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Posted on 06/19/2026 6:43:58 AM PDT by CaptainPhilFan
I read this website most days because as a conscientious shopper (prices, health, trends in retail) it's very interesting and sometimes eye opening.
Today's offering confirms what a lot of us are experiencing - higher costs means purchasing fewer items of better quality, and Shrinkflation is pissing us off.
I'm not sure how much I can copy and paste, but here goes. I reformatted for easier reading.
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
Free Traitors and tech bros unending search for cheap labor and pocketing billions.
I think once people actually start to sacrifice, which is a generational change, then we may come to realize that spending on all levels is out of control.
If you shop around and know what you like with regards to quality you can feed your family for a lot less than what everyone is stating. My staples are Trader Joes for some small stuff, Costco for bulk, frozen and non-perishables. “Supermarkets” are a no go as they jack their prices up because they get a lot of WIC and SNAP customers they can rely on.
Catering is usually a bummer unless you can find someone you can trust. The best is to do it yourself. Unfortunately for you that was not an option at the time.
Do you cut the tubes up and freeze them since that is a lot of meat?
No one where I live got the memo. Went to my local Publix today and I couldn’t get a decent parking space it was so busy.
Prices aren’t any higher in what I buy.
Idk where your data is from, but at my husband’s business, hourly pay has gone from $8.00/hour or so 20 years ago, to over double now. Entry level, mostly teen.
Costs have gone up, but sales have trended up more than costs so…
We can hardly keep up with business right now (hiring constantly) and I won’t say more in a public forum other than to say it is an area people do not have to spend, but choose to.
I earn fuel points at a Shell convenience store. I get .05 to .10 cents off a gallon for each purchase using reward points.
They give points for beer and cigarettes and Kroger won’t. And it’s a dime off for every $100 spent.
By the time I’m ready to fill up at the Shell I’ve accumulated over $1.50 off each gallon. Last fill up it was $1.73 off.
I have easy access to a Kroger, Publix, Whole Paycheck, and Sprouts.
A Walmart and Target a little farther.
We buy meat at Publix and Sprouts. Its somewhat more expensive but the quality is twice as good as other stores.
My hubby is a retired Kroger employee so we get an additional 10% off our groceries. And on Friday we get 4X the fuel points on groceries purchased. And I’ve shopped at Kroger my whole life. For a while, as a child, we lived across the street, back in the 50’s.
Sure, minimum wage has been forced higher by law.
Many of us are still living on the same wages we had 20 years ago in different companies.
Any nominal rises in wages have been eaten up by inflation making a net reduction in income.
I am glad your business is doing well.
The wages set by my husband were not a result of any law here, it was our choice.
Sorry things are bad where you are.
I know many people who are using credit and are broke, but continue to spend as if they have disposable income.
The rest of us have stopped splurging beyond the basics and occasional pizza.
Minimum wages have increased by law, giving the law makers more tax money to waste.
The article says people are shopping differently and buying less, not that they’ve stopped going to stores.
Yes. I put 1 pound in 10 zipper bags and smoosh them flat.
Cheeseburger Mess is an often repeated meal. :)
How nice of you. Glad you’re doing well and appreciate your workers.
Wages are stagnant all over the country.
From NY to Mass to Virginia to Ohio and all over. This isn’t just a “me” situation.
The high cost of employer provided health insurance since 2009 and employment taxes are big reasons why.
Wife and I don’t eat much - our meals tend to be small and simple, and higher prices don’t affect us much. We buy basic ingredients mostly at WalMart for the price. We don’t trust WalMart for meat - that comes from 3 different grocery stores in the area, depending on who has what on sale. A new Aldi is being built 2 miles from the house - hope that gives us a better source for produce and meat.
Like I said, I am sorry things are not going well where you are, or the states you mentioned.
Things are not stagnant everywhere. The majority of businesses where we live in GA are paying at least twice minimum wage to start (entry level). Trades are doing exceptionally well here ( 6 figures annually).
I have seen posts from other FReepers that their states are also doing well (Alabama, Texas, Tennessee)
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