Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine #3

[Yesiamapirate]

DH made a quick trip to Costco yesterday. We didn't need much, but my Perrier stash was running low, so he got a couple of cases along with a few other items. For the first time in months, Costco had a 5-pack of Clorox wipes for $15. He had been getting individual cannisters of Meijer disinfectant wipes (75 sheets) for $6 each or $3 for 35 sheets. Costco also had a 3-pack of Lysol spray, but DH had gotten a single can at Kroger a couple of weeks ago. We have partial cans of Lysol in three bathrooms, so we really didn't need more. Other purchases included a multi-pack of TP and two beautiful pieces of sockeye salmon, one of which we had for dinner last night with fresh asparagus.

We hit up Costco yesterday. I also noticed that cleaning supplies, paper towel, TP...etc are all back in stock. Yay! Your sockeye salmon and fresh asparagus must have been wonderful.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

So items for babies, women, and the elderly (or people with health issues). Got it...

Brands | Procter and Gamble (pg.com)

P & G brands we use:
Bounty
Crest
Oral B
Cascade
Gilette
Venus
Febreze
Swiffer
Pepto Bismol

 

[JDG]

I know Coca Cola has taken a big hit, profit wise, due to restaurants and bars being shut.

Read an article the other day on the companies who have lost a lot of money due to COVID and how they're compensating for their shareholders/dividends.

Have relatives who own a few high end restaurants and its been just awful for them.

The hubby has aged something fierce and the wife won't really talk about it but her personal wine consumption has really gone up.

Part of me wants to 'have a chat' with her but its really none of my business, I care about her though...what to do, what to do?? uh oh

 

[PayrollNerd]

We hit up Costco yesterday. I also noticed that cleaning supplies, paper towel, TP...etc are all back in stock. Yay! Your sockeye salmon and fresh asparagus must have been wonderful.

I noticed Publix has a reasonable stock also but holy moly, the prices! I was shocked, the prices have got to be nearly double from last year. I don't know how the unemployed or poor are even able to buy paper products.

I rejoice when the grocery distribution includes paper products or household items. Once I got a 1/2 gallon of Purell hand sanitizer. It has a pump on it. We all take our little containers and refill them from that big one. Sometimes I get paper products, hand wash, shampoo, etc. I always say a prayer of thanks for the generosity of those who donate. What a gift these items have been.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

I noticed Publix has a reasonable stock also but holy moly, the prices! I was shocked, the prices have got to be nearly double from last year. I don't know how the unemployed or poor are even able to buy paper products.

I rejoice when the grocery distribution includes paper products or household items. Once I got a 1/2 gallon of Purell hand sanitizer. It has a pump on it. We all take our little containers and refill them from that big one. Sometimes I get paper products, hand wash, shampoo, etc. I always say a prayer of thanks for the generosity of those who donate. What a gift these items have been.

PayrollNerd, I saw the same thing. The prices were sky high! Many food programs do not include these essentials. I am glad yours does. I am not sure if it is price gouging or if there is another explanation? MOO

 

[PayrollNerd]

PayrollNerd, I saw the same thing. The prices were sky high! Many food programs do not include these essentials. I am glad yours does. I am not sure if it is price gouging or if there is another explanation? MOO

There are very strict laws here in FL about price gouging due to hurricanes. However, if the price is set by the grocery chain then how does one prove it's exorbitant? It puzzles me for sure.

The paper products and household items usually are from the church locations. They have the local food bank set up in their parking lot. Each station gives you a bag of something. So as you pull thru, the food boxes and bags are put in the back of your vehicle. Then after the food is what the church is distributing. I loved the 2 hyacinths I got for Easter!

 

[JrzyGirl70]

All protein prices are rebounding again. I can't even quote weekly prices now to my customers as things are changing so rapidly. Just when restaurants/catering halls are starting to get a bit busier we are going to have to start raising prices again.

We are hearing from distributors that price increases are being caused due to farmers that are raising cattle, hogs and poultry are facing highest corn and soybean prices in seven years, lack of workers, fuel costs, lack of transportation. Not looking forward to the next few weeks.

 

[PayrollNerd]

All protein prices are rebounding again. I can't even quote weekly prices now to my customers as things are changing so rapidly. Just when restaurants/catering halls are starting to get a bit busier we are going to have to start raising prices again.

We are hearing from distributors that price increases are being caused due to farmers that are raising cattle, hogs and poultry are facing highest corn and soybean prices in seven years, lack of workers, fuel costs, lack of transportation. Not looking forward to the next few weeks.

Price increases on those type items don't bother me at all. I believe they are totally justified. Our poor farmers are suffering a financial crisis whether it's animal products or vegetable products.

Our local pick your own farm just posted today that tomatoes are $5 or $10 a case depending on the type. I am down to one jar of marinara I canned from last season. I love supporting them and am already looking at my calendar so I can plan my next canning day. I need to find those metal lids now.

 

[PayrollNerd]

The Farmers to Families boxes were so good. I always got milk and fresh produce. The dairy items varied. Sometimes it was cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, butter, etc. I wonder what the new dairy and produce programs are. If I figure it out I'll post here.

Those who require assistance accessing food will have other means of doing so, according to United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who initially announced the Farmers to Families program's cancellation to the House Appropriations subcommittee on April 14. In place of Farmers to Families, those who need food assistance may be able to get it through expansions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school meal programs, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and both dairy and produce programs being rolled out by the USDA.

This Food Delivery Service Is Shutting Down in May | Best Life (bestlifeonline.com)

 

[mickey2942]

PayrollNerd, I saw the same thing. The prices were sky high! Many food programs do not include these essentials. I am glad yours does. I am not sure if it is price gouging or if there is another explanation? MOO

I have noticed a significant increase in the cost of items. It is negligible in our household, no kids to feed.

Costco had quite a bit of toilet paper, with a sign, "No Limit".

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

DH and I were just perusing Nino's weekly specials and noticed that prices are up on many different types of items. Nino's tends to have higher prices than chain supermarkets like Kroger and Meijer, but we don't mind paying a little more for an upscale shopping experience. We always take advantage of weekly specials on foods that we use regularly.

 

[MimosaMornings]

I had to rework the monthly budget because of our higher food bill over the past 12 months. Spouse would eat at employment cafeteria for one meal and it was cheap. Plus no snacking because at work and not at home where food is just around the corner in the pantry. I was able to expense my daily food expenditures while I working. I couldn’t believe how much we are now spending. It’s crazy.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Grocery shopping has always been a joy for me. I love picking out my produce and special ingredients I like to use when I cook. Now that we are vaccinated we go to our favorite stores whenever we like. It's the little things.

Of course, now we do less grocery shopping because we are comfortable eating inside restaurants again. Our 18th wedding anniversary was this past weekend and we were so thrilled to be able to go to our favorite restaurant...

I feel the same way about grocery shopping. I like choosing my own produce, but DH does a decent job with that He's done most of the marketing during the pandemic because I have a tendency to browse the aisles in Nino's which DH doesn't like.

Congratulations on your anniversary! It's nice to be able to enjoy dining out again after the lengthy pauses

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Both of us forgot to take something out of the freezer for dinner tonight, so DH stopped at Nino's after his swim earlier this afternoon. He noticed immediately that meat prices have increased since the last time he bought any meat products. Also, Dover Sole is featured as a seafood special for $9.99#. That is absolutely amazing because Dover Sole is usually the priciest item on restaurant menus that serve it. The delicate white fish is usually boned tableside. Young fish monger seemed embarrassed that the Dover Sole is not yet available but should be in by the weekend.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

DH stopped at Meijer for a few staples yesterday and did not see any boutique boxes of Kleenex. He had a bogo coupon that expires tomorrow and asked an employee if they had the Kleenex in stock. There haven't been shortages in recent months, but the shelves were completely void of boutique Kleenex. Employee offered to check stockroom and found holiday-themed boxes that were left over from Christmas. DH bought four of them because the tissue boxes get covered in our bathrooms and no one sees them.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

DH stopped at Meijer for a few staples yesterday and did not see any boutique boxes of Kleenex. He had a bogo coupon that expires tomorrow and asked an employee if they had the Kleenex in stock. There haven't been shortages in recent months, but the shelves were completely void of boutique Kleenex. Employee offered to check stockroom and found holiday-themed boxes that were left over from Christmas. DH bought four of them because the tissue boxes get covered in our bathrooms and no one sees them.

Costco has been out of boutique boxes as well the last few times I looked. Ever since the pandemic. Good find on the holiday boxes!

 

[Midwestmom2019]

Pretty sure that’s not going to pan out here. And in a pandemic no less.

In 1992, I worked for Kimberly Clark as a temp employee. After 3-4 months, the agency I worked for called stating I didn’t need to return. Huh? I was told it was language I used. Again, huh?

Eventually had a conversation in person with the temp agency to get the details. One of the female supervisors walking behind me overheard a quiet conversation between me and a coworker. It was a Friday night, after work, walking to the parking garage. Not like it happened on the clock, in their building, etc.

What was the language? I had just found out I was 6 weeks pregnant after 10 years of infertility. I didn’t like TN and wanted to return home to FL.

Guess who’s products I’ve boycotted ever since?

“The companies are betting consumers will be willing to pay more for the brand version instead of opting for a cheaper private label.”

That’s a bad bet.

 

[mickey2942]

I had to rework the monthly budget because of our higher food bill over the past 12 months. Spouse would eat at employment cafeteria for one meal and it was cheap. Plus no snacking because at work and not at home where food is just around the corner in the pantry. I was able to expense my daily food expenditures while I working. I couldn’t believe how much we are now spending. It’s crazy.

I think that we overall spend less on food, because we no longer eat out. But, that means spending more on groceries. And I admit to a lot of splurging and indulgence spending.

 

[JDG]

DH stopped at Meijer for a few staples yesterday and did not see any boutique boxes of Kleenex. He had a bogo coupon that expires tomorrow and asked an employee if they had the Kleenex in stock. There haven't been shortages in recent months, but the shelves were completely void of boutique Kleenex. Employee offered to check stockroom and found holiday-themed boxes that were left over from Christmas. DH bought four of them because the tissue boxes get covered in our bathrooms and no one sees them.

Don't think I'd even cover the boxes, just play some Carols. Spring time Christmas music! Too cute.

Must admit, I have not seen the boutique tissue boxes for awhile either.

Good buy, even if not seasonal. lol

 

[Betty P]

There are so many people out these days. Stores packed, traffic crazy, almost like the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve.

I just spent an hour in CVS without being able to get my prescription refilled or to purchase a few items like birthday cards, etc. Prescription refill order got lost in the email, workers are new, don't know what they're doing, getting cash registers messed up so they can't check people out, no management to be seen anywhere (I don't think they have managers anymore).

Its the second time this month that a prescritption refill got messed up. I had to go a week with no cholesterol medication while waiting for them to fix a mistake.

I had to come home to use the restroom and get a drink of water before venturing out again to at least try to buy a birthday card.

Waiting lines at drive through restaurants are blocks long. I think all the people who spend their entire day driving around, eating out and shopping all day are out again.

I guess everyone is going to the doctor again, too. The routine colonoscopy my doc is bugging me to get can't be scheduled til the end of June. I'm ok with that.

I've heard from our roofing guy and landscaping guy that prices are going up drastically for all building supplies, especially lumber products. My son needed to buy one piece of trim for a doorway. It cost over $50 for a 6 ft section of lumber.

I'm calling price gouging and predatory pricing on some of this.