A fellow Frugalite (is that a word?--it is now, I guess) posted a question on one of my other posts, asking:
Okay, so the advice I want from a more experiences frugal shopper than myself is: what do you consider to be good prices? I mean, obviously 4 cents or 9 cents or something I could pay with in pennies is a good deal, but is shampoo only a good deal if it's under a dollar? How about canned vegetables? Ground beef / chicken? Socks?
I know this is a seemingly impossible task, but I wish I knew what all the "normal" prices of things were so that I could know when I was beating them.I think 2 lb blocks of medium cheddar cheese at $3.99 each at QFC is good though. I'm less sure about good prices for soup, vegetables, chili, yogurt, and lots of other things.
I don't know if I have "the answer" for this question, but that won't stop me from weighing in. It is very hard to keep track of what all the normal prices are for things. That is one of the reasons I use The Grocery Game for planning my shopping. That said, I know that not everyone can shop at the stores for which the Grocery Game publishes shopping lists. There's also a book sold on the website that teaches people how to do the calculating for themselves. This is not a plug for the book. I've not read it. I'm just saying it is there if anyone wants to try it out.
I think for everything, a "good" price is relative. The more you shop, the more you get a feel for what's "normal," and when a sale is really good. Also, you have to recognize what a true bargain is for you. If you swear by a shampoo that you can only get at a salon for $10/ bottle, then no matter how cheap a grocery store shampoo is, it won't be a deal for you.
My rule of thumb is that for most things, especially items with long shelf lives, I try to wait until they are at least 50% off. This makes buying the things that we use all the time and I purchase weekly (milk and produce, for example), which I can't hold out until they're 50% off, a little less painful.
I think it's outrageous that I sometimes have to pay $4.49/lb for 96% lean hamburger. Not to date myself, but I can remember getting hamburger for 99 cents/lb (granted, it was probably not 96% lean, but you get the picture). So, when I can find it for around $3 or less, I am snatching it up and freezing it.
It's funny that the question asked specifically about socks. I had just bought some for my boys the day before, as all their pairs were threadbare. They are both very picky when it comes to socks. Both like the short socks, one only will wear Gold Toe brand, the other wants "whatever is comfiest." So, I just went to Fred Meyer and bought the socks, not really paying attention to what they cost. Luckily, I chose some Champion socks for my oldest, and they were buy 2 packs get 1 free, so that saved me a little. I also think socks are one of those things where it doesn't pay to buy the cheapest brands, at least not when we are talking about very active boys. I find the good brands, like Gold Toe and Champion, will last 18 months to 2 years, whereas some cheaper store brands (even Old Navy) last much less time.
I hope this answered the question, at least a little bit. Shopping and deal-hunting is definitely a game, kind of hunting and gathering for the 21st century.
