Inflation Beaters: 12 Foods You Should Always Buy At Target

Here on the Upper East Side, it's hard to dislike Target, which opened Target Express retail stores in Manhattan beginning in 2018. One Target Express opened on my block in 2021, which thrilled the entire neighborhood. Unfortunately, many New York Moms and Pops are expensive. Although we love small businesses too, we also need to buy groceries and household goods at affordable price points, and mostly Target (as well as, Walmart) delivers. When it comes to food staples, what I appreciate about these big box stores is their consistently lower prices, meaning I don't have to wait to catch a weekly supermarket sale. Staples, already at lower prices at Target than most supermarkets, sometimes also become a loss leader item for an even lower price! Indeed, Target is doing very well in my neighborhood, and the retailer hasn't raised its prices to reflect inflation.

12 Foods that are Cheaper at Target (without a sale) include:

1) One gallon of milk - $2.99

2) Large Eggs - $1.99 per dozen (on sale last week for 99 cents/dozen)

3) Peanut butter - $5.29 - 40 oz.

4) Frozen orange juice - $1.99 - 12 oz. can

5) Butter - $3.99 - 16 oz. - 4 sticks

7) Spaghetti - 99 cents - 16 oz.

8) white or brown rice - 95 cents - 16 oz

9) Semi-sweet dark or white chocolate chips - $1.99 - 12 oz

10) Tomato sauce, salsa, and canned foods are often 20 cents - 50 cents less than at supermarkets. Also, dried spices are as much as $2 - $4 less than at supermarkets.

11) Unbleached all-purpose and whole-wheat flour - always list at the supermarket loss leader sale prices - $2.49 each.

12) A box of saltine crackers - $1.69, the supermarket loss leader price.

Target so consistently offers the lowest prices on these 12 food items therefore I don't need to find a supermarket sale. I simply walk to Target to pick them up. If online prices are less than in-store, your cashier will give you the lower price if you ask for it.

Target's store brands, Good & Gather and Market Pantry are usually as tasty as the name brand.

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I'm sorry Target discontinued their Oreo knockoff, it tastes 100% like Oreos. I'll have to try competitor Walmart's store brand of Oreos, which I'll show below:

Walmart's Oreo knockoff

Walmart's chocolate cookies with cream centers are half the price of Oreos also. Other Great Value food has been great ... except for saltine crackers which aren't as tasty as Target's house brand or other name brands.

Another winner is C-Town's store-brand soft Dutch Chocolate cookies (which is what Oreos are). They are without cream centers yet still delicious. Interestingly enough, we are charged $2.00 in Manhattan for the same package and quantity.

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A final Target tip: Be sure to buy milk, peanut butter, or eggs before you run out to avoid an empty shelf. It's annoying to run out and then have to wait for a shipment to arrive on key food items.

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Dry Nonfat Milk Is A Worthy Pantry Staple

Dry nonfat milk has many uses in cooking and baking, making it a good value. With a scoop, you can add protein to foods without having to adjust other ingredients as you would if using liquid milk. It's delicious added to a bowl of microwaved (1 minute, or 5 minute) Quaker oatmeal. I put dry powdered milk into bread and cake recipes. I also make Greek yogurt and smoothies with it. In addition, I buy a gallon of regular milk, but if I run out before I can get to the store, I use dry powdered milk in my coffee, or to drink. Naturally, fresh milk tastes better. But an ice-cold glass of reconstructed dry powdered milk is relatively good and tastes much better than having no milk to drink!

Some customers can find dry powdered milk cheaper than regular milk, not true in Manhattan, yet it is still a worthy staple to stock. Not sure why, but I have this unfounded fear of running out of milk. Dry nonfat milk never sours, and it keeps a long time.

From Walmart, I often order two 4 pound bags at once. During our pandemic, I was happy to have it in the pantry. Here are two recipes dry nonfat milk works well for:

I ate half warm before pouring it into a container to chill. Delish!

Rich Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:

10 tablespoons instant nonfat milk
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Up to 1/4 cup of sugar (I try to reduce sugar when possible.)
2 cups of water
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

1) Whisk all the ingredients together in a saucepan cold.

2) Turn on the heat on the stovetop and whisk continuously until it boils.

3) Whisk while the mixture simmers and thickens. This takes 4 - 5 minutes of simmering.

4) Pour into dessert dishes and refrigerate.

Creamy Whipped Topping

Ingredients:

1/3 cup ice-cold water
1/2 cup of nonfat dry milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

1) Pour ice-cold water in a mixing bowl.

2) Add the dry milk. Beat at high speed with a mixer until it stands in peaks. A tip: Chill the beaters and bowl before starting for the best results.

3) Add the sugar, vanilla and lemon juice. Beat, beat, beat until firm.

4) Chill and top pudding and desserts.

I will drink soy, oat, or almond milk, but in my home, I prefer cow's milk.

I like having items in my pantry so if I wish to make a dish, I don't have to run to the store first -- I never have to fetch a box of pudding mix, or whipped topping as I can reach for ingredients in my pantry to make them myself ... usually cheaper and I know what's in it. 


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Buy One Plus One

Ok, ruby earrings are a bit of a stretch, but it's difficult to find a Plus One image. So feast your eyes on these Effy designed beauties ... you select your image, and I'll select mine: One Plus One. Fits the bill!😅

One of my goals in life is to avoid clutter. Nearly all of my possessions are purchased mindfully, and I try to stay clear of overconsumption. A practical aim is to buy what we need, not more than what we need.

A few years ago I noticed I owned too many t-shirts and too many bars of scented soap. How did it happen? Every time Old Navy (makers of t-shirts, $3 promotions), as well as, Express, or Bath and Body Works (sellers of scented soap, $1 promotions), ran a sale, I couldn't resist the bargain prices and bought a few. One day when I saw how many I had, I decided to use and wear out the ones I owned before adding new ones. Done!

My new goal is to use the shampoo and hair conditioner I have stocked in my cabinet before buying more. While not excessive, I do have more than what I need, and it will take time to deplete my stash.

Photo: Shuterstock

How did it happen? Well, I sometimes buy 4 - 5 of Tried-and-True-Essentials in order to qualify for the best price, or free shipping. But now it's time to pause until I go through my supply. Once I'm nearly out, I plan to adopt a new rule: Buy one, plus a spare. Period! So often after we buy more than what we need, we lose interest in the commodity before we finish it. At times a new formula comes out that I'm dying to try, but instead, continue to use the old formula since I already paid for it and have no desire to waste product or my money.

So from now on, I will be doubly mindful: My new mindset is: Buy One, Plus One! (Except for toothpaste, which I tend to buy 6 - 10 (8.2 ounce tubes at Walmart) at a time. I mean, there's never a day we don't use toothpaste at least 3 times per day). That way I won't (1) worry about running out too soon; (2) have to run back to the store; (3) or buy more than what I truly need.

How many units of staples do you like to buy ... and is it triggered by an attempt to be thrifty? Give an example if you like.


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