My Declining Standard of Living

[swampy]

You have a point, BillB. Even though gas is down, farmers, truckers, processing plants etc. all need time to recoup and try to recover some of their losses.

[decocritter]

In Atlanta, when gasoline shot up, grocery stores prices shot up at at exactly the same time, and those were produced and shipped before gas prices went up.

There was a CNN report on this and there was a "pricing term" used that basically meant, "taking advantage of the market".

When Atlanta had that month or so of high gas prices and low supply, the stores really increased prices immediately. Things that were $1.00 increased to $1.49 and $1.69.

I shop sales, coupons...I try to stay stocked up on necessities so I can wait and buy it on sale.

At Kroger, I shop from the flyer, and the 10 for $10 is usually a good sale for me.

At Publix, their weekly specials usually include a meat and a few items for the week.

I hate Walmart, but they have about 20 things that are significantly cheaper there, but most of their prices are the same or can be higher than Kroger/Publix sale prices.

I buy a handfull of things at Trader Joes about once a month, as a treat. I like some of their soups, canned goods, and a few frozen items.

I don't buy soda, but drink tea and coffee, as well as juices.

I find coupons have been lacking lately for things I actually use, except on occasion food wraps and paper goods.

CVS and Rite Aid tend to have good sales on those types of items, but often grocery store brands can compete.

I rarely eat out and have started cooking a lot more and freezing.

[DevoBill]

billb wrote:

Ethanol utilization of corn was another.

That is a myth.
The ethanol residue is feed and is used in place of corn that would have been fed anyway.

[JoeH]

DevoBill wrote:
[quote=billb]

Ethanol utilization of corn was another.

That is a myth.
The ethanol residue is feed and is used in place of corn that would have been fed anyway.
Not entirely true. Some residue after ethanol production was able to be used and was sold to be used as feed, but only a fraction of what it would have been used directly as feed. Two, the demand for feed corn to be used for ethanol production caused some displacement of other food crops such as barley, wheat and others raising food prices dependent on them. Not entirely responsible, but a contributing cause. Also not as responsible as some would make it out to be, but to be called a myth, that is too simplistic an answer.

[DevoBill]

That fraction is half.

[JoeH]

DevoBill wrote:
That fraction is half.

You got a source for that? Or is it made up on the spot like most internet statistics?

Even at half, that removes a lot of feed from the market to feed cattle and other livestock.

[mikeylikesit]

Not to pick on you Robert but ...

Robert M wrote:
Deco,

Gas was just one small part of the reason groceries (and everything else for that matter!) has increased in price. The cost to produce packaging, advertising, storage, everything. I'm amazed I can even afford to buy groceries these days.

That said, store brands, coupons, buying in larger sizes (when it's feasable), making one large trip and getting stuff in one place versus going to several places for goods, shopping with a friend and buying a large size of stuff to share, you name it. Lots of ways to save. My parents, girlfriend and I buy in bulk and share all the time. Well worth it!

And, yes, the store you patronize matters. The prices for goods changes from store to store and one some places charge higher prices for the same stuff. I know people who positively hate Walmart but shop there because the difference in prices for the identical goods are that significant.

Robert

I was in a Trader Joes tonight and the basics were less costly than they were at the local chain store. Butter, eggs, bread and milk were less without the stupid club thing.

[Black Landlord]

mikeylikesit wrote:
Not to pick on you Robert but ...

[quote=Robert M]
Deco,

Gas was just one small part of the reason groceries (and everything else for that matter!) has increased in price. The cost to produce packaging, advertising, storage, everything. I'm amazed I can even afford to buy groceries these days.

That said, store brands, coupons, buying in larger sizes (when it's feasable), making one large trip and getting stuff in one place versus going to several places for goods, shopping with a friend and buying a large size of stuff to share, you name it. Lots of ways to save. My parents, girlfriend and I buy in bulk and share all the time. Well worth it!

And, yes, the store you patronize matters. The prices for goods changes from store to store and one some places charge higher prices for the same stuff. I know people who positively hate Walmart but shop there because the difference in prices for the identical goods are that significant.

Robert

I was in a Trader Joes tonight and the basics were less costly than they were at the local chain store. Butter, eggs, bread and milk were less without the stupid club thing.
I hate supporting corporate chains but would make an exception for a TJ's in my part of town.

[mikeylikesit]

There are five (count them - 5) Trader Joes within bicycle distance of my place. I don't own a bicycle, Danny does but he thinks TJs is just another grocer that = chore.

[graylocks]

Trader Joe's is not near me but i'm up in that part of town today and will do my monthly run. they have the best price on a meal replacement bar my son's pediatrician recommended for him. i'll pick up some a high fiber cereal they carry, Tjs granola, bananas for the week (they have the best price in the area) and a few frozen things like little pizzas. but whereas before i'd buy 2, 3 or 4 boxes of those things per trip, today i'll probably stick to 2. i'll run out and do without those things by the end of the month.

TJs has better prices for butter, eggs, milk than Walmart HOWEVER, for those things the price at Aldi (which owns Trader Joe's) is even better. Aldi is in my neighborhood so i get there once a week.