tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post6186715295775395183..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: The Killing Cost of FoodLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-1415703786555798482008-06-08T13:20:00.000-04:002008-06-08T13:20:00.000-04:00We just implemented a food budget, and it's been a...We just implemented a food budget, and it's been amazing. Part of the budget is a dramatic reduction in eating out. It's still hard to eat well and eat cheap. If you don't mind overdosing on high fructose corn syrup, it's not too hard to get "food" that is relatively inexpensive, but healthy food is not cheap.<BR/><BR/>Still, it doesn't really hurt to not eat as much. Mostly we've found that in the past we portioned out of habit rather than hunger. A few weeks of smaller, more carefully chosen portions and we're learning we were not nearly as hungry as we thought we were.<BR/><BR/>One thing that worries me in a macro sense is the trickle-down effect of how expensive everything has been getting. High fuel costs makes not just driving, but everything more expensive. As we can afford to buy less, the impact on the economy as a whole will be devastating. As a society, we're going to be paying for our systemic unwillingness to move away from the oil economy sooner. Great Depression, the Sequel? Get ready for it.Bill Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04796321136771189464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-35786345980038125602008-06-07T09:49:00.000-04:002008-06-07T09:49:00.000-04:00I buy from the farmers' market when I can. It's on...I buy from the farmers' market when I can. It's only a few blocks from me and only laziness prevents me from getting there on Saturdays (like today).<BR/><BR/>At the store, I've just started using those reusable canvas totes. Maybe the savings to stores, and to the environment, will get passed on to consumers. Maybe.<BR/><BR/>I'm still trying to figure out why gas keeps going up when economists say there's no basis for it. It may be time for a Boston Gas Party.G.M. Malliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805971625496094303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-42740202880775521402008-06-05T13:23:00.000-04:002008-06-05T13:23:00.000-04:00$4.80 for gas today, folks. I'm not driving anywhe...$4.80 for gas today, folks. I'm not driving anywhere - let alone the grocery store or the farmer's market. Good thing writers live on coffee - that doesn't seem to have gone up...yet. FD, you are speaking my language regarding the chocolate. I write food mysteries for crying out loud, so when I spend three hours describing a chapter filled with chocolate, I want some, damn it.jbstanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839153589205692508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-72415538257464684472008-06-05T12:39:00.000-04:002008-06-05T12:39:00.000-04:00My rule of thumb is, if it ain't on sale or have a...My rule of thumb is, if it ain't on sale or have a coupon, it does NOT go into the shopping cart. The only exceptions to this are milk and eggs. I'm also buying more fruits and veggies from local farmers' markets. And I'm pleased to say that my cats eat Iams Weight Maintenance Indoor Cat Formula, which is often on sale and hasn't risen in price ... yet. Maybe I'll be eating it soon, too.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I paid $4.39/gal last night for gas. And that was at the local "cheap" station. Thankfully, I drive a compact car and only live 3 miles from the office.<BR/><BR/>Even my rent went up this month, but not by much, so let's hear it for rent control.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-89542806178147224402008-06-05T12:22:00.000-04:002008-06-05T12:22:00.000-04:00One more thing. Can I just say that the price of c...One more thing. Can I just say that the price of chocolate had better stabilize or there's going to be a lot of social unrest by a lot of people?<BR/><BR/>I'll begrudgingly pay the ridiculous price at the pump (which is now equivalent to a part-time wage earner's hourly figure in some parts of the country), but for heaven's sakes, don't keep jacking the chocolate prices up!<BR/><BR/>(And yes, chocolate is vegetarian. It is made from cocoa beans and everyone knows beans are a vegetable.)Felicia Donovanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03556232226152556397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-19691928537340635202008-06-05T12:20:00.000-04:002008-06-05T12:20:00.000-04:00Maybe people will spend less time eating and more ...Maybe people will spend less time eating and more reading? They'll see food is pricey and books are a bargain? Forgive me some wishful thinking.Keith Raffelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02926077627965529183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-62111153689505054672008-06-05T12:17:00.000-04:002008-06-05T12:17:00.000-04:00JB, thanks for bringing attention to this issue. A...JB, thanks for bringing attention to this issue. <BR/><BR/>As one who lives in a vegetarian household, we're also feeling the pinch especially in the produce aisle. I stopped buying meats years ago so I can't speak to that but fruits and veggies have skyrocketed.<BR/><BR/>My attitude, however, is that it will always cost me less in the long run to buy healthy foods now - even if they cost more. Maybe I pay more for blueberries now, but I'll hopefully pay less later on when it comes to medical costs. That's my theory, at least... <BR/><BR/>BTW, I realized the other day that frozen produce prices were much better than "fresh" and sometimes they're also more nutritious.Felicia Donovanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03556232226152556397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-14799684532224291752008-06-05T10:38:00.000-04:002008-06-05T10:38:00.000-04:00JB~We've been buying less food all together - and ...JB~<BR/><BR/>We've been buying less food all together - and come to find out, it's okay with us. We overbought before it seems - cookies in the pantry that we really didn't need. <BR/><BR/>But you are right about the prices. Possibly my favorite beverage of all time is fresh orange juice - not the concentrate stuff. It was spendy before - but we could occasionally get it on sale. Not anymore - but I'm still buying it....Mark Combeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01270361794228887282noreply@blogger.com