What does $20 buy you?

[calzephyr]

I'm curious about the cost of living among my LJ friends. Tonight I spent $19.37 on the following groceries: 2L of 1% milk, 2 turkey cutlets, a clove of garlic, a small block of cheese, three tomatoes and a package of cooked ham. I think that's pretty sad! That's easily two hours of work for the average person to afford that little.

Comments

[fledchen.livejournal.com]

Hrm, I'll save my next grocery receipt for ya :)

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Sure! I don't know if it's just the high cost of living here or what, but it seems a lot of things have been sneaking up increments. I guess I have nothing to complain about though...my aunt-in-law sent around photos of how much stuff costs in the Northwest Territories...ie, $6 for a lb of bananas.

eep!

[fledchen.livejournal.com]

I'd heard about banana crop failures in a few places around the world, but I didn't know it was that bad. I bought bananas last week for something like 39¢ a pound. Although I suppose buying things in NWT is more expensive because it has to be shipped so far.

[xconjuubluelips.livejournal.com]

The cost of food here is totally, totally nuts! It makes me go crazy thinking of how tightly -I- am going to have to budget when I get my own place. I don't have a cent to my name (as usual)

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Oh good! I thought maybe it was just me that was thinking the same thing. Better start your grocery fund now :S

BTW - like your new icon :-) It's very you.

[xconjuubluelips.livejournal.com]

LOL aw thank ya~

[frith]

Most of my groceries are chosen by what's on special, and when the deals are good I buy in bulk. But let's see what I can buy for $20, cheating slightly by pricing it all at the price I pay when I buy (that is, when it's on special).

$2.50 -- 1 450g box Muslix cereal
$2.50 -- 1 750g box Miniwheats cereal
$2.00 -- 4 lbs apples
$0.75 -- 1 bunch broccoli
$4.80 -- 4L milk (never on special)
$0.99 -- 907g margarine
$1.00 -- 2 cans of Aylmer tomato soup
$2.00 -- 2 Michelinas frozen meal 225g
$1.50 -- 10 lbs potatoes
$0.79 -- 2 lbs carrots
$1.20 -- 3 lbs bananas

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

That's very impressive! I guess I'm missing all the specials :-D If only those were every day prices. Do you live near a farmer's market, by any chance?

[frith]

Farmer's market? I wish! I live near a small town in the country, farms everywhich way and no farmer's market. In Montreal there are two farmer's markets and better prices on fruits and veggettables at the myriad of independent grocers. Some of the supermarket chains here don't even have a mark-down bin for perishables. I have a deep dark urge to dive into their dumpsters.

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

For sure I would have thought that you would have a couple to go to. Not even a sad little roadside stand with a handpainted sign?

Go ahead and dumpster dive :-D It's really a shame what supermarkets toss. It's only a crime if you get caught ;-)

[frith]

It's the embarrasment of being seen that keeps me out of the dumpsters. But all that waste!

There are a few roadside stands, but they are as expensive or more expensive than the stores!

[fledchen.livejournal.com]

Tadaaaa

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