A Thousand Euros
By GreenMoo
@GreenMoo (11833)
April 9, 2013 12:50am CST
Today I've been to town and done my big shop and errands. I've just sat down and added up the day's receipt and realised that I've spent just short of 1000 euros today. I nearly fell off the chair! That's horrifying!
With the exception of getting my tractor back from the garage, none of that expenditure was out of the ordinary (food shop, animal feed, hardware etc) nor particularly extravagant. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that my food shop was positively frugal compared to may people I know. We did splash out on lunch which is my reward for spending a day doing something I detest, but that was less than 20 between us so not hugely significant.
I do feed quite a houseful (10 tonight) and currently have more animals than normal, but that is STILL horrific. It's just as well that I don't go shopping often!
Although I've been noticing individual prices creeping up over the months this is the first time I've noticed their cumulative effect on my pocket quite so dramatically.
How often do you shop? Have the prices of day to day goods rocketed dramatically where you live?
2 people like this
14 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I shop weekly, and I honestly don't spend more than I ever did before. I can't afford to spend more.. so when prices go up I have to buy less. But one of my local stores has kept the prices of some of the more popular goods, like milk, bread, eggs, etc.. the same since 2008. Bread at this store is still 99 cents a loaf, where as it's 1.25 at Walmart even and closer to $3 or $4 at other stores. So I'm not really buying less or spending more.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
9 Apr 13
Your response reminded me of a funny thought I had this winter. On the news before a big snowstorm, the news readers always say that stores are jammed with people stocking up on supplies like bread, milk, and eggs. I always wondered why these 3 things? I picture people sitting in their kitchens, snowed in, eating egg sandwiches, fried eggs, scrambled eggs and toast, all day and every day until the storm is over! 
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
9 Apr 13
Don't forget french toast!
I never understood why people had to grocery shop before a storm. If you lose power or your home is damaged and you have to leave for awhile.. all those groceries go to waste.
Plus, although we do get a lot of snow in central NY.. I've never in my life been snowed in so bad I couldn't get to a store. I might not be able to go for like 24 hours because of how hard it's snowing and the roads are dangerous.. but we've never been snowed in.. and of course we have food to get us through 24 hours even if it's the end of the week!
@peavey (16936)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I shop two or three times each month, but usually just one time to get all the basics. I went to the grocers yesterday, too. The prices have really jumped from the last time I was there. Whether it's from the awful weather we had last year or it's because "they" are printing money, I don't know. I only know that I have limited funds to spend and I will be cutting back on some of the things I buy. I know how to get by for less, and it looks like it's time to buckle down and do it.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
12 Apr 13
OMG! 1000 Euros? That is an awful lot of money, trouble is, it all mounts up, and very quickly, frightening isn't it. Just today my mother came back from shopping, shocked at one of the Supermarket's prices, they don't just put a couple of pennies of items any more, no, that was a thing of the past. Of course they tempt you in with a few bargains. We shop once a week, but over and above that both mum and I will go out during the week to pick up a few items. I tend to buy a lot from the Pound Stores which are the same logos and brands as the supermarket but so much cheaper! And they are just as fresh and have a very good shelf life to them. I guess if you have the time and the inclination and have the luxury of being able to shop around you can find bargains and cut down on the cost.
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
12 Apr 13
A bit of a headline grabber, that figure! Although it's true, I ought to explain that I bought groceries for ten, and my animal feed in the co-op included enough for 15 goats! Plus I only shop once in a blue moon. I have a truck, and fill the entire inside and box to overflowing.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
9 Apr 13
It was a shame you spent almost one thousand Euros. I go food shopping on around 3 days of a week. I like to compare prices using a website called My Supermarket. Then I go where the price is the cheapest for the item I wish to buy. Like cranberry juice costs 1.50 in the cheapest shop and 2.28 in the other shops. My son likes Burt Crisps in his lunch box. In the cheapest shop they cost 1.51 but in the other shops they cost 1.72. Sadly the vanilla soya puddings have gone up from 1.00 to 1.50. I don't want to buy anymore of them.
A supermarket S they have a nectar points system. Yesterday I used 500 pounds to take some money off my shopping. Generally prices are getting higher and many products are less affordable. Shockingly some products have got smaller yet the price is the same or higher. People salaries and wages are not coping with high prices. For savers interest rates are disappointingly low.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
15 Apr 13
I used to shop every weekend!
And then I had a brilliant idea to shop every 8th day. I thought that if I could extend a week's worth of grocery to 8 days, I would end up saving a week's grocery money after every 6th cycle.
It was good for a while until daily schedule of work and chores and errands got in the way of getting to the store at the right day. Now I just go every other weekend.
@ayeeesha (1127)
• Philippines
12 Apr 13
I always shop ... until I had my own family. My husband is really into this whole saving thing for our future so as much as possible, we cut down our expenses and save as much as we can.
That happened to me actually. I've been enjoying myself out and buying stuff, although some I really need, only to realize I spent too much. Prices of goods do increase these days.
@ElicBxn (63642)
• United States
22 Apr 13
We shop every 2 weeks. I think we could probably go a month or so without a major shopping, but we'd still need things like cat litter and milk for the blind roommate. I would say that things we need monthly are cat food, maybe paper towels and maybe frozen veggies. Every 6 weeks are things like dog food and then for sure toilet paper. Right now we probably have enough meat in the freezer for a couple of months, a LOT of chicken.
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
9 Apr 13
1000 euros is a lot of money. Nearly two months of my salary.
Totally agree with you on the inflation that eat up our purchasing
power. A normal simple meal in Malaysia will cost us RM5 or more.
The houses here cost a bomb. I can't save much but I am trying my
best as I have family commitment.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
9 Apr 13
I try to shop as less as possible. If I take cash with me so no unexpected surprises. But have to admit there are bills you have to pay and the "not counted with costs" are every month again way higher as the costs for living. And yes all the prices are sky high but seems (if I have to believe the media) people still have plenty of money to spend.
@teotimoponcerosacena (1551)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
It is but natural, we now live in place overcrowded by people. We must live wisely for us not to be degraded.
@emily7339 (1337)
• Malaysia
9 Apr 13
I do shop once a week. It is true that prices of the goods are going up and up...
. I always ended up spending much but with lesser items as time goes by 
. I remembered with the same amount of money in years ago, I could buy so much more things than today 
!
. I always ended up spending much but with lesser items as time goes by . I remembered with the same amount of money in years ago, I could buy so much more things than today !
@MarkAnthony20 (73)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
Hello GreenMoo, I think shopping should do every 25 days and must remember a list of items which is important to you. It is significant to have a shopping list for your guide then put numbers every items then set a limit on how many items you will going to buy to control your expenses. You are right that goods price are increasing.
