One Hundred Dollars

[LuckyCharms]

I used to do the grocery shopping. My wife took over that responsibility, for two reasons:

1) She loves going grocery shopping

and...

2) I'm apparently too stupid to buy the right stuff (this is a fact).

When I used to grocery shop, I NEVER paid attention to the price of anything. I just put the items into the cart and checked out with my credit card. Done. Easy.

Now, I do indeed the do the shopping for anything we buy online, but that is usually only one or two items at a time. I'll notice the recent price increases, cringe, buy it, and move on.

When my wife comes home from grocery shopping now, we'll put the groceries away and I take the receipt, and record it on a spreadsheet that I maintain. The total amount is freaking ridiculous for two people, but I just silently say "Jesus Fucking Christ" to myself, record the receipt on the spreadsheet, and move on.

Yesterday, all of this hit me a bit differently:

I went out and did some shopping. Here's what I bought:

Two 40 pound bags of water softener salt
One small 25 pound bag of ice melt
One small 12 pound bag of dogfood

I came home and recorded the receipts.

One Hundred United States Dollars in total.

$100. For basically nothing.

We're feeling this impact badly here in this house, and I don't know how people are making it out there.

No kids here to feed, just us. How are larger families doing it?

[IA8IT]

1. Unsupervised for 10 yrs.....last trip 5lbs @ $4.99 turkey breast!!! yikes!!!

3 bottles of domestic wine were just over $50.00 add a $4.00 tiny head of cauliflower and that's tonight's dinner and leftovers meals later.

Thanksgiving grocery shopping told my friend I didn't want my receipt or her to tell me the amount.

Today's shock Jan.2025 log splitter $999.00 today exacts same model $1599.00

[LuckyCharms]

2. I was looking at Bosch and Makita power tools yesterday at a big box store...

Saw the prices and walked away in disgust.

[EverHopeful]

3. The honey I use (or, I should say, used to use)

was $6.99 last month. Last week it was $12.49. Found a similar raw, organic honey for $7.99 so guess I'll use that until it has a similar price jump.

[Marthe48]

4. I don't know how anyone is coping

I buy very little processed food. Because of the economic disaster, I buy very little of anything. I have time and skill so if I want something to eat, I can make it. I still have an incredible amount of items we'd buy at yard sales, and the stuff we accumulated over the years, such as tools. I'm planning to brush off my foraging skills, and gather edible wild plants. Euell Gibbons was sure a voice in the wilderness.

When I go to the grocery store, I don't see smiles or hear any joy. It's become a grim outing that is doomed to end in failure for many people.

[LuckyCharms]

5. That's what my wife mentioned the last time she went...

"Everyone looked miserable. It was depressing".

[Rizen]

6. Before president rapist got in I spent around $260...

For two weeks worth of groceries at Trader Joe's. Now it's more like $310-340.

[LuckyCharms]

7. How many people are in your household, Rizen?