Groceries up 25%

**peanut** · 07-01-2008, 12:46 PM

since January. We've given in. We're upping both the food and gas budget.

Jean

**C&EMom** · 07-01-2008, 12:51 PM

I have done the same! There was just no way to deny it was happening we were running short on our budget and we were buying the same things! Very frustrating but it reminded me to get back on this site and get creative!

**nuisance26** · 07-01-2008, 12:58 PM

~Every year when I make my budget I take the amount I spent the previous year and add 10%. It's been enough every year but this one. I'm up 16% so far.~

**sdrjeolsen** · 07-01-2008, 12:58 PM

yep, same here. I tried to fight it, but with all the driving dh and ds do, finally decided I needed to redo some numbers. We're also cutting out the extra mortgage payments for a while and sticking it into savings, I'm getting a little nervous about the economy.

**CRS** · 07-01-2008, 02:00 PM

Same here. Groceries are just too much and I hate it. It's what keeps me going back out to work in the garden, though. LOL

**heartofmine** · 07-01-2008, 02:24 PM

Same here and its going to get worse I'm afraid. Everything is going up but the paycheck.

My son and daughter go back to college this fall and the gas budget will go up a lot too. The college is an hour drive away. Driving is still cheaper than an apartment though.

**freyadog** · 07-01-2008, 02:41 PM

Its hitting everybody hard. We try to use our stockpile but it still has to be replenished eventually. With no end in site the prices are going to try and beat us down. BUT us'n's here at the village have a deeper handle on things than the average folk.

We have even debated on turning off the cable and just keep the phone and the dsl(gotta get my Village fix) however we have no radio or tv up here on the mountain and I would probably be crazy in a week. Just so much reading a person can do.

**itsahumanzoo** · 07-01-2008, 02:41 PM

Luckily, the little market I shop at for produce hasn't raised it's prices so I can still save by going there.

However, everything else has gone way up and I try to use mostly fresh vegetables when I can, and cooking from scratch. I don't have a breadmaker, but I do shop bread from the clearance rack at the store. Last time I got a double back of white bread for $1.19. Not bad.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 07-01-2008, 02:48 PM

Yup, us too... Shipping (fuel) is obviously major in getting things up here.

Our grocery budget went from $250 to $450 (no, I'm not kidding...part of that *is* because I don't have time to do as much scratch cooking...only accounts for about $75 of it).

Our gas budget went from $125 up to $200...and I'm starting to wonder how long that will last. It's costing me 5.25 EACH trip to school. HAVE to go to class 4 days/week. This fall will be 5 days/week. (This is based on the prices last time I filled up...who knows how much more it will increase?!). Dh has to drive to work...and go to school twice a week.

Did anyone listen to talk radio last night (Dh had it on)? They were talking about $7/gal gas by 2010. That's SOON!! And possibly up to $6/gal by the end of (didn't catch this part...either this summer or this year...). Dh graduates Dec. '09, so we'll be on predominantly student loans until then! How on earth will THAT cover these changes?!

Dh is riding his bike to work on halfway decent days (we've had an awful summer...very cold and rainy/overcast). I would love to ride my bike to school...still trying to work towards it, but I have knee problems and they aren't cooperating as of yet. Our public transportation system is a joke. It would take at LEAST an hour to get to the college (each way)...after walking the one mile to the nearest bus stop. And once winter sets in...uh, forget it...TOO cold to stand out there and wait for a bus...esp with no enclosures to protect from the elements.

I'm not sure what to do if this gets a whole lot worse? We're already AT minimums on SO many things (ESPECIALLY after having to increase our food/gas budget SO MUCH, already).

We're not even sending any extra payments to anything, anymore.

Oh well, I'm thankful we have our EF fully funded, a pantry full of food, and relatively cheap rent. (The cup is half full!). Somebody tell me we're all gonna make it thru this and NOT go hungry...

**xtena** · 07-01-2008, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

I don't have a breadmaker, but I do shop bread from the clearance rack at the store. Last time I got a double back of white bread for $1.19. Not bad.

You do know that You don't need a machine to make bread, right? (I tried to put a winking smiley here but it didn't post right. I'm just teasing, not being snarky so don't get mad, okay?)

Kneading bread by hand is good exercise for your upper arms and I find it a good stress reliever. Though to tell the truth, I do use my machine or KitchenAid mixer more often than not. However I find the texture of machine-baked bread inferior to oven-baked bread (plus I hate the hole in the bottom of the loaf) so even if I knead in the machine, I usually rise it in a pan and bake it in the oven. (My machine was a gift, so it isn't like I was the one who wasted the money on an expensive kneading machine!)

If you ever decide to start making your own, and decide you can't live without a machine, check the thrift stores. I see them all the time at our local Deseret Industries (LDS-run thrift store).

**nancycg56** · 07-01-2008, 05:23 PM

I get sick to my stomach when I check out at the store ~ it's just ridiculous!

**Lambie** · 07-01-2008, 09:52 PM

It has gotten bad!!! I find myself using all the tactics to keep the bill lower...stockpiling sale items, scratch cooking, bread/baked goods made from scratch, bulk buying, fewer trips to the store (if I go I spend!!), menu planning, cooking up extra for freezing or planned leftovers (thus, not being tempted to eat out), couponing, substituting less expensive items, less meat ETC... I'm trying very hard, as I know all of you are!!! It wouldn't be that bad if it weren't for EVERYTHING else going up as well!!!!!!!Seems as though we are getting it from every angle!!Hang in there, Katy

**Mamaof2rugrats** · 07-01-2008, 10:01 PM

I'm *trying* to keep my food budget very low and still hoping I'm not going to have to raise it. Usually it's 100-150 monthly. I'm going to try to exclusively shop at Aldis although that's an hr away, hopefully that helps.

**cutetexancowgirl2002** · 07-01-2008, 10:11 PM

I have noticed the same thing too. I went to Walmart to purchase dog food yesterday and it had gone up 2 dollars/bag since I bought it 2 months ago! I went to Sams and bought it and ended up saving about 20 cents/pound. Sams also has milk cheaper than the grocery store here. I think I'm going to try and determine what items are cheaper bought in bulk that will keep and also that will save me some trips to the store. I really don't know what most people will do if prices keep increasing like that have been. It's getting very scary.

**TheRootedNomad** · 07-01-2008, 10:12 PM

Ours went from $250 to I'm currently attempting $420 for groceries and from $250 for gas to about $300. That's about a 70% cost increase in groceries and a 28% increase in gas. I should be able to get the groceries down some but I haven't been able to even hold steady on the amount per month. I've got to find that stabilization point and then push it down.