I truly feel for folks who are on a very tight budget and have expenses that are set and can’t be cut back! I was listening to videos today while stitching and almost all of them had at least something to say about grocery costs. I’ve mentioned it before but I don’t pay a lot of attention to grocery costs. We buy what we need and I rarely look at anything extra. If I go in the store to buy a box of salt, chances are I don’t even remember what I paid for it last time I bought it. If we truly need it, I’m going to buy it no matter the cost. If it’s ice cream or Dr. Pepper or something we don’t truly need and the cost has gone way up, I’m not buying it.
Since I don’t pay attention to the cost of individual items in the store, even though I know prices are rising, I couldn’t tell you how much they’ve gone up so I went to our Sam’s Club account and went back to August, September and October, 2021 and looked at the prices. Not a single item is the same price as it was then. Of course, I only know the prices of what I bought. There could be items in the store that are the same price or less than they were then but here are a few of the items we purchased then, along with the prices then and now.
| Chicken Breasts 6 – 12 oz. cans | $9.98 | $16.98 |
| Del Monte Sweet Corn 8 – 15.25 oz. cans | $6.48 | $7.78 |
| Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup | $8.98 | $12.22 |
| Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup | $10.28 | $13.42 |
| Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup | $8.98 | $12.78 |
| Campbell’s Chunky Noodle Soup | $8.25 | $11.74 |
| Bush’s Baked Beans 6 – 12.5 oz. cans | $8.97 | $11.32 |
| Roast Beef 4 – 12 oz. cans | $12.78 | $16.78 |
| Pine Sol – 100 oz – 2 pack | $8.68 | $13.78 |
| Clorox Clean up w/Bleach – 32 oz. spray & 180 oz. refill | $9.48 | $15.48 |
| Ziplok Gallon Freezer Bags – 152 | $12.48 | $16.77 |
Those price increases over the past 12 – 14 months are pretty steep.
I know – our shopping habits are weird and we buy weird things but every year in late summer or early fall, I’ll stock up on canned soups, canned veggies that we’re low on, and cleaning supplies. We try not to go out when there’s snow or just after a snow and track all that gunk into the garage. Most of what I had bought on those orders were items to add to our winter supplies.
We buy beef locally so we never buy beef in the grocery store. We don’t buy deli meat. We buy our cheese from Azure Standard. We buy fresh produce when it’s in season from the Farmers’ Market. We buy eggs from friends who have chickens. We buy raw milk from the local dairy. Most all the food items we need (canned veggies, cereal, crackers, chips, etc.) we buy from Aldi. The local Food 4 Less has amazing sales and when it’s something that can be canned, I stock up. Last week they had 3 pounds of red potatoes for $1. I didn’t need potatoes (fresh or to can) so I didn’t get any but these days, I look for those deals.
I guess sometimes it’s better to bury your head in the sand and not pay attention to grocery prices. We have to eat!
Mary says
So many people can’t just ignore grocery prices. By the time they pay rent, utilities and buy gas there’s not much left for groceries. I especially worry about families with small children.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, I just pray there are fewer rather than more people who have adjustable rate mortgages. It does seem like families with small children are some who will be hurt the most. It’s a sad state.
Mare says
And it doesn’t look like this situation is going to improve. I think we’re in for increasingly difficult times ahead as energy costs and food prices increase. (With looming shortages, some things may not even be available.)
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I don’t even have any hope of things getting better for quite a while.
Elle says
All I know is that in 2022 we are spending less on food as a monthly average than we did in 2021. And I buy more organic than I ever have. (there are 2 of us this year just like last year).
Tee says
When I saw prices going up, I stocked up on some things but unless you have a warehouse, you can only store so much. I also grew a huge garden this year, knowing prices were going up, and I am canning or freezing everything. I try to only buy what we need and I don’t use a lot of processed things, so my money doesn’t go there. My freezer is full of beef from our neighbor. I buy pork and chicken at the store, usually Aldi, Sam’s or Costco. Thankfully, we can afford to buy in bulk and are not on a budget. I don’t know how young families are handling this.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I wish I could grow a huge garden but am happy for what we got and hope to grow more next year. I’ve also gotten better at stretching the meat. We don’t have Costco here and Sam’s is on the far south end of Joplin and we’re north of Joplin so we don’t get there much. Mostly what I buy from Sam’s is what I get ordered and have delivered but, that doesn’t include meat.
Sherry Bobak says
A lot of seniors are hurting also. I retired at 62 for health reasons and took a limited social security. My husband is still working but I don’t know for how much longer because he is starting to have issues. I finally got my Medicare and was told that they don’t cover everything. I did know that but it was still a shock when my doctor ordered bloodwork at my first visit and I got a surprise bill for $241.00. I know now why some seniors have to choose between medicine and food.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
We got our Rx coverage info for the new year today. Sorry, I can’t remember what the part numbers/letters are for all these. On the current plan I’m on, the out of pocket for the year has more than doubled. It’s ridiculous how much we have to pay for Medicare and the supplements. Not everything is covered and our out of pocket costs continue to go up. Those things, along with homeowner’s insurance, property taxes – the things we HAVE to pay and cannot cut back to save . . it’s truly a bit frightening. I’m glad Vince retired when he did but the “golden years” aren’t going to be very golden at this rate.
Bridget says
Look into Medigap policies for your part A and B and start researching your part D needs now (which meds and how much of the meds you take). Soon the part D plans need to release their changes to their formularies for 2023, at that time you can compare what you need to the plans available and switch to another plan when they open enrollment later this year.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
We’ve already received our new info for Part D. I currently take no Rx meds so there’s not much research needed. We’re members of a medical group and pay a set fee per year and then pay nothing for doctor (GP) visits, and most prescription meds (antibiotics, Vince’s maintenance drugs) are $5 to $10 per month through them.
Jen says
I was just at Sam’s too! I didn’t buy much at all, with the increase in prices. I do like the pre-cooked bacon and that was around 22.00. I know that used to be around 11.00 package. I only bought one package this trip! I buy beef from a local farmer. I am so happy, that my boys are kinda on their own and aren’t at my house eating 3 meals every day. lol
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I just cannot imagine what it would cost to feed a large family now.
Nancy H. says
I don’t know if you did the math but that is a significant increase. You paid $87.38 for everything last year and $149.05 this year. That is $61.67 more. Maybe I am wrong, but isn’t that 70% more? Wow! Like you we have just been buying what we needed but we have stocked up over the last year so we have extra on hand. Because we garden we have eaten and canned a bunch thus summer but not enough I know. However, it will help. I hate to think of some of the other things that are going up in price.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes. I’m sure there were things in Sam’s that didn’t go up as much but every single thing I had on those receipts had gone sky high. Anyone know why food and energy costs are excluded from the core inflation index? I know the answer but I just recently learned why. The gardens definitely help. We have friends who grew excess and shared so that helped a lot with what my garden didn’t produce.
Christina says
I’m sure your costs are greater than ours in the UK , at the moment that is. I was shocked too see the rise in Chicken, yes I know the cost of feed has risen tremendously, but surely not as much as the final increase to the consumer? Just wished we had storage in our wee house, but sadly not, just have to decide each week , what’s our main meal will be, and buy what is not in house, that way I am not buying anything extra, but the costs have risen dramatically. Thank God we have our NHS for our medical needs. Though they say its on its knees, too many chiefs and not enough Indians as my late mum would say. Would dread the cost of our Rx, as it is at this moment in time free, we have NO costs, some good news if you are over 60 that is.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
It’s the cost of feed, the cost of electricity for the chicken houses, the cost of processing, the cost of transporting to the stores. It all adds up. Who knows when/if prices will get better. You’re right – we just do what we can.