A Little Extra Cash

[rjc]

I have always shopped at Publix, it was a choice I made because it has always had the cleanest stores. I've done fairly well on the cost of groceries by using coupons and buying sale items. Recently I decided to try shopping at Walmart, I will not buy meat or vegetables from there but I did buy all the rest of my groceries. I buy my vegetables at a local Farmer's Market and my meat from Publix. I have been able to cut my grocery bills in half by doing this.

[Pastor Gary]

Why the reluctance to shop at Walmart?

[Brian]

We do most of our shopping at Kroger because it is only about a mile away. Food Lion about a mile in the other direction but it is past our house so Kroger gets it first.
We shop by the week and our average bill is around $200. (give or take a few $$) The down side to living so close to the grocery store and about 10 fast food places is that we shop somewhere almost every other day! ya know, a quick stop for milk on tues., a loaf of bread on wed., oops ran out of soda on fri. ! The $200/wk would include all those little quick stops.

We still go to Wal-Mart about once a month for all the things you can't get at Kroger, but i just don't like to cause for some reason we always spend more than we plan on. There is so much cool stuff it seems something extra ends up in the cart somehow. (can't forget that jumbo bag of M&M's)

We went to Ukrop's the other day.....love that place! Fresh meats and seafood, specialty items that you just can't find anywhere else. But they are a bit pricey. Looked at some Talapia fillets, 8.49lb, got them at Kroger for 5.99lb. And the Kroger here is in the nice area of town so they seem to cater to the high-end shopper, which means better quality! Hooray for better!!

[Jennifer Smith]

Walmart is evil... they are taking over the world!:)

Act'ly, I just don't like going there for the whole of my groceries, I would buy a few things there such as cereal if I were going there for other items. It seems hard to find good quality and healthy items, (we don't buy a lot of processed food) and the produce and the meat usually aren't that good. On some things such as bread and milk, wal-mart is actually more expensive. So I've found if I shop by sales and plan meals with items from the outside aisles of the grocery store (the healthier items) I spend the same or better than Wal-mart. And everyone is happy!

[pitts47150]

I hate Walmart Meat, Aldi's has the best ribs. They are already in bar. sauce, you only have to cook for 20 min. Man they are so tender. So Aldi's and Kroger have my vote.

[rjc]

Why the reluctance to shop at Walmart?

The Walmarts in my area are not very clean and I feel if they aren't clean out where the public can see what do they look like behind the stockroom doors? I don't have a problem buying canned goods, pre-packaged foods and staple items (paper goods, cleaning supplies, etc) and I do save a great deal of money. The vegetables and fruit are usually poor quality and a large percentage of them are on the verge of being rotten. I have a lot of allergies so I only eat free range poultry and pork that has been fed a vegetarian diet with no additives, no beef at all. I am able to do this because I do not have anyone else to feed but since I get a widow's pension I still have to be very careful with the budget. I do know how hard it is to feed your family a healthy diet without breaking the bank, I was a single Mom.

[teach]

I grocery shop at wal mart to, but I haven't noticed a difference in the meat. I like the meat at wal mart.

wendy k

[EagerBeaver]

The WalQaeda meat, to me at least, tastes really bland...I can't put my finger on it...but like everyone else says I buy a lot of my canned goods, box dinners, etc. from WalQaeda.

I tend to shop at Price Cutter or Dillon's.

[jdavis]

Pastor Gary wrote:

Why the reluctance to shop at Walmart?

For the most part Walmart's produce is poor quality. I shop at Jewel for produce and Aldi's for everything else. You really can't beat Aldi's around here. Some of the Aldi's brands are identical in quality to name brands. but I really have to have my Heinz ketchup!

[Susie Hamilton]

I get my veggies, butter and cheese from the Farmer's Market and my garden. I shop at Walmart for paper products, trash bags, cleaning supplies, etc. I shop at Farm Fresh for the rest of my groceries. They have their own butcher shop for fresh meats and carry many organic foods. I buy the all natural chicken not treated with antibiotics and use cage free eggs with Omegas 3 & 6 as well. I try to stay away from processed foods due to health concerns. Of course we always have fresh seafood in this area. The few times that I do eat out, it is usually Subway.

[jinjer]

I buy my meat at Costco, they have the best meat of any. I used to buy my meat at the meat market, but they closed, the owner retired and his kids didn't want to keep it. For everything else I go to Kroger. I love the Kroger brand items over any other store brand, and I have used them all. I do go by Super Target for quick pick ups. I often buy my veggies from roadside fruit and veggie stands if I can, but I am not always going that way. I find that I do quite well, as far as budget, at Kroger. Especially with the Kroger card and now you can upload the Sunday coupons onto your Kroger card.

Your Favorite Foodie!!
Jinjer

[Poimen]

I am suprised to hear that for many of you the produce at walmart is not good quality. Mind ya roud these parts it's not like going to farmer's market or local produce mart or stand (of which there are plenty), but the produce and fruit is usually good quality. The meat is just not as Good, especially the pork, and to a great extent the steaks.

And our Walmarts are very clean around here. I have 2 within 5-7 miles of the house, one within 12- 15 miles, and one within 15-20 miles.

It's not that I'm reluctant to shop at Walmart. I just would like to be able to help give the little guy a sporting chance while also getting some better, USA grown and packaged, quality items (i.e. meats), but as it is I really just CANNOT afford it.

[Jennifer Smith]

I find that I do quite well, as far as budget, at Kroger. Especially with the Kroger card and now you can upload the Sunday coupons onto your Kroger card.

Really, I did not know that! Where you do this at, at the Kroger website?

[jinjer]

Really, I did not know that! Where you do this at, at the Kroger website?

Yes, at the Kroger website. They have links to other coupon sites that load to the card. It makes it so convenient. I always said if they would just put it on my Kroger card I would use more coupons. I usually run out of the house without them, or decide to go to the grocery while I'm out doing other things and I don't have them with me.

Jinjer

[HarmlessDove]

Lots of shopping - Walmart

A little shopping - Kroger
Every once in awhile, I'll go for all of my shopping at Kroger. It just depends on the sales going on.

Meat - The Fresh Market (AWESOME store!)

Bulk buying (diapers, wipes) - Sam's