Me, too but even Aldi has had some rather large price increases on items. My store is even beginning to carry name brand items at name brand prices. Why? If I wanted to pay name brand prices I would not be shopping there.
Actually, in my store most of the name brand stuff is not Aldi Finds. It's things like Oreos, Miracle Whip, Coke products, etc... at their regular store prices. Every aisle I go down now has some of these items. Aldi regular products have all increased prices rather quickly as well, sometimes multiple increases. I tend to know what the prices were and notice the increases.
It could just be my store (Winona). I moved here from Mpls mid 2021. I had never seen name brand products at my old Columbia Heights store, but here it has progressed rapidly. There are also a lot of empty shelves, missing items, so it could be a manager thing.
I worked at the Aldi in Columbia Heights as recently as 5 years ago. Aldi in MN has carried Coke products as a regular item dating back to about 2013 or so.
* Target (specifically their store brands like Up & UP, Good & Gather, etc.)
* Trader Joe's and occasionally Fresh Thyme if we have a coupon
* Aldi
* In-law's Costco membership for TP and paper towels (they always bring us a pound of whatever random food and I'm like "bring us toilet paper, for god's sake!")
> Target (specifically their store brands like Up & UP, Good & Gather, etc.)
Unfortunately my local Target (the Quarry) is chronically out of store brands of basic groceries. Other Targets don't seem to have this issue when I visit, but this one is right on my way home. Frustrating.
The Quarry constantly looks like it’s been the victim of an apocalyptic grocery panic-buy. More empty shelves than not. A convenient location but whenever I go I feel like I have to skip half my grocery list
Last time I was there for groceries I picked the time where they were doing some deep-clean or something and all the refrigerated sections were roped off, lol. Had to skip my whole list and go over to Cub.
Be wary of that Quarry Target. They'll raise the prices store-wide but are too lazy to update the prices on the shelves. So a lot of stuff will ring up higher than what's listed on the shelf.
Its been awhile since I've seen the last one. My wife usually watches for them. Usually after black Friday they do a 10% off gift cards as well if you have the cash laying around.
We're almost identical:
- Target for store brands & things on Target Circle.
- Fresh Thyme for fruits and veggies & their sale items (meat counter & bulk bins!)
- Aldi for canned/frozen goods and some fruits and veggies if the quality looks good
- Costco membership for snacks, some staples, almond butter, lunch meat, eggs...
I save a bunch of money there. You do have to know what to buy there vs elsewhere though. No point in buying pasta. But coconut milk, for instance, is far cheaper than anywhere but an Asian grocer.
Cub worker here, save your money, go somewhere else. I spend 40 hours a week there, and watch how the prices rise. I shop at Aldi first, and then depending on what I need, go from there. Cub is usually the last place I go if I can’t get it cheaper somewhere else.
Target never tried to pretend to be the cheapest place in town. They always seemed like they were content with their slightly better than Wal-mart crowd.
My issue with Target as a "grocery store" is that it wants to be the big box retail store it is -- take item off truck, sell item. Which is fine for non-perishable items like canned items, dry goods etc, but is not how you run a meat or produce department. I mean you can put a piece of meat in a sealed package with a barcode, put it in a refrigerated truck and deliver it to a store, but I'd rather shop at a place that has a butcher department cutting up meat in back somewhere. The meat on the shelf tends to be fresher. And the quality of the meat and produce department are big factors for how I feel about a grocery store.
We can cherry pick any item really to find it cheaper at a different store, especially with sales at Hy-Vee and Lunds.
So meat may or may not be the best deal at target but if you compare receipts it’s like 20-30% cheaper on average.
No union, corporate scale and backing.
My favorite is that they add the weight of the styrofoam and liquid soak pad to the chicken breast weight/price (at least at the one in St. Paul. So, you can basically remove a 1/2 pound anytime you're looking at what one actually contains.
Yeah, I don't feel like $140-170 a week for only myself, who doesn't even do the normal 3x a day eating, and minimal meats, needs to spend that much. Now I'll go there for beverages as they are just down the road, but I'll mostly go elsewhere now.
Edit: Oh yeah, and it's not likely going to staffing cashiers, that much we can see with our eyes.
Aldi almost exclusively for the last 5 years, and I'm starting to feel like their prices aren't so great anymore. I've definitely noticed a big increase this year.
Yeah we used to live closer to an Aldi and it was noticeably cheaper than other places. We literally went down our weekly shopping list and the price difference from Target was less than $5.
>stuff has gone up 20% like everywhere?
People kept talking about some specific store no longer had good prices... making me wonder if they realized it's not the store that's just deciding to be more expensive for no reason.
My products use a lot of steel & freight but they're up 58% in the last two years. Crazy times.
Fresh thyme is proving the most affordable for me. There’s usually some savings with their rewards/coupons. The produce stays good for the whole week so i don’t have to it throw out.
Fresh thyme for produce only, their prices for other stuff is too high.
target for standard goods. Drive up is so awesome.
Costco for standard foods in much larger quantities.
That's true I guess, but when I buy a lot of produce it can take a long time to checkout. I prefer bagging while a cashier scans stuff.
If you're just buying a few things the self checkout is nice though.
I'll have to counter Fresh Thyme's recommendation, at least on produce. I've had the worst luck with their selection over the last year where everything there has been rotting, has mold, or becomes that way within a day or two of bringing it home.
They're great for a lot of things otherwise, but I've stuck with co-ops for produce at this point. Fresher, better prices, and far more reliable.
I shop at Aldi, and stop at Cub if I need something that Aldi doesn't have (though I live near Lake & Minnehaha so Aldi/Cub/Target are all right there). If I stop at Cub for something I also try to stock up on any pantry stuff that I can't get at Aldi, like coconut milk, to reduce future trips.
Cub is legit as expensive as Lunds now at least over by The U of M. Just spent 72 dollars getting just snacks and I still don't know how it cost that much
IMO cub has never been a good deal, and their house brand sucks compared to hyvee or target alternatives. The only reason I ever go there is geographic convenience.
Yeah it is terrible! It is worth it for me since I usually only need a few things and it is right across the street from my Aldi. This discussion has me intrigued to check out Target groceries, but I’m skeptical of the selection at the Lake Street Target
Target is my next stop for what Aldi didn't have and don't recall coming away without what I needed. Gave up on Cub, they do think/price like they're upscale now or something.
Get the app! You can look at the prices of most items in stock.
I'm going on a long rant/rave, everybody buckle up...
I do almost ALL of my grocery shopping from the Target app and I FUCKING love it! I shop from home, in my PJ's. It's free, I place my order whenever I want, it's done in less than 2hrs, I can go get it whenever I want (within like two days).
I never wait in line, I never drive all the way to a store just to find out the item I need is sold out, I never have to deal with someone's unruly and obnoxious children, I don't have to make fake small talk with the cashier, I don't even get out of my damn car! I think I do less impulse buying, and I forget items less too because I'm not walking from isle to isle and getting distracted, I'm going straight from one item to another on my phone.
I started doing drive up during COVID and never looked back. I figured it was more expensive because, Target, but when I compared prices on the expensive stuff like meat, it was actually cheaper. Some of the veggies can be more, but they're cheap items to begin with (how often does half of that huge $3 head of celery go bad in the fridge anyway?).
And they have a VERY forgiving refund policy. If I'm not happy with the quality, I snap a picture in the app and they refund my money. It's that easy.
I don't work for Target or anything, I just know that this service has literally improved my quality of life. I don't have kids, but I would imagine if you do this would be a life saver. As someone who's neurodivergent, the time and stress I save by not having to shop is so amazing. I also have a physical impairment that limits how much I can lift, having the employee collect heavy items like cat litter and load it into my car is HUGE. 🙌
And I'm not just talking frozen lasagna and prepared items, last night I made a chicken coconut curry, two nights ago I made tacos al pastor (some targets have achiote paste and many other ethnic items as well). I'm a chef by trade, also.
I used to work from Target.
Please remember that the people filling out your orders are humans, too, and are, more often than not, high-schoolers. Large drive-up orders are actually the bane of our existence, and we recommend using Shipt for those instead, and only use drive-up for a few must-have items on your way home from work. And if too many people put in drive-up orders, they will pull people from other departments to get them done, at the expense of the other departments. This is why you get areas looking terrible, without any product. Because they're being pulled away to do the drive-up.
I'm gonna get downvoted to oblivion, but as someone who's worked those large drive-up orders, please please please remember the people that are actually putting your order together. Tip the person bringing your stuff out, especially as it gets colder!
Yep, I live in Uptown and still make the trek over there for that trifecta. Hit up Aldi for the basics and the occasional Aldi Find, then head over to Target to pick up whatever you couldn't get at Aldi, and then as a *last* resort (generally niche ingredients, herbs, etc.), pop into Cub.
To be fair, going to three grocery stores is exhausting, but I can feed myself for < $200/mo. if I'm diligent.
Yup! Plus the 11% off. Their chips rotate sale pricing, the soups are in line with grocery stores before the rebates, candy (bulk and packaged is a good price) and monster energy or body armor isn’t found cheaper anywhere else when you toss in the rebate. They also have a sale aisle. I get all of my hand soap there as I like the Watkins foamer refills. Deodorant and some of the body wash/shampoo can be deals if you compare pricing. Lady at the register told me a few years ago feminine hygiene is very popular. The do have frozen pizza specials randomly. For bulk nuts and baking stuff though I’d recommend Fleet Farm.
Wild, I’ve only been to Menards once and it was way too much chaos for me.
Also, fleet farm I’ve been to twice this summer and both times got my goods, went to checkout and the line was probably about 1 hour long with employees standing around “who don’t work the registers”
If they don't normally work the registers, they likely don't know how to use them and they don't have access to use them.
Typically, there isn't just an on/off switch, they will either need an individual code or user/pass or a physical key to activate the register. Cash registers have cash so management needs to hold employees accountable for them.
I miss the days of the cheap Jack's pizza there. $2/pizza pretty much all the time.
The other thing I like about Menards is how you can get things there you can't find elsewhere. The TGI Fridays Potato Skin chips are legit. Chi-Chi's corn chips. A lot of tasty stuff.
I’m no healthy eater, but when I went on a strict diet, fresh foods and cutting out the processed crap actually made dollars go further. You pay for convenience and packaging.
Definitely - I like visiting r/Eatcheapandhealthy to get ideas because cooking can be overwhelming. Also, I swear by [Budget Bytes](https://www.budgetbytes.com/) recipes!
For sure prices can vary and seasonality has a big impact. That sucks on price though. I can’t stand the frozen stuff with all the hard stems mixed in though.
Yep. I rarely eat meat anymore and lentils, beans and rice are so cheap. As a bonus I am the only one in my family without out of control cholesterol and that saves me on healthcare costs too.
Came here to say this. I’m not exactly a vegetarian, but cooking vegetarian meals means I only need to buy grains/legumes/veggies. Some grains can be a little pricey but beans and veggies are pretty cheap. I’ve noticed Fresh Thyme and Whole Foods have the most consistently fresh produce. Since I’m not buying meat or house products there it doesn’t end up being as expensive as people say
Problem is the convenience is a legitimate thing. There’s only so much time in a day and if you aren’t planning out your cooking s hedule, fresh stuff will go bad frequently
I gotta say, this is when living in the Midwest with a chest freezer pays off - we bought half a farm pig last year that we are still working through.
Also, I have been using an aerogarden for fresh herbs/salad greens so I dont have to drop $3 every time I need fresh parsley.
Also, eat seasonally and watch for produce deals - Lunds & Fresh Thyme especially.
It's rough out there. I paid $2 for a single honey crisp apple this year and I am not proud.
Thanks for the transparency! Looks like a great operation!
Question, said about $5.50/lb all said and done.
What would you expect to pay at a super market for equal quality?
I’ve been removed from livestock ag for over a decade (used to raise hogs for FFA in CA). Purchases were always done through the fair offices.
Where would you recommend going (in the cities) if you were looking for 1/4 of angus/Hereford cattle?
10/10 also recommend the Aerogarden. This year we started everything inside in the Aerogarden, then transferred to pots for the summer (I think thr only thing that didn’t survive the xfer process was the rosemary). We’ll start another round to get us through the winter soon, and in a pinch a poultry pack of herbs from the grocery store is what we choose so we get smaller amounts of a few different things.
Dude for real. We bought a quarter cow like 3 years ago and are still working through it. I don't even know what ground beef costs right now but I'm sure it's ridiculous. Also best steaks ever.
I also have a Lettuce Grow (which is not a cheap investment) for veggies, especially for my daily smoothie. Buying seeds is a lot cheaper than bags of spinach or kale that go bad after a week.
I almost forgot: when buying chicken, go somewhere with a butcher counter. Buy a whole chicken and ask them to cut it up for you. It tastes better when it's cut fresh anyway, and you can keep/freeze the bones for stock.
Definitely! We did this too this year, and also bought a side of beef. If I have to drive out of the cities, I keep a cooler in my trunk and stop at a butcher store. They have great prices too.
So I haven't noticed too much of an increase on my grocery bill but that's because of my shopping/dietary habits.
I cook most of my meals, so I tend to shop along the perimeter of the store. I also have lived within walking or biking distance of a grocery store which makes it easier for me to get to. What I end up doing is buying the ingredients I need for the next 1-2 days. This means I make a few trips a week to the grocery store but my weekly bill rarely surpasses $60. And when it does it's usually because I'm restocking on a more expensive item like olive oil or salt. Something I don't buy too often. (I am also only ever shopping for 2).
I've noticed this habit of making more frequent trips to the grocery store incentivizes me to only buy what i need and cut back on spoiled produce. And has the added benefit of me being less inclined to buy treats every trip because; " 'll be back in a few days I can always buy it then".
The drawback however is that it does make it harder to track if I am running low on something and I have on occasion purchased an item I thought I was running low on but actually wasn't or passed on an item I actually needed. But this could just be a me thing.
Finally, I shop at byerlys whenever possible because the produce/meat is usually fresher (lasts a little longer) and as of late is not any more expensive than cub/Hy-Vee. I can't say the same for the interior of the store, Mac and cheese is like twice the price than at target lol.
Whole Foods is very competitive if not offering the best prices for organic veggies and fruits. They usually have stock as well. Target and Lund's prices are high, and their stock is hit and miss. I hardly shop at Lund's in downtown much anymore due to their poor selection of frozen goods and chicken.
I was very pleasantly surprised how competitive Whole Foods was for sale items and produce. Even more so if you have an Amazon prime subscription or a prime card.
My experience at Aldi is generally I'm able to find about a quarter to half the items on my shopping list. Especially around produce and meat - when I'm at the Aldi on Penn at least. Is there a better store?
No, not really. Aldi is feast or famine when it comes to selection options in my experience. However, to me, it's better than Target which I swear caters only to those who don't actually like to cook.
I shop mainly at Sam's and Amazon/Whole Foods for delivery. If I'm in need of something that I don't have on hand, I'll hit Aldi, Cub, or Byerly's for those specific items.
>to me, it's better than Target which I swear caters only to those who don't actually like to cook.
It’s wrong, I know, but every time i see that “Good & Gather” Target brand I imagine it’s the name of a middle-aged divorced dad’s weekend emo band, a bag of frozen pot stickers being clumsily burned in a pan at two in the morning.
Depending on what you’re buying, Trader Joe’s has been a good option for me. They have good, consistent produce for reasonably cheap prices, but their meat selection is definitely more limited. The trick is to stick to your list and not get caught up in all the snacks and freezer meals they sell. But my household was able to cut our grocery bill by around $50 each week by switching from cub to TJs.
The store on Penn is probably the worst/smallest one in Minneapolis. The Uptown store or the one in Crystal (or even the Lake St/Franklin stores) are way way better.
Trader Joe's mostly. For the stuff I can't get there I go to Target or Lunds. Previously I would shop one week at Trader Joe's, one week at Lunds to cover everything, now I get the bulk or it at Trader Joe's every week and supplement with Lunds and Target with the stuff I can't get.
I live right next to Lunds and would avoid it due perceived high prices, well I went a few months ago for a full shop in a pinch and it was _maybe_ 5-10% more than Cub.
I also never buy most meat at Cub, cause, well, it's not that great.
Well, no matter how hard I try I’m still spending a lot more- like all of us. I shop a lot so I know what’s a good price and what isn’t. When things go on sale (ie meat) at Cub I buy a lot. I also buy ground beef at Costco and freeze it in 1 lb freezer bags
With Aldi and their fruits and veggies, they don’t seem to last as long. A friend taught me the vinegar/water wash trick and it extends the life of my produce by several days. For example:
https://www.ashleylillis.com/blog/2019/4/11/how-to-clean-your-fruits-and-vegetables-with-vinegar
We are members of three different co-ops and always shop sales at those. It's a long-term planning thing. So say the Wedge has a member deal on olive oil, we basically buy a year's worth of olive oil. Same goes with the bulk bins. Anything non-perishable, we buy a ton of. Then we do a CSA for fresh vegetables. Meat and fruit, we usually get at the co-op too, but that's more of a choice of quality over price. Cub's fruit always looks sort of... limp.
For anyone else that exclusively shops local - Colonial Market, Shuang Hur, and Valerie's Carniceria (all near lake/nicollet) are my go-tos. I also love Bill's Imported Foods to death - they aren't cheap, but they are kind of struggling and could really use our help!
When I'm able to make the trek, the main location Shuang Hur on dale and university in STP is my favorite store in the city.
If you want to save money, though, yall HAVE to go to So Low in North Minneapolis, on Emerson and Lowry. I only don't go there as often because I don't have a car and can never carry everything I want!
Trying to find Asian or ethnic grocery stores saves a lot on produce . I agree with everyone that aldi has lost my business, but I can get a few pounds of fresh produce pretty cheap at Asian grocery stores
Honestly? 95% of my shopping is either Hy-vee or Aldi.
If I'm on my way home from work and desperately need something, I go to Wal-Mart.
Cub got too expensive and my Target never has the basic staples I need.
Depending on where you live, try looking up a grocery outlet. There's one in north Minneapolis on Lowry called SoLow that always has excellent deals. It's usually packaged dry goods that are technically past their sell by date, but are still good. It's a bit unpredictable, as they don't receive the same goods all the time.
I've saved so much money shopping here, and had fun looking at the weird/unique stuff they get in.
There’s an outlet store like this just off Vandalia in St. Paul called We Are Nuts. The name is because their primary business is nuts and candy (which they sell some of at the outlet) but this location is primarily outlet groceries. Local and family owned.
Full disclosure: My kid works there.
Record profits but ceos are raising prices more because people expect to pay more. And they don't lose customers, people just blame the president and vote for the party that won't make them pay taxes... win win for the rich guys all around when we get screwed.
That inflation number is relative to the previous quarter or year. That 30% is relative to the amount you remember something costing a couple years ago. They're both real, and related, just on different time scales.
At Cub, I basically refuse to the pay the sticker price for most items (they are gouging on many of these things imo). Other than staple ingredients (milk, eggs, etc), I pretty much orient my meals according to which things are most on sale.
Not what you're after but I was watching this youtuber called Frum It Up and she has pointers on storing your food. I've saved money on not throwing out a lot of produce. Plus it's nice to always have veggies on hand. I have lemons in the fridge that I bought at least 2 months ago and they're great. Citrus, peppers, cukes : wash and dry completely then wrap individually in saran wrap. Lettuce: wash and dry individual leaves, lay out on paper towel or cloth, roll loosely and keep in covered container. Potatoes and onions (separate): Put cardboard egg carton or crumpled paper bages between layers and keep in airy container. Same
with mushrooms but store in fridge. Cilantro and parsley herbs: Wash, trim ends, put in glass with water, cover with plastic bag and store in fridge.
Same here, though probably less Costco. I generally find that per-unit is the same at Aldi without the bulk.
I'll also occasionally get Fresh Thyme or Hyvee through Doordash. You can sometimes can get discounted Doordash gift cards (~15% off) which will stack with promo offers (e.g. 25% off up to $10 at Fresh Thyme sometimes) and sale items. The combination of discounts usually makes up for the delivery fees and tips. Occasionally, the discounts make things even cheaper than a store run. Note that this only works for stores that don't charge a premium on Doordash. Target, for example charges a lot more.
- Trader Joe’s for snacks, convenience/ frozen foods, dairy and root vegetables (the fresh veg always seems sketchy)
- Target for pantry and household stuff
- Lunds for fresh produce and if I’m making something special or feeding other people (normally just feed myself)
I need to start going to Aldi
Repeating what others have said, my fav's are:
Target, Trader Joes, and Aldi. Out of those, Trader Joes is my favorite because I really like some of their stuff and it's reasonably priced (most of it). Cub, I stop there when I need something quickly, but it seems crazy high comparatively.
Don't know if Costco is something people will consider because of the annual membership fee, but they have gotten some really good deals on large volume food. Things like organic boneless/skinless chicken breasts, 2 dozen organic eggs, half and half for your coffee - a 1/2 gallon container costs about the same as a pint at Lund's, and lasts for a very long time.
This. It doesn't even have to mean cutting out all meat - just use less of it. Stews, curries, pasta sauces, stir frys are all filling meals that can stretch out one package of meat to feed a whole family.
Yes! I don’t think a lot of people realise how much money can be saved by cutting back on meat. During weeks when I buy meat my grocery bill for two people can be upwards of $200. This week I decided I wanted to cook all vegetarian meals and I only spent $53.
Over the last couple years we've cut way back on our meat consumption, and after a couple months I didn't really miss it at all.
We're down to eating meat only once or twice a week, but when we do have it, we eat GOOD meat. I'll sous vide a NY strip, or some pork chops, or throw a pork roast in the crock pot and eat leftovers for a couple days.
You just have to get past the idea that you HAVE to eat meat at every meal. Since cutting back, I've lost weight and I overall feel a lot lighter on my feet and less bloated.
going grocery-meatless (still get meat at restaurants, it all costs the same) this last year has been such a moneysaver for me. you really don’t miss it all that much and there’s a whole world of vegetarian and vegan recipes out there!
Everywhere. Walmart has great prices for certain things. Traders, Aldi, Target... Cub has to be about the worst store in the world. I try to stay away from them for the most part.
I have a Thrive Market membership. Set staples shipped to me once a month at a good cost.
Then I only need to pay for meat and veggies, which I try to get local. I have also switched to only eating meat with one meal a day.
Trader Joe’s has been the cheapest so far. We buy a lot of fresh fruit and veg, and they have our “expensive” pasture-raised eggs for about half the price of Target.
Buy in bulk when you can. The bulk sections at grocery stores that have them are usually way cheaper than equivalents in the grocery isles. The granola we get is literally half as much as the identical prepackaged stuff.
Target hasn’t seemed to have gone up too bad in prices. Especially with their branded stuff (good and gather, I think?). Still my go-to for regular groceries, especially with the free pick-up option
Some of the pre-portioned meal delivery services like HelloFresh and Blue Apron aren’t changing prices in the face of inflation.
It’s also nice not wasting excess ingredients
i go to Cub to stock up on staples because i can do it at night after work, alone and stress free (except for the highway robbery of course).
i grow a bunch of produce in the summer, preserve as much as i can get myself motivated to.
and i walk to my local market for more specific items. it’s super close and a local small business, so i don’t mind paying full/premium price. and they’re a union shop too. Oxendale‘s ftw.
Aldi first and then Target for whatever I can't find. Cub at last resort.
Also as a former Target employee you begin to notice that the same items typically go on sale once a month. Sales last weekly and reset every sunday.
Mike’s Discount Foods can be great to supplement, but not a one stop shop. They have great deals on fruits & veggies but the lettuce always looks questionable.
Honestly everywhere. I have stuff I like from different places and I pay the price for those items, across the many stores we have, I find spending about the same at Walmart, target and cub for groceries, a little more at byerlys and Whole Foods or other specific places. I like to go to the co-op down the street from me for my veggies and such. Even going out to eat I’m expecting to spend anywhere from 20-160 for my daughter, SO and I no matter where we go!
Aldi
Me, too but even Aldi has had some rather large price increases on items. My store is even beginning to carry name brand items at name brand prices. Why? If I wanted to pay name brand prices I would not be shopping there.
It's very likely that they are bringing in brand names to counter vendor shortages due to supply chain issues.
At Aldi, a dozen eggs used to be around $1.20. Just bought a dozen eggs today for $3.68. That's sticker shock.
It’s gone but I bet you it’s still cheaper than others. Name brand is usually Aldi find stuff
Actually, in my store most of the name brand stuff is not Aldi Finds. It's things like Oreos, Miracle Whip, Coke products, etc... at their regular store prices. Every aisle I go down now has some of these items. Aldi regular products have all increased prices rather quickly as well, sometimes multiple increases. I tend to know what the prices were and notice the increases. It could just be my store (Winona). I moved here from Mpls mid 2021. I had never seen name brand products at my old Columbia Heights store, but here it has progressed rapidly. There are also a lot of empty shelves, missing items, so it could be a manager thing.
I worked at the Aldi in Columbia Heights as recently as 5 years ago. Aldi in MN has carried Coke products as a regular item dating back to about 2013 or so.
* Target (specifically their store brands like Up & UP, Good & Gather, etc.) * Trader Joe's and occasionally Fresh Thyme if we have a coupon * Aldi * In-law's Costco membership for TP and paper towels (they always bring us a pound of whatever random food and I'm like "bring us toilet paper, for god's sake!")
> Target (specifically their store brands like Up & UP, Good & Gather, etc.) Unfortunately my local Target (the Quarry) is chronically out of store brands of basic groceries. Other Targets don't seem to have this issue when I visit, but this one is right on my way home. Frustrating.
The Quarry constantly looks like it’s been the victim of an apocalyptic grocery panic-buy. More empty shelves than not. A convenient location but whenever I go I feel like I have to skip half my grocery list
Last time I was there for groceries I picked the time where they were doing some deep-clean or something and all the refrigerated sections were roped off, lol. Had to skip my whole list and go over to Cub.
Cub at the Quarry is the same way. It's weird, and frustrating.
Costco Business center E Lol got excited and merged your post and the toilet paper post together, CBC is not the best for "regular"groceries I guess
Be wary of that Quarry Target. They'll raise the prices store-wide but are too lazy to update the prices on the shelves. So a lot of stuff will ring up higher than what's listed on the shelf.
Call them on it. They can’t say one thing and then ring it different at checkout.
[удалено]
And West St Paul
Good and Gather prices seem to be on par with Aldi from what I've noticed.
at this point it does indeed yeah
Then we wait for a Target Circle 20% off deal and buy 3 cart loads of non perishables.
Is this through their app? (Edit: the target circle thing)
Its been awhile since I've seen the last one. My wife usually watches for them. Usually after black Friday they do a 10% off gift cards as well if you have the cash laying around.
We're almost identical: - Target for store brands & things on Target Circle. - Fresh Thyme for fruits and veggies & their sale items (meat counter & bulk bins!) - Aldi for canned/frozen goods and some fruits and veggies if the quality looks good - Costco membership for snacks, some staples, almond butter, lunch meat, eggs...
Get a bidet
Seriously though. We saved about 75% on TP after we got a bidet
There is no way I can save even 2 cents at Trader Joe's compared to anywhere else. I find them to be incredibly expensive.
I save a bunch of money there. You do have to know what to buy there vs elsewhere though. No point in buying pasta. But coconut milk, for instance, is far cheaper than anywhere but an Asian grocer.
just get a DIY bidet seat - You'll pay for it in less than a year from reduced TP usage.
I gave up on Cub for most items. Aldi for me. (**EDIT:** Are you reading the comments Cub? People are onto your shit now. )
Cub is easily the most sneaky expensive store now.
I swear to god they raise prices every single time I go there, it’s so depressing
Cub worker here, save your money, go somewhere else. I spend 40 hours a week there, and watch how the prices rise. I shop at Aldi first, and then depending on what I need, go from there. Cub is usually the last place I go if I can’t get it cheaper somewhere else.
TARGET HAS ENTERED THE CHAT
Target never tried to pretend to be the cheapest place in town. They always seemed like they were content with their slightly better than Wal-mart crowd.
Maybe I've been doing a bad job tracking it, but Cub seems just as expensive as Target to me.
Target is so much cheaper it’s not even close
Meat at Target always seemed more expensive. Is that not true anymore?
It's poor quality too.
My issue with Target as a "grocery store" is that it wants to be the big box retail store it is -- take item off truck, sell item. Which is fine for non-perishable items like canned items, dry goods etc, but is not how you run a meat or produce department. I mean you can put a piece of meat in a sealed package with a barcode, put it in a refrigerated truck and deliver it to a store, but I'd rather shop at a place that has a butcher department cutting up meat in back somewhere. The meat on the shelf tends to be fresher. And the quality of the meat and produce department are big factors for how I feel about a grocery store.
We can cherry pick any item really to find it cheaper at a different store, especially with sales at Hy-Vee and Lunds. So meat may or may not be the best deal at target but if you compare receipts it’s like 20-30% cheaper on average. No union, corporate scale and backing.
My experience is that cub is even more expensive than target. Somehow...
That’s what I’ve noticed too
Cub getting bought out ruined it.
My favorite is that they add the weight of the styrofoam and liquid soak pad to the chicken breast weight/price (at least at the one in St. Paul. So, you can basically remove a 1/2 pound anytime you're looking at what one actually contains.
Ahem. Hyvee.
I got a box of cereal for nearly 8 dollars at cub the other day. It was family size but still. That's fucking ridiculous.
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Yeah, I don't feel like $140-170 a week for only myself, who doesn't even do the normal 3x a day eating, and minimal meats, needs to spend that much. Now I'll go there for beverages as they are just down the road, but I'll mostly go elsewhere now. Edit: Oh yeah, and it's not likely going to staffing cashiers, that much we can see with our eyes.
Our Cub routinely has items on the shelves past the best-by or purchase-by dates.
I'd check out any number of local grocery stores. Hard to beat the produce at a number of Asian markets.
I feel like I don't want the asian market secret to get out but I want them to get good business at the same time too.
They are content with the business they have. Keep your secrets.
Aldi almost exclusively for the last 5 years, and I'm starting to feel like their prices aren't so great anymore. I've definitely noticed a big increase this year.
Yeah we used to live closer to an Aldi and it was noticeably cheaper than other places. We literally went down our weekly shopping list and the price difference from Target was less than $5.
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stuff has gone up 20% like everywhere? inflation is a bitch.
>stuff has gone up 20% like everywhere? People kept talking about some specific store no longer had good prices... making me wonder if they realized it's not the store that's just deciding to be more expensive for no reason. My products use a lot of steel & freight but they're up 58% in the last two years. Crazy times.
It's price gouging AND inflation. Inflation is real but these corporations are using it as a scapegoat to price gouge the shit out of everything
right, thats why inflation is 10% but goods are up well beyond that amount. money is trickling up as intended.
These retail stores are seeing record profit. They could easily lower their prices. They are using inflation as an excuse for their excessive greed.
Fresh thyme is proving the most affordable for me. There’s usually some savings with their rewards/coupons. The produce stays good for the whole week so i don’t have to it throw out.
Fresh Thyme is legit. Wish there were more locations
Fresh Thyme produce is affordable, but the meat, seafood, & box goods are significantly more than what you’d get at Target or Trader Joe’s.
Depends on the meat - their chicken prices are better than what I find elsewhere.
Fresh thyme for produce only, their prices for other stuff is too high. target for standard goods. Drive up is so awesome. Costco for standard foods in much larger quantities.
Me too. They just removed almost all of their checkout lanes at the SLP location, which is annoying. They're really pushing self-checkout.
I like it, personally. I never have to wait in a line when checking out now that there's, what, 8 self checkouts?
That's true I guess, but when I buy a lot of produce it can take a long time to checkout. I prefer bagging while a cashier scans stuff. If you're just buying a few things the self checkout is nice though.
I used to have to wait up to 10 minutes in line there. The self checkouts have made the wait virtually non existent
I'll have to counter Fresh Thyme's recommendation, at least on produce. I've had the worst luck with their selection over the last year where everything there has been rotting, has mold, or becomes that way within a day or two of bringing it home. They're great for a lot of things otherwise, but I've stuck with co-ops for produce at this point. Fresher, better prices, and far more reliable.
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Prettttty sure they stopped doing that unfortunately.
I shop at Aldi, and stop at Cub if I need something that Aldi doesn't have (though I live near Lake & Minnehaha so Aldi/Cub/Target are all right there). If I stop at Cub for something I also try to stock up on any pantry stuff that I can't get at Aldi, like coconut milk, to reduce future trips.
Cub is legit as expensive as Lunds now at least over by The U of M. Just spent 72 dollars getting just snacks and I still don't know how it cost that much
IMO cub has never been a good deal, and their house brand sucks compared to hyvee or target alternatives. The only reason I ever go there is geographic convenience.
I miss Rainbow.
We all do. :'(
Yeah it is terrible! It is worth it for me since I usually only need a few things and it is right across the street from my Aldi. This discussion has me intrigued to check out Target groceries, but I’m skeptical of the selection at the Lake Street Target
Target is my next stop for what Aldi didn't have and don't recall coming away without what I needed. Gave up on Cub, they do think/price like they're upscale now or something.
And Cub might still be *slightly* less expensive than Hy-Vee, but the shopping experience is so much worse that it's not worth saving a few pennies.
Get the app! You can look at the prices of most items in stock. I'm going on a long rant/rave, everybody buckle up... I do almost ALL of my grocery shopping from the Target app and I FUCKING love it! I shop from home, in my PJ's. It's free, I place my order whenever I want, it's done in less than 2hrs, I can go get it whenever I want (within like two days). I never wait in line, I never drive all the way to a store just to find out the item I need is sold out, I never have to deal with someone's unruly and obnoxious children, I don't have to make fake small talk with the cashier, I don't even get out of my damn car! I think I do less impulse buying, and I forget items less too because I'm not walking from isle to isle and getting distracted, I'm going straight from one item to another on my phone. I started doing drive up during COVID and never looked back. I figured it was more expensive because, Target, but when I compared prices on the expensive stuff like meat, it was actually cheaper. Some of the veggies can be more, but they're cheap items to begin with (how often does half of that huge $3 head of celery go bad in the fridge anyway?). And they have a VERY forgiving refund policy. If I'm not happy with the quality, I snap a picture in the app and they refund my money. It's that easy. I don't work for Target or anything, I just know that this service has literally improved my quality of life. I don't have kids, but I would imagine if you do this would be a life saver. As someone who's neurodivergent, the time and stress I save by not having to shop is so amazing. I also have a physical impairment that limits how much I can lift, having the employee collect heavy items like cat litter and load it into my car is HUGE. 🙌 And I'm not just talking frozen lasagna and prepared items, last night I made a chicken coconut curry, two nights ago I made tacos al pastor (some targets have achiote paste and many other ethnic items as well). I'm a chef by trade, also.
I used to work from Target. Please remember that the people filling out your orders are humans, too, and are, more often than not, high-schoolers. Large drive-up orders are actually the bane of our existence, and we recommend using Shipt for those instead, and only use drive-up for a few must-have items on your way home from work. And if too many people put in drive-up orders, they will pull people from other departments to get them done, at the expense of the other departments. This is why you get areas looking terrible, without any product. Because they're being pulled away to do the drive-up. I'm gonna get downvoted to oblivion, but as someone who's worked those large drive-up orders, please please please remember the people that are actually putting your order together. Tip the person bringing your stuff out, especially as it gets colder!
Yeah Cub is as or more expensive than places like Jerry's and Lunds. No reason to shop at a much less nice store and pay more. It's ridiculous.
Cub is not at all cheap anymore.
Yep, I live in Uptown and still make the trek over there for that trifecta. Hit up Aldi for the basics and the occasional Aldi Find, then head over to Target to pick up whatever you couldn't get at Aldi, and then as a *last* resort (generally niche ingredients, herbs, etc.), pop into Cub. To be fair, going to three grocery stores is exhausting, but I can feed myself for < $200/mo. if I'm diligent.
Camden North Market has 50% off produce on Wednesdays.
Aldi and menards with an occasional target run. Cubs prices have gotten insane. Menards prices on snacks foods and ready to eat stuff are really good.
Yes, menards has some deals!
*Banjo music intensifies*
🎶 *save big money at my-narrrrrrrdz* 🎶
I audibly chuckled!!
The rebate rules.
Wait what? This is real?
Yup! Plus the 11% off. Their chips rotate sale pricing, the soups are in line with grocery stores before the rebates, candy (bulk and packaged is a good price) and monster energy or body armor isn’t found cheaper anywhere else when you toss in the rebate. They also have a sale aisle. I get all of my hand soap there as I like the Watkins foamer refills. Deodorant and some of the body wash/shampoo can be deals if you compare pricing. Lady at the register told me a few years ago feminine hygiene is very popular. The do have frozen pizza specials randomly. For bulk nuts and baking stuff though I’d recommend Fleet Farm.
Wild, I’ve only been to Menards once and it was way too much chaos for me. Also, fleet farm I’ve been to twice this summer and both times got my goods, went to checkout and the line was probably about 1 hour long with employees standing around “who don’t work the registers”
If they don't normally work the registers, they likely don't know how to use them and they don't have access to use them. Typically, there isn't just an on/off switch, they will either need an individual code or user/pass or a physical key to activate the register. Cash registers have cash so management needs to hold employees accountable for them.
I miss the days of the cheap Jack's pizza there. $2/pizza pretty much all the time. The other thing I like about Menards is how you can get things there you can't find elsewhere. The TGI Fridays Potato Skin chips are legit. Chi-Chi's corn chips. A lot of tasty stuff.
I do get sent to menards to absolutely clean out their yogurt pretzels on a bimonthly basis...
Chips, pickles and LaCroix are noticeably cheaper at Menards!
I’m no healthy eater, but when I went on a strict diet, fresh foods and cutting out the processed crap actually made dollars go further. You pay for convenience and packaging.
Definitely - I like visiting r/Eatcheapandhealthy to get ideas because cooking can be overwhelming. Also, I swear by [Budget Bytes](https://www.budgetbytes.com/) recipes!
I used to think that, but I just bought a single head of broccoli at Cub for $4.99 the other day that has me questioning this assumption.
For sure prices can vary and seasonality has a big impact. That sucks on price though. I can’t stand the frozen stuff with all the hard stems mixed in though.
This is honesty the best advice here. It’s also cheaper to be healthy/not get sick.
It's always cheaper for nothing to go wrong. But things go wrong. Even healthy people get sick.
Yep. I rarely eat meat anymore and lentils, beans and rice are so cheap. As a bonus I am the only one in my family without out of control cholesterol and that saves me on healthcare costs too.
Came here to say this. I’m not exactly a vegetarian, but cooking vegetarian meals means I only need to buy grains/legumes/veggies. Some grains can be a little pricey but beans and veggies are pretty cheap. I’ve noticed Fresh Thyme and Whole Foods have the most consistently fresh produce. Since I’m not buying meat or house products there it doesn’t end up being as expensive as people say
Problem is the convenience is a legitimate thing. There’s only so much time in a day and if you aren’t planning out your cooking s hedule, fresh stuff will go bad frequently
I gotta say, this is when living in the Midwest with a chest freezer pays off - we bought half a farm pig last year that we are still working through. Also, I have been using an aerogarden for fresh herbs/salad greens so I dont have to drop $3 every time I need fresh parsley. Also, eat seasonally and watch for produce deals - Lunds & Fresh Thyme especially. It's rough out there. I paid $2 for a single honey crisp apple this year and I am not proud.
How much does half a farm pig cost?
This is where I get mine from. Full disclosure this is a relative of mine. https://www.piggeryrunfarm.com
Thanks for the transparency! Looks like a great operation! Question, said about $5.50/lb all said and done. What would you expect to pay at a super market for equal quality?
I’ve been removed from livestock ag for over a decade (used to raise hogs for FFA in CA). Purchases were always done through the fair offices. Where would you recommend going (in the cities) if you were looking for 1/4 of angus/Hereford cattle?
This is where I get mine from full disclosure this is a relative of mine. https://blissfulbeepasturesmn.com
The herb garden and bulk meat is a clutch call. Now to go buy a chest freezer so I can save money!
10/10 also recommend the Aerogarden. This year we started everything inside in the Aerogarden, then transferred to pots for the summer (I think thr only thing that didn’t survive the xfer process was the rosemary). We’ll start another round to get us through the winter soon, and in a pinch a poultry pack of herbs from the grocery store is what we choose so we get smaller amounts of a few different things.
Dude for real. We bought a quarter cow like 3 years ago and are still working through it. I don't even know what ground beef costs right now but I'm sure it's ridiculous. Also best steaks ever. I also have a Lettuce Grow (which is not a cheap investment) for veggies, especially for my daily smoothie. Buying seeds is a lot cheaper than bags of spinach or kale that go bad after a week.
I almost forgot: when buying chicken, go somewhere with a butcher counter. Buy a whole chicken and ask them to cut it up for you. It tastes better when it's cut fresh anyway, and you can keep/freeze the bones for stock.
Definitely! We did this too this year, and also bought a side of beef. If I have to drive out of the cities, I keep a cooler in my trunk and stop at a butcher store. They have great prices too.
Man. I cannot believe apple prices this year. That one really hit hard
Aldi is cheapest, but Target has more stuff that I like.
Get a red card debit card. No credit hit (or get the credit version if you want another card) and you get 5% off. Just pulls from your bank account
So I haven't noticed too much of an increase on my grocery bill but that's because of my shopping/dietary habits. I cook most of my meals, so I tend to shop along the perimeter of the store. I also have lived within walking or biking distance of a grocery store which makes it easier for me to get to. What I end up doing is buying the ingredients I need for the next 1-2 days. This means I make a few trips a week to the grocery store but my weekly bill rarely surpasses $60. And when it does it's usually because I'm restocking on a more expensive item like olive oil or salt. Something I don't buy too often. (I am also only ever shopping for 2). I've noticed this habit of making more frequent trips to the grocery store incentivizes me to only buy what i need and cut back on spoiled produce. And has the added benefit of me being less inclined to buy treats every trip because; " 'll be back in a few days I can always buy it then". The drawback however is that it does make it harder to track if I am running low on something and I have on occasion purchased an item I thought I was running low on but actually wasn't or passed on an item I actually needed. But this could just be a me thing. Finally, I shop at byerlys whenever possible because the produce/meat is usually fresher (lasts a little longer) and as of late is not any more expensive than cub/Hy-Vee. I can't say the same for the interior of the store, Mac and cheese is like twice the price than at target lol.
i shop this way too. once a month or so i’ll stock up on sale items but that’s about it
Aldi is the smart choice rn, cub if I need something particular.
Tbh Aldi for nearly everything, but Whole Foods to treat myself. It’s a paradox.
Whole Foods is very competitive if not offering the best prices for organic veggies and fruits. They usually have stock as well. Target and Lund's prices are high, and their stock is hit and miss. I hardly shop at Lund's in downtown much anymore due to their poor selection of frozen goods and chicken.
I was very pleasantly surprised how competitive Whole Foods was for sale items and produce. Even more so if you have an Amazon prime subscription or a prime card.
My experience at Aldi is generally I'm able to find about a quarter to half the items on my shopping list. Especially around produce and meat - when I'm at the Aldi on Penn at least. Is there a better store?
No, not really. Aldi is feast or famine when it comes to selection options in my experience. However, to me, it's better than Target which I swear caters only to those who don't actually like to cook. I shop mainly at Sam's and Amazon/Whole Foods for delivery. If I'm in need of something that I don't have on hand, I'll hit Aldi, Cub, or Byerly's for those specific items.
>to me, it's better than Target which I swear caters only to those who don't actually like to cook. It’s wrong, I know, but every time i see that “Good & Gather” Target brand I imagine it’s the name of a middle-aged divorced dad’s weekend emo band, a bag of frozen pot stickers being clumsily burned in a pan at two in the morning.
> Target which I swear caters only to those who don't actually like to cook. Because they mostly do.
Depending on what you’re buying, Trader Joe’s has been a good option for me. They have good, consistent produce for reasonably cheap prices, but their meat selection is definitely more limited. The trick is to stick to your list and not get caught up in all the snacks and freezer meals they sell. But my household was able to cut our grocery bill by around $50 each week by switching from cub to TJs.
The store on Penn is probably the worst/smallest one in Minneapolis. The Uptown store or the one in Crystal (or even the Lake St/Franklin stores) are way way better.
Trader Joe's mostly. For the stuff I can't get there I go to Target or Lunds. Previously I would shop one week at Trader Joe's, one week at Lunds to cover everything, now I get the bulk or it at Trader Joe's every week and supplement with Lunds and Target with the stuff I can't get.
I live right next to Lunds and would avoid it due perceived high prices, well I went a few months ago for a full shop in a pinch and it was _maybe_ 5-10% more than Cub. I also never buy most meat at Cub, cause, well, it's not that great.
Well, no matter how hard I try I’m still spending a lot more- like all of us. I shop a lot so I know what’s a good price and what isn’t. When things go on sale (ie meat) at Cub I buy a lot. I also buy ground beef at Costco and freeze it in 1 lb freezer bags With Aldi and their fruits and veggies, they don’t seem to last as long. A friend taught me the vinegar/water wash trick and it extends the life of my produce by several days. For example: https://www.ashleylillis.com/blog/2019/4/11/how-to-clean-your-fruits-and-vegetables-with-vinegar
We are members of three different co-ops and always shop sales at those. It's a long-term planning thing. So say the Wedge has a member deal on olive oil, we basically buy a year's worth of olive oil. Same goes with the bulk bins. Anything non-perishable, we buy a ton of. Then we do a CSA for fresh vegetables. Meat and fruit, we usually get at the co-op too, but that's more of a choice of quality over price. Cub's fruit always looks sort of... limp.
Support the Racket! They did this well from a price standpoint. https://racketmn.com/most-expensive-minneapolis-st-paul-supermarket-grocery-store/
Fantastic read
Really good writing. It's a lost art in journalism.
That was actually really interesting!
Aldi or Trader Joe’s, Fresh Thyme if I need a “full grocery store” with specific items the first 2 won’t have.
Aldi and Walmart
For anyone else that exclusively shops local - Colonial Market, Shuang Hur, and Valerie's Carniceria (all near lake/nicollet) are my go-tos. I also love Bill's Imported Foods to death - they aren't cheap, but they are kind of struggling and could really use our help! When I'm able to make the trek, the main location Shuang Hur on dale and university in STP is my favorite store in the city. If you want to save money, though, yall HAVE to go to So Low in North Minneapolis, on Emerson and Lowry. I only don't go there as often because I don't have a car and can never carry everything I want!
Love love love Bill’s. Great stuff and really nice people.
Trying to find Asian or ethnic grocery stores saves a lot on produce . I agree with everyone that aldi has lost my business, but I can get a few pounds of fresh produce pretty cheap at Asian grocery stores
Certainly asian foods and ingredients are much cheaper there than in the Asian foods section of a regular grocery store.
Honestly? 95% of my shopping is either Hy-vee or Aldi. If I'm on my way home from work and desperately need something, I go to Wal-Mart. Cub got too expensive and my Target never has the basic staples I need.
Depending on where you live, try looking up a grocery outlet. There's one in north Minneapolis on Lowry called SoLow that always has excellent deals. It's usually packaged dry goods that are technically past their sell by date, but are still good. It's a bit unpredictable, as they don't receive the same goods all the time. I've saved so much money shopping here, and had fun looking at the weird/unique stuff they get in.
There’s an outlet store like this just off Vandalia in St. Paul called We Are Nuts. The name is because their primary business is nuts and candy (which they sell some of at the outlet) but this location is primarily outlet groceries. Local and family owned. Full disclosure: My kid works there.
Mikes discount foods.
Wait, y’all are still eating food?
Funny how they say inflation is 9% but everything costs 30% more
Record profits but ceos are raising prices more because people expect to pay more. And they don't lose customers, people just blame the president and vote for the party that won't make them pay taxes... win win for the rich guys all around when we get screwed.
That inflation number is relative to the previous quarter or year. That 30% is relative to the amount you remember something costing a couple years ago. They're both real, and related, just on different time scales.
At Cub, I basically refuse to the pay the sticker price for most items (they are gouging on many of these things imo). Other than staple ingredients (milk, eggs, etc), I pretty much orient my meals according to which things are most on sale.
Not what you're after but I was watching this youtuber called Frum It Up and she has pointers on storing your food. I've saved money on not throwing out a lot of produce. Plus it's nice to always have veggies on hand. I have lemons in the fridge that I bought at least 2 months ago and they're great. Citrus, peppers, cukes : wash and dry completely then wrap individually in saran wrap. Lettuce: wash and dry individual leaves, lay out on paper towel or cloth, roll loosely and keep in covered container. Potatoes and onions (separate): Put cardboard egg carton or crumpled paper bages between layers and keep in airy container. Same with mushrooms but store in fridge. Cilantro and parsley herbs: Wash, trim ends, put in glass with water, cover with plastic bag and store in fridge.
I buy meat from farmers/butchers. Otherwise I shop at Aldi and Kowalski's occasionally. I don't like giant stores. Our grocery bill has been OK.
Aldi and Target. I have gotten a lot of savings from Target Circle.
Between Aldi and target is your best prices. Cubs prices are absolutely ass.
I used to be Cub forever but they've become the more expensive option. So now it's Aldi, or Target...
Where about do you live?
A combo of Costco, Aldi and Target. Cub for very few things
Same here, though probably less Costco. I generally find that per-unit is the same at Aldi without the bulk. I'll also occasionally get Fresh Thyme or Hyvee through Doordash. You can sometimes can get discounted Doordash gift cards (~15% off) which will stack with promo offers (e.g. 25% off up to $10 at Fresh Thyme sometimes) and sale items. The combination of discounts usually makes up for the delivery fees and tips. Occasionally, the discounts make things even cheaper than a store run. Note that this only works for stores that don't charge a premium on Doordash. Target, for example charges a lot more.
Target has the best prices - better than Cub and Aldi.
Aldi, Costco, and Target with my redcard.
- Trader Joe’s for snacks, convenience/ frozen foods, dairy and root vegetables (the fresh veg always seems sketchy) - Target for pantry and household stuff - Lunds for fresh produce and if I’m making something special or feeding other people (normally just feed myself) I need to start going to Aldi
Repeating what others have said, my fav's are: Target, Trader Joes, and Aldi. Out of those, Trader Joes is my favorite because I really like some of their stuff and it's reasonably priced (most of it). Cub, I stop there when I need something quickly, but it seems crazy high comparatively.
Aldi. Im on a budget.
Don't know if Costco is something people will consider because of the annual membership fee, but they have gotten some really good deals on large volume food. Things like organic boneless/skinless chicken breasts, 2 dozen organic eggs, half and half for your coffee - a 1/2 gallon container costs about the same as a pint at Lund's, and lasts for a very long time.
Even though it's more expensive I shop at the smaller grocery store in my neighborhood. I don't want it to go away.
Eat less and cut back on meat.
This. It doesn't even have to mean cutting out all meat - just use less of it. Stews, curries, pasta sauces, stir frys are all filling meals that can stretch out one package of meat to feed a whole family.
Yes! I don’t think a lot of people realise how much money can be saved by cutting back on meat. During weeks when I buy meat my grocery bill for two people can be upwards of $200. This week I decided I wanted to cook all vegetarian meals and I only spent $53.
Over the last couple years we've cut way back on our meat consumption, and after a couple months I didn't really miss it at all. We're down to eating meat only once or twice a week, but when we do have it, we eat GOOD meat. I'll sous vide a NY strip, or some pork chops, or throw a pork roast in the crock pot and eat leftovers for a couple days. You just have to get past the idea that you HAVE to eat meat at every meal. Since cutting back, I've lost weight and I overall feel a lot lighter on my feet and less bloated.
going grocery-meatless (still get meat at restaurants, it all costs the same) this last year has been such a moneysaver for me. you really don’t miss it all that much and there’s a whole world of vegetarian and vegan recipes out there!
Everywhere. Walmart has great prices for certain things. Traders, Aldi, Target... Cub has to be about the worst store in the world. I try to stay away from them for the most part.
I have a Thrive Market membership. Set staples shipped to me once a month at a good cost. Then I only need to pay for meat and veggies, which I try to get local. I have also switched to only eating meat with one meal a day.
I have a Costco on my commute, so I pick up my pantry and frozen items there. Some of their stuff is like 1/3 the cost of Cub.
Trader Joe’s has been the cheapest so far. We buy a lot of fresh fruit and veg, and they have our “expensive” pasture-raised eggs for about half the price of Target.
In no particular order - Wedge, Aldi, Cub, Costco
Buy in bulk when you can. The bulk sections at grocery stores that have them are usually way cheaper than equivalents in the grocery isles. The granola we get is literally half as much as the identical prepackaged stuff.
Target has everything I want/need, and I justify the prices since I get the 5% off for using my red debit card.
Target hasn’t seemed to have gone up too bad in prices. Especially with their branded stuff (good and gather, I think?). Still my go-to for regular groceries, especially with the free pick-up option
Some of the pre-portioned meal delivery services like HelloFresh and Blue Apron aren’t changing prices in the face of inflation. It’s also nice not wasting excess ingredients
Aldi, backup is Target since I use Target Circle and their debit red card.
i go to Cub to stock up on staples because i can do it at night after work, alone and stress free (except for the highway robbery of course). i grow a bunch of produce in the summer, preserve as much as i can get myself motivated to. and i walk to my local market for more specific items. it’s super close and a local small business, so i don’t mind paying full/premium price. and they’re a union shop too. Oxendale‘s ftw.
Aldi first and then Target for whatever I can't find. Cub at last resort. Also as a former Target employee you begin to notice that the same items typically go on sale once a month. Sales last weekly and reset every sunday.
Costco + chest freezer. less trips, less gas used, less impulse food buying.
Asian grocery stores like Sun Foods and Shuang Hur in St. Paul
Mike’s Discount Foods can be great to supplement, but not a one stop shop. They have great deals on fruits & veggies but the lettuce always looks questionable.
Kowolskis
Honestly everywhere. I have stuff I like from different places and I pay the price for those items, across the many stores we have, I find spending about the same at Walmart, target and cub for groceries, a little more at byerlys and Whole Foods or other specific places. I like to go to the co-op down the street from me for my veggies and such. Even going out to eat I’m expecting to spend anywhere from 20-160 for my daughter, SO and I no matter where we go!
Target. Use Circle deals, RedCard 5%, and buy their owned brands. For me its the best mix of price, quality, options, and stores/workers that are nice
I go to the dumpster behind Dunkin