I'm the child of parents born during the depression. We never wasted anything -one of my mother's sayings was "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without". I contrast that with my thirty-something children who do the coffee/pastry stop every day, use Hello Fresh two meals a week, buy name brands when not on sale, etc. They do ok, have good jobs, everything is paid for (no credit card debt) but I worry that they are not as vigilant and it could come back to bite them. I bite my tongue.
How are you handling rising food and energy costs?
- Thread starter HeatherC
- Start date
good for you!!! with my sale the local store that was running it was out but they were willing to give a rain check to dh who i asked to pick it up. another location had it in stock so that's where i grabbed it. cool thing is-unlike the big chain stores our local chain does NOT have an expiration date on the rain check so if we or someone else i know needs to get butter i can pass on the sale deal to them.
PREACH!!! we bought our first home in '91-11% and we were glad as youngin's with sparse credit history to qualify. we were over the moon when a handful of years later we could re-fi, drop pmi and secure for around 9% (saved us hundreds per month). eating out?
that was when we ate outside our home-at his parents, at my moms, at a work potluck...we became so adept at cooking the least expensive things (i still remind dh of the days we ate 'tunaless helper'-the helper was on sale but we couldn't afford the tuna). i don't regret those days at all.A few years ago we finished adding extra insulation to our house (spray foam) and the winter following we saw an increase in warmth. Last year we installed a mini-split AC/heater unit and due to the size of our house, we can use this to keep the house warm until usually around snowfall. Then we turn on the oil heat, which in looking at our usage last year, we used less than a quarter tank. Not too bad for being in MA.
As for electricity, we're not on National Grid, so while we'll see an increase, it's not nearly as dramatic as it could be.
As for electricity, we're not on National Grid, so while we'll see an increase, it's not nearly as dramatic as it could be.
RamblingMad
I'm an 80s kid too.
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I use coupons more.
CGB
Imagining the Impossible!
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We shop Sam's Club and Aldi. Years ago, I grocery-gamed and learned how to stock/use a rotating pantry of sale items. Maintaining a pantry has helped immensely. I spent the summer gardening/canning, which has filled my shelves and helped offset grocery costs. I'll probably expand my gardening areas next year. I also keep an eye on produce sales and can/freeze vegetables/fruits that I don't grow. I filled our upright freezer with meat during the pandemic, so we're using that stock instead of buying at the higher prices now.
pigletto
DIS Legend
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A few years back we decided to get serious about all debt, downsized our home, and started using a zero based budgeting system. We have been living very intentionally for about four years while we paid things off and focused on savings.
Basically I have four years of records showing what we paid for everything and can see all the increases. They are pretty shocking. I‘ve increased the budget in the categories where I just can’t save more, and shaved anything that can go a bit lower ( bye Netflix ).
I look at it two ways.. when I’m feeling whiny it bothers me that we worked so hard to get everything in order and when there was finally more discretionary income it’s going to increases in absolutely everything.
On the other hand I have to recognize that the only reason we can absorb all these increases is because we started paying attention and managing our finances better. A lot of people are struggling right now and I need to be grateful for where we are.
Basically I have four years of records showing what we paid for everything and can see all the increases. They are pretty shocking. I‘ve increased the budget in the categories where I just can’t save more, and shaved anything that can go a bit lower ( bye Netflix ).
I look at it two ways.. when I’m feeling whiny it bothers me that we worked so hard to get everything in order and when there was finally more discretionary income it’s going to increases in absolutely everything.
On the other hand I have to recognize that the only reason we can absorb all these increases is because we started paying attention and managing our finances better. A lot of people are struggling right now and I need to be grateful for where we are.
Minnesota!
Shoeless in Minnesota
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Haven't noticed anything much around me. Still able to keep my groceries to 100 or less a week with meal planning. We don't buy convenience foods or junk stuff and never have. Perimeter of store + dry grains.
Spending less on gas in general since DH got a new job and drives only about 13.miles a day now vs 32.
Electric went up, but cell went down, so it's a wash.
However, we shopped at the little store near our camper and the prices were definitely obscene there. Which is super lame since jobs around there are super scarce and people are working for 10/hour...which is the cost of a jar of mayo there, too.
Spending less on gas in general since DH got a new job and drives only about 13.miles a day now vs 32.
Electric went up, but cell went down, so it's a wash.
However, we shopped at the little store near our camper and the prices were definitely obscene there. Which is super lame since jobs around there are super scarce and people are working for 10/hour...which is the cost of a jar of mayo there, too.
I, too, am grateful that I can manage with the price increases. I think that everyone has to juggle where they can save and where they can't.
I am in chemo treatment right now and am constantly cold, despite wearing double sweaters, a hat and a muffler, inside, while sitting under a blanket. I still have to have the furnace set at 74 degrees instead of my usual 72. Otherwise, I physically shiver and am miserable. I would love to blast it higher, but I really can't justify that for a few reasons. My October bill showed twice the usage as it did in October 2021.
Given that, I will cut my grocery needs even more. Although I shop at Aldi (love it--our three in my town are great) and Walmart, I can see that I have extra splurges once every week or two at a more expensive store or a takeout place. I can whittle that down. When my daughter comes home to visit from college, I buy more groceries and cook her faves. When she returns to school, I eat the leftovers and don't shop for awhile.
I am on a medical leave from work right now, so my driving is at an all-time low. I currently save on gasoline a lot.
I shop for my physically disabled brother, too, whose SNAP benefits cut from $200 a month to $20 per month (thank you, Governor). He orders and eats the same things twice a month; it pains me to see how each item increases almost every time I put in his order--increases a lot! It is largely processed food because he is unable to cut, chop, stand, etc. and he lives alone. Those convenience types of food are really skyrocketing in price.
I am in chemo treatment right now and am constantly cold, despite wearing double sweaters, a hat and a muffler, inside, while sitting under a blanket. I still have to have the furnace set at 74 degrees instead of my usual 72. Otherwise, I physically shiver and am miserable. I would love to blast it higher, but I really can't justify that for a few reasons. My October bill showed twice the usage as it did in October 2021.
Given that, I will cut my grocery needs even more. Although I shop at Aldi (love it--our three in my town are great) and Walmart, I can see that I have extra splurges once every week or two at a more expensive store or a takeout place. I can whittle that down. When my daughter comes home to visit from college, I buy more groceries and cook her faves. When she returns to school, I eat the leftovers and don't shop for awhile.
I am on a medical leave from work right now, so my driving is at an all-time low. I currently save on gasoline a lot.
I shop for my physically disabled brother, too, whose SNAP benefits cut from $200 a month to $20 per month (thank you, Governor). He orders and eats the same things twice a month; it pains me to see how each item increases almost every time I put in his order--increases a lot! It is largely processed food because he is unable to cut, chop, stand, etc. and he lives alone. Those convenience types of food are really skyrocketing in price.
We're just spending more and saving less every month. I'm not about to run all around town, wasting gas, trying to find the cheapest prices on everything. Thankfully, we don't have to do that. We just have less extra every month. I still shop at the same places and still buy roughly the same stuff every month.
tinkerbellandpeterpan
DIS Veteran
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We shop primarily at Aldi and then fill in with loss leaders at Acme and Shoprite which are both under a quarter mile from our house. Those loss leaders are few and far between lately. We do also buy a few bulk things at BJs but I really try to spread out those purchases so it's only one thing every other week or so. Our Aldi is well stocked, well lit and organized with plenty of employees. As someone else mentioned, if the line gets long they always add a cashier. We are very pleased with Aldi's store brand for 90% of what we buy. There have only been a couple of flops that we decided wasn't worth it, but I really have no complaints.
We have definitely stopped buying some "luxury" snack time items unless they are on a big sale. Grocery and gas prices are really a struggle for us. We drive 45 mins each way to work. DH and I thankfully work together at the same place so it's one commute but the gas and the wear and tear on our one car is a significant consideration and expense.
We have definitely stopped buying some "luxury" snack time items unless they are on a big sale. Grocery and gas prices are really a struggle for us. We drive 45 mins each way to work. DH and I thankfully work together at the same place so it's one commute but the gas and the wear and tear on our one car is a significant consideration and expense.
Pea-n-Me
DIS Legend
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- Jul 18, 2004
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I started writing this this morning but got sidetracked.
Our interest rate was also 11.5% when we first bought our house, then we refinanced later (a few times).
We are fortunate these increases aren’t going to break us. But I do worry about those who can’t afford them, and still, I don’t LIKE paying more than I should be and getting less at the same time (especially where our retirement savings has dropped significantly so it’s like spinning our wheels).
We’re also fortunate that we’re at that age where we aren’t eating as much food as we were when we were younger. Half a sandwich fills me up now, so that’s what I take to work, maybe with a little soup, often homemade. We’re working on using up what’s in our storage shelves (cabinets, freezers) and trying not to throw as much away.
We’re also doing inventory in the house of how we can save more on electricity. I think we are going to get rid of a second fridge we have that we store drinks in. It’s not worth it. I paid $1000 to our electricity company last week. Our bills are astronomical right now. I like the idea someone mentioned upthread about getting a toaster oven instead of running the regular oven for something like baked potatoes. I hate losing counter space but it may be worth it.
We have natural gas and those costs have gone up, as well. All of us also commute so our gas costs are high. We have certain places we buy gas where costs are the lowest around (although costs appear to be on the rise again). Today I filled up just half a tank and it cost $30. Not long ago I used to fill my tank for that amount.
It’s interesting to hear what others are doing. I like Aldi, too, but I tend to shop around at a bunch of places depending on where I am. I hate to hear that people are losing some of their little niceties like the person who can’t get their coffee or the person going through chemo who is afraid to put the heat up to get comfortable.
Our interest rate was also 11.5% when we first bought our house, then we refinanced later (a few times).
We are fortunate these increases aren’t going to break us. But I do worry about those who can’t afford them, and still, I don’t LIKE paying more than I should be and getting less at the same time (especially where our retirement savings has dropped significantly so it’s like spinning our wheels).
We’re also fortunate that we’re at that age where we aren’t eating as much food as we were when we were younger. Half a sandwich fills me up now, so that’s what I take to work, maybe with a little soup, often homemade. We’re working on using up what’s in our storage shelves (cabinets, freezers) and trying not to throw as much away.
We’re also doing inventory in the house of how we can save more on electricity. I think we are going to get rid of a second fridge we have that we store drinks in. It’s not worth it. I paid $1000 to our electricity company last week. Our bills are astronomical right now. I like the idea someone mentioned upthread about getting a toaster oven instead of running the regular oven for something like baked potatoes. I hate losing counter space but it may be worth it.
We have natural gas and those costs have gone up, as well. All of us also commute so our gas costs are high. We have certain places we buy gas where costs are the lowest around (although costs appear to be on the rise again). Today I filled up just half a tank and it cost $30. Not long ago I used to fill my tank for that amount.
It’s interesting to hear what others are doing. I like Aldi, too, but I tend to shop around at a bunch of places depending on where I am. I hate to hear that people are losing some of their little niceties like the person who can’t get their coffee or the person going through chemo who is afraid to put the heat up to get comfortable.
firefly_ris
DIS Veteran
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- Nov 25, 2015
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- 3,274
Cutting down meat and eggs from the store. Instead we just finished using the 1/2 pig our friend raised and waiting for 1/4 cow to be done. Switching to buying eggs from a guy a mile or two away from my house. The rest, our usual frugal methods. Sales, never buy coffee out, cook batches of items and freeze (chili. Soups etc) and so on. More Aldi runs.
The natural gas bill I already got for September was shocking so really bracing myself for winter. Finally looking into adding a wood burning stove to the basement which we should have done years ago (we had to convert both wood burning fireplaces to gas as our chimney has an interior structural issue not worth fixing).
The natural gas bill I already got for September was shocking so really bracing myself for winter. Finally looking into adding a wood burning stove to the basement which we should have done years ago (we had to convert both wood burning fireplaces to gas as our chimney has an interior structural issue not worth fixing).
Have you looked into heated throws or mattress warming pads? Not a good idea for moving around, but watching tv /reading etc. We have mattress warming pad and we turn it on for 20-30 mins, get into a nice warm bed and shut it off. At times when DH steals most of the blanket, I'll turn it on again on my side.
I haven't heard of snap benefits being cut, I heard the other way around. Could it be a mistake?
Many things have gone up in price, but I try not to eat that stuff. With the real food, the stuff around the perimeter of the grocery store, it's not a whole lot different. You all are just catching up to what I have always paid.
$5.99 beef is nothing new. Been $5.99 for as long as I remember because we grew our own beef so it's been a long time since I've bought ground beef. It was $4.99-5.99 back then.
$4.99 for chicken, up a little but not much from mid 2010's.
Everyone going ballistic over egg prices and I'm scratching my head over why you're going nuts over such cheap eggs.
Now bacon prices, that one seems weird. When people were complaining I think even up to almost $10/lb, still anywhere from $4.99 to $7.99 depending on the brand. But with bacon, the $4.99 stuff is the better stuff than all the Sugardale or Hormel garbage.
$5.99 beef is nothing new. Been $5.99 for as long as I remember because we grew our own beef so it's been a long time since I've bought ground beef. It was $4.99-5.99 back then.
$4.99 for chicken, up a little but not much from mid 2010's.
Everyone going ballistic over egg prices and I'm scratching my head over why you're going nuts over such cheap eggs.
Now bacon prices, that one seems weird. When people were complaining I think even up to almost $10/lb, still anywhere from $4.99 to $7.99 depending on the brand. But with bacon, the $4.99 stuff is the better stuff than all the Sugardale or Hormel garbage.
TwoMisfits
DIS Veteran
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- Feb 21, 2002
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- 6,385
It could be the end of the temporary Covid emergency SNAP increase - that was always intended to be temporary...but then again, no one saw inflation, particularly on food, would be this bad when the Covid emergency funds stopped...
DisneyLover83
DIS Veteran
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- Dec 10, 2007
- Messages
- 678
I haven't read the whole thread yet but just yesterday I went to my local Target. I shop there every Tuesday while my daughter is in tutoring nearby so I know the prices of the regular items I purchase. Bagged coffee still had a 7.49 regular store label, Then it had a sale label for $8.99 after $1 off. So the new price is $9.99. Chicken nuggets I buy regularly were $8.99 - tag still said $8.99. Rang up $10.59. That story continued with my entire order. About 80% of my items rang up higher than the tag. There was one regular cashier with a line clear into the clothing department and I had to go back to pick up my daughter so I said nothing. Its quite apparent they are doing a massive markup - I'm guessing it was all effective 11/1 and the employees had not finished the new tags.
Condescending and false all in one tightly wrapped package. Nice!
Pink Partridge
DIS Veteran
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The heated mattress pad is so amazing! The true definition of cozy when you climb into bed in the winter.
Colleen27
DIS Legend
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- Mar 31, 2007
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- 24,190
The timing is such that I really haven't noticed it all that much. We had a household of 6 or 7 for the last decade or so. Four of them moved out right before covid happened only for three to move right back when the world shut down. But they all left again about a year ago - one to college and two to the house my son bought - so the price increases are just offsetting some of the savings of our much-smaller household. And I'm driving far less than I used to since my mom died; I spend a couple days a week working to clear out her house, but that's nothing compared to being there every day, sometimes more than once a day, when she was sick. So again the higher prices are just offsetting some of what I would otherwise be saving rather than costing us more.
But I don't think we've seen some of the massive increases being reported elsewhere either, which I think is a function of where we live and how we eat. It has been a mild fall for the most part, so I did have the heat on overnight for about a week but it is off again now with highs near 70 during the day, and in summer I get a lot from the farmer's markets and stands around me which haven't mirrored national food price increases thus far. I'm sure the grocery bill will go up now that the markets are shutting down for the winter but I'm getting to know the upside of a kid who doesn't eat cereal, peanut butter, lunch meat, etc. because I don't buy a lot of the things that have posted headline-grabbing price increases this year. And we don't have air conditioning, so utilities are always low in the summer. I'm hoping the fact that we got new windows this year will help keep things reasonable over the winter too; it has certainly made a difference so far this fall, as has the relatively mild weather. I had the heat on overnight for about a week but it is off again now with highs in the upper 60s during the day.
But I don't think we've seen some of the massive increases being reported elsewhere either, which I think is a function of where we live and how we eat. It has been a mild fall for the most part, so I did have the heat on overnight for about a week but it is off again now with highs near 70 during the day, and in summer I get a lot from the farmer's markets and stands around me which haven't mirrored national food price increases thus far. I'm sure the grocery bill will go up now that the markets are shutting down for the winter but I'm getting to know the upside of a kid who doesn't eat cereal, peanut butter, lunch meat, etc. because I don't buy a lot of the things that have posted headline-grabbing price increases this year. And we don't have air conditioning, so utilities are always low in the summer. I'm hoping the fact that we got new windows this year will help keep things reasonable over the winter too; it has certainly made a difference so far this fall, as has the relatively mild weather. I had the heat on overnight for about a week but it is off again now with highs in the upper 60s during the day.
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