[Nana2two]

Was just listening to the news. They said food prices will increase by 20% over all. The cost of transportation is going way up. Not sure where your located but gas prices have gone up at least 40 cents a gallon in 1 week.Our electric bill is on the rise despite everything we can to lower cost.We sit in the dark most of the times.Of course Illinois has passed the 66% over all tax hike. Which a interview of local eatery's said prices will go up. My goal is not to eat out. Planning on different menu making.

 

[freebs]

yes i see it at the grocery store all the time, i hate spending money on the loaves of bread, things like that as the prices are soo high! we will not eat out and make from scratch more!

 

[ladytoysdream]

I was reading about the 66 % tax increase in Illinois. That is the state income tax, correct ?

A lot of prices are going up. I dread going to the stores.
Cannot remember the last time we ate out at a restuarant but it has been quite a long awhile.

The thing I need to do is to find a white bread recipe and get at it. I used to make a sourdough bread a long time ago, and quite often. I did make from scratch, pumpkin bread today, a double batch.

I do know we will have a bigger garden this year. And lots more canning. I like knowing where my food comes from

 

[Nana2two]

I was reading about the 66 % tax increase in Illinois. That is the state income tax, correct ?

A lot of prices are going up. I dread going to the stores.
Cannot remember the last time we ate out at a restuarant but it has been quite a long awhile.

The thing I need to do is to find a white bread recipe and get at it. I used to make a sourdough bread a long time ago, and quite often. I did make from scratch, pumpkin bread today, a double batch.

I do know we will have a bigger garden this year. And lots more canning. I like knowing where my food comes from

Yes it's state tax.

 

[Hamada]

Yup, everything is going up. I am even starting to think I may apply for food stamps. Apparently I qualify now.

With the winter being colder and heat and electric going up my utility bill is steadily rising.

I have been thinking about eating more brown rice with beans and oatmeal. The oatmeal in the morning really seems to fill me up. Since it is cheap and on sale now I will be stocking up. It does seem like a juggling act with trying to eat healthy. I have started cooking collard greens. Will start looking at different greens to eat.

I am just glad the grocery store I am at has good managers specials on meat. But the beans and rice will be more often now. I made brocolli rabe with white beans and rice. It turned out pretty good and was cheap.

 

[frugal is fun]

it definitely takes effort not to spend money. I'm still feeling sick so I just went to the grocery store that was the most convenient, not the least expensive and man I spent $34 on what seemed like nothing.

Gas is $3.32 a gallon at the convenient gas station which is just nuts. I hope I start to feel better soon so that extra 15 minutes out of the way won't seem so daunting.

 

[chickadee-7815]

Prices of everything are going up. But the government has not increased Social Security for the past two years, because they said the cost of living hasn't increased. Hard to figure that one out. Our dollars are having to stretch more and more all the time.

 

[sunshine]

Yep - I also live in IL. . . gee, can we get taxed anymore? WAIT! I did not say that, cause I'm sure they'll think of a way.

 

[madjen]

It's only going to continue going up. We haven't seen the worst of it yet... If the Gov't predicts price hikes, it will happen!

 

[HappyMama]

Yep - I also live in IL. . . gee, can we get taxed anymore? WAIT! I did not say that, cause I'm sure they'll think of a way.

Right now IL is going to be taxing corporations 7.4-8% which is the highest Corporate tax in the Industrialized World.. Many corporations and residents will be fleeing the state God willing. What an absolute mess. This tax will not even fix the budget deficit they are planning on using it for a loan. Sigh.....

Food , and commodities are going to be rising quickly. Yes Nana it is getting tough out there. Menu planning and eating at home will help.

 

[sunshine]

I may be one of the residents fleeing. . . my oldest son and his family have discussed moving to WI to be closer to her family. I have a son in SC, dd is going to move to MO.

I may as well move.

 

[HappyMama]

I may be one of the residents fleeing. . . my oldest son and his family have discussed moving to WI to be closer to her family. I have a son in SC, dd is going to move to MO.

I may as well move.

Thinking the same my friend

 

[frugalwarrior2]

Had my electric go up $22. and my consumer gas went down $6. so up $16. Cleaned out 1/2 the cube freezer today. Tomorrow the other 1/2. Then off it goes.
I told DH we will cut back severely on the out to eat. Ds came to ask for money to go up North w/ a friend to visit a friend -NO was my answer. No money/No go..
Gas at the pump was 3.12 tonight so $50. for a tank. Teens will have to cut back on the for fun driving too.
I was just reading that there were 1 mill. forclosures in 2010. And they expect quite a few more than that in 2011. Just too scary. DH wants to repair items and finance a 3rd car. I want a larger savings cushion.
More tough times ahead. Thank goodness for FV.

 

[Pemberleyan]

Yikes! It sounds like Illinois may soon experiencing the exodus that I've heard about in New York.

 

[Momto5RN]

heat and electric bill went up about 25$
food bill getting hard to keep in check.

dh drives 70 miles round trip to work each day and there is also a 4$ toll each day too.

i do home care so drive for work - i use to be able to fill up 20$ worth of gas and have itr last all week as i try to stay close to home for my patient load. now its 20$ every 4-5 days
when i work a weekend i have to go where they put me and this weekend i have to go about 45 miles on saturday that i normally wouldnt go.

trying to use wood burning stove and turning down heat on weekends when someone is home all day -
turning heat down when i leave in AM ( if i am last to leave and everyone is showered ) and turning it down at night .

trying to shop sales - meal plan based on what is on sale - trying to use coupons when it helps.

we never really ate out much to start with for birthdays anniversaries etc .
we do take out maybe once a week but its usually a place we can get enough for the 7 of us for 20$ ( sicilian pizza at one place near us is very filling and 16 squares per pie )
and usually reserved for when my fibro is real bad - work was so crazy or a weekend i work .

i am grateful for those that do still eat out because they are funding my daughters college fund as she is a waitress so nothing bad to say about those that choose to afford to eat out as long as they are paying their bills to.

not sure what the 66% increase = reality wise ( 66% of what was the original tax )
but living in NJ i do know what it is like to be paying high taxes - and gvt fees and property taxes but i just figure its a part of living . moving not an option right now with the way real estate has gone plus i still have young ones i would hate to move away from their schools and friends

 

[Missourimom]

Illinois is just a mess right now. We live across the river in MO....20-25 minutes away. It isn't perfect here either as we're taxed to death on property taxes on our home, trucks, trailer and camper. We decided to sell the camper this year because it just doesn't make sense for us to have one. We can save a lot of money by getting rid of it.

Freebs~I know what you mean by the cost of bread. It's ridiculous and our favorite bread (Bunny) seems to be getting smaller all the time.

I guess we're learning to live more like our grandparents did....simple and within our means.

 

[Nana2two]

Right now IL is going to be taxing corporations 7.4-8% which is the highest Corporate tax in the Industrialized World.. Many corporations and residents will be fleeing the state God willing. What an absolute mess. This tax will not even fix the budget deficit they are planning on using it for a loan. Sigh.....

Food , and commodities are going to be rising quickly. Yes Nana it is getting tough out there. Menu planning and eating at home will help.

I told hubby, i bet the state Government still gets a pay hike.

 

[madjen]

not sure what the 66% increase = reality wise ( 66% of what was the original tax )
but living in NJ i do know what it is like to be paying high taxes - and gvt fees and property taxes but i just figure its a part of living . moving not an option right now with the way real estate has gone plus i still have young ones i would hate to move away from their schools and friends

The Illinois state income tax went from 3% to 5%

The corporate tax rate from 4.8% to 7%

Lawmakers Approve Illinois Tax Hike - DailyFinance

 

[bumplett]

I guess this goes to show how niave I am ~ I always thought the midwest was realtively inexpensive ~ apparently, I was wrong!

West Metro Atlanta prices:
Gas $2.99/gal,

Bread (Kroger store brand) $.75, (Publix brand) $1.25

Milk (store brand) $1.99-$2.99 gal, depending on store,

Water Bill ($5.66 per 1000 gallons) so for Dec, our bill was $39.56 (for 5400 gallons & $4 for street lights ) *I think this is incredibly high, but can't seem to get it any lower - ugg.

Electric Bill for Dec - $248.03, avg. kwh/day is 40; cost per day 3.72 - total kwh for 30 days service 1229.

Don't have a gas bill handy, or I'd share that also.

I'll have a larger garden this year - that's a def. - I've been saving little yogurt cups to use a pots for seed starters -

I'm really hoping for a good year in 2011!

We can DOOOOO it!

 

[McD]

Water Bill ($5.66 per 1000 gallons) so for Dec, our bill was $39.56 (for 5400 gallons & $4 for street lights ) *I think this is incredibly high, but can't seem to get it any lower - ugg.

My corner of the Midwest is relatively cheap--esp. on water. (I work for the water company!)

$3.77 per thousand gallon. $2.90 per thousand on sewer. $10 trash, $1.50 storm water.

Our bill runs between 38-43ish bucks and we use just under around 3800 gallons a month. How many people are in your household? The average person uses about 2k water per month. Check out this site for tips on conservation: 100 Ways To Conserve | Water ? Use It Wisely