Going Broke Buying Groceries!

United States
March 14, 2011 12:14pm CST
I need to go grocery shopping today, so I'm planning as usual... As I was looking at the local Food Lion circular today and comparing it to the one I seen just two months ago, the price increases are absolutely insane. I know I can't be the only person having to spend even more money to buy fewer groceries per week. Is anyone else noticing this insane trend? I'm in the USA, so I also wonder if groceries are going up around the globe. Two months ago: 1 pound deli ham for $1.99 1 pound American cheese for $2.29 Bacon 2 pounds for $4 Eggs $1.78 for a dozen Milk $3.60 for a gallon NY Strip steak $3.99 per pound Ground beef $1.89 per pound Lettuce $.089 per head Chicken breasts (bone in, skin on) $1.99 per pound Sodas 4 12-packs for $10 Today: 1 pound deli ham for $4.88!!! 1 pound American cheese for $3.49! Bacon 2 pounds for $7! Eggs $2.50 for a dozen! Milk $5+ for a gallon! Ny Strip steak $8.99 per pound!!!!! Ground beef $3.09 per pound!! Lettuce $1.99 per head!! Chicken breasts (same setup) $2.97 per pound! Sodas 3 12-packs for $10!! This is only a few items. Toilet paper, paper towels, laundry and dish soap, foil, freezer bags, cereal, other fruits and veggies (especially fruit) - it's all shot up! The only things to stay the same that I see are those processed freezer meals and canned foods. Other junk foods (yeah, I like the occasional snack, too - so what!?) are also up incredibly high. Along with Comcast charging more for Internet and cable, the electric bill going up 300% in the past two years (seriously!), the phone bill up, and the price of gas making me run on E mostly, I'm spending more to live now than ever before. All I hear is rhetoric about things getting better and how America's problems are under control. Where? And for whom? I'm thankful I make decent money. Decent, certainly not enough to keep going on this upward trend. Man. WTF?
6 people like this
23 responses
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
14 Mar 11
I am from the US as well. Some of your first items were cheaper than we ever pay,some were within range and some are very high. I do not buy all the items on your list. Like pop, I cannot compare, unless I go find the circular. The deli ham is usually $3.98, I buy singles slices of cheese at $2.27. In the last six months the milk I buy has gone up from $2.59 to $2.99 per gallon. I buy a lot of stuff at a store called Aldi, and I shop at Sam's club . I often buy in bulk. I am on unemployment, hubby took early Social Security so it is not as much as I get on unemployment. I buy bread for under $1.50 per loaf, or I bake it myself. I buy frozen vegetables. I will be glad to see the Farmer's Market open up. I buy the boxes of bacon ends usually for under $5 for three pounds and I cook it all up crispy. If stuff is not on sale,I do not buy it. Problem with going to Sam's Club or to Aldis is that either one of them is at least a half hour's drive and then we usually end up getting a meal out while we are out of town shopping.
2 people like this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
Bacon ends rock! Seriously. You can find a pork chop in there sometimes. And luckily they haven't gone up so much, because they're the store's leftovers and not from a big company. I have completely rearranged the way I shop. I'm now buying in bulk more and am always on the lookout for discounted items. I drink diet soda because I get tired of water after 4 bottles a day, and those singles taste like wax to me. And plus my brothers and cousins and other people slide over. So I keep things in the house for guests. If I spend a few hours out, hit up a few different stores, buy in bulk and buy the accompanying foil, freezer bags, etc, I can save some money. But comparing item for item and brand for brand, the prices of everything seem to be driving up, unless you can catch a sporadic sale where a few things drop down. We get great produce here at the flea markets in the spring/summer, so I can't wait. Everything else is a long drive. Thanks for the response!
2 people like this
dragon54u
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
14 Mar 11
Gerty, I had the same problem when I lived way out in the country in the desert. I would pack myself a lunch and take it in an insulated bag because it would take me a total of about 4 hours drive and shopping time to get everything done. I'd take my chest coolers for groceries between stores, too. Even a peanut butter sandwich is preferable to spending $4-10 on a meal out! Remember to take lots of water, it's good for fighting hunger.
2 people like this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
14 Mar 11
I know, it is so much better to have something on hand to eat, and less fattening as well. It is not too bad to get a "meal deal" at Sam's Club for under three, but the food from home is healthier. Need to get hubby in the habit. We went out of town for an auto part they could not get for us here, and stopped at Aldi, and while I shopped I got us each a beef chew stick thing. I think it was 95% fat and I have literally been ill ever since. We have several large water jugs and need to take at least one of those. Hubby has a business meeting and training in Las Vegas at the end of this month, and we are driving. We will be sure to take one then. Often, instead of buying the bottled water in individual bottles we will get a gallon of "drinking water" at the store. It costs less than buying the liter bottles. I like hummus for a spread if I am tired of Peanut butter. I make my own.
1 person likes this
coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
14 Mar 11
You hear what they want you to hear. Things aren't getting any better. They look at a few numbers and then say things are but they aren't. And they don't care to look any farther cause with their salaries..things aren't that bad. But..just wait. It is going to get worse if the Gov doesn't do something about the gas/diesel prices. Truckers need the gas to get product and groceries from farm to store...and if they can't make a profit because the gas eats their profit up...they will stop delivering. Plus...now with this Japan quake and nuclear power meltdown cause they didn't bother to build it right...it is only a matter of time before Obama sends billions over there to help them now and to rebuild. Meanwhile..here we all are being told there is no money and states are going BK and well...there just isn't enough to go around.
2 people like this
coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
14 Mar 11
oh, I know what you mean! I "get started" too! I was in the bank the other day opening a new account with my husband. The girl mentions the earthquake in Japan. I knew about it, but hadn't told my husband about it yet. He says "Oh, was it near Hiroshima or Nagasaki?" She looked oddly at him and said..."I don't know those places". He says "It is where we dropped the A-bomb on Japan and ended the war they started". Again, she looked oddly at him and said "what war?" HE said " haven't you ever heard of the A-bomb we dropped on Japan?" she shakes her head no. He says "haven't you ever heard of World War II?" She says "well I've heard of it but don't know anything about it". She was in her early 30's. She then quickly changed the subject! I thought my husband was going to hit the roof! Never heard of Hiroshima or the A-bomb or even WWII! He said "i wonder if I'd asked if she'd heard of Pearl Harbor if she'd a said, "what kind of pearl is that?" What a shame they are not teaching kids much about the important parts of AMerican History.
1 person likes this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
I believe it! I just responsed the other day that my friend had to lay off some of his employees because he's now paying THOUSANDS more in his paving business to buy gas, oil and asphalt. Coupled with the rising prices of everything else as well, he--and everyone else running similar businesses--is definitely in struggle mode! They don't even count food prices as "inflation." So they can ignore the problems and get the American idiots out there to think things are going well while they mooch off their parents' hard work and vote for celebrities without even knowing who America's first president was. Oh, don't get me started. Here's hoping things start calming down... Thanks for the response!
2 people like this
lelin1123
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
14 Mar 11
I live in Puerto Rico and the prices at the grocery stores is crazy due to importing of goods. So the food bill is always alot of money A gallon of milk use to be $5.80 now its $6.00. I though 5.80 was unbelievable. My girls who live in New Mexico can get milk for anywhere from $1.70 to $2.18 a gallon. Where do you live in the states that its 5.00 dollar a gallon?
2 people like this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
I live in Virginia. We have a few different brands of milk, and of course you can find whole, 2%, fat-free, etc. So I can shop around and get affordable milk. I was only comparing the exact same brands of foods and not saying that all milk had shot up that high (thank goodness!). I can get an off brand for $3 and change. But even that off brand was a buck or more cheaper a few months ago, so it's going up in concert with everything else. Pretty soon, there won't be any cheap options. There will ony be cheapER options. Thanks for the response!
3 people like this
Phyrre
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
14 Mar 11
I'm noticing exactly the same thing as you (I live in the US too) and it's really effected what we've been eating unfortunately. I know that Walmart just raised their prices, too, which really sucks. We're on a limited budget and I just went shopping today and managed to spend $40 on hardly anything at all. And unfortunately we don't have money to spare as our budget is so tight, so we end up getting less and less every week and eating cheaper foods like Raman noodles. I just gave birth, so I've really been working to eat healthier and make sure to have balanced meals, but that's just so darn hard with how expensive everything's getting while still trying to stay on that darn budget!
1 person likes this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
14 Mar 11
Beans are about your best bet for cheap protein right now. I was buying instant brown rice, because I thought it was just as good and fast, but since I am not working, I pay the same amount for two pounds of brown rice as I do for a store brand box of instant brown rice, and it tastes really good. I can get ten pounds of chicken leg quarters for 59 cents a pound.Boil it, skin it, cook brown rice in the broth with celery and carrots in it. Yummy.
1 person likes this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
Yikes. I'm lead writer at weightlossforall and recently got through studying pregnant and nursing mothers to write a series of articles about their dietary needs. You need healthier food and more of it to ingest more calories. That's insanely expensive with the way things are now, not to mention the cost of taking care of the baby. I wish I had some great money-saving tips for the store, but I'm having to learn as I go now. It's harder and harder to find affordable healthy items. Those readymade meal-in-a-box deals aren't suitable for anyone seeking "health." I'm hoping for all our sake that these prices drop quickly. Thanks for the response!
2 people like this
wiggles18
@wiggles18 (2506)
• Canada
14 Mar 11
Yep, all going up here. I think the meat still is a good deal compared to what it is up here(2 12 packs of soda cost 10 here, as well). But, that lettuce cost is ridiculous! I think I can get a pack of romaine here for 1 dollar. I am actually starting to prepare ahead now, buying a variety of seeds to grow a vast garden(herbal as well), going to start fishing more too(hope I can get hunting soon too- if not, I'll have to buy a whole pig or cow from a local farmer(better meat than store bought anyways). I'm going to try and head out for some ice fishing and catch my limits everyday('Cus the cost of meat here is just getting so ridiculous- and my body really requires meat). If I were you(if you have the land), I would at least grow your lettuce(from my experiences, it is the easiest to grow- I usually have so much leftover that it gets turned to mulch at the end.
2 people like this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
Wow. It's even more where you're at!? Due to town laws, our gardens have to be properly fenced in and have to be at a certain location in the yard. You also cannot park a car on your private property unless it has up-to-date stickers, and you cannot have any bushes out front or stuff on your porch, etc. Not that I care about all that, though. I had a garden a few years ago and will definitely be trying to dig another one shortly! It is a much better investment, especially if you want to eat healthy. I'm not much of a green thumb. Onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots - that's probably the leave-alone stuff I could do well. All my cabbages get eaten by bugs. Thanks for the response!
1 person likes this
wiggles18
@wiggles18 (2506)
• Canada
14 Mar 11
Restrictions like that are making it even harder to be self-reliant and economical now...
sweet_pea
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
15 Mar 11
I still need to hear a news in my country that prices of commodities are going low! That would be the day. Prices are just keep on increasing. I was back on budgeting our family's finances and half of my monthly salary is allotted to buying food for a month! If there is something that I don't save for my family, it is food. I make sure we are sufficiently stocked up for the week but within the budget allotted. It is better to spend on nutritious food than to spend the money for medicines if you get sick.
1 person likes this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Mar 11
I totally agree. It's better to eat healthy now and prevent any illness that may be preventable. Too bad the healthy food items go up in price! If you only wanted to feed your family bad foods, you could shop processed, generic, unhealthy freezer meals or something. But that's not good for anybody! I hope the prices start falling soon. I don't think any of us can take much more of it. Thanks for the response!
ravinskye
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
14 Mar 11
I know what you mean. It makes me worry about our ability to feed our family over the next few years. We are a family of 5. Right now the kids are younger so they don't eat too much. But in a few years they will be teens and eating bigger portions. We are trying to use coupons as much as possible, buying sale items and shopping at Sam's club. Buying in bulk at Sam's club helps some. Gas prices are getting high and it's scary. I wonder why with all these companies saying we can use other types of fuel that the government doesn't put more effort into making it happen.
1 person likes this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
The government seems to be incredibly bad at anything "business." Have you seen their sponsored eco-friendly cars? They're ugly, unreliable and expensive. They're just not businesspeople. I think the government should stop regulating so dang much and stop setting standards so high so that a private company can come in and perhaps put alternatives on the table. I mean, if you think about it, the government taking the lead means they have to hold business back. If a guy in his garage knows he can become "rich" by creating something, he'll do it. Right now, though, they're watching that garage closely and saying, "No, you can't do that. You have to do it this way, taking that out, putting this in, and buying only this." So it's just a mess. I live alone but often have people over, help my parents out with groceries, try to give money to charity when I can, handle all my other insane bills, etc. And everything's on the rise. I can handle it right now. I doubt I could if I had a family to support. So to me and people holding down their families and making it work are heroes out there! Here's hoping the trend reverses and right soon! Good luck finding the deals. Thanks for the response!
1 person likes this
maximax8
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
14 Mar 11
We have the prices of food and drink going up and therefore the total bill seems to be a lot and yet there isn't much to show for it. I have a vegan diet and one liter of fresh soy drink is £1.34. I don't think it is worth more than £1. A couple of weeks ago the supermarket had a deal 2 for £2 so that made me happy. Now it has gone back to full price I have jumped into buying one liter of long life soy drink where there is a special deal of 2 for £1.50. I believe that some prices are double what they were two years ago.
1 person likes this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
It definitely seems as if prices are doubled. Even more than doubled if you're a meat-eating caveman like me! But the price hikes certainly aren't limited to meats. Our produce prices are really high, and everything from broccoli to olive oil is up. I love catching those twofer deals. You can find some great ones sometimes. The trouble is that there aren't enough of them happening anymore. Thanks for the response!
1 person likes this
tjburcham
@tjburcham (690)
• United States
16 Mar 11
Yesterday, I spent 70.00 on the same things that a few months ago I would have spent 30.00 on. I hate shopping for groceries. The only things that seem to be affordable are things you shouldn't eat for meals. So we are making more things from scratch and growing our own veggies. I have planted some berries. My plan is to only have to purchase meat from the store. Eventually, the price of that will turn me into a vegetarian.
tjburcham
@tjburcham (690)
• United States
16 Mar 11
Thanks, I am not the best at it but I will keep trying. The other thing that works, is that the place I work is good about feeding us, even though it's not healthy either, but I won't go hungry.
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
16 Mar 11
I know exactly what you mean. Those same few bags of groceries have more than doubled in price! I can work less and make more meals from scratch and work on a garden, or I can work more just to afford the higher prices of food. Decisions, decisions! I'm already eating less, but I, like many people, try to keep a healthy and balanced diet. So that means not eating that cheap junk and not skipping out on meals and calories. The garden is a great idea. I had one a few years ago, but I can't get everything to grow. Good luck with yours! Thanks for the response!
1 person likes this
dragon54u
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
14 Mar 11
You are not alone! Here in the Midwest our prices are up, too, dramatically in some cases. I also notice that frozen foods have gone up. Last year I could buy a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner for $1.29 or so on sale and now they are $2.98 or more, going on sale for $1.99 to $2.50--although they couch in in "2/$5!" to make it sound cheaper. I've mostly given up convenience foods like that, because of the price but also the salt content and chemicals. I'm on a fixed income and while I'm not poverty stricken the higher prices make it harder to have anything left at the end of the month to put toward my retirement. All my internet income goes to that so I have no extra from my online work. I buy sugar free jello and make it for snacks if I get hungry--yes, I know artificial sweeteners are bad but I'm fat and can't afford to gain any weight if I want any hope of getting rid of what I have! I bake my own bread, usually, it's cheaper and healthier. Have you seen the price of decent bread lately?! I make as many meals and baked goods as I can myself. If I want convenience, I cook ahead on the weekends when I don't spend my days writing articles. I use my cash back credit card for everything I can and pay it off every month to get about $200-300 per year extra for that savings account. I don't see anyone addressing any of the REAL problems we have. Nobody is doing anything about unemployment, encouraging business start-ups or growth or finding cheap alternative energy. I'm discouraged. But I deal with it and soldier on. Unfortunately, a large segment of our population aren't able to do even that.
1 person likes this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
Bread is something I forgot to add. For a decent loaf and not the hard, dried-up, crumbly off brands, it's $3 for ONE loaf! If I had time, I'd be a baker. I worked in a bakery as a kid for a few minutes, so I know how to do a few basic loaves. And I also should have added that it's only the "junk" freezer meals staying the same. The lean meals are also up through the roof here as well! I'm a big boy. Those little meals aren't a "portion" at all. I have to eat two. I ate some sugar-free Jello last night! The box cost over $1. I remember it being $0.33 last year. OMG. But you're right. No one is addressing the real concerns. We spent 2 years going through NOTHING but hypothetical healthcare reform that wouldn't start for a few more years anyway! Talk about taking the easy way out by these schmucks. Instead of dealing with immediate issues, which they knew they couldn't--wouldn't--fix, they placated their base and polarized the entire nation in order to setup some more entitlements in the future. Calling them morons doesn't cut it. Thanks for the response!
2 people like this
weasel81
@weasel81 (2496)
• Australia
14 Mar 11
im in australia, but i've not noticed it as much. but that might be cause i've not gone to do a decent shop in round 5 weeks, so there not much food in my house. i know you dont want to in to town to i.g.a. cause it is expensive there. but instead drive the extra 50km to go to either coles or safeway/woolies. then you can get things at a cheaper price, and they do have better specials as well for me to stock up with. as for milk i milk cows, so i can get milk from the dairy for nothing. but it really is getting rediculous, about the prices. it's not as if we all earn top dollars.
1 person likes this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Mar 11
I'm not sure I could keep cows to milk. I might get a hankering for ribeyes. And having to drive that far to get good deals seems like it negates the good deals. You have to really stock up. I feel you on the "top dollar" thing. I'm okay right now, but my wallet can only take so much more. Thanks for the response!
1 person likes this
mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
15 Mar 11
WOW! If NY Strip Steak was going for $3.99 a pound just two months ago, I've been shopping at the wrong place! I haven't seen one of those steaks going for less than $8.00 a pound for at least a year! Anyway, all I can say is that reality and our government have absolutely nothing in common. I, along with every other person receiving Social Security disability or SSI, received a letter from them telling us that there has been no increase in the cost of living to warrant a cost-of-living raise in our checks. This is the THIRD YEAR IN A ROW that they've sent this letter out and the third year in a row that there has been absolutely NO cost-of-living increase in our checks. Now, we can believe our government or we can believe what is right in front of our noses... prices ARE going up and they are going up at an incredible rate. I watched gas prices rise over 30 cents a gallon in just 2 weeks! It's unbelievable how much BS comes from our government, isn't it? I wonder exactly how much they consider a cost of living increase is, maybe they're waiting until we all rise up and scream that we just won't take it anymore. Maybe then they'll stop telling us that they won't be giving us any cost of living increase while the whole time they're giving themselves raises and padding their pockets with what we should be getting. We're only human and we can only take so much. I don't know where it will all end but I hope something good happens soon because we simply can't keep paying more and more when our income stays the same.
mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
15 Mar 11
Oh, one way I'm trying to counter this price increase in food is by growing more and more veggies and fruits every year. I've been adding at least one new fruit tree each year along with new berry bushes and having a larger veggie garden every year. I'm trying to offset the cost of this by rooting new fruit trees from ones I already have and using veggie seeds that I collected from last year's garden. I'm going to TRY to grow enough of everything so I can freeze, dry or can enough of everything to last the entire year, until next year's garden is ready for harvest. It's the only way I can think of to help make ends meet since, even though the government is telling us that there has been no rise in the cost of living, our food dollars are buying less and less all the time.
mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
15 Mar 11
I could not agree more!
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Mar 11
I don't think they even count gas as "inflation." I know they don't count food prices. They ignore these things as a scam in order to cook the books to present a good case to the public. It's akin to a cop changing B&E's to trespassing in order to make it look like the crime rate is falling. And they get away with it because most of us are caught up in the letter beside their name and not realizing that the entire system is completely broken. It's maddening. If they expect people to get by on less, maybe they should take out fewer taxes of people's checks! If there's no reason for SS to experience a bump and everything's "fine," then they shouldn't need as much money. After all, people can label SS as an "entitlement" program, but it's much more like a skinny benefits package that most recipients have paid in for their entire working lives. It's the people's money, not government's. They've just mismanaged it so incredibly that they'd not only be fired if government were a private business but also put in jail! They're almost Bernie Madoff. Thanks for the response!
jazel_juan
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
15 Mar 11
I believe it is happening to almost everyone matersfish. I was also doing the grocery and i did notice, with my P1,000.00 i could only buy very few items! if i would complete what i need that would means i need to have P2,000.00. Commodities have gotten quite expensive lately. And i also make decent salary, decent yes, but enough? or sufficient? barely.
1 person likes this
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Mar 11
Yes. "Decent" turns into not enough if things keep going up in price. Money buys less and less. I certainly hope it changes for everyone! Thanks for the response!
hardworkinggurl
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
14 Mar 11
It is getting where it is hard to grocery shop indeed! Each time I grocery shop I don't see the 10 cent rise anymore, it is more like $1 or higher. It is quite disappointing to spend $100 and only have 3 bags. I often wonder when I view others carts how in the heck they pay for their food. Fortunately it is two of us at home and no children because then we would be completely out of luck. The frozen and or prepared foods are almost of the question for us these days. Don't know what direction the world will take if we can't pay for food.
1 person likes this
34momma
@34momma (13882)
• United States
15 Mar 11
Trust me I feel your pain. Shopping for a family of 6 my monthly food shopping bill is about $600 per month. that's not including the things i need to pick up from the corner store each day. I have now taken to clipping coupons which really does help out alot!
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Mar 11
Yeah. Coupons can help you save. A lot of tips people offered up here, like driving to different stores to compare, buying in bulk, etc, help to save money. But it's still extremely worrisome to think that using a coupon, even a double coupon, only knocks off the edge, essentially making the price comparable to what it was a year ago. So in two years, even the best coupons won't do as much because that $600 per month could be $900 per month. We'll all get through it though! We always do. It's just a shame that the upward trend continues in what you have to buy but not in what those weekly paychecks say. Thanks for the response!
minnie15
@minnie15 (143)
• United States
15 Mar 11
I agree with you. In Arizona it is the same way. I hear that the prices are going up because the cost of gas has gone up. What I don't understand is how one can charge more for the basics...such as food and water, etc. I have a decent job too...but it doesn't pay very much. We just found out we have baby number 2 on the way so not sure how we are going to manage with everything going up. A can of formula is $30 and a box of diapers is $20 per week. A decent job means you make too much to get help from government assistance and not enough to live decently. What is crazy is that I have my master's degree and I can't get a better job. There are none. Something needs to happen to this economy soon. I am afraid we will resort to a third world nation if this keep up.
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Mar 11
It is scary to think of how quickly things can fall apart. Big companies and farms and producers have to pay more for water, electricity, they have to meet "higher standards" set by an inept government, they have to pay more to ship the food, and a lot are not receiving any sort of relief. In fact, many in government want to charge them more simply because a big-time food producer qualifies as "rich" in their book. So along with everyone else, that would mean even higher prices for everyday Americans! You hold a master's and can't find a better job. Many Americans are qualified and we cannot find the best work! Yet when it comes to the people in charge of this country, they're not good enough employees to wipe off tables in diners, but still they set these policies that cause prices to go through the roof! Take about a backwards approach. We're the antithesis of common sense in America. Thanks for the response!
craftyhomebody
@craftyhomebody (443)
• United States
15 Mar 11
yes bewteen gas and food you have to take your pick i can't afford to do any thing extra and the more things go up there go the vaction money so i am about to the point that i will take my week vaction and stay at home and watch tv until the electic bill goes so high that i will have to live with out power i live in texas and this year i have gone without heat and now a/c because i cant afford the bills so i hope thing change soon
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Mar 11
I have a feeling a lot more people are going to be in that boat in the coming months and years. It starts out okay. Most people can still get by. But little by little, brand names turn to generic, shoes and clothes and "extras" are sacrificed, any idea of a savings for a rainy day is put off because every day seems a bit gloomy, and then it's time to start cutting into the heating, putting off doctors' visits, etc, all you can make those ends meet. And nobody's out in the streets complaining about it. People suck it up and strive forward. I've been there growing up. However, I'm personally sick of these scam artists trying to convince people it's "okay" all so they can get some votes. We can all see how they live! They don't sacrifice. They ride in private jets and throw parties on a weekly basis, spending more per pound of beef than most families can spend on a week's worth of groceries. Saddest part is that we pay for their excess. I've never been to Texas, but I've heard plenty that it's awfully hot!!! So I hope you can turn the AC on when summer rolls around! OMG. I can't stand the head. 80 degrees and I'm sweating bullets. Thanks for the response!
craftyhomebody
@craftyhomebody (443)
• United States
16 Mar 11
o i agree with you let them give a months worth of wages and why the president have's to fly every where everyone else is doiing vidoe discussions and meeting but if you read the book the mrs brush just put out she said they have to buy there own food and the own growns they have to pay for all of that so maybe that is why the first lady obama is wearing dress that only cost 35 dollars i will be so glad when there not in there any more but who ever go in there has a mess to clean up and then we will lose more
ap0calyptic
@ap0calyptic (921)
• Slovenia
15 Mar 11
I so hear you what you're saying here as everyday I get sick when I write down groceries and know how expensive they are. it's pretty much as high prices as you have and it's really frustrating, because you can't really spend much a day if you wanna get through the month, so sometimes when we get short we gotta borrow some cash, even tho it's not very pleasant it's to keep having something to eat, right.
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
16 Mar 11
Yes. It's a deterrent even to put together a list, because you just know that you'll be spending more money for less food. But you gotta eat. And not only that, you gotta eat stuff that's good for you. If not, you're really in it because you'll be unhealthy. Thanks for the response!
ap0calyptic
@ap0calyptic (921)
• Slovenia
18 Mar 11
I know, since I always put together grocery list for mom I5 always have to cut some things out at the end, because you just can't afford it, since if I do let them there and pay more other days have to be cut shorter too, so it's really annoying. ex actly, but thing is healthy foods are the most expensive here, yet fast foods are the ones that are cheapest whish sometimes makes you wonder if governments are raising all those prices just to 'force' you to eat this cheaper stuff and destroy your health with bad medical system as it already is.
craigy123456789
@craigy123456789 (1759)
•
15 Mar 11
Hi matersfish, Well, you do state the differences between what the food and drink was compared to what it is now, this seriously is outrageous. It is amazing how they get away with this yet to survive they know that we have to eat and drink and so we will have to buy. Think about the people who hardly have any money, families that find it hard enough to get by, this is really awful. In answer to yourt question yes it is happening in other places. I live in the united kingdom, over the past 6 months we have had many many increases in food and drink, not only that but our utility bills have risen also, the price of fuel, i think you call it gasoline has risen to a high amount. We struggle here with all the rises. The only thing we can do is to take advantage of any offers that the supermarkets do. No matter what we always have supermarkets in competition with eachother, this is great in a way as they all tend to do different offers, like 3 items for the price of 2, or buy one item and get the same again free, or half price items, etc. So in a way if we are to call at several different supermarkets then we could save some money with all the offers, plus it is easier to have enough money set to oneside so that we can buy in bulk, just incase the offers aren't on for long. Also, having looked at the prices of your new products, most of these when you convert the amount of your dollars to our pounds show that your products are still cheaper than ours here. So if you are not happy with the price rises you are facing im sure you would agree that here in the uk we are a lot worse of with the prices we are forced to pay. It is about time everything was cheap enough so that nobody has to strugle to get by. I am so disgusted in companies putting huge hikes in their prices, it is just so very very wrong.
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Mar 11
I definitely feel for people struggling to buy the items. For me, where I'm at right now, It's only something that gets under my skin. For millions upon millions of people around the world though, they're going hungry, sacrificing any and all luxuries to eat, etc. It is not supposed to be like this in civilized nations. My natural inclination is also to blame businesses. But I then realize that they obviously cannot give food away and operate at a loss, lest they go out of business and then it's all government-controlled grocery stores, which would undoubtedly be infinitely worse for everyone. Companies are paying more to grow the food. Then they're paying more to ship the food. Then stores are paying more to keep their freezers running and lights turned on. All these cost increases they have to deal with are being passed on to the consumer. I wish they wouldn't pass them down, but then that would mean they face losing businesses. So it has to be tweaked at the very top, i.e. the government, in order for the prices to come down. Thanks for the response!
craigy123456789
@craigy123456789 (1759)
•
15 Mar 11
I fully agree with you, the governmanet are the real problem, there are so many people around the world that struggle, many are lucky to get one meal a day. We do live in a terrible world where money is needed to provide food and drink amongst other things. I do agree that if we expect stores, shops, saupermarkets etc to lower their prices rapidly then they would run at a loss and so would cease to exist after time, just great that we can get some bargains here, but it is the idiots (government) that are in power that cause so many problems.
alansailing
@alansailing (74)
• China
15 Mar 11
wow , it seems you are not lucky enough , maybe suggest you can go more grocery to find more cheap stuff. I am lived in shanghai frankly saying , the product's price in the grocery around is also ok and be accepted !! even there is a little rate increase , the margin is not as large as you mentioend in your above subject . nice day !!
matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
15 Mar 11
There are generic brand products that are more affordable because we have so much competition in the food industry, but that's only for junk food basically. Everything else is on the rise. Thanks for the response!