Stock the pantry now. It is going to get ugly. Dairy (butter, milk, cheeses) are going to be tough to find. Chicken and turkey as well (we have been looking for turkeys for a couple of weeks now and found some at ALDI). They also had rice 10# bags for $2.50 as well. I think its gonna be casserole months ahead, and only buying whats on sale to restock the pantry with. I think we are going to see this last push before the elections and thanksgiving, its going to be sparse after.
FOOD Report food & grocery shortages / price increases here: 2022 Edition
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hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Retail stores of any kind will not survive without having enough inventory so they can make enough sales to live. Add to that the fact that inflation really hurts retail stores of any kind.
Expect closures. Likely after the new year. (my prediction (which are usually wrong))
Expect closures. Likely after the new year. (my prediction (which are usually wrong))
I think that is why you are also seeing things like the merger between Kroger and Albertson's. Local monopolies and economy of scale.
The consumer will pay for both at the register.
jed turtle
a brother in the Lord
I have bolded that part which I practice daily and consider it the most important part of my effort at worship and it is as you say, I cannot help but feel thankfulness and worship for God’s utter genius and beneficence towards us, His Special Creations intended to ultimately spend eternity close to Him as close as members of a family - as in fact as close as sons and daughters!
I must have had good luck when I went on Saturday.
Picked up ground beef for $2.29/lb in the large roll. No limit so I picked up three large rolls (10 - 12 lbs each) and split it with my parents. They also had their large boneless pork loins on sale for $2.79/lb and I picked up two to cut into pork chops and split them with my parents. This was from Gordon Food Store. Wish I had picked up more but my freezer is maxed and so is my mom's two.
The ten lbs bags of potatoes were BOGO at Winn Dixie.
I look for sales like that and then take mom and we tag team if there are limits.
There are weeks where the diet gets a little monotonous, but you do what you gotta.
Picked up ground beef for $2.29/lb in the large roll. No limit so I picked up three large rolls (10 - 12 lbs each) and split it with my parents. They also had their large boneless pork loins on sale for $2.79/lb and I picked up two to cut into pork chops and split them with my parents. This was from Gordon Food Store. Wish I had picked up more but my freezer is maxed and so is my mom's two.
The ten lbs bags of potatoes were BOGO at Winn Dixie.
I look for sales like that and then take mom and we tag team if there are limits.
There are weeks where the diet gets a little monotonous, but you do what you gotta.
Redcat
Veteran Member
We have basically been living off of our pantry for about six months, only spending a total of $50-75 a week for everything else (water, paper towels, fresh items, bread, milk, cream, butter etc.) for two people. I have done this to use up stock close to dating out (I am aware that those dates don't mean anything, but it needed to be done). But soon I am going to have to go back to filling up the back end of my pantry and normal rotation.
So I have been watching prices and the bounce in everyday things like canned chili, soups and fruits is really getting out of hand. And don't even mention coffee. We are down to one large and two small cans of ground in hand in total. So the pantry needs a big haul of coffee soon. Prices have doubled.
Yesterday I bought one package of zweigles pop open hots, $7.99. For six hot dogs, good ones, but hot dogs. And there were Hatfield ham slices, assorted types at 5 for $10 (dated out to mid December so fresh). That is five dinners for us. But the Keystone meats I stock are at $9.96 or so a can. And almost none are available. I can see needing about $200 of Keystone soon. And another $200 of coffee. Going to be a tough November.
So I have been watching prices and the bounce in everyday things like canned chili, soups and fruits is really getting out of hand. And don't even mention coffee. We are down to one large and two small cans of ground in hand in total. So the pantry needs a big haul of coffee soon. Prices have doubled.
Yesterday I bought one package of zweigles pop open hots, $7.99. For six hot dogs, good ones, but hot dogs. And there were Hatfield ham slices, assorted types at 5 for $10 (dated out to mid December so fresh). That is five dinners for us. But the Keystone meats I stock are at $9.96 or so a can. And almost none are available. I can see needing about $200 of Keystone soon. And another $200 of coffee. Going to be a tough November.
Josie
Has No Life - Lives on TB
A good friend of mine had her family (two daughters and two sons and their respective families) in town to celebrate her husband's (who passed away three years ago) life. Her daughter lives in a pretty affluent suburb of Shitcago went into our Walmart with her mom. She walked around in shock at how very bare the shelves were. Apparently, the Wally Worlds in her area are still very well stocked. (Now we know where all the merchandise is going!) But my friend was glad her daughter saw it with her own eyes. She's hoping this is what it takes to wake the girl up.
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20Gauge
TB Fanatic
This is kind of what I expected over the next few years. Not the total lack of anything in large sections of the store.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Traditionally something like 80+% of all store closures or announcement of future closures happen after the start of the new year.... lol
Sacajawea
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I think SOME of the empty shelves are a temporary regional issue. Yes, the prices of things are insane already. My local store maybe isn't stocked heavy - but most of the time, there is plenty of what I need. They have been consistently short of frozen taters of all types & I haven't seen potatoes O'Brien since the pandemic. When I travel over the mountain to the bigger city - no shortages in the Giant Foods-related store I shop.
It's gonna be apropos to dig out some Hillbilly Kitchen & Depression Era recipes again. Stir-fries are a good way to stretch a pound of meat. If you can hunt - there are plenty of recipes for game, too.
A 3 lb meatloaf oughta provide leftovers for a couple of days unless you have a family of teenaged boys!
It's gonna be apropos to dig out some Hillbilly Kitchen & Depression Era recipes again. Stir-fries are a good way to stretch a pound of meat. If you can hunt - there are plenty of recipes for game, too.
A 3 lb meatloaf oughta provide leftovers for a couple of days unless you have a family of teenaged boys!
ShadowMan
Designated Grumpy Old Fart
And this is why we buy all our meat a year in advance from a personally known small farmer. Our half a steer averaged $7.80/pound this year, across the board average on all cuts. Grass fed, gentle raised, no hormones, no antibiotics, no GMO crap. Our half a hog is being wrapped up as we speak and our order for next year is already in with the grower for both beef and pork and he's moving into chicken and quail next year. Even if the cost is the same as store bought meat....it will be FAR BETTER QUALITY!!
EVERYONE on our forms needs to support your local farmers and growers. Support CSA and farmers markets. Get to know your growers PERSONALLY!! Not to mention growing your own, where every you can, even if it's in pots on your apartment balcony. Something is better than nothing and it's better than starving. STOCK UP NOW!!
A good friend of ours grew up in Poland when it was under Russian control. Her job as a kid was to go out and gather up wild grasses along the country lanes to feed to their rabbits raised in their basement. The rabbits provided meat, fur and important manure for their small garden where they grew as many vegetables as they could. They gleaned the nearby forest for mushrooms and wild greens and herbs. Nothing was wasted.
If you're waiting for the government to bail our asses out of this mess then you are waiting to die. Plain and simple truth!!
EVERYONE on our forms needs to support your local farmers and growers. Support CSA and farmers markets. Get to know your growers PERSONALLY!! Not to mention growing your own, where every you can, even if it's in pots on your apartment balcony. Something is better than nothing and it's better than starving. STOCK UP NOW!!
A good friend of ours grew up in Poland when it was under Russian control. Her job as a kid was to go out and gather up wild grasses along the country lanes to feed to their rabbits raised in their basement. The rabbits provided meat, fur and important manure for their small garden where they grew as many vegetables as they could. They gleaned the nearby forest for mushrooms and wild greens and herbs. Nothing was wasted.
If you're waiting for the government to bail our asses out of this mess then you are waiting to die. Plain and simple truth!!
I been telling folks this winter 22/23 will pinch, high prices and reduced selections of items - but you'll mostly find what you need.
Next winter is the one to watch out for, all the fertilizers, fuel and dwindling stragic grain supplies (global) are being used up now. Winter 23/24 is going to suck bad.
I don't want to have predictions of winter 24/25 but that might be the killer if things don't turn around soon.
Next winter is the one to watch out for, all the fertilizers, fuel and dwindling stragic grain supplies (global) are being used up now. Winter 23/24 is going to suck bad.
I don't want to have predictions of winter 24/25 but that might be the killer if things don't turn around soon.
WildDaisy
God has a plan, Trust it!
We have started to move to a mostly plant-based diet now. First, because of health, but now, because of money. We'll have a meat meal once or twice a week (maybe, if we can afford it), and the rest of the week is vegetarian. I have a stock of canned and preserved foods that I have canned for the last year stocking up in anticipation of this. But I dont want to bust into that yet.
It is a good time for me to learn to make more bean, potato, and rice dishes, along with different ways to prepare them. Veggies are easier to find in the store, fresh, frozen, or canned, easier to grow and preserve at home from the garden, and cheaper right now.
So now is the time to stock up on rice and beans and essentials if you havent already, learn new recipes with fewer ingredients. When shopping now, we are thinking in terms of "Great Depression" with all our purchases. If we dont need it to survive or live, then we dont need it.
I had to have a long talk with my mother about it and she gets it now after going to the grocery store. $13 for eggs this week. She put them back. I told her that is just the beginning. I told her about the farming issues and the scarcities that are coming. She is going out to get a turkey if she can find one and some fixings that we can make for a "Normal Rockwell Christmas and Thanksgiving" this year again. That's what we deem the "lean years" around here, since he is a famous painter of the Great Depression era. When we tell family and friends we are having a 'Normal Rockwell" event, they know - no presents or gifts, and it is extreme budget. All we want to do is share time with family and friends without frills or froo-froo.
It is a good time for me to learn to make more bean, potato, and rice dishes, along with different ways to prepare them. Veggies are easier to find in the store, fresh, frozen, or canned, easier to grow and preserve at home from the garden, and cheaper right now.
So now is the time to stock up on rice and beans and essentials if you havent already, learn new recipes with fewer ingredients. When shopping now, we are thinking in terms of "Great Depression" with all our purchases. If we dont need it to survive or live, then we dont need it.
I had to have a long talk with my mother about it and she gets it now after going to the grocery store. $13 for eggs this week. She put them back. I told her that is just the beginning. I told her about the farming issues and the scarcities that are coming. She is going out to get a turkey if she can find one and some fixings that we can make for a "Normal Rockwell Christmas and Thanksgiving" this year again. That's what we deem the "lean years" around here, since he is a famous painter of the Great Depression era. When we tell family and friends we are having a 'Normal Rockwell" event, they know - no presents or gifts, and it is extreme budget. All we want to do is share time with family and friends without frills or froo-froo.
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bracketquant
Veteran Member
Perhaps many of us are experiencing different things.
The food situation, here, has been that maybe half of all product has no supply change, but an increase in cost.
With the other half, the disruptions have brought much opportunity.
If something is low or out of stock in the store, no worries here, as I either already have plenty, or never wanted it to begin with. Those items generally cost a lot more now, than when I purchased them.
Many of the items that do get restocked, now get overstocked. Over the past 2 years, I've bought many things for 50% to 75% off of what the price was a couple of years before. Last year, when the schools were shut down, there were all kinds of things for free, because food banks were overloaded. I didn't want to take anything from the truly needed, but the volunteers said that they had to get rid of it as soon as possible to anyone. I still have plenty in my freezer.
With more than a 6 month supply of most items, I can wait to buy when something goes on sale. It is usually about once a month that I'll see a good discount.
At some point, perhaps, everything will be scarce, and all prices will go up. I just haven't seen it yet.
mzkitty
I give up.
Hmmm.... if I haven't mentioned this, I will now. As you all know, I shop at Wegmans. They are always fully stocked from what I can tell -- just like Winn-Dixie was in FL the past few years. Apparently it depends on where you shop as regards shortages. If you live in a more remote area (remote being what it is to you), you are going to have problems.
I was posting on one of the crime threads a couple of days ago, I think it was North Carolina twitter. Suddenly there was a tweet about buying a house in Raleigh. The main selling point? CLOSE TO WEGMANS. I about fell over laughing. So I'm telling my son about it yesterday, and he goes, of course! that house is probably already gone. That's a huge point to sell
property now! LOL. But it's probably true.
Not seeing any real problems here locally, but in the coming months, it will be wise to become or get plenty of practice being a nimble cook.
Use what you have, what you can get, what you can afford, and be able to conjure up good balanced home cooked meals out of it.
Use what you have, what you can get, what you can afford, and be able to conjure up good balanced home cooked meals out of it.
All the stores around here are well-stocked. The wallyworld rotates stock fairly quickly but there is stuff to be purchased. Food aisles have not been widened but a lot of non-food aisles have.
The other thing that large urban areas have is store competition. Within a five mile radius from our house is: Winn Dixie, Publix, Dollar General, Dollar Store, two Aldi's, SAMs, Costco, three Walmarts, multiple ethnic stores, a Tractor Supply Store, a Gordon Food Store, and a couple of other restaurant suppliers. And that is just a five mile radius. I don't even want to count what is available over the entire county including bakeries, etc.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
As time progresses and we see more of this, I can believe it.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
Don't worry about failing. Reading the good book shows that many were failures before they changed (repented).
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I rotate by using the oldest and replacing it with one or two, two if I can. That way I'm rotating out the older stock but replacing it as soon as possible. My stock never gets down.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Same here, and I still don't look at the prices much, except to notice that everything continues to go up. I make out my grocery lists, and I get what's on my lists in spite of the prices. Things aren't always going to be available, and prices are going to continually go up. Prices are still cheaper now than they will be in 6 months or a couple of years from now. Get it while it's available is what I say. I, once, used a budget, and kept having to increase it, so now, I don't even bother with one.
psychgirl
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I still buy only on sale though!
Unless it’s something I’ve got to have with no choice.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
We're very limited on grocery store choices in my area. There's hardly ever anything on sale that's on my lists. Sometimes, when I see a good sale, I'll add it anyway if it's something I use regularly.
I remember in Jan/Feb 2020 when Covid first happened I bought up a bunch of Progresso soups as its the only brand the hubby will eat... and it was $1.79 a can and was on sale 2 for $3.00 every other week or so. Now, it's $3.19 a can and the last sale was $2.79 a can. Hubby says to stock up again when I see it 2 for $3.00. I told him to keep dreaming, LOL
That's a LOT of inflation in 2 and a half years!
That's a LOT of inflation in 2 and a half years!
WildDaisy
God has a plan, Trust it!
I live in the NY Metro area, not exactly rural and we have definite shortages and empty shelves. I also shop at Wegman's and Aldi in my area, and a lot of the shelves are empty. This week, no chicken at all. Dairy is very sparse as are baking supplies and specialty foods. I use Instacart often, and most of my cart this week was "out of stock"
If I found items that would be needed for Thanksgiving, I bought them this week and put them away - String beans, fried onions, cream soups, canned goods, and yams, Mom is still looking for a Turkey, but none in any of our stores at all.
mzkitty
I give up.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
I've been a nimble cook for 30+ years, with what I have, what I can get, and what I can afford.
When all is said and done, "99 cents a pound" (or less) has been my motto for years. It once was "49 cents a pound".
bracketquant
Veteran Member
The last ham that I bought was a bone-in shank portion at .79/lb, just before Easter. My guess is that a meatless ham has no bone, for use in split pea soup.
bw
Fringe Ranger
Meatless ham IS split pea soup, with coloring, flavoring, and carageenan.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
Laurie the Mom
Senior Member
Just saw a notice that our Board of Public Utilities (in Cheyenne, WY) will be reducing the amount of fluoride in the drinking water because they can't get it.
"Supply availability will cause a reduced level of supplemental fluoride in Cheyenne’s drinking water beginning on or around Monday, October 24, 2022. The Board of Public Utilities’ (BOPU) supplier of granular, pure, fluoride is not able to provide its product at this time, nor has a future delivery schedule been received by BOPU staff."
Edit to say: Yeah, I know all about fluoride. I just thought it was interesting.
Laurie
"Supply availability will cause a reduced level of supplemental fluoride in Cheyenne’s drinking water beginning on or around Monday, October 24, 2022. The Board of Public Utilities’ (BOPU) supplier of granular, pure, fluoride is not able to provide its product at this time, nor has a future delivery schedule been received by BOPU staff."
Edit to say: Yeah, I know all about fluoride. I just thought it was interesting.
Laurie
StarryEyedLad
désespéré pour le ciel
The Dollar Generals near me have been that way for months now. Almost everything is hit or miss. You go there one time and find what you want; the next time you don't. I was in one the other day and there were very badly dented cans on the shelf. Some were the only one available of that item for purchase.
von Koehler
Has No Life - Lives on TB
My online order to Hy-Vee for pickup had a shocker.
From a personal taste test, I compared over a dozen different brands of pasta sauce. Barilla came out top and it's premium Italian sauce came out on top. There are three varieties. I had ordered 8 jars of each.
What happened was shortages but the shopper gave me all of what they had.
Prices gone from $2.52 a jar to $3.99. For a new order prices are now $4.99 a jar! That's 100 percent inflation in less than two months.
My local Walmart has been out of stock the same time.
From a personal taste test, I compared over a dozen different brands of pasta sauce. Barilla came out top and it's premium Italian sauce came out on top. There are three varieties. I had ordered 8 jars of each.
What happened was shortages but the shopper gave me all of what they had.
Prices gone from $2.52 a jar to $3.99. For a new order prices are now $4.99 a jar! That's 100 percent inflation in less than two months.
My local Walmart has been out of stock the same time.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
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