[November 2010]

Groceries are up 15% since 2007. Saw the stat yesterday. Gold has gone from $300 to $1350. Gas is headed up again towards that $3 range. Health insurance is definitely up. My electric bills are higher than they used to be by a big amount.

[Red in Blue PA]

Hate to say this as I am currently unemployed, but the only way to exact dramatic change is to starve the beast. Refrain from all spending (thus taxes) and buy only what is needed, and when on sale.

[Uncle Ike]

” Groceries are up 15% since 2007. “

That must be a Government statistic - in 2007, on my weekly shopping trips, I could get out of WalMart (so shoot me...) for about $30.. (Single man, living alone..)

Last Saturday, my checkout bill was $42, which is substantially more than a 15% increase over essentially the same ‘shopping basket’ - way more, since I didn’t buy meat (except 2/$1 hot dogs and cheap bologna) or ‘junk food’ (chips/sodas)....

My eating habits haven’t changed (except being priced-out of buying meat on a regular basis), so price increases account for jut about all of it....

YMMV, of course.... ;)