Affording groceries during times of rapid price increases
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During the past two years alone, the price of some household staples such as bread, milk, and eggs have increased in price by as much as 69%*, while the median household income has only increased 1%*. In this video, I discuss these increases and offer tips to help your family cope with the rapidly increasing cost of groceries.
As I’ve found myself watching Youtube far more than I do television, I am going to start expanding my youtube channel, so please be sure and visit me on youtube by clicking here and be sure and click the red “subscribe” button!
References for this video:
- Soaring Food Prices: Compare Cost Increases
- Food Prices Soar as Incomes Stand Still
- Milk Prices Could Go up 60 Cents a Gallon
- Rice: The Ultimate Budget Extender
- Money Saving Tip: Rethink Bulk
- Come Home to Supper
“American families have always shown remarkable resiliency, or flexible adjustment to natural, economic, and social challenges. Their strengths resemble the elasticity of a spider web, a gull’s skillful flow with the wind, the regenerating power of perennial grasses, the cooperation of an ant colony, and the persistence of a stream carving canyon rocks. These are not the strengths of fixed monuments but living organisms. This resilience is not measured by wealth, muscle or efficiency but by creativity, unity, and hope. Cultivating these family strengths is critical to a thriving human community.”~Ben Silliman
Having been through some lean times, I found these tips helped:
Making stews, soups, and casseroles using less meat and more potatoes, rice, and noodles to stretch them. Reuse those leftovers! We use leftover chicken or beef, etc in a different dish the next night (hash with meat, diced potatoes and onions, salt, and lots of pepper is a favorite.). Plan your meals and make a list, then buy only that at the grocery- no waste. Don’t overlook eggs as a good meal protein. Even with rising costs, they are still cheaper than meat.
Great tips Kathy!!
I have always bought groceries as frugally as I can, but it is becoming a challenge even for me. I regret buying more and more starchy items and less meat and fresh produce as I firmly believe we need these things to be healthy. I predict that future generations are going to have increased health problems because of the diets we are feeding the children. It is not a criticism of parenting as most are doing the best they can with the budget constraints. I just hate to see the multiple packs of fatty hot dogs, mac and cheese boxes, bologna, cheap frozen pizzas, etc. that land in the shopping carts. So many do not know how to fix cheaper dishes and make better selections. A big box of oatmeal as opposed to little convenience envelopes or dry cereal at $4.00 a box as an example. Cooking dry beans, making soups from leftovers, more casserole dishes are all options . Too often people select pasta mixes and frozen entrees as a far greater price than the raw materials. I know parents who have to limit milk intake for their children and it is just a sad stae of affairs.
Things are definitely very different these days!
As if I could love you any more, now you’re making great videos!
Just a few months ago, we were spending $50/week on groceries (there’s only 2 of us), and now we’re spending $80! It’s crazy. I can’t wait until it warms up so we can start the garden back up.
As for a money saving tip that I could offer…definitely going meat-free helps a lot. Don’t be afraid to try ethnic recipes that rely on lentils or beans for protein–you just might find a new food you love! Whenever we eat out, we bring half home and enjoy it again. It helps take the sting off of it.
Cornmeal is cheap, so polenta and grits are our staples.
I recently found out that Costco is much more expensive than Sams, so I will be switching. Costco has good deals on name brand, slightly higher end stuff…I don’t need name brand, so I’ll be switching to Sams.
Use dinner leftovers for lunch the next day. I think deli meat and pre-sliced cheese is outrageous. Plus, a hot lunch is always better.
Thanks for these great tips. I’m off to find some coupons.
Blessings,
Christina
Thank you for sharing your great tips Christina!!!
A dream to have servants ? Who does that?
It was a joke. I was chatting and said that to point out how silly it was that I had just stated “I shop for all of our groceries” because of course I do.
A sense of humor is absolutely required if you’re gonna read SouthernPlate 🙂
You need a like button. 🙂
Yes, it is quite hard to eat a good diet when one has only $25 a week to spend on food. I live on a very limited income but God has always seen that I have what I need, not always what i want but what i need! I too use the crokpot a lot, it does wonders.
My daughter is the Queen of Thrift. Her hubby is the King of Frugaland. She follows all the suggestions I’ve seen here plus one more. She bargains with managers. To do that, she makes sure she knows what on sale and for much at the store’s competitors. Then, she asks to speak with the manager and shows her list.
“I’d prefer to do my shopping here. I’m a regular customer, feeding a family of five. Will you match or beat their prices on these items?” If they hesitate, she courteously lets them know she will go elsewhere, if need be. This doesn’t apply to groceries only, by the way. I don’t think any have ever refused to at least match the competitors. Sometimes she has coupons that are one or two days outdated. Yes, you guessed. Usually, they honor the coupons.
Look for slightly irregular products, a little dent, a chip, etc., and ask for a discount. (With canned food, make sure they’re still sealed and not bulging. Check expiration dates. (Sometimes stores overlook that little detail.) Point that out for a potential discount. Milk doesn’t suddenly sour on the exp. date nor does meat suddenly sprout salmonella. Bakery items can be freshened with a few minutes in the oven, also. They probably won’t let you have such items the day after they’ve expired, fearing a lawsuit.
Oops! Did you fry too much bacon? Slip it into a bag, and keep it in the freezer until the next time you cook beans, make an omelet or quiche, or toss a salad. Have onions sprouting greens? Dice and freeze. Same for bell peppers.
Okay, I’ve nearly written a blog entry here. Great video, Christy. Thanks.
Write on!
When I find onions that have sprouted, I plant them in pots (let the tops stick out above the soil), put them in a window and let the green parts grow. Then I have fresh green onions all the time.
Love it Sharon!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you so much for your tips! I love that Zoe is part of your family and you are such a down to earth person! What would we do without our furry friends!!! You are such a down-to-earth person and appreciate your “real life” tips and recipes!