{"items": [{"author": "Marvin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779542927602", "anchor": "fb-779542927602", "service": "fb", "text": "I'm kind of surprised that someone who focuses so much on doing good with donations doesn't factor in the quality of business you are supporting with Costco vs. Market Basket, or is that just another entry?", "timestamp": "1459910458"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779542927602&reply_comment_id=779543546362", "anchor": "fb-779542927602_779543546362", "service": "fb", "text": "→ @Marvin: For the most part I don't think it makes sense to focus on the quality of the business:
* It's very hard to evaluate the effects of businesses. Is it better for a grocery store to have low prices so more people can afford the food they need, or higher prices because they offer good wages and benefits to their employees?
* The budget savings from going with cheaper businesses (and products) are generally pretty substantial, enough that the additional donations they let you make are probably able to have a bigger positive effect than you could have by buying elsewhere.", "timestamp": "1459910982"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779542927602&reply_comment_id=779549195042", "anchor": "fb-779542927602_779549195042", "service": "fb", "text": "→ For your average person who isn't actually going to donate all the savings, this calculation looks very different. But I think Jeff's analysis checks out \u2014 if you're actually going to donate what you save, you can probably do better in most cases by just getting the cheap one.", "timestamp": "1459915621"}, {"author": "Bob", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779542927602&reply_comment_id=779550118192", "anchor": "fb-779542927602_779550118192", "service": "fb", "text": "→ the comment here begs the question of \"quality of business\". do you know the QoB of Costco? if you do some research on that, you will be Very surprised. they have some of the very best management in US business, extremely loyal and happy employees, and their pharmacy sells drugs at actual cost (you don't even have to be a member for that, you can just say at the door you're going to the pharmacy and they'll let you in).", "timestamp": "1459916426"}, {"author": "Dave", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779542927602&reply_comment_id=779570547252", "anchor": "fb-779542927602_779570547252", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Both companies have very good reputations in terms of how they treat their employees. I usually don't shop at non-union grocery stores, but these are two that I make exceptions for.", "timestamp": "1459940946"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779542927602&reply_comment_id=779583381532", "anchor": "fb-779542927602_779583381532", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Market Basket almost seems like they might as well be union. I've never seen another non-unionized place unite that way for a long-term strike for any purpose.", "timestamp": "1459948655"}, {"author": "Peter", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779544903642", "anchor": "fb-779544903642", "service": "fb", "text": "I had a hunch that Market Basket was about as cheap as Costco with the added convenience of not having to buy such big quantities. Unfortunately, we eat only kosher beef and poultry which is generally not available at Market Basket. Lastly, we buy a few non-food items at Costco each year which also helps to defray the cost of the membership.", "timestamp": "1459911905"}, {"author": "Lisa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779544903642&reply_comment_id=779584389512", "anchor": "fb-779544903642_779584389512", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I recently found Wegman's to be a good source of kosher foods. Cheaper than the Butcherie, but more expensive than Market Basket for anything I can get there.", "timestamp": "1459949529"}, {"author": "Peter", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779544903642&reply_comment_id=779592039182", "anchor": "fb-779544903642_779592039182", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I'm looking forward to the Wegman's opening in Medford at the site of the old Meadow Glen Mall.", "timestamp": "1459953899"}, {"author": "Matthew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779544903642&reply_comment_id=779678465982", "anchor": "fb-779544903642_779678465982", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Costco is much less for chicken and beef. We go there to stock up about once a month. $4.99/lb for boneless skinless breasts, 5lb package.
We bring it home and package with sauces, and freeze.
Overall, trader joes isn't bad, either.", "timestamp": "1459993251"}, {"author": "Peter", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779544903642&reply_comment_id=779690022822", "anchor": "fb-779544903642_779690022822", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Wegman's has Jack's sausage which I haven't seen at Costco for over a year.", "timestamp": "1459998816"}, {"author": "Matthew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779544903642&reply_comment_id=779690052762", "anchor": "fb-779544903642_779690052762", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Peter they have them now - kosher for Passover. Sweet Italian. Seems like it might only be a Passover time thing, considering.", "timestamp": "1459998864"}, {"author": "Matthew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779544903642&reply_comment_id=779690102662", "anchor": "fb-779544903642_779690102662", "service": "fb", "text": "→ But the butcherie has many other types, too. Also, check out grow and behold.", "timestamp": "1459998902"}, {"author": "Kiran", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545173102", "anchor": "fb-779545173102", "service": "fb", "text": "Your analysis is only useful if you have access to a MB. They're about 20% cheaper than *any* other supermarket I have ever visited, including Walmart.", "timestamp": "1459912098"}, {"author": "Christine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472", "anchor": "fb-779545986472", "service": "fb", "text": "There is no Market Basket near me, now.
But, when I lived in Salem, there was one.
But, the store was small, confusing isles, crowded, and they didn't carry specialty foods (like dairy alternatives), that I needed. I didn't like to shop there.
It made no financial sense to me to have to grocery shop at several stores.
Now, I am limited to bike or T, so shopping becomes what is convenient for me to get to.
Weekdays, I go to either the Harvest Coop, or Stop & Shop, as they are nearly along my biking commute.
But, only for a few items.
I do my major shopping on the weekend at Roche Brothers.
For me the prices and options are good. Plus they have a very good gluten free section.
Also, why are you using disposable diapers? I would think that cloth would be more financially and ecologically economical.", "timestamp": "1459912832"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779549474482", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779549474482", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Yes to a greater need for convenient locations when you get around on bike and T. The cheapest grocery store within reasonable distance of us is definitely Market Basket in Union Square. But, we end up going to Stop and Shop most of the time because it's right at the bus stop when we head to or from nearly anywhere we might need to go. The extra 45 minutes to an hour commuting is hard to justify.", "timestamp": "1459915846"}, {"author": "Christine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779549943542", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779549943542", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Daniel the time spent to get to someplace not along your usual route should be included in the final cost of shopping.", "timestamp": "1459916313"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779550163102", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779550163102", "service": "fb", "text": "→ It's hard to figure out the conversion, because I wouldn't necessarily be working in that time otherwise, but I rarely make a trip just for the grocery store. I used to have a once-a-week bike trip that took me past Market Basket, and I'd stock up on my way home, but I don't often have reason to be down that way any more.", "timestamp": "1459916454"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779570507332", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779570507332", "service": "fb", "text": "→ @Christine: we started off using cloth diapers, primarily for cost reasons, but we didn't find it's to be cheaper. Buying cloth diapers new costs more than disposable, so we bought used. But then some of them leaked, so we needed to buy more, and we had few enough that we were doing laundry daily which was a large time sink.
Disposables cost about $220/year, while doing diaper laundry daily for a year is $150, and then there's the cost of the diapers.", "timestamp": "1459940917"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779570691962", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779570691962", "service": "fb", "text": "→ @Christine, @Daniel: I'm not talking here about doing to Market Basket or Costco for regular shopping; this is going quarterly for giant shops for things that will keep.
(We don't have a car, and I'm talking about buying multiple grocery carts worth, so for these it's borrowing a car or using zip car.)", "timestamp": "1459941079"}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779572273792", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779572273792", "service": "fb", "text": "→ If it's Zipcar, that makes the Instacart option less relatively expensive than it would be.", "timestamp": "1459942767"}, {"author": "Christine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779579394522", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779579394522", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman ah, ok.
I have neither the storage space or the freezer space for shopping quarterly.
I shop on an as needed basis. Usually what I can carry in a back pack, or a pannier.
Except for when I go on weekends, then I can take my bike trailer.", "timestamp": "1459945413"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779579479352", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779579479352", "service": "fb", "text": "→ @Christine: \"I have neither the storage space or the freezer space for shopping quarterly.\"
Yes, it depends on storage space. When we were in a small apartment we would buy as-needed, but now we have a basement so we can store extra stuff. (And having a basement meant there was a place to put a chest freezer, so we can buy extra of frozen stuff too.)", "timestamp": "1459945505"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779545986472&reply_comment_id=779583576142", "anchor": "fb-779545986472_779583576142", "service": "fb", "text": "→ We probably have enough storage space for stuff that will keep at room temperature, but not tons of extra frozen stuff.", "timestamp": "1459948796"}, {"author": "Elizabeth", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779546300842", "anchor": "fb-779546300842", "service": "fb", "text": "Possible hack: instacart. Costco doesn't guarantee in store prices but they're still cheaper than other stores I've compared to. $10/delivery is cheaper than membership, before you consider the time and effort savings.", "timestamp": "1459913342"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779546300842&reply_comment_id=779579673962", "anchor": "fb-779546300842_779579673962", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I just checked instacart for the things where they had the largest advantage:
* Vegan Chocolate Chips: $2.22 at Costco, $3.99 at MB, $2.71 on Instacart
* Cashews: $5.96 at Costco, $7.46 at Star, $7.25 on Instacart
* Prunes: $2.54 at Costco, $3.72 at MB, $3.11 on Instacart
* Canola Oil: $5.00 at Costco, $6.65 at MB, $6.19 on Instacart
With the delivery charge, we might be able to place a large enough order to make it worth it, though I'm not sure.", "timestamp": "1459945697"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779546300842&reply_comment_id=779580013282", "anchor": "fb-779546300842_779580013282", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I just looked at Google's \"Shopping Express\", and it looks like they're showing in-store pricing:
* Vegan Chocolate Chips: $2.22
* Cashews: $5.96
* Prunes: not listed
* Canola Oil: $5.06
But they require a Costco membership, so that's no good. (Delivery is $5.)
At the least, though, it's a good way to look up what costco's in-store prices are online!", "timestamp": "1459946012"}, {"author": "Mycroft", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992", "anchor": "fb-779547223992", "service": "fb", "text": "A lot of this also depends on taste. E.g., I eat Cabot cheddar and Teddie peanut butter, neither of which meet those MB prices. (Costco doesn't sell Teddie.)", "timestamp": "1459914107"}, {"author": "Phillip", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992&reply_comment_id=779547468502", "anchor": "fb-779547223992_779547468502", "service": "fb", "text": "→ If I read you right you are saying the cabot is cheaper at MB which is certainly what I have found. Dramatically cheaper than stop and shop.\b\b", "timestamp": "1459914307"}, {"author": "Mycroft", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992&reply_comment_id=779547508422", "anchor": "fb-779547223992_779547508422", "service": "fb", "text": "→ It's cheapest (by weight) at Costco, but only a little. Then again, I don't have a local MB anymore.", "timestamp": "1459914366"}, {"author": "Phillip", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992&reply_comment_id=779547568302", "anchor": "fb-779547223992_779547568302", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Interesting, thanks", "timestamp": "1459914423"}, {"author": "Julia", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992&reply_comment_id=779583830632", "anchor": "fb-779547223992_779583830632", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I saw Teddie pb and Cabot cheddar at Costco on Saturday.", "timestamp": "1459949004"}, {"author": "Mycroft", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992&reply_comment_id=779584264762", "anchor": "fb-779547223992_779584264762", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Julia: Which Costco? And the jarred stuff, or the tub (which has sugar added)?", "timestamp": "1459949397"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992&reply_comment_id=779587977322", "anchor": "fb-779547223992_779587977322", "service": "fb", "text": "→ @Mycroft: Gateway Center Costco, in Everett.
Their Teddie PB was 2lb of \"old fashioned all natural peanut butter\" in plastic: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/shopping...
According to google express it's $2.35/lb.", "timestamp": "1459952006"}, {"author": "Mycroft", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992&reply_comment_id=779588092092", "anchor": "fb-779547223992_779588092092", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Nice. I guess I didn't notice when they started stocking that.", "timestamp": "1459952074"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547223992&reply_comment_id=779609154882", "anchor": "fb-779547223992_779609154882", "service": "fb", "text": "→ The Teddie factory is right across Route 16 from Costco. Does this count as local food?", "timestamp": "1459963914"}, {"author": "Phillip", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547358722", "anchor": "fb-779547358722", "service": "fb", "text": "When I was in college almost 40 years ago my marketing professor said that Demoulas (what it was called then)\b killed most competitors with a few mile radius. When i lost my local grocery store (foodmaster) I went to stop and shop and had sticker shock at the prices and found the service to be pretty bad. I tried the Burlington Marketbasket and found the prices much better and the service much better and the store cleaner.\b\b\b", "timestamp": "1459914241"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547358722&reply_comment_id=779550317792", "anchor": "fb-779547358722_779550317792", "service": "fb", "text": "→ DeMoulas and Market Basket used to be two separate chains, by the two brothers who later merged them into Market Basket. I don't think they were very different, but you did have some called DeMoulas and others Market Basket at the same time.", "timestamp": "1459916588"}, {"author": "Christine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547538362", "anchor": "fb-779547538362", "service": "fb", "text": "Another factor to look into is if the food is produced locally.
I include all of New England and New York, as being fairly local.
Not that I always buy local, but sometimes it is a factor.", "timestamp": "1459914382"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547538362&reply_comment_id=779577049222", "anchor": "fb-779547538362_779577049222", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Why do you prioritize buying things within NE/NY?", "timestamp": "1459943347"}, {"author": "Christine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547538362&reply_comment_id=779579125062", "anchor": "fb-779547538362_779579125062", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman for the same reason I try to shop at the local farmers market, it's good for the local economy, more jobs within this area, less transportation costs, better for the environment.
It is true that I can't buy everything only made in NE/NY, but when I can, I don't mind spending a little more.
Plus, local farmers market veggies are more tasty!", "timestamp": "1459945164"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547538362&reply_comment_id=779579594122", "anchor": "fb-779547538362_779579594122", "service": "fb", "text": "→ \"it's good for the local economy, more jobs within this area\"
I guess I don't see a reason to value people here earning money over people somewhere else earning money? Everyone matters wherever they are.
\"less transportation costs, better for the environment\"
This depends a lot on the product, mostly because shipping is incredibly cheap and efficient, even after accounting for the terrible fuel they burn in international waters.
\"local farmers market veggies are more tasty!\"
Not going to argue there! Fresher produce is often a lot better. I'm mostly thinking here about things that keep, though, where it's not a problem if the food took a long, slow, efficient trip from far away.", "timestamp": "1459945652"}, {"author": "Dana", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547538362&reply_comment_id=779592223812", "anchor": "fb-779547538362_779592223812", "service": "fb", "text": "→ The further removed you are from the source, the more your money gets diluted, with more of it going to the big businesses and less to the producers and workers. I know when I buy food at the farmers' market, my dollars are all going directly to the people who worked to grow the food. That's a big incentive for me, even if the costs are higher.", "timestamp": "1459954069"}, {"author": "Abbe", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547538362&reply_comment_id=779596081082", "anchor": "fb-779547538362_779596081082", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I just bought a 3lb bag of Macintosh apples, from Carlson orchards in Harvard MA, at market basket in Somerville. For perhaps $1.25 a lb. Also they regularly have fiddleheads during local fiddlehead season. I can't imagine they're hippie-sourcing everything, but they are also not automatically shipping in only massive agribusiness produce from afar.", "timestamp": "1459956252"}, {"author": "Rich", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547538362&reply_comment_id=779598970292", "anchor": "fb-779547538362_779598970292", "service": "fb", "text": "→ \"less transportation costs, better for the environment.\"
That part isn't necessarily true at all. It depends greatly on load sizes. A big load, even if shipped from a long ways away, can very easily have lower per-piece transportation costs and lower per-piece environmental impact than a small load shipped even in-state.", "timestamp": "1459957385"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547538362&reply_comment_id=779696060722", "anchor": "fb-779547538362_779696060722", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff -- I would say that supporting local farmers and local businesses can help provide a local community that is pleasant to live in. Sad about the transportation costs being so non-intuitively in favor of long-distance trucking, but if you want the locally-grown fresh produce, you need to keep the local producers in business.
I shop at brick&mortar bookstores for similar reasons -- I know that I could get many of the books cheaper on-line, but I enjoy the serendipitous experience of shopping in person.", "timestamp": "1460000806"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547558322", "anchor": "fb-779547558322", "service": "fb", "text": "Some things that could push the balance over (in either direction): a) Supposedly, Costco has an exceptionally cheap pharmacy, at least for prescription medications (I have not checked this), b) Costco has fabulous lifetime warranties on all non-food items (which I *have* tested), c) Costco has all sorts of non-food items that you might also benefit from getting there, d) on the other hand, while both Costco and MB have large parking lots, MBs, in my limited experience, are usually located in walkable neighborhoods and serve the community in that way, which is not at all true of CostCo. On the \"quality of business\" front, both have loyal employees that they seem to treat well (unlike Walmart).", "timestamp": "1459914401"}, {"author": "Bob", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547558322&reply_comment_id=779550222982", "anchor": "fb-779547558322_779550222982", "service": "fb", "text": "→ i Have checked Costco on the drugs, and yes, they are sold not only \"exceptionally cheap\", but in fact at Actual Cost. and that is available to anyone, not just members.", "timestamp": "1459916543"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547558322&reply_comment_id=779550477472", "anchor": "fb-779547558322_779550477472", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Bob, I didn't think you could buy from CostCo at all without membership. Is the pharmacy separate from the groceries in this way?", "timestamp": "1459916700"}, {"author": "Mycroft", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547558322&reply_comment_id=779557643112", "anchor": "fb-779547558322_779557643112", "service": "fb", "text": "→ \"Costco's pharmacies are open to non-members where required by state law.\"", "timestamp": "1459921707"}, {"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547558322&reply_comment_id=779580582142", "anchor": "fb-779547558322_779580582142", "service": "fb", "text": "→ We've been to Costco pharmacy twice as non-members. The first time, we got a prescription and one or two OTC items. The second time, we went for just an OTC thing, and they told us they weren't supposed to let non-members make a purchase including only OTC items (but they let us do it anyway, since we had come specifically for that item, on the recent recollection of having bought it there).", "timestamp": "1459946511"}, {"author": "Abbe", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547558322&reply_comment_id=779596560122", "anchor": "fb-779547558322_779596560122", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Check market basket for OTC meds too. I haven't compared to Costco, but recently I got sent home from a doctor visit with a recommendation for short term use of OTC flonase. Picked it up at a chain drugstore without optimizing for price, vaguely raised my eyebrows at how much more the OTC brand name thing was that a generic prescription copay would have been. (Over $20). Happened to notice same item at market basket the following week for 30-40% less.", "timestamp": "1459956497"}, {"author": "Matthew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779547558322&reply_comment_id=779678685542", "anchor": "fb-779547558322_779678685542", "service": "fb", "text": "→ One way to use Costco without a membership is with a gift card. Anyone with a membership can get the cards, and anyone can use them.", "timestamp": "1459993346"}, {"author": "Matthew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779549020392", "anchor": "fb-779549020392", "service": "fb", "text": "Do any EAs post to MMM about their strategies? Could be a place to have some influence?", "timestamp": "1459915499"}, {"author": "Denise", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779549020392&reply_comment_id=779561530322", "anchor": "fb-779549020392_779561530322", "service": "fb", "text": "→ There was a blog post about Peter Singer's ways once I think.", "timestamp": "1459926499"}, {"author": "Frederic", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779556969462", "anchor": "fb-779556969462", "service": "fb", "text": "I found some specialty goods *much* cheaper at jet.com than at the local supermarket. You also get a large discount on your initial order.", "timestamp": "1459921095"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779556969462&reply_comment_id=779580427452", "anchor": "fb-779556969462_779580427452", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Testing them with some of the things where Costco did better, and I wasn't happy with their search function. Searching for \"cashews\" I see lots of options, most of them expensive, some of them not being cashews, and no way to sort by unit price. I think their cheapest option was $8.78, more than Costco or Star, but it was hard to tell.
Same with vegan chocolate chips: hard to tell what was cheap, not clear what was vegan, most things on [chocolate chips] were actually foods containing chocolate chips.", "timestamp": "1459946346"}, {"author": "Timothy", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779566310742", "anchor": "fb-779566310742", "service": "fb", "text": "Yay on living frugally! I laud your reading MrMoneyMustache.com as you've mentioned here and I like that you're comparing stores it gives you the ability to use both stores to your advantage.", "timestamp": "1459935345"}, {"author": "Katharine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779567208942", "anchor": "fb-779567208942", "service": "fb", "text": "Market Basket has good and cheap produce and meat. They carry my favorite cereal (Mueslix) where most other markets have dropped it, but generally don't have a big selection of packaged goods. I buy very little meat, but when I do, Market Basket is the low cost choice.", "timestamp": "1459937071"}, {"author": "David", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779569319712", "anchor": "fb-779569319712", "service": "fb", "text": "Hey Jeff Kaufman, I read MMM too. One thing clear to me is that he doesn't seem think very much about giving. What do you think? Am I missing something?", "timestamp": "1459939132"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779569319712&reply_comment_id=779577163992", "anchor": "fb-779569319712_779577163992", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I haven't read very much of his writing, but I do think you're right that he doesn't prioritize giving. On the other hand, living frugally so you can retire early and living frugally so you can donate more have a lot in common on a practical level, so there are a lot of good ideas there.", "timestamp": "1459943594"}, {"author": "David", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779569319712&reply_comment_id=779718351052", "anchor": "fb-779569319712_779718351052", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman I agree. These two visions have a lot to do with one another.", "timestamp": "1460024123"}, {"author": "Josh", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779584888512", "anchor": "fb-779584888512", "service": "fb", "text": "I do all my shopping at Trader Joe's anyway, and my sense is that they're cheaper for some things and more expensive for others.", "timestamp": "1459949814"}, {"author": "Dana", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779593196862", "anchor": "fb-779593196862", "service": "fb", "text": "It's an interesting idea that the money you save by buying at a cheap chain supermarket might be donated for greater positive effect elsewhere. But spending money in that order does nothing to change the current system of agribusiness and big food that's having such a huge negative environmental and health impact on our society. I feel that buying most of my food from local farmers or my local food coop, I am voting with my dollars on a better system. Maybe just being a mindful consumer isn't the way to change the food system in our country, and if anyone has any better ideas, I'd love to hear them. But I'd rather change that system than participate in it and then donate my money to issues that might not even exist if we had a more localized, environmentally healthy food system in the first place.", "timestamp": "1459954642"}, {"author": "Julie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779724833062", "anchor": "fb-779724833062", "service": "fb", "text": "I say both. Both are good companies that treat employees well. I stock up on staples at Costco and do everyday shopping at MB. Plus as a bonus, in the summer I can get my kid to bag my groceries at MB and ask for weird things like please put every item in an individual cardboard box because his coworkers don't know I'm his mom. \ud83d\ude01", "timestamp": "1460028709"}, {"author": "Kyle", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/779542563332?comment_id=779724833062&reply_comment_id=779859343502", "anchor": "fb-779724833062_779859343502", "service": "fb", "text": "→ The first time she did this I mentioned that she was my mother afterward, but after that I decided to just let them think she was crazy", "timestamp": "1460075350"}]}