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I wrote "food shopping in NYC" and no one is biting (bad pun).
So, I will write this: Am I the only one who is floored by the cost of groceries in NYC? My husband and I are well over 60 so we don't do BJ's and Costco, etc. and don't believe in patronizing Walmart (let's not go there).
So, we do our best buying sale things and regular produce at our local supermarkets: Waldbaum's, Key Food and occasionally Fairway. We go to Whole Foods but not often - it is miles away, a good 20 to 30 minute drive.
OK, I am well aware that Key and Fairway are not cheap, but we buy a lot of organic produce. Not all, but much. We don't do it to save ourselves - we are older now - we do it to save the next generation because no fertilizers or pesticides are polluting the planet when organic food is grown. Or, at least, a heck of a lot less. We want to encourage the use of organic farming methods. This is what I call being frugal in the long run. I don't feel like saving money at the expense of the next generation.
Back to my point: We cook from scratch, use beans, fresh and (sale priced) frozen, both organic and not, locally made breads (organic and not), nuts, seeds, fruit, fish and a little bit of chicken. Certified Humane eggs (never buy anything but - the other chicken farms are much crueler to hens.) The Certified Humane eggs are at least a buck more a dozen, sometimes 2 bucks more per dozen, but geez, we only use maybe one to 2 dozen (and that is a lot!) per month.
We do buy organic milk (around 4 to 5 bucks a half gallon) and try to buy organic sour cream which we use lightly. Organic beans always, organic brown rice, etc.
Now, what I want to know is this: Why does it cost us, no matter what, at least $20 per day for 2 with stuff like paper goods and dishwasher detergent included? We use Small Steps and other environmentally safe brands.
Maybe I am answering my own question: We buy green, humane (Murray's chicken, far more humane) and organic.
So our cost for food is around $600 a month for two, and, to be honest, it is often more like $700.
NYC is an expensive area, but also a high-income area. If you lived and worked from age 25 to 60-something in NYC or another high-income area, you should have enough set aside to be able to enjoy living in such a place now as well. But it will still be expensive no matter what. And all organic food still comes at a premium due to the economies of scale that they don't enjoy and the cost-saving land and animal abuses that they don't employ. You are exactly right that the early-adopters of today will have to pay a little more to be sure that safe, organic food industries can grow and prosper and endure.
NYC is an expensive area, but also a high-income area. If you lived and worked from age 25 to 60-something in NYC or another high-income area, you should have enough set aside to be able to enjoy living in such a place now as well. But it will still be expensive no matter what. And all organic food still comes at a premium due to the economies of scale that they don't enjoy and the cost-saving land and animal abuses that they don't employ. You are exactly right that the early-adopters of today will have to pay a little more to be sure that safe, organic food industries can grow and prosper and endure.
Good post all around. Thanks.
I was just hoping to find some locals who feel as I do, how it is so expensive for food here.
I was just hoping to find some locals who feel as I do, how it is so expensive for food here.
I am a widower in a rural Missouri area and for the last 4 years my groceries have been costing me at least 25% more each year than the previously years. Utilities and insurance have also gone up, just not as much. IMO
Maybe I am answering my own question: We buy green, humane (Murray's chicken, far more humane) and organic.
Your answers are in your post. Your choices are causing you to have a higher food bill.
And I'm not discounting your reasons for avoiding Wal-Mart or eating organic, hey to each his own. But as with everything, there are consequences to every decision we make.
Don't buy your paper goods and dishwashing stuff at a grocery store. It's twice the cost. Find a Dollar General or some type of store like that, since you don't want to do the Walmart thing.
Am I the only one who is floored by the cost of groceries in NYC?
we don't do BJ's and Costco, etc. and don't believe in patronizing Walmart.
So our cost for food is around $600 a month for two, and, to be honest, it is often more like $700.
What do you pay per pound for X?
How much is the regular that you dismiss as inadequate or corrupt?
Subtract the latter and remove this amount from your food budget.
Your peace of mind has a price... but it isn't measured by salad greens.
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