The Rachel Cruze Show - Ultimate Guide to Saving Money on Groceries

Episode Date: February 21, 2022

Are you tired of how expensive groceries are? Me too. But there are plenty of practical ways to save! In this episode, we’ll talk through grocery savings hacks, the cheapest grocery stores, and whether or not it pays to buy in bulk. In this episode: Top 10 Cheapest Grocery Stores The Grocery Savings Hack You Haven’t Tried Buying in Bulk: Is It Worth It? Helpful Resources: Meal Planner & Grocery Savings Guide Christian Healthcare Ministries Sponsors pay the producer of this show, The Lampo Group, LLC, advertising fees for mentioning their services or products during programming. Advertising fees are not based upon or otherwise tied to any product sale or business transacted between any consumer or sponsor. The following sponsor has paid for the programming you are viewing: Christian Healthcare Ministries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each plant can produce up to 200 tomatoes. Oh my gosh. So you do that plant, that's like 5,000 tomatoes for $3. So logically, yes, it has the potential. Hey guys, welcome to this episode of the Rachel Crew Show podcast. I'm so glad that you're here. And I'm really excited about this episode because we're going to be talking about all things food

and how to save money on your grocery bill. I dig into bulk shopping and ask the question. Is it worth it? So we're gonna go over that. You'll also hear a conversation I had with my friend Heather Whitaker of Witt Farm. She's amazing and I can't wait for you to hear this conversation because we're gonna talk about growing your own food.

It's actually mine and Winston's new hobby and I think some of you will love these tips because it will save you money on your grocery bill. But first, let's go over the 10 cheapest grocery stores in America. So take a listen. All right, grab your meal. plan in your grocery list because we are going grocery shopping. That's right. We're going to talk about the top 10 cheapest grocery stores across America. Now, some of these are regional, so make

sure to check out and see if there's any near you. And some of these I haven't even been to, so I can't wait to try them. Next time I'm like out traveling. I'm like, oh, I'm going to try out some of these. All right, here's the top 10 list. Number one, Aldi. It's not a shocker. I know. Now, they keep their costs low because, well, you got to have a quarter to rent your shopping carts. They expect customers perform tasks that usually are assigned to employees. So you bag your own groceries, you bring your own bags, all of that. But some of my favorites at Aldi are baking supplies, fresh produce, wine, chocolate, cheeses. If you're doing a charcutory board, the cheese selection is great.

And even canned goods, they can be as low as $0.65 per can. Next is market basket, so a New England supermarket, and they keep their costs low because they actually run their business debt-free, which is awesome. And they are best for local New England goods. So clams, maple syrup, and even regional produce like apples from Maine, pears from New Hampshire, all of it. Number three, WinCo Foods. So this is a huge bulk grocery store that does not require a membership. So unlike Costco or Sam's, anyone can shop there. Now, how do they keep their costs slow? Well, they don't accept credit cards. Interesting. They do not employ baggers. They don't spend money on advertising, and they pass all of that savings on to you. So check out WinCo Foods

next time you're in the Pacific Northwest. Number four is Liddle. So this sells groceries and even small kitchen appliances, gardening tools, toys, all of it. And if we had one nearby, I know my favorite would be the 16.4 ounce pepperoni pizza for just $4.39. So how do they keep their costs slow? Well, they've eliminated all unnecessary costs like paying employees to unpack produce. So you'll find a new box of produce just there on the stands. Now, there are some great options, things like spices for 55 cents, certified seafood, weekend super deals. And you can even use the MyLiddle app to find deals ahead of time and meal plan. Number five, Trader Joe's.

So this is like a convenience store, a produce stand, and an international market all in one. And they keep their costs low by having basically a lot of store brand products. So there is no middleman. No coupons. known for their adventurous but delicious food products. So pumpkin ravioli, cinnamon-filled Korean pancakes, vegan chickpea masala. Lots of fun stuff there. Number six, Costco. I'm a Costco fan. Yes, I have a membership here. And they are known for their Kirkland Signature brand. And they keep their costs slow because they don't advertise. They don't pay employees to unpack boxes of products.

and they offset their prices with their membership fees. Some great options to get at Costco because you'll see some name brand things. We'll have Kirkland brand on it. It's basically the exact same product, but you're getting a discount because it's Kirkland brand. So Kirkland's coffee is actually made by Starbucks. Kirkland's diapers are made by Huggies, and you'll save like $10 a box. Kirkland batteries are made by Duracel, and Kirkland Jelly Beans are actually. made by Jelly Belly, and I could go on and on and on.

Number seven, Walmarts. This is a one-stop shop where, you know, you're going to get a $5 frozen pizza, and it turns into buying $40 of toys. You know, who knows? Walmart has everything, right? So you can get pantry, staples, toiletries, cleaning supplies. But in the grocery store section, they have organic food, keto, gluten-free items, some great options there.

Number eight, food for less. So this is a warehouse-style supermarket that's scattered across the West Coast. Again, bring your bags. Don't expect anyone to bag your groceries. You will be doing that. See a little trend here. And best for basic grocery health and beauty items. They have a great selection of organic produce and gluten-free items.

Number nine, He-B. So the rumor has it that this Texas grocery giant will actually hand you a tortilla to snack on while you shop. And they focus on all local foods to cut down on transportation costs. So some things to get, Whataburger sauces, San Antonio's Cafe Old Coffee, Clint's Texas salsa. Anything in that realm? Amen, amen, and amen. Okay, last but not least, number 10, Sam's Club. So this is Walmart's version of Costco, sells in bulk right off the palettes, endless free samples, and they keep their costs low by membership fees and leveraging their relationship with sister company, Walmart. So what you can buy there, vitamins, protein bars,

tool of trees, extreme value gift cards, that you can buy $100 of gift cards for $75. It's awesome. You can even book flights, cruises, and hotels through Sam's Club travel. So fun. I, I love adventuring out, because, again, your grocery budget, it's so easy to bust. And where you shop matters. This is where you can save a lot of money. I'm selfishly very excited about this episode. We're going to be talking about growing your own food. So, it may freak you out.

Stay with us because we have the experts here. Heather Whitaker is with me, and she's part of Whitform. And I'm, okay, on Instagram, your bio, which I had it right down because I don't want to butcher this because it's so good. Just because you're in the burbs doesn't mean you can't be a farmer. And just because you're a farmer doesn't mean you can't travel. Amen, hallelujah. Yeah, right? Okay, so I can't wait to talk about this subject.

Me neither. I'm so excited. I know, I know. Okay, so first off, tell me, like, where did your passion for growing all your own food? Where did it come from? I think it began when I wanted to buy organic. And at that time, we couldn't afford it. Yes.

And so I began to do a little research and found a farm here that does a, like, you volunteer for four hours and then they give you a whole CSA. So, you know, like the CSA box where you get like, you know, everything and you're like, what do you even make with this? But like, they gave you this whole thing. So every week I would go and volunteer for four hours and I would get all this produce for free. And so I did that for four years and I began to learn, oh, I actually can do this. I actually can build the boxes and get my own food. And so that kind of was where it began. We bought a house.

So then I started to, you know, slowly build and create. And every year it gets bigger. And I try to not, but it just does. Because you guys live. We literally live in a suburb in Nashville. Yes. So I know we live on a half acre lot. So then there's the house.

And then there's a whole other side that we don't use. So maybe a quarter. Yes. Maybe. But we do have some chickens and ducks that kind of take up a little corner, some, you know, fruit trees and pumpkin patch and garden. All right there. It just keeps growing.

Okay. So does your family, do they love it? Like, does your kids, because you guys have three kids? Like, do they go out there and help? Yes. No. Teenagers. But back when we first moved there, Losaia was probably like 10 and he was out there helping.

But no. They're like, yeah, right. They want the, you know, the fresh sauce. They want the things for the smoothies and the berries and whatnot, but they are not. Okay. So this is like your thing. Like you're like, it's your, it's your project and all that. And I love how it came out because I think a lot of people, there is something so true.

The grocery bill is the thing that everyone, we always go over budget. Things are so expensive. And even right now as we're filming this, things are just, it's out of control. Like it is so, so expensive. So when you want to eat healthy, a lot of people want to do that for their families. So in order to like bring all that together, the idea of like, yeah, growing your own food. Do you feel like it is more economical after, because Winston and I, it's like kind of our new spring project. I know. And he's like, he's like leading the way. It was not really my idea, but he was like, I think we can do this and all this stuff.

So we're kind of excited. It's like our new project. So we're going to build the boxes, all of that. But I was like, and again, I've not priced anything out, so you'd probably know more than I would. Is it more economical? Like after like so many years, it has to be, right? Okay. So I did a little math. Okay. So logically, let's take a Roma tomato. Yes. What you make a salsa out of, right? Or tomato paste, tomato sauce.

Typically a packet of seeds, you get like 25. It's between $1 to $3, okay? So let's take the average of the high $3. Each plant can produce up to 200 tomatoes. Oh, gosh. So you do that plant. That's like 5,000 tomatoes for $3. So logically, yes, it's a great, it has the potential.

However, when you start getting into fancy boxes and the fan, You know what I mean? Like any hobby you can... Totally. There's a scale. Yes. There's. You know, so I began, I had a plot of land, like just a side yard between the neighbor's

driveway and my driveway. Yes. And I just didn't do anything to it. I literally put a tomato plant in it. Yeah. Like, I did not go out and build boxes. My neighbor was cutting down a tree. And I'm like, can I have some of those limbs to kind of like make a square?

Yes, yes. So I did. So, like, we have evolved. The Wip Farm has evolved. Now I have fences and I have, you know, all the things. Sure. Because each season I get a little bit more or whatever. But when I started, it literally was a plot of grass that I took out and put a tomato.

That's right. That's right. That's right. I wanted to grow salsa. That's what I wanted to grow. Yes. And so that was, yeah, that was. That's where it started.

And that's what it could be, right? And then as you're saying, the more you involve, the more you're like, okay, I can. So, yes, it is so much better. Like a little tiny seed can produce thousands, right? And so that math equation is ridiculous. For sure. And even the fact of like starting your own seeds versus buying the plants, like, yes, there's a little bit of investment of getting like the right soil to like start a seed.

But when you take one plant or you get a packet for $3 with 25 seeds or you go and buy a plant that is $2.99, one, you know, like the... Yes, totally. They're doing it completely yourself from the beginning. It does a seed, yeah. You can also go overboard and spend a ridiculous amount of many. Sure. But, yeah.

I love it. I think it's... I'm so excited for you. I know, I know. I'll be honest. There was like a little bit of the conspiracy of me that was like, what if in like five years we had to like just live in our little yard? What would we do?

And I was like, Winston can hunt. And what if we had a garden? I'm like, we could live off of tomatoes. And we can figure it out. We can figure out. So, okay, what, I want to know, what are the easiest things to plan? Okay, I get that question all the time, right? And it's kind of a mix.

It's kind of depending on where you live. So I can tell you because you live here, but I can't tell the person that lives in Wisconsin, right? 100%. So that kind of depends on where you live. And then also, what do you like? Like, I can say grow radishes, but if you hate radishes, why would you grow radishes? Yes, you know? So I think for me, I started, I grew up in California, and there's just nothing.

like a California grown strawberry. Like, there's just nothing. I've tried for, you know, the 15 years that I've been gone to find that strawberry, and it wasn't until I, like, had a homegrown strawberry that was like, oh, here you are. I get it. So, like, strawberry plants, pretty easy. Really? Yeah, pretty easy.

Why don't I think fruit was harder? Just in my head? Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries here in the South. Seriously? Yes. Oh, my gosh. I thought I was going to just have vegetables. I think fruit wasn't optional.

No. Uh-huh. Okay. We're doing it. Okay. You're going to do some fruit. That's good. That's good.

So those as far as like... Which that saves my... Do you know how much money I spend on fruit, Heather? And raspberries? That's a thing. A little thing. A little thing. And you get...

It makes me sick. It makes me sick. My kids eat at one thing. You do have to have the space and you have to trellis it, whatever. But like it's so... You can do it. Okay. So those are great bang for your buck

because you get so much more. And the great part is that they live in Tennessee. They keep reproducing. Like, you plant one and then they grow multiple ones. So like, you're set. Love it. And then as far as vegetables, vegetables are hard because I say grow what you will eat. So depending on what you eat.

But for me, hands-down tomatoes are for sure. Pepper, Poblano peppers. I love Poblano peppers. Halpinos, are those easy? Those are easy. So a pepper. I actually also grow tomatoes. Do you know what those are?

Yes. Yes. So it's the green salsa. Yeah. Again, I wanted to grow a salsa garden. Like that at the beginning was what I wanted. but I also make kimchi, and so I also grew cabbage. So it's what you love.

Like, I think tomatoes are easy, peppers are easy. They're kind of like the safe ground. Is lettuce easy? Lettuce is actually easy. However, you have to continue to, I forget to go out there and pick it. Okay. But it's easy. Lettuce is fairly easy.

However, you are going to probably get some kind of bugs in lettuce. So if you're okay with that, which that's just nature. Right? Yes. We're living off the land, people. We're living off the land. Green beans, I think, are pretty easy. Green beans are simple.

Garlic has been easy for me. And then herbs. Cucumbers are easy to grow. Zucchini are easy to grow, but they also have a lot of pests. So, like, they grow easily. They produce a lot, but they also have a lot of pests that can come in. So, like, it's a little bit of a gamble. Yeah, it's a gamble.

Okay. How's it? I tried okra this last year for the first time. Did it easy? It was fine. Here's the problem. remember my bio about the travel part? Yes. So for me, that harvest time kind of has to be like a tomato where you can harvest it kind of young

or kind of old and it still be good. Like I could be gone a week and be okay. Like, Okra, you have to pick within one or two days or else it gets woody. Okay. So for me, I found that it was really hard. It's actually a beautiful plant. Like the flowers and everything are beautiful and it wasn't hard to grow. But I traveled.

So I kept missing the right time. And so I don't know. if it's coming back. Yes, that's a great, okay, that's a great point. Because part of this is like, it feels low maintenance, because you say, like, you can still travel. So, do you find that easy or do you find that you come home sometimes and it's like, oh, gosh, I like, things are messed up?

Both. Both. So, like, I really try, like, when it's peak crazy garden season. Yeah. Which is when? Tell it ignorant, non-farmor, gardener. Yeah, you're going to start planting after the last frost. So, again, depending on where you live.

Here, it's, you know, end of April, beginning of. You know, you get everything in that time. And then things start to kind of really produce end of May, start of June. And then you go until literally tomatoes will go until November. Yes. Peppers till. Do y'all eat, like, everything off or do you give something? Is there too much?

Like, I feel like I have some friends that are like, oh, gosh, I have all these cherry tomatoes. I think it depends. I, like, tomatoes I can and freeze. So those get put away. I don't have abundance. I have three teenagers and then they all come with teenagers. like, I have a house full that there's not enough. You know, we still even have to supplement things from, you know, just because we just

don't. Totally. We eat it. And we eat a lot of fruits and vegetables in our house. Yes. I know you're not like a nutritionist by trade. But there's something to be said, though, about, you know, the idea of growing your own food, the nutrition behind it. Because we can go all down that rabbit trail of what's in our food and all of that, which I'm the worst. I'm so guilty of like, I do. I need to do better. But do you feel bad? Like, is there a thing you're like, I feel like, I feel better because I eat more of it. I eat more of these things that are homegrown, right? There's not all this stuff

in it. You know what's funny? I was thinking about this a couple years ago because I was like, well, everyone's like, oh, your passion of gardening. I'm like, gardening is not my passion. Like, and it was like, but then I was like, well, why are they saying that? And why do I like kind of recoil? Like, cardening's not my passion. And I was like, what is it that I do? And it was, now hear this word, but like don't like judge it yet. Like, so. Self-sufficiency. Not in the like I can control and I'm like, it's only me. But it's actually self-sufficiency in like learning to do.

Like learning to be able to make my own food. Like I love that. That is the part that I love. I love a hard situation. And then I have to go, okay, what do I need to do and pivot? Like that's my passion, right? So like for me, in the growing process, it's this is what I need to do. Oh, shoot, we have this kind of bug.

do I pivot, okay, this. Or, oh, shoot, this is a fungus. How do I pivot? Oh, this. You know, so that aspect of it, I love the food. I'm a cook, so I love that, you know, like, delicious nutritional stuff. But it's, like, it's like a problem solving element to it. It's like, I have to use my brain to like figure it out. And I'm capable and I got it. Yeah, I love that. Isn't that funny? You kind of feel like a bad egg. Yeah, because I was like, I really like, I mean, yes, I garden, but that's not like, you know, I'm not like a. Yeah, totally. No, I hear that. Interesting. Yeah. Yes.

And I think that's interesting, too, because I think for a lot of women, like there's a lot of working moms that listen and watch the show. And there is something real, okay, I'm using my brain over here at work. Or if you are a full-time stay-at-home mom and you're with your kids. Yes, your brain. But I'm like to have like a new thing kind of niche, like there is something that's so, it's energizing. It's energizing.

To say you can switch that on. Because so many people are like, oh, I have a black thumb. I'm like, well, no, you don't have a black thumb. You just aren't learning, right? Like you don't have a black thumb. You just are not trying to learn what it's going to take to do it. So I really feel like for me, I'm trying to think of this past year. There was, I'm sure a million things, but a plant that like, like my carrots,

I didn't do a great job at making sure that the soil that I was putting them was loose. They really like loose soil. So I didn't have a huge harvest of carrots. Yeah. But I learned, okay, why did that not grow? And so I feel like, well, it wasn't a loss. It wasn't a failure because I actually learned from it. So if I'm learning from it, then I'm like, it's success.

So I think a lot of people diminish and go, oh, I can't do that because I kill a houseplant. Well, okay, but why did you kill the house plant? Let's figure that out. You overwater, do you underwater? Did you know, like did it not have food or, you know, so just all that stuff I feel goes back to that learning. and that figuring it out thing. Where can people learn how to do this stuff? Like, do you watch YouTube video?

Like, what's your thing? Can I give, like actual, okay? I'm curious. I love a couple places. I love finding people that are local and following them just because you kind of know, oh, they're actually putting their things in. So, you know, so different farms and stuff that you can find local.

But I love the old farmer's almanac. It is like grandma, but they have an email that comes out every day and they have videos, endless videos. endless videos. Oh, it's so good. The old farmer's almanac, literally. Anything that predicts weather? Yeah.

100%. 100%. But they have such a good, social media, such a good, like, that really goes into detail. Yeah. So anything, if I get stuck or a pest or, and honestly, Google on YouTube, like just Googling like white, fuzzy, you know, insect the size of a, you know. Totally describing how you Google.

Yeah. And then it pops up. The internet, like nowadays is incredible. Yes. So helpful. That's so good. Okay. I don't want to know.

I'm an herb person. So when I do cook, which is like kind of fickle. Sometimes I'll get on a really good track and then I have time as much. But I do love, I love time. I love herbs, like the flavor of that. So what's easier to grow, like actual fruit and vegetables or herbs? Are herbs easy? They're the same.

It is the same thing. I think people's problem with herbs is, a couple. One is they don't know the season. Like so many people try to grow cilantro with the tomatoes. The cilantro right now is starting to grow and thrive in the cold weather. It is a cold weather plant.

So here these people are putting it in at the heat of summer and that plant is going to flower. It's not going to produce leaves. So like you have to know what plants, you know, before you give up again. But basil is a huge, right? Basil takes a little work because you have to cut off

the flowers for it to keep growing. But if you don't want anything, like rosemary time, sage, all those. Mint is a mince. Mint is crazy because mint spreads. So you want to put it in a container. Like, otherwise, you're going to have mint roots everywhere. Okay. Which is fine if you want.

You want a lot of mint? But it becomes a weed. But the other ones, like sage and rosemary, like those actually can be like ornamental plants. They can be in your landscape and not even have it be in your garden. It could actually be something because they produce beautiful flowers. You can shape them. So I love it. Yeah.

Okay, so for people that they think, oh, that sounds so great. I don't have time to garden, but the idea of just, like, living off the land, I want that. So when I go to the grocery store, do I have to buy organic? You know, that whole, I feel like the whole organic and not is a constant battle because the price difference is major. It's huge. You feel it and you see that. And you never know when to compromise, when not to, like, what advice do you have around that? Yeah, I think if you Google top.

things to buy organically fruits. Like, I don't know them off the top of my head. It's mostly going to be the things that don't have a peel. So an orange and a banana, I would choose non-organic those opposed to a potato or something that is just seeping in. So, but the reality is, you know, I started at volunteering because I wanted organic and I couldn't afford it. So you can do something like that.

Or if you don't have the time to do that, just buy the fruits and vegetables because that's, like, you need that nutrition. you need that for your body to be healthy. And as your body is healthy, it's going to be able to actually counter some of those bad things. So ultimately, yes, obviously organic straight from the land is going to be the best. Befriend somebody that has a garden. Talk to your people around.

Farmers markets. Farmers markets. Yeah. Like it's just, it's really the added benefit of getting that soil, the organisms and stuff that come in the soil, you're not going to get that in the non-organic, and it's like having your own, what do you have, a probiotic?

Oh, yes, yes. Like you're getting, when you eat off the land like that, you are getting all those great, all your vitamins, the vitamins and nutrition and the actual, you know, things that help your gut be healthy. So all that is just those little details, ultimately eat your fruits and vegetables. Yes.

But as much as you can, where you can, choose organic, I guess. So good. Yeah. So helpful, Heather. I love. I'm so excited for you. I know.

I can't wait to help plan. Winston mentioned composting too. And I was like, oh my gosh, are we like, we're doing it. We're doing it. So yeah, I know. He loves. Chickens and goats. I mean, you're going to just bring it all.

I really am excited, though. And for me, I'm like, it's a thing, too, to have like a element of a, not just with Winston. Yeah. But I'm like, okay, there's like something else there besides, you know, every role. We really, like, I spend time. Like, I pour in, I'll spend a date. but then I go off on vacation for a week,

and then I come back and I spend a day. And for me, my honest thing is like, it is for fun. I'm taking off all pressure. If I choose to go to California to visit family and I miss the harvest of the raspberries, so what? So what? You know what I mean?

So, like, that's really how I approach it. So I don't have this stress and this, like, oh, you know. Totally. Taking the success failure off the table and just doing it. And when you can do it and it's there, it's there. I love it. So great. Heather, thanks for coming on. Always. You guys can check out the Witt Farm on Instagram, which is so great. So fun. And yeah, always appreciate you being here and hopefully this fun.

This helps you guys and it motivates you to say, okay, what could I do outside of my norm to save money, number one? But also to have this thing, right? And this idea that, yeah, you can grow your own food. It's healthier, economical, all things. It's a win-win. All right. Is buying in bulk the best way to buy? Not always, but if you do your homework, you can see some significant savings. So it takes a little bit of work and money up front. But once you have your game plan, saving money just becomes part of your new normal. So where should you buy in bulk?

Well, Costco and Sam's Club, I feel like I're always at the top of the list. But there's also BJ's wholesale, Liddle, WinCo Foods, and some online outlets like Amazon or box are some other great options. So how do you buy in bulk? Well, you want to look at the cost per unit. This is key. So how much are you paying for each specific item? So it's the total item price divided by either the unit weight or the number of actual items equals the price per unit.

So, for example, let's say $1.79 divided by 12 eggs is 15 cents per egg. This is very easy to do on your phone, on the calculator. Now, at some stores, the math is actually done for you. You just have to look at the price tag. All right, some things to consider. The actual cost of the membership. So this can be anywhere from $45 to $60 per year up front. And does it cost you any extra time or gas money to get there?

So if you have to drive an hour out of your way, it may not be worth it. Now, can you eat all of the food before it spoils? This is very important. Also ask yourself, are you going to really use that 10-pound bag of beans? 20 avocados for $3.99 is an amazing deal if you eat them. Ask yourself as well, do you have enough freezer and pantry space for all this stuff? Do you have a big family or are you single? So depending on how many of you that there is in your family,

this could play a really big role in something like a Costco or Sam's membership. because you'll have to figure out, is it worth it for you? Also ask, do you really need that item? Man, when you just go through the aisles, you just see stuff that suddenly you need that you didn't before you walked in. You're like, this is so cool. But really, truly ask yourself, do I need this? Now, don't buy anything in bulk that you're not going to use.

So think, again, do I need it? Have I budgeted for it? Buying in bulk and the membership fee requires you to spend more money up front and then you spend less money over time. So go in with a budget and a meal plan. You can find my meal planner and grocery savings guide at ramsysolutions.com slash meal planner. This is a great guide to help you out with meal planning.

You may be asking, okay, so what should I buy in bulk? Well, here are some great items to buy in bulk. Toiletries, dental care items like electric toothbrush heads or dental floss, paper products, toilet paper, paper towels, batteries, and actually Costco batteries are made by Dura cell. Cereal, canned goods, dry goods like rice or beans, diapers and wipes, if you have a baby, food from the freezer section, again, some great options. Some others that you may want to avoid buying, again, if you're not going to eat at all.

Fruits, vegetables, dairy, perishable items, like go bad fast, like bread. Think about condiment. You know, do you really need a gallon of ketchup at home? Spices as well. They can outlive their shelf life and flavor, but do you bake all the time? Do you really need all that stuff? Do you cook a lot?

Just thinking through, what are you actually going to use? And ask yourself, does it really save you money? The short answer is yes. But again, it depends on what you're buying. So you have to crunch some numbers, compare some prices. You know, ask yourself, how many people am I buying for? Do I use a lot of non-paraisal? or frozen foods in my meal plan.

How quickly do I go through items like paper towels or toilet paper? Which items can I buy cheaper at my local grocery store? If there is some, just buy them there. So again, some good questions to ask yourself. But these days, every dollar matters. And taking care of your family matters too. All right. I did a little research project, and we went to a local Kroger and Costco here in Franklin, Tennessee.

And here's what we found. Fulger's classic coffee roast at the grocery yearly would cost around $56, but in bulk it'll cost $40. So that's a $16 savings. Shabani yogurt at the grocery yearly would cost $650, but in bulk it's $436 with a savings of $21414. Cliff bars, at the grocery yearly it would cost $650, but if you buy it $436, but if you buying in bulk, it's $478 with a savings of $178. So, $214, $178 equals $408 in savings and just those three items. So if you look at your morning routine and you think, okay, yeah, it includes coffee,

a yogurt, and throwing a cliff bar in my kid's lunchbox for school. And that means you have saved $400 a year. So even for a small family, that savings can add. add up. And if you're a family of five or six, then you're probably going to consume what you buy, so it might be really smart, really smart to buy in bulk. So if you want to get even more out of your membership, there's more than just food at Costco and Sam's. So consider some big ticket items like indoor and outdoor furniture, TVs, mattresses, even electronics. And with Costco, it comes with free tech support. Gas, tires, gas prices, they are several cents

cheaper per gallon. And some retailers actually include tire maintenance, like rotating and repairs on the life of the tire for free. And both offer a variety of gift cards to up to 25% off. So things like, you know, Starbucks, AMC movie theaters, tons of restaurants. You can even get a $500 Southwest Airline gift card for $450. It's free money. You also get pharmacy discounts, eye exams at a discounted cost, Costco will refund the cost difference if the price drops in 30 days of your original purchase. Not true as Sam's Club, but Costco offers that. Also, you guys remember, stick to your budget. Thank through whether or not this stuff works for your specific situation and family size.

Do not feel the pressure to buy in bulk. Again, if the upfront costs and everything in your budget doesn't make sense. And watch out for how easy it is to get off your list. You got a list in there, but man, those stores can really persuade you and think, golly, I need thousands of boxes of tissues right now. You can be thrown off your budget. Bulk shopping, you guys, it can be a money saver for sure if it works for you and your family. Love it.

Well, thank you guys so much for listening to this episode, and I want to thank Heather for being a guest on today. And I hope you guys enjoyed it, and hopefully you'll be able to save some money on your grocery bill as we talked about all things food. Love it, love it, love it. And if you have not subscribed to this podcast, make sure to hit that follow button. And if the spirit leads, you can leave a review. As always, make sure to take control of your money and create a life you love.