How are you handling rising food and energy costs?

[kdonnel]

My issue with Aldi is execution. I suggest you never try to have a Taco Tuesday using only Aldi ingredients. Germans don't seem to have the right palate for Tex Mex.

Aldi Taco Mix = gross
Aldi Mex Rice = Bland
Aldi Refried Beans = smoky? why are my beans smoky?

So, if I'm doing an Aldi run, I stick to basics they can't mess up like flour and bananas. Or things they should be expert in, like spatzle and ham.

Oh, and they are understaffed on purpose and it looks like a train wreck, but because it is.

Tastes sure differ from person to person.

My family has never had a problem or said they can even taste the difference between Aldi Taco mix and name brand Taco mix.

I have found many things that taste much better from Aldi. Their version of yellow rice(the same mex rice you find bland?) is better than national brands. Their version of cereal is almost always superior to the national brands. Their version of Oreos are better than the real brand.

The only thing we have found to be much worse is instant oatmeal.

As for staffing, I have never had a problem at my local Aldi. Perhaps the Publix, Walmart, and Kroger around me suffer just as bad from understaffing. I wait less time to checkout at Aldi than any other grocery store. If there are more than 2 people in line, my Aldi always opens another register. I have never seen Publix, Walmart, or Kroger open additional registers based on need.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There's 3 of them near me, one is only a few months old. Yep, it's already a disaster. I live in Maryland, in the 'burbs between DC and Baltimore. Perhaps your regional office cares.

Anyway, in my area an Aldi's only has 2 employees, one angry lady to scowl at the line creeping and growing toward the back of the store (and throw jars into your cart!) and one pimply teenager to slowly swirl the fetid mop around the produce aisle.

Well then that's an issue with your area not with a company-wide Aldi issue and I get that because I avoid certain locations of certain stores myself. Not everyone is going to like what items a store carries even high end stores. They may find it too rich, too sugary, too spicy, not enough spice, etc. They may find a layout better at one location over another.

The way you describe people however is a bit too much focus on. I have to assume you do this to enough stores you frequent unfortunately.

 

[nycdisneygal]

Similar to what I always did and try to work around whats on sale and also stock up when on sale (we have 4 bags of frozen shrimp!!!). We had bought an extra freeezer right before the shutdown (my husband was supposed to go out of town so i wanted to freeze some meals -- lucky we got it! and his trip was canceled because COVID then hit europe). I also limit snacks. No more tostitos and salsa ! We also eat out much less. I know the cheaper gas stations on way from work. We dont go very far other than me going to work. Oil is more than double so heating our house will be crazy this year. Am worried that my parents will not be able to afford their heat.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They also offer a small discount for paying the premium on an annual basis.

A decent amount of companies offer a discount for pay in full. That may be a 6 month or a 12 month policy. Monthly often got EFT discounts and while paying monthly may get a service charge depending on the company it could be reduced if it was combined with EFT. Paperless billing also could help on the service charge. The insurance company I worked at pay in full discount nearly all the time beat out an EFT discount.

A 12 month policy may or may not be cheaper than a 6 month just depends on the pricing structure. I have really only stuck with 12 month auto policies for about 10 years or so. However I know rate increases may or may not be hitting me hard depending on the company and timing of my renewal.

When I worked at the insurance company sometimes people who had 12 month auto polices vs 6 months would see 2 or more rate increases hitting all at once so they saw their rate skyrocket. Someone with a 6 month policy would see a more gradual increase.

Most people who have 6 month polices compare to the previous renewal, most people with 12 month polices compare to the previous renewal but the shift in time frames makes a difference to how some people view it. "Oh this is a $150 increase year over year" vs "this is a $75 increase from 6 months ago" (just random numbers here) can sound a lot different to people looking over if they want to leave a company or not.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I haven’t changed much with grocery sopping. I usually shop sales. clip store coupons, make a list and stock up on things we use most often. I only grocery shop at one store a week, but I vary the store depending on who has the best sales on the items we use most. I buy large packages of chicken, ground beef and pork whenever they are on sale, then portion it into freezer bags. Some weeks I don’t buy fresh meat at all.

I also have Amazon Prime and use Subscribe and Save. If you subscribe to 5 or more items a month, you get a 15% discount. I use Amazon for items such as laundry items, paper products, trash bags, dishwasher tablets, granola bars, vitamins, hair products, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.

As far as gas for the cars, I use the Gas Buddy app to see which stations are lowest. I don’t go out of my way to find the cheapest gas, but if a station is on my way somewhere, I’ll stop and fill up.

 

[Christine]

Honestly, I haven't noticed a huge increase. In fact, my brand of milk finally dropped 40 cents on the half gallon. But I don't think I'm buying the stuff listed here (for instance, peanut butter). I buy shredded wheat cereal, store brand Wegman's and it's goine up 30 cents in 2 years. It's still under $2.00 for a fairly good-sized box. I buy Jello pudding and jello cups often and the price doesn't seem to have budged on them. Whipped cream also. Those are really my "processed" foods. I do notice that the ice cream I was buying last summer for $4.99 is consistently running about a dollar more now. I don't buy lunch meat. I get my husband Wegman's brand ice cream sandwiches for $2.50 for a pack of 12. I don't think they've moved much in price.

I would say that some of the fresh foods have increased: broccoli crowns are up about 40 cents a pound and a little bit here and there on most everything except asparagus for some reason. So I guess it does add up but it's not yet reached the "shocking" point for me.

 

[Southernmiss]

We've fortunately been able to just suck it up without a big pinch.

This too shall pass.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I am extremely lucky in that I get food assistance and they have increased my benefit to try and keep up with the rising prices. So, if I'm very careful, buy mostly store brands and plan menus in advance, we're not hurting in the food department. Utilities-we have oil heat and the price is nuts, but we've been a bit lucky there in that it's been warmer than average so we haven't had to turn on the heat. We keep the house at 72 degrees in Winter because we have a little one here and he gets cold easily even with heavy clothes on. We're going to try and keep it to three tanks full for the Winter season. I don't drive, so I don't feel the pinch at the pump really, although my cousin drives for work so we keep her car filled.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We are a family of 7 so groceries have always been crazy but now it’s outrageous. I meal plan and stick strictly to my list to save on impulse buys. Also only eat out once a week now and make coffee at home instead of my daily Starbucks run. I also do all my online shopping thru sites like swagbucks to earn extra money. Every little bit helps.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I also do all my online shopping thru sites like swagbucks to earn extra money.

I don't remember what it's called but my husband scans the receipts for things (works for a lot of different places not just on groceries) on an app which earns cashback. I think he usually chooses an Amazon gift card for redemption. Sometimes there's like bonus rewards for certain things

 

[jo-jo]

i did the same when it was going for $2.99

About two or three months ago when butter took a big jump, a week later I saw butter at lidi's $2.79. I thought sale limit of two, kept looking for signs. Got 6. Expecting problems at checkout . Nope. Went back later that day and got 8 more. Still same price. I felt like I was running drugs. I might be taken down for my butter supply. Wrapped and in freezer , waiting for Christmas cookies.

 

[AustinTink]

I mostly shop the “perimeter of the store” produce, fresh food items, etc. so those prices have not been too terrible.

My DH likes his chips and cereal tho for snacking and those prices are insane. I switched to store brand for both and he’s fine with it.

The one thing I’ve done is go totally meatless a few days a week, mostly for weight loss purposes to be honest. The side effect has been a happy coincidence on our grocery bill. Lots of whole grains and beans, etc. I cook large batches and freeze.

 

[QueenIsabella]

That is truly scary! We are getting killed in NH with electricity rates up 112% (not a typo) and fuel oil in the $6.50 range (I bought for the year at $4.99 in May). We are considering a move to FL in the next couple years.

We have two 2020 Subaru's and pay $600/6 months for 250/500 coverage but we are low mileage. Our 1450 SF house/1 car garage is about $900 but we have extra coverage and jewelry. I'm pretty stunned! We have appointments in two weeks at two neighborhoods to look at a new build (obviously we are watching prices decrease) and from what we figured H03, wind and flood would be about 2K-2.5K for a 300K house. Are we totally wrong? Thanks!

You're NOT making me miss New Hampshire!

I'm feeling things mostly on gas these days. Our grocery bills have always been high (4 kids!), and I've always shopped sales, rarely eat out, bake my own, etc. I notice gas the most because DS16 doesn't have his license yet, and needs to be schlepped around. Biking isn't an option--the roads he'd need to travel are not safe for a bike. He needs to get picked up from HS (he gets out early), driven to college 4X a week (because he tested into the hard calculus that meets more often than the regular one), and has a job that he works weekends and on days off. Then there's violin and voice lessons, and ballet. They closed the close by dance studio, so we have to go to the far one...and he got picked to play the Nutcracker next month, so extra rehearsals it is!

On the good side, a new grocery store is opening up this week. We won't shop there, but they and two competitors mailed out coupons--buy $50 worth, get $10 off. You can bet I'll be scouring the circulars (sales/coupons start tomorrow) to find the best deals. I don't normally shop at any of the three, but I'm willing to take a look.

 

[wabbott]

As for gasoline, I've been really paying attention to my driving habits. No jackrabbit starts. None. Trying to time stoplights. If you can keep the engine RPM below 1500-2000, it makes a huge difference. Also, combining shopping trips and no unnecessary driving.

 

[Travel60]

I feel very fortunate that even though we definitely have noticed price increases, they really don't impact our spending habits.

But, this question takes me back to just after we married and were trying to buy a house. Some of you may remember 1981 - economy similar to now and home mortgage rates around 18% (not a typo).

For about a year (until economy straightened out a bit), we hardly ate out at all, ate filling but non-meat or "only-a-little-meat" dishes (pastas, rices, beans, vegys casseroles). Very little packaged or boxed snacks, drank water, coffee, tea.

Many of our new neighbors were also "starting out" so entertainment was playing volleyball or other backyard games. Or, one family would rent a video (1980s remember), meet at someone's house, watch and eat popcorn. Or play board games or do jigsaw puzzles. All very low cost entertainment. We also planted a neighborhood garden on one of the vacant lots in the development that didn't sell when the economy tanked. We carpooled to church or to work to the extent possible and basically didn't go anywhere else.

DH and I both had jobs that required suits (for him) and suits or blazer for me. We pretty much made do with what we had but I did make a couple of skirts and a couple of dresses that went with suit jackets or blazers I already had.

We were careful and I think it gave us a good understanding our finances when things got better.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

We don't really notice it, haven't changed any habits really. We drive quite a bit less than we did a few years ago because we now just work from home full time. So that helps.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I feel very fortunate that even though we definitely have noticed price increases, they really don't impact our spending habits.

But, this question takes me back to just after we married and were trying to buy a house. Some of you may remember 1981 - economy similar to now and home mortgage rates around 18% (not a typo).

For about a year (until economy straightened out a bit), we hardly ate out at all, ate filling but non-meat or "only-a-little-meat" dishes (pastas, rices, beans, vegys casseroles). Very little packaged or boxed snacks, drank water, coffee, tea.

Many of our new neighbors were also "starting out" so entertainment was playing volleyball or other backyard games. Or, one family would rent a video (1980s remember), meet at someone's house, watch and eat popcorn. Or play board games or do jigsaw puzzles. All very low cost entertainment. We also planted a neighborhood garden on one of the vacant lots in the development that didn't sell when the economy tanked. We carpooled to church or to work to the extent possible and basically didn't go anywhere else.

DH and I both had jobs that required suits (for him) and suits or blazer for me. We pretty much made do with what we had but I did make a couple of skirts and a couple of dresses that went with suit jackets or blazers I already had.

We were careful and I think it gave us a good understanding our finances when things got better.

I can certainly relate! We bought our first house in 1984 when rates were crazy. We lived small back then. I had to dress up as well and pantyhose was a budget killer LOL!

We paid cash for our downsized house and glad we did. People will not be moving unless they have to. Hopefully most people can just wait it out but it will get uglier before it gets better.

 

[DisneyHardin]

With just 2 of us, we haven't had a huge increase, but I have noticed that I used to spend about $50-$60/week and now it is closer to $80. Like most people here have already said, I try to stock up when things are on sale. I do most of our shopping at Kroger, but there are a few things we like that are considerably cheaper at Wal-Mart, so I go there about once every couple months to stock up on those things.

We do the "budget" plan for our electric (our house is all electric, so no gas bill) and it is $227/month, which is up from $208/month after our "settle up" month even though we came out ahead and got a credit on our first bill of the new year because we overpaid last year.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I used to spend about $50-$60/week and now it is closer to $80.

That's us, not those exact figures, but when I'm going over our grocery orders via Walmart it's clear we used to get more bang for our buck not even that long ago. Orders are costing a decent amount more even though for the most part the ingredients are staying roughly the same give or take things here and there.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Haven't seen any increase in our overall bill for 3 months or so. Not like last spring. We shop Aldi and hit sales and then fill in the gaps. Virtually everything goes on sale at some point. One week it's Kelloggs, the next it's General Mills. One week it's New York Strip, the next it's Rib eye, the next it's Chuck roast. We love Aldi. Yes there are only two people there. But check out is quick and the store isn't a full size store. The only drawback is Aldi's can get picked clean towards the end of the day on the busy weekends. Trucks come in the morning.

BTW it's almost ham time. I love Aldi's hams. And inexpensive too.