Monday, November 5, 2012

Ouch!

Did the monthly grocery shopping couple days ago and still smarting from the price stickers. I try to spend $150 each month though some months (especially during garden season) is less and a few months I might go over a few dollars. This month went WAY over. I spent $288 ! I knew I would go over this month being I only spent $98 last month but sure didn't think I would spend almost double. Needed to stock up on all the baking goods and this was the month to purchase paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, and conditioner. I also got our turkey for Thanksgiving, 50lb bag of dog food, 20 lb bag of cat food, light bulbs, and lots of batteries for our different size flashlights. I couldn't believe how much the prices had jumped since last month. How do people with families, no garden or stocked pantry make it? Rice, flour, beans, coffee, cornmeal, and tea, things that most every family use had gone up at least 20 cents and couple items went up over 50cents. I try to get items on sale and am not a brand name shopper. I do look at labels and try to get things with the least amount of additives. Orange juice was on sale so we got 5 gallons. It freezes well. Part of what made the grocery bill higher was purchasing meats. The freezers were starting to look a little bare so I got packages of meats that were on sale. Pork chops, roasts, ham, chicken, hamburger, fish, hotdogs, bacon, sausage and even found a couple of steaks marked down.  Of course turkey was cheap. We got a 18lb turkey for 9.98. I thought about getting two but will watch and see if they go on sale after Thanksgiving and get a couple for the freezer. Won't have to purchase meats next month unless I see some good sales. We have lots of canned and frozen things from the garden, eggs from the hens, milk from the goats, and almost all my cooking herbs I grew and dried myself. Without those things I am sure our monthly bill would be much bigger. I just can't understand how the average family make it. We don't have house or car payments that the average family has and since we heat with wood and have our own well for water we don't have those expenses but still have to be extra frugal to make it. Families with children have to be struggling paying their bills and still having money for food. We are blessed to be able to grow and produce some of our food. I just pray for the families that can't have a garden and are struggling to put food on the table. Hopefully the economy will start to get better soon and families won't have to worry if they should pay a bill or put food on the table.

7 comments:

IanH said...

I know what you mean about prices, but we pay $36 for an 18 pound turkey!The rest of the grocery list is in proportion.We average $360 per month (for 2 people), and we have our own chickens in the freezer.

Carolyn said...

The price of food has jumped every single month. I guess it means that I should really get my bum in gear for next year's garden. We're set for meat, but veggies are our weak spot on the homestead.

Anonymous said...

Wow! It is indeed a blessing to be able to produce some of our food.
$150 a month is excellent.
How do you do your milk? Do you freeze it or use dried?
I try to stay below $75 a week, this week I spent $60. That's for me, hubby and daughter.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I've noticed prices rising the past year or two--but they've gotten much worse recently... I am spending ALOT more than I did even a year ago... SCARY....

I just pray and pray that we have a 'real' change in our Govt. tomorrow... I'm SCARED about this election... IF we have 4 more years of this--our country will never be the same again..

Hugs,
Betsy

Kelly said...

The price of feed hits us hard. The sheep and goats diet is mostly hay with a small supplement of grain. Chicken feed it horrendous. We mix scratch and cracked corn into the layer pellets. The price of everything has gone up. The drought will hit us even harder. I agree with you about the families. I think it is cheaper to buy boxed rather than fresh and that is why America is getting more and more obese too. Much Love.

Mum said...

I hear you. It is ridiculous, prices have gone up and up, and just when I think this has to be the ceiling, they go up again. We are lucky to have some of our own produce but the cost of feed is terrible right now. We've had a very wet summer and hay is in short supply. It is going to be an expensive winter. Though our major costs right now are fuel. We pay £1.80 per litre for diesel and coal and electric are even more expensive. Here is hoping the temperatures do not stay too low for too long. :)
I am not surprised turkeys are dear this year, the feed costs alone have been silly.

Let's hope for a very productive spring.

Anonymous said...

We had the same sticker shock reaction at the grocery store this week. Just the two of us, but even cat and dog food and canned green beans for Harriet from WalMart are jumping up in price. My little Puerto Rican neighbor wanted to buy some curry spice but it was outrageously high. I don't see things improving any time soon.