, tea, juice, vegan toaster pastries, hummus, beans, canned tomatoes, Brita filters (x3), a little grinder for flax seeds, tofu, bread, jam, fake sausage, dish detergent, vinegar & maybe a few other things but it cost me $200!!!! :-/
Mind you, this was for 7 bags of groceries.
I just think food is too expensive.

[msbunnicula]

Whoa! Were you stocking up for a while?

[spehlbaund]

Whoa. My mom usually spends no more than $40 for an average grocery trip. Coupons sure do come in handy. But I'm guessing this wasn't an "average" grocery store visit?

[organica]

No, this wasn't average. Average is about $50. I forgot, I also got protein powder,
which is expensive.
I'm just tired of not eating any protein or produce, & I stocked up on both, which is expensive.

[mysteriouspoet]

Well, maybe it will last you for awhile. :p

[organica]

Yes, MP, I am hoping it does!!
I am very happy about the protein powder & Cal/Mag supplement. A nutritionist & a homeopath have recently told me my diet was terribly low in protein & nutrients so I needed to really shell out.
It's apparently not adequate to live on canned soup, bagels & margerine & tea, as I have been doing most of the time since I've been living on disability.
I'm pretty badly malnourished & overweight.

[Coney]

$200?!?!? Holy smokes.
That's nuts. It's all the specialty stuff that adds up. I love fake meats, but don't buy them hardly ever cause I can't see spending almost $5 on one box of 4 burgers.

did you buy TVP? That stuff is has 2.5 times the protein that meat does. It's really cheap (I can get it in bulk here for $3 per pound, but the stuff doesn't weigh anything.) and it's easy to add some to any meal, you just add water.

[sky73]

Brita Filters are expensive, that's why I haven't bought a new one in a long time. :worried:

[Michael]

Protein powder? Sounds like I might need some of that. Do you mix it in with liquid or put it on your food?

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

I spend a little over $50 a week for the 4 and 1/2 of us... (ex comes over for dinner often - don't ask)...

I also use the food bank once a month and get a bag of potatos and a bag of rice from them - that helps though!

I make most everything from scratch and am painfully frugal, I think we're OK without vitimins though, because I could never afford them!!

Occasionally when I have a little extra - from babysitting or some extra job, I splurge on some more 'specialty' groceries... portabello mushrooms, kalamata olives, non-dairy cheese, chinese canned gluten.. yum! Sometimes a shopping trip like that is fun!

[remilard]

Protein powder? Sounds like I might need some of that. Do you mix it in with liquid or put it on your food?

Michael, not sure if you have Whole Foods local but they have a knew product called "Soy Protein" on their private label. It is really a meal replacement, it has soy protein, vitamins, and fructose (and flavor). Mixed with silk light a serving is 195 calories, 20 grams of protein, 21 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fat and has a pretty good vitamin profile. It tastes good and is pretty affordable (about $.50 a serving). Highly recommended.

[Dirty Martini]

well the brita filters & flax grinder together probably cost at least $50-$60 so that's likely why.

[colorful]

I bought a lot of produce, soymilk, tea, juice, vegan toaster pastries, hummus, beans, canned tomatoes, Brita filters (x3), a little grinder for flax seeds, tofu, bread, jam, fake sausage, dish detergent, vinegar & maybe a few other things but it cost me $200!!!! :-/
Mind you, this was for 7 bags of groceries.
I just think food is too expensive.

I don't think it's necessarily the food that's running your bill up. Do you shop at Costco? I get Brita filters there, as well as dishwasher detergent, toilet paper and stuff like that. It saves me a WHOLE lot of money. Also, some of their food items come at an incredible discount, like Silk, canned beans, canned fruits and veggies, olive oil, Gardenburgers, etc. I'd so much rather spend $7.50 on a box of 12 BIG gardenburgers than $4.00 on a box of 4 tiny ones (yes, the Costco burger patties are actually quite a bit bigger and will actually fill up a hamburger bun!). A yearly membership is only $45 and I know we make that up several times over in the savings we get.

Also, I would check and make sure you aren't shopping at an overly expensive grocer. I know in my area to steer clear of QFC or I'll pay at least double what I would at some of the other stores!

[borealis]

Yes, MP, I am hoping it does!!
I am very happy about the protein powder & Cal/Mag supplement. A nutritionist & a homeopath have recently told me my diet was terribly low in protein & nutrients so I needed to really shell out.


Not that I discourage you on the protein powder (though many of them are terribly high in sugar, if that is a concern) but there is no reason to have to shell out to get protein!

This might help: http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm

[organica]

Not that I discourage you on the protein powder (though many of them are terribly high in sugar, if that is a concern) but there is no reason to have to shell out to get protein!

This might help: http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm

Thanks borealis.
I feel I need the protein powder because I am usually too tired to cook, & live on bagels & margerine with tea if I do not have a very quick, tasty alternative.
I know on my budget I should be soaking beans, etc., but in the past I have just let them go moldy because it's too hard to do all the prep work, & then wait forever for it to cook, when I can have a smoothie in 5 minutes.

[organica]

I don't think it's necessarily the food that's running your bill up. Do you shop at Costco? I get Brita filters there, as well as dishwasher detergent, toilet paper and stuff like that. It saves me a WHOLE lot of money. Also, some of their food items come at an incredible discount, like Silk, canned beans, canned fruits and veggies, olive oil, Gardenburgers, etc. I'd so much rather spend $7.50 on a box of 12 BIG gardenburgers than $4.00 on a box of 4 tiny ones (yes, the Costco burger patties are actually quite a bit bigger and will actually fill up a hamburger bun!). A yearly membership is only $45 and I know we make that up several times over in the savings we get.

Also, I would check and make sure you aren't shopping at an overly expensive grocer. I know in my area to steer clear of QFC or I'll pay at least double what I would at some of the other stores!

Costco here is an hour away by bus. :(
Also, perhaps stupidly, I prefer to spend my money in health food stores, as I consider big box stores a blight.
I know, I know... "beggars can't be choosers".... my principles are breaking the bank.

[colorful]

Costco here is an hour away by bus. :(
Also, perhaps stupidly, I prefer to spend my money in health food stores, as I consider big box stores a blight.
I know, I know... "beggars can't be choosers".... my principles are breaking the bank.

I can sympathize with that. When I was pregnant with my son, I wanted to eat so healthfully and I knew the benefits of things like soymilk, fresh organic produce, etc. Unfortunately that was when I we were barely scraping by so I had to guzzle the milk I got from WIC (which I could hardly keep down!) and settle for canned, non-organic veggies and the rare treat of fresh fruit.

Now that we're better off financially I try to buy organic fruits and veggies most of the time, but YIKES does it affect our grocery bill!

btw, do you have a Trader Joe's anywhere near you? I find they are the cheapest when it comes to veggie convenience foods like veggieburgers, soy ice cream, and stuff like that.

[MsRuthieB]

I'm confused. Didn't you say somewhere in another thread that you were on Disability payments? How do you collect from the government for disability and work at the same time??

Anyhow, looks like there's some stuff on your list you could do without if you are trying to cut your bill down. Like vegan toaster pastries, Brita filters (x3), a little grinder for flax seeds,fake sausage, donuts.

[synergy]

I know on my budget I should be soaking beans, etc., but in the past I have just let them go moldy because it's too hard to do all the prep work, & then wait forever for it to cook, when I can have a smoothie in 5 minutes.


Please tell me you aren't refering to a bean smoothie? :spew:

Oh, wait... you probably mean with the protein powder! :p

[MollyCat]

colorful... I don't think Trader Joe's are in Canada, at least not in Saskatchewan and or in Southern Ontario. I wish they were, though. It sounds like a great store. Wish we had Whole Foods too.

[winking_turtle]

Also, I would check and make sure you aren't shopping at an overly expensive grocer. I know in my area to steer clear of QFC or I'll pay at least double what I would at some of the other stores!

Oh I can't stand QFC for many reasons, not the least of which is pricing. My co-op (Madison Market) prices are consistently 20-30% less than theirs for the exact same organic or natural foods products. General perception is the opposite, of course.

Booooo to the Q.

[4EverGrounded]

I'm confused. Didn't you say somewhere in another thread that you were on Disability payments? How do you collect from the government for disability and work at the same time??Disability allows a person to be able to earn a small amount extra per month on top of their benefits, if they choose. It's not much though. Only about $600 or so. Any more than that, the government decides that you're fit for work and pulls the benefits. It's sort of a rock and a hard place but that's the way the laws are.

[MsRuthieB]

Actually, it's $4000 a year in Canada.

[Pisces Coda]

Yes, MP, I am hoping it does!!
I am very happy about the protein powder & Cal/Mag supplement. A nutritionist & a homeopath have recently told me my diet was terribly low in protein & nutrients so I needed to really shell out.
It's apparently not adequate to live on canned soup, bagels & margerine & tea, as I have been doing most of the time since I've been living on disability.
I'm pretty badly malnourished & overweight.


I wish I could afford a nutritionist/dietician. :( I have full health insurance, and it wont cover anything like that.

[organica]

I wish I could afford a nutritionist/dietician. :( I have full health insurance, and it wont cover anything like that.

Get admitted to the mental hospital then.
Might also help you with your hatred of the poor (cf. Compost Heap).
The hospital dieticians saw me when I became obese on medication.
Hardly a luxury.
Antipsychotics cause metabolic syndrome & diabetes, therefore decent hospitals manage antipsychotics patients for weight concerns.