OT Grocery Prices | Arthritis Information

 

I'll be honest and say that I never used to shop sales, or for that matter, look at the cost of a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk. But, I have had to take a second look especially buying organic. I paid 3.73 yesterday for a dozen eggs yesterday. I am now subscribing to the newspaper so I can get the adds. Is anyone else feeling the pinch? Think I'll put in a big garden this summer.Yeah, the pinch is definitely being felt...and I too am thinking of planting a garden this spring.  And after watching the news yesterday and the truckers talking about striking because of higher fuel costs, I think our prices are only going to continue to rise.  :(YEah, milk is unbelievable. I never paid so much for eggs before. I may have to drive across town to go to Aldi.....their prices had gone up but nothing compared to the grocery stores or even Meijers......Butter or margarine is unreal as well. And bread....all of it.definitely going to be a global recession. I think I'll get a cow for my milk, and some chickens for eggs. ...yes, these prices are crazy. I've had to raise my prices in my shop because the cost of products has gone up so much, we had to pass the cost along to our clients. We didn't want to do it, we had to. Bummer.

If I still lived in the country, I would be putting out a garden and raising chickens. GEt a huge freezer and freeze vegs....never canned vegetables, but would be learning how to.

p.s...and I love to make bread anyway so that would be fun!We live in NY state which is always notorious for taxes etc. I go to Walmart for milk.59 a gallon. I used to buy bread there but that also took a jump in price from.69 to 1.19. Do you have ALDI near you. I truely hate the store but the prices can't be beat-its still.69 for a big loaf of bread and other prices are resonable!Hey.....then I would sell the eggs to offset the price of feed and the chicken coop. Hi Lori, yes, I've been startled by the prices in the grocery store and it hasn't been a gradual increase it's increasing by big chunks.  I've started to use the commissary more.  I know that everyone can't use the commissary but for those of us that can - we should.  There is a dramatic difference in prices, especially dry goods.  I'll still buy my meat at the butcher shop and we eat organic veggies and fruits.  My grocery bill is still high but not as bad as it was several weeks ago.  Also, have been using coupons for the first time.  It's a hard habit to acquire, I keep losing them or forgetting them.  LindyI moved from AZ to KY wow! The grocery prices jumped when we moved! It was terrible! I can't wait till summer, I hear the veggies come down a lot here around the summer. Its weird not to have certian things in the winter. I  actually cried the first time I paid 0 for buying groceries. YUCK! Even free....stinky milk sounds gross! Prices were relatively stable for a long time. Only beef, milk and bread seemed to jump up. Now it's going to be across the board. I've been buying food on sale for so long, I know my habits won't change. I hear about the prices going up every single day from my hubby.  One of his PT jobs is price-checking at various supermarkets and he says that overall, prices have gone up about 20% from last year (some items more, some less).  Fortunately for us, because he goes to them all he can "cherry-pick" the sales and get just a few items at each store without using any additional time or gas.

 

Coupons and planning for sales is definitely worth it, although it does take some effort and organization.  There are some good websites out there that can help...google "grocery saving" and you'll find lots.

 

We're also big on coupons (and frequent diner programs) for restaurants.  We like to go out to eat, but these days we pretty much only go if we have a coupon or certificate of some kind unless it's a special occasion.

Lovie. I will say, Walmart prices are what most people can afford and lets face it, people ARE going to shop where they can afford. I try to buy in bulk, out of the bins. We have a food cooperative here and it is one of the priciest places in town but have bulk food which is cheaper than sack stuff even at walmart.


Here are some tips that have helped me:

Buy yours spices in bulk, they are like...a third of the price.
Same for flour, sugar, oats, rice, etc. Big savings
Try to buy local eggs, dairy, they tend to be cheaper than anything that is shipped in
Try to attend your local farmers markets, lots of good veggies for low prices
Dairy is VERY regulated here so we don't get great prices on dairy in general.
Coupon shop when ever you can

I think buying the cow by the half or quarter is a smart move if you can afford it.
Learn to fish, lol.

Those are my tips of the day. Anyone care to add anything?My tips are don't waste food, and read "The Omnivore's Dilemma"

Unless we change our approach to how and what we eat this is only going to get worse.It's the same the world over at present.    I have 18 acres so can thankfully grow my own beef, milk, make butter, cream and I grow most of my own vegies.    I also have 4 chooks which produce more eggs than the two of us eat.  I don't grow my own meatbirds but would do so if I could find someone who could kill and process them.  I'm a sook when it comes to that side of farming.  My cows are mainly grassfed but I do have to buy in hay and straw to supplement in the winter.   The cost of this feed has gone through the roof as a big percentage of NZ is in drought.    Luckily my suppliers are selling to me at last years prices.  May be different next year tho.  I would rather live in the country and grow all the veggies and have some fruit trees. The house that we built had a "garden room" for all supplies. yes my sister had dreadful heygine in tending her cows. Implements were NOT properly sterilized etc. She didnt have hot running water so didnt wash up properly..(didnt pay gas bills so no hot water..and no stove to heat water on for cleaning) I'm in a condo, so the closest I'm going to get to growing veggies is an AeroGarden (http://www.aerogrow.com/) ...anyone want to buy me one?

 

OTOH, I'm completely surrounded by farms, both produce and dairy, but the produce is terribly expensive and raw milk scares me (and sales are illegal in my state).  But I do enjoy waving to the cows as I go by! 

 

Good thing hubby is a excellent forager at the markets.

InnerGlow2008-04-02 19:54:15I can so relate to the high prices of groceries. We live in the country and always have a garden. Last two years son and hubby planted while I supervised. In laws have a HUGE garden that feeds many families. My father in law shares with everyone. My friend Kim also has a farm and I get free fresh eggs. My son (15) works for a farmer and we get fresh free ground beef which we have been eating and eating and I am so sick of it! Not sure what we are gonna do. Before moving here to the Pacific Northwest, we had a huge garden and grew just about every veggie possible. Here, I can grow herbs, onions and rocks - not kidding. Last Fri, I spent 0 on groceries at the commissary and by tues. we had nothing to eat so back to the market and another 2 spent, plus schwanns stopped by and we bought all our veggies from them which was for a grand total of about 0 this week. I always have extra teenagers at my house during mealtimes, besides my 3. I just add an extra can of this or that,  and throw some bread in the oven to stretch what we are eating.... I still need to do better about shopping all the different store sales each week. Hi Kathy, that upside down thing works great for tomatos.  We take several of them to Mexico so we have fresh tomatos the whole time we're there.  The tomatos south of the border are small and have an ok taste but the ones we grow uside down taste really good.  I give them 2 thumbs up.  That is 2 green thumbs.  Lindy [QUOTE=CinDee]I can so relate to the high prices of groceries. We live in the country and always have a garden. Last two years son and hubby planted while I supervised. In laws have a HUGE garden that feeds many families. My father in law shares with everyone. My friend Kim also has a farm and I get free fresh eggs. My son (15) works for a farmer and we get fresh free ground beef which we have been eating and eating and I am so sick of it!

I just came home from the grocery store and here in Yuma it was .45 for a head of lettuce......I almost collapsed into the veggie bin.  Last time I looked it was 99 cents.  They did have avocados for 49 cents a piece and I got beautiful artichokes at the Mexican market at 2 for 99 cents. 

Owie, I don't know how you do it with 3 teenagers and their assorted friends.  You must be creative.

Jas, OMG corn on the cob and a Sam Adams - the perfect meal.  I had a Sam's for the first time last night and I like it a lot, but then I like lagers and darker beers. 

I am very familiar with Dekalb see their signs everywhere by lots of fields. My neighbors are fields. This year is beans though. They rotate from corn to beans. During harvest we have corn on the cob. It's so good when you soak it in water husk and all then roast on the grill. Then I usually add a hamburger or some other meat with it. No mess in the kitchen and everything is cooked on the grill. Son just bought hubby a new grill for his birthday that is also a smoker so they have been cooking EVERYTHING on the grill. It has a side burner too. Oh my goodness, we love pink lady apples and the other day I went to get more and they were .99 a lb. I about fell over. I usually don't even look at the price as we love them so much, but I opted for the cheapo .99 ones. Not even sure what kind they are. Artichokes, which we love! are still 2/.00. Now the only frozen pizzas the kids like were 4/.00. Of course I bought some, but it is sure sending the wrong message when the "junk food" is cheap and the healthy food is not affordable.... I can't wait until the farmers markets start up here. We are still getting occasional snow, so it will be a while.If you want to talk expensive food, Australia has it!  Milk is  over .30 a litre.  Lettuce  usually around a head and tomatoes about -9 a kilogram.  Apples about -5 a kilogram.  Ground beef  aobut a kilogram.  Bread is around about -4.50 a loaf.  Salmon is a winner at around a kilogram.  A dozen eggs is anywhere from -5 depending if you want cage or free range.   My weekly shopping is anywhere from 0-0 a week.

Pammy, take heart.  When those little eating machines leave, the grocery bill AND the gas (petrol) bill go down!  One of the nice things about kids leaving the nest!  I still have one at home, a girl.  She's very expensive.  :)

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