Inflation...not JUST Texas...everywhere! (house, ideas, to buy, phone)

[kittytoes2006]

I went to our local Wal-Mart last night to buy groceries and I actually became really scared for the first time in a LONG time because of the prices. The prices are just outrageous for common everyday things and the cheapest pack of pork chops I could find were over $12.00. How in the world can this keep going on? The prices are climbing faster and the paychecks do not get any bigger. Some people are just oblivious to it and it doesn't seem to bother them in the least. Christmas shopping they say is up 8% this year compared to last at this same time. Where is this money coming from? Are people overextending themselves on credit purchases. How can ANYTHING be so important and "cheap" that it would cause a person to get out of bed and be at the stores at 4:00 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving? People are buying on credit and paying MORE for the items claimed to be on-sale, by paying interest on these things they are buying on credit. It makes NO sense to me. Our household, while we do have some credit cards, pays cash for everything unless it's an emergency. If we don't have the money we simply do not buy it. My home and little half acre is paid for, my car is paid for and my husband and I both have relatively good paying jobs, however, we are having to update our budget because of the higher prices in gasoline and everyday things, such as groceries.

Watch this video clip of a mall crowd in Mesquite last week, one of the many places in America who opened at 4:00 a.m. to tempt the shoppers. And don't forget to read the article that goes along WITH the video. I feel this fella is right. An elderly lady I was talking to at Wal-Mart last night was telling me how different it will be THIS time when a depression hits compared to back in the 1920s and 30s. One comment she made to me was, "We had gardens back then and raised our own food, people don't have gardens anymore...where do they think the food will come from"? She gave an example of when an ice storm is predicted in the area we live in (East Texas)...the grocery shelves are empty from the panic people feel when they possibly will not be able to get to the store. What are these people going to do when another "depression" hits? Are they the kind that was jumping from the tall buildings on Wall Street back on October 29, 1929, when the "Depression" hit? I think they will be that type of person. The only difference now is....we've got taller buildings and more of them.

Paul Proctor -- Is This Really Thanksgiving?

[tstone]

Well I guess it's all gloom and doom until Billary saves us all!



I realize prices are going up but that's life. As the economy constantly changes you do what you can do offset it, like:

Cancel Netflix,
drop premium cable/movie channels,
drop internet service to the most basic broadband,
train your errands,
stop eating out,
find the GOOD generic brands for consumables
don't use the car's AC compressor in the fall/winter
check your car's tire pressure every 2 weeks or when the weather changes
install a thermostat & program it to Energy Star guidelines.

and finally...

find a job that gives you that ''fair'' raise.

Meanwhile, it's pretty safe to say most all of us sitting here at our computers, in our heated rooms with our cups of Starbucks are still doing fine!

[kittytoes2006]

Not gloom and doom here...REALITY! Something most of Americans today do not want to hear or think about. As I said, my husband and I have good paying jobs, but the inflation has caused us to change many of our ways, unlike a lot of society. Thank goodness, I work from home and do not have to pay for gas and my company I work for pays all but $10.00 of my internet charge each month. And as far as:

Cancel Netflix, DONE
drop premium cable/movie channels, NEVER HAD THEM TO BEGIN WITH
drop internet service to the most basic broadband, COMPANY PAYS THIS
train your errands, DONE
stop eating out, RARELY EAT OUT EXCEPT SPECIAL OCCASIONS
find the GOOD generic brands for consumables DONE
don't use the car's AC compressor in the fall/winter DONE
check your car's tire pressure every 2 weeks or when the weather changes DO THIS
install a thermostat & program it to Energy Star guidelines. DONE

and finally...

find a job that gives you that ''fair'' raise. UP FOR A RAISE IN FEBRUARY


I've never been to Starbucks in my life! There is a little "chill" in my room right now, but ahhhhh, that's what sweaters are for...RIGHT? Hee Hee Have a good day...I did enjoy your post.

[tstone]

Well it's good to hear someone does all that stuff. The problem is, when you already pinch every dollar you possibly can, you feel the sting even worse than someone who doesn't!

[kittytoes2006]

Originally Posted by tstone

Well it's good to hear someone does all that stuff. The problem is, when you already pinch every dollar you possibly can, you feel the sting even worse than someone who doesn't!

SO SO VERY TRUE TSTONE!!!

[Lakewooder]

I had Depression-raised parents so I certainly know how to live cheaply. In fact I can take pride in that (it has allowed me to avoid the Joneses trap and I am able to retire at any time) -- but I think kitty is right - most have no clue, how can they possibly cope if we should have another disaster such as the '29 crash?

[teatime]

Kitty,
I hear you! I am disabled and my only income is Social Security Disability. I have cut every "luxury" out of my budget and have done OK but the increasing prices of food and gas are hurting.

I have Internet through a little local company that provides a high-speed signal via a tower for only $14.95 per month. (It's called Xanadoo and, as far as I know, it's just in West Texas but if it does come to other areas, know that it's a really good bargain!) Internet isn't a "luxury" for me -- I fill out online surveys for a little extra cash so it pays for itself. Also, since I am homebound much of the time, it keeps me in contact with the outside world. This and my basic Directv are my only entertainment. I can't often afford to go to the movies and I'm not well enough to go anywhere for more than two hours very often.

Starbucks? Please. Fixed income or not, that's a huge ripoff and the number of calories in their fancy drinks is absolutely alarming. I buy coffee beans in bulk at Sam's Club and grind my own. It's inexpensive and fresh.

I got rid of my phone service in favor of VOIP (voice over Internet phone). Admittedly, it's not the greatest sound quality sometimes but it's only $12.99 per month and it does the job. I have a pay-as-you-go cellphone for emergencies. I only have to spend $15 in 3 months to keep it active.

Not only do I do everything on the list suggested by tstone, but I DO grow my own vegetables. I had my son cultivate a small garden for me and it's produced tomatoes, peppers and herbs. It was such a success, I'm going to have him cultivate a larger garden for me next year and include lettuce, zucchini, eggplant and other produce.

I have slowly replaced all of my lightbulbs to the energy-efficient spiral ones and I have made sure my home has ample caulking around the windows and weather-stripping in the doors. I keep the AC set on 78 and the heat on 67 -- 65 at night. I have an Energy Star, front-loading washing machine and, except for winter, hang out my clothes on a line to dry. WHAT MORE CAN ONE DO?!

Milk is now over $4 per gallon in most stores. Eggs have gone from 80 cents per dozen to $1.85. A pound of ground chuck is now about $2.45 -- I've switched to ground turkey or, at least, mix ground beef and ground turkey to get more out of it. I'm also eating more fish, buying the big bags of frozen whiting for $5. Potatoes remain cheap and versatile, too. I buy all of my pantry staples at Save-A-Lot when I can get my son or someone to do the bagging and carrying for me. There are VERY few, almost no brand names in my cupboards or fridge.

I guess folks with quite a bit of disposable income aren't noticing as I haven't heard much of an outcry. And, as y'all pointed out, I don't understand this Christmas shopping frenzy. Look out if folks are over-extending themselves on credit!

As for me, I'm shopping on Ebay and at locally owned shops. I already told my son and other family that I am focusing on quality, sentimental gifts and not on gadgets and a bunch of plastic crap made in China. I just purchased a BEAUTIFUL English Staffordshire teapot for my son's girlfriend (I won it for $12.50!) and I will be shopping the local antiques/second-hand stores for Air Force and music memorabilia for my son. I already found him a Royal Air Force beret with insignias on Ebay! It's sooo unique and he's going to love it! I'll be baking scones and putting them in dollar store Christmas tins for neighbors and friends.

There is something so much more satisfying about all of this than hitting the big box stores, which I abhor anyway.

[kittytoes2006]

There is something so much more satisfying about all of this than hitting the big box stores, which I abhor anyway.[/quote]

I agree with you in everything you said. Oh how I abhor shopping at the big stores, too. Actually anywhere. It's like volunteering to get robbed. My husband thinks I'm not "normal". Every woman he's ever known has been a shopaholic. I do what I HAVE to do WHEN I have to and NEVER EVER just to kill time.

I'm like you as far as Christmas presents go this year as well. It's going to be slim. Everybody is old enough to understand why and if they aren't...well, it's time they grow up then. The ONLY person I am concerned about is my husband's daughter by his first marriage. She just turned 18 and is very materialistic and my husband is always under pressure by his ex-wife to provide ANYTHING his daughter wants. She's a beautiful and intelligent young lady, but she has no sense when it comes to money or common sense. I told him just last night that HE was going to go this year and find that perfect gift for her. My ideas are exhausted. As for the others, my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson...well, we've all agreed to make it a special occasion by being together and making the grandson's Christmas by giving him a new tackle box and lures, etc. I asked my son which he would rather have, an inheritance or a big expensive Christmas present. His reply was (and I am not lying), "Where did you say that living will was of yours mom"? He was just kidding of course. He's a great kid.