Table Talk

By ageofpaper

March 24, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

My family now uses coupons which we never did before, we buy store brands whenever possible and I cannot believe this would ever happen to us but we do not buy steaks nearly as often and then only when they are on sale and we look for the discounted meat that is near its expiration date. I have three teen boys and the prices are killing us along with gas prices. I see how the income gap is getting worse, those people are greedy..

By MADMOMMY

March 24, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

I have cut back drastically in all other areas of my life in order to pay for all the increases. I no longer go out to the movies, I rent them once or twice a month. I don’t purchase books anymore, but check them out from the library since I read about two to three books a week and it can really add up. I have changed my diet around to adapt to the raise in foods. I only eat meat once a day or some days not at all. I only buy what is on sale or what I know we will cook and eat. Dairy is a bit tougher since I have a 16 month old a home who needs milk, cheese and dairy in general, but with all the other changes and cutbacks I have made, we seem to do make ends meet.
Prices going up and up without the reflection in my pay going up at all because of the market, is making it tougher all around me. I just don’t know how much longer I can live with the stress of things without some sort of relase ahead. Oh, I have a second job now as well to help out even more. Thankfully I don’t have to hire a sitter during those times.

By JJ

March 24, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Grocery prices are up as they are now charging the stores “freight charges” and we consumers have to pay. I was talking to the cashier at Publix as I was checking out Saturday and she stated that grocery prices alone have gone up 30% in the last two years, but she has not heard anyone getting a 30% pay increase……..I haven’t had a raise in two years.

I sit down on Sunday, pull out the cookbooks and the Publix flyer to see what is on sale, plan my meals for the week, make my list for the store, and clip coupons. I buy Publix brand as often as possible and always take advantage of two-for-one sales. We must stay on that list in order for me to spend less than $100/week (last week, I saved $14.50 with coupons and the Publix mystery coupon). It’s just my daughter and myself so that $100 goes towards breakfast every morning, we both take our lunches, and I cook dinner every single night (this not only saves money, but calories as well). Only on payday Fridays do I treat us to dinner out.

By Stan

March 24, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

We buy most non-perishible items at Walmart, but I can’t stand their meats or most of their “fresh” produce, so that comes from Kroger or Assi market. We cut way down on eating out last year so we could get out of debt so no big change there for us. We’ve always bought generics for most items anyway so no change there.

JJ mentioned pay increases or lack thereof. My pay has gone up maybe 5% total over the last 4 years. The year before it went down by approx 25% so I’ve still got a ways to go to get back to even what I was making before I got laid off.

Stan

By JJ

March 24, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Madmommy Great suggestions. I much prefer to rent videos or borrow from friends. Last time I went to a movie, it cost $35 for my daugther and I to see a Matinee ($12/each), and get 1 SMALL popcorn and 2 waters. It will be a cold day in hell when I go back to a movie theater.

I save all my change and throw it into a jar when I get home, sometimes I even through in all my one dollar bills when I clean out my wallet. You would be amazed at how that adds up over time.

By Toopster

March 24, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

I plan a menu every week based on the circular and our nutritional needs, build a menu around that, and we clip coupons and buy sale items.

Any coupon 55 cents or above is used at Walmart (we usually have to make a run there for household supplies too expensive to buy at Kroger or Publix) and any coupon 50 cents or below goes to Kroger and it is doubled.

If you aren’t a coupon clipper, Walmart is much cheaper than Kroger or Publix, and if you bring your circular from the other stores, they will match the price of the sale items at the register.

We’ve also stopped eating out except for 1 time a week. We’ve saved a lot.

By JJ

March 24, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

I cannot stand Walmart and will not spend my money there.

I don’t like ANYTHING they stand for. I don’t like not being able to communicate with the workers, I don’t like the long lines, I don’t like anything about that company.

By Rodney

March 24, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

I guess it hasn’t really hit me just yet - I’m single, in my 30s, no kids, have a decent job …

Like others mentioned before, I haven’t seen much in the way of a raise for the past few years. 4% per year? Give me a break.

And compare that to the % increase in the cost of food (not to mention, gasoline) … well … I can certainly see how difficult it can be for a family to survive on what used to be a decent income.

By Rodney

March 24, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

JJ where were you that it cost 12.00 per person to see a matinee? An adult and a child?

The last major-release-on-a-Friday-night movie I saw only cost 11.00 per person and THAT was with the online ticketing surcharge!

By JJ

March 24, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

Rodney Mall of Georgia. We went to see National Treasure - Book of Secrets. I sat in that theater in shock of how much it cost to go sit in an uncomfortable chair in the dark for two hours to eat popcorn and drink some water…….it was a 4:00 showing…..

Never again!!! I doubt I will ever go back to a movie theater. Renting is so much nicer. I can stop it when I want, or rewind if I miss something.

By Cheryl Norwood

March 24, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

I am just grateful I only have to buy for myself and my husband but we both have special dietary needs that make it hard to cut back. I am finding that the internet is a great tool in finding cheap but healthy recipes. I have always couponed but I also buy a lot of store brands. Most are just as good as name brands. I also shop sales and specials. Many times if you go to a product’s website there are coupons or recipes as well. An example of a great website for all kinds of ways to save is www.miserlymoms.com. I am not even a mother but I have saved alot by using their tips and recipes. It takes a lot more planning and work to stay on budget with rising food and gas prices. We now have a rule: outside of going to and from work, no single trips anywhere—you must be making at least 2 stops—and I try to do all my stops on the way to work or on the way home to save gas. This has helped me go from 1 1/2 fillups a week to less than 1 a week. Every little bit helps!

By MrLiberty

March 24, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

There are not MANY REASONS why this is happening. There is only one reason this is happening.

In order to keep the rich bankers rich, the Federal Reserve is printing money like it is going out of style. This increase in money allows the banks to make money on new loans, but untimately devalues the dollars all of us have in our bank accounts, etc. Tveryone raises prices as a result and we all suffer.

I don’t know why the media keep lying for the government like this. The end is nesr, and it will make th e depression look like a dream.

Only Ron Paul dared to reveal the truth, but everyone ridiculed him.

Jerks!

By STEVE LLOYD

March 24, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

I am spending almost all of my income on either food,gas, natural gas. the rest goes for rent. the bottom line is that we as a society are spending probably over half of our income on energy these days. I am thankful I am lucky to have two jobs in this difficult time in the economy. Yes, it cost an arm and a leg to live these days, but when i see pictures on the news of these third world countries, it puts it in prespective

By costs are rising

March 24, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

I bought green bell peppers instead of red b/c red were 3.99/lb. I’ve definitely noticed apples are higher. And the Publix bakery coffee cakes were almost $5 so I chose bagels on sale and store brand cream cheese to bring to an event, which saved a bit.

By One

March 24, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

Dang, I should have found this blog much earlier, by now I could have released most of my frustrations on this topic! :-)

As for groceries, we shop Kroger mostly. Better prices than Publix, and I can only take Walmart for certain items. I buy Kroger brands for most things, for the things that I don’t like their brand of, I look for sales. If it’s not on sale, and it’s not a necessity, skip it! I’ve been leaning more towards veggies and seafood (USA only, hopefully on sale) and some chicken…………very little pork. It’s much healthier, and we don’t eat beef. As for eating out, every now and then, we’ll “splurge”. We don’t care for fast foods, so no problem there, I’m used to cooking every night, my daughter and I both take lunches now, and breakfast is usually something from home for me, and school breakfast for her (it’s about the only edible meal they serve!). If we do go to a movie, it’s a matinee and we take our own goodies. I’ve been doing that for a long time, and I love it, so does my daughter. We can hit the store, load up on some snacks, and save a bundle!!!! We have always gone to the library for our reading, as we read way too much to try to buy our books.

And as for the raise that no one seems to get these days, I’m right with y’all, it is ridiculous. I work for a bank (correspondent bank, which means we are a bank for banks), and I am constantly disgusted at how good the execs. are living, while the “little people” mostly live pay check to pay check. We own 4 airplanes, hundreds of company-owned cars, and these folks get expenses out of the butt, all while the “peons” are just getting by. It is truly disgusting!!!! And then they expect you to be loyal, LIKE HELL!!!!!!! I plan to get all I can, and can all I get!!!!!!!

By Meg

March 24, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

We knew it was coming, so we have two years of food stored up. We’ll stop buying completely when it’s worse than it is now and use our TVP, or buy meat to supplement if we can. We have plenty of dried milk and powdered eggs, and grain for breads.

By Vicki

March 24, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

I went to pick up some dry goods at Wal-mart this morning and I did notice that some of the prices have increased 20-50 cents from two weeks ago. What really got my goat was the 5 lb bag of sugar was NOT 5 lbs. anymore! It’s 4 POUNDS for the same price.

By jct

March 25, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

I shop at Kroger for everything but fruits and vegetables. I shop with coupons and to what is on sale. You have to be careful though because all the yellow tickets at Kroger are not sales. I buy mostly Kroger brands.

For fruits and vegetables, you can not beat DeKalb Farmers Market. For less than twenty bucks per week, I can feed my family of 3 fresh fruit and vegetables. That’s what is most important to me.

By Mechi

March 25, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

With you all on getting hit by the economy. I’m single but still feel the hit. I shop for sale items at Kroger and Publix, using coupons here and there, and plan meals accordingly. I eat out about twice a month with friends (on pay week). I also get books from library, rent a movie a month, and telework when I can.