"Dimitri" > wrote in
:

> I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?
>

Nearly everything I buy on a regular basis. Or rather, I know the lowest
price I am likely to find, and the price at which I am not willing to
buy an item. Some items cost twice as much at some stores than others; I
try and get the *best* value, so I really don't care about average
price.

> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
> buying?
>

I write a list before I go to the store based on what is on sale, and
what I need to buy to use up perishables I already have. There is such a
variance of prices between stores (especially for people like me, who
shop at Aldi and similar stores on a regular basis), that I can't help
but notice when particular items are twice the price at some stores.

> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need
> when you need it?
>

Both; I will stock up on meat when it is on sale, but I only cook for
two (and occasionally, three) so space is less of an issue than for
some. If there is something I want to cook, I'll buy the ingredients
whether they are on sale or not; I just try to get the best value for my
dollar (fresh herbs are a killer! I can't wait till I can start up a
garden.)

> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly
> why I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>
> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do
> laundry and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.

I used to do that at my ex-in-law's. My daughter knows where the granola
bars and fruit roll-ups are at my mom's, heh. I usually have a cabinet
full of canned goods and a freezer jam-packed with meat, but I'm trying
to use up all of that stuff to save some $$ in the next few weeks.
Latchkey at Ellie's new school is twice what it was at her old school!

Saerah