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If you'd like to plan cheap meals
for yourself, here are some of the
items I have calculated on my price
sheet. Please see my notes below.
This list was created in December,
2006--prices may be a little higher
now.
Dairy
| Large Eggs |
$.12 each |
| Butter |
$.70 per
cube, $.09 per tablespoon |
| Cheese, Cheddar |
$5.99 per 4
cups, $1.24 per cup |
| Cheese, Shredded,
Variety |
$1.25 per
cup |
| Cheese, Sliced Provolone |
$.23 per
slice |
| Cheese, String |
$.28 per
ounce |
| Cream Cheese |
$.20 per
ounce |
| Milk, Organic |
$4.99 per
gallon, $.31 per cup |
| Sour Cream |
$1.50 for 16
oz |
| Heavy Whipping Cream |
$1.68 per 16
oz |
| Yogurt, Store Bought |
$.50 per cup |
Meats
| Beef, Ground |
$2.99/lb |
| Beef, Roast |
$3.29/lb, $11.50/roast |
| Beef, Top
Sirloin |
$4.99/lb, $4.84/steak |
| Chicken,
Boneless, Skinless Breasts |
$2.20/lb, $.93 per
breast |
| Chicken,
Boneless, Skinless Thighs |
$2.29/lb, $.57 per thigh |
| Chicken,
Whole Fryer |
$6.24 total ($1.48/lb) |
| Salmon,
Frozen Portions |
$4.23/lb, $1.81 per
portion |
| Turkey,
Whole Fryer |
$9.95, $1.99 per lb |
| Turkey,
Ground |
$3.36 for 1 1/2 lbs |
| Sliced Deli
Turkey |
$6.99/lb |
| Sliced Deli
Chicken |
$7.99/lb |
| Sliced Deli
Roast Beef |
$7.99/lb |
Produce, Veggies
| Asparagus |
$2.48/lb |
| Avocado |
$.99 each |
| Bell Pepper,
Red, Yellow, Green or Orange |
$.70 each |
| Broccoli |
$1.49/lb |
| Cabbage,
Green |
$.59/lb, $1.34 per head |
| Carrots |
$.50/lb |
| Carrots,
Baby |
$1.38/lb |
| Cauliflower |
$1.49/lb, $2.85 per head |
| Celery |
$.65 per lb, $1.20 per
package |
| Corn, Sweet |
$.16 per ear |
| Cucumber |
$.50 each |
| Kale |
$1.29 per head |
| Leeks |
$1.98 per package (2 or
3 big leeks) |
| Lettuce,
Green Leaf |
$1.38 per head |
| Lettuce,
Iceberg |
$.99 per head |
| Lettuce,
Iceberg Salad Mix |
$1.99 per 10 oz (3
servings) |
| Lettuce,
Romaine |
$1.40 per head |
| Lettuce,
Romaine Salad Mix |
$2.50 per 10 oz (3
servings) |
| Mushrooms,
Bulk |
$2.80 per pound |
| Mushrooms,
Sliced |
$2.88 per lb ($1.48 per
8 oz package) |
| Onions |
$.35 each |
| Onions,
Green |
$.69 per bunch |
| Potatoes,
Red |
$2.50/5 lbs |
| Potatoes,
Russet |
$1.78/10 lbs ($.11 per
potato) |
| Spinach,
Baby, Bag |
$2.99/6 oz |
| Spinach,
Bulk |
$1.29/lb |
| Swiss Chard |
$1.48/bunch |
| Tomatoes |
$.25 each |
| Zucchini
Squash |
$1.31/lb ($.88 per
squash) |
Produce, Fruits
| Apples |
$.68 per lb, $.22 per
apple |
| Bananas |
$.38 per lb, $.15 per
banana |
| Kiwi |
$.45 each |
| Lemons |
$.50 each |
| Oranges |
$.35 each |
| Pears |
$.50 each |
| Plums |
$.30 each |
| Strawberries |
$2.50/lb |
| |
|
Produce, Fresh Herbs
| Basil |
$1.99 per
package ($3.02 per ounce) |
| Chives |
$1.99 per
package ($3.02 per ounce) |
|
Cilantro/Coriander |
$.38 per
bunch |
| Dill |
$1.99 per
package ($3.02 per ounce) |
| Garlic
(bulk) |
$.50 per
head |
| Garlic,
Minced (jar) |
$1.69 ($.03
per clove) |
| Ginger Root
|
$.79
($2.38/lb) |
| Oregano |
$1.99 per
package ($3.02 per ounce) |
| Parsley |
$.28 per
bunch |
| Rosemary |
$1.99 per package ($3.02
per oz) |
| Sage |
$1.99 per package ($3.02
per oz) |
| Thyme |
$1.99 per package ($3.02
per oz) |
|
*Note: All
of these herbs can be grown
at home, in your garden or
in pots in your house! This
is what I recommend doing.
|
Dry/Packaged
| Cereal--Corn
Flakes--Store Brand |
$1.50 for 18 oz |
| Cereal--Rice
Krispies (brand name) |
$2.28 for 13.5 oz |
| Croutons |
$1.79 for 5 oz ($.36/oz) |
| Macaroni and
Cheese, Kraft |
$.58 for 7.25 oz box |
| Oatmeal,
Packaged (Quaker) |
$3.74 per box of 15
($.37 per package) |
| Pasta,
Linguini |
$.80 for 16 oz ($.05/oz) |
| Rice, Brown,
Store Brand |
$.99 for 16 oz ($.06 per
oz) |
| Rice, White,
Japanese Style (Niko Niko) |
$2.89/5 lbs ($.28 per
cup) |
| Rice,
Spanish, Box Mix (Old El
Paso) |
$1.72 (7.6 oz--3
servings--$.57 per serving) |
| Salad
Dressing Packet--Ranch,
Uncle Dan's |
$1.19 |
| Tortillas,
White Flour, Burrito Size,
Diane's |
$3.45 for 12 tortillas
($.28 per serving) |
| Tortillas,
Wheat Flour, Soft Taco Size,
Guerrero |
$1.99 for 12 tortillas
($.16 per tortilla) |
Canned/Bottled
| Alfredo Sauce, Jar,
Bertoli |
$2.53 for 16 oz ($.72
per 1/2 cup) |
| Barbecue Sauce, Kraft |
$.48 for an 18 oz bottle |
| Chicken Bouillon
Granules |
$5.29 for 8 oz, $.66 per
oz |
| Chicken Broth |
$.89 for 14.5 oz can (or
make your own and freeze
it!) |
| Chili Sauce, Heinz |
$2.49 per 12 oz jar |
| Chilies, Diced Green |
$1.19 per 4 oz can |
| Cream of Chicken Soup,
Campbells |
$.88 for 10 3/4 oz can
|
| Cream of Mushroom Soup,
Campbells |
$.68 for 10 3/4 oz can |
| Enchilada Sauce, La
Victoria |
$.99 for 10 oz can |
| Hot Sauce |
$.99 for 6 oz bottle |
| Jam, Raspberry (Welches,
Squeeze) |
$2.99 for 22 oz ($.14
per oz) |
| Ketchup |
$3.19 for 64 oz ($.05
per oz) |
| Mandarin Oranges, Canned |
$.41 per 11 oz can |
| Mustard, Dijon |
$3.50 per 10 oz bottle
($.35 per oz) |
| Olives, Black, Whole |
$1.20 per 6 oz can |
| Pizza Sauce, Contadina,
Squeeze |
$1.41 for 15 oz |
| Salad Dressing, Gregg's
(huge bottle from Costco) |
$3.99 for 64 fl oz ($.03
per 1/2 oz serving) |
| Salad Dressing,
Litehouse Country |
$2.88 for 13 fl. oz
($.11 per 1/2 oz serving) |
| Salsa, Baja Cafe |
$2.49 per 16 oz
($.15/oz) |
| Spaghetti Sauce, Hunts |
$1.25 for 26 oz
($.05/oz) |
| Syrup, Strawberry,
Knott's Berry Farm |
$2.53 for 12 fl. oz (6
servings), $.42 per 1/4 cup
serving |
| Taco Sauce, La Victoria |
$1.50 per 8 oz jar
(.10/Tablespoon) |
| Taco Seasoning Packet,
Taco Bell |
$.69 per 1.25 oz packet |
| Tomatoes, Diced |
$1.00 for 14.5 oz
($.07/oz) |
| Tomato Sauce |
$.40 for 8 oz can
($.05/oz) |
| Tomato Paste |
$.40 for 6 oz can
($.07/oz) |
Baking & Spices
| Baking Powder, Clabber
Girl |
$2.79 for 22 oz, $.13/oz |
| Baking Soda |
$1.19 for 1 lb, $.07/oz |
| Chocolate Chips |
$6.49 for 60 oz,
$.65/cup |
| Evaporated Milk |
$.34 for 5 oz |
| Flour, Unbleached, All
Purpose |
$1.65 for 5 lbs, $.09
per cup |
| Flour, Wheat |
$2.69 for 5 lbs, $.14
per cup |
| Honey, Raw |
$5.65 for 2.84 lb
(probably about 3 1/2
cups--so $.80 per half cup) |
| Marshmallows |
$.98 per 16 oz |
| Nonfat Dry Milk Powder |
$2.93 for 9.6 oz, $.36
per 1/2 cup |
| Olive Oil, Extra Virgin |
$18.99 for 135.2 oz,
$.07 per tablespoon |
| Powdered Sugar |
$1.19 for 2 lb, $.04 per
1/4 cup |
| Vegetable Oil |
$3.79 for 64 fl. oz,
$.03 per tablespoon |
| White Sugar |
$3.72 for 10 lb, $.16
per cup |
| Yeast, Jar |
$6.73 for 4 oz, = 16
envelopes at $.42 per
envelope |
Frozen Foods
| Asparagus |
$2.89 for 8 oz, $.36/oz |
| Broccoli, Chopped |
$.99 for 16 oz |
| Corn |
$1.66 for 32 oz, $.23
per cup |
| French Fries |
$3.99 for 80 oz, $.28
per cup |
| Green Beans |
$1.66 for 32 oz, $.23
per cup |
| Orange Juice |
$1.25 for 12 fl. oz |
| Pancakes, Buttermilk |
$2.00 for 19 oz (12
pancakes), $.16 per pancake |
| Peas |
$1.66 for 32 oz, $.23
per cup |
| Sausage, Beef Links (B&S
Armor) |
$.98 for 8 links, $.12
per link |
| Spinach |
$.48 for 10 oz, $.05 per
ounce |
| Tatertots |
$3.99 for 80 oz, $.28
per cup |
| Veggies, Mixed |
$1.66 for 32 oz, $.23
per cup |
| Waffles, Buttermilk |
$2.09 for 12.3 oz, $.23
per waffle |
Misc.
| Foil, Reynolds |
$10.99 for 500 square
feet, $.02 per square foot |
| Plastic Wrap, Kirkland
Signature |
$7.29 for 1500 square
feet, $.004 per square foot |
**Notes about the prices I have
calculated: I have been keeping
track of a "Grocery Price Sheet" for
3 years now. We have gone to
different types of stores--the
cheapest of them all (with poor
quality meats and produce, and yet
super good deals on all of the same
types of cans and frozen products I
buy elsewhere), Costco (large
quantities, usually cheaper), and
other "regular" priced grocery
stores. When I figured the price
per ingredient, I went with the
average price for each item. If
you can make these meals cheaper,
hooray! But everyone does not have
discount stores near them, so I
wanted to give a more realistic
price. (Also, I am in Oregon--and
prices may vary depending on where
you live. We buy Tillamook cheese,
for example, for around $5 per baby
loaf--and I know they are quite a
bit more expensive elsewhere!).
Please note that when a recipe calls
for milk, I only know the price of
organic milk, because that is what
we buy. We don't go organic on
everything (it would be too
expensive for us at this point in
time), but we feel strongly about
our kids not getting growth hormones
in their cups each day!
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