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As an experiment, I will try growing some veggies from 25 cent Dollar Tree seeds I bought yesterday. Many are marked "heritage" which I assume means heirloom strains. They had plenty but sell out quickly. The flowers I grew from their seed last year did better than expensive seeds from elsewhere.
I plant some common hybrid type varieties of a few things, but when my garden starts producing, a lot of those things are inexpensive at the stores or farmer's markets. So, I plant heirloom varieties some to add variety in the diet, plus I just like garden experiments. For example, I have trouble growing heirloom tomatoes that are not disease resistant, but I think they taste better, or as good but different. So I try, but I also plant the usual better boy types. Last year, the big organic heirloom tomatoes were going for around $6.00 a pound at the local produce market.Quote:
Originally Posted by razz
Anyway, I ordered "scarlet runner" bean seeds after a friend gave me some for cooking. They are quite different from any bean I've tasted from common supermarket type beans. Native to the mountains of Mexico and South America. They are supposed to produce showy red blossoms to attract humming birds and bees, that later produce bean pods. It will be an experiment, but my friend has had success and even sends some out as presents. I would also like to try some old heritage squash varieties this year, yet to be determined. And, I don't know if they are exactly heirloom but usually try different sizes and colors of eggplant.
On another forum someone said groceries have doubled in price. Prices are higher here but nowhere near double. For families the higher prices will be noticed.
Doubled? Nope.
I might go 10-20% over a year ago for the things I buy.
Anyone try growing summer poinsettias from seed? Looks like an interesting plant??
I have not but I am fascinated by poinsettias because of my one from last year--he is huge and bloomed beautifully after being sticks in my parents' assisted living, all leaves dropped. It seems like a miracle plant, so I will be interested to hear about your progress. where do you get the seeds. or are you getting them from your plant?Quote:
Originally Posted by frugal-one
Worked the day shift today as school was closed to teachers, students and other staff, so I had time to stop at Aldi's on the way home. Wanted to pick up some of the coffee that we enjoy and was initially told it was out of stock. Found it! Got four! As well as a few other things, of course, but.....
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Originally Posted by happystuff
Happy Stuff - what coffee do you like at Aldi? I buy the yellow bricks of Cafe Bustelo.
Can't let the coffee be lonely on the trip home!Quote:
Originally Posted by happystuff
My husband is a fan of the Cafe Clasico Dark Roast instant. Can't beat the price and, again, he likes it. I'm not there... yet. If prices keep going up, both of us switching to that would definitely be more frugal.Quote:
Originally Posted by beckyliz
Actually, I did NOT get a cart, so it wasn't as bad quantity-wise as it could have been. LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
I still haven’t been in a grocery store in a while. I’m still ordering on Amazon for groceries. People elsewhere are reporting shortages of milk, bread, eggs, pasta at their grocery stores. No chicken to be had. No storms in their areas either.
A slight digression, but I notice that if I go into a store like Marshall's or TJ Maxx or Target with my sister, she always grabs a cart and I never do. Her default assumption is that she will be buying more than she can comfortably carry, and I only get a cart if and when I have too much in my arms to comfortably carry. My default assumption is that I will not be buying anything. Of course, if I'm with her, I just use her cart, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by happystuff
I'm still mostly just seeing the cat food shortage. There are occasional random things I won't see for a few weeks, like small cans of pineapple juice for my mom. Then they will have it again.
The idea of going shopping without a set list of items that one plans to buy boggles my mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
I do grocery shop with a list, but often pick up a few extra things along the way. I've got to start sticking to the list.Quote:
Originally Posted by jp1
I always grocery shop with a list, and I always have a list for places like Costco. I also have a "Needful Things" list, which is kind of a "be on the lookout for miscellaneous items" list. But I can be out and about with Sis on some planned errands, and she might want to run into Target for X, for example. While she is there, there is no telling what else she might pick up.
One coworker could not find bread. Another could not find eggs. It seems to get worse and worse.
I don't call mine a "needful things" list, but I do have something similar. I shop so infrequently that if I don't write those types of things down, I forget all about them until I need them again.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
I have been doing pick-up for a few months but was unexpectedly off yesterday so I decided to just go in. Shelves looked pretty good. One brand of cereal was completely out. Two kinds of cinnamon rolls were out. Some types of meat were low stocked. I think it was more about trucks delivery than hoarding. I have always been able to find substitutions for items or have gone to a different store to pick up the couple of items that my regular store was out of completely. Like @rosarugosa, I shop with a list and stick to the list.
I'm a big Stephen King fan, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by happystuff
I think it’s very regional and depends on which store you’re shopping.
Yea, I don't think we are that badly hit with shortages (though it's not zero), so I definitely think there is a regional component. But some stores, aren't adequately stocked, but that's store specific. And the quality of basic things like meat and produce has declined almost across the board.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tradd
I've done it some prior to the pandemic, there have been times when I would go to the store a few times a week. I thought what do I want to eat the next few days and bought that, but the pandemic and I started doing once a week shopping and still largely do, and that's just too hard to do without a list. But with shortages it's hard to shop with a list too, you plan out the meals and then a bunch of stuff is out. Okay then, won't be having that meal. So you end up improvising at the store anyway just as you would have to without a list! And you may have meticulously planned, but we plan, supply chain/staff shortages/covid/climate change etc. laughs.Quote:
The idea of going shopping without a set list of items that one plans to buy boggles my mind.
When we lived in the city we had a Safeway across the street. I tended to go 3-4 times a week and a mental list was sufficient. Now that I have to drive to the store I use the reminders app on my phone and have a running list.
When I mentioned always having a list for shopping I was actually thinking more of other stores. I can’t imagine going to target and browsing. If I am going there it’s because I need some specific thing(s) so I walk in, go to the thing department and then to the cash register and then I’m out of there. Or even better I order the item online for same day pickup and then go to the online pickup counter just inside the front door, get the item and leave.
Jut returned from a shopping trip at one of the big chains here since their strike has ended. Haven't been in a month or so and prices are noticeably higher. Still no crackers or cat litter. Another thing we noticed is a continued shrinking of size or contents. We sometimes buy a grainy, seedy bread and the size of each slice has shrunk an inch so that it is almost funny. I told DH he needs to start making crackers - it can't be that hard.
We can get cat sand and Pet Smart was well stocked with wet cat food. Kroger and our big box stores were down 90%.
JP: I actually almost never go to Target. From what I hear, a lot of people (mostly women), find Target absolutely irresistible, but Target just doesn't do it for me. I can enjoy a good browse at Marshall's or TJ Maxx if I'm in the mood to browse, but I don't do that so much anymore. I try to find more fulfilling uses of my time, but DSIS loves to shop and I love to spend time with DSIS, and I don't dislike shopping, so I can certainly get sucked in. We've concluded that since DSIS moved closer to me, I shop more and she drinks more wine. :)
If it were my DSIS I’d skip the shopping part but tell her to come over after or meet me somewhere after and we could have wine while she shows me her purchases! That would be a much better plan for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
Pinky, I make my own crackers sometimes...but I end up being the only one who will eat them. Store-bought they are not. But they're ok.
We've recently become hardcore coupon clippers. It does offset the increasing prices. We don't go looking for them like many hyper couponers, but just utilize the ones that come out in the newspaper store ads.
USDA is forecasting this year's Florida orange crop will be the smallest since 1945, due to citrus greening disease. California oranges presumably will not be affected. Nationally the prices of oranges and orange juice are predicted to go up.
Spruce tip tea, anyone? http://www.healthygreensavvy.com/spruce-tip-recipes
Found ingredients for one of the three recipes I wanted to try. No cauliflower among other things.
Spent $100 after a two week interval vs my usual $70 a week. I am going to try to keep to this pattern.
Grocery shopped today and the cat food aisle was the most stocked it has been in several weeks! Every shelf was pretty much full.
Had to run into the local Jewel to get allergy meds at lunch. Took a short tour of aisles. Butter is $6/lb!
My grocery store once again had no Sambol Olek last week, which makes me think I am not crazy to hoard a small pile of those little bottles.
I don’t like a big bottle because I think it just gets contaminated. I suppose I could pour some of it into containers and freeze it.
I must have onions, garlic, and Sambol Olek. Then whatever foods come along, that is ok.
Iris, My big box not Walmart store has the 18 oz in stock. Makes me think that it should be in any of the 20+ Asian groceries around here. I would save gas and just call. Target, Meijer, Amazon, Walmart. Checked and Walmart sells a pack of 10 of the smaller bottles. https://www.google.com/search?q=samb...01013694463047
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetana3
ok, thanks. I think our close-by Asian store would have it, too. I am. Ot out, tho, am using my backup bottle.
The second time in a row the only cauliflower in the grocery store is organic at $5 a head.
The Sunday Boston Globe is now $6.
Looks like Girl Scout cookies will be going for $5 a box. It seems like they have been cheaper, but that's still a good value.
Hmmm... I think I would disagree on the "still a good value". Some of those boxes hold a single dozen cookies. At $5 a box for a dozen cookies, there are better deals out there - in my opinion. I used to be a co-leader for a troop and was the "Cookie Mom". The rules and management behind the cookie sales from the troop level up to the council level were definitely designed with the girls doing the selling but earning less per box than the council. Also, once my area changed bakers, the cookies actually tasted different.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogar