I surfed across some old grocery store ads from my youth.
Imagine if you could grocery shop at the prices you paid as a young adult. Compared to the same items you buy right now.

Its weird...a potato hasn't really changed much over the years but they have increased in cost.

Check out some of these prices...WOW















Compare with today's ads

Ohhh hell my pantry would never be low if we could get stuff at prices when I was younger....

Cost has all went up due to labor and prices to get the food on the shelves...

I remember my ma coming home with a car-full of groceries and complaining that it cost "over twenty dollars". I bought a sack of food the other day and it cost me almost forty.

Produce does change from year to year, depending on weather.

Prices have gone up this year while my income hasn't really gone up by much. Not nearly enough to compensate.
A number of things went up by 40 cents in one go.
That after everything already being more expensive in the 2nd half of 2021 when I noticed my average shopping round had gotten E10 - E15 more expensive.
Now the 2022 price raise on top of that...

I'm on fixed income too.
SSI made a big deal out of the 2022 adjustment for cost of living.
Thing is, that adjustment doesn't even come close to off-setting the actual inflation.

Its not just food either...everything is way up.
If I could still work it might be a different situation but I can't earn any extra income because I can't hold a job anymore.

Plus, since I did have a good career all my life, I made too much money on SSI to qualify for any programs.

I was looking for deals for groceries when I came across those ads and it made me remember back when food prices were still reasonable. Which, wasn't really that long ago.

Even utility prices are going up at a steep rate.
Its like the US economy went crazy. Everyone wants to blame Covid. Its not Covid, its Greed.

Store shelves are empty now. The aisles are full of employees filling orders with huge carts full of baskets. Every grocery store has rows of 'pick-up' parking and they are always full. The stores 'look' like they are going out of business.

I'm a dinosaur heading for extinction. The only difference is the fact I can see that extinction coming.

I don't follow politics, it makes me angry.
One thing I have noticed is the fact since Biden, the economy is out of control. There is definitely a connection.

Thing is, this is not going to get better. Cost of living is not going to decrease. This game of life we play isn't getting better.
"How about a nice game of Tic-Tac-Toe"~Wargames
Concept being; Humans complicate things that don't need to be complicated.
I managed to afford to get my GF an outfit and a figurine for Valentine's Day. I had to rob Peter to pay Paul to do it tho. I guess I don't 'really' need to eat everyday anyway.

No empty shelves here. We only had partly empty shelves where bog roll was supposed to be when the pandemic began. That lasted for some 4 days, then there was plenty of stock and nothing got empty at all anymore. (I still don't get the obsession with bog roll btw)
Also in that beginning I saw an elderly lady with so many groceries as if she was expecting to hide in a bomb shelter for the rest of her life, haha. She couldn't even carry 1/4 of the amount of stuff and she was alone. I guess she was panicking.

Utility prices went up here too, but I have a fixed contract -thank goodness- until July next year so for now no difference for me.
But yeah, everything is going up, from food to gas (heating & cooking) to petrol.

And like you say, the why eludes me too. I very much doubt it's pandemic related at all.
What I've noticed is that they -whomever 'they' are- create a panic and then fees sky-rocket. Like with gas last year, creating a panic that there's a shortage and that as a result the price goes up. Total BS. There is no shortage. There COULD be if Germany & Russia have an issue as our gas has to come from Russia through Germany. But as far as I know that didn't happen and I read there was still plenty of stock for household use. The only gas that could become problematic was that for industrial use.

Oh well... I must say this is the first time since I'm on benefit that my income didn't rise at least sort of accordingly. You always lose out but this time the gap is much bigger.

As for politics, funny you should say that. I got the exact same problem: it angers me. I don't follow it either, mostly for that reason. Now if they could have a respectful debate like adults, but instead they knock each other, belittle other politicians etc. It's totally ridiculous and infuriating. If our kids behaved that way we'd tell them off and teach them it's not right. Yet, when the people that are in the charge of running our countries behave and act that way it's okay?

the same bread that cost me a buck Twentynine last year, now costs 3 bucks. the burger meal that was 5 bucks is now 9..
it is what it is.
I was raised to compare prices and volume, to find the best deals.
I also buy meats on shelf pull date mark down. and freeze it. you can often get it for half price this way.
and if you ever paid over 100 bucks in a fancy restaurant for an aged stake thats what this is.
I never thought I would see a day, where hamburger cost the same or more per pound then a steak.

I believe anybody mindful of the money they spend does some comparative shopping.
The problem is what there is to compare when everything is price bloated. Yes, even the 'close to sell by date' meats.

There's a cost plus store in my town.
2 years ago, it was a great place to save money because you could find low prices on name brand items with only a 10 % 'plus' at the checkout.
NOW, the off-brand generic items are listed at near name brand and the 10% 'plus' sends the final cost over what Walmart and the name brand grocery list for their name brand items. But, people think they are getting a deal because the list is slightly (pennies) cheaper than other store's name brand listings.

You go to the dollar stores and the prices for smaller quantities of off-brand items cost the same as normal quantities at the cost plus off-brand items. Which in turn actually cost more than the name brand items at branded stores or discount stores like target or walmart.

I remember the days of black & white stores and yellow box stores. Thing is, you can still find yellow box items which now cost just as much as off-brand items. There's no distinction anymore.

It makes absolutely no sense to buy lower quality to try to save a few pennies over name brand.
I now bite the bullet and buy the better quality items, at least I get better quality food for my money.

What good is a steak that tastes like its sat out on the counter too long?
What good is milk that lasts less than its sell by date and tastes terrible. What good is a can of green beans that has half a can of stems and defects? Fruit that spoils in one day, canned fruit that tastes like tin can?

Yes you can save money by shopping ads with off brand deals but 10 years ago you could save money while still buying quality food.

Makes me think of the meat in the movie Soylent Green!

you would be surprised by how many people actually dont know how to shop for food. or even cook basic meals.

but yes I agree prices are expanding fast as fast as
basic incomes..
2 years ago the average starting wage was aboun 9 bucks an hour, for flipping burgers and stocking shelves, now it is 13-15 bucks an hour locally.
how ever SSI is still well below that because it is based on the national wage (or about 8 bucks an hour and often less). and the amount paid in by the individual over time.. so people on fixed incomes get hit the hardest.

I can see that if you bought a green steak or let it start to turn green.
but they are not allowed to sell them that way for human consumption.

but as I said, if you ever have eaten in a black tie steak house like a ruths crisp. you would pay well north of a hundred bucks for a properly aged steak.

thats what your buying from grocery stores. because they have to clear them by the fresh date expires.
once frozen they are good to store until needed
I dont even thaw them out freezer to grill or pan. season the top and the moisture sucks it in as it cooks
flip it and do the other side the same. cover and wait till its ready to plate, let it rest for a few. then serve with a salid and baked tater.
nice, tender and juicey. for less then 10 bucks.