I'm noticing price inflation more that I'm not using credit cards.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

Something I have noticed since I quit using credit - I am noticing price inflation much more and no longer just think, whatever, so is life, before I put something into my cart. Today I was running errands and was at Sprouts - there I noticed the turmeric I buy in bulk for my liver issues went up to .59 an ounce from .49. This may not be a lot of money but the point is it is an increase of 20% in a time when a savings accounts yields .05%. In other words, I am noticing it, and not using credit to mask it makes it much more noticeable. Something else - I was at Trader Joes the other day and I noticed that jojoba oil there in four oz. bottles has risen from 5.99 this Spring to 7.99 - make it from 6.00 to 8.00 and it's easy to compute that it's up by 1/3!!!!! Has anyone you know gotten a raise of 33% recently?

The good to this is it is making it more obvious to me where I can continue to cut out fat, and also what I don't want to cut out, it is making me more open to buying things online that I used to never consider buying online, such as supplements - I am finding they can be much cheaper online and I can even get cash back with one of my e-refund accounts.

Anyone else out there noticing price creep like this, and what are you doing about it if so? Rob

[rosarugosa]

Rob: My DH does most of our shopping. I put together the grocery list though, so I try to look at the receipts to see what things cost after the fact and I look at the grocery flyer when making the list. I need to look at the receipts more carefully and more often, since I shouldn't really be making a grocery list without a good handle on what things cost. So I guess this was a long-winded way of saying no, but that doesn't mean we aren't experiencing it!
I think it's great that paying cash is increasing your awareness.

[cindycindy]

I have stared using cash only for food purchases and, I agree, I am more aware of price increases (maybe because I have to be sure that I have enough cash on me.)

[Dhiana]

It is absolutely crazy the extent of price increases since 2008! And wages have not increased much in that time either. AND the weak US$ is really kicking our butts :(

I've been using a price book app and it helps me keep track of prices between different grocers & online pricing. Apples here are $2.99/lb at one store but 100yen each at another...very confusing to keep track of without my pricebook. Learning things like the weight of an avg apple is about 1/2lb, same for a large banana made shopping at the farmer's market easier.

We are definitely getting squeezed and must make every penny/yenny count!! Researching nutritional values on various foods also has helped me decide which items are the most valuable to us. Keeping our lives simple and focusing where we spend our money has helped.

[Zoebird]

So true. I see it mostly in general fees for things. Our immigration fee (the fee to lodge the application) went from $790 to $3200. But, they have us, so I have to put it (well, part of it) on a credit card. It's a real PITA.

[awakenedsoul]

My neighbor said the same thing. I'm actually spending less on groceries, but that's because I'm growing so much more. I eat a lot more repetitiously now. For example, I just finished the pineapple guavas. They lasted a month. Before that I harvested persimmons. They lasted me for two months. Now I'm eating oranges. I figure with what's on the tree they'll last me two more months. That takes me into March. Then I'll probably buy some frozen berries at Costco, and in May I should have some plums. I've been buying organic potatoes on sale. I still have bulk rice from last year and bread ingredients. I don't have to buy juice now because my lemon tree is loaded. The farmer who sells me raw cheese gives me one package for free if I buy three. So I always do that. I've also been really careful not to waste food.

Where I've noticed the inflation is on cosmetics and mouth rinses. It's good that you're paying attention and paying cash.

[xmas]

The health stuff I feel the most. We all take Vitamins and it really adds up. If it wasn't for sales and coupons I be really POed

[gimmethesimplelife]

The health stuff I feel the most. We all take Vitamins and it really adds up. If it wasn't for sales and coupons I be really POedI have one company I have started ordering online from and that is really helping with this - and I get 7% cash back on my purchases from them through one of the e-refund sites. Yet their prices run less than what I would typically pay at a brick and mortar store. What this tells me is that there is a lot of markup going on with supplements. Something else - I can easily buy Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM for 3.69 a bottle in Mexico - and this is an over the counter supplement in the US - yet it runs $20 plus here.....Definite crazy markups going on that sure seem excessive. Rob