Whether you are trying to save money or just trying to avoid the mass amount of people at Publix, it is not uncommon to search for other places to do your weekly grocery shopping. While pretty much any other grocery or convenient store in Tallahassee is less crowded than Club Pub, it can be hard to decipher which store is going to have the best prices. As a broke college student, it is essential to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck, especially since the average college student spends around $100 a week on food. Curious as to how I could save money, I examined the best places in Tallahassee to bring home the bacon -- literally. This is what I found...
Walmart:
First of all, Walmart is the best. No matter what I need I know that I can find it there. Need an outfit for an upcoming waltz? Walmart. Need something for dinner? Walmart. Need a cheap and somewhat decent manicure? Walmart. It was only natural that this would be where I started my journey for cheap groceries. First of all, a gallon of water is around 80 cents at Walmart. That’s about 20 cents cheaper than Publix. It may not seem like much, but those pennies add up. Frozen meats, such as fish, chicken, and shrimp are also cheaper at Walmart. Eggs and egg whites are around a dollar less at Wally-world. Although you may be saving some dollars, you will not be getting the grass-fed and organic meat that you would be getting at Publix. You can also save on deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Greek yogurt, and meal replacement shakes.
Dollar Store:
My next venture was to the dollar store. While you may think shopping at the dollar store will save you money, this is not always the case. However, for these few items, shopping at the dollar store is definitely the power move. Organic chicken pot pies are cheaper at the dollar store than any other local grocer, as is Italian ice. Popcorn, tortilla chips, pretzels, paper towels, garbage bags, and soda liters are up to two dollars cheaper per item at the dollar store as well. While they may not be name brand, the taste is the same, and imagine how many dollar doubles you can buy with that.
Publix:
All things considered, Publix does have some pretty great deals. Bagels, English muffins, cereals and many other bread products are almost always buy one, get one free. If you are buying nuts in bulk, Publix Greenwise section is much cheaper than buying pre-bagged nuts. Gatorade, Powerade, and single serving soda bottles are cheaper by about twelve cents at Publix than any other location. Publix does not have the lowest ticket price, but they have weekly deals and buy one, get one offers that make it a feasible starting point for grocery shopping.
Overall, If you are looking for the best deals, you are going to have to shop in more than one location. Fresh and non-processed food such as produce are best at Publix. Meat is cheapest at Walmart, and snacks are cheapest at the dollar store. The store you choose depends on what you are looking for. But with your precious dollars on the line, it is worth doing some investigating.
