Rising prices - Wow!

StarSong

StarSong

Awkward is my Superpower
Location
Los Angeles Suburbs
While out yesterday with DD's (DD=Darling Daughter) family, DH & I treated for dinner at a fun but casual hot-dog eatery. 6 people.

DH & I each had an Impossible Food bratwurst - the others had beef hot dogs. All had cool toppings. We table-shared four side orders: french fries, tater tots, reuben-style tater tots and cole slaw. 3 beers - about 12 oz per, 1 soda, and 2 (free) waters. Food was delish, but it was an eye-popping $166 out the door. $27+/per person for hot dogs and fries?

Sure they were "fancy." Some had a slice of avocado, or BBQ sauce and grilled onions or some melted cheddar, maybe a few sprigs of arugula, a couple of basil leaves, or a couple of slices of bacon, but still... WHOA!!!

More lesson-learned than complaint: It would have cost me an hour's work and maybe $40 to make everything at home, plus there would be leftovers.

Is anyone else increasingly shocked by the steadily rising prices of groceries, dining out, car washes, streaming services, insurance, utilities, auto repairs, subscriptions, etc., etc.?
 

Last edited:
Went to Ikea with son yesterday. Gr-D wanted to eat lunch at the food spot there. I just wanted a small salad, it came in a custard cup size ..
well cup not bowl for $5.00. It was maybe 10 bites of food for a normal eater. Ridiculous and not made fresh either had been sitting covered
in plastic wrap. Never again!
 

StarSong said:
While out yesterday with DD's (DD=Darling Daughter) family, DH & I Bought dinner at a fun but casual hot-dog eatery. 6 people.

DH & I each had an Impossible Food bratwurst - the others had beef hot dogs. All had cool toppings. We table-shared four side orders: french fries, tater tots, reuben-style tater tots and cole slaw. 3 beers - about 12 oz per, 1 soda, and 2 (free) waters. Food was delish, but it was an eye-popping $166 out the door. $27+/per person for hot dogs and fries?

Sure they were "fancy." Some had a slice of avocado, or BBQ sauce and grilled onions or some melted cheddar, maybe a few sprigs of arugula, a couple of basil leaves, or a couple of slices of bacon, but still... WHOA!!!

More lesson-learned than complaint: It would have cost me an hour's work and maybe $40 to make everything at home, plus there would be leftovers.

Is anyone else increasingly shocked by the steadily rising prices of groceries, dining out, car washes, streaming services, insurance, utilities, auto repairs, subscriptions, etc., etc.?
Click to expand...
OMG I literally, jumped out of my chair when I saw that Price.... for 6 hot dogs and 3 beers essentially ?... Unbelievable... :eek::eek:
 
StarSong said:
Is anyone else increasingly shocked by the steadily rising prices of groceries, dining out, car washes, streaming services, insurance, utilities, auto repairs, subscriptions, etc., etc.?
Click to expand...
As for going out to eat, I wonder how long it will be before people finally say "no more," or will they go no matter what? The last time I ate out with my Sunday group of friends, a taco salad and glass of water was over $20. The music was so loud we could hardly visit.

Yesterday, they were going to another sit down restaurant where the minimum price for any meal is $25-$30. I did not go. I went through a Braum's drive thru and picked up a cheeseburger, fries, and drink for $8.97, which I consider a good value.

The main reason I go out to eat with friends on Sundays is for the social aspect, but if I go every Sunday and the tab averages $20-$30 / week, that's 4.3 X $25 = $107.50 / month, or $1290 / year. I would like to go with them when they choose a fast food place, otherwise, no.
 
I think that as retirees we are more sensitive to rising prices.

In my case, I have been unemployed for just over twenty years and my retirement income is still substantially below my salary of twenty years ago.

If I had stayed in the workforce and had nominal pay raises of 3% per year my income would be approximately 60% higher and more inline with today’s higher prices.

Inflation and time have always been the enemy of retired folks.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I’m shocked but at the same time numb to it.

I buy what I want/need to be comfortable and enjoy what’s left of my life.

My heirs may be the ones that are truly shocked when they find out how little is left. 😉🤭😂
Click to expand...

I feel the same. I rarely buy anything except for food. So I buy what I want. Within reason.
I have no heirs. When I croak everything goes to a scholarship fund.
 
I have told my friends and my children I will no longer be going out to eat. While I may enjoy a few bites of the food I just don't feel I get the value I should be getting for the prices charged, plus I don't enjoy the way much of the food is prepared, too much spice.
 
C50 said:
I have told my friends and my children I will no longer be going out to eat. While I may enjoy a few bites of the food I just don't feel I get the value I should be getting for the prices charged, plus I don't enjoy the way much of the food is prepared, too much spice.
Click to expand...
this is happening here.. everywhere seems to be adding spice to absolutely everything...chocolate, and ice cream even.... and it's really difficult even in the supermarket to buy ready prepared foods that haven't had chilli added to them....

I can't eat spices.. especially chilli's so it's very frustrating to find food in restaurants so spiced up....
 
Rae said:
Prices too high here for eating out but we do at times. Food isn't as good either. I do like Subway sandwiches but they are getting high and with tax, they are over $8.00 for a 6" sandwich.
Click to expand...
I hate Subway above all sandwich places... I can only imagine US Subway is much better than the British version... I can't imagine anywhere else would be worse...
 
Pepper said:
Eggs here can't be bought for under $6. I'm furious, @StarSong. I wish everyone in the stores would start SCREAMING at this Rip Off. I've sworn off buying eggs. Won't pay that price.
Click to expand...
Eggs here in Huntsville are just over $2 per dozen, @Pepper . That is for regular eggs at Walmart, if you buy local eggs from someone who has chickens, they probably are closer to the $6 per dozen, but not at the grocery store.
Fuel is between $2-$3 per gallon, depending on where you buy it. Some of the prices for coffee seem to be going down, but overall, grocery prices are still high, especially meat prices.

We seldom go out to eat, but I think those prices are high, too.
 
MultiGrain Cheerios at my store this week: 9 oz: $2.97 and large family size 20 oz: $4.93
Eggs are $2.34 and have been that for many weeks now. Before that they were $2.57 for a few months.
80% ground beef: $6.93 and is also going down slowly from half a year ago.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
Some of the prices for coffee seem to be going down, but overall, grocery prices are still high, especially meat prices.
Click to expand...
Coffee prices are through the roof here. Nearly double what they were 5 years ago.

When occasionally browsing a meat counter out of curiosity, I'm sure glad I only buy it over the holidays and it's limited to about 5 lbs of pounds of sausage for Christmas's sausage, peppers & onions, plus pepperoni and pastrami for pizzas. Tofu has remained reasonable priced at about $1.25 per 16 oz brick.
C50 said:
I have told my friends and my children I will no longer be going out to eat. While I may enjoy a few bites of the food I just don't feel I get the value I should be getting for the prices charged
Click to expand...
That's how I felt yesterday. Yes, I'm fortunate that buying these things isn't a financial stretch (especially since we still work some), but the tab was a shocker given that it was a hot dog, french fry and beer meal. As the child of Depression era parents, I'm keenly aware of whether or not I'm getting reasonable value for my money.
 
StarSong said:
Coffee prices are through the roof here. Nearly double what they were 5 years ago.
Click to expand...
Here, too. The kind I get used to be around $9 for the size of container I buy. Now it's $15. I hate switching to a cheapie (most likely bitter) brand, but I'm not paying fifteen bucks for a container of coffee... it's the principle of the matter for me.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top