'Perfect storm' drives up grocery bills

[Tony]

Cut down on auto trips or try to multi task your trips so you can hit 2 or 3 stores in one sweep. Be creative with your route. The Post Office does this with their deliveries to save gas.
Only buy what's neccesary at the grocery store. Stick to your list. No impulse shopping. Watch out. Stores intentionally put impulse items at eye level or at strategic spots where people normally look for staples. Try to resist temptation especially if you're paying by credit card. Good Luck!

[Heywood_J]

Tony wrote:

Cut down on auto trips or try to multi task your trips so you can hit 2 or 3 stores in one sweep. Be creative with your route. The Post Office does this with their deliveries to save gas.
Only buy what's neccesary at the grocery store. Stick to your list. No impulse shopping. Watch out. Stores intentionally put impulse items at eye level or at strategic spots where people normally look for staples. Try to resist temptation especially if you're paying by credit card. Good Luck!

And...make sure you have something to eat before you go to the store. Never shop hungry...you end up buying everything in the store.

[Mike J]

The only "Perfect Storm" was electing Bush and his croonies. I also wonder why nobody said anything about the deisel fuel costs. It used to be that deisel was much cheaper than reg. gas. Now listen; the cost of gas is up BUT the deisel fuel is made in this country. Guess it's just George and Dicky paying back the job they bought.
If you don't like the prices don't buy the damn product. You might also STOP driving so much. Then the price will go down!
Growing your own won't hurt either. It's good exercise and kinda good air.

[Heywood_J]

Yeah...'cause everything is Bush's fault. Uh huh...you might want to get that case of BDS checked out.

[Jen]

Who cares if you buy named brand or generic? The price is going up on both by the same percentages. So its no different if your used to brand name or generic. I for one buy all brand name because YES it does taste better and has better quality. Try putting a generic brand diaper on your child vs. pampers...BIG difference.

Woburn wrote:

<quoted text>
If your going to buy name brand foods then don't complain about the damn price!!!!Sorry to tell you, but store brand canned veggies DO NOT taste different from brand name.(your paying extra for the name on the can, that's all) It is all about survival, you eat to live, therefore you can pay your bills. Are you one of those people who live to eat?
CUT BACK ON NAME BRAND FOODS AND HAVE MORE $ TO PAY THE MORTGAGE!

[Cheryl R]

Thank you, JEN! well said!

[Linda 2]

Heywood_J wrote:

First, I don't live in my parent's basement. I am an above average earning 20-something.
When I was younger and money was tight (getting my own place at 18) I understood how the real world works. I made sure to keep track of the money I had in my account and didn't spend more than I had. If I couldn't swing coffee and donuts I wouldn't buy it. The banks make is perfectly clear that they charge overdraft fees.
I solely take 100% responsibility for my life. I don't expect anyone else to take care of me. I expect to be charged the stated overdraft if I were to be irresponsible and spend money I don't have.
It is as simple as that. People need to take responsibility for their lives. People need to plan. People need to understand how the real world works. Stop blaming everyone else. Sorry, I have no sympathy for people doing stupid things then complaining about it...especially when they are responsible for doing it to themselves.

So you think $33 for overdrafting $2.02 for a medium iced coffee milk and sugar at a local Dunkin Donuts is appropriate? These banks make so much money it's gross.

I know a lot of people like you, heywood, a LOT of people like you... always wanting to go against the grain, prove a point, be an individual with opposite opinions from the general consensus. If you agree that a $33 charge for a college student overdrafting a couple bucks on a watery, gross coffee (times 3 making it $99) is necessary than thats insane.

I can't believe you really live in your parents basement... On second thought, with these out of control price hikes on coffee, donuts, crullers (amongst other things) it's a smart choice to save up while living with moms n pops so I really don't blame you.

[Linda 2]

Heywood_J wrote:

Yeah...'cause everything is Bush's fault. Uh huh...you might want to get that case of BDS checked out.

Ugh...

Heywood J....nevermind the BDS, I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) whenever I read a comment of yours. You support Bush, like price hikes, and live in your parents basement.

Gotta go before you make me fudge my undies.

[KAH]

Heywood_J wrote:

<quoted text>
Ummm, blaming someone else because you can't keep tabs on your checking account? That is a little sad. Keep tabs on your account and you won't overdraw your account....you don't overdraw your account and you won't get charged the fee. Blame yourself not "huge corporations." You brought the embarrassment on yourself. Responsibility...learn the word (and the meaning).

I had to laugh--it made my day..... so rightly said...

[Heywood_J]

Linda 2 wrote:

<quoted text>
Ugh...
Heywood J....nevermind the BDS, I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) whenever I read a comment of yours. You support Bush, like price hikes, and live in your parents basement.
Gotta go before you make me fudge my undies.

First, if you could read, you would see I wrote that I DON'T live in my parent's basement. I have been living on my own since I turned 18. Didn't feel my parents should have to support me past that. I am a self made man (with help from my parents of course raising me right).

Second, who said I support Bush? I never said that. All I said was I think it is ridiculous that people blame Bush and his administration for everything. Bush has just as much control over the economy as you do.

[Heywood_J]

Linda 2 wrote:

<quoted text>
So you think $33 for overdrafting $2.02 for a medium iced coffee milk and sugar at a local Dunkin Donuts is appropriate? These banks make so much money it's gross.
I know a lot of people like you, heywood, a LOT of people like you... always wanting to go against the grain, prove a point, be an individual with opposite opinions from the general consensus. If you agree that a $33 charge for a college student overdrafting a couple bucks on a watery, gross coffee (times 3 making it $99) is necessary than thats insane.
I can't believe you really live in your parents basement... On second thought, with these out of control price hikes on coffee, donuts, crullers (amongst other things) it's a smart choice to save up while living with moms n pops so I really don't blame you.

Sorry, I believe people should take responsibility for their actions. You know the rules. You know that the bank is charging a fee (whether appropriate or not). You agreed to those fees when you opened an account with them. You need to be responsible and make sure you have the funds in your account. If you don't it is simple: you will overdraw the account thus incurring the fee.

Prices are rising. It is a bummer. But, it really isn't affecting me much. I have consistently lived below my means. People need to start living within their means (better yet live below their means). That is how the rich get rich, the poor get (and remain) poor. Ever wonder why the wealthiest people are the most frugal (aka cheap)? They are wealthy because they live within or below their means. On the other hand look at the poorest. They don't have a pot to piss in yet they have $200 sneakers, 22 inch rims on their vehicles, designer bags, etc. They have no one to blame for their situation but themselves.

Buy what is on sale, plan meals around that, you will get by. Make lunch at home, cut back on eating you, you will get by.

That's the way of the world.

[Woburn]

Jen wrote:

Who cares if you buy named brand or generic? The price is going up on both by the same percentages. So its no different if your used to brand name or generic. I for one buy all brand name because YES it does taste better and has better quality. Try putting a generic brand diaper on your child vs. pampers...BIG difference.
<quoted text>

My babies don't wear diapers anymore. The prices are high on everything. You people pissing & moaning about it isn't going to bring the prices down. Either learn how to spend your money correctly or keep paying the big bucks. NAG-NAG-NAG!!! If you're trying to save a buck or two, stop going to Dunkin Donuts! Bring your own damn coffee from home to work in the morning! I see a pattern here, complain-complain-complain.... .

[Heywood_J]

Woburn wrote:

<quoted text>
My babies don't wear diapers anymore. The prices are high on everything. You people pissing & moaning about it isn't going to bring the prices down. Either learn how to spend your money correctly or keep paying the big bucks. NAG-NAG-NAG!!! If you're trying to save a buck or two, stop going to Dunkin Donuts! Bring your own damn coffee from home to work in the morning! I see a pattern here, complain-complain-complain.... .

Makes sense to me.

[Woburn]

Heywood_J wrote:

<quoted text>
Makes sense to me.

Finally, someone who agrees. They didn't have to have the article in the paper, we (the consumer) know that the prices of everything is high. The economy isn't going to change until we get that BLOCK HEAD out of the white house, and even then I'm afraid to see what's going to change....I guessing not much.

[Cheryl R]

So you would perfer that the newspapers are just empty pieces of paper? What is so wrong about reading about what is going on in the world around us? Maybe you should stop reading the newspaper and watching the news if it upsets you this much.

[Heywood_J]

Cheryl R wrote:

So you would perfer that the newspapers are just empty pieces of paper? What is so wrong about reading about what is going on in the world around us? Maybe you should stop reading the newspaper and watching the news if it upsets you this much.

I don't think that is what they were going for. There can be an article...but there doesn't have to be for people to realize what is going on. Article or not people should be able to figure out for themselves what is happening.

[Woburn]

Cheryl R wrote:

So you would perfer that the newspapers are just empty pieces of paper? What is so wrong about reading about what is going on in the world around us? Maybe you should stop reading the newspaper and watching the news if it upsets you this much.

No; it doesn't upset me,
the newspaper should have other interesting news in it. Not something we already know about. That article was a waste of space, it made the woman look as if she hasn't shopped in months. Is she just finding out that the prices of EVERYTHING has gone up? Get a clue, the prices have been high for quite some time....Did she not notice the prices on Milk & Eggs when they went up a while ago? I bet most people read the article and then said (well no s**t everything has gone up, where has this lady been?)

[Cheryl R]

I get what you're saying but not everyone out there knows the reasons why prices are going up. Yes, oil, but there's more too it, which was noted. It was just an article with some examples of how people are affected. Sure, maybe people know all the reasons, but I am sure there are plenty of shoppers out there who don't understand the big picture and that of the grocers'.

[Grape Blow Pop]

I see a mach being made...Cheryl R and Heywood J.
what a handsome couple.
I hope Cheryl dosen't mind her time in Heywoods parents basement.

" shhhhh my parents are right up stairs"

[RosieBaby]

Instead of bashing each other about lifestyles and how one another lives, how about sharing some beneficial cost cutting strategies with each other. Who out there actually makes a 5-7 day menu, a grocery list off of that menu and actually remembers to take it off the counter or the console of their car? Come on -- we've all done it.

Seriously, I try to make a 5-7 day menu taking into account bfast two children and two adults, lunch for myself and my husband to TAKE to WORK and a healthy dinner for us. Most of the time I can cut my grocery bill down $50-75 per WEEK because of the menu/list. I have noticed that the days when I just run to the grocery willy nilly I am up over $200.00 for a family of four and am shocked when my fridge is still bare.

Try the menu for two weeks and you will see that it will not only help you in the wallet, it ends the panic at 4:30 of "What am I going to make for dinner?"