Ouch! That’s all I can say. Part of the sticker shock is probably because we don’t buy groceries like normal people. We usually go to Aldi and buy a case (24 cans) of green beans, or green peas, or canned pumpkin (for Rita’s food), then don’t buy again for six months or a year. We rarely go in and buy one can or even look at the prices. When Vince first got here, almost exactly a year ago, he bought a ton of small red beans and paid something like 89 cents per one pound bag at Walmart. Now, those same beans are $1.24 per pound.
One pound of bacon at Walmart was $8.19 per pound. The Walmart brand was $6.27 per pound – for one pound. Last time we looked, it was $4.29 at Aldi but we haven’t looked at bacon in a while.
A couple of years ago, we would buy Jimmy Dean’s sausage – 2 pounds for $4. Today, it’s $4.19 per pound.
There were several things on my list that I just put back and said no .. not paying that. Avocados were 99 cents each. Plain yellow onions were over $1/pound.
The sad thing is that for many folks, there’s no place to cut back in order to buy groceries. For us, we will make some changes, we’ll pass on some of the things we would have bought and we’ll be fine. I keep hearing people say “Plant a garden!” Small gardens can be planted almost anywhere – patio tomatoes and cucumbers on a deck or patio if there’s absolutely no yard but starting a garden isn’t free. And, you probably can’t survive on tomatoes and cucumbers! Pots are expensive, dirt, seeds/plants, fertilizer, water. For those on a very tight budget, considering that a garden may produce and may not, that just may not be an option.
Add in the cost of gasoline, utilities going up and folks have to be hurting. I felt kinda sick leaving Walmart and realizing there are things we might want that we just won’t buy because of the cost. I can’t imagine the choices people are having to make these days.
We can hopefully all make it through these prices if it’s temporary but . . what if it isn’t and what if this is how it’s going to be from now on? Let’s hope not.
By the way, I did see crackers in the store – all kinds of saltines, and several varieties of Ritz. Aldi has been out of their brand of Nutella for weeks but Walmart was well stocked. Addie assures me that all she needs to survive is Nutella! 🙂
pat edinger says
Prices will probably never go down but maybe up.
i shop at Alidi’s too.
Paula Nordt says
I have a great-niece who truly does survive on Nutella and white bread. Ugh! She won’t even try anything else.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
There’s hope for Addie. She likes it on bagels, which isn’t much different than white bread. I really do not like Nutella and don’t even like to smell it.
Ginny says
Prices are higher than that here in CT. I buy only what we need unless it is on sale, then I stock up on what we use on a regular basis. I don’t think prices will go down. I have begun to cook more like my mother did with a greater use of potatoes, rice or pasta and vegetables in the recipes and less protein.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I figured our prices were lower than other places. I know our gas prices are lower than many friends in other places are paying. You’re right – we can eat for less. We love beans so we’re eating more of those.