apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Is that the Gursky photo? Would love to know the credit.

I believe its amateur:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lyza/49545547/

What a strange list. Fill up your freezer, but keep your fridge empty? Save money by buying at the "Korean vegetable stand down the street"? Uh, not everyone lives in cities with "Korean vegetable stands down the street," and for the rest of us, the farmer's market is significantly more expensive than the grocery. And they claim you should avoid bagged, washed produce because it decomposes faster. But I'm a lot more likely to use something if it's less trouble for me to eat it; I've thrown out more full heads of lettuce and dirty carrots than bagged salad mix and baby carrots.

Who throws out perfectly good leftovers? Sheesh.

The "korean vegetable stand down the street" was used as an example by the writer. He doesn't specifically say that everyone should frequent their korean vegetable stand. He is saying that there are other places to buy produce - Farmer's markets or grown your own.

I think the list is great. Bagged produce is more expensive and = more waste. Is it really that much effort to cut up some carrots and chop lettuce?

While the "empty" fridge suggestion may sound strange I think its a great idea. My mother's fridge is always packed but unless her and my father are eating 5 meals a day there is no way they don't end up throwing half of it out.

Okay I do have to say that making bread its neither quick nor easy. Unless you have a bread machine I suppose?

The supermarket beats farmer's market prices pretty much everywhere. Methinks this isn't such sage advice.

okay, you all are on crazy pills, or maybe I'm just shopping at different grocery stores. Fruits and veggies are always so expensive at the Trader Joes and the Safeway I would go to (well I don't go to the Safeway anymore, but thats for non food related reasons) unless I was buying iceberg lettuce and bananas alone. And at traderjoes almost all the produce is prepackaged in portions larger than one person alone can eat before they can go bad (well I supose many of you are shopping for more than one person). I used to shop at Civic Center Farmer's market, but now I have a CSA, and for $12 week for my CSA, or what used to be $10-15 at the famers market I could get what I wanted in the quantities I wanted, fresh, local, and from people with faces. And enough to actually last a whole week and then some. If I spent that much at TJ's or Safeway I'd get maybe prepackaged lettuce, some onions, a bunch of grapes or some apples and oranges, and maybe a few bananas. Not nearly enough for a week, even if the produce lasted that long, and no variety.

our farmers market will often beat the grocery store. especially one the peppers start coming in. can't stand going to the grocery store for a red pepper and it costs $2.99. Not per pound, but for one stupid pepper.

Can't wait til the ones on the balcony come up, already harvested 4 zucchinis from it.

Also, I once knew a woman whose husband refused to eat leftovers (didn't believe in them) and requested a fresh home cooked meal every night they weren't eating out. (yes I know, sounds very leave it to beaver era to me too.)

lol veggies are funny.

My store's better, NO MY STORE'S BETTER! NO! MYYYYY STOOOOOREEEE!

All whilst the baby carrots giggle.

To Roselaw...
Maybe it's a regional thing then. Here in the DC Metro area farmer's markets are generally full of vendors out of PA. And they sure don't bother to try and match or beat the local supermarket prices. For example, just last week, watermelons were going for $6 EACH at the farmer's market...I went to Whole Foods (of ALL places!) and purchased TWO for that price. I consistently find the local Farmer's Markets gouging folks in the name of "Supporting Local" ... Well, my local supermarkets employ a lot more locals than the "local" farmers that come down from PA to gouge DC Metro residents...

And I still can't consider Trader Joes a real supermarket.

it's not a matter of following advice word by word, it's simply drawing out the basics of home economics: buy what you will use (eat) with a keen eye for savings (cost-compare, know the unit price, etc.), and using (cooking) what you buy.

this system goes for anything you buy - food, furniture, clothes, etc. raw materials are usually cheaper than produced goods, which include several additional costs on top of the raw material (labor, additives to prolong shelf-life, shipping/handling of all materials & end product). accordingly, homemade bread, pasta and meals in general (homemade lasagna vs. the frozen one in a box) are cheaper - yet not easier - than ones you buy pre-assembled, so to speak.

it's startling how many of the people commenting have seemingly little or no knowledge of this. didn't you have home economics classes, or otherwise learn it from your parents?

Okay, where I live, a bell pepper is $.50-$1 at the supermarket and $1.50-$2 at the farmer's market. Watermelons are $4-6 at the supermarket and $7 at the farmer's market. Peaches are $1 a pound at the supermarket and $2 a pound at the farmer's market. Sure, I shop the farmer's market, but it's rare that I think I'm saving money.

And as long as my life demands that I work 80 hours a week, I will feel no guilt about bagged salad mix.

That second one... dont trust best before dates... um unless you understand food decomp really well (IE taken food microbiology) you should really trust those best before dates. Some bacteria only leaves a shiny slime on top to indicate it is there, others off-gass, you wont notice it unless you put an air tight lid or plastic wrap

In the class I took we went to the grocery store and bought food from the 'quick sell sticker' area of the deli, you wouldnt believe the bacteria we found in that stuff. I cant buy from that section again

oh yeah ...BAGGED SALADS RULE!!

and also, homemade bread has a shorter shelf life than presliced bread you buy at the supermarket. Once you factor in the the extra ingredients (yeast, etc) there really is no advantage to making your own bread..except being able to brag that you made your own bread. Can't remember the last time I lugged my Breadman out from the cupboard.

In my area, the farmer's markets are much more expensive than the grocery store. Sometimes, if something is in season and a lot of people are selling it, it gets more competitive; while that's a great way to try something in season that I normally don't buy, it's not good for day-to-day items like salad ingredients.

On the other hand, there is a produce stand on my bus route home that is substantially cheaper than the grocery store. But, most of the produce they sell is within a couple days of its expiration date. Good for potatoes, apples, and treats like raspberries to put on ice cream. Or if I feel like having chicken caesar salad at every meal for two days, I'll get their salad mix.

I've found that the bread I make is fairly easy to make (my 5 year old can do it) and it does cost less if you buy the yeast in bulk instead of by the packet. If you're going for plain white cheapy bread, it might not be worth the effort. Honey Wheat bread though? tastes so much better. I don't use a bread machine either. The process takes time so that things can rise etc., but the time I'm putting in to the process isn't that much.

People do seem a little freaked out by expiration dates. EVERYTHING has abundant bacteria on it unless it has been sterilized and sealed. The important question is, is that bacteria harmless or pathogenic?

* Double Coupons
* Beer Rebates (no beer purchase required in many states)
* Wine Tags (no wine purchase required in many states)
* Try Me Free Rebates
* Try Me Free Coupons
= Free or Mostly Free Food (including veggies).

and it's really not that much work...and you can donate what you don't need/want to a food bank.

Just sayin'.

ChristopherB, I'm not saying be freaked out about expiration dates, and I'm not a germaphobe, but food poisoning (aka, the 24h flu) sucks, and its not that easy to tell what is harmful, why not eat your food before the expiration date passes.

Just be aware that the original article is from the UK where supermarkets traditionally compete on different products then in the US. Eg. There are very few coupons, no double coupons, bread/milk etc. are not used as loss leaders some of the shopping tips will not translate to the different competitive landscape in the US or Canada.

ljbmonkey, I thought the same, very similar to Gursky, but it's someone’s interpretation of it.

http://passmethemalkplease.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/day-155-99-cent/

Home made bread doesn't last as long because it's not full of chemical preservatives. If you buy natural bread at the store it's the same way. Not that I think everyone should bake 4 loaves of bread a week (I certainly don't), but if people have the time and inclination it's certainly worth the effort for bread that's better tasting and better for you.

I would also add that people shouldn't buy exotic ingredients with the idea of making something with them at some point in the future. Such nebulous plans often result in an expensive item which never gets used. It's better to have a plan to prepare a particular dish and buy the ingredients when your plans are more concrete.

It is really very easy to make your own bread. I do and I go to school full time and for 35 hours a week. It takes 5 mins tops to mix everything together, then you can just leave it be for several hours before you have to knead it (with quick rising yeast or bread machines, you don't even have to do this) and then twist off two loaves. Bread freezes, so make more than enough for a week and then store it. I wouldn't be eating shitty Wonderbread so its definitely less expensive.

The farmers' market in my neighborhood is incredibly cheap, especially if you compare buying their organic produce to what you would pay at the supermarket. Plus, I can walk there so no gas money to factor into the "real cost" of my groceries.

And coupons coupons coupons coupons! I've saved up to $30 using those and my Valued Customer card.

* go to school full time and work 35 hours per week

Posts like this make me miss the guys selling vegetables off the back of a truck in my old neighborhood in West Philly. Everything was a dollar a bag and the quality, while not perfect, was quite good. Spending ten dollars gave you a huge amount of vegetables and we ate very well.

I feel like chain supermarkets have failed in terms of vegetables - forced to supply the consumer with a wide variety of goods year round, the quality is mediocre.

I do find the farmers markets more expensive but occasionally worth the extra you pay. Their goods are a treat, not a habit for me.

As for how long it takes to make bread - I do wish I had time. I work seven days a week and fantasize about waking up on a weekend morning and making bread. Actually, I just fantasize about sleeping in.

My grocery store economics: I buy whole chickens and break them down into parts and use the carcass for broth (when I find an extra three hours ... sigh). I try to buy in bulk if possible.

I started shopping at the 99 Cent Store during the LA grocery strike and it just stuck. It can be a bit like third world shopping (they may have pallets of coffee one week but those coffee shelves may be bare for another month...) but if you are flexible and learn to stock up on items that can experience shortages, you really can save a ton. The only thing I buy at the regular grocery store now is meat.

My favorite 99 Cent Store find: Balance bars for .59 vs. $1.49 at my local Ralphs.