September 23, 2008
It’s hit us all in one way or another. Over the summer gas prices seemed to spike far higher than the average person ever anticipated, our dollar apparently just isn’t worth as much as we’ve all been used to even just a year or two ago, and with that prices for that which affects everyone and pretty much dictates how the rest of the day will be spent also increased: food.
Anyone who does the grocery shopping has no doubt noticed the climb in weekly costs of maintaining a well stocked pantry and fridge. Whether it’s that roast, a carton of eggs or that gourmet stinky cheese you like to splurge on, pretty much everything has been affected by the increase in the cost of transport.
The only choices? Cut back and be more frugal (Sunday coupons, anyone?) or spend more than you might have originally earmarked in your budget.
It all has balance out in the consumer’s budget somehow. If the costs of transportation, home heating and food go up, and let’s just say for argument’s sake you haven’t gotten that sweet raise that after tax would keep you blissfully unaffected by any price increases, what do you do?
Are you going to the movies less or buying your kids one less video game this month? Are you shunning Boar’s Head for Jif? Are you regretting that non-hybrid turbo charged SUV purchase? (I’m on the fence on that one because I guiltily admit it’s just so much easier to stuff all our junk in there.) Are you planning on just cutting back on Christmas and Hanukuh gifts? (Dollar store wrapping paper sounds good.) Or… are you just swallowing the cost whole like a surprisingly large and easy to choke on multivitamin?
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