You & I on same meds. Eliquis too, am I right?
Can You Afford to Eat?
- Thread starter dusty
- Start date
Capt Lightning
Well-known Member
- Location
- Historic Buchan, Scotland
Beautiful clear sunny day - but COLD. We had planned to go to B&Q for some paint and as it looked so nice, we would go on to the beach at Cruden Bay for a walk. As it happened we decided to go to the beach first and with the tide out, we had a vast expanse of beach almost to ourselves. As I said, it was cold, but we still enjoyed the walk.
Bought the paint at B&Q and then drove to Morrisons for lunch. It was OK, but rather than preparing food in house, as they used to, they are now serving up commercially produced food for some meals.
Can I afford to eat ? Yes, but, but I still complain about the prices.
Bought the paint at B&Q and then drove to Morrisons for lunch. It was OK, but rather than preparing food in house, as they used to, they are now serving up commercially produced food for some meals.
Can I afford to eat ? Yes, but, but I still complain about the prices.
DailyArtsyCrafter
Crafter Writer Artist
- Location
- Southeastern US
In the southern US, doesn't seem like prices have returned to pre-COVID days. One-way car and truck rental rates are shamefully astronomical, still. Dozen of eggs, up to $5.46 since bird flu, dropped to $4.97 this week. I buy 12oz bags of ground coffee (McCafe, Dunkin & Community) and pay from $7.48 to $8.62, which I think is about $1 higher since January. My favorite 4 sticks of margarine, Imperial, which has been $0.99 for years, has risen to $1.38.
Thankfully, I can afford to feed myself because it's just me. I eat basically the same things and eat smaller meals because of acid-reflux. I often cook Sunday meals and divide them up, eating one of the frozen meals each Sunday. I also like making big pots of homemade soups that I eat on for days. I don't buy expensive meats, choosing to eat fish and chicken. Finally, I eat meatless meals sometimes. I lead a simple life and don't shop much.
Thankfully, I can afford to feed myself because it's just me. I eat basically the same things and eat smaller meals because of acid-reflux. I often cook Sunday meals and divide them up, eating one of the frozen meals each Sunday. I also like making big pots of homemade soups that I eat on for days. I don't buy expensive meats, choosing to eat fish and chicken. Finally, I eat meatless meals sometimes. I lead a simple life and don't shop much.
DailyArtsyCrafter
Crafter Writer Artist
- Location
- Southeastern US
I buy the Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix. When I shopped yesterday, I saw that it was $2.97. I have been buying it since before Christmas and didn't remember paying $2.97. I thought I had been paying a dollar something but I don't have receipts for last year. I assumed that I had confused the price of the muffin mixes, which are $1.24, with my memory of the cookie mix.
Looking at your list, I wonder if my memory is correct that at one time last year I was paying a dollar something for it? I had been thinking in my mind that Wow! The cookie mix makes SO many cookies, and it's only a dollar something!
I had stopped paying attention some time ago to what it was ringing up for, until yesterday. 
I decided to try Pillsbury, which is $2.76. Not much difference and I might not like it as much as BC, which I will probably return to. Thanks for sharing the list.
DailyArtsyCrafter
Crafter Writer Artist
- Location
- Southeastern US
I agree life is short. I dont owe anything and I dont spend on anything else like vacations.
I buy what I want. Buying food is the only fun I get.
I feel that way about coffee and creamers.
I also don't eat out. Because I lead a simple, thrifty life, I can treat myself whenever I want to special, more expensive groceries. I would like to take some short, economical vacations that I've always wanted to do. I'm researching and saving for a couple.
DailyArtsyCrafter
Crafter Writer Artist
- Location
- Southeastern US
Some months ago I was put on blood thinner/Eliquis at the same time I was cutting back on mgs of diazepam used for tremors. A week(?) later, when I was sitting at my computer, I turned to look at my daughter & that movement caused my whole body to violently rock back & forth. It was not a seizure. It was my essential tremor reaction to the blood thinner while being on lowered diazepam mgs. per day. My daughter called my doctor and I was told to stop taking the blood thinner. The blood thinner was prescribed for Afrid, which when my heart was checked again, I had NO Afrid. I went through weeks of increased tremor from that blood thinner, it was h-ll.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Eggs are about $4/dozen at Costco, but I haven't bought any in six weeks or more. Flax eggs are a good baking substitute for them and I rarely use eggs for anything beyond baking. DH also cut back on his egg based breakfast to less than twice a week.
I live in the first suburban ring of a large, ethnically diverse city with a lot of nearby competitive grocery options. My go-to stores are small ethnic chains, Aldi, Costco and some Walmart pick up.
For the past 11 years, fruits, berries, vegetables, whole grains and beans have been the centerpieces of DH & my meals, so the prices of animal-based foods rarely factor in outside the holidays (when I buy dairy products for cookies and pizza).
I always have certain fresh or frozen berries, fruits, vegetables, squashes and greens on hand. Others I buy based on sales, the season, how good they look, what I need for a recipe, and what DH or I have a hankering for.
Bulk shopping saves a fortune, as does cooking from scratch and making good use of the freezer. I purchase flours (all-purpose flour and bread) by the 25 lb sack. $8-$10 per bag. 10 lbs of rolled oats: $8. Dry garbanzos: 89¢/lb. Dry black beans: 69¢/lb. Canned beans: $1 at Aldi. And so forth. Almost all fresh produce runs $1/lb and under.
Is my grocery bill higher than several years ago? Sure, but not appreciably so. Ditching meat, fish, eggs, dairy and most processed food? Those were the real game changers.
I live in the first suburban ring of a large, ethnically diverse city with a lot of nearby competitive grocery options. My go-to stores are small ethnic chains, Aldi, Costco and some Walmart pick up.
For the past 11 years, fruits, berries, vegetables, whole grains and beans have been the centerpieces of DH & my meals, so the prices of animal-based foods rarely factor in outside the holidays (when I buy dairy products for cookies and pizza).
I always have certain fresh or frozen berries, fruits, vegetables, squashes and greens on hand. Others I buy based on sales, the season, how good they look, what I need for a recipe, and what DH or I have a hankering for.
Bulk shopping saves a fortune, as does cooking from scratch and making good use of the freezer. I purchase flours (all-purpose flour and bread) by the 25 lb sack. $8-$10 per bag. 10 lbs of rolled oats: $8. Dry garbanzos: 89¢/lb. Dry black beans: 69¢/lb. Canned beans: $1 at Aldi. And so forth. Almost all fresh produce runs $1/lb and under.
Is my grocery bill higher than several years ago? Sure, but not appreciably so. Ditching meat, fish, eggs, dairy and most processed food? Those were the real game changers.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Same here. Asian and Armenian supermarkets have so many different fruits and vegetables, always at peak freshness with the best prices. Plus great ethnic foods, also at terrific prices.
Years ago there was a small family owned grocery store a few blocks away. One day I bought several rolls of toilet tissue, the son was clerking that day, alone. When I brought them into my apartment I smelled a strong odor of cigarette smoke. Next time I shopped, the mother/wife was clerking. I told her of the odor, she didn't say anything about it, but I believe she was pretty sure she, like me, suspected her son smoked when on the job, since she & her husband did not smoke cigarettes. I don't remember what was done about it.
I have tremors, too, and Never Once connected it to the blood thinners. I must find out! Thank you Elsie.
I have seen Community Coffee on shelves. How do you compare it to known, good coffees like McCafe & Dunkin? Is it in their ballpark?
Been buying Dunkin at Dunkin stores, a pound for under $11. A bit cheaper that way & the bag lasts longer! Recently re-discovered Dunkin, now I'm hooked. Was drinking LaVazza, 12 oz. for $7. but I got tired of it.
I remember @Happyflowerlady telling me Seattle's Best was same as McCafe. Was on sale, tried it, really very good I thought.
RedAlert76
Member
- Location
- Ashland Ks
So far yes, we can afford to eat. Even in our younger days,we brown bagged to lunch,except on an occasional take out.
Never been big on eating out, but a treat when we do.We are homebodies so we save some as we do not go out for entertainment much.
Never been big on eating out, but a treat when we do.We are homebodies so we save some as we do not go out for entertainment much.
I dont mind the taste of Spam. I dont eat much of it now cause its high calorie and sodium. FYI. People in Hawaii consider it a delicacy.
I was born in 1949. No war. Mom was a single parent so just poor.
I feel that way about coffee and creamers.
Same here. Im watching my weight so I dont eat out much. I tend to cook the same things cause thats what I like.
I cook multiples. Freeze some and eat some for a few days. That way I dont have to think about whats for dinner.
One thing I have always considered even when I was younger is cost per meal. Sometimes expensive things arent bad when you consider them that way. Not that they are yet but if eggs are $12 a dozen, thats still only $2 for two eggs.
Oldeagle66
Senior Member
I've always been a pretty sensible shopper and know how to make the most out of a buck. $130 to $150 a month is tons of food for me............food everywhere.
Babs2u
Member
Xarelto
DailyArtsyCrafter
Crafter Writer Artist
- Location
- Southeastern US
Me too! Salespeople don't like me. Getting me to spend and buy something is like pulling hen's teeth.
I make a list and then reconsider everything on it before I go shopping. I stopped impulse buying many years ago. I don't enjoy being at the store for long periods of time like I used to. Maneuvering other shoppers and being on my feet at stores is now annoying. So determined to get out ASAP that there's no time for impulse shopping. I go straight to my listed items, get to the self checkout and get out!
DailyArtsyCrafter
Crafter Writer Artist
- Location
- Southeastern US
Do you mean a planned community/city? Seems like developers were getting started with those a couple of decades ago.
It can but singles have to be more careful doing it. Even frozen foods can't last indefinitely. Stuff lasts so long with me that I'm surprised at some of the expirations before I get around to using the foods. Of course, canned goods rarely expire before use but they sure add effort to moving/relocating if you've stockpiled.
It's on the level but has a more rich, earthy taste. It's good. I like it. It's actually the highest priced of the 3, at least where I am in the southeast US. It's family-owned for over 100 yrs and run by the 4th generation owner. I buy it at Wmart.
Oh, Seattle's Best trumps McCafe, Dunkin & Community. I discovered it at Subway about 20 yrs ago. Been drinking it ever since. The only other coffee that matches it (but with a different taste) is New England Coffee. Neither of them is available where I currently live. Will be glad when I move again, because they'll be available to me once again in my new area. Too much trouble with deliveries to order New England online from here. SB cannot be ordered online.
Most of my meat items I buy from Costco, especially chuck roasts, ground chuck, whole pork loins, and once in a great while, a whole beef tenderloin and a whole ribeye section. I have a freezer and I'll break down these meats, remove silver skin, and put them in vacuum-sealed bags, which will keep for a long time without freezer burn.
Produce, eggs, milk, dairy, and other types of meat (sandwich stuff) I'll buy at Walmart (if it's fresh, which it is most of the time). Chicken thighs, and whole chickens also at Walmart, along with most canned items.
I make my own chicken broth and once in a while I'll make my own demi glace, which I then pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Sauces made from demi glace are out of this world.
So these are things I do to cut down on food costs, which as others have already mentioned, are ridiculously high.
Produce, eggs, milk, dairy, and other types of meat (sandwich stuff) I'll buy at Walmart (if it's fresh, which it is most of the time). Chicken thighs, and whole chickens also at Walmart, along with most canned items.
I make my own chicken broth and once in a while I'll make my own demi glace, which I then pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Sauces made from demi glace are out of this world.
So these are things I do to cut down on food costs, which as others have already mentioned, are ridiculously high.
Not sure where you shopped. But even at Wholefood, the frozen wild salmon is $29.99 per 2 lbs, farm raised is $24.99 per 2lbs. They came pre-protioned, each 2 lbs bag contains 5-6 pieces. So it's about $5 per piece, denefitely big enough for one meal myself.
I usually put half of it in the freezer. I keep uncooked rice, beans etc in the freezer. I cook the whole bag of potatoes (5 lbs) at once and put them in freezer.
Doste
Member
I have groceries delivered mostly, as I don't drive and live an inconvenient distance from town - there is a Sainsbury's which I could go to by bike, but don't like cycling when it's dark which means there are limited opportunities now that I'm working full time. Groceries would be less expensive if I had the time to have a 'strategy.'
Thinking about it, bus into town and go to Lidl might be a better deal!
Thinking about it, bus into town and go to Lidl might be a better deal!