Grocery Shopping for No Spend Challenge - Pantry Challenge

Well, we picked up the basics from the store that included some fresh vegetables (carrots, lettuce, potatoes, bell peppers, garlic and cabbage, frozen berries and dairy (milk and sour cream). I didn't get everything on my list, but Number One Husband picked out a few things that weren't on the list. We broke the first rule of shopping, DO NOT GO HUNGRY!

This is one of Number One Husband's picks that helped jack up our bill. 
At least it was a healthy choice. Dave's Killer Bread is a real treat for us.

We ended up spending a whopping $80 bucks, but for the most part it will see us through the first month of the challenge and part of the second month. We could have spent a little less if we had stuck to our list. In all fairness, we should have shopped over two weeks ago. This also impacted what we had to spend. Dave's Killer Bread was over $6 for 8 buns. Ouch!

The vegetables available were not great quality vegetables. In fact, I spent a lot of time picking through the offerings. Some were in such poor shape that I didn't purchase any of them. I just decided to do without. 

I have started hearing about shortages and higher prices popping up here and there, so I decided to check on a few things to see if it was true or not. I must say that there were higher prices especially in the meat department. Canned fruits and vegetables also had sizable increases. 

As far as shortages, there were limited supplies on the shelves in many areas and there were items missing altogether. We will all have to learn to make do again until the situations causing these issues are resolved. If we refuse to buy low quality produce maybe there will be a change in the greedy corporations' policies. 

The store that we went to has a small long term food storage section on the end of and isle. The shelves were pretty bare. I buy tomato powder from this section, and they only had two bags left. I use the tomato powder in addition to chicken bouillon. I like the combo, but what is available at stores has MSG included in the ingredients and that does not work for us, so I found a solution with better ingredients.

Pantry Meals - Baked Oatmeal

We will need to pick up milk in a couple of weeks for yogurt and kefir and maybe some fresh produce if they have anything decent available. Other than that, hopefully nothing else will come up. One of our old hens laid an egg this morning. I hope the others follow suit. 

I'm in the process of using up what is in the pantry, however since we just completed this challenge about 6 months ago there are not a lot of lost items that have been shoved behind newer purchases. This fact will impact our grocery bill unless I missed somethings the first time around. I enjoy a good challenge! Happy hunting to everyone in the midst of a pantry challenge...

Mrs. Smith

Super Inflation - Grocery Haul

We have been picking up fresh produce and dairy products about every two weeks lately. With the constant price increases this has been working best for us lately. This time the prices increases were very noticeable even though we were able to get a few things on sale. I know that most people shop weekly or even daily, but for us the price increases are always a big shock.

As you can see from the picture above, we did not purchase very many items. We picked up a bottle of cleaner that was on sale and it was the only non-food item that we purchased. The rolls were marked down to half price and the only other non-ingredient food was a small bag of potato wedges. We try to avoid processed foods. On occasion we throw caution to the wind and buy something pre-made. 

I deducted the cleaner and its tax from the total. The total for the groceries alone came to $41.78 for:

2 Gallons of milk

2 Heads iceberg lettuce

5 Roma tomatoes

2 Bags of onions (6 lbs.) 

1 Head of cabbage

2 Bell peppers

1 Bag of russet potatoes (10 lbs.) 

1 Bag of potato wedges (2 lbs.)

1 Bag of rolls (6 count)

3 Bags of turkey pepperoni (5 ounces each) 

We went to two stores. I can usually find sales and better produce at Safeway. We also like their store brand turkey pepperoni. Onions and potatoes were outrageous at Safeway, but their cabbage and iceberg lettuce were a lot cheaper compared to Walmart. 

It looks like even with the sale prices, most of the produce increased in price at both stores compared to two weeks ago. Gas also increased in price by .20 cents a gallon. This haul was the bare minimum that we needed to round out what we already have on hand. 

While we were in town the temperature dropped 30 degrees. A storm is moving in, and all of the sudden we are under a Winter Weather Advisory. The stores were very busy and now I know why. The weather changed in an instant. We had no warning at all. 

We are all topped off with groceries for now and fuel. I took care of the chickens before we left the house, so I won't have to venture out until the storm passes. We are hunkering down and look forward to the moisture. I have a feeling fire season is going to be a rough one this year unless things change.

I hope that everyone is safe and warm in this crazy weather that the whole world is experiencing...

Mrs. Smith

Government Stew - On My Soapbox

Government Stew is the new Hoover Stew from the Great Depression!

I was making what I thought was a low-cost vegetable beef stew today when I realized that it now costs around $15 to make a pot of nothing special cheap stew. This was eye opening to say the least. Today, Government stew was born...

I used 4 cans of vegetables that I had on hand including a small can of mushrooms that now are off the charts expensive, 1 can of kidney beans for additional protein, 2 potatoes, 1/2 a large onion, a stalk of celery and a beef broth mix to make 6 cups of broth. I didn't have any fresh stew meat, so I used a 12 oz can of beef chunks. 

Just imagine what the cost of the stew would have been if had used stew meat. Walmart charges $7.46 a pound, but you have to buy it in 1.31-pound package, so it costs $9.33 for their smallest package.

I used 2 tablespoons of oil to sauté the fresh vegetables in, 1/2 of a Roma tomato that needed to be used up, 2 cups of chopped cabbage, a large carrot and several spices for added flavor and nutrition that are not included in the price of the stew. I wasn't really sure how to price these, but now that I look at it again it could easily add another dollar or more to the cost.

This is a five-quart sauté pan, so there are 15 - 1 1/2 cup servings.
This is about 360 calories per serving. That's a pretty low-calorie meal
and would definitely need something on the side for additional calories. 

It's not a huge pot of stew, but it sure is good
and greatly appreciated. An added chunk of bread
and butter would have rounded out the meal, but
I preferred just having another bowl. 

Making this stew reminded me about the stories that I have heard about Hoover stew during the Great Depression only now hotdogs are no longer affordable because of the dollar's value. Hoover stew is now around $1.50 per serving. During the Great Depression it was around .10 cents per serving, and it had more calories per serving. 

Our purchasing power has all but vanished. We no longer have healthy inexpensive choices like beans and root vegetables. The average cost of beans ranges from $1.50 to $1.75 per pound uncooked. This is where a pressure cooker comes in handy and saves time and money. Beans in 1932-1933 were .10 cents a pound. 

Below are some facts that found when I searched for the value of the dollar and a little history behind Hoover stew:

$100 in 2020 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $6.45 in 1930, (This was almost 5 years ago) an increase of $-93.55 over 90 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.09% per year between 1930 and 2020, producing a cumulative price increase of -93.55%. A negative value! Just imagine what it is today...

The US dollar has lost over 96% of its value since 1913, when the Federal Reserve took over the dollar. The Fed devalues the dollar by printing more dollars without creating any value. Nixon ended the gold standard in 1971, skyrocketing inflation.

AI Overview

Hoover stew is named after Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, who served during the Great Depression. Hoover was blamed for the economic and social conditions of the time, and many things were nicknamed after him, including Hoover stew.

Hoover was president when the stock market crashed in 1929, and the Great Depression began. During this time, millions of Americans faced severe hardships, and many looked to the government for assistance. When the government failed to provide relief, Hoover was blamed for the shantytowns that sprang up across the country. These shantytowns, known as “Hoovervilles,” were made from scrap metal, wood, and cardboard.

The blame cannot be placed solely on one person these days, but the whole government machine plus greedy corporations. The shame falls squarely on both of these institutions. A perfect example of this is that Colorado now requires a full eye care visit with a doctor every three years for a driver's license for younger drivers and once a year for older drivers. 

This puts an extreme burden on drivers who are struggling just to pay the bills. It's not good enough to have your eyes tested at the DMV like they used to do in Colorado and still do in most states. I paid $139 to tell me that I still only need readers. So, it costs $169.87 to get a Colorado driver's license renewed if you don't need vision correcting eyeglasses or contacts.

AI Overview

The average cost of an eye exam and glasses depends on several factors, including where you get your exam and the type of glasses you choose: 

• Eye exam

  The average cost of an eye exam without insurance is around $100 but can range from $50–$250. (I call BS on the $50 exam, my exam cost $139) The cost depends on the type of provider, with exams at retail stores and optical chains being less expensive than those at an independent optometrist or ophthalmologist. 
• Glasses

  The cost of glasses depends on the type of lenses and frames you choose: 

  • Lenses: Single vision lenses cost around $83 without insurance, while transition lenses cost around $96. Progressive lenses cost between $150–$250. 
  • Frames: Frames can cost anywhere from $100–$1,000, depending on the style and brand. Discount frames are available at many big box stores. 

  My understanding is that in Europe things are a lot worse than in the US not only in the cost of food, but in energy also. It doesn't make sense to me that the US and European nations are producing less and less food and for very different reasons when the price of food is just going higher and higher. The big boys are forcing smaller farms to go out of business and then causing the price of food to increase by growing less and thereby increasing their profits. You could say that they have a monopoly on food production.

So, what is the solution? I have some thoughts on this question, but no clear answer

to these problems. What I do know is that these governments allowed big corporations to pollute the land, air and waters and now they are forcing us to eat the garbage that they produce and buy electric cars that have an average price tag of $53,438. They also have higher operating and insurance costs. Insurance costs increased for EV's by 58.1% from 2021 to 2023. Gas powered car insurance only increased by 1.2 % in the same period. 

Over 50% of EV owners are so upside-down in the loan value of their vehicles that they have no way to sell or replace. When it's time to change out the batteries in these vehicles, it will add an additional cost of $5,000 to $20,000 to the vehicle. Most people replace their vehicles if they have a repair bill that large, but EV owners can't because they owe way more than the vehicle is worth. 

The fact is Electric vehicles release more toxic emissions, are worse for the environment than gas-powered cars: study.Mar 6, 2024 

It found that brakes and tires on EVs release 1,850 times more particle pollution compared to modern tailpipes, which have “efficient” exhaust filters, bringing gas-powered vehicles’ emissions to new lows. New York Post Quote

It's time for policy makers to be held personally accountable for the financial damage that they cause from the policies that they force upon the backs of Americans. They should be made, at the very least, to replace the financial losses of those that they harmed due to their greed, uneducated guesses and special interests. If those who cause the harm are made to pay restitution out of their own pockets, they may actually do what is best for the American people instead of what's best for themselves. 

I am on a roll, but it's time to end this lengthy blog post. I get tickled when they tell us to call our congressmen and women when they are usually the biggest problem. They themselves are the cause of most of the roadblocks on the road to American prosperity. 

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.  

Mrs. Smith

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On My Soapbox - Super Inflation - Cost of Living Raise (COLA) Social Security

Our stack of receipts for gas alone tells me that we have been away from the ranch way too much this month. Yesterday was no exception only this time Number One Husband had business to take care of instead of me. 

The good news is that we only had two non-food items that we needed to pick up. Duct tape and degreaser were the only two items on our list however, we picked up two bags of feed for the chickens that were on sale for $12. This saved us $20 bucks. I hesitated to buy two bags since the hens are so old, but they are happy and healthy. We didn't buy chicks this year and I don't know if we will buy them next year. 

One of our stops included a trip to the car wash.

We stopped at a gas station with cheap grass, I mean gas. No, you are
not seeing things. We came across this gas station and saved big on fuel,
and they sell medical marijuana too. We did not want to drive across town
and wait 30 minutes to fill up on fuel at Sam's Club. 

It may have been a low-cost trip because we didn't need any groceries, but it still took six hours. UGH! It was a warm lovely day. Number One Husbands' business was not without its troubles, but he prevailed. If anyone can make things happen, it is my husband. I just needed to be patient and let him do his best to get things back on track and he did just that. He is an impressive negotiator if I do say so myself. 

I did not eat before we left. I was really hungry by 2:00, so we stopped at Taco Bell for a bean and cheese burrito. Well, I haven't had one in a long time. Inflation was not kind at all to my go to inexpensive fairly healthy fast-food choice. Not only had it doubled in price, but it also shrunk into a snack size from a full size. They also do not include onions and there was no sign of cheese. 

Bean burritos are not the only inexpensive fast-food casualty of inflation. Wendy's .99 cent sour cream and chive baked potatoes are now $3.09. There are consequences to inflation and inadequate nutrition.  As people continue to have to make less healthy food choices just to be able to put food on the table, our populations will grow sicker and sicker. Growing children and the elderly are extremely susceptible to malnutrition.   

I've been seeing stories of people getting scurvy because they cannot afford the foods that prevent the disease, like fruits and vegetables. Friends, these cases are not in third world countries. Sick populations have health and wealth repercussions for generations to come. For the first time in my lifetime, governments are actively encouraging their citizens to take certain vitamins and now I know why. I guess politics will always come first ahead of the health and welfare of people. Just imagine if governments would just be honest about these situations that we are in. People would be able to make better choices for themselves like taking inexpensive supplements to replace the foods that are too expensive to buy. 

Our tax dollars can pay for incredibly destructive government policies, but the help that is needed for our own citizens is not available. In fact, what was there to help has either been taken away or diminished to such a degree that it doesn't even make a dent in the issues. An example of this is the cost of living raise for those on social security. It is a measly 2.5 %. That is probably just enough to take away someone's $21 food stamps and raise the rent on their senior housing. What world does our government live in? 2.5 % is a JOKE! That won't even buy a tank of gas for those who have worked in lower income service jobs all their lives. 

I'm pretty sure that I am not going to solve these issues on this blog, but informing people about the issues in our society is an important part of moving toward the changes that are needed to create a better world for everyone. If you have time in between caring for your families and working to provide for them, reach out to your representatives in your state and make your concerns known. Share this information, so that we can make a difference in our world. This is a great first step. 

Mrs. Smith

Super Inflation - What World Do They Live In?

 Mrs. Smith

Un-Happy Meals - McDonalds - Super Inflation

I saw a news clip of a woman who worked for a multi-billion-dollar fast-food chain who would go home after working all day to hear her children's stomachs growl, because she could not afford to buy groceries on her measly pay. We live in a very greedy world. So sad!

A Google search found these statistics on the cost of McDonald's Happy Meals, but keep in mind that some of the prices are up 300%so, take this reporting with a grain of salt. Shrinkflation is not counted as inflation either. We the people are the ones with our feet on the ground living with the effects of Super Inflation while being told inflation is 3% or some ridiculous rate. 

McDonalds Happy Meal Menu Prices 2024

Items	Price
Hamburger Happy Meal	$6.29
4 Piece Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal	$6.59
6 Piece Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal	$9.39

  A McDonald's cheeseburger now cost a whopping $2.89. Let's not forget about the
11% sin tax that is charged by our government. That makes it $3.19. I'm not sure if
there are more taxes charged at the local level or not, but I imagine there are. 

The meat patty weighs in at 1.6 ounces before it has been cooked. This is the weight
of 16 pennies before it has been cooked away to almost nothing.

Large fries in Arizona cost $6.59

I could not find menu prices on McDonalds website without downloading an app, however, there were plenty of stories reporting the prices. I would be ashamed to post the prices too! Plus, they feed us poo all the while passing it off as food. Did you know that what is allowed in our food in the USA is not allowed in other countries like European countries? So, companies like Kraft and other mega corporations change their recipes and use better ingredients for those countries. Big donations to our politicians keep us sick and all of them rich all for the love of money. Shame on all of them... 

Mrs. Smith

Zombie Shoppers

I recently stopped by Walmart to pick up a few things and this is what I saw. First, I needed some romaine lettuce to get us by until our next monthly grocery trip. All the heads had rot on them in varying degrees. It also cost $1.00 more than last time. I looked at other pitiful sized heads of iceberg lettuce for $2.00 a head. They were just a tad larger than a softball. I passed!

Milk dropped in price to $3.07 a gallon from $3.97. This surprised me, since I thought that it would increase in price due to the H5N1 outbreak in cattle. Maybe people are not taking a chance and demand had dropped. I didn't check on egg prices. I didn't need any. My old hens have started laying again. 

I needed a new hot water bottle. My 15-year-old bottle sprung a leak from constant use for nearly three months. It has been a life saver in helping with shingles pain. I have one on my lower back now. I still have the nerve pain. I am better, but it still causes me a great deal of discomfort. Walmart no longer carries hot water bottles. UGH!

I have witnessed a lot of "Zombie Shoppers" who are traumatized by the shear cost of the items that they need. Many shoppers now have lists and block isles unknowingly while scouring over them. Older people just paced back and forth in front of the choices available not knowing exactly what to buy anymore. Blank stares and unfriendly faces are the results of the stresses of grocery shopping. It just hurts to watch people suffer while trying to buy groceries. 

I chose the shortest checkout line available, since the self-checkouts were not working at all. I found a line with just one guy and a basket full of groceries in it. I thought that it was perfect timing until he tried to checkout. Decline after decline on his Snap card. He started the process of removing items. He was apologetic and embarrassed but seemed to be a pro at it. He must have a large family by the looks of his cart. He paid cash for the items he removed and for the items his Snap benefits wouldn't cover. 

We are in a pickle that keeps getting sourer every time I venture into a store. I don't know what is going to change to make things better. I don't know where it's all heading, but I do know that we need a course correction. I don't have any answers, but I do have hope that things can turn around.

Stay safe,

Mrs. Smith

  

This Is a First - Weather Forecast - Monthly Grocery Shopping Experience

This is a first, I have not seen a forecast for "Blowing Dust" before. We are under a high wind warning. It's time to batten down the hatches and watch out for flying debris. The wind is already roaring out there. It seems the whole world is witnessing a lot of firsts lately!

This wind is blowing in another snow event on Monday. I'm glad I finished up my monthly shopping when I had yet another appointment in the city. The dental office had to cancel my teeth cleaning appointment that was on the same day due to illness. Ugh! I am counting down the days for my new front tooth...

• Today
  
  

  

  Patchy
  Blowing Dust
  and Windy

  High: 55 °F

• Tonight
  
  

  

  Breezy.
  Slight Chance
  Rain/Snow
  then Chance
  Snow Showers

  Low: 26 °F

• Saturday
  
  

  

  Chance Snow
  Showers and
  Very Windy

  High: 33 °F

• Saturday
  Night

  

  Partly Cloudy
  and Very
  Windy

  Low: 17 °F

• Sunday
  
  

  

  Sunny and
  Windy

  High: 42 °F

While I was in the city, I purchased just 11 items at Sam's Club for our monthly grocery haul, and it was $215. That is an average of $19.55 per item. Milk was just under $4 a gallon. I was able to fill up the gas tank for $2.77 a gallon. The fuel truck was delivering fuel, so I beat the price increase by minutes. Yea! It is now $2.85 a gallon. 

One thing that I noticed was the limited selection of products. Usually, they carry at least two options or more. For instance, they only had one brand of turkey bacon that we don't like at all. They also only had two expensive brands of toilet paper, plus Member's Mark. We need septic safe toilet paper which happens to be less expensive for a lot more product. I think that I may be able to order it online the next time I need to purchase some. 

Last month, I saw that they were discontinuing our favorite Kinders seasoning, so I bought a big bottle. We immediately called our friends who turned us on to this product and they went and purchased five bottles. 

They do not carry bread flour anymore even though I see it on YouTube videos at other clubs. I guess there is not much demand for it in our neck of the woods. I will check to see if the restaurant supply still carries it next month. 

Things are still chaotic out there as far as product availability and it seems to be getting worse every time I go to the store. The new norm is higher prices, out of stock, discontinued or an unrecognizable brand on the shelf with questionable ingredients. I find myself buying more substitutions every month. 

I really love Azure Standard and the quality of their products. They however cannot fulfill all of our needs. I buy from them whenever possible. Usually, every other month I am able to buy all of my groceries from them. 

I went into the city by myself this time. On the way home, I decided to treat myself to a book or two from the thrift store. Again, they had nothing that I wanted to read, however they did have something that I really wanted for a great price and in "like new' condition. I found an Instant Pot 3-Quart Mini Lux. 

They sell used for $50 to $80 bucks on Ebay. I got this one for $8 bucks. I'm excited because of its small size and because it only uses 700 watts. This is solar friendly compared to my other pressure cookers that I use. I have been on the lookout for one because I have just about worn out my 6-quart pressure cooker pot that I am unable to replace. I also have an 8 and a 12-quart pressure cooker. All three of them use 1200, 1600, and 1800 watts. I only use the larger ones when I have to run the generator. 

My mom gifted all three of the larger pressure cookers to me. They are some of my favorite gifts that have literally changed the way I cook and save money. Thanks Mom!

Stay safe out there and have a blessed Sabbath!

Mrs. Smith

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I Don't Know What To Title This Post...

 “There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no one independence quite so important, as living within your means.”

 – Calvin Coolidge

I saw this quote the other day and wondered if it were even possible in this day and age to live within our means. I know that it is getting harder and harder to make the ends meet. Inflation is out of control. The only advice we are getting from those who are in control is to eat more cereal and hot dogs. They are so out of touch with reality that they don't realize that not only are those items toxic and unhealthy to eat due to their own greed and those items in particular are also very expensive per pound. Shame on them for feeding us garbage that other countries won't even allow to be sold in their stores. Shame on us for allowing it! 

I guess this is exactly what Calvin Coolidge was talking about in this quote. We lose our independence and right to make better choices for ourselves when we live outside our means. There is always a day of reckoning. I believe that we are witnessing and feeling the pain from decades of reckless policies and policies that are driven by the lust for power, greed and our own insatiable appetite for more.  

I guess this is my response from the epiphany I had while shopping yesterday. We spend more and more, get less and less for our money. We saw the price for fuel jump .21 cents a gallon from one store to the other within a matter of 20 miles or so. When the next fuel truck arrives, the price will rise again. We had to waste fuel just to get from one store to the other because the store was out of a product that we needed. This product wasn't something we could do without it was a necessity. A physical need. The extra cost makes the price of the item rise exponentially, not to mention the waste of time and wear on our vehicle that we are unable to buy parts for due to lack of shipments coming into our country. Our system is fragile and on the verge of collapse. 

Keep an eye on your friends, neighbors and the elderly who may be doing without medicine and meals to make their ends meet. If you see a need, fill the need. If the need is more than you can handle, find resources within your community to help with the need. We are all in this together. 

Mrs. Smith

Super Inflation!

I had yet another dentist appointment today, so I ran into Walmart to pick up a few things. In the center isle proudly displayed I saw this...

I took a closer look and a picture, but the picture did not save to my phone. I verified that it was a 5 Lb bag. I couldn't believe my eyes. How in the world are we going to survive with this Super Inflation?

I also went through the self-checkout and failed to pay for my potatoes. I was putting my few items in the car when I realized my mistake. I had to go back in, explain my mistake and pay. I checked out again and started walking off without my potatoes. The lady worker who I confessed my mistake to reminded me, and we had a great laugh together. Needless to say, my discomfort at the dentist had an effect on me.

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

Gas Prices - Debt- Super Inflation

When I snapped this picture, I was not happy with what I was seeing. Prices continue to soar every day. Inflation data does not match what we are seeing on the ground. Who do they think they are fooling? It continues to get worse and worse. 

Other countries are in worse shape than the US because they do not have free flowing credit cards, but for how long? When the 20 % credit cards max out, what happens next? The bottle can only be kicked down the road for so long. There will be a day of reckoning.

As the situation continues to worsen, more and more people will lose everything. As history has taught us in the past that this cannot be sustained. It wasn't too many years ago when millions of Americans lost their jobs and homes due to the greed of our financial system, the belief in an over stimulated housing market and economy. Does this sound familiar? 

We are seeing and feeling the pain of these situations in our everyday lives, in our businesses and in the unexpected circumstances that we find ourselves in now, along with most of the world. I just want to be an encouragement to everyone to hold on to faith, family and friends. Reach out to loved ones and let them know that they are not alone. We are all in this thing called life together. In the good times and the bad times, we are not alone. 

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Matthew 6:34 

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

I Couldn't Believe My Eyes! Super Inflation...

Quaker Oats Whole Grain Old Fashioned - 42 Oz

($0.18 / Ounce)

4.8

11 Reviews

Your Price$7.49 each/ ea

We went into town and not only had gas jumped in price, so had groceries. We went into the local Safeway store, and they had proudly displayed Quaker Oats for $7.49 like it was a great sale or something. That makes it $2.85 a pound. I didn't have my phone on me, so I didn't take a picture. So, when we got home, I went to their website to make sure it was the correct price. It was the same outrageous price. Walmart still has theirs priced at $5.68 on their website, but I am pretty sure that it is about to go up in price. I just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who buys Quaker Oats like me to get what you need before the price goes up. 

Sam's still had their 10-pound box for $12.88, so we purchased one for $1.28 a pound. That is a big difference. It is still double in price from what it used to be. I make homemade granola for less than the cost of a large box of cereal. If oats jump by $2 or more then boxed cereal is sure to follow. You can find my granola recipe here:   Almond Cranberry Granola   or a less expensive version here: Basic Homemade Granola   Chicken breast went up .71 cents a pound and ground chuck hasn't been available for a month now. Ground beef went up to $3.88 a pound if purchased in the 10-pound roll. That is all that they had available. They did not have smaller packages like they normally do. They did have milk and butter this time, but they were out of other items that we were looking for. Ugh! It is a long way to drive to find out that they are out of something. I was able to purchase two of the items online, but I was unable to buy the peanut oil that we were looking for at a decent price. 

We saw more than a few carts with several of the same items that were about to jump in price or be in short supply soon. I got tickled when I saw the guy's face who was pushing a cart filled with cases of canned pumpkin following his wife with a long list. They must really like pumpkin or maybe they are going to profit off the upcoming shortages like the people who are selling Siracha online for $40-$60 bucks a bottle or maybe they are going to donate the pumpkin to those who feed the masses for Thanksgiving. I don't know how much longer the world is going to be able to cope with the ever-increasing cost of food. Something has to give, or the pressure will break this already fragile food system. 

Stay safe and shop wisely!

Mrs. Smith