The price of cereal disturbs me

**Palooka** · 06-09-2009, 03:43 PM

And I don't mean coco puffs, fruity pebbles and cookie crisp. I am talking about the good whole grain and fiber kind. I was at the store yesterday and want to get back to eating like Fiber One brand. OMG, it was close to 5 bucks for a 14 oz box. Same thing with Raisin Brand, Total, or any 'healthy' cereal. I even do the generics but not much of a deal.

Why oh why is it so high and it seems to get higher?

I could use some coupons, I am sure. I ended up buying a 14oz. box of I think wheat chex that is okay and it was close to 4 bucks.

Seems like those bag kinds are cheaper and all but not really the healthy kind that I wanted, but my kids love like Apple Jacks or Cherrios.

**imagine** · 06-09-2009, 03:53 PM

I so understand what you are saying.

Here is what we are doing.

We are mixing cereals

Like buying the generic bran cereal ( just brand flakes) and other basic cerals these seem really cheap in the store brand/generics (about 99 cents to $1.75 a box) We then top it with our own raisins, or cranrasins or fresh strawberries etc. What ever we can find on sale or have on hand. Makes for great variety.

We are also using the more expensive granolas and things like "just bunches" as cereal toppers. Using the basic plain cereals as a bases.
This would even be cheaper if we made our own granola.

We also keep and eye out for sales and super stock them when they are cheap.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 06-09-2009, 05:12 PM

We made a rule in the house that the kids couldn't have the more expensive cereals unless they were on sale for a really great price. Not like $1 or $2 off, but it had to be BOGOF or half price (because the big boxes of the more expensive cereals are like $9). I tell them every time I go to the store that the reason I didn't buy the cereal they wanted was because they were either out of stock or they weren't on sale. I try to find a few substitutes for their favorites and tell them, "At least I got you this. The next time I go to the store, I'll see if they have your cereal." and they're ok with it.

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 06-09-2009, 05:30 PM

I completely agree...why are the healthy ones so much more expensive? If I buy cold cereal at all, I buy the Kroger brand for things like Raisin Bran and the Malt-O-Meal brand for other "fun" cereal. Otherwise we just do oatmeal or the regular cream-of-wheat kind of Malt-O-Meal. MUCH cheaper and they last a whole lot longer. They are also healthier!

I also like what Imagine said about mixing cereals and using some of them as a topper. GREAT idea!

**annymoll** · 06-09-2009, 05:41 PM

How far are you away from El Dorado Springs? They have a discount store there and cereals are under 2 bucks, even the good kinds(Fiber One, Shredded Wheat, Total, etc.)I think there is a discount store in Springfield too.

**Bellaboo** · 06-09-2009, 06:15 PM

We only buy Malt-O-meal cereals unless I have a coupon or there is a really good sale. I'm working on cutting back on the amount of cereal that we eat and start eating more oatmeal, pancakes, yogurt and things like that.

QM · 06-09-2009, 06:54 PM

I try to stick with Shreddies and Cheerios. May not be as healthy as some of you would like, but with coupons and sales it's good enough for me.

**Palooka** · 06-09-2009, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by annymoll

How far are you away from El Dorado Springs? They have a discount store there and cereals are under 2 bucks, even the good kinds(Fiber One, Shredded Wheat, Total, etc.)I think there is a discount store in Springfield too.

I'm in Kansas City and 3 hours north from Springfield. Tons of my family members live in Springfield though.

Aldis doesn't really carry good ones either. "grumble"

**Palooka** · 06-09-2009, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by AspiringToBeFrugal

I completely agree...why are the healthy ones so much more expensive? If I buy cold cereal at all, I buy the Kroger brand for things like Raisin Bran and the Malt-O-Meal brand for other "fun" cereal. Otherwise we just do oatmeal or the regular cream-of-wheat kind of Malt-O-Meal. MUCH cheaper and they last a whole lot longer. They are also healthier!

I also like what Imagine said about mixing cereals and using some of them as a topper. GREAT idea!

I always hear about how great sales at Kroger are. Wish we had one!

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-09-2009, 08:25 PM

I bought a ton of cereal this week. It was on for $3 a box, plus I had $1off wyb 2 coupons. The boxes were absolutely enormous. I bought 8 boxes on Saturday and went back yesterday for 6 more. The Corn Flakes were 1.35Kg, I've never see a box of cereal that big. Plus 8 of the boxes had $10 worth of coupons on the back; which will get me free Rice Krispie squares and Nutrigrain Bars, and really cheap Eggos.

We don't normally buy cereal, the kids have toast or oatmeal. But when it's that huge, that cheap, and comes with other free food, I can't stop myself.

**Gibs** · 06-09-2009, 09:15 PM

I also wait for the cereals to go on sale or clearance and then combine coupons to make them cheap or free. But I have not found a good sale like that now in a while....

**Mymoo** · 06-09-2009, 10:45 PM

I know what you mean about the good cereal being more expensive. I have about 15 boxes of the sugary cereal, which we use for "toppers" on the good for you cereal. We have about 2 small boxes of Cheerios left. The prices are getting higher definately, they try to trick you with these great sale prices, but the boxes are only like 8-9 oz.!!! We've been doing more from scratch, old fashioned oatmeal, pumpkin/applesauce muffins, eggs and some sausage (that I got for .49 box at Safeway). Pancakes are a good option too. Also steel cut oats (from the bulk section) soaked over night and cooked in the morning with a little brown sugar is really good too. We've been topping ours with fresh strawberries lately from our little patch.