(2007-09-11) New survey on the RFC site: Grocery shopping

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about an
entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at restaurants as
coming from the entertainment budget, and the money spent at farmer's
markets and organic shops as coming from the luxuries budget.

--Lia

"Julia Altshuler" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about an
entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at restaurants as
coming from the entertainment budget, and the money spent at farmer's
markets and organic shops as coming from the luxuries budget.

I only included shopping in stores, not eating out. I believe I
answered correctly but it's hard to say because I buy many things
at the grocery store that aren't food. Food-wise I think I fall
squarely into the 200-350 range.

nancy

Julia Altshuler said:

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about an
entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at restaurants as
coming from the entertainment budget, and the money spent at farmer's
markets and organic shops as coming from the luxuries budget.

I must admit I didn't think about money spent at restaurants - Terry did
say 'grocery shopping' so I didn't 'calculate' that into my vote - but
you may have a point. I don't consider money spent at specialty stores
as a "luxury"; but then, I am a sucker when it comes to buying
food-stuffs - if it's good, I'll buy it. I'd rather do without something
else 😉
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Garlic: the element without which life as we know it would be impossible

Nancy Young said:

"Julia Altshuler" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Quoted message said:

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about an
entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at restaurants as
coming from the entertainment budget, and the money spent at farmer's
markets and organic shops as coming from the luxuries budget.

I only included shopping in stores, not eating out. I believe I
answered correctly but it's hard to say because I buy many things
at the grocery store that aren't food. Food-wise I think I fall
squarely into the 200-350 range.

Quoted message said:

From my observation I think the typical stupidmarket shopping cart

contains a higher dollar amount of non food items. And many
households spend a significan't amount on pet food and pet supplies.

Sheldon

Thanks Terry!

I get all my veggies at the produce stand across the street from the
supermarket. It's better quality, variety and better priced. On occasion, if
I only need a bulb of garlic or an onion, I'll grab that at the ACME.

I shop a couple times a week.

Andy
Voter #12

ChattyCathy said:

Julia Altshuler said:

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Quoted message said:

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about an
entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at restaurants as
coming from the entertainment budget, and the money spent at farmer's
markets and organic shops as coming from the luxuries budget.

I must admit I didn't think about money spent at restaurants - Terry did
say 'grocery shopping' so I didn't 'calculate' that into my vote - but
you may have a point. I don't consider money spent at specialty stores
as a "luxury"; but then, I am a sucker when it comes to buying
food-stuffs - if it's good, I'll buy it. I'd rather do without something
else 😉

Actually considering the vast array of items sold at today's "grocery"
markets it's kind of a silly survey to not separate out food from non
food items (and in fact in the US anyway the register receipt does
just that, by proportion of tax). And restaurants definitely come
under entertainment, meals at restaurants are significantly more
expensive than the same meals cooked at home... often times the bar
tab and tip is larger than the amount spent had that meal been cooked
at home.

Sheldon

ChattyCathy said:

I must admit I didn't think about money spent at restaurants - Terry did
say 'grocery shopping' so I didn't 'calculate' that into my vote - but
you may have a point. I don't consider money spent at specialty stores
as a "luxury"; but then, I am a sucker when it comes to buying
food-stuffs - if it's good, I'll buy it. I'd rather do without something
else 😉

I didn't think the survey was asking me to take into account money spent
at restaurants. I was only noting that the survey forced me to think
about the categories in my brain when it comes to spending.

I think most of us on this group agree that a little extra spent on food
is worth it, but if that extra is spent in the supermarket, I still
consider it a necessity, not a luxury.

On the subject of farmer's markets-- For the past month, we've been
going out of our way to buy peaches at a local orchard, sometimes making
3 trips / week to make sure we get them at the perfect ripeness. Now
they're saying peach season has only another week at the most. But the
Bartletts are coming in. <insert Snoopy happy dance here>

--Lia

Julia Altshuler said:

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about an
entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at restaurants as
coming from the entertainment budget, and the money spent at farmer's
markets and organic shops as coming from the luxuries budget.

I'd differentiate farmer's markets from specialty stores, but I grew
up in the country and helped run a roadside produce stand as a kid..

and ethnic grocery stores should be mentioned. I get better prices on
onions, chiles and garlic at the Mexican/Vietnamese/Thai/IndoPak
stores than at the stupor-mercados... and better lamb at the halal
market.

T.

Sheldon said:

Actually considering the vast array of items sold at today's "grocery"
markets it's kind of a silly survey to not separate out food from non
food items (and in fact in the US anyway the register receipt does
just that, by proportion of tax).

Well, I was thinking about food bought to be cooked at home when I
answered Terry's survey - this is a cooking group after all. My
'grocery' cart does contain mainly foodstuffs, so that's how I
'calculated'. BTW, over here (RSA) most items sold in stores (food or
whatever and 'services' too) include Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14% which
is added to the basic price - with very few exceptions; milk and bread
being two of them.

Quoted message said:

And restaurants definitely come
under entertainment, meals at restaurants are significantly more
expensive than the same meals cooked at home... often times the bar
tab and tip is larger than the amount spent had that meal been cooked
at home.

Quite so. What I get charged for a 200g (about 1/4 pound) piece of beef
tenderloin at a restaurant would buy at least a kilogram worth (about 2
pounds) at the butchery where I shop. Same with shrimp from the
fishmonger. And they make an even bigger 'killing' on the booze. Please,
don't get me started....
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Garlic: the element without which life as we know it would be impossible

ChattyCathy said:

Julia Altshuler said:

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about an
entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at restaurants
as coming from the entertainment budget, and the money spent at
farmer's markets and organic shops as coming from the luxuries budget.

I must admit I didn't think about money spent at restaurants - Terry did
say 'grocery shopping' so I didn't 'calculate' that into my vote - but
you may have a point. I don't consider money spent at specialty stores
as a "luxury"; but then, I am a sucker when it comes to buying
food-stuffs - if it's good, I'll buy it. I'd rather do without something
else 😉

When I voted, I found the questions troublesome, because I didn't know
whether I should only count what I spend on myself, or also for Marcel,
who has lunch and dinner with me on most days.

Also, I often have dinner guests, send parcels to hungry grandchildren
at school, eat restaurant dinners where, where I am the hostess and
other such food expenses.

The survey is not meant to be treated as an exact science, I guess.

"Sheldon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and in fact in the US anyway the register receipt does

just that, by proportion of tax). >
Sheldon

That's state by state. My state charges the same amount of sales tax on
food as it does on every thing else. You can get a food sales tax refund at
income tax time if your income is below a certain level though.

Ms P

Sheldon said:

Nancy Young said:

"Julia Altshuler" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

ChattyCathy wrote:
> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Quoted message said:

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about
an entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at
restaurants as coming from the entertainment budget, and the money
spent at farmer's markets and organic shops as coming from the
luxuries budget.

I only included shopping in stores, not eating out. I believe I
answered correctly but it's hard to say because I buy many things
at the grocery store that aren't food. Food-wise I think I fall
squarely into the 200-350 range.

Quoted message said:

From my observation I think the typical stupidmarket shopping cart

contains a higher dollar amount of non food items. And many
households spend a significan't amount on pet food and pet supplies.

Sheldon

What non-food items would someone buy in a grocery store? I can't think of
anything. May I ask what your observations have been?

I don't count pet food and pet supplies as part of my grocery budget. Since
Persia's bladder surgery in 2004 for a tumor and crystalline oxolate
formations she can only eat "prescription food", which I buy from the vet.
Doesn't factor into my food budget. I don't buy cat litter at the grocery
store; I get it at the dollar store along with litter pan liners.

Jill

Julia Altshuler said:

I didn't think the survey was asking me to take into account money
spent at restaurants. I was only noting that the survey forced me to
think about the categories in my brain when it comes to spending.

I agree. Restaurant food is not "groceries" 🙂 When I think groceries I
think food to cook at home.

Jill

jmcquown said:

What non-food items would someone buy in a grocery store? I can't think of
anything. May I ask what your observations have been?

The non-food items that I regularly buy at the supermarket/grocery store
include:

aluminum foil
dish soap
dishwasher detergent
dog biscuits
dog food- dry kibble
kleenex
laundry detergent
newspaper
paper towels
plastic garbage bags
plastic wrap
sanitary supplies
shampoo
soap
sponges
toilet paper.

I suppose, if you want to get technical, the dog food is still a food
product. There are probably a dozen more, but those came to mind.

--Lia

ChattyCathy said:

Julia Altshuler said:

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

This is an interesting question because it forces me to think about
an entire food budget. Normally, I think of the money spent at the
supermarket as the normal food budget, the money spent at
restaurants as coming from the entertainment budget, and the money
spent at farmer's markets and organic shops as coming from the
luxuries budget.

I must admit I didn't think about money spent at restaurants - Terry
did say 'grocery shopping' so I didn't 'calculate' that into my vote
- but you may have a point. I don't consider money spent at specialty
stores as a "luxury"; but then, I am a sucker when it comes to buying
food-stuffs - if it's good, I'll buy it. I'd rather do without
something else 😉

Gosh, it's hard to say how much we spend at restaurants. We're really
frugal, though, because we have to be. We go out maybe once a month for
dinner and our favorite is a Mongolian BBQ that's an all-u-can-eat for about
$6.99 USD a person. I only get one plate, but my husband eats enough for
three people. LOL.

Produce is always cheaper at our local produce stand, but they always close
for about 2 months during the hot summer months because there's nothing to
sell. Florida's peak growing season is spring to early summer and then it
comes back up in the fall, so we tend to buy frozen veggies from August -
Oct. I can't wait for it to open back up again and have some super cheap
good veggies!!!!!

kili

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sheldon said:

Quoted message said:

From my observation I think the typical stupidmarket shopping cart

contains a higher dollar amount of non food items. And many
households spend a significan't amount on pet food and pet supplies.

Sheldon

We spend a lot more on the pets than we do ourselves. ;-)
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Vote now! (or not)

Thanks go to Terry (P'rfesser) for sending in this survey.

p.s. you may need this link to answer one of his questions:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/cvtcurrency.html

1. Approx. once per week, or slightly less often.
But not really, if you count the fact that I go to different
stores on different days to take advantage of sales, etc.
So I might stop at Foodland one day on the way home from
work, and then stop at Shop n Save another day that week on the
way home from work and then stop a Giant Eagle on Saturday
if I have to go out somewhere. At none of these places do
I usually buy what you would consider a whole batch of
groceries. Some might be 5-6 items but the others might be
only one or 2 items. But if I bought everything at the
same store it would come out to about once-a-week grocery
shopping.

2. Wa-a-ay less than $200

3. Not none, but very minimal. (Saying "less than 25%" is
misleading.) In the summer I once in a great while buy a
few things at a farmer's market or a farm market. Since
we got Trader Joe's I go there about 1-2 times a month for
a few items that they have that are better and/or cheaper than
other places and stuff you can't get anywhere else (I'm addicted
to the sparkling pomegranate juice!), not because they have a
lot of organic and/or "health" foods. On rare occasions I go
to Whole Foods for 1 or 2 items. I go to the food co-op every
couple of months almost exclusively for bulk spices and other
bulk items like various grains, seeds, and nuts.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?
[email hidden]

ChattyCathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Vote now! (or not)

Thanks go to Terry (P'rfesser) for sending in this survey.

p.s. you may need this link to answer one of his questions:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/cvtcurrency.html

Budget? What budget? I don't have a food budget.
I buy what I want or need until my money runs out at
the end of, but often before the end of, the month.
That occurs sooner or later depending what other bills
I have that particular month. I've never sat down and
tried to calculate the amount I spend on groceries each
month. Nor do I want to - I would get too depressed and
would have to go out and buy many cartons of Ben and
Jerry's and eat it all as soon as I got home.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?
[email hidden]

Julia Altshuler said...

Quoted message said:

jmcquown said:

What non-food items would someone buy in a grocery store? I can't
think of anything. May I ask what your observations have been?

The non-food items that I regularly buy at the supermarket/grocery store
include:

Shaving cream
Mouse traps

Andy