It’s almost painful to go to the grocery store today, not just because the prices for everything are so high, but also because seeing the stress amid the working-class shopping is palpable. Unfortunately, while we may have a momentary plateau on current pricing, there’s a strong possibility another wave of higher prices is yet to come.
At the core of the issue are energy prices which continue to rise. The immediate cycle of energy price hikes, a direct consequence of political policy, has lessened somewhat and we are now in that slow tick upward as the pressure on oil, gas, heating and electricity prices continues.
Michael Burry, famous for his predictions in/around the U.S. housing market, is noticing the same thing as CTH. “Inflation peaked. But it is not the last peak of this cycle,” he said. “We are likely to see CPI lower, possibly negative in 2H 2023, and the US in recession by any definition. Fed will cut and government will stimulate. And we will have another inflation spike. It’s not hard.”
Peak demand side inflation is long in the rearview mirror, but the peak of supply side inflation is questionable at best – I would say it’s a plateau, not a peak.
The price of goods, including industrialized and processed raw materials from China are going to increase again – and simultaneously become less consistent in availability. This is going to make prices extremely volatile in 2023.
Essentially, everything around price is tenuous as the western economies absorb the full impact of this Build Back Better energy policy, and into this foray comes China with production and processing challenges as a result of COVID bubbles being removed. We are seeing this problem right now in the pharmaceutical industry and with ordinary medicines becoming scarcer on store shelves.
With the macro economy showing a consumer collapse in spending on goods, the economy will contract again. However, the prices of essential products continue to sustain upward pressure. What does this look like in real terms? Less income amid the workforce and consistently higher prices. We need to be as prepared for this scenario as humanly possible.
Many people have written with sincere appreciation for the CTH forecasts delivered in the fall of 2021. I am thankful to have been of benefit to those who could take proactive measures to avoid the economic issues we faced in 2022. However, I am worried now.
I am worried because the downside to this economic contraction is going to hit the already tenuous and barely surviving middle class the worst. There’s only so much a person/family can do to offset rising energy costs. I listen to this woman’s voice, and it crushes me because I know and feel that pain (Twitter video):
https://twitter.com/WallStreetSilv/status/1609912402446794752
I know just about every reader on these pages can relate to how financial fear can eat you from the inside. The life game of trying to figure out how to get from one week to the next, keep a roof over your head and keep the kids/grandkids safe and fed is fraught with trepidation. I get it. Believe me, I get it…. But you just gotta keep going; whatever it takes.
2023 is going to be rough for many working families and people on fixed incomes.
This is why I was saying for 2023 we need to focus at home; build that bunker safe and secure.
Then look to help/assist the neighbors, then the community, etc. But start by being proactive at home and do not isolate. Fear, worry, trepidation, foreboding etc, is worse when internalized. Do not swallow it – reach out to a loving God, pray, release it, and then embrace the central purpose in life, fellowship.
This too shall pass.
I was in Winco,Id Sat 12/31/22 and looked at egg prices, 7.50 a dozen.
They manufactured another fake virus to blame that on. bird flu
Plugs was no help!
In walmart in Crossville TN eggs $7.50 doz. We are in trouble. PRAY
$5.50 for Jumbos at Price Chopper here in Upstate NY.
Real question is, how much more are Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans these days?
dried pinto beans are still cheap – kinda like a manual transmission – most don’t know what to with them. Beans, taters and cornbread will stretch $$$ and free gas as a byproduct.
Buy chick peas in cans and do not throw the water away. That water can be used as an egg substitute — an egg substitute that can be beaten into meringue consistency and made into delicious treats.
Chick pea water is called Aqaufaba. It is a relatively new term for something a chef discovered a few years back that has great potential.
Vegan Chocolate Mousse
1/2 cup aquafaba
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate melted
3 tsp powdered sugar
Whisk aquafaba to stiff peaks (@ 4 minutes)
Add powdered sugar and whip until you reach a stiff glossy consistency
Gently fold in chocolate
Enjoy immediately or will last in frig for up to 3 days.
$3.85 dozen at The Dollar General in upstate rural NY.
I bought eggs for $3.85 a dozen at a Dollar General in upstate New York on January 1. They have not had any since. All my life, there HAS NEVER BEEN a “shortage” of eggs. And day old chicks start laying eggs in 5 months; I know because I raised them. We are being lied to. I also saw video of chicken farms mysteriously catching fire and burning. The evil is getting very large in this nation.
The hen that laid the golden egg.
Saw a country sign this morning, $5.00 on a rural road.
This weekend my husband and I built a chicken coop and next weekend we’ll fence in and roof a yard for them. I’m going to try to start with 4 hens.
Lots of great chicken resources on YT, especially regarding how to save $$ on chicken feed by mixing your own.
Find a corn farmer. At harvest there is a lot of extra on the ground that can be gleaned after harvest. Most farmers will be more than happy to let you gather what you want for a few fresh eggs and a dressed hen. It will be whole corn. It is easy enough to crack the kernels for hens.
If you ask real nice, they might let you pick before harvest. They are going to get about $12 or so for each 100 pounds. Just make sure you offer more value than that.
cow herds usually get turned out on those corn fields just before winter , so not so sure farmers will just let you go gather the corn for chickens.
We are going to raise chickens also but weigh out the cost of layer feed in your area. Homegrown eggs cost a lot for a reason.
At least you are allowed to have chickens.
Yes, I have a friend that has hens. It’s not as easy as you think.
In fact nothing associated with producing your own food is easy.
In short plan to fail many times.
This farmer’s daughter gives witness to your statement. Nothing easy about it at all.
tomatoes are my claim to gardening fame. Planted 30 plants past summer and got over 500lbs for season. I buy from old time fruit stands that sell plants by the tray and I’ll mix up enough trays to get the flat discount, normally 12 trays of 4, sometime 3, for $15-20. Seeds are expensive and small plants grow fast when set free.
Dollar Tree does 4 packs of seed for $1
Yes but it’s very difficult to manage a balanced diet and enough calories.
This year our apples failed, just one grocery bag, the year before 10. Still eating apple sauce from that year now.
Tomatoes were very good from the hotter than normal weather. Used the last jar a month ago.
Plus my cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage have so far survived. I would love to discover if we could get any early spring crop.
The bugs always take most of them out in the late spring.
Growing your own food is tough, just like shrimpen, from Forest Gump.
And now you know why people bowed their heads and thanked the Lord at every meal.
If you have a large enough property you can grow some things especially for them. Almost 20 years ago while living in southern CA, I had 14 chickens. They eventually got themselves banished from the fenced backyard due to their destructiveness & managing to get into areas where people food was growing…
So, I would go around the yard & clip from here & there alternating what I was harvesting from. Was growing rye in one area to keep down the weeds (I had read about its alleopathic properties). Leaves from the grape vines, buckwheat etc, etc. They always got so excited when they saw me on the way with their goodies in the bucket (I used the same one all the time), they especially liked the rye clippings tossing them around before inhaling them. So funny!
I would take the excess dozens of eggs to a neighborhood store with seeds, pullets, plants, pots, etc & either trade or sell them to the owner. Eventually he asked me what was I doing with my chickens. I replied making them happy & alternating their diet & offerings to keep down the feed bill. Well, he said it was working because everyone else’s chickens had stopped laying eggs & mine hadn’t even started molting yet.
Let them in your garden after the harvest. They will pick every stray bug and seed clean, turn the soil and fertilize it for next year.
Remember: Our fore fathers did not go to the feed store to feed their birds ALL YEAR. There are plants called chickweed for a reason.
Have the husband bury some corrugated metal under the outside perimeter. Those dadgum vermin will dig to get at those hens and eggs.
Hardware cloth works, too, if you have it (expensive). I saw where a critter dug down to the hardware cloth at my coop and apparently gave up, so I was glad I was able to install it two years ago.
Yes! Bury it and turn it outward a foot or so. Then put flat stones over it to help keep it secure and thwart the critters even more.
What a great tip!!
damn weasels, fox, coons, skunks!
Everything loves chicken.
A lovely person in our area from our towns facebook group is offering and a look see at her setup. Not sure if you belong to a group like that but there are also homesteading groups. Lots of people willing to share their knowledge. Hope it goes well, I’m in Texas too:) My canning group also waterglass eggs. I have not tried that yet but never say never these days.
Have a few gallon jars full of waterglassed eggs. Opened one jar after a couple months to see what they’re like and they were fine. When spring hits we will have to eat our store of waterglass eggs and start fresh again — God willing.
We have frozen eggs and powdered eggs, and now are storing egg substitutes.
This is all just a big guessing game, trying to plan for the unknown. If we get to the point where we start gnawing on ourselves, I’ve learned what plants in our area are safe to eat, when they are best to harvest, what they look like, and continue to add to my book of information we will need if the internet is no longer available.
After being without phone and internet for almost a week during the last big storm, I told my husband I am going to buy an old set of Encyclopedias, just to look stuff up the old fashioned way.
Check out this link. It’s a great resource for raising chickens, along with many other things a family can do with a little know-how and some energy.
We both were born and raised on big family farms. We’ve always been self-sufficient. Even now that we are in our 70’s we can at least hunt, fish and I know how to make ends meet by cooking from scratch.
We no longer have a big garden but I do grow my herbs and perennials and have know how to pick and choose what is the best for us to get by on.
When you are determined to survive and succeed; you find the way.
https://www.grit.com/
Grit is a great magazine that we’ve subscribed to for years.
Good luck! I live in a quiet neighborhood of mostly retired. It’s a mid 50s sub that was high end for its time and the lots are large. Some young folks moved in and started with some chicken coops. Did well so they got a couple of roosters. Wore out their welcome with most neighbors, I’m an old farm boy who is deaf in one ear and can’t hear out of the other so no dirty looks from me, lol
I actually like the sound of roosters crowing.
It makes me happy when I hear it. (!)
See if you have any local farmers selling them. My pork guy has them for $6/ dozen. Save the eggs for eating and use applesauce or Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer or whatever substitute you find for baking. Added bonus for those concerned about eating raw eggs is you now have edible cookie dough.
LOL!
SE PA here and we’re getting ours from the local farm for $4.00/dozen, large brown. I told him a year ago he should raise his prices when the “store” was charging $4.50 for white and he was selling for $3!
Also told him if he ever needed protection from the “herd” when the SHTF that me and some friends got his “20”.
He smiled.
Count you Blessings, bro,
My wife said I was crazy to think it would ever become a $1 per egg in early 2020.
She doesn’t think I’m crazy anymore.
I’m just glad I started to prepare over 10 years ago.
Still working at it. I have things on the list for this year.
My Dad always told us to buy the eggs, even if they were $5/dozen. That was way back when I was a kid growing up on a farm in the 50’s – late 60’s.
Why?
Because he said: ” you can’t beat the nutrition and protein needed for a large family; it’s a good substantial meal.”
It’s true today, except my Dad planted acres of grains, took it to the mill and fed his stock, along with flour for Mom’s bread, etc. WE made butter, buttermilk, sour cream,…it was sooo good; homemade noodles….you name it!
I thought we were poor. We ate better back then we do today! We even had fresh oysters, smelt, eel, blue gills, trout, bass bullheads, frogs legs, squirrels, raccoon, woodchuck, venison, bear, elk, and many others I cannot recall but we ate all kinds of game and butchered every Fall….we had it all and we were healthy, not fat, and loved life.
We laughed and loved everyday, even though we had are share of hard feelings, arguments and didn’t appreciate what was really important. But we knew we had a family of 6 girls and 1 boy. We knew a heiffer from a bull, we knew a sheep from a goat from a pig, we knew what a stud horse was, we knew what work horse was, we knew what a goat was and knew how to kill rats and too many barn cats!!!
Enjoy your life now and make it work through these tough times ahead, because it’s going to get much worse.
I do not believe that the Mother Weffers will win when all is said and done. I do believe that hard times come around to make us stronger and separate the wheat from the chaff.
We are on the other side of the mountain and look at life and current times differently than many today.
Now I understand and appreciate my Mom and Dad more as they lived their lives.
But isn’t that what life is all about?
Abigail….”Mother Weffers”?
I do believe you have been listening to Uncle Clif.
“Hello Humans, hello humans.”
BaWaHaHaHaHaHaHa!
Indeed I listened a bit but I’ve slacked off for a liddle while; which is a good thing.
Loved the term “MotherWeffers”; he’s a clever liddle SOC member!
Love every minute of the war game.
Loved that post! You have a way with words and know how to write. Hat tip.
Do you remember the taste of real meat? Good grain in it, and flavor? Nowadays its all injected with broth, salts and flavorings. It don’t taste right
We raised hogs at the dairy fed a diet of out of date milk, whey from cottage cheese and ear corn. We had hog killin’ days in which all of the farm hands would help and they would each get roughly a dressed hog per family. That pork was far better than anything you can buy in a store.
Why yes I do!
And do you remember the yellow fat on a good hunk of meat and any poultry?
I remember when VENISON, had FAT!!! Because the farmers cultivated and grew field corn for just that purpose.
I hate the poultry today! All Poultry!!!
Why?
Because, when we are served up with “organic grass-fed this and organic grass-fed that”.. Do you know what you are getting?
The same damn piece of meat/poultry that your Dad would hunt for and they were feeding on nothing but leftovers in a field; not good corn, wheat, millet, etc…barley,..but the corn made the the fat yellow and very sweet, savory and nutritious. Game …it is game..and not well-fed and cared for grain fed.
I hated buying meat in super-market, as soon as I saw, (with my own 2 eyes), WHITE FAT!!!!!
That is comparable to venison fat…and my Mom cooked it down for my Dad…but it’s awful tasting because it is from everything ‘green-beanie’ thing leftover in the earth that no other animal would eat willingly.
I love stories like this.
Keep in mind that those who fought for and founded this nation had a very similar experience.
They also wanted to get back to home and away from the corrosion of warfare and politics.
When PDJT entered the ring I felt this same feeling in my bones.
My father-in-law always repeated the same thing at every large family gathering.
He’d say, ‘When I was a kid we’d put bacon grease on our toast and we liked it — it was a treat to get.’
I watched as his adult children rolled their eyes at what their dad had said, and throughout the years my husband and I have repeated those words too, making a joke out of them.
Last month, after having saved all our bacon fat for over a year in preparation for the great shortage to come, we realized that one day soon we may be saying those same words — and being thankful for the bacon fat we have.
I remember when bread was ten cents a loaf. An old timer told me someday I’d be paying a dollar a loaf. I got a big laugh out of that. Now I’m the old timer and I’m NOT laughing….
My guess it’s still the same price in silver?
Three months ago Walmart was selling a 60 pack of eggs for 8.50. Today it is 19.65
Count your blessings…the large and the small. All of them.
Do it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Even the smallest.
I count this site as a blessing. Where we can all gather in this sheltering Tree for camaraderie, sharing, helping, support of one another…and be extremely grateful for our wonderful “landlords” who give us a place to unload.
This, too, shall pass.
Blessings to all.
Right now it’s most important that people turn back to God for it’s easier to be with God, than to be without God and really be lost. Count your Blessings and share with others for we are running the race of life and the goal is eternal salvation.
I always think that for those who want to deepen their faith, or for those who are lost but are trying to find their way back yet don’t know where to start, counting blessings is a very good place to begin. Even if all around is darkness. Especially if that is the case.
And if it seems there are none, start by thanking Him for those blessings to come. It may be very hard when one is overwhelmed. But start here…
Waking up in the morning is a blessing. There’s the first. Others will follow, probably when they are least expected. 🙏
Amen
my sister has a sampler pillow – What if all you have today is what you thanked God for yesterday
That’s extremely thought provoking. Another to add…
The blessing of His inestimable love in the redemption of the world through His Son, Jesus Christ.
I think that one may be the best one to start with, fragemall.
What… you think I’m a newbie?
No…I know you are anything but…
Let them eat cake launched a terrible revolution. It will get that bad here and worse. The only question is how far are you willing to go in order to survive?
How far?
All the way in defense of family and self.
Against starving neighbors? Look at what is being done, these people will watch as we kill one another for food or shelter as they implement their plans. They truly have no purpose here on this earth, none. Our government and those attached would not be missed. Long ago we lost our way, trading away common sense for security which is nothing more than control.
Australia has implemented a public program to rat out your “covid infected” neighbors.
How far away are we from this administration implementing a similar program regarding food. Food hoarding (being prepared) will be considered to be a crime.
Strange times ahead.
It’s a decision made ahead of time.
Defense not offense, there is a significant difference. I believe that I have a right to life and that my family does also.
They have already modified the DNA in you and your children with poisons, but now working to get it into the mammals we eat. There are people who consider those actions “drawing first blood”. There is a tsunami of fentanyl flowing thru the streets of America due largely to the Biden/Obama cabal opening the border to invasion by aliens, drugs, criminals, and other undesirables. They have been getting away with everything else, so why would they NOT increase the misery?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8877136/
I’m old but I’m feisty, can still pull my weight. I’m secure in my salvation, God wont backslide on me and I’m not afraid to cross the Rainbow Bridge, got a lot of friends waiting on me. Guess I’ll do what needs to be done.
Treepers are an important community. Maybe the admin could be a contact for those in dire need and then Sundance can let us know of the need and those who can spare something can help. This way personal info stays private.
We can get through this together.
I am the recipient of your wise counsel, Sundance. I live in Central IN and I encourage everyone to find your local farmers. Find them who supply the meat to the LOCAL market. They supply local restaurants. Ask your favorite local, hole in the wall restaurants where they source their meat. Then, find eggs and milk. The milk is going to be a hard one, but cans of evaporated milk can work in a pinch. Not as pleasant as the luxurious organic, but will do. I have a trusted vegetable farmer and my prayers are with the farmers as they try to produce lacking much needed fertilizer. Maybe they switch to organic, but then you have sourcing, transportation, and dispersing. God bless our farmers and may God protect their land.
and I need that t-shirt!
Me too🤣
https://www.teeshirtpalace.com/products/inb9897478-ive-never-been-fondled-by-donald-trump-but-t-shirt?color=blue&size=L&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnsqdBhCGARIsAAyjYjSV2l7yu72TzXw4QzUAcFE40SJsMwRrCcgkx1GR2ZaBoMl94gV2e84aAhbDEALw_wcB
Most FL farmers use ONLY ILLEGAL LABOR, and send them to the local emergency rooms, bankrupting the hospitals.
So no. I won’t support ALL farmers.
Today Oregon’s new paid family leave law (full pay for 12 weeks) goes into effect for all sorts of things, including identical coverage for illegal aliens (they call them undocumented). Beginning immediately, every pay check will have an additional 1% of the gross pay taken out to establish funding for this. They don’t expect they will have obtained enough cash to start paying it out until September. I trust it will not go well when people figured out what has been done.
Watch out you could start seeing bus loads as Texas does more to share the burden an open border has caused
Kind of makes me laugh, Sharon. Like they are going to siphon off that extra 1% and it not go by the wayside as our social security has!
Florida is full blown hooked on illegal labor, every which way.
but, but,but you have the best Guvner eva! /Sarc off
The Democrats who live on the rivers in FL love their cheap slave labor
Ever wonder why that is? Try getting American’s to do what the illegal’s do. If you live in rural agricultural America you know the answer.
Americans won’t do it because they don’t pay enough. Ask yourself why the bosses make loads and the workers near minimum wage. Cut off welfare and lots of Americans will take those jobs.
True and factual statement
Would I ever support illegal anything???? Use your sensibilities folks and no, none of my sources use illegal labor. They’re patriots.
not cutting my nose to spite my face. Give me some red ripe Immokolee tomatoes and some sweet corn out of South Bay and I’m a happy man.
JWoo, My inflation-fighting plan is to move to your neighborhood from southern California in a couple months. I figure to cut my living expenses by roughly $1,500 a month.
I have a decent Retirement income but California has eaten all of it and then some. It’s a no frills existence for many people here. Financial cushions are gone and there’s no margin for error. So, you can’t afford to get sick or repair your car.
My wife and I are looking forward to escaping the blue-state blues.
We chose Indiana because we wanted a red state with four seasons. We have Indiana roots, so Indiana here we come. Looking forward to meeting Hoosier Treepers.
Indiana is a great state for settling, but beware. We have nefarious “covert” politicians here. We gotta be something “special” if we produce Pences (Rx2), Young (R), Klain (D), and Butt-i-butt (D). We are full of surprises here. But your dollar will go farther and you will be able to spread out on your land here.
However, please don’t bring Californication here. I lived in S, C, and N CA… so I can say that. The natives might even be a little hostile to your Cali roots. We are not as friendly as Texas… but friendliness can be found. Don’t do urban cities… at all… here. You will find them liberal and about 20 years behind what you are used to.
Indiana seems to be one of the places the west coast is aiming at. My brother and his partner are heading there too. When they went recently they bought a house in Ft. Wayne and never got tired of telling everyone that everything in Indiana is FREE compared to Seattle. I wish them luck but they will never change and will be the type that keep voting democrat.
I know of two couples that moved to NE/NC FL..my one neighbor lasted 18 months, the other three years. Back to the Pacific NW!
Not to worry, I’m bringing two reliably red votes to Indiana!!!
The only thing California about my wife and I is our address. Grew up in the midwest. Went to college in Indiana.
For the past 5 years Sundance has been featuring my video reports on the Russia Hoax, Clinton server crimes and a lot more.
My reports on the trucker convoy from California to DC. included 2 reports in Indiana. Interviewed quite a few Hoosier patriots on the interstate overpasses. A friendly bunch!!!
We’ll get along just fine. Can’t wait to get there!
We’ll get along fine. I’ve lived in s Indiana since 1955, was 4 when we moved up from Kentucky. One of the best kept secrets is s Indiana. Stay away from Bloomington but Indiana side of Louisville, Evansville or anywhere between is great but you get 30 or 40 miles n of Ohio River and you often get snow while we get rain. 68 degrees here today. In my 68 years here I’ve walked on a frozen Ohio river twice, 1978 and 90s? and seen a 24″ snow.
Louisville used to be something special, big city w/small town feel but 30 years of liberals have turned downtown into Loserville, a genuine s***hole but fortunately there is little reason to go there. Kentucky is a great state but the voters get suckered by McConnell senate and Hal Rogers, been there 40 some years longest serving house member, left a 2 bedroom Somerset Apt back in 70s to go to DC and has been feeding at the trough ever since to this day.
Real estate has been on fire but high % has stopped it. Good stuff for sale, homestead tax fixed at 1% your west coast $ will go a long way so come on over.
I lived in Clarksville, IN and worked at Channel 3 news, WAVE-TV, in Louisville back in the early 70s.
We’re looking to live in the northern or western suburbs of Indianapolis or “Naptown” as my old college gang called it back in the day.
Recently watched a documentary about people who make a choice to live in the Antarctic through the dark winter months.
They had plenty of food to eat, but the one thing most of those people wanted when they went home again was fresh milk.
Not organic fresh, but just out of a carton, from the grocery store milk.
These days I eat slower, wanting to remember the taste, texture and delight of the food, knowing it could be the last time I eat it.
Groceries are more expensive, but eating out is worse. We went to Moe’s today for lunch — family of four cost $60!!! That’s crazy. I’ve also noticed restaurants are not as populated as they once were. Granted, there’s the delivery services, but the delivery alone can be more expensive than the food! Will restaurants survive 2023?
Gave up restaurants a year ago. Can’t get take out Chinese or pizza for 3 for under $50. I know it’s a 1st world problem but we like to order in maybe every 3 months.
Same. I now make my own pizza for about $3.00 and I feel sorry for the restaurants that I am no longer patronizing.
The last time we got Italian takeout from the local family based eatery, it was $60 including tip but no cannoli because they are up to $5 each the last time I looked. I’m not sure what they are now because they no longer put their prices on their website.
??
C’mon! You can get a decent pizza from Little Caesars that will feed 4 for only 11 or 12 bucks. It’s takeout so there isn’t even a tip.
Of course, if you’re so uppity that your pizza has to be handmade by Italian elves it does get a little more expensive.
Little Caesars is still a deal.
LOL.
Some people don’t live by or close to a Little Caesars.
We live in the country and the closest tiny town has two pizzerias. Each has more than doubled their prices in the past two years.
Uppity has nothing to do with it.
Choose where you go based on which restaurants you really want to survive until we get through this, no matter how long it takes. It’s what I did in 2008 and what I’m doing now.
Joey don’t need no stinkin restaurants. He has his own taxpayer supplied food, chefs, and waitstaff.
staff is taxpayer supplied…..LEGITIMATELY his daily food consumption is a REIMBURSABLE charge……only government sponsored functions like a State Dinner are paid for by taxpayers…….now Slo Joe is a grifter from decades back so no bets he is paying his own freight but legally he SHOULD be
I hadn’t “eaten out” for three years or so, and last week a dear friend whose husband recently died contacted me, hoping we could resume our former pattern at a local eatery. $15 + tip was the cheapest thing available. Next time I will invite her over for a bowl of home made soup and fresh bread from my oven. I don’t “miss” eating out and certainly cannot pay those prices. I actually gave an exorbitant ($5) tip because I know the wait staff for any surviving restaurant has lost income.
My wife went for lunch with a friend at Cracker Barrel. 2 vegetable plates : $40. Server had to ask the manager before they could get an extra honey packet…….
They want all restaurants shutdown. They see them as places of huge food waste
Eating has always been a social thing for me anyway. Should work out just fine!
Spent $18 for a burger, fries and a coke at Five Guys last week. That won’t happen again.
Five Guys came to S. Indiana about 10-12 years ago and left shortly thereafter, now the braintrust at 5G thought it was a good idea to open a new store right across the street from Culvers, bet it won’t be here for the next New Years party. Culvers was always good but they have stepped up their game thanks to the 5G challenge
Took my daughter for fasting bloodwork the other day and afterwards got breakfast at McDonalds. Two egg mcmuffin value meals (egg mcmuffin, hash brown, coffee) was $17. Ridiculous. Next time, we’ll make the same at home.
Not sure where you are, but $60 for 4 for lunch sounds cheap. We are a family of 5, the bill is usually over $100 in Central Cali!
not where we are, it’s where you are
Used to love Moe Mondays
Due to special circumstances, we ordered Chinese yesterday for 4 people for delivery. $57 + $5 tip and the food was mediocre at best. Never again.
You can hear the pain in this poor lady’s voice. Damn these politicians and bureaucrats. We don’t deserve this rotten treatment
Product downsizing has been creeping along for two years and continues.
Recipes call for 16oz of something but the packaging is all 11 to 15oz.
Best Foods (Hellmans) Mayonnaise is now 30 oz instead of 32 oz, owned now by China!
Ice cream containers went from 1/2 gallon (64 oz) to 3 pints (48 oz) during the wonderful Obama years of 2009 -2017. (Though arguably Obama years returned in January 2021). Point is product downsizing has been happening for a while. I think cigarettes are about the only product that hasn’t cut quantities. Still 20 to a pack.
Absolutely: stocked up yesterday on my Ricola lozenges. Half number of lozenges for twice the price. Literally.
Shrinkflation.
FJB
I almost fell over when I went to buy Kaukauna cheese balls for crackers for the holidays. They are half size of the previous year. That is just one grocery store example of package downsizing.
What used to be kroger 16 oz pasta is now 12 oz. Box is the same, except for change in label fine print. And a box of it costs more.
Cheerios box was so thin it only had one side
“Look at that planet there” said one space alien to a second, “It looks like it was once a great place and then Joe Biden was there”.
There is no greater inflation than the cost to this country for this Christmas goose.
Aren’t the guards armed !?
Yeah, but this is the ultimate “stimulus package”.
What’s the message with the hands on the butts?
Its all fake and gay
More or less how I envisioned it.
Is that for real?
Not the hand on the butt but symbolic of whats really going on.
Operation “Grab-Ass”
Haha!
“Covering each Other’s Butts”
should be the title of this photoshop.
MASS Psychosis, you are the 👌best…
US industry, education, everything became impotent because of identity class quotas.
Many exploited opportunities for short-term profit at the expense of long-term US society.
A nation cannot continue consuming more than it produces indefinitely.
The game is up. The elites manipulate now for a “managed decline” leaving them on top as always.
At what point does the population realise its been screwed? Most “normies” really do believe the government is a beyond intentionally inflicting pain on them and that the media is generally reporting the truth. We know the uniparty is doing this to us. We know the media is ideologically aligned with the WEF BBB agenda which is behind the rising prices. We know the IC is doing all it can to silence dissent. When does the the dam finally burst? When do the normies see what’s being done to us all?
Not for a while.
Look at how they voted. Ballot fraud, sure. But, not all of it. Their demographic has to be ground into dust before they change their outlook. Plus, that government teat is strong among the parasite class.
“that government teat is strong among the parasite class.”
I keep thinking of the full grocery carts left at the check-outs and near riots a few years ago when grocery stores in California (I believe mainly Wal-Mart) had trouble with WIC cards.
Not much will change until that segment is hit.
The Powers That Be say that when we have nothing we will be happy, but of course at that point they will have everything.
They will fail.
God Bless Sundance 🙌🏼
Being “good” takes on a whole new meaning now.
It’s gonna rough for almost everyone.
Getting good with God will certainly help those that aren’t and for those of us that are… Hang On! It’s not gonna be pretty to watch.
Help anyone and everyone that you are able to help. And never forget that everyone’s mental state including mine is going to struggle with watching and dealing with those responsible for what is happening to our fellow Americans.
Love thy neighbor even if you despise them as God wants us to do.
Pray continuously for your enemies and never forget that YES God is Good All the Time 🙌🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼
Love You All ❤️🇺🇸❤️
We’ve Got This 🫵🏼
Love n Prayers
Steven
With hail, drought, bugs or rust, frost many areas of the plains have a bad wheat crop.
With super high diesel, the harvestors raise their prices and some wheat won’t get harvested.
(lots of russia and ukraine fields are 18 bu per acre. In fact not only do they raise a lot for export, they have incredible millions of acres that not only don’t do well, the areas over the years don’t have good enough crops for good incomes and good roads)
So years ago in H.S., a farmer saw a low yield, before a deadline, I could go swath the wheat, bale it, which is much much better than straw for feed and the farmer would take a crop insurance check.
The price for harvesting was $10 $10 and 10
Ten dollars an acre. 10 cents a bushel over 10 bushels an acre. 10 cents a bushel to haul
This year expect $40 dollars an acre on up for harvest Plus hauling and more using a cart.
Good advice as always.
It doesn’t hurt to have a plan to go mobile; have more than one exit and more than one refuge.
Eggs in one basket?
Snellville, Ga: Kroger® Extra Large White Eggs = $4.39/ dozen.
Georgia is big on poultry.
Large white eggs 2 dozen for $4.00 at Food Lion in central North Carolina.
How old were they?
People who are having trouble making ends meet should just take up art.
Even the most mediocre paintings are now fetching between $75,000 and $500,000 apiece.
I’m a cattle futures person myself , easy money
That’s a good idea. How about taking up rap. Big profits and you can actually get in cheap. A 5 gallon bucket would be great for the percussion and lyrics written in the cell block come naturally.
For all those on SS, we just got almost 300$ more a month. Breathing room for a few months at least.
My increase is already over 50% less than claimed because of fixed expenses that started increasing last September. Additional increases (14% for natural gas; 7% for electricity) go into effect with this month’s usage.
I have not tried to figure the % increase for food. “…all those on SS…” certainly did NOT get “almost 300$ more a month.” There is ZERO BREATHING ROOM with the increase because the increases that are represented by inflation have been draining our resources FOR WELL OVER A YEAR ALREADY.
Don’t be so easy to fool. Please.
No, the increase is real. It’s just that expenses have gone up more. Commenting on a fact is not being fooled.
Believing that the real increase provides breathing room does not make the breathing room factual for everyone. Sorry I was so clumsy in how I expressed that.
The breathing room is already exhausted for most.
I’m very glad for you that your situation is good!
Yes. That’ll cover about half of the $600 more per month it now costs to live the same way we did in 2020 and before.
Apparently math is still hard. It appears that far too many are far too pleased at this partial–very partial–offset to the massive increases in living costs.
Inflation is at least 25%. Most standard purchases I make are between 50-75% more, and none of them are fancy pants unnecessary stuff.
Armstrong Economics AI system Socrates calculates inflation at 32% for 2022!
FTA: Our Independent Inflation model has calculated that the combined rate for everything from food to transportation came in at 32% for 2022. That is a far cry from the official number. This is simply calculated by Socrates from an unbiased perspective. Thank you, COVID & the Russian Sanctions. What a new wonderful world the Biden Administration has created.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/armstrongeconomics101/economics/2022-inflation-is-final-32-for-the-year/
You too. I started a garden, and eat more greenery from my garden, and in general am healthier than before. I grow microgreens in my kitchen. I eat meat only 3 days a week, if that, so I buy grass fed organically raised. I practice intermittent fasting so I only eat 2 meals a day. I take no meds; I walk a lot; I take supplements.
I pay $164 a month now for Medicare, down from $172.
It’s the only thing that has decreased in cost lately.
I moved to Florida 4 years ago so I enjoy balmy weather 11 months of the year and my electricity and heating costs are low. Of course any savings there are eaten up by high insurance premiums.
I say a prayer of gratitude every day for my family, friends, community, and the future of our children and grandchildren. We are all going to need it.
Most got 8.7% more in their SS funds. $300 increase was probably for a couple. Mine came to $109 more, thanks to family my fixed expenses are low & I am thankful for that, it will allow me to create a little nest egg!
You may get $300 but not everybody does.
It depends on what your Social Security income was last year what your increase is.
But I live in Florida and everybody in Florida who owns property is going to have a property insurance rate increase. It will probably eat up whatever increase I will receive. Gas is up $.20 a gallon from last week. I haven’t been to the grocery store in a few days but I’m sure it’s going to be more expensive than it was last week. And that’s only the first week of the year. Florida power and light is meeting today to discuss increasing our rates for energy. I’m sure the rates are not going to stay the same. There is no effective increase. Just a head fake for a minute.
“Inflation watch, and reader feedback”
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2023/01/inflation-watch-and-reader-feedback.html
Includes some receipt comparisons
N0T Without the gass !
That looks like the gas chamber in Wyoming. NO AMNESTY
“ This too shall pass” is one of my go to sayings.
For some this present cycle may be somewhat of a good thing.
While I am well aware the significant rise in grocery prices.
The current price spiral may encourage some to cut back on the grazing and recreational eating, and shed a few pounds.
Let say for the sake of a discussion prices rise 20%, eat 20% less.
I do not mean to be mean, or insensitive and appreciate seniors, and young families have different food needs.
We make our own bread and scones, soup too.
Two different neighbours ( friends too.) were just given a little of the above.
The total cost was very, very little. We have soup enough left for a very large family.
Just a thought.
Cheers!
I just made a large batch of chicken and dumplings with 2 day old fried chicken. Food for 2 days easy, and quite good.
Cheers!
“This too shall pass”. I heard that a lot from parents and grandparents while growing up.
But….so will a large kidney stone….and not without excruciating pain…
I detest that saying.
It was usually uttered (in my farming subculture of eastern Montana in the 1940s-50s) by people who were completely helpless to do a single thing about the latest really bad thing that happened to their neighbor or friend (or themselves) so the hoped for hypnosis of saying “this too shall pass” was brought out.
Instead of being able to help or relieve suffering or even acknowledge the depth of pain , they said, “This too shall pass.”
I paid our electric bill and cellphone bill, yesterday.
$569.00
AUFKM-(are you fuking kidding me)
What on earth are so many people going to do?
https://endtimeheadlines.org/2023/01/20-million-american-households-are-behind-an-average-788-on-their-utility-bills-tsunami-of-shutoffs-coming/
“What on earth are so many people going to do?”
Live (as long as they can) without electricity or phones.
Beware… FPL is running a nice little extortion campaign. Suddenly they’re demanding 2 months deposit on existing several years old accounts . Which is weird for those who pay their bills every single month, never shut off, no notices of, etc.
Turns out they’re now “randomly” looking for accounts who may have paid late in the past 6 mo. And by “late” we are talking literally within DAYS of. We should also ignore that Hurricane Ian (Sept) falls into that 6 month window. You know, when many of their customers had NO POWER, or internet for that matter. Must be trying to recoup some of those lo$$es. Or perhaps getting ahead of the incoming crash. 🙄
I don’t know if it’s available to you… but we use Tello.com for our cell phones. We have unlimited service and it is $30 per month per phone – we have two.
They use T-Mobile towers, so it was also a little bit of revenge on my part when I, as a 25+ year T-Mobile customer, told them to go screw themselves because terrorists could go buy burner phones by T-Mobile at Walmart for less than I was paying as a long-term customer.
Their customer service department couldn’t argue, so now I perch on their lines as a Tello customer for 1/3 the cost. Burn! Tello’s customer service sounds American and doesn’t sound like it is off-shored, either.
Word to the wise, though… buy your own unlocked phone from Amazon (my new A53 was around $300) or bring your phone from another carrier. You can check on the website to see if they are compatible. Don’t buy phones from Tello. I got two and found they were new but severely outdated and therefore not eligible for the updates from Samsung.
You really should cut back on those phones calls. s/
People feel inflation but the question remains how many are giving Joey a pass because “he has no control” ?
Crushing the middle class is the raison d’etre of this administration and its comrades. God help us all. (18 eggs $7.99 here.)
I read a quote I have to share. It is by Marcus Cicero I believe. “Politicians are not born. They are excreted.” This comes to my mind as I see what hardships they have created and continue to produce for the general public. We must overcome and hold them accountable
The people running the country are not serious people. Most have little to no experience or accomplishments. Things will have to get much worse to purge the grifting useless politicians and other parasites. I emailed both of my R Senators after they voted for the latest 1.7 trillion-dollar omnibus and they both said look at we got for our state.
The only question is can the system survive the hard times that are inevitable.
I was born in the 1950s and feel fortunate to have lived through some of the best times this country has ever seen.
My son is raising his son with full custody. Ex-wife moved across country and contributes nothing.
A few months ago I could tell the cost of rent, groceries, utilities, childcare and gas was getting pretty bad for him he is a site mgr for a landscaping company.
Myself and his 4 siblings who are also at future risk got together and are helping him with childcare and expenses. That is the only way I see to get through this.
Before Covid and during the Trump Presidency, he actually got a raise and the company was doing great. Now, his boss just told everyone no bonuses or raises in forseeable future. The cost of diesel for the trucks and equipment has not helped. It happened so fast.
So, families must come together and not only pray but act also.
You and your family are doing the right thing by helping out where you can. I’m sure your son appreciates all the help.
As difficult as it is for many to swallow, multi-generational households are a bastion for the middle class and working poor. Most families have been sucked away from the security therein by stupid media presentations.
We are stronger when we work together.
I think this is going to become more and more popular.
I Believe that the Business are take a vantage people for hire inflation,
that is really wrong,
Don’t forget, Joe and his Ho’s dined on ~$99/lb Maine lobsters, flown in at your expense just a few weeks back.
it was over $200/lb and this AFTER Slo Joe refused to protect the Maine fishermen from Canadian encroachment OR raise their quotas
Oh yes, all to save those Right Whales from being entangled in fishing lines and the like.
But when it comes to the harmful infra-sound created by offshore wind turbines that they want built… Crickets.
Not like they don’t know that certain frequencies can be disruptive to whales and doubly so if they are loud enough. How many of those lawsuits involved Eco groups suing the U.S. Navy in particular?
Sometime before Christmas I noticed the 18-pack of large eggs was over $7.00. I almost cried. Not because I couldn’t afford it, but because I knew many people would not be able to. Including our kids who are raising our grandchildren. It didn’t even seem real. I told my husband and he didn’t believe me. Then I saw the price of a dozen eggs go up by $2 in just a couple of weeks. That isn’t normal.
It just makes me incredibly sad because I know what it means for our country. I can manage with fewer eggs. I can’t manage with this wonderful country in decline. But I won’t give up. I thank God daily that at least I can help my children.
Dumb American who vote for socialism Democrat they should be hold accountable
hire inflation,
while there are ofc some who support this madness what I find hard to believe is how many people still believe the general populace are the ones that CHOSE this…..should we call you RIP……have you been asleep the last 4 years or at least the last 2?
Very dumb. Big Govt is their hearts desire. Sure, they are hurting too- but, see they’ll keep demanding that their false god of govt will cause the rich to pay more. What a stupid cycle of destruction.
I wanted to reply, as we have the same name- thought I’d say hello!
It’s discouraging that Democratic Party Members won’t admit Biden’s Day One EO ending all drilling and mining for fossil fuel in America caused inflation.
Democrats Blame Greedy. Corporations. Pathetic.
Nessie500: Helpful correction…it’s Democrat Party.
IKR?
It’s like the Dem Party put out its ‘ “Blame Greedy Corps.” mantra and all their loyal Dem sheep just followed the program.
It’s astounding. These people do not think or notice At. All.
Just regurgitate whatever is told to them by their “superiors”.
A “momentary plateau in pricing,” is not relief. Food inflation on items anywhere from 20%-40% is pricing that is here to stay. Inflation rates coming down doesn’t correlate to reduced pricing. Maybe on durable goods but we won’t be able to afford those at any price. I want to spit in the face of anyone who ballyhoos the inflation dropping a percentage point here or there.
This is the best president ever and inflation is not an issue.
My mom and dad both played rugby and I take care of tulips in the floral department in a quaint shop in Queens.
I think you forgot the 15% Minimum Corporate Tax going in effect today thanks to the Rhino’s in the Senate. The IRS is changing the tax brackets for 2023 making it harder to include deductibles! Between the Corporate Tax increase and Small Business losing their Deductibles that cost will be passed along to the Consumer adding to the cost of Inflation!
Wait till that lady figures out her vote is no longer feared.
$6.50/doz @ kroeger in SE WI. I’m okay though. I’ve never been into consumerism for the sake of having stuff, still working (thank God) & have resurrected my bargain shopping gene. Resale shops, thrift stores, clearance sales & yes, occasionally dollar tree.
I’ll admit to having indulged all 4 of my granddaughters this Christmas since it may not happen again for a while.
Dig clams & oysters.
Go salmon and halibut fishing.
Have a plenty of propane for the bbq.
Buy lots of pancake mix 🙂
Make your own pancake mix.
Informing my neighbor in the morning that we are building a coup and a roaming area for chickens.. I’m telling them cause it will backup to their shed.. who knows they might join the effort..
I hope they do, and share the work so it is easier for both families.
Sundance, I am one of your readers who became proactive immediately when you mentioned all of this 2 years ago. Thank you.
My husband and I are very close to my twin nieces, who for the first time, earlier this year went out on their own, each getting their own apartments. I knew it would be tough on them financially, and we helped out by buying a few things to help them get started. This past Christmas, one of their “presents” from their Aunt and Uncle was a total trip to Target – their choice. Get whatever you think you will need for the next few months, deodorant, shampoo, dish detergent, dryer sheets, frozen chicken breasts, tomato sauce…it was on Aunt and Uncle Max! Each of their baskets was over $340.00. They both said this was the best Christmas present they could have received.
I must thank you, Sundance, because you were the one that gave me the thought to do that.
Great idea! You are helping them be prepared and also teaching them at the same time about the value of stocking up in advance.
Shame it was Target
Yeah, that’s the young generation store of choice these days.
Preach it brother
$3.79/dozen in eastern KS
Must be from illegal alien hens……..
Lol
It depends on the region.
Hartwell Georgia is the Egg capital of the US…at least it was.
I can buy an 18 pack for about 4 bucks.
If I want to buy a local pasture bird egg: about 4.50-6.50
I can get many varieties on sale from 3-5/dozen.
When I buy from a local guy; he houses, grain fed, then outdoors; normal chicken raising; I pay $5/dozen because My DAD said, (in the 50’s-60’s) good eggs are worth that for making a meal for a big family.
We are a small family but that is my limit. I refuse to pay more than $5./dozen for LARGE/EXTRA LARGE
Big Difference.
And that is our life in the woods on a lake in NE GA.
Thank you
I think someone needs to create a line of stickers of various sizes – from 3″x3″ to ? (large). Tey all have a picture of Smiling Joe Biden with the big bold words: “I Did That!”
Then we buy packs of them (profits go to charities) and stick them on every absurdly high price sign in every store we visit.. The message will eventually get out where it hasn’t yet drilled into concrete skulls.
They have them. They are relentlessly being peeled off by every gas station owner in Central Indiana. Even Amazon is in on it, but when have you known Amazon not to jump on the greedy make money bandwagon?
“But you just gotta keep going; whatever it takes. 2023 is going to be rough for many working families and people on fixed incomes.” – Sundance
I plan on keep going but it would make the tough going a little easier if I could see some progress in the House, McCarthy moving into the Speakers office already doesn’t offer much hope of real change just more status quo to me at least! JMO
Great website for those new or on the fence to get serious.
https://www.grandpappy.org/hfoodaff.htm
I remember as father of five I was just beside myself thinking how could I not be taking steps to protect them after figuring this out.
Keep in mind that it’s not typically for those currently alive in the US to have experienced this.
And yet through most of human history if you didn’t have a years worth of food you where considered crazy.
The one thing I couldn’t help noticing is that this lady who is complaining about the cost of her groceries made no real attempt to substitute lower cost items for the things she bought.
If the middle and working classes attempt to maintain the same quality of life that has been destroyed by inflation, it will be an almost futile endeavor.
No worries, Mitch having Joey in Ky to celebrate spending bill.
And we wonder WHY no chg in DC, UniParty is real & WHY gop losing indy’s so badly. WHY vote them in?
Mitch & China Chao filthy rich from China connections. They don’t know inflation. We little people are inconsequential to them.
Take care of your families. This govt IS the enemy.
Ky, you can do better than this sob.
Honestly, most Americans are like stupid lemmings when it comes to economics and what this government, in league with the Federal Reserve, is doing to them. The mentally challenged Joe Biden asks for 40 billion dollars to conduct an illegal war against the Russians in order to support the most corrupt country in Europe. Congress, including 12 Republicans, agree to give him 45 billion instead.! The United States of America is no longer the great country it once was. We have NO statesmen. Just fools like Joe Biden and petty politicians. The electorate is even much dumber. Most people reading this post can’t even point out Ukrine on a map.
Additionally, our armed forces are a mere shadow of what they once were. Virtually NO ONE is joining the military today. The very few who do are a sub-standard joke; excepting small specialized units. Make no mistake Russia is NOT Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan or Syria. America’s economic hegemony, regarding their hold on the reserve currency, puts Americans is a superior position where world trade is concerned. 2/3rds of the world population is tired of the inequity. The entire world economic structure is on shaky ground.
Anyone who thinks that a country that lost 27 million people defending their homeland against the Nazis during WWII is a fool if they think Russian is going to allow NATO, Ukraine or anyone else to set up on their border! The United States would never allow China to put missiles on the Mexican border!! Grow a brain America!!! Allowing your low IQ politicians this much power is tantamount to suicide. What a disgusting mess! PS: I predict that Russia will put an end to this insanity within the next three months. If the US puts troops into Ukraine we are facing all out war. What for?????
NATO nations which don’t stand by their funding obligations are sending their material to be destroyed in the Ukraine – which amounts to a live-fire training exercise for Russian Troops.