Price shock in aisle 5...6...7...

You know - there is a list of people who are to blame for all of these troubles with rising prices.

1. Bush and the Government - Need I say more?

2. The Big Three - Claiming that they are making better solutions for vehicles to be less dependent on foreign oil - yet they are rolling out with new suburban SUV's and gas-hogging trucks every year...with only one or two hybrids coming around 2010. And we wonder why the Automotive Industry is failing?

3. E-85 - Forcing more farmers to switch to growing corn so they can make bigger profits - thus creating a shortage of other foods which is helping to rise the prices on your groceries.

4. Stock Market - Those morons at the stock exchange inflating the price of crude oil. Looks like everyone is pitching in to get a little profit eh?

How much longer is it going to take for people to wake up and start contacting their government officials first of all and voicing your concerns.

Second, start doing some research for alternatives, such as:

-- Growing your own garden - as one person in here already mentioned - if you got the yard to do it - then by all means do it. You can go right into Meijer Garden and choose from a variety of plants to grow.

-- Farmers Markets - Most of them opening in May and you can usually get fantastic deals that beat any big box store...not to mention you are also helping the local economy at the same time.

-- Carpool - Have some co-workers that live near you? Make a money jar for fuel for your carpool buddies - you'd be surprised how much change can add up.

-- Public Transportation - Something that the GR area lacks, but hopefully we will be seeing some more public transit soon in the form of the streetcars and commuter trains that reach out to the suburbs. GR is already working on this initiative. In the meantime, walk, take the rapid, ride a bike, rollerblade, do what you gotta do.

-- Coupons - If you shop at the big box stores - take advantage of all the coupons - you can easily Google coupon websites and take advantage of every sale. Maybe you just need to switch to that Meijer brand for awhile?

I mean come on - we can all sit here and p!ss and moan about rising prices - but instead put your brain to work and do something about it. It just takes a little common sense to go a long ways.

It's a good idea to look at what caused the problem and what we can do about it--both. President Bush is the easy target, because we know his family is in oil, right? Let's look at some other reasons----pure greed, on the part of every business person or worker on the planet. Where do you draw the line between taking what little you have to start with and making it grow, and then stepping on everybody along the way to get more, more, more. Look at the unions. They demanded more everytime a contract was to be renewed, then the last straw was to demand something in the way of job security so that the company was forced to support them to the death. Well, you only have bargaining power if GM, Ford & others can't get what you have to offer anywhere else. Surprise, they found it somewhere else. You know the rest of that story.
All these other industrial nations are wanting more oil every year, probably to mobilize and manufacture what we are now buying from them. End of blame game part of story. The law of supply and demand with oil can be fought one way only. Use less of it. People must plan carefully to make one trip to the store a week. They need to memorize that if you're 10 miles out, it is going to cost around $5. per trip. When it gets so you can't afford to get to work, you better be developing some kind of home-based business. And for Gods sake get out and fight those zoning ordinance nuts that do not want to allow them, with their endless rules about signs and all the other crap. There will still be people with money who can afford cleaning people, handimen etc. Get creative. You will need to be.

I do all my shopping at Meijer weekly. i sighned up online over a year ago, i do not get no daily e-mail price alerts. nor do i get $2.00 coupons. i spend 120.00 to 150.00 a week there. wheres my coupons. matter of fact meijer stopped accepting coupons that you can print online from popular coupon companies. i used to be able to save about $5.00 a week by using those coupons. so i do not see where meije ris trying to help people.

lower the speed limit to 55 mph no more 70-80 mph!!!!!!!!! i have done this and gotten 8 mpg more!!! drive 55 drive slow and easy and let it ride it out iam glad i get 35 mpg!! also buy food on sale and stock up i have done this since the day i shopped for food i done this for yrs

Lanny Reed - Portland Mi wrote:

I was at the Meijer store in Ionia the other day and was filling my van. When it reached 75 dollars they shut it off. I asked them why and they said that that was as high as the pump would go and that they were lowering the the price 5 cents to match Kmart down the road. I asked them if they could refund the difference and they said no. So watch Meijer as they can change the price up or down while your pumping and there is nothing you can do about it.

Actually, both VISA and MASTERCARD have set $50 and $75 dollar limits with pay-at-the-pump ~ that is why the pump turned off. If you need more than that, you need to hang the nozzle up, then redo your card.

Pauline wrote:

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Actually, both VISA and MASTERCARD have set $50 and $75 dollar limits with pay-at-the-pump ~ that is why the pump turned off. If you need more than that, you need to hang the nozzle up, then redo your card.

Or push the button before starting to pump that says pay inside.

Scott wrote:

<quoted text>
Kind of on the dopey side of the fence eh Karl...
Not everyone want's to live like sardines with houses 50 yards apart and dinky **** yards. I live out in the country AFTER living in town for @10-years, do you propose that EVERYONE needs to live in the cities all cramped together and no one should be living in suburbs or the countryside?? Suuuuure, lets pretend we are like China or even the big cities like New York where people are damn near living elbow to elbow. I for one will pass on that non-sense and continue to enjoy my new homestead, acerage, peace and quiet and privacy. Afterall, I've worked hard for the priviledge and will continue to work hard to pay for that priviledge.

And doesn't clumping all those houses together make it that much of an easier target for the terrorists that are going to attack as soon as our protector Bush is out of office.

oh boy wrote:

<quoted text>
lol Don't reproduce if you can't afford it.

Are you always this rude? Did I ever say we couldn't afford to feed or care for our children? NO. We have had to cut out non-essentials and reduce our spending in some areas like eating out and vacationing. We are not on any public assistance. My husband is a wonderful provider and I am happy we have a big family. Our children (age 13,5,3,and newest addition coming soon) are a true blessing to our lives. Things are just getting tight for us, as I'm sure they are for everyone. My main point for writing a comment was to point out the price of the milk going up over $2 since the last time I bought it.
In response to your rude comment, I am going to give you some motherly advice: "Keep your mouth shut unless you have something nice or constructive to say."

Familyof 5 soon to be 6 wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you always this rude? Did I ever say we couldn't afford to feed or care for our children? NO. We have had to cut out non-essentials and reduce our spending in some areas like eating out and vacationing. We are not on any public assistance. My husband is a wonderful provider and I am happy we have a big family. Our children (age 13,5,3,and newest addition coming soon) are a true blessing to our lives. Things are just getting tight for us, as I'm sure they are for everyone. My main point for writing a comment was to point out the price of the milk going up over $2 since the last time I bought it.
In response to your rude comment, I am going to give you some motherly advice: "Keep your mouth shut unless you have something nice or constructive to say."

You know, I expected to hear a comment like that eventually and when I read I decided not to dignify it with a response. Only morons assume that us single moms are walking around with are legs open. I have three kids that I have on my own for the last couple of years. Yes, it is a struggle, but I will never regret having them. Before that, I had a wonderful relationship with their father up until he got caught with his other girlfriend. But of course, I should never have had kids if I can't afford to raise them. Maybe if because we could afford it when we first had them, but now we can't, and since not having them is too late, we should just kill them? Get real, for God's sake. His mom probably couldn't afford him either.

Reisen4355 wrote:

<quoted text>
You know, I expected to hear a comment like that eventually and when I read I decided not to dignify it with a response. Only morons assume that us single moms are walking around with are legs open. I have three kids that I have on my own for the last couple of years. Yes, it is a struggle, but I will never regret having them. Before that, I had a wonderful relationship with their father up until he got caught with his other girlfriend. But of course, I should never have had kids if I can't afford to raise them. Maybe if because we could afford it when we first had them, but now we can't, and since not having them is too late, we should just kill them? Get real, for God's sake. His mom probably couldn't afford him either.

Honestly, NONE of us would be here if it was based on affordability. No one is ever "ready" to have children. That would be just like a MAN to say that!

I was a single mom too until 2 years ago. It was a struggle, but it is still is, even with 2 incomes, as it is with everyone right now.

Next comes the soup kitchens.

Bobby wrote:

BTW I spend more on car insurance ($36 a month) than I do on gas, while working and going to school. Public transit and bicycles are a wonderful thing.

umm holy crap, what freaking kind of car do you drive that you only pay 36 bucks a month? thats about the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. And I highly doubt you dont spend that much on gas a month. In case you didnt read what I wrote earlier, I put 40 dollars in my tank and barely fill it and guess what? I drive a whole 4 miles to work! Unless of course you dont drive anywhere, but what would be the point in having a car then!

Familyof 5 soon to be 6 wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you always this rude? Did I ever say we couldn't afford to feed or care for our children? NO. We have had to cut out non-essentials and reduce our spending in some areas like eating out and vacationing. We are not on any public assistance. My husband is a wonderful provider and I am happy we have a big family. Our children (age 13,5,3,and newest addition coming soon) are a true blessing to our lives. Things are just getting tight for us, as I'm sure they are for everyone. My main point for writing a comment was to point out the price of the milk going up over $2 since the last time I bought it.
In response to your rude comment, I am going to give you some motherly advice: "Keep your mouth shut unless you have something nice or constructive to say."

I just want to say, that whoever you are, I love you! haha I thought that was very rude of whoever said that, but I dont like when ppl start crap over nothing, so I didnt want to respond.

And in response to "oh boy" You know some ppl dont always PLAN all the kids they have, but God has his plan for ppl and if he wants you to have none or 13, for heaven sakes, thats what you'll get. And you'll love your kids if you are a good parent. my goodness, grow up and look around you.

Good Day,

There are two primary reasons for this - oil and corn.

As the price of oil continues to rise due to increased global demand, so too then will the price of transporting it which is shown in the price of the item.

Corn - This has to go back to the whole debacle of using food, in this instance corn, as a fuel. Ethanol is not the answer. Corn is in almost anything you buy at the store. Seriously, look at the labels. As supply drops due to an insane policy of pushing ethanol as fuel, food prices will continue to rise. And not just processed or pre-prepared foods but also things like meat (what do you think they are fed? Right - corn!), to milk and cheese. Food riots have already been seen in other parts of the world due to this bad political choices. And they will spread. At least until alternate fuel sources such as wind, and solar become more advanced and help us to ween ourselves off bio-fuels and oil.

Steelie

Good Day,

Oh yeah... time to dig a garden... hehe.

Steelie

Steelie wrote:

Good Day,
There are two primary reasons for this - oil and corn.
As the price of oil continues to rise due to increased global demand, so too then will the price of transporting it which is shown in the price of the item.
Corn - This has to go back to the whole debacle of using food, in this instance corn, as a fuel. Ethanol is not the answer. Corn is in almost anything you buy at the store. Seriously, look at the labels. As supply drops due to an insane policy of pushing ethanol as fuel, food prices will continue to rise. And not just processed or pre-prepared foods but also things like meat (what do you think they are fed? Right - corn!), to milk and cheese. Food riots have already been seen in other parts of the world due to this bad political choices. And they will spread. At least until alternate fuel sources such as wind, and solar become more advanced and help us to ween ourselves off bio-fuels and oil.
Steelie

oh that is so sad.. milk & cheese are already way too high as it is and I love my milk & cheese. haha

yeah well did you notice that the "ethanol" gas they have at SOME gas stations, isnt even that much cheaper? they are few and far between, but that price is still going to be high too. oh and did anyone see, they raised diesel again today?

I get multiples of coupons and when the sales happen on those specific items , I stock up on them , but only if the sale equals a 50% savings or more on that particular item. I try to only shop coupon items and only if they are on sale. Many times I spend way less on the name brand than off brand combined with sales that way. Not that I care of it is name brand. I only buy what I will use and I figure that is all stuff I will need later and if it is so dirt cheap , get it in multiples now so you can save later! I joined Savings Angel and I have literally cut my grocery bill in half each month. I had even had weeks with sale items for a $1.00 and my coupons being a dollar for that item and brought home toothpaste, toilet paper, lunchmeat , snacks , cereal and cough syrup for FREE. I have been using Savings Angel since November. I literally save over $25.00 a month in my food bill alone. This covers HBC as well! You do what works for your individual family. They show you how to cut costs in your grocery bill , how to get the best deal out of your coupons and so mucu more. Now days you have to do what you can to take care of your family the best way you can. With these times being so tough and for my family, we need every penny we have to keep up with bills and the rising gas prices. I have had to make choices this past year , feed my kids or keep my utilities on . What a horrible choice to make. I no longer worry about making that choice. This is tough times for everyone and finding ways to cut costs in every avenue seems to be what is on most everyone's mind. There are plenty of these types of programs and help all around the US. I highly suggest finding them. I cannot tell you how much they have helped our family. If you want to know about Savings Angel and how it works , feel free to check out the link: http://savingsangel.com/amember/go.php... Good luck to everyone!

Good Day,

It should be absolutely no suprise to anyone who is a regular on this forum that I am conservative by nature.(note - I did not say Republican, big difference these days.) But then again, the root word of conservative is conserve. I hate to say it, but I absolutely agree with some of my Dead Head tree hugging friends that corn based ethanol is not the answer. In fact, it is extremely flawed policy. As is quite evident, we are artificailly raising the cost of virtually all food by virtue of Government decrees that we must produce more ethanol.****? It has been clearly documented that it takes more energy to both produce and transport corn based ethanol than it actually provides. So we are using more energy to manufacture a product that provides less energy than it takes to make it? Who was the genious who thought this up? Huh? No really tell me. I think it all goes back to some connection between corn subsidies and lobbyists. I will have to do a little more research to find the appropriate "culprit".

Carla Stevens - I applaud your efforts! You may be a role model for those who need a little help from time to time. With regard to my wife and I (married only 5 months now, so no kids yet) we try to focus on mostly sale items. Realisticly niether of us has the time to effectively plow through the Sunday coupons or online offers. So we try to look for sale items in the store. Seeing as the vast majority of the items change from week to week you can get a decent amount of variety in your diet. But sometimes, ther are those items you body and or mind say... "I MUST HAVE THIS!" Hahahahaha...

Steelie

Scott wrote:

<quoted text>
Kind of on the dopey side of the fence eh Karl...
Not everyone want's to live like sardines with houses 50 yards apart and dinky **** yards. I live out in the country AFTER living in town for @10-years, do you propose that EVERYONE needs to live in the cities all cramped together and no one should be living in suburbs or the countryside?? Suuuuure, lets pretend we are like China or even the big cities like New York where people are damn near living elbow to elbow. I for one will pass on that non-sense and continue to enjoy my new homestead, acerage, peace and quiet and privacy. Afterall, I've worked hard for the priviledge and will continue to work hard to pay for that priviledge.

I agree with you. Never been a city person, need my peace and quiet in the country. I'd go crazy if I had to live so close to someone in the city. I'd probably end up having a neighbor like Karl:-)

Carla Stevens wrote:

I get multiples of coupons and when the sales happen on those specific items , I stock up on them , but only if the sale equals a 50% savings or more on that particular item. I try to only shop coupon items and only if they are on sale. Many times I spend way less on the name brand than off brand combined with sales that way. Not that I care of it is name brand. I only buy what I will use and I figure that is all stuff I will need later and if it is so dirt cheap , get it in multiples now so you can save later! I joined Savings Angel and I have literally cut my grocery bill in half each month. I had even had weeks with sale items for a $1.00 and my coupons being a dollar for that item and brought home toothpaste, toilet paper, lunchmeat , snacks , cereal and cough syrup for FREE. I have been using Savings Angel since November. I literally save over $25.00 a month in my food bill alone. This covers HBC as well! You do what works for your individual family. They show you how to cut costs in your grocery bill , how to get the best deal out of your coupons and so mucu more. Now days you have to do what you can to take care of your family the best way you can. With these times being so tough and for my family, we need every penny we have to keep up with bills and the rising gas prices. I have had to make choices this past year , feed my kids or keep my utilities on . What a horrible choice to make. I no longer worry about making that choice. This is tough times for everyone and finding ways to cut costs in every avenue seems to be what is on most everyone's mind. There are plenty of these types of programs and help all around the US. I highly suggest finding them. I cannot tell you how much they have helped our family. If you want to know about Savings Angel and how it works , feel free to check out the link: http://savingsangel.com/amember/go.php... Good luck to everyone!

Also in addition to Savingsangel.com , which I have used myself, there is angelfoodmistries.com . For $30.00 you can get a box of great food items! You preorder and get it 2 weeks later. Check out the website to find a location nearest to you and dates they are taking orders. Again, it is at angelfoodminstries.com .

God Speed! I think it is only going to get worse and I am normally an optimist!