There are grocery items you should always splurge on – regardless of the price. Quality is what is most important!
In my 32 years of life, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that there are appropriate times to pinch your pennies and times when you splurge. I believe there are off brands for grocery items rendering high quality aspects, as well as dupes living up to the same potential in the fashion world as trendy handbags or shoes. However, through trial and error, I’ve learned there is a right time to spend the extra dime on grocery items, even if you don’t want to.
COFFEE.
My first item that you should always splurge on: COFFEE. A few days ago I ran into the store to grab a product for a blog post, plus a few other household staples. Our favorite coffee k-cups at this particular store were overpriced, so I grabbed the off brand version and figured my husband wouldn’t notice. Well color me wrong, because the first thing he said to me the following morning was, “Where did you find this water coffee?!” I will always splurge on coffee
CONDIMENTS.
So my second item that you should always splurge on: CONDIMENTS. Everyone has different tastes, but growing up my Mom insisted you should always buy name brand butter and mayonnaise. She grew up in a household on a budget, but her parents always spent more on Land O’Lakes and Hellmanns’ because taste rivaled price. I’ve found myself following in her footsteps and , buying name brand butter, mayo, ketchup, mustard, and peanut butter.
DIAPERS AND WIPES.
Splurge on: DIAPERS AND WIPES. The first time I grabbed the cheapest diapers on the shelf was the last time I grabbed the cheapest diapers off the shelf. Annabelle peed right through the diaper and ended up with a rash. I won’t mention the brand that we swear by, but if you find a brand you love, then stick to it. If you’re in a pinch and see a cheaper version, don’t waste your money. The same goes with baby wipes. We love the Costco brand because they are cost efficient, great quality, and don’t cause rashes, however I know some people who only buy name brand.
BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR.
The worst hangover I have ever had came from a jug of wine. It was roughly 3 bottles in one big glass jug for $8. I will always splurge on WINE, as well as BEER and LIQUOR, because there is no point in wasting your money on something that tastes bad and will make you sick.
MEAT AND SEAFOOD
There are some fresh items that you have to splurge on when it comes to feeding not only yourself, but your family as well. MEAT AND SEAFOOD is a category that I splurge on in different ways. For deli meat, I buy what is fresh and has the least preservatives. For poultry, pork, and beef, I buy right from the meat counter and ask for the freshest cut. I don’t like to buy frozen meat, no matter how cheap it may be. As far as seafood goes, I will travel thirty minutes to buy from a fresh local seafood market for shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, etc, because I can’t stand the thought of frozen shellfish. However, I will buy frozen fish – like tilapia and cod – for my husband’s dinners.
What are grocery items that you always splurge on, no matter the state of your finances?
Land o lakes American cheese and toilet paper!
100% with you on the coffee one. The quality of coffee in the morning can totally set the mood for the day. I also refuse to cheat on Doritos and Oreos whenever I do happen to buy them. Most other snacks I’m totally fine with buying the cheaper store brand.
Paper towels. I am very brand-specific on them and I don’t buy any other brand! I’m with you on condiments as well. And diapers – we actually do use a store brand but we don’t like to switch even if there’s a sale. We learned that one the hard way!
I also splurge on ice cream. I have a specific kind I like so I don’t shop sales there.
Frozen pizza is one that I’ll switch. I usually buy what’s on sale in a thin crust – there are a ton of good ones at our store so I don’t mind saving on that.
I am the same way! Always spend the little bit extra on coffee and organic meat. In fact, I really wish we had a butcher in our town because we don’t eat tons of meat, but when we do I want it to be the best quality. I love Aldi for almost everything else because it’s so much cheaper and mostly organic. Great post!
-Emily | http://www.emilymkrause.com
I used to be a Land O’Lakes snob but I’ve grown to be cool with Kroger and Publix butter since I only use it for baking now. I’m very particular about my wine, but there are three hella cheap Trader Joe’s finds that I swear by (and won’t veer from) — a red, a white, and a sparkling. DEFINITELY won’t ever try to do the off-brand beer thing again, though! (Or liquor — shudder!) Things I NEVER skimp on: coffee (TOTALLY WITH YOU THERE), ice cream, salad dressing (unless I make my own).
Yes, meat is a huge one for us! We actually go to a local butcher for our meats – I swear once you have the good stuff you just can’t go cheap! Also, Vanilla like for baking. A lot of people buy imitation, I used to too, but after buying pure vanilla my baked goods have never been so good!
The condiments thing is so weird but so true! I think everyone has made the mistake of buying off brand and thinking it’ll be the same and then it isn’t. I’ll never forget the time my Dad brought home Kraft Mayo and my Stepmom was like wtf. Hellmans all the way. I’m also picky about ranch. Hidden Valley or nothing.
Peanut butter (JIF), Mayo (bc there isn’t anything like Duke’s), ketchup (Heinz), Coca-Cola, yogurt (oui)… okay, so a shorter list would be which off brand items I buy! I kinda like all the name brands! Whoops.
I splurge on cheese, not that you can really find an inexpensive gouda, goat, or pecorino romano, but anyone buying packed, pre-shredded, individually wrapped cheese is out of their mind in my book. (pre shredded cheese contains cellulose, which is wood pulp, to prevent clumping. Yum.)