Are your food bills going up???

[lost-in-nj]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080414/inflation_squeeze.html?.v=4


I can't tell since I buy for me.... only me

I know there is a notice by the milk that it's going up


but have you as families noticed higher prices????


man this sucks





lost

[Oceansaway]

1. yes, prices are higher across

the board....i've noticed it and i also buy just for me....

[ProdigalJunkMail]

2. our grocery budget has busted...

we are up 32% over last year...and yes, I do keep track of such things :-)

sP

[NMDemDist2]

3. yup, bigtime

I never used to worry about what I bought, and usually fed the two of us on about $80 a week

now I'm lucky to do it for that even when shopping carefully

[yardwork]

4. Of course they are. The cost of everything is going up.

As the cost of oil climbs, so does the cost of everything else. Oil not only runs the trucks that deliver our food and other products, it runs the mills that make the steel that make the trucks - and the highways, and the grocery stores, and farm equipment, and the fertilizer, and irrigation systems. And all those things are powered by oil.

Around and around we go. Everything we buy is produced with the help of oil and transported with the help of oil.

One solution is to try to buy locally. Shop at farmer's markets and coops, where they sell food that is produced close to where you buy it, reducing the reliance on oil to get it into your hands.

[gateley]

5. Yes!

It's almost like watching the cost of gas go up every day or two.

When I go to the store with a $20 bill now, I come home with a LOT less. And a lot less of the good stuff (fruits, veggies, etc.) because I can get more CRAP for the same amount of money.

It's not just milk -- it's everything. And have you gotten a loaf of bread lately?

It's just me too, by the way.

[tech3149]

22. There was a post earlier that the cost's have gone up more than 4%

this year and it's expected to be higher by the end of the year. I think it stated 17% since 2003. That's consistent with what I've seen at the market. I don't buy prepared foods, just staples and do as much as I can from scratch. I stopped going to the mainstream supermarkets and try to go to the budget markets or local stores. I'm lucky enough to have the time but I know everyone can't find that sort of time.
The local monastery bakery sells at local stores and the price is fair if you don't buy too fresh. I buy their multi-grain for my mother but for the most part I'll buy the frozen dough and make a better loaf than that mushy white bread. Since the price of yeast and flour has jumped, I don't like to waste too much working on my baking skills.

[gateley]

28. I think many of us are going to go that route --

but I think you may find yourself baking more than you'd like :7.

Kind of like how our grand or great grandparents lived. Real food, made at home (and grown at home in many instances). I'm not sure that's a bad thing. It'll take some major readjustment on our part, but I believe we are more adaptable than realize.

[tech3149]

34. I'm in the process of moving in with my 87 y/o parents

Since they live in the house my grandfather raised his family in, we have enough room for a good garden. I just have to get my mother to teach me not to waste so much canning.

[NMDemDist2]

31. fool proof bread recipe, no skill required. I swear!

i buy bags of yeast and 25# of flour at the local food service outlet

let the dough rise up to 24 hours if you need too, or you can refrigerate it up to a week

Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery
Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
1&1/4 teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

[tech3149]

32. Thanks, sounds good and comes close to a few recepies I've tried

My problem always seems to be kneading. It just never seems to be enough.

[NMDemDist2]

36. don't knead it, it will ruin it and make it tough

that's the beauty of this recipe

:hi:

[snappyturtle]

57. Thanks for the recipe. One question: should I grease the cast iron pot? n/t

[yellerpup]

58. No. Just heat it to high temperature before you put the dough in.

I've made this lots of times. It's delicious and the easiest recipe for bread ever!

[snappyturtle]

62. Thank you! n/t

[NMDemDist2]

67. no, the corn meal (or whatever you sprinkled on it) works fine n/t

[greenbriar]

6. yes...everything is going up

we make more money than we ever have but it seems we have less disposable cash

[babylonsister]

7. YES! nt

[Fox Mulder]

8. Eggs are ~$2 a dozen now!

:wtf:

[Liberal Gramma]

20. Lucky you! I paid $3.50--and they weren't organic or free-range

[LibDemAlways]

42. I recently purchased a carton of a half dozen, and

when the cashier rang them up at $2.69 I told her that had to be a mistake. It wasn't.

[DJ13]

9. Id guesstimate costs are up about 20% over the last 2 years

If not more.

My disability only went up 2.5% for this year, doesnt even begin to cover the increases.

[Up2Late]

10. Oh Yes, Since 2003, even buying less, what I buy is much higher.

In 2003, I almost never had a grocery bill over $50, usually closer to $45, now if I make it out below $90 Dollars I feel pretty lucky.

[Benhurst]

11. Do bears shit in the woods?

[Trajan]

16. I needn't add to you succinct response ....

I'm kinda surprised this is being asked ....

[The Straight Story]

33. No in CA anymore, they passed a law against it

Now they have to use bathrooms like the rest of us :)

[ChazII]

12. Yes n/t

[MissB]

13. A few things, yes.

But I cook mostly from scratch, so the effect of the increases isn't as steep.

[cynatnite]

14. Absofreakinlutely!

Can't buy a week's worth of groceries for under a $100 at all. I'm doing a lot more meal planning these days not just for health reasons, but also for budgetary concerns as well.

It sucks! :grr:

[Richard Steele]

15. I buy for two- our bill is way more than DOUBLE what it was 6 years ago,

And six years ago, we were buying whatever struck our fancy.
We were young and in love...
Imported cheeses by the cartload, fresh shrimp and filet mignon
every other week...


These days, I'm watching every dime- I don't buy any meat or fish
or cheese at all, unless it's on sale...and our grocery bill is still
more than twice what it was back when we first moved in together.

[Nickster]

17. Oh yeah! My favorite indulgence, coffee, was 5.99 a can, now it's 13.49 a can.

We aren't talking starbucks either.

[LaPera]

39. Hopefully, it's shade grown!

[roamer65]

18. Just wait until hyperinflation sets in about a year or two...

Right around 2010 the full effects of 17% money supply growth will set in with a vengeance.

[DesertFlower]

19. yes. we shop for my mom too.

her milk and ice cream have really gone up. i started buying her the "store brand" ice cream.

financially, we're okay, but i don't know how many people are getting by. between the gas and the food it's gotta be tough.

[LeftyMom]

21. Only on a few items.

Oil is up a bit. I'm paying more for bulk popcorn. The conventional grocers are running fewer sales on natural foods items, so I'm not stocking up my freezer with their sale items like I normally do.

Since I buy mostly local, organic, etc, the spike in corn and fuel has effected my food budget only as much as a cold snap or something would- a few isolated items have jumped in price. The funny thing is, the increases in conventional grocery items mean their natural counterparts are looking pretty competitive- I pay the same for organic flour at the natural foods store than they're charging for regular at the supermarket. The high cost of organic oil doesn't seem so bad now that conventional oils are through the roof. I'm barely paying any premium on produce.

[annabanana]

23. yup. Both my kids are away at school.

The weekly bill has only gone down a little.

[leftyclimber]

24. Everything is going up.

We're planting a garden this year -- got permission from our apartment landlady.

I haven't canned in years, but I'm hoping we have enough extra to do it.

Now if I can convince the landlady that we need to have a cow and some chickens...

[TexasLady]

25. We feed seven

and we are sick of ramen, beans, taters and hamburger meat; and sadly junkfood is cheaper than the good stuff. BUT, I got a huge bag of oranges at our flea market for a few bucks. I sure love our flea market! Im trying to become friends with the watermelon guy in our neighborhood. Crossing my fingers!

and it sure DOES suck.

[Ilsa]

26. Gasoline went up 14 cents here overnight. Almost everything. I think it depends on weight,

size, and whether it is made of eggs, dairy, corn, or some ingredients like that. The heavily processed box foods (Kraft mac and cheese for example) are about the same. I xpect beef products increase more as well.

[Ilsa]

27. Oh yeah, the restaurants have new menus with higher prices. nt

[wanpete]

29. yes, everything is going up.

[Breeze54]

30. Yes and I don't buy what I used to buy anymore and

when I do buy, I only buy what is on sale, mostly.

[FirstLight]

35. I have noticed that even the "grocery outlet" has gone up

in the last month alone...I am spending about 10-15$ more a week...
we have stocked up on extra rice, flour and pasta, every chance we get. beans too

I am starting a garden this year, but in the sierras, it can take up to 3 years to get a good established crop...and then there's the animals. Once they are onto us, it could be a free for all.

I am glad we can fish, and I guess we can live on pine-nuts if we have to!(I hear you can make flour out of them too)

we are in for a wild ride the next couple years...to bad my oldest has yet to finish high school, and my youngest is just entering kindergarten :( I worry about us sometimes...just me and my three kids, alone in the woods! :scared:

[Quantess]

37. I like the Grocery Outlet.

They are the most affordable place to buy "health foods", and meatless meat, and organic juices. (For those of you who like garbage-food, they have a lot of that, too!)
Of course, you never know if they'll have anything in stock you want, since it's so hit-or-miss. It's sort of like shopping at the Goodwill, because you never know if you'll strike gold or leave with nothing.

But I agree, even they are raising their prices.

[shanti]

56. oh yeah

i do about 80% of my shopping at the GO and have been shopping there for over 20 years. it fed me and my 3 growning sons quite well. it used to be a bargain, but prices have definitely gone up there too. it's still cheaper than safeway tho.

also noticed at the 99 cent store that although prices can't go up (yet), the sizes have been reduced. example: half gallon of milk is now a quart, dozen eggs is now half dozen.

[fortyfeetunder]

38. Cooking more from scratch

I do not like cooking processed food and I stock up at Costco for rice, whole wheat pasta, beans and salad mix to craft a meal. I buy bags of salad mix so I can have a simple salad greens and protein for lunch.

I look for sales. I don't like fast food. I have simplified.

[Jamastiene]

40. Yes, a lot.

Ever since last summer, they have been steadily increasing. We aren't eating any more or less than usual either. It's the same exact thing we used to get for a lot less.

[BulletproofLandshark]

41. Sure they are.

I think the real question is, whose bills aren't going up?

[Nutmegger]

43. I'm buying for myself, and have noticed a big change.

I spend anywhere from $7 to $10 now than I did last year.

Everything is going up not just milk, eggs and cheese.

Everything from crackers to soup.

I feel for those large families.

[mwb970]

45. I've noticed too.

A typical grocery-store visit for me used to fall in the $30 to $40 range (I shop several times a week). For the last few months it's been $40 to $50, or even $60 per visit.

One tradeoff is that my grocery store gives a 20-cents-per-gallon discount at their associated gas stations for every $50 you spend. By the time I buy gas I'm usually up to 80 cents or a dollar off per gallon now. As a result, I have never paid $3 per gallon at the pump. Yet.

[Snarkturian Clone]

44. Find one near your home and shop there.

http://www.sav-a-lot.com

It's not Whole Foods, but their staples like eggs and milk are literally 1/3 the price.

A food price hike like this will test if such luxury food stores like Whole Foods are necessary. People never believe me but I think that a good 60% of the people that shop at Whole Foods do it so they can look cool.

[bunkerbuster1]

46. Yep, and it's all because of McCain's $50/hour lettuce pickers!

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/04/05/50-an-hour-to-pick-lettuce-you-bet/

[annonymous]

47. Wheat bread is up from $.79 to $1.19 at Aldi

Orange juice concentrate is up from $.99 to $1.29 at Aldi too. I am buying less groceries for the same amount of money. I avoid Safeway because the prices are too high for my family budget. I never go to Whole Foods because the prices are stratospheric even though the food is better quality. I am experimenting with growing strawberries and blueberries in my backyard garden. I already grow lettuce, spinach, broccoli, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. The stuff I grow in my backyard garden is the only organic produce we eat. I feel sorry for those folks who are unable to have a backyard garden.

[Marrah_G]

48. Yes- along with Heat and transportation- the working class are drowning.

My wages haven't gone up much, but in the last few years, heat, gas, and food have far more then doubled.

They wonder why poor people are fat..... when you are stuck on a diet loaded with cheap pasta it gets alot easier to understand.

Lots of Mac n cheese, spagetti and ramen.

There are days I don't think I can keep going on.

[napi21]

49. Yes, and there's no sign that they're leveling off either!

My hubby works in the meat dept. of a large SE supermarket and he does the price changes that are issued by the HO every week. He also sees the COST of everything, and it's NOT the supermarket gouging you, it's THEIR costs that continue to rise.

[gollygee]

50. Yes. I've noticed.

It all costs more. Produce, dairy, bread, meat. Everything costs more. I bet it's up 20% or more from a couple of years ago. A shopping trip that would have cost $75 to $80 now costs more like $100.

[npincus]

51. hell, yes.

But in order to minimze the damage, I buy sale items more often and buy less of the more expensive foods I like. Produce is really expensive- and I have a young child, so really buy for her and forgo the things I like.

I live in Hoboken, BTW. Where in Jerey do you live? At least food seems to cost less than it does where my mom lives: Queens, NY.

[DemReadingDU]

52. Prices are higher, and packages are smaller

Remember when yogurt came in 8 oz cartons? Now they are 6 oz.

Ice cream came in 1/2 gallon cartons, now 48 oz.

Fundraiser package of Reese cups came 4 to a package for $1.00, now only get 3 Reese cups. :(

[bdamomma]

53. all this brought to us by the family values party the neo cons.

sickening, what they doing to people, they need their a$$es thrown out, maybe some day huh?

[ananda]

54. I can't tell yet..

.. because I don't buy dairy.

I t h i n k prices are a bit higher,
and I don't like it because of the
way higher prices impact the poor
and struggling.

[nichomachus]

55. You ain't seen nothing yet

They are trying to keep this economy propped up until the Republicans get out of office. Then, they're going to kick the props out and let it collapse, and letting the Dems take the blame.

The media will sit around shrieking "Why isn't he/she doing something," when there's not a whole lot you can do but ride it out.

The fascists have so destroyed the underpinnings of the economy that no one can fix it without some severe pain, huge tax increases, and a lot of other misery.


Add to that the fact that our military is in shambles, our reputation is shot, no one wants to lend us money, the infrastructure is in serious need of repair, our manufacturing base is gone, the housing market has collapsed, people are in debt up to their ears. In other words, this isn't good.

[snappyturtle]

61. You're right. I heard this morning on Washington Journal of hundreds

of store closings....not food...Linen's 'n Things, Sharper Image et. al.! Not all of their stores but the article referred to hundreds! Poof! loss of jobs, empty malls...this economy is going to get much worse.

I printed out the bread recipe above. If we get down to bread and water by golly it's going to be good bread! I'm going to start buying cheap book classics, the ones I've never had time to read, for entertainment. For as much news as we get off teevee I can pass on satellite. HAVE to keep the internet service though. Can't believe I'm preparing for failure of our economy...definitely not the American dream scenario anymore.

[nichomachus]

64. I've been preparing for over three years

I saw this coming almost four years ago. Sold my overpriced house and took the money and bought a much cheaper house. Got rid of all expenses that weren't necessary. Lined up a bunch of free-lance jobs that are kind of recession-resistant (not recession proof). Got rid of all debt. Sold my mid-sized car and bought one that costs $15K and gets 30 mpg -- don't drive that much anyway -- I put in about 18 gallons a month.

When I predicted this four years ago, people actually laughed at me. One guy patted me on the arm and told me I was being a chicken little. Every time I see him now, I ask him how much he's paying for gas for his 37-foot cabin cruiser -- which takes 750 gallons at a fill-up.

[eShirl]

74. free book classics

"Listing over 30,000 free books on the Web" including links to other sites like Project Gutenberg
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/

[Codedonkey]

59. Well, since I'm on the water and dirt diet as it is, I wouldn't know...

One thing I've really noticed was the price of milk... I mean, I don't drink a lot of it, but ehnn.

[Irishonly]

60. Yes

I live on a fixed income and am disabled. I have shopped sales for years but I have noticed that the sales aren't as good as they used to be and that packages are shrinking. I don't buy bacon often but I noticed that instead of a pound of bacon, it was now 12 oz. It was on sale for the 2 for $5.00 I was used to seeing but there was less bacon.

I haven't stepped inside a Walmart in 10 years so I wouldn't have a clue on if they are a lot cheaper. Our local Target carries groceries and I buy food there a lot. I like to make Good Seasons Italian Dressing and I usually buy the four pack. At the store it is close to $5.00, at Target it's about 2.50.

I go to the Farmer's Markets and fruits and vegetables are a lot cheaper with a few exceptions. Next week we are putting in our small garden. I used to hate canning and freezing when I was a kid having to help my mom. I am so freakin glad I know how to do it especially these past couple of years.

[AlCzervik]

63. hells yes, i stopped eating meat so that helped but the prices here are crazy.

I buy as much as i can at Trader Joe's now, excellent prices on everything and plenty of non meat alternatives. Thank the deity my kid doesn't drink soda or eat junk food because the prices on that stuff is way up as well.

[dixiegrrrrl]

65. increasing daily, actually

Rising too fast to be normal increases..
it fits pattern of gouging, actually.

Peanut oil (gallon) doubled from 9.00 to 14.00 in 3 months. x(
I stopped buying it.

Coffee like Folgers went from 6 to 10.00 in the past 4 months.
Strangely the whole bean coffee I drink is only up slightly here.

Problem is, we live in a small rural town 90 miles from any city,
so prices are higher than in a bigger city, but driving to cheaper stores
in city would cost close to 40.00 round trip.

Milk approaching 6.00 a gallon, organic went from 2.99 to 3.99 for half gallon, in past 4 months.
I know most grocery store items containing wheat have increased, but I can't eat wheat, so buy mostly rice, some corn stuff.
I only buy what is on sale, then freeze the extra.
Thank god we have a Dollar General store, but even those prices have increased.
It helps that our grocery list is/food menu is pretty basic: rice,cheese, hamburger,various chicken parts, some pork when on sale, yogurt, canned or fresh fruit, vegies in season and local.
2 adults, 1 dog, 2 cats, we get by on around 250.00/300.00 a month for groceries, animal feed, household supplies. So far, anyhow.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

66. Yup 200$ food bill this time around

.... Should last about 2 weeks (I hope)

[SoCalDem]

68. Probably, but I only shop every 2 or 3 weeks

and we eat out a lot..(3-4 times a week)

and i don't cook much anymore..

I buy whatever we want, and just pay what it costs.. I do notice some things really going up..like eggs.. 2 doz lg $5.00

[TriggerGal]

69. The silver lining ...

This just may be the impetus to cause people to start thinking about their purchases and consumption habits and, in turn, make them actually do something good for the environment and their health!

They may purchase less meat and more produce.

They may stop purchasing paper napkins and use cloth napkins instead.

They may stop purchasing chemical cleaning products and go with less expensive, non-toxic, environmentally-friendly "old fashioned" cleaning products such as vinegar.

Some may even do what we do in The Garden State ... start growing their own!




* * * * * * * *

Well there's a dark and a troubled side of life.
There's a bright and a sunny side too.
But if you meet with the darkness and strife,
The sunny side we also may view.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,
If we keep on the sunny side of life.

June Carter Cash - "Keep On The Sunny Side"

[SammyWinstonJack]

70. Does bu$h still "know how hard it is too put food on our families"?

:eyes: I know he really doesn't give two shits, either. Never did for that matter.

[Ganja Ninja]

71. I try to buy things on sale.

2 for the price of 1 deals or 10 for $10 deals. With food going up I have more food around the house now than ever. My freezer is packed. I'm going to do most of my veggie shopping at roadside stands since I expect them to be marked-up less than the veggies at the supermarket.

[4_TN_TITANS]

72. Without a doubt....

with a family of four (two growing girls) we can tell a big difference.

[mamalone]

73. Single mama here....

Trying to feed my houseful on a fixed income and it is getting tough... very tough. I am really worried how I am going to be able to pay my mortgage, utilities and feed everyone next winter. This summer some friends and I are putting in a large garden so we have produce to can and preserve. We are also buying some meat chickens. I dread the thought of butchering day, but hey you do what ya gotta do, right?

[FirstLight]

75. I am right there with you .. single mom of 3 here!

I have already seen that the basic costs of rice, pasta, beans etc is over the top. I can no longer even pretend to shop at the big supermarkets, because the cost is double the Grocery Outlet. Though I sometimes have to go there to find specifics... like this week, I couldn't find bananas to save my life!

I'm worried too, lonemom... I am grateful for my community of helping folks that I have close to me. they bring us hambruger helper and such and try to help out (church folks, etc)..but otherwise I am isolated in the mountains with not much more than my ingenuity and my willpower!

Wish we could have chickens, but the coyotes would get them if the cold weather didn't... let me know how it goes. Organic eggs were actually cheaper than the crappy bleached ones at Raley's today...wow, I wish I could have a layer or two!

[mamalone]

76. well.... hello there!

Sounds like we are pretty much in the same boat;) I am very fortunate to have a warm and supportive church family as well. Actually our chickens are going to be living at the home/farm of some friends from church, and "our" garden is going to be there as well. They are an elderly couple so the kids and I'll be driving over there everyday to do a lot of the grunt work... the gas will be pricey but I think it will still be worth it. At the very least I won't be supporting the hideous-ness of the factory farms, right?

Here's a ((hug)) and hoping your day is most pleasant indeed!

[dysfunctional press]

77. not all that much...i always shop for sale items.

we haven't seen all that much of a price rise...but we don't have much brand loyalty at all.

[MoeHayNow]

78. Indeed they have.

Much like the cost of "everything."
Fuel prices and farming prices are locked together.

[fight4my3sons]

79. yes

we use the store card to get whatever deals we can and buy 'generic' to cut down on costs. My kids barely see fruit anymore unless it is on sale.

[Javaman]

80. Expanding my garden for the summer. Investing in three layers for the fall.

looking to plant lots of potatos and make potato flour.

any indication from my above lines that my grocery bill has gone up? lol

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

81. lol! I even wrote to the Food Channel to tell them to stop putting so much parmigeano reggiano in

recipes because within a year it's gone up from $10 a pound to $19 a pound!