Can You Afford to Eat?

For the past 2 years, I averaged spending $300 / month for food and all bath products and household items such as paper towels, detergent, etc. I'm still managing to spend not over $300 / month, since I'm being more careful with my selections and leaving off unnecessary items.

I do not believe I can say the same thing 3-6 months from now.
 
One way I am coping is not buying (read that Wasting $$ on) stuff I cannot finish, like bottles of olives, containers of pesto or huge bags of produce All things I love but if 1/2 or more goes bad in the refrig there’s no point (and a lot of things only come in one size— too big)
 

911 said:
I wasn't aware that you had been ill. I'm sorry to hear that. Are you doing better these days?

We haven't changed our eating or buying habits thanks to receiving a nice pension.
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I had a horrible winter, 911. Went from multiple focal pneumonia right into gastro-intestinal flu. Could not keep even a drop of water down. I nearly took myself to the hospital, for I.V. therapy, as I was dehydrating big time.

I was sucking on wrapped ice cubes to keep my mouth dampened. I did not say a word to anyone about how sick I was, other than my doctor.

She was a nervous wreck over me, but Nurse, Lois here, said, "I know how to take care of myself." At 92, I knew it was do or die. The weight I did have fell off my bones like crazy.

I pulled through and am fine today. How long that will last? Who knows? But, I say, "Bring it on."

Thank you for your concern. I do appreciate it. Hugs.
 
I knew prices were going to skyrocket so in November I bought a year’s worth of paper products, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, personal hygiene products, 6 months of coffee and a lot of meat. So I haven’t been affected too badly yet.

I also bought a new car in January instead of waiting until my 17 year old car needed expensive repairs. Normally I would have waited.
 
Sorry for what you went thru @Lewkat - 'Nurse Lois'…. such a bad time. Glad you are better now.


I haven’t had any issues with prices yet, and even this week a dozen organic eggs were $4.10 locally. That’s down $2 from last shopping trip ( 2 weeks ago).

However, I discovered something else.
I was looking for something simple for Easter time dessert, and thought a Betty Crocker Pineapple Upside Down Box Cake mix would be good since I hadn’t made one in ages.
Well, apparently they must be stored at Fort Knox. Looked at several sites, and Amazon had the lowest price - two box pkg. for $35.00!!…what the heck!
 
PeppermintPatty said:
We downloaded an App called FLIPP.
You can download all the flyers and compare them. We live in Atlantic Canada. Eggs ( large) are $3.99 a dozen @ Shopper’s Drug Mart. Robin Hood flour 10kg - $8.49
Potatoes are $2.99 for 10 pounds
Chicken is on sale $2.49 a pound
Evaporated milk is on sale for $.99 a can
We shop around for the best prices.
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I swear by FLIPP too. We rarely get any paper flyers.
Your prices are lower than ours. Potatoes were $6.98 and that was a great price.
I shop sales and it still adds up more quickly than just a few months ago.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Yes I’ve thought about getting chickens but I’d have them all named and our youngest dog might just kill them. He’s not very tolerate of any other animals except for his older sister. Plus there are a lot of fox where we live. I’d be up at night watching the chickens and not get any sleep.View attachment 410352
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As you know the saying is '' When you build a coop if a Fox / Raccoon / Mink can go under it , through it , over it they will " so you simply build or buy one they can not but might not even be worth it for you .

A few houses down the guy has Australian egg laying chickens outside and Raccoons can not get in his coop .
 
NotCompSavy said:
As you know the saying is '' When you build a coop if a Fox / Raccoon / Mink can go under it , through it , over it they will " so you simply build or buy one they can not but might not even be worth it for you .

A few houses down the guy has Australian egg laying chickens outside and Raccoons can not get in his coop .
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No! We’ve thought about it but we have too many animals that the chickens would attract. It’s not worth my worry. We have small to medium sized dogs and I wouldn’t want to risk their lives just to get free eggs. I’d rather pay the $4 to $5 for the eggs.
 
Nathan said:
Eggs are up a buck to $10.99/dozen. Beef is stupid expensive at $8.99/lb for ground beef. They decided to play with the price of fresh fruit to see if people will pay more, I chose NOT to buy the strawberries and blueberries since the price got bumped up $2.

Paper plates and paper napkins are still affordable, but the less food I buy the less they are needed. :mad:
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Have you thought of raising , eating Chuckwallas or Desert iguanas ?

Lol I'm kidding but imagine at least one of those protected types by you .
 
Lewkat said:
I had a horrible winter, 911. Went from multiple focal pneumonia right into gastro-intestinal flu. Could not keep even a drop of water down. I nearly took myself to the hospital, for I.V. therapy, as I was dehydrating big time.

I was sucking on wrapped ice cubes to keep my mouth dampened. I did not say a word to anyone about how sick I was, other than my doctor.

She was a nervous wreck over me, but Nurse, Lois here, said, "I know how to take care of myself." At 92, I knew it was do or die. The weight I did have fell off my bones like crazy.

I pulled through and am fine today. How long that will last? Who knows? But, I say, "Bring it on."

Thank you for your concern. I do appreciate it. Hugs.
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So sorry you've had to go through this, @Lewkat; hope you continue to get all better.

About the powdered eggs mentioned above: I think the powdered milk is good too; it doesn't taste exactly the same but tastes just as good IMO.
 
JustBonee said:
However, I discovered something else.
I was looking for something simple for Easter time dessert, and thought a Betty Crocker Pineapple Upside Down Box Cake mix would be good since I hadn’t made one in ages.
Well, apparently they must be stored at Fort Knox. Looked at several sites, and Amazon had the lowest price - two box pkg. for $35.00!!…what the heck!
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That is because it is no longer available and third parties who have stock are taking advantage. DH now carries pineapple supreme cake mix.
 
Lewkat said:
I had a horrible winter, 911. Went from multiple focal pneumonia right into gastro-intestinal flu. Could not keep even a drop of water down. I nearly took myself to the hospital, for I.V. therapy, as I was dehydrating big time.

I was sucking on wrapped ice cubes to keep my mouth dampened. I did not say a word to anyone about how sick I was, other than my doctor.

She was a nervous wreck over me, but Nurse, Lois here, said, "I know how to take care of myself." At 92, I knew it was do or die. The weight I did have fell off my bones like crazy.

I pulled through and am fine today. How long that will last? Who knows? But, I say, "Bring it on."

Thank you for your concern. I do appreciate it. Hugs.
Click to expand...
You made it! If I call you a tough ol' bird please don't take it wrong.
 
JustBonee said:
Sorry for what you went thru @Lewkat - 'Nurse Lois'…. such a bad time. Glad you are better now.


I haven’t had any issues with prices yet, and even this week a dozen organic eggs were $4.10 locally. That’s down $2 from last shopping trip ( 2 weeks ago).

However, I discovered something else.
I was looking for something simple for Easter time dessert, and thought a Betty Crocker Pineapple Upside Down Box Cake mix would be good since I hadn’t made one in ages.
Well, apparently they must be stored at Fort Knox. Looked at several sites, and Amazon had the lowest price - two box pkg. for $35.00!!…what the heck!
Click to expand...
Have you looked at the cake recipe?
 
We enjoy good food. We enjoy sharing good food. Wine is not an option! Cat food is not an option. Our Amazon customers are not options either.
The garden will hopefully provide us with fresh whatever grows in Oklahoma but it is not cheap to water. Just fresher! No, SO will not start laying eggs.
Life will go on and decisions will be made along the way as they always have.
 
CinnamonSugar said:
One way I am coping is not buying (read that Wasting $$ on) stuff I cannot finish, like bottles of olives, containers of pesto or huge bags of produce All things I love but if 1/2 or more goes bad in the refrig there’s no point (and a lot of things only come in one size— too big)
Click to expand...
that's somehing we don't have here... all of our supermarket foods ( costco aside) are sold in smallish quantities.. no huge packs or giant tins of anything... it might cost more overall to have food like that .. but it cuts back enormously on waste
 
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hollydolly said:
that's somehing we don't have here... all of our supermarket foods ( costco aside) are sold in smallish quantities.. no huge packs or giant tins of antyhing... it might cost more overall to have food like that .. but it cuts back enormously on waste
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It depends on your usage. A 5 pound bag of flour does not go far but a 25 pound bag costs twice that much. A 10 pound bag of onions is the same as a 2.5 pound bag. Let's not get into cheese, spices and fresh vegetables. It is cutting back on packaging! Ten ribs eye steaks give me basically one extra and a shmooze with the meat cutter makes them all the same size not an end piece in the middle.
 
hollydolly said:
that's somehing we don't have here... all of our supermarket foods ( costco aside) are sold in smallish quantities.. no huge packs or giant tins of antyhing... it might cost more overall to have food like that .. but it cuts back enormously on waste
Click to expand...
You need a Walmart and surprised none there as would be a gold mine for the company .
 
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