Grocery Store Alternatives

Because of statewide shortages, many people are in panic mode trying to find groceries for their family so I decided to compile a list of places that I’ve seen groceries at. I live in Northern Florida so you may not have these stores in your locations but there may be similar ones if you do some research. These places could very well have more expensive prices for things you get at the regular grocery stores, so please be in the habit of keeping a price book to watch for fluctuation in prices.

Dollar General – A small store that has some name brand items but mostly store brand. Be wary of frozen or fresh meat, some have reported toughness with various items.

Dollar Tree – A store that up until a few months ago, charged only $1.00 per item, but now you may find items for $1.25 due to inflation. Check out their frozen and refrigerated cases but like at DG, be wary of meat. Almost all items in the store are imported from China, so pay attention.

Big Lots – You’ll find a wide variety of items here including groceries. This store is a dent and save type store where BL will get in a shipment of items that could be dented or crushed due to 18 wheeler over turning or train crash. Be aware of expiration dates and ingredients. Product selection is based off whatever damaged goods are available, so if you find something you like, be sure to stock up.

Gas Stations –
Surprisingly, you can sometimes find bread or milk at a cheaper price than you would in the grocery store and it’s usually delivered fresh every day. Take your price book with you and just stroll around to look for any finds.

CVS/Walgreens/Pharmacy –
While the prices may not be as good as a grocery store, most regular shoppers don’t often thing to stop in at the pharmacy for groceries. You can sometimes stack a manufacturer coupon on top of a store coupon for additional savings. Stores typically put out flyers a few days early so you can plan your trip.

Mall Food Court –
This may seem counter intuitive but if you typically pick up frozen dinners at the grocery store for work, you just might find a more reasonable price for pre-made foods at the local food court. Again, you need your price book along with the typical ounces of frozen dinners that you purchase. If you strike up a relationship with any of the workers, you can typically find out if they mark items down just before closing for additional discounts. Almost all foods are prepared in closed containers but you can always tuck some plastic containers in your car for really good deals.

Home Goods –
At this high end food store, you’ll find things like marinades, olive oils, condiments and other gourmet foods. Be sure to bring your price book and comparison shop for the best deals.

CSA –
Community Supported Agriculture co-ops typically give you the opportunity to purchase produce ahead of time that you can either pick up or have delivered to your home. Be aware that you have no say so in what is delivered so if you have picky eaters, you may not want to spend your money on this option. Big cities don’t usually have CSA’s due to limited agricultural land but you can search online near you.

Farmers Markets –
Usually found in the downtown locations of both towns and cities, these hubs often have a variety of food stuffs offered from fruit and vegetables to gourmet breads and even live stock. Keep a close eye on your wallet as these places can be located in certain areas where pick pockets abound. If you develop good relationships with the vendors, you may find out whenever they mark items down. Be aware of any stalls that are not kept up and clean.

Restaurant Supply Stores –
Most of these stores are off limits to non-business folk but give them a call and see what their policies are. The prices on meat are comparable to grocery store usually, so you might not get as big of a discount as you are hoping. Make sure when you call that you ask if there’s any fees for not being a business.

Ethnic Food Stores –
These small stores are typically found in strip malls and will cater to a specific nationality. For example, we have an entire strip mall in our area where the ethnic food store carries just Asian cuisine and groceries. Don’t be afraid to go in and check it out! You may see a lot of items that you’ve never cooked with but you could add some new recipes to your weekly meals as well.

Weston A Price Local Chapter –
The WAC Foundation has local chapters in larger cities where women frequently offer up fermented items like sauerkraut, kombucha, and even sourdough bread starters. Check online to see if there is a chapter close to you and get involved.

Local Community Church –
Not all but many churches will have a pantry where they will offer free or reduced cost items to low income families in the area. Usually, churches will advertise that they have these pantries but it never hurts to give them a call and ask. You will find that some churches will do random produce giveaways, drive up grocery giveaways and even have a clothing closet to help men and women who are in need of business attire for interviews. Don’t be embarrassed, we are all here to care for one another. Check out catholic and SDA churches first.

Breadbeckers –
This organization has many varieties of wheat and baking items available that they order in bulk generally every month or so and you can place a group order with them and pick up on a specific date. Search their website to find a local chapter in your area.

Facebook Barter Group –
In FL, we have a “cottage kitchen law” that allows for us to prepare food items in our own home for the purpose of selling to individuals on a small scale. However, it allows us to be able to prepare items that we can use for bartering during difficult times. Search in facebook groups to locate a bartering group in your area, be sure to not only search by city name but by county as well.

Local Farmer –
Some farmers will either come into a single meeting point or deliver to your home. Search online to find farmers who will offer a variety of meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables and even soap products.

Wild Forage –
This specific option requires that you do the work of learning how to properly identify local plant life and mushrooms. You can join a local foraging group that goes out into the wilderness to help you identify which foods are safe to eat raw or cooked. Bring a camera or your phone to take pictures and a notepad for writing down important information in regards to certain plant species. Take multiple trips with experienced foraging throughout the seasons before you strike out on your own. Be aware that many poisonous plants can cause reactions from skin rashes to nausea and even death, especially mushrooms.

Grow A Garden –
You can find a selection of annual and perennial seeds online or at local stores that will allow you to be in charge of growing your own food. Do as much research as you can on terms like organic, heirloom and hybrid varieties before just tossing some seeds in the dirt. There are numerous videos online on how to start gardening for either cheap or free.

Local Butcher or Meat Market –
While most Americans today have never visited a meat market or fish monger, they are still operating in most urban and suburban areas today. Search online to find local shops and check out store websites to get an idea of what prices and meat selection are available. You can frequently get custom cuts of meat and seafood at these locations. Be aware that when entering these places, the smell of raw meat or seafood may be a bit over powering and those with weak stomachs should stay in the car.

Local Bakery or Pastry Shop (i.e. Panera) –
Search around your area for local mom and pop stores that may carry a variety of desserts, breads and even soups that may end up being cheaper than the grocery store. Become close with the workers to find out if they ever mark down prices on specific days or times when it would be beneficial for you to stop by. At our previous churches, we could stop in at a local Panera and pick up any remaining bread that was handed out to families in financial difficulties.

Discount Bread Stores –
Similar to a regular bakery, these stores are a discount operation usually located in poorer communities that allow breads and pastries to be sold at a great discount. This bread is not always fresh but typically is still within it’s expiration date. Many years ago, when I was a kid we would visit a Merlita bread discount store to pick up sandwich bread and treats for our packed school lunches. Most bakery items can be repacked and frozen for later dates if you score a really good deal.

Amazon –
While people have a variety of feelings towards this company, during times of difficulty you may need to set aside your political feelings and do what is needed to secure food stuffs for your family. While Amazon offers dry goods, their sister store Whole Foods will offer a variety of other grocery items including refrigerated and frozen options.

Country Drive Through Stores –
If you live in a small town, you may notice that there’s a store that you can drive through to pick up items such as bread, ice cream, butter, milk and even alcohol. You can certainly take a look at the prices on their signs outside in the drive through line to compare them to what you normally pay.

Dent & Save Stores –
My mom and grandmother would frequently drag me along to these stores which carried the oddest variety of products thrown together under one roof. Ask around to others in your community as not every town or city will have them. They will frequently have an unrecognizable name that’s more mom and pop sounding. Take a trip through one of these locations with your price book. Be aware of expirations, spillage, swelling of cans, or other general conditions that would make for unsafe eating. My mom would frequently find hard to find items at these locations and you may to. Have low expectations because these stores tend to not be well kept up and items may not even make it to the shelf but appear as full cases just sitting on an end cap.

Local Bookstores –
In many bookstores there is usually a little coffee shop with gourmet food stuffs that may be advantageous for you to check out. Just a simple visit should give you an idea of what they offer. You can strike up conversations with the workers to see if they ever mark down the pastries or have sales on prepackaged coffee.

Local Milk Man –
While the local milk man delivering dairy to communities may seem like a thing of the past, the reality is that in some communities it still continues on to this day. In fact, it’s quite common in the UK to find milk men making their rounds through neighborhoods each week. Depending on the facilities the farmer may have, you can find offerings like yogurt, cream, whole milk, low fat milk, chocolate milk, kefir, butter and even ice cream. Ask around or search online for local dairies nearby.

While I’m sure I’ll miss a place or two, this is a nice jumping off point for those interested. Please feel free to shoot me your suggestions for where you have found odd places to pick up groceries.

Remember! –
* Avoid swollen cans or cracked jars
* Avoid anything with mold (except delicious cheeses – YUM!)
* Watch expiration dates – while these aren’t always 100% accurate they can be a great indicator
* Avoid anything that sounds too good to be true! ($1.00 steaks is just suspect)
* Avoid anything that looks discolored or off
* If a strong odor is making it’s way through the package, it’s usually best to avoid it altogether
* Pay attention to quantity and ounces
* Read labels for unsafe ingredients or added sugar/fat

Happy Hunting!