I live in New Zealand as you all know and have always been fascinated by some of the food products you guys have in the USA. Just so happens we have some store here called "Martha's Backyard" - obviously a play on Martha's Vineyard and they sell a range of American food products.

.

Their range is pretty good and I would buy some, but are put off by the prices. Just out of interest, I am going to list some stuff I saw in there and if any of you kind Americans can tell me what these items generally cost there. Apologies if I get some brand names wrong and sizes.

.

At the moment our dollar is buying 65 cents and at its lowest in years, but some of these prices are just skytoppical. All prices in New Zealand dollars

.

Lays Chips - 80 grams - $3 each

Kool Aid - Per little sachet that makes 2 quarts - $1 each

Cheetos - Puffs, 8 ounce packet - $7.90 and $8.50

Aunt Jemima ORIGINAL pancake stuff - $10.90

Folgers coffee crystals plastic bottle that makes 240 cups - $29.90

Lucky Charms cereal (11 or 12oz box I think) - $8 each

Arizona Drink - 1 pint bottle - $5 each

M and Ms share packs (9 or 10oz I think) - $8.30 each

Oreos - small packet - $4 each

Pop tarts - 6 pack - $6.95

Jello - Small box about 4 inches square - $4 each

.

I just want to know what level of rip off we are getting here. I would expect x2 the price American given the low dollar and 15% GST added on imports and some duty, but my guess is these items are 3 x what they are in the states.

.

The quality is not that shit hot either, most close to expiry date and many dented cans and packages, the Aunt Jemima was in a plastic bag as some had spilled out.

Purplegarden said:

I live in New Zealand as you all know and have always been fascinated by some of the food products you guys have in the USA. Just so happens we have some store here called "Martha's Backyard" - obviously a play on Martha's Vineyard and they sell a range of American food products.

.

Their range is pretty good and I would buy some, but are put off by the prices. Just out of interest, I am going to list some stuff I saw in there and if any of you kind Americans can tell me what these items generally cost there. Apologies if I get some brand names wrong and sizes.

.

At the moment our dollar is buying 65 cents and at its lowest in years, but some of these prices are just skytoppical. All prices in New Zealand dollars

.

Lays Chips - 80 grams - $3 each

Kool Aid - Per little sachet that makes 2 quarts - $1 each

Cheetos - Puffs, 8 ounce packet - $7.90 and $8.50

Aunt Jemima ORIGINAL pancake stuff - $10.90

Folgers coffee crystals plastic bottle that makes 240 cups - $29.90

Lucky Charms cereal (11 or 12oz box I think) - $8 each

Arizona Drink - 1 pint bottle - $5 each

M and Ms share packs (9 or 10oz I think) - $8.30 each

Oreos - small packet - $4 each

Pop tarts - 6 pack - $6.95

Jello - Small box about 4 inches square - $4 each

.

I just want to know what level of rip off we are getting here. I would expect x2 the price American given the low dollar and 15% GST added on imports and some duty, but my guess is these items are 3 x what they are in the states.

.

The quality is not that shit hot either, most close to expiry date and many dented cans and packages, the Aunt Jemima was in a plastic bag as some had spilled out.

Kool Aid pack are around 20cents.

Folgers coffee is around 6.95 it's been on sale for 4.99

Pop Tarts 6 pack is around 3.95 although this week they have a 12 pack for 4.95

Jello is around 80cents

Lucky Charms around 4.95

Arizona Drink is around 3.00

Cheetos are aound 4.00

Cool thanks

.

Apart from the Kool Aid and the coffee, it actually looks like our prices are reasonable.

Just for comparison, NZ prices fro similar products

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100 gram pack of instant coffee (3.5oz) = $2 budget, $7 good quality, $4 if on special)

Raro drink (Our kool aid) 99 cents for 3 packs of 100grams of coloured sugar each

Pop tarts = no equivalent

Cereal (300 gram box) Home brands $2 each, Top of the line Kelloggs - $5 to $8

Chips, 150 gram bag (Health Nazis ban larger sizes) about 5 or 6 oz - $1.49 budget, $3 good, $5 at petrol station.

Canned fruit drank - $2 a can I guess for Fresh up

M and M's 180 gram (7 oz) bag (Made in Australia) $5 or $3 on special

Oreos (Biskit persatuan) Indonesian made 90 grams (3 oz) - 48 cents or $1 at most. Better quality Australian or NZ made, 200 grams = $3

Twisties (Cheetos like extruded snack) 3.5oz bag = $2.49 to $1 on special

Purplegarden said:

Cool thanks

.

Apart from the Kool Aid and the coffee, it actually looks like our prices are reasonable.

Just for comparison, NZ prices fro similar products

.

100 gram pack of instant coffee (3.5oz) = $2 budget, $7 good quality, $4 if on special)

Raro drink (Our kool aid) 99 cents for 3 packs of 100grams of coloured sugar each

Pop tarts = no equivalent

Cereal (300 gram box) Home brands $2 each, Top of the line Kelloggs - $5 to $8

Chips, 150 gram bag (Health Nazis ban larger sizes) about 5 or 6 oz - $1.49 budget, $3 good, $5 at petrol station.

Canned fruit drank - $2 a can I guess for Fresh up

M and M's 180 gram (7 oz) bag (Made in Australia) $5 or $3 on special

Oreos (Biskit persatuan) Indonesian made 90 grams (3 oz) - 48 cents or $1 at most. Better quality Australian or NZ made, 200 grams = $3

Twisties (Cheetos like extruded snack) 3.5oz bag = $2.49 to $1 on special

Doesn't sound too bad then.

PennyPurple said:

Purplegarden said:

I live in New Zealand as you all know and have always been fascinated by some of the food products you guys have in the USA. Just so happens we have some store here called "Martha's Backyard" - obviously a play on Martha's Vineyard and they sell a range of American food products.

.

Their range is pretty good and I would buy some, but are put off by the prices. Just out of interest, I am going to list some stuff I saw in there and if any of you kind Americans can tell me what these items generally cost there. Apologies if I get some brand names wrong and sizes.

.

At the moment our dollar is buying 65 cents and at its lowest in years, but some of these prices are just skytoppical. All prices in New Zealand dollars

.

Lays Chips - 80 grams - $3 each

Kool Aid - Per little sachet that makes 2 quarts - $1 each

Cheetos - Puffs, 8 ounce packet - $7.90 and $8.50

Aunt Jemima ORIGINAL pancake stuff - $10.90

Folgers coffee crystals plastic bottle that makes 240 cups - $29.90

Lucky Charms cereal (11 or 12oz box I think) - $8 each

Arizona Drink - 1 pint bottle - $5 each

M and Ms share packs (9 or 10oz I think) - $8.30 each

Oreos - small packet - $4 each

Pop tarts - 6 pack - $6.95

Jello - Small box about 4 inches square - $4 each

.

I just want to know what level of rip off we are getting here. I would expect x2 the price American given the low dollar and 15% GST added on imports and some duty, but my guess is these items are 3 x what they are in the states.

.

The quality is not that shit hot either, most close to expiry date and many dented cans and packages, the Aunt Jemima was in a plastic bag as some had spilled out.

Kool Aid pack are around 20cents.

Folgers coffee is around 6.95 it's been on sale for 4.99

Pop Tarts 6 pack is around 3.95 although this week they have a 12 pack for 4.95

Jello is around 80cents

Lucky Charms around 4.95

Arizona Drink is around 3.00

Cheetos are aound 4.00

And cheaper if you buy at Costco:

3 boxes of cereal for 8 bucks.

Cheeto's super sized for 4.50

18 pack of pop tarts 6 bucks.

sonshine said:

It is also going to depend upon where in the U.S. you live. Parts of the country have a higher cost of living than others. Where i live in the upper midwest our prices are lower than what was stated above. Lays Chips - 80 grams - $2.00 Kool Aid - Per little sachet that makes 2 quarts - 10 packets for $1.00 Cheetos - Puffs, 8 ounce packet - $3.00 Aunt Jemima ORIGINAL pancake stuff - $3.00 Folgers coffee crystals plastic bottle that makes 240 cups - $4.99 Lucky Charms cereal (11 or 12oz box I think) - $3.00 each Arizona Drink - 1 pint bottle - $1.00 M and Ms share packs (9 or 10oz I think) - $3.00 Oreos - small packet - $3.00 Pop tarts - 6 pack - between $2-3.00 Jello - Small box about 4 inches square - $.50

Wow thats cheap, the coffee thing at $5, thats like $8.50 here, so 3.25 x the price.

sonshine said:

It is also going to depend upon where in the U.S. you live. Parts of the country have a higher cost of living than others. Where i live in the upper midwest our prices are lower than what was stated above. Lays Chips - 80 grams - $2.00 Kool Aid - Per little sachet that makes 2 quarts - 10 packets for $1.00 Cheetos - Puffs, 8 ounce packet - $3.00 Aunt Jemima ORIGINAL pancake stuff - $3.00 Folgers coffee crystals plastic bottle that makes 240 cups - $4.99 Lucky Charms cereal (11 or 12oz box I think) - $3.00 each Arizona Drink - 1 pint bottle - $1.00 M and Ms share packs (9 or 10oz I think) - $3.00 Oreos - small packet - $3.00 Pop tarts - 6 pack - between $2-3.00 Jello - Small box about 4 inches square - $.50

Lately(within the past month or so), here in San Diego, food seems to be going up. Usually though, the prices you mentioned sound about right(at Walmart, Grocery Outlet, and sometimes Food 4 Less). I somewhat frequently drink Arizona drinks and lately there's been a lot of 2 for a dollar deals on the 16 23 ouncers. And Kool Aid is usually around 20 cents each. Lays Chips are about $2.50, and at Grocery Outlet, a Pop Tarts 6 pack goes for around $1.80(generic goes for one dollar, and to me tastes just the same).


Also, this is somewhat off topic but i trip out on people who spend hundreds of dollars a month on food. Mainly by constantly eating out or by not being a smart shopper. I've heard stories about one person households spending $300 plus dollars a month on food and drink, and that's something i don't quite understand. I can somewhat see someone who lives in a food desert spending that much a month on food, or maybe someone who works a lot, and doesn't have a lot of time to cook. Other that that, why spend more for something that if you do a little shopping around, you can save hundreds a dollars a year on? Usually i spend less than 50 bucks a week on food, and i never go hungry. I eat a lot of chicken(starting to get tired of it though) and at my corner meat market, drumsticks and thighs go for around 77 cents a pound. And sometimes less. I also eat ground turkey, and i usually get that for 3 pounds for 6 dollars.

[Edited 10/12/18 22:48pm]

JoeyC said:

sonshine said:

JoeyC said:

Lately(within the past month or so), here in San Diego, food seems to be going up. Usually though, the prices you mentioned sound about right(at Walmart, Grocery Outlet, and sometimes Food 4 Less). I somewhat frequently drink Arizona drinks and lately there's been a lot of 2 for a dollar deals on the 16 23 ouncers. And Kool Aid is usually around 20 cents each. Lays Chips are about $2.50, and at Grocery Outlet, a Pop Tarts 6 pack goes for around $1.80(generic goes for one dollar, and to me tastes just the same).


Also, this is somewhat off topic but i trip out on people who spend hundreds of dollars a month on food. Mainly by constantly eating out or by not being a smart shopper. I've heard stories about one person households spending $300 plus dollars a month on food and drink, and that's something i don't quite understand. I can somewhat see someone who lives in a food desert spending that much a month on food, or maybe someone who works a lot, and doesn't have a lot of time to cook. Other that that, why spend more for something that if you do a little shopping around, you can save hundreds a dollars a year on? Usually i spend less than 50 bucks a week on food, and i never go hungry. I eat a lot of chicken(starting to get tired of it though) and at my corner meat market, drumsticks and thighs go for around 77 cents a pound. And sometimes less. I also eat ground turkey, and i usually get that for 3 pounds for 6 dollars.

[Edited 10/12/18 22:48pm]

When my kids were all still at home I spent about $600/month on groceries. But there were a total of six of us in the household at one point.

Oh yeah, i totally get that. Feeding a family is expensive.

JoeyC said:

sonshine said:

JoeyC said: When my kids were all still at home I spent about $600/month on groceries. But there were a total of six of us in the household at one point.

Oh yeah, i totally get that. Feeding a family is expensive.

The pair of us in my house are big guys and we cook 95% of all our food, have our own veges and are supplied homekilled meat in addition to store meat. We can easily get by on $120 a week in food for both of us (Thats $75 American).

.

Its good quality, but not boujie food like Caviar, Champagne and sirloin steak, but not crap like Pasta or heat and eat either.

Southern Cali is an expensive region to be in, but we are blessed with the 99 cent store. Sometimes you get major brands, sometimes you don't but it definitely broadens your food choices especially on a budget. It can get ridiculous the amount of food stuff they have.


https://happyherbivore.co...groceries/