Inflation

Wowzy.

The conversation around rising grocery prices seems to be always on the table these days.

Eggs are $4/dozen. Butter is $5/pound. A pound of ground beef is $7…and that’s the cheap stuff!

The interesting thing to me is how angry some people are about it–like it’s a personal attack. It isn’t. It’s the age-old story of suppy and demand. Americans have just had such low costs for such a long time that it’s kind of shocking to watch our food costs rise 30% in three months, huh? Kinda forces us to re-prioritze a bit, doesn’t it? Well, it should, anyway. Most of us are overdue.

Now that all three of our kiddos are out on their own, my grocery needs have definitely changed. It’s easier to keep our spending to $250/month–even with the inflation. I confess that I’ve gotten lazy with some things, though. I often buy bagged salad. Orange juice finds its way into our house more often…as does ice cream. (On a side note, it’s remarkable how much longer a jug of OJ and a container of ice cream last now without kids in the house!) I tend to put what I WANT on my list instead of what I NEED. In general, I find I’m better off to just stay out of the store altogether when possible.

As I watch my kids navigate these all-time-high grocery prices, I alternate between feeling kind of sorry for them and being really proud of them. They’ve come from a standard of homegrown, high-quality food and are now being charged a great deal more money for a product of lesser quality. They all seem to be handling this “sticker shock” in their own way, and I’m pleased to say that none of them are playing the victim. They’re figuring it out, as millions of young adults have done before them. That’s one of the things that makes a successful adult–figuring it out.

I remember my husband and I doing the same thing–rejoicing when we found bananas for $ .19/pound or came across country ribs for $ .88/pound. These were glorious victories to us when we were newly married and in college full-time! We learned to think about what we bought, to plan ahead for low-cost, healthy meals and to use self-control. Little did I know that these three principles would some day be the foundation of my Eat Cheap! platform, providing opportunities and experiences for my family and me that we would not have otherwise had. I’m thankful for those lean years. And I’m thankful that my kids grew up knowing the difference between a need and a want.

Years ago, at one of my Eat Cheap! classes, a woman asked me why I wanted to deprive my kids. She was kind of joking but I could also tell that she wanted to understand what kind of unreasonable woman would put toothpaste in her kids’ stockings and limit the amount of maple syprup they used on their waffles. The room got really quiet as the rest of the audience listened for my answer. I replied with, “I really don’t want to deprive my kids. Honest. As a matter of fact, I am trying to do the opposite. My job is to prepare them for life. My kids may never have to worry about money. They may not have to struggle and skimp and save like their daddy and I have. BUT, if they do, I want them to know that they can do it. It will be a lot easier for them to adjust their lifestyle UP than it will be to adjust their lifestyle DOWN”.

None of us always gets what we want. I guess I feel like childhood is the most reasonable time for that lesson to be learned. Otherwise, it’s a hard bell to un-ring.

So, while costs continue to rise, I continue to re-evaluate my approach to grocery shopping. What do I really need? What do I already have that can be used? Is this the best use of my money today? Will it really kill me if I eat this leftover vegetable soup for the fourth day in a row?

(The answer to that last question is, “Yes. Give it to Dave. He’ll eat anything”.)