Shopping
For bec :D...
I started keeping an excel worksheet here with my common stuff I buy, and the prices at local stores. So in my town, I have 3 asian grocers really nearby. And then a big western-style supermarket that's a bus trip down the hill. I've noticed that you can get greeeeeat deals by shopping ethnically for the right products. (Ethnically haha, not ethically).
At the asian grocers...
- fruits and veggies are really great and cheap.
- Frozen seafood, and fresh meat cost about half of regular grocers.
- And spices? Wow, maybe 1/3 the regular price, even for basil, oregano and western ones. Cinammon 1/10 the price.
- nuts like Cashews 1/5 the price. Etc.
- rice, really great prices and a huge range (a wall of rice)
- dairy products cost a lot more, maybe 50% more
- bread is pricey, and limited variety
- Western-style pastas costs more (but lots of eastern ones that are super-cheap)
Really ethnic things like soy sauce cost way way less at the asian grocers. And if you have any greek grocers, buy all your olive oil there, it will save you about $35 a can.