19 October 2009

Monday Musings...
Start of another "fun-filled" week, and I'm betting that Balloon Boy wishes he had better parenting. Looks like "dad" is staring at some charges against him for staging a hoax and looking for some free "PR"...(and getting more than I'll bet he bargained for, much to the chagrin of local authorities).
The word DUFFUS comes to mind for SOME strange reason...but let's not dwell...
Everything costs more...You know it, I know it, so who the hell are we kidding here?
When was the last time you bought something and thought to yourself, "Cripes, that's frigging expensive"?
If you're like MOST people, it's probably been recently.
Take grocery shopping, for example.
Items that (when totalled) would cost about $45 bucks and take up four bags NOW costs close to $60 bucks and takes up THREE bags!
Sure, it's only a few pennies here and there...but even with our deflated dollar, those little buggers DO add the hell UP.
Now, I'm OK with having a gallon of milk cost $1.00. That works for me in THIS economy...Ditto for a dozen eggs.
Bread is still close to a buck itself, but we're talking STAPLES here, and not luxury items.
Used to be able to get ALL THREE of those things and STILL have a little change left over from that DOLLAR mom sent you to the corner store with (enough for a GRAB BAG or some candy).
I was floored when I saw that Dunkin' Donuts was selling a DOZEN donuts for SEVEN DOLLARS...!!!
What the hell kind of SAVINGS is that anyway?
Used to be able to go to a REAL bakery, buy a dozen REAL donuts and pay UNDER FIVE BUCKS for the lot.
Never used to look at comparative pricing the way I do NOW.
I check out the QUANTITY, package SIZE, and then check how much product I get for how much money.
And I still wind up paying more...no getting around that.
Cereal is one of those "tricky" items...and you HAVE to pay attention.
Sure, the price NOW says $2.73 for a box of Quaker LIFE, but it's a SMALLER BOX. Cereal companies have changed the packaging to reflect artificially LOWER prices, when in fact, they just "downsized" the overall product. (sounds like most companies across America, doesn't it?) Sneaky bastards.
We all know tobacco products have hit the roof, and are continuing to climb in price. A 5 pack of cigars USED to cost a little over a dollar... NOW, you're looking at close to FIVE BUCKS for that same pack. Ciggies...well, that's just highway robbery.
A carton of regular smokes is damn near FORTY DOLLARS (cheapies can be had for less than $25...if you look around)
Meat, fish and poultry are (always) all over the chart...if you get lucky, good for you.
Soda is another one of those weird things...prices don't seem to have any stability.
Granted, they're not rising and falling like GASOLINE (thankfully), but it does make you wonder why one company (Coca-Cola) that has a DISTRIBUTORSHIP in Fort Wayne consistently has HIGHER prices than say...PEPSI (which does not).
Wifey prefers Coke (yes, the brown fizzy liquid, unlike the neighbors that prefer the white powdery stuff), while I'm a die-hard Dr. Pepper fan, and it's always a challenge to find COKE at prices comparable to DP or even Pepsi.
Most times, I do the "store-brand" gig, and rustle up some cheap-ass soda (for me).
Now, if you REALLY want to find some major price-gouging (aside from fueling up at the local gas station), take a gander at LIGHTER FLUID (for that trusty old Zippo or Ronson)!
A mere EIGHT FLUID OUNCES of this precious material costs you OVER THREE DOLLARS....(damn)!
Cripes, I'm not stocking up on PLUTONIUM for God's sake!
I only want to fill my damn lighter.
And NO, you can't use GASOLINE in a cigarette lighter...NOT recommended (unless you detest facial hair of ANY kind).
Gasoline prices are in the four winds (according to whatever the "futures" price on Wall St. dictate...or which Muslim country is pissed at US this week), so it's "standard" unleaded (87 octane) until prices allow for that "PLUS" 89 octane fillup. And don't forget that most ALL fuels have SOME level of ETHANOL in them, just in case your car starts acting "weird"...
Plain old JUICES are over $2.50 for a HALF-gallon (glad we don't run our cars on THAT, huh?), unless you opt for that lousy buck-a-gallon orange drink more food stamp carriers grab like there's no tomorrow...(I hear that stuff has human sterilizing agents in it...NAH, I'm just messin' with 'ya, but what an interesting thought for those insidious government agencies...who would know?)
Now, I will admit that Little Caesars has a great deal on PIZZA...TWO pizzas for $10! They are better (imho) than Dominoes OR Pizza Hut (even slightly better than Papa Johns)...and they COME with pepperoni.
Still, they don't beat a good old "made from scratch" pie from a Philly pizza joint like Montessini's...NO WAY!
Alcoholic beverages continue to rise in price...guess someone doesn't take into account the "social drinker" anymore (like me).
I don't drink to get sh*t-faced (and with a neighborhood like MINE, I DO have PLENTY of reason to do so), unlike many living around me, who DO drink to get "sh*t-faced" (and to toss their empty on my property as they drive past - see last week's posts for a reminder of that).
Beer prices (per bottle in a 6 pack) are almost on par with going out and BUYING a mug at some watering hole.
I much prefer the "ambiance" at my HOUSE, however...less chance to get accosted, and I know WHERE my car is (in the garage).
Wine and hard liquor prices are next to astronomical...and it makes choosing an "off-brand" more interesting. You can find reviews for all the booze that used to be relegated to the second or third shelf now...and some of them aren't that bad.
I'm a Chivas Regal or Cutty Sark guy when it comes to scotch, but I now drink Clan MacGregor or Passport, as the price is good, and the taste for a blended scotch is not bad at all. Ditto for bourbon...can't afford Jim Beam or Knob Creek, so I "splurge" on Wild Turkey or Ten High instead.
Ammunition is something else, too. Try and find some .45 ACP for "cheap" these days. Used to be well UNDER $20 for 50 rds...now, you're damn lucky to find anything (except some off-brand types of ball ammo) for UNDER $25-$30...and that's for ONLY 20 rds...NOT 50 rds.
(we can blame growing sentiments with government policies AND street violence, along with concerns about gun owners' rights as per the 2nd Amendment for this...panic hoarding)
Like I said, it's a few pennies here...and there (in some cases a DOLLAR here and there), but it ALL adds back up.
Doesn't matter if it's bourbon...or bread...or bullets...everything costs more, and unless you've got plenty of "foldin' money" to toss about in a cavalier fashion, you've got to do something we call BUDGET...and budget carefully.
So what if you don't get that CHERRY PIE you wanted THIS week...it's not the end of the damn world.
You have to do the best with what you have at the moment.
You don't arbitrarily spend money you don't have to pursue "pleasures" at your every whim (that's the GOVERNMENT'S job...LOL).
And never be fooled with believing that if you ever find yourself in any kind of DEBT, that the BEST way to get OUT of that debt is to SPEND YOUR WAY OUT OF IT...
(Apparently, that is ALSO the GOVERNMENT'S job)
My Dad always believed that there is nothing you "need that damn bad" that it can't wait a while UNTIL you can AFFORD it. He also said to me that "If you want it bad enough, you will do what you need to in order to earn enough money to get it".
Notice he didn't say "get it at all costs".
Dad was one of those that understood what CONSEQUENCES meant.
If you got something when you knew it was gonna dump you at the door of the poor house by getting it, THAT would be lesson enough about keeping your financial wits about you.
Seems that those "words to the wise" are more sufficient today than ever.
Makes you want to give those products you purchase a second look...just to get the best bargain for YOUR dollars.
It's not magic, people...just common sense.
Stay safe out there, America.

2 comments:

indy said...

this is a very true post. i went to walmart the other day and normally i can get milk a little over a dollar. well on saturday it was 3.00 a gallon. i was like wtf. i bought one instead of two. thought about getting some coffee. and looked at those prices. i said man these people are going to help me lose weight. i refused to get any. i like caffenated. and i just got over the last major headache bout. then i looked at other items and i was like...........we now go with a list and only get what is on the list. i am almost ready to hit kroger.

i heard there will be a sugar tax soon. i really dont drink soda it eats your teeth away. that is probley why my dentist in in shock when he looks at my mouth. no cavities and ditto for my kid. at one time a very very long time ago that was my dream to be a dentist. i wanted to be the dentist that also did undercover work for the government. lol well, at least my daughter has good dental hygene.

Bob G. said...

Indy:
Kroger doesn't have too bad pricing...if you have to one-stop-shop.
Kroger regularly has a gallon of milk for $1.00, or 1/2 gals for.99cen each...depends on the week.

And I ALWAYS make a list, check the cupboard, and replenish what we NEED...anything else we "find" that is a luxury item...we may spend a few bucks and get it as a "treat for ourselves, but it's NOT the "practice".

I don't worry about rotting my teeth...still got 'em all (including the 4 wisdom teeth)...LOL.

It's the ACID in the soda that really does the nasty...and over a VERY LONG time (unless that's ALL you drink, which I don't).
I have my share of water, juices, powerade, tea, coffee...and yes, a shot or two of bourbon or scotch once in a while...LOL!

Still...whwtever money you SAVE when shopping can always be put to use elsewhere...and Lord knows we've ALWAYS got other uses for what we never seem to have enough of.
Isn't that the way it goes?

Thanks for stopping by.