I heard that I could buy ingredients for a cold turkey sandwich for as little as 15-20 bucks. I went to my nearest store in Long Island and got the ingredients, and it went as much as $31.60. Was it the store’s pricing, the items I bought, or were the estimations underestimated? Can I still find ways to buy these ingredients for as little as $15-$20? I feel so disappointed
Hellman’s Real Mayo 20 fl oz – $6.99
Pepperidge farm whole grain – $4.29
Kraft Swiss extra thin cheese 8 oz 14 slices – $6.29
Deli honey turkey slices 1lb – $13.77
by DinoVelocir
35 Comments
What is each item on the receipt?
Name brands vs store or generic… everything on there appears to be a name brand product and those cost more
If you want it to be cheaper buy the store brand cheese and less deli meat. Have them slice it cheaper. But yea, that’s old advice, it’s really not cheaper to eat at home for most things especially as a single person.
Is this market the cheapest in the area?
The deli and supplies section are hard to tell because there is not enough information. You paid $13 for deli meat, I am guessing, but how much did you get?
There are cheaper brands and generic ones that would be a lot cheaper.
It’s the deli meat vs the refrigerated presliced meats in the tub. The deli meat is very expensive. You also bought name brand bread and mayo.
Too many name brands and just say no to the deli
The mayo should last for a while and the bread for more than a week. So if you make turkey sandwichs next week it will be cheaper. Buy whatever turkey is on sale and get the store brand cheese. If you really like that kind of bread, keep getting it, if not try a cheaper kind or whatever is on sale.
This should make a few cold Turkey sandwiches, so one being 15-20 sounds a bit high.
I mean 1lb of turkey should make at least 5 sandwiches. Mayo has gotten really expensive lately but we like the name brand so I wait until it’s on sale to buy.
I think you bought the most expensive versions of each. Did you look at other options that were sitting on the shelf next to each of these and I can guarantee that the sub shops are not using these and in fact would tend to use bulk low price options. The estimates were right.
This is worded like a math test question
That should be enough for 2-4 sandwiches, which is $15 or even $7.50 per sandwich. It’s hard to buy ingredients for just one sandwich at a grocery store.
So I bought the same stuff a few hours ago.
Mayo hellmans 20oz 3.99
8 oz Land of lakes American 1.50
1lbs pepper turkey 6.99
Sourdough sliced 3.29
I lost a friend, somewhere along in the bitterness
Going generic will help. But if you look at what you got, and like the taste of name brand, it’s still cheaper then getting a turkey sandwich from a deli.
If you really want to go cheaper, make your own mayo with
1 large egg
1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice (from 1/2 a lemon)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 cup (240 ml) vegetable or canola oil
Kosher salt
That would save you 7 of the dollars.
Go with store brand bread and prepackaged deli meat.
Some suggestions:
Switch from Hellman’s Mayo to generic store brand-Ihad to because my Miracle Whip became crazy expensive 🙁
With the bread, I understand your choice, gotta have bread that is good quality, I am a Grandma’s Sycamore kinda gal myself.
Pass on the cheese altogether.
I like deli sliced meat as well because the other meats sit in plastic packages and containers, BUT I only buy deli meat that is on sale/special
It’s a combination of expensive store, high end brands, sometimes generic is cheaper, and essentially cooked turkey is prepared food.
Turkey used to be fairly cheap, but like everything it’s way up. But it’s cheaper if you cook it yourself. 31 dollars for an eat at home turkey cheese sandwitch, god forbid you were out of mustard and had to buy that as well, is way out there.
Walmart, local brand somewhat equivalent to pepperidge farm $4.58, Walmart brand white sandwitch bread, 1.62. I eat expensive bread also, it tastes much better. But I freeze it.
You did OK on the Mayo, I think you must have gotten the cheese from the deli, or it’s just very much higher than here in Baltimore. Walmart brand 8 oz pack of sliced swiss cheese 1.67, thin sliced sargento 3.24. Baltimore has a major port, and our food prices are a little lower, except in food desert areas without supermarkets. I guess extra thin is through the roof, labor I suppose.
$13.74 is a lot for a pound of Deli turkey- maybe they overcharged. I don’t go near the deli anymore, I am retired, and I just cook from scratch. Maybe a thumb on a scale?
Wow, sorry you got hit.
You said “in Long Island”…fake, people on the Island know how to say it.
You have to buy store brand block cheese and cut slices yourself.
But tbh, I only make very simple sandwiches at home. It’s only worth buying all the supplies if you’re like meal planning to eat sandwiches every day.
You can definitely buy a good sandwich for cheaper. And they always taste better when someone else makes it.
price shop. if the grocery store has an app or website check out the prices at each store and figure out which has the better deal. Keep an eye on sales. search for coupons if you want name brand. store brand is way cheaper than name brand.
Over $6 for 1/2lb of kraft Swiss is criminal.
I bought the most expensive options available, where did I go wrong?
🤦♂️
You could have saved 25 cents by bringing your own bag
How tf is Hellmans nasty AF mayo $7 on sale and $10 not on sale?? You could probably make your own for cheaper and it would taste better. I would rather eat dirt than Hellmans.
That is so much money for 8oz of cheese. You can get grocery store brands for $2. Same amount similar quality.
Deli meat is not cheap. If you want cheap meat sandwiches, you gotta go with potted meat, tuna salad, chicken salad, or possibly lower price copycat SPAM (for example, Armour’s TREET, or a store-brand version). Also consider peanut butter and jelly/jam/preserves. Those can stretch longer.
Also, where on earth are you shopping? There are plenty of ALDI locations on Long Island (you’re in or near Baldwin; there’s an Aldi in Hempstead, and another in Valley Stream). Shop there and save your money. Aldi’s version of SPAM is Brookdale Pork Luncheon Meat, sold in a 12-ounce rectangular can. It typically costs around half the price of name-brand SPAM. Check out this week’s specials at Aldi: https://www.aldi.us/store/aldi/pages/weekly-specials
Also, just sandwiches isn’t going to be that filling. You need lots of staples like potatoes, pasta, beans and rice, if you’re able to cook on a stove. Soups and Chef Boyardee canned meals are also good for filling you up inexpensively. If you need to, just some cheap pasta with margarine, black pepper, and Parmesan cheese can be a very filling budget lunch or dinner.
Hold up…
A whole jar of mayo
A whole loaf of bread
A whole pound of meat
And cheese too…
You can make a lot more than one sandwich! Like 5 or 6!
I’d say it was purchasing the bag that did you in
The mayo added a lot, but will last for a lot of sandwiches. You have to find stuff on big sales or get lower quality, especially with the meat. Many of these ingredients will span more than one sandwich though, so you’ll need to calculate cost per serving. Finally, idk what store it is, but I have noticed some smaller stores have higher pricing for items. I have found shopping at a place like aldi will help with that kind of situation.
You bought name brand. You buy name brand when they are on sale or BOGO.
No sale.
No coupons.
Plus name brand over store brand.
Buy store brand products. Store brand cheese. Store brand mayonnaise. Store brand bread. It’ll cut the cost in half. I’d also recommend watching the sales and buying things like mayonnaise on sale, if you prefer the name brand. We prefer bestfoods (hellman’s but we stock up when it’s on sale, like buy 2 containers when it’s on sale for $3 or so). I am in southern California so groceries are expensive here too, but we manage to wait until name brand mayonnaise is kn sale then buy multiple. Watch the weekly ads for your grocery chains.
Slice your own cheese, cook a boneless turkey breast & slice it yourself (if you *must* have turkey). And Don’t buy expensive name brand ingredients.
At my Safeway in California, it is $3.49 for 15 oz store brand mayo, $3.49 for a loaf of buttermilk bread, $4.99 for 16 oz store brand deli turkey, $2.79 for 10 slices of store brand swiss cheese. Before tax, that is $14.76. So I think it is more the brand than anything.
If there is no sale and it’s not a must you just don’t buy. Try following some social media couponer accounts that know the sales for the stores in your area. I don’t pick up anything not on sale.
Have the rewards cards. Clip digital coupons.