Okie dokie guys . . . here's my revised list of “what's a good price” on basic pantry staples. Remember, these are my very top prices, so while I may not get this price every single time, here's what I'm aiming for. These will definitely vary by area, but I was surprised when you all shared your top prices a few days ago that the prices were more similar to mine in other regions than I expected!
You can print this list for free when you “like” Passionate Penny Pincher on Facebook. As I've shared before, it's so important to know your best prices when shopping (so you never pay too much!), and this is just a guideline of my target prices after using coupons.
Do you ever get to the store, see a “sale” and wonder if it’s really a good price or not? Hopefully this will help! I'm always amazed as I talk to new couponers that many people just don't have any idea of what to pay for basic pantry staples. So often, it's easy to just go to the store, grab whatever you need, and not even think about what what you're paying for it.
That can be a huge budget buster. If you don't know what's a good price, how can you know when to stock up at that price? Or, when to wait for a better deal? Here's my list of what I like to pay for on items in our home, and hopefully it will help you out at the grocery store too. If you're unsure what's a good price, print out the list and stick it in your coupon binder so you'll have it with you as you head to the store. 🙂
Meat –
- Fresh Fish – $3.99/lb
- Frozen Fish – $2.99/lb
- Pork Chops (bone-in) – $1.49 – $1.99 /lb
- Pork Chops (boneless) – $1.79 – $1.99/lb
- Pork Roast – $1.99 – 2.99/lb
- Beef Roast – $2.49- $2.99/lb
- Beef Stew – $1.99-2.49/lb
- Ground Beef 80/20– $1.99-$2.49/lb
- Ground Chuck – $1.99-$2.49/lb
- Whole Chicken – $.69 – $.99/lb
- Split Chicken Breasts – $1.19/lb
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts/Tenderloins – $1.99/lb
Dairy
- Milk – $2.59 – $2.99 (this one varies A LOT by area – Sam’s, Costco or Aldi usually have it the cheapest)
- Margarine – FREE to $.50
- Butter – $1.50 – $2
- Eggs – $.69 – $.89/dozen
- Shredded Cheese – $1.19 to $1.69 for 8 oz.
- Sour Cream – $.50-$.99 it's been awhile since I've gotten it for free
- Cream Cheese – $.50 – $.99
Produce
remember prices vary seasonally, these are stock up prices when they're in season
- Bananas – $.39-$.49/lb. I haven’t seen that in awhile though, so maybe $.49!
- Grapes – $.99 – $1.19/lb.
- Apples – $.99-$1.19/lb.
- Peaches $.99 -$1.39/lb.
- Letttuce – $.99-$1.29/head
- Green Peppers – $.50 in summer, $.99 in winter stock up in summer time and freeze
- Canteloupe – $.99-$1.50
- Watermelon – $2.99 – $3.99
- Strawberries – $.99/pint
Snacks
- Chex Mix – $.50
- Snack Crackers (i.e. Keebler, Ritz, etc.) – $1
- Popcorn – $1
- Cookies – $1 – $2
Baking Products
- Brownie Mixes – $.50 to $1.00
- Cake Mixes – $.50 to $1.00
- Frosting – $.50 to $1.00
- Yeast (Fleischman’s 3 pack) – $.50 to $1.00
- Baking Soda – $.50
- Baking Powder – $.50
- Corn Starch – $.50
- Salt – $.20 – $.50
- Flour – $1.99
- Sugar (4 lb bag) – $1.49 – $1.99
Groceries
- Spaghetti Sauce – $.50 – $1
- Pasta – FREE to $.50
- Tomato Paste – FREE to $.50
- Canned Tomatoes – FREE to $.50
- Cereal – $1-$1.75
- Ketchup – $.50 to $1.00
- Mustard – FREE to $.50
- Mayonaise – $1 to $1.75
- Steak Sauce – Free to $1
- Syrup – $1-$2
- Salad Dressing – $.30 to $.80
- Frozen Veggies – $.50 to $1.00
- Frozen Waffles – $1-$1.50
Breads
- Loaf of Bread – $.99
- Hamburger Buns – $.99
- Hot Dog Buns – $.99
Toiletries
- Bar Soap – FREE to $.50 for 3-pack
- Handsoap – $.30 to $1
- Shampoo, Conditioner, Hairspray – $.50 to $1.50 usually cheapest at drug stores
- Toothpaste – FREE to $.50
- Deodorant – FREE to $.50
- Dental Floss – FREE to $.50
Paper Products
- Paper Plates – $1 -$2
- Napkins – $1 – $2
- Paper Towels – FREE to $1 per roll (Publix occasionally makes them the penny item)
- Toilet Paper – $.019/square foot (to figure this out – take the cost of toilet paper and divide it by the square foot – you’ll find the square footage on your package) Check Amazon for the best deals on these
Cleaning Supplies
- Window Cleaner – $.50 to $1.00
- Lysol Cleaners – $.50 to $1.00
- Toilet Bowl Cleaner – $1
- Dishwashing Soap – $.50 – $1
- Dish Detergent – $2-$3
- Laundry Detergent – $2-$3 for 30 loads
- Liquid Fabric Softener – $1 – $2 (use vinegar when you can’t get it cheap!)
- Diapers – $.12 to $.15 per diaper check out Amazon for the best prices on these
- Baby Wash or Shampoo -$.99
- Baby Food – $.30-$.35 per jar
To compare, here are a few staple prices I found recently at Sam's Club (udpated 7/18/13, but I left pricing in from 7/12/12 so we can compare):
Meat
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $1.77/lb. (update: $1.97/lb. 7/18/13)
- Tyson Individually Wrapped Chicken Breasts $2.78/lb.
- Split Chicken Breast $1.85/lb.
- Whole Chicken $.88/lb (update: $.99/lb. 7/18/13)
- Pork Spareribs $1.97/lb. (update: $2.48/lb. 7/18/13)
- Pork Chops $1.99/lb.
- Ground Beef $2.88/lb. (update: $2.98/lb. 7/18/13)
- Ground Beef 90% lean $2.98/lb.
- Ribeye Steaks $6.99/lb.
- Round Steak $4.50/lb.
- Chuck Roast $3.28/lb.
- Pork Boston Butt $1.58/lb. (update: $1.78/lb. 7/18/13)
- Pork Loin Boneless $1.99/lb.
Fruit
- Bananas $1.47 3 lb. bag
- Apples $5.98/5 lb. bag
Cheese
- Frigo String Cheese $7.48 for 48 (update: $8.98/lb. 7/18/13)
- Kraft Shredded Cheese 2 lbs for $6.12 (update: $6.98 7/18/13)
This is by no means a complete list – do you have other suggestions on top prices? There are a few items that I struggle to find a great item (trash bags, paper towels, & really cheap toilet paper!), but by saving in other areas it makes room to pay for those.
Photo courtesy of axelhecht on Flickr.
