(18-06-2022, 10:24 PM)king1 Wrote: I find oranges are always in the shops 6 weeks before they are actually ripe. I got caught this week with Australian ones that are almost too sour to eat. I thought they were the end of last year's but are obviously the new crop - not ripe yet. I buy oranges every week of the year except from now until the NZ ones are ripe which is late August (going by edibility rather than what people say). Our old tree died a couple of years ago and the new one is coming along, but is still small. This year's crop of 20 gives us one week's worth.(18-06-2022, 09:59 PM)TinkandTiff Wrote: "Buy only in season, to help cut your costs of your weekly shop" . Sick of hearing people say this.    Me, yesterday ...bought 3 oranges at PnS......almost  $6 !!!!!!! Oranges are in season.  Rip off country.Oranges are in season June to Feb by the looks,  maybe you're just a little early in the season - another month or so they should be cheaper
Overall I find it's no problem to average $10 or less per meal for meat (for 2) by buying specials and the odd pack of chicken. Chops and steak are all eaten in one meal. Roasts may provide lunch leftovers and mince is always cooked with frozen lunches in mind (eg chow mein). Cheese is a big expense for us - DH only likes Mainland tasty - and the occasional bacon treat is very expensive per kilo because we only buy Henderson's non-preservative one which is not always available. For roasts, it's usually possible to buy a $17 or $18 one and cut it in half.
I've been monitoring the three supermarkets I use from the perspective of whether it's worth driving 15 or 30kms to get cheaper prices and have certainly noted some products going up in price over the last year, but I don't see a difference as great as the media present. Many basic products are still much the same. I do feel that when we have issues with supply and having to have instore limits to spread availability, it's unreasonable to expect weekly specials and I wonder if that's what people are missing the most.
I don't know about the price of wine as we don't drink at all.
(19-06-2022, 01:23 PM)Praktica Wrote: I spent decades finding the most economical purchases, to keep expenses down. Now, I'm able to spend a little more, and not just buy the cheapest - it's taken a while to break the frugal habit.
I know what you mean. I've had to learn that we don't always have to have the cheapest, although often it is still the best value. I buy the cheapest frozen veg, but do prefer Whittakers chocolate.