How are you handling rising food and energy costs?

[mrodgers]

I'm beginning to not even believe people.

$0.39/lb? $0.49/lb? Those can't be serious prices in 2022.

It use to be $0.89/lb for Thanksgiving time sales. Last I was at Walmart, they had one case full and was $1.48/lb.

I wish I could buy food at the price my parents bought food when I was a kid in the 80's... $0.39 is ridiculous.

 

[lowlight]

I'm beginning to not even believe people.

$0.39/lb? $0.49/lb? Those can't be serious prices in 2022.

It use to be $0.89/lb for Thanksgiving time sales. Last I was at Walmart, they had one case full and was $1.48/lb.

I wish I could buy food at the price my parents bought food when I was a kid in the 80's... $0.39 is ridiculous.

I think the stores are just competing with loss leaders to bring in traffic.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm beginning to not even believe people.

$0.39/lb? $0.49/lb? Those can't be serious prices in 2022.

It use to be $0.89/lb for Thanksgiving time sales. Last I was at Walmart, they had one case full and was $1.48/lb.

I wish I could buy food at the price my parents bought food when I was a kid in the 80's... $0.39 is ridiculous.

Put in any Michigan zip code on Kroger.com and see for yourself. Detroit is 48224.

I think this is part of why it is so hard to find common ground in social/political/economic conversations in this country. Because to a very real degree, we're not all in this together; we're dealing with very different realities based on where and how we live.

I think the stores are just competing with loss leaders to bring in traffic.

Well, yeah. That's how the grocery industry works. Always has, except perhaps at the worst of the pandemic when genuine shortages and shipping disruptions meant they didn't need discounts to move product, and probably always will.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Well, we called the oil company to order 100 gallons of heating oil, and the price had jumped from $289 with my aunt's senior discount to $500. Calling around different places, the quotes were all similar. Luckily, it's been warmer than usual so we haven't had to use what's left in our tank yet. But that extra $300 has to come from somewhere. December I can kick in another hundred and still have money for Christmas presents. My two cousins will have to do the same. And this 100 gallons will have to stretch as long as possible, so it's put on a hoodie and a blanket across your knees and hope it's enough.

I'm in South Jersey.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I'm beginning to not even believe people.

$0.39/lb? $0.49/lb? Those can't be serious prices in 2022.

It use to be $0.89/lb for Thanksgiving time sales. Last I was at Walmart, they had one case full and was $1.48/lb.

I wish I could buy food at the price my parents bought food when I was a kid in the 80's... $0.39 is ridiculous.

https://lidl_ads.weekly-ads.us/lidl-ads/flyer-330790-0

98 cents a pound for Butterball, .49 for Shady Brook Farms with minimum purchase. 7.99 for Rib Roast. Just like the person who first brought it up said. And yeah, last time I was in Walmart it was the same. at about a buck and a half a pound. But many of the sales are just coming out this coming week and I expect Walmart's price to come down. In any case, I think you owe her an apology.

 

[lowlight]

Well, yeah. That's how the grocery industry works. Always has, except perhaps at the worst of the pandemic when genuine shortages and shipping disruptions meant they didn't need discounts to move product, and probably always will.

i know, the PP stated he wasn’t sure he believed it. I was just mentioning why it was happening, they aren’t real everyday prices.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm seeing FAR fewer of those "fill your cart and get your turkey for pennies" holiday grocery promotions around here this year than in previous years. I suspect our stores' usual suppliers were pretty hard hit by bird flu.

Speaking of full carts, I'm seeing far fewer of those, too. I used to constantly see people in the supermarket with carts loaded up past the topline, but I very seldom see that anymore; either they are making do with a lot fewer extras or they are shopping for smaller amounts more often.

 

[QueenIsabella]

https://lidl_ads.weekly-ads.us/lidl-ads/flyer-330790-0

98 cents a pound for Butterball, .49 for Shady Brook Farms with minimum purchase. 7.99 for Rib Roast. Just like the person who first brought it up said. And yeah, last time I was in Walmart it was the same. at about a buck and a half a pound. But many of the sales are just coming out this coming week and I expect Walmart's price to come down. In any case, I think you owe her an apology.

No apology needed, he may just not be seeing it in his area. I know they reported turkey shortages recently--I was worried I wouldn't see reasonable prices. I consider anything ~$0.79/lb or less to be reasonable.

BTW, mrodgers, you could also try my zip code, 28412, if you want to see Publix turkeys for cheap. They go on sale tomorrow, so might not be on the website yet--around her, they deliver the a sort-of paper with flyers, free, to everyone. Usually it lands on Tuesdays (like today). Some stores (Aldi, Lidl) preview next week's sales online--I find that the more regional grocery stores don't. Also, while our grocery sales run Wed.-Tues., in the Northeast, it was Sun.-Sat., and that's still the case for places like Target and Hobby Lobby. I don't get the logic, but there you have it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm seeing FAR fewer of those "fill your cart and get your turkey for pennies" holiday grocery promotions around here this year than in previous years. I suspect our stores' usual suppliers were pretty hard hit by bird flu.

Speaking of full carts, I'm seeing far fewer of those, too. I used to constantly see people in the supermarket with carts loaded up past the topline, but I very seldom see that anymore; either they are making do with a lot fewer extras or they are shopping for smaller amounts more often.

Wonder how many people are doing online grocery orders too in your area?

For the first time since we have been doing online orders through Walmart (which has been years) this past Saturday our pickup for 9-10am was given a delay of up to 2 hours. You could continue on with that or you could reschedule. We rescheduled to the next morning because my husband was going to a football game leaving too soon to chance it. No such delay was there on Sunday.

With us doing online grocery pick up when we go into the store it's usually for far less than we would if doing a multi-meal.

I do also think a mix in of people trimming back how much they would get at once is there too just because pricing being what it is people may be trying to reduce the hit to their pocketbook a little bit.

One thing that has been annoying although not unexpected given all the issues during the pandemic is our cat's wet food is now $1.19 and is presently "on sale" for $1.10...ah it used to be $0.79 and when it got to $0.95 I thought that was high. He gets fed one can a day so it adds up. And his dry food? Absolutely ridiculous IF you can even find it. Last time we got it many places like Petsmart (where we usually get it), Chewy, Amazon were like $46!? We got it at Walmart for the normal (well normal now) price of $28+ but worked in something so we didn't pay for shipping. Now looking at Petsmart the regular price is $31.38 which is nutty. But pet foods has been one of the harder hit areas of the pandemic so I get it but it sucks. It used to be low $20s.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm beginning to not even believe people.

$0.39/lb? $0.49/lb? Those can't be serious prices in 2022.

It use to be $0.89/lb for Thanksgiving time sales. Last I was at Walmart, they had one case full and was $1.48/lb.

I wish I could buy food at the price my parents bought food when I was a kid in the 80's... $0.39 is ridiculous.

The lowball is to get you in the store - they hope you’ll do the rest of your shopping there, where everything else is through the roof!

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'm seeing FAR fewer of those "fill your cart and get your turkey for pennies" holiday grocery promotions around here this year than in previous years. I suspect our stores' usual suppliers were pretty hard hit by bird flu.

Speaking of full carts, I'm seeing far fewer of those, too. I used to constantly see people in the supermarket with carts loaded up past the topline, but I very seldom see that anymore; either they are making do with a lot fewer extras or they are shopping for smaller amounts more often.

I think people are being more strategic about shopping...

I mean, I used to load up a cart at Safeway - now, I never have a full cart b/c there are only 3-4 items I'm willing to pay full price for at that store - everything else, I go in for loss leaders and on shelf discounts (and my allergy items when they are on a sale), so my spend there is reduced.

Like yesterday, I spent $135 to get to my $300 level for my free turkey. I did that by buying almost all the loss leaders the last 2-3 weeks and not much more...well, okay, I got my kids cheap chicken Monday b/c after raising the price to $7.99 for cheap chicken Monday, in Sept/Oct, no one bought it, so they dropped it to $6.99 for an 8 piece for November and included the non-dark option (which was never included). So, I bought 16 pieces.

Best unadvertised loss leader yesterday was 49 cents/lb clementines they had leftover from the week before when they were $2/1lb in the "ad" sale. I bought 2 bags and ate one yesterday (and they were still good). The other is for tonight's dinner b/c while they were good, I don't expect them to be much longer b/c they are peak ripeness right now.

Edit to Add: And even getting the clementines, I still got the 8lb loss leader navel oranges for $5. I just skipped buying apples b/c they weren't on sale, so my kids can live on citrus and bananas (one of the things I buy even not on sale) this week.

 

[DCLMP]

I don't get the angst over the cost of turkey. Compared to any other meat it's cheap. Even at 2 dollars a pound.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't get the angst over the cost of turkey. Compared to any other meat it's cheap. Even at 2 dollars a pound.

Especially when you can usually get at least a couple of meals and a soup out of it!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Especially when you can usually get at least a couple of meals and a soup out of it!

LOL my mother would get a 25+ pounder for 4 people. Gallons of Turkey Soup. Gallons upon Gallons of Turkey Soup. And by the time we ate it all, another one for Christmas.

 

[NotUrsula]

I think people are being more strategic about shopping...

I mean, I used to load up a cart at Safeway - now, I never have a full cart b/c there are only 3-4 items I'm willing to pay full price for at that store - everything else, I go in for loss leaders and on shelf discounts (and my allergy items when they are on a sale), so my spend there is reduced.

Like yesterday, I spent $135 to get to my $300 level for my free turkey. I did that by buying almost all the loss leaders the last 2-3 weeks and not much more...well, okay, I got my kids cheap chicken Monday b/c after raising the price to $7.99 for cheap chicken Monday, in Sept/Oct, no one bought it, so they dropped it to $6.99 for an 8 piece for November and included the non-dark option (which was never included). So, I bought 16 pieces.

Best unadvertised loss leader yesterday was 49 cents/lb clementines they had leftover from the week before when they were $2/1lb in the "ad" sale. I bought 2 bags and ate one yesterday (and they were still good). The other is for tonight's dinner b/c while they were good, I don't expect them to be much longer b/c they are peak ripeness right now.

Edit to Add: And even getting the clementines, I still got the 8lb loss leader navel oranges for $5. I just skipped buying apples b/c they weren't on sale, so my kids can live on citrus and bananas (one of the things I buy even not on sale) this week.

I can tell you a great way to use up extra clementines: cake!!

I have a great easy adaptation recipe for Orange cake that's actually made with clementines. Use your favorite vanilla box cake mix, and for whatever liquid they direct, substitute 1 part Clementine juice and 1 part Buttermilk, and then add 1 tbsp of clementine zest. Frost it with cream cheese icing. Everyone I know loves this cake, and it normally takes the juice of about 6 clementines to make it.

 

[NotUrsula]

I don't get the angst over the cost of turkey. Compared to any other meat it's cheap. Even at 2 dollars a pound.

It's the thrill of the hunt, LOL! (Also, I always buy 3 of them so that I can freeze the extra meat for gumbo; the family likes turkey/andouille gumbo better than regular chicken-sausage.)

 

[Caseheidi]

I have always done big shopping at least once a month at Winco to help save money, but things have gotten terrible. DH told me how concerned he was on expenses, and I just took a job as a Substitute Teacher to help finances. I have been a SAHM for 14+ years, so this is a big change, but the money will help offset these costs and pay off some debt.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LOL my mother would get a 25+ pounder for 4 people. Gallons of Turkey Soup. Gallons upon Gallons of Turkey Soup. And by the time we ate it all, another one for Christmas.

That would be for me! I think it freezes well, doesn’t it?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Btw some of the names of these supermarkets crack me up!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I mentioned in an earlier post that I liked the comment about getting a little toaster oven instead of turning on the big stove for something like baked potatoes.

So I mentioned it to DH the other day, and he as he reminded me our stove is gas!

Well, so much for that idea.

I was interested in maybe getting a freezer. May have to start a thread about that at some point.