Comments on: Using Consumer Reports to Assemble Your Grocery List http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Andrew http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-699231 Andrew Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:17:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-699231 Be wary of putting all of your faith in one publication, even if it is CR. I usually find them to be spot on, except in the technology (computer)area. In this, they are almost always way off (in reliability and in capability, evidenced especially by older reviews of Acer computers, for instance). Perhaps I see this since it is my field of study. I wonder if anyone else has noticed significant issue with any of their sections or reviews…

]]> By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-690039 DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:36:43 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-690039 Nothing wrong with capturing value, but trying live off some recommended list is a bit of a challenge . . .

]]> By: Cathie http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-687849 Cathie Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:05:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-687849 Eight O’clock coffee has been our economical coffee choice for quite awhile. There are usually grocey store coupons nearby, and on occasion there are coupons printed inside the bag itself. Also Eight O’Clock has a consumer rewards program whereby you can earn, among other things, free coffee. And it’s really good coffee.

]]> By: TJ http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-687118 TJ Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:48:14 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-687118 You couldn’t pay me to drink any of the coffee listed. That said I don’t spend a ton on great coffee. I love the coffee from San Francisco Bay Coffee Roasters (http://www.gourmet-coffee.com) and they often sell this at the bulk stores like BJ’s. It tastes fantastic and isn’t overpriced.

]]> By: Kristin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686928 Kristin Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:52:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686928 I love this article, just like all your other articles. I wanted to let you know I did a blog post about it, because I find so much interesting reading here.

http://makingcentsoutoflife.blogspot.com/2009/06/interesting-reading-from-simple-dollar.html

]]> By: Monica http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686847 Monica Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:31:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686847 Most grocery items in Consumer Reports are not things I buy. I don’t buy breakfast cereal (I make my own granola and porridge instead), glass cleaner (I use vinegar and water in a spray bottle), or tub/tile cleaner (I scrub with baking soda). Sometimes the best deal is “none of the above”.

]]> By: Karen http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686652 Karen Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:03:55 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686652 I don’t get CR so this is an excellent post with great information for my next shopping trip. Thanks Trent!

]]> By: mellen http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686649 mellen Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:58:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686649 I wouldn’t buy any of the products you listed except maybe the Natural Peanut Butter (if I ate p.b. at all that is) and the Green Works Cleaner because the cereals all contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, the coffee brands were all terrible and the cleaners, with the exception of the Green Works, were all extremely bad for the environment. I’d rather put my dollars into more natural, healthy products as a way to force the makers of those products to make better products or get out of the market. I’d rather pay slightly more for green, sustainably produced products made by people not earning a sub-standard wage than to save a few cents (or dollars). HFCS, parabens, dioxins, sulfates, chlorine, BPA, phosphorous… how many chemicals do you want on your food, clothes and in your shampoo and moisturizer? Don’t get me started on products that use mineral oil; it’s made from the same source as motor oil. If people keep buying these things, manufacturers will keep making them.

]]> By: Tordr http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686627 Tordr Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:16:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686627 Why is Consumer Reports mentioned again?

You deleted your content relevant to them earlier because as you said “Consumer Reports has asked me to eliminate the content of my summaries and any other references to the content of Consumer Reports. I have complied.”

So if they do not want to be mentioned in your blog and you have complied then you should not make new postings about them less than one year after they asked you to take down posts. So the question for you is then: Will you remove this post if they complain again?

]]> By: sbt http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686625 sbt Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:15:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686625 I think this is great advice, EXCEPT, it leaves out the regional and store brands, where you will often find the best buy. For example, I buy the Mom’s Best equivalent of Honey Nut Cheerios. It is absolutely top quality, no cheap cereal staleness, or anything like that. It uses sugar, rather than high fructose corn syrup, if that is important to you. And it’s half the price of Cheerios.

So, I would say yes, check out Consumer Reports, but don’t forget to also check out the regional and store brands.

]]> By: Elderly librarian http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686613 Elderly librarian Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:58:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686613 Get your public library card out and access Consumer Reports from the library subscription databases that are available online for your reading pleasure from your library’s website.

]]> By: natalie http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686599 natalie Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:33:38 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686599 I clean houses for a living and use mostly baking soda and vinegar. Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide disinfect and I keep both in spray bottles. Microfiber cloths are wonderful for cleaning glass streak free. Comet is more abrasive than baking soda so I keep some around for very tough jobs but rarely need it. Anything you spray in the air (bathroom cleaner, febreeze, lysol, etc.) will wind up in your lungs and increase your chances of getting cancer. Medical bills are a cost most people don’t factor into all this!

]]> By: Emily http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686597 Emily Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:31:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686597 We have Eight O’Clock 100% Columbian coffee here at work. Having gone from Maxwell House to Folgers to Eight O’Clock, it’s by far the best tasting one.

The only coffee we have at home is a little Folgers decaf that I bought several months ago. My husband doesn’t drink coffee and I’m trying to cut any form of caffeine out of my system (even the decaf stuff.)

]]> By: dan http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686592 dan Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:22:12 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686592 I would really recommend buying fair trade certified coffee when possible. It really does make a huge difference for the farmers.
Equal Exchange, Level Group, and some Green Mountain Coffee are some of the more popular fair trade vendors.

]]> By: Amy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686571 Amy Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:37:58 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686571 About Wal-Mart — we try never to shop there, as the company has in place many reprehensible practices (see the documentary, “THe High Cost of Low Price”), including putting all local businesses out of business! Wal-Mart is the worst thing that can happen to a community. Not to mention how unpleasant it is to venture into their stores. Finally, their “everyday low price” is often higher than other stores, I’ve checked. Make your own window cleaner instead!

]]> By: Jeff http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686251 Jeff Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:15:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686251 FYI, Life cereal isn’t a General Mills cereal. It’s made by Quaker Oats.

]]> By: lurker carl http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-686174 lurker carl Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:05:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-686174 I agree with these last few posts, there are cheaper homemade products that are as effective or better as the name brands. Same with nutritious breakfast foods, especially for children.

I find this post enlightening from someone who makes his own laundry detergent.

]]> By: rob http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-685794 rob Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:57:22 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-685794 My lodger and I spent one month only buying brands which used heavy advertising and the next month only those which never advertised. The only difference was the second month was slightly cheaper. Just buy the supermarket ‘basic brand’ for the cheapest results.

]]> By: Rob http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-685743 Rob Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:41:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-685743 Thats the thing Jules. Everyone wants it easy, and quick. I used to use swifter wets for the floors. Easy, quick, yes, but also expensive. Towels and fantastic on my hands and knees is harder, and longer, but alot cheaper, and cleaner, I think.

]]> By: Jules http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/04/using-consumer-reports-to-assemble-your-grocery-list/#comment-685681 Jules Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:00:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=3724#comment-685681 Or…you could just whip up your own stuff for less than the price of any of the things, and it’ll still work.

One thing I don’t quite understand about cleaners: once you kill the bacteria and remove the grease/grime (and both of these can be accomplished quite easily with a bar of any conventional bar soap and a good brush), what the hell else is left?

I’ve been using a bar of Dove and a scrub brush on our bathroom. It takes a little more elbow grease to get the mildew out of the grout, but otherwise it’s amazing how clean it gets the bathroom.

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