I did the grocery shopping this morning. I use cash when I buy groceries. Cash keeps me accountable in my spending. I thought I had more than enough for groceries. Imagine my surprise when at my final stop, I had just barely enough and was counting coins to make that last purchase. I will say, I skipped grocery shopping last week and needed to buy more than I might usually. But still, grocery prices have really jumped up in my area.
I've got two sets of receipts in front of me, one set from 6 weeks ago and the other from today.A month and a half ago, I bought a 5-dozen case of eggs at Walmart for $9.98. Today, I paid $16.38 for the same size and brand of eggs. Six weeks ago I bought 2 pounds of butter at WinCo for $2.98 a pound. This morning I bought 2 pounds of the same butter at WinCo for $3.68 a pound. Six weeks ago I bought 1 gallon of milk at WinCo for $3.11. Today the same brand and size of milk at WinCo was $3.48. Six weeks ago I was paying $2.68 per quart of soy milk. Today I was shocked to see it had jumped to $3.38, same brand, same store.
It isn't all bad news. The flour that I normally buy for bread, the natural peanut butter that my family likes, our staple fruit bananas, and the usual cheese that I buy have stayed at the same price. But nothing on my usual list has come down in price this year.
We're doing okay, though. I suppose the garden produce, cooking most meals from scratch, and using our stockpile of freezer and pantry foods are keeping us from needing to rework our grocery budget. The same can't be said for all of us, however. I read last month that 27% of Americans divulged that they are skipping meals periodically as a strategy to keep their grocery spending stable. Obviously, this isn't a sustainable solution to the problem of high food prices. Our church sponsored a food drive two months ago, informing the congregation that the food pantry's shelves were emptying at an alarming rate. I don't know what the answer is with rising food prices. My hope is prices will come down enough so that those 27%-ers don't have to skip meals anymore. In the meantime, generosity to food banks can go a long way to help those really struggling.
As annoyed as I am to find higher and higher grocery prices, I also know that I am blessed. There is always enough food in my kitchen. I'm sorry that this post is more about me working through my thoughts about my grocery shopping than anything of help to someone else. Sometimes I just need to write things out to see what I am missing. Today, my writing revealed that I am already blessed beyond measure.
You don't always have to give us a how-to post of the obvious type. Things that help us remember out blessings are very important, too. Higher food prices along with the costs of keeping cool doing the long heat wave that most of the country is experiencing is hitting everyone's budget. Like you, I am very thankful that I have enough food and a cool place to sleep at night.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughts, Live and Learn.
DeleteI had similar thoughts this week as I needed to pick up a few groceries that really jolted me at the final price. I told my husband how much that small bit of groceries cost and he was shocked as well at how expensive everything has become even for just normal, regular, needed food items. I have skipped meals as well keeping what could have been a lunch into a supper item instead. I will choose a snack instead.
ReplyDeleteAlice
Hi Alice,
DeleteIt's been shocking to see these higher food prices. I was baking cookies today. The recipe called for 2 sticks of butter. The butter part alone of the cookies came to $1.84 for those 2 sticks. That really shocked me. I may be looking for new, low-butter, cookie recipes.
It really saddens me that folks are struggling so much that meals are being sacrificed.
I agree completely that my family and I are blessed to be able to withstand the price increases for groceries. My brain has been a lot of other places recently and I haven't paid too much attention to specific cost increases, but I will be watching for them now. I was able to get good prices on ground beef and watermelon over the 4th of July holiday, and my husband recently found a great deal on bulk breakfast sausage (we use it in place of hamburger sometimes in meals like spaghetti), so I think I was feeling like we were doing well on food expenses.
ReplyDeleteIt's an expensive season of life for us, as we prepare for my daughter to head to college in the fall. I've been trying to find the most cost-effective supplies for her dorm room, and I had already purchased many items last fall when they were on clearance, but yikes! I keep reminding myself that many things are a one-and-done purchase (comforter, storage items, etc.). Thankfully, she and my son are both very financially responsible and I don't have to worry about their spending habits.
Hi Kris,
DeleteI've never thought to use breakfast sausage in spaghetti. What a great idea! And I'm glad you found deals on some of your usual foods.
Good luck as you navigate this more expensive time in your family's life. All of those items add up.