Earlier we asked your thoughts on the Best of 2008, and that included your favorite grocery store of the year. Although prices went through the roof on everything from beef to dairy, you chose Trader Joe's as your number-one pick. For the second year in a row, it was the clear winner, taking 39 percent of the vote.
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This time of year it feels like I'm constantly at the grocery store. Between baking and cooking dishes to bring to parties or hosting my own guests, it seems there's always something that I need to pick up. These expenses add up, but luckily there seem to be a lot of grocery deals lately.
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As we continue our coverage of the Best of 2008, I want to know which grocer is your favorite.
This year, we saw the cost of food increase across the board. With consumers on a tighter budget, pricier grocers such as Whole Foods have suffered.
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Cooking for a crowd doesn't have to cost a fortune, especially if your guests are supplementing your dishes with their own contributions. Thanksgiving is one holiday that many people celebrate by going all-out, from the rich food to the number of courses offered, and some are indulging in an organic feast even when they might have cut back on organic groceries in their daily lives. Do you know how much organic Thanksgiving food costs compared to its nonorganic counterparts?
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Thanksgiving Tip: Don't Shop on Wednesday Try to get all of your Thanksgiving grocery shopping done before Wednesday. Heading to the grocery store the day before Thanksgiving is like getting on the freeway in the middle of rush-hour traffic — not a good idea.
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This year, consumers witnessed a lot of cost increases in food, so it's only natural that the price of Thanksgiving dinner has crept up, too. Agriculture experts estimate that Thanksgiving costs have risen by an average of six percent this year, and the American Farm Bureau, which conducts a Thanksgiving yearly survey, cited $44.61 as the average cost of a Thanksgiving for 10 in 2007.
I'm not surprised; in fact, I'm certain that I spend at least twice as much on my Thanksgiving dinner.
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In these tough economic times, many families are struggling with putting healthy food on the table. A nutrient-rich, vegetable-filled salad with meat often costs significantly more than a fatty meal from the McDonald's dollar menu.
Parents trying to curb their food budget find that cheaper food prices translate to higher saturated fats and food coloring.
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Coupon clipping has become less popular since its peak in 1992, but 2007 was the first year usage did not decline. Expectantly, the change of heart is attributed to more expensive groceries and less discretionary income. Resistant shoppers claim the time and money trade isn't worth it, but there are new online tools that are perfect for busy people that want to save money.
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Earlier this week the San Francisco Chronicle published an interesting article about food spending. In the story, author Rob Baedeker unscientifically asks grocery store goers if they know how much they spend on food each month. The majority have no food budget and have never totaled their grocery and eating out receipts.
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