Inflation is crazy right now. You can just see it everywhere. In my car mileage sheet the year started 1/7/21 with gas at $2.60/gallon. My recent fill up a week ago was $3.60/gallon. 38% increase in gas in 10 months.
Eggs were $1.79 for an 18 count at target in July 2021 is not $2.49 for the same 18 count. Sugar 4 lb white bag was $1.79 it's not $2.49. Dark brown 2 lbs sugar was $1.59 it's $1.99. Chicken breast and thighs boneless/skinless was $2/lb, but now I'm lucky to find $2.49/lb. Stew meat was $5.49/lb and now it's $7.49/lb. I also think the sizes of things like chips, cleaning stuff have all shrunk an oz or two not easily discernable but it's the same "price" but you get less.
Definitely you get less eating out. I mean 3 bowls of noodle cost us $55. I think the same restaurant last year was maybe $45? This is for takeout. Then on Sunday I had a girl scout troop event of pizza, pumpking carving, etc outside. And I ordered pizza with troop funds. It was $153 for 4 pizzas delivered. Yes it was not dominos/pizza hut and higher end. BUT $40 a pizza? Pizza is supposed to be a cheap meal for people. We had 10 adults and 10 kids. Let's say for our family of 4 we ordered one pizza for $40. Okay I could have saved on tip $20 and delivery $5. But it's pizza. The pizza itself was like $33 plus tax. A large pizza at dominos was $16.99 plus tax and delivery. So I was looking at $100 at a cheaper pizza. Yep dominos still would be $100 to feed a group? Pizza is supposed to be cheap food to feed large groups. Not expensive.
Last year I spent $1000 on groceries and we weren't eating out because of covid, and I felt we ate like kings. Lobster, steak, high quality meats, veggies, etc. I could buy what i wanted for the family for $1000 and it might include alcohol. Now last month I spent $990 and I certainly was not buying as much meat, nor seafood, nor as much fresh veggies. It's crazy.
And certainly from last year I have noticed how expensive eating out has gotten. I felt like before okay a meal out was $60-70 mostly ethnic food takeout. But now it's more like $100 and that's takeout same restaurants and same meals but smaller portions and each dish is couple of bucks more.
Am I going nuts? Is this going on everywhere? Does anyone else feel this? I swear it really started ramping up as the summer ended. I don't think I felt quite this way before. And of course part of it might be that we are living on a new budget, but still I feel like 6 years ago when we lived on the same budget it wasn't so tight. I shopped easily on $600/month groceries very similiarly to my last years $1000/month so there was some inflation and my 5 and 3 year old are now 9 and 11 and eating adult portions (sometimes more than us). But price per pound is substantially more.
I think my family's noticed that I am really not buying takeout and going out to eat is minimal. Now one takeout meal is $100 that going out once a week is costing us $400/month. Before $400/month was like 2x/week eating out.
With gas, clothes, food, everything seemingly more expensive the budget just feels tight. Have you even felt any inflation?
October 19th, 2021 at 09:12 pm 1634677926
October 19th, 2021 at 09:26 pm 1634678797
October 19th, 2021 at 11:14 pm 1634685285
October 19th, 2021 at 11:32 pm 1634686369
There is also disruption in the ag industry - farmers who raise animals for meat and dairy say they aren’t making more money, but consumers are paying more. There is a lot of consolidation and a few large meat processing companies control most of the market. Anti trust price fixing investigations are under way, but that will take a while.
I think restaurants are hurt by fuel and food increases, but also that their business is down and labor costs up.
I think this will work itself out, but those able to modify spending habits will do better than those who don’t pay attention.
October 20th, 2021 at 02:30 am 1634697002
You're not the only one who is seeing this. Its all over the US and in tons of forums and blogs - this may be a collective experience and a rude awakening for a lot of people.
October 20th, 2021 at 05:10 am 1634706647
October 24th, 2021 at 06:57 pm 1635101858
October 28th, 2021 at 07:38 pm 1635449938
Eating out is really hurting. I can feel the pain of eating out when a meal is $100 for a family of 4.