Price Limits For Grocery Items

A price point list is good to have on hand for "sales" that will convince you to buy something for a faux bargain. If the sales are not at or below the price point, I will not buy it.

These are based on a lot of bargain hunts and experience with the market, so I know they are realistic. Typically a sales cycle will hit again every 6-8 weeks, so if you just missed an ad where you saw a price that fits this list, you can expect to see the sale again in a couple months (barring seasonal items).

Disclaimer:
I am shopping in Southern California in a relatively low income area, pretty much dependent on chain stores. Obviously your location and store availability is going to affect the limits on your price points, so keep in mind where I'm coming from with these numbers.

Meats

Chicken/Turkey 

• Whole/Cut - $0.75/lb
• Ground - $2.00/lb

Fish

• Canned - $0.75
• Salmon - $3.00/lb
• White Fishes - $1.00/filet

Pork

• Ham - $1.50/lb
• Bacon - $3.00/lb
• Roast - $2.00/lb
• Shoulder - $1.00/lb

Beef

• Ground - $3.00/lb
• Chuck - $3.50/lb
• Roast - $3.00/lb
• Steaks - $5.00/lb

Baking Goods

• Flour - $0.50/lb
• Sugar - $0.50/lb
• Brown Sugar - $0.50/lb
• Baking Soda - $0.25/lb
• Vinegar - $2.50/gallon
• Butter - $2.50/lb
• Milk - $3.00/gallon

Fresh Produce

Fruit

• Apples - $0.50/lb
• Bananas - $0.40/lb
• Strawberries - $1.00/lb
• Black/Rasp/Boysen/Blue - $1.50/ 8oz

Vegetables

• Broccoli - $0.50/lb
• Carrots - $0.25/lb
• Celery - $0.25/lb
• Potatoes - $0.20/lb
• Mushrooms - $1.00/8 oz fresh, or $0.75 canned
• Onions (yellow) - $0.20/lb
• Garlic - $0.25/bulb

Dry Grains

Oatmeal

• Instant Packets $1/12 packets
• Plain

Pastas

• Spaghetti $0.75/lb
• Rotini $0.75/lb
• Tortellini $1.50/lb
• Rice $0.50/lb

Beans

• Kidney - $0.75/lb
• Pinto - $0.50/lb
• Black - $0.50/lb
• Lentil - $0.25/lb

Prepackaged/Convenience

Sides

• Potatoes $0.75/packet
• Flavored Beans (BBQ) - $1.00/40 oz. can

Meal Kits

• Velveeta $2/each
• Helper Products $1/each

Canned

• Soups - $0.50/each
• Vegetables - $0.50/each
• Beans - $0.30/each
• Fruit - $1.00/each

Baking

• Cornbread - $0.50 (Jiffy, always Jiffy)
• Loaf bread - $1.00/each
• Cakes/Brownies - $1.00/package
• Frosting - $1.00/can
• Cookies - $0.50/package

I've only listed things I use frequently and have reliable points on, so if there's something you would have on your list, hit me up and I'll research it!