What to buy at Giant

[Anonymous]

So I'm trying to get my grocery bill under control. Right now I pretty much exclusively shop at Whole Foods. That has to stop. While I don't think I can give up fruit/vegetables and meat from WF I am game to shop for other things at the Giant near Bethesda Row. For those that do a combo of both WF and another mainstream store (I'm not going to TJ) what do get at the mainstream store and what do get at WF??

TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I'm trying to get my grocery bill under control. Right now I pretty much exclusively shop at Whole Foods. That has to stop. While I don't think I can give up fruit/vegetables and meat from WF I am game to shop for other things at the Giant near Bethesda Row. For those that do a combo of both WF and another mainstream store (I'm not going to TJ) what do get at the mainstream store and what do get at WF??

TIA

You should think about shifting to farmers markets for your fruits and veggies... But I generally try to buy staples at Giant/Safeway -- i.e., cereal, coffee, bread, pasta, that sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

We do Costco and Safeway. Wholefoods just for Almond milk. Our bill is down almost 25%.

We're gluten and dairy free so I stopped buying processed food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm trying to get my grocery bill under control. Right now I pretty much exclusively shop at Whole Foods. That has to stop. While I don't think I can give up fruit/vegetables and meat from WF I am game to shop for other things at the Giant near Bethesda Row. For those that do a combo of both WF and another mainstream store (I'm not going to TJ) what do get at the mainstream store and what do get at WF??

TIA

You should think about shifting to farmers markets for your fruits and veggies... But I generally try to buy staples at Giant/Safeway -- i.e., cereal, coffee, bread, pasta, that sort of thing.

Would love to switch to a farmers market but time is limited and can't imagine three shopping trips per week! I stop by the farmers stand on Jones Bridge when I can during the summer... I tried Washington Green Grocers but ended up with a lot of things we don't really eat (once I had enough butter beans to feed a high school football team).

[Anonymous]

Costco is the best. I go once a week and only buy veggies, fruit, milk and meat. Stay away from anything - I mean anything - processed and you will save $$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Costco is the best. I go once a week and only buy veggies, fruit, milk and meat. Stay away from anything - I mean anything - processed and you will save $$$.

Alas I don't think I have a Costco nearby. What is the closest one to CCDC?

[Anonymous]

If you don't have time to double coupon, the only worthwhile items are the day old bakery rack and the meat mark-downs.

If you've never shopped at Aldi, you owe it to your pocketbook to try at least once. The bread and yogurt are both HFCS free, and all staples are so much cheaper. You don't have to worry about sales coinciding with what you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Costco is the best. I go once a week and only buy veggies, fruit, milk and meat. Stay away from anything - I mean anything - processed and you will save $$$.

Alas I don't think I have a Costco nearby. What is the closest one to CCDC?

Probably Pentagon City, with no traffic on Rock Creek Parkway you can be there in 25-30 minutes. A costco is opening up in Wheaton Mall in the next month or so, I live near Van Ness DC and it took me about 20 minutes to get to there on a a sunday morning.

[Anonymous]

What about MOMs? Better prices on fruits and veggies.

You'd get better quality meat at the Bethesda Farmers Market.

[Anonymous]

OP, I do what you are asking except I use Safeway. Basically I go to WF 1x week and buy all our fruit/veggies, meat/fish, milk, eggs and yogurt - they have better prices on organic dairy anyway. The only things I buy from the 'middle' of WF are occasionally some crackers or sometimes if I'm short a can of tomatoes or something...

I go to Safeway every other week, which means being organized and keeping good lists, but I dont buy anything too perishable there so it is manageable. I buy all paper goods (napkins, TP, paper towels, kleenex); cleaning supplies; sandwich bread; non-fancy cheese (american, shredded cheddar, cream cheese, etc); and anything canned or packaged (stock, soup, beans, salsa, etc).

the one exception to all this is that WF generally has better prices on organic stuff because they sell so much, so if you're a stickler for organic shredded cheese, might as well stick with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Costco is the best. I go once a week and only buy veggies, fruit, milk and meat. Stay away from anything - I mean anything - processed and you will save $$$.

Alas I don't think I have a Costco nearby. What is the closest one to CCDC?

Probably Pentagon City, with no traffic on Rock Creek Parkway you can be there in 25-30 minutes. A costco is opening up in Wheaton Mall in the next month or so, I live near Van Ness DC and it took me about 20 minutes to get to there on a a sunday morning.

I got to the new Costco in NE, off 295 and it is fantastic - less crowded parking lot than P'gon City, bigger, better meat and booze section (I'd say produce is about the same).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I do what you are asking except I use Safeway. Basically I go to WF 1x week and buy all our fruit/veggies, meat/fish, milk, eggs and yogurt - they have better prices on organic dairy anyway. The only things I buy from the 'middle' of WF are occasionally some crackers or sometimes if I'm short a can of tomatoes or something...

I go to Safeway every other week, which means being organized and keeping good lists, but I dont buy anything too perishable there so it is manageable. I buy all paper goods (napkins, TP, paper towels, kleenex); cleaning supplies; sandwich bread; non-fancy cheese (american, shredded cheddar, cream cheese, etc); and anything canned or packaged (stock, soup, beans, salsa, etc).

the one exception to all this is that WF generally has better prices on organic stuff because they sell so much, so if you're a stickler for organic shredded cheese, might as well stick with them.

I find Safeway organics, especially canned foods (the aforementioned tomatoes, etc) to be good quality and taste fine. My downfall is the packaged things at WF and the good cheese section - generally, I find Trader Joes a really good alternative for this and am trying to shift to Safeway for most shopping and TJ's for good quality packaged stuff. Although Costco works as a TJ's alternative, too.

[Anonymous]

I find the produce at farmers markets to be over priced.
And frankly the quality is not as good as
WF. You can go to trader joes too.

Costco for staples. Meats are great if you can use
In qty.

Funny I feed my family and giant does great.
Target is great for food too. Trader joes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Costco is the best. I go once a week and only buy veggies, fruit, milk and meat. Stay away from anything - I mean anything - processed and you will save $$$.

Alas I don't think I have a Costco nearby. What is the closest one to CCDC?

Probably Pentagon City, with no traffic on Rock Creek Parkway you can be there in 25-30 minutes. A costco is opening up in Wheaton Mall in the next month or so, I live near Van Ness DC and it took me about 20 minutes to get to there on a a sunday morning.

I got to the new Costco in NE, off 295 and it is fantastic - less crowded parking lot than P'gon City, bigger, better meat and booze section (I'd say produce is about the same).

Hang in there - Wheaton is coming.
http://www.westfield.com/wheaton/news-and-events/costco
Oops, that was for October 2012. There were some undisclosed 'problems'. Now expected for this month or next.
http://www.gazette.net/article/20121023/NEWS/710239947/wheaton-costco-opening-delayed-until-march-or-april&template=gazette

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I do what you are asking except I use Safeway. Basically I go to WF 1x week and buy all our fruit/veggies, meat/fish, milk, eggs and yogurt - they have better prices on organic dairy anyway. The only things I buy from the 'middle' of WF are occasionally some crackers or sometimes if I'm short a can of tomatoes or something...

I go to Safeway every other week, which means being organized and keeping good lists, but I dont buy anything too perishable there so it is manageable. I buy all paper goods (napkins, TP, paper towels, kleenex); cleaning supplies; sandwich bread; non-fancy cheese (american, shredded cheddar, cream cheese, etc); and anything canned or packaged (stock, soup, beans, salsa, etc).

the one exception to all this is that WF generally has better prices on organic stuff because they sell so much, so if you're a stickler for organic shredded cheese, might as well stick with them.

It is so not true that Whole Foods has better prices on organic produce or organic dairy! I have directly comparison shopped-same day.
WF is more expensive every single item, every single time. We are at a different location (VA), but should the prices be that different?
I buy organic milk, organic yoghurt, and organic produce, mostly at Giant, but also go to HT and TJ.