Kitchen politics -- how the economy is affecting the homestead.

[The Backlash Cometh]

Just thought I'd share this with DUers so we can start compiling the REAL economic indicators that bad times are a coming:

(1) We had to decide on our health plans for next year. We went from an insignificant co-pay to $3200 AND a premium increase.

(2) Gas prices are averaging $2.00 a gallon.

(3) A small movie icee is $3.75.

Please feel free to add your own observations.

[wicket]

1. Heating prices are skyrocketing

It's going to be a very rough winter :(

[LiberalEsto]

2. Instead of raising property taxes,

our County Council (Montgomery County, MD) is creating or increasing taxes on cell phones, broadband services, cable tv, movie tickets, and so on. Unlike property taxes, none of these are deductible. They just nibble you to death with these sneaky taxes.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Government also gives themselves a pay raise by increasing

the appraised values of our homes.

[Lindacooks]

3. Food prices are going through the roof

I couldn't believe that bell peppers are $4.99/lb. And even the cheapest cut of meat is more than $3.00/lb.

We routinely spend more than $100/week for two people.

[yellowdogintexas]

6. dried bean time, isn't it?

Well, I am still getting bell peppers for less than than but I live in Texas and they pretty much grow year round in the Valley.

Meat is getting very expensive.

soups, stews, stir fry dishes, anything that makes the meat a condiment not the main thing are helpful.

I watch for the buy one get one free offers at Albertson's and stock up on things like boneless chicken breast, sirloin pork chops and so on. Then I separate into meal sizedportions and freeze.

Also I save my extra cooked pasta and rice in baggies in the freezer and use them to fortify soups and stews.

Leftover plain pasta can be sauteed in sesame oil w/cut up veggies, soy sauce and chili peppers for a lovely quick supper

Ramen soup can be fortified with frozen oriental veggies and extra seasonings for a quick meal.

I would spend a lot less for food in the grocery if I were not hopelessly addicted to Central Market and their wonderful fresh produce and other interesting things, and if I did not love to try new stuff so much. But I can pinch a penny until Lincoln screams if I have to.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. WHOO Key West Shrimp ..$5.99 a pound at Central Market

this week. I bought 2 1 pound bags; it is already flash frozen so I just stick it in my freezer and use it when we want it.

Mostly I got the veg I need to take on Thanksgiving Day, and some things that I can only get at CM.

Shrimp seems expensive @ that price but it is essentially waste free as those little shells don't weigh much.

[troubleinwinter]

8. Yes! I have noticed food prices, and we can afford less...

Last night, as I set dinner in front of husband, he said, "Wow. We're back to Cold War food?"

[troubleinwinter]

9. I have been looking at my families' old Depression Era recipes again.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Maybe we need a forum on this for recipes and other ideas to

save money.

[troubleinwinter]

16. I actually thought "Kitchen Politics" was pretty cool!

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. I think I know just the person to ask to introduce it to Skinner.

Her name is moonbeamstarlight or something like that. She started a thread of thrift ideas.

[leftofthedial]

5. movie icee

how the hell can you afford to go to a movie?

[yellowdogintexas]

7. smuggle in the food!

I am over 55 so I get matinee rates all day.

We don't go often to the movies, but it is something my daughter and I like to do together on her day off.

I do miss the dollar cinemas that we once had around here.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. I remember going into the theater with .35

and that bought my 25 cent ticket, 5 cents for popcorn or candy bar and 5 cents for a soda. I lived on a military base, so maybe the prices were low for a reason.

I didn't buy the movie icee. Actually, I had smuggled a water bottle from the vendors outside the movie, but when I saw the Icee, I got a craving until I found out how much it cost.

My husband bought the popcorn AND a water bottle IN the theater! I didn't say anything because hubby works very hard.

[yellowdogintexas]

18. I remember going to the movies on the army base, back

in the late '50's in Germany. I lived w/my uncle and aunt over there for 6 months at Baumholder.

That place was a blast, especially for someone who grew up in the middle of a farm with no neighbor kids to run with.

My husband is a Marine brat and he often waxes sentimental about his life growing up at Camp LeJeune NC.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. The military bases really understood how important it was to

build communities. We may have been somewhat segregated, but each little community had a clubhouse, movie theater, baseball & soccer fields, bowling alleys, post office. The movie theater was my favorite, especially when they had the cartoon festivals over the summer. Except for one time when there was a chinese plum fight and I turned around in the dark just in time to get one smack in the eye. Stung like hell, but I wouldn't go home because I wanted to see the cartoons. I got astigmatism in that eye later one in life. Don't know if it was related.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. I guess we're well-off.

:o

My husband and I go to a movie every 4 to 6 months. So, we get shocked at something new every time.

[BamaGirl]

13. Milk is

$4 a gallon

Our pension contribution went down a whole 1.5% and in exchange my husband has to work 5 more years for 10% less when he collects. That 1.5% is our cost of living raise for the last FOUR years too.

Our water, utility, and property tax rates all went up this year.

I don't even look at beef anymore. Two weeks ago a 3 lb roast was over $12. Way too rich for my blood. (Any chicken on the bone is still reasonable and pork is hit and miss. Thank God for friends who hunt ;)) All food seems to have taken a huge jump in price.

[demigoddess]

14. my daughter's medicine, thyroid replacement went up 50%

and this is an old widely used medicine. I read years ago that it was the cheapest medicine on the market and it just went up 50% , I was shocked. I would hate to see what they are charging for new medicines.

[BamaGirl]

15. A LOT! Our premiums and co-pays went up.

And much as I bitch about $35 co-pays, I'm sure glad I have them. My daughter has two different inhalers and some other prescriptions that average $100/apiece.

[genieroze]

20. My natural gas bill is going up

Everything is going up, except pay. Now Bush want's to get rid of middle class deductions and give people who have money to make money by not working for it a free ride. He want's to penalize employers who do provide health insurance by taking away their deduction for doing so. Golly Gee Wiz eveything is just peachy or peachie(sp?)keen!

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. The health insurance is the first hit we've taken which has awaken

me to what is coming down the pike. It was like getting a 3200 decrease in the salary. And now Bush is going to penalize employers for even providing it. I really think that we have all been hurt by Bush because he never was a common man.