I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.

How many food items do you think you know the average price of?

20, 50, 200?

Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like buying?

Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when you
need it?

I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why I
just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.

When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do laundry and
"go shopping" in dad's pantry.

Dimitri

"Dimitri" > wrote in message
...
>I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?

At least 20.

>
> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like buying?

I pay attention, but if I want to splurge, I will, If the price of
something gets too high, I'll wait, expecially producce as the season
changes. I'll buy cherries for 2.99 but pass at 5.99


>
> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when
> you need it?
>
> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why I
> just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.

We have a good supply in both freezer and pantry. I find it handy to be able
to choose. We can skip a month of shopping at any time.
Ed

Dimitri wrote:
> I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?

Hard to say. I know you know many more than I do. More than
20, maybe not as many as 50.

> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
> buying?

I read the sales circulars every week and pick up whatever is
a good price and that's how I planned the menu. If I just have to
have something (usually instigated by threads on this newsgroup),
I will pay full price, within reason.

And then there are the staples like bread and milk. Honestly, I
really had no clue that when bread isn't on sale it was like $3.50.
I knew sometimes it would be on sale, 2 for $4. If I had to guess,
I would have said bread not on sale would be $2.50 a loaf.
Imagine my surprise.

That was before prices started climbing. I'm not sure how much
I pay for milk, still. Whatever it is, I'm still going to pick up a half
gallon every week or so. I am sure people with children pay far
closer attention.

> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need
> when you need it?

I try to stock up when things are on sale. I especially hate when
I have to pay full price on things I buy only occasionally, because
I didn't plan ahead and you know the item was almost half the
price 2 weeks ago.

So when I see anything on sale, I will usually buy plenty.
It makes me happy to know there's enough whatever in the
house, be it meat or toothpaste. Costco was invented for
people like me.

> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly
> why I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.

For one thing, it saves having to decide what's for dinner and
going food shopping every day. What's for dinner becomes
driven by what's on hand.

> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do
> laundry and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.

I bet they did!

nancy

Dimitri wrote:
> I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?
>
> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
> buying?
> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need
> when you need it?
>
> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly
> why I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>
> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do
> laundry and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.
>
> Dimitri

My husband generally does more of the shopping than I because he's more able
to leave the house. I just read the food ads and suggest to him what to
buy.

kili

Dimitri wrote:
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?
>
Probably in the 25-50 items range.


> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
> buying?
I always pay attention to price but I do splurge on items once in a while.
And I've always been very good about remembering the price of an item once
I've put it in my cart. Never really had problems with being overcharged.

> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need
> when you need it?
>
I stock up on items that are used all the time. Sales aren't essential for
those items since I buy them all the time anyway. Mom has a second freezer
so it's much easier here to keep lots of milk and bread on hand. And frozen
veggies. I'll buy extra meat if the price happens to be good at the time.
Even back home I'd buy "family packs" of meat if the price was right and
divvy them up before freezing.

> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly
> why I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>

I tend to accumulate certain canned foods without even realizing it. I
remember reorganizing my pantry about 6 years ago and finding I had five or
six cans of white crab meat. Apparently I was picking it up every time it
went on sale Same thing with canned salmon.

I always have lots of dried pasta, beans (dried and canned) and a few types
of rice even though I don't necessarily cook those things all the time.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
> Dimitri wrote:
>> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>>
>> 20, 50, 200?
>>
> Probably in the 25-50 items range.
>
>
>> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
>> buying?
> I always pay attention to price but I do splurge on items once in a
> while. And I've always been very good about remembering the price of an
> item once I've put it in my cart. Never really had problems with being
> overcharged.
>
>> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need
>> when you need it?
>>
> I stock up on items that are used all the time. Sales aren't essential
> for those items since I buy them all the time anyway. Mom has a second
> freezer so it's much easier here to keep lots of milk and bread on
> hand. And frozen veggies. I'll buy extra meat if the price happens to
> be good at the time. Even back home I'd buy "family packs" of meat if
> the price was right and divvy them up before freezing.
>
>> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly
>> why I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>>
>
> I tend to accumulate certain canned foods without even realizing it. I
> remember reorganizing my pantry about 6 years ago and finding I had five
> or six cans of white crab meat. Apparently I was picking it up every
> time it went on sale Same thing with canned salmon.
>
> I always have lots of dried pasta, beans (dried and canned) and a few
> types of rice even though I don't necessarily cook those things all the
> time.
>
> Jill

You do well with her SS and you food stamps. Good job!

-dk

Dimitri wrote:


> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
> buying?

A lot of attention. I almost never buy meat that's not on sale. I'm
fairly flexible in my meals, so I can plan around what I find on sale.
If I get cheap ground beef, then it's spaghetti and chili and such that
week, for instance.

The main things that I will buy regardless are produce items. I get
broccoli and bananas pretty much every week, because they don't keep. I
get carrots and mushrooms when I need them. Some things like apples
will keep pretty well, so I can get more when they're a good price.

> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need
> when you need it?

For many staples. Again, I'll never by cereal at regular price. Most
cereal keeps nearly indefinitely (expect raisin bran). So I'll get four
boxes and stick them in the pantry. Same for canned goods.





--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

Dimitri wrote:
>
> I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?
>
> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like buying?
>
> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when you
> need it?
>
> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why I
> just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>
> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do laundry and
> "go shopping" in dad's pantry.
>
> Dimitri

I pay attention to prices and also tend to know the average cost for
quite a few, but mostly for the items I buy often. If the sales prices
are good, then yes, I will stock up, especially for meats. Using a
vacuum sealer for frozen items (e.g., meats) really makes a difference,
too!

However, what irks me most is how there are frequent mistakes on the
stores' receipts for the price difference on the shelf label and the
actual price rung up on the register at checkout. Just this very
afternoon, I purchased a package of tortilla chips with a shelf-price of
US$3.49 yet the register tried to ring it up at $3.79! The cashier left
the register to verify the price.

Sky, who tries to pay attention

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

Sky wrote:


> However, what irks me most is how there are frequent mistakes on the
> stores' receipts for the price difference on the shelf label and the
> actual price rung up on the register at checkout. Just this very
> afternoon, I purchased a package of tortilla chips with a shelf-price
> of US$3.49 yet the register tried to ring it up at $3.79! The
> cashier left the register to verify the price.

That irks me not at the supermarkets, because that means free item.



Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

Default User wrote:
> Sky wrote:

>> However, what irks me most is how there are frequent mistakes on the
>> stores' receipts for the price difference on the shelf label and the
>> actual price rung up on the register at checkout. Just this very
>> afternoon, I purchased a package of tortilla chips with a shelf-price
>> of US$3.49 yet the register tried to ring it up at $3.79! The
>> cashier left the register to verify the price.
>
> That irks me not at the supermarkets, because that means free item.

Man's got a point, but I'd rather not have the hassle. I just
want to pick out my stuff, pay the agreed price with no problems.
That would aggravate me, too, Sky. Where I shop used to be
horrible about that.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
>
> Default User wrote:
> > Sky wrote:
>
> >> However, what irks me most is how there are frequent mistakes on the
> >> stores' receipts for the price difference on the shelf label and the
> >> actual price rung up on the register at checkout. Just this very
> >> afternoon, I purchased a package of tortilla chips with a shelf-price
> >> of US$3.49 yet the register tried to ring it up at $3.79! The
> >> cashier left the register to verify the price.
> >
> > That irks me not at the supermarkets, because that means free item.
>
> Man's got a point, but I'd rather not have the hassle. I just
> want to pick out my stuff, pay the agreed price with no problems.
> That would aggravate me, too, Sky. Where I shop used to be
> horrible about that.
>
> nancy

Yep, I know exactly what y'all mean. Alas, not all stores have that
'free' policy when something scans incorrectly. The store I frequent
most often doesn't have that scan-incorrectly-get-it-free policy.
Another local grocery store does, but it's not worth shopping there
because it's more expensive for nearly everything there than the former
one is.

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

Sky wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>>
>> Default User wrote:
>>> Sky wrote:
>>
>>>> However, what irks me most is how there are frequent mistakes on
>>>> the stores' receipts for the price difference on the shelf label
>>>> and the actual price rung up on the register at checkout. Just
>>>> this very afternoon, I purchased a package of tortilla chips with
>>>> a shelf-price of US$3.49 yet the register tried to ring it up at
>>>> $3.79! The cashier left the register to verify the price.
>>>
>>> That irks me not at the supermarkets, because that means free item.
>>
>> Man's got a point, but I'd rather not have the hassle. I just
>> want to pick out my stuff, pay the agreed price with no problems.
>> That would aggravate me, too, Sky. Where I shop used to be
>> horrible about that.

> Yep, I know exactly what y'all mean. Alas, not all stores have that
> 'free' policy when something scans incorrectly.

You know what? I believe it might be the law, not store policy.
I stand ready to be severely reprimanding if I'm wrong. You
might want to check your state's policy.

> The store I frequent
> most often doesn't have that scan-incorrectly-get-it-free policy.
> Another local grocery store does, but it's not worth shopping there
> because it's more expensive for nearly everything there than the
> former one is.

I don't know if I'm just lucky, the two stores I frequent (three, if you
cound Costco) are about as close to perfect on this as you could
ask. I appreciate it.

nancy

Dimitri wrote:
> I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?
>
> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like buying?
>
> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when
> you need it?
>
> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why
> I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>
> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do laundry
> and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.
>
I do look at prices and have a fairly good idea of the price of I have
pretty good idea of the price of things that I normally buy and the
prices at the other stores where I shop. When I head out to the grocery
store I think about the things that I need and which store has the best
prices for those items.

One of the stores where I regularly shop tends to have the best prices
on chicken and frequently has exceptional sale prices, so when I want to
stock up chicken I head there when it is on sale and then pick up the
other things that they tend to have good prices on. However, they do not
carry some of the things that I regularly get. I don't like to do my
shopping in multiple stores the same week because I tend to be an
impulse shopper and will end up spending way more and defeating the
purpose of bargain hunting.

On Aug 21, 9:30�pm, Dave Smith > wrote:
> Dimitri wrote:
> > I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> > How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> > 20, 50, 200?
>
> > Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like buying?
>
> > Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when
> > you need it?
>
> > I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why
> > I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>
> > When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do laundry
> > and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.
>
> I do look at prices and have a fairly good idea of the price of I have
> pretty good idea of the price of things that I normally buy and the
> prices at the other stores where I shop. When I head out to the grocery
> store I think about the things that I need and which store has the best
> prices for those items.
>
> One of the stores where I regularly shop tends to have the best prices
> on chicken and frequently has exceptional sale prices, so when I want to
> stock up chicken I head there when it is on sale and then pick up the
> other things that they tend to have good prices on. However, they do not
> carry some of the things that I regularly get. I don't like to do my
> shopping in multiple stores the same week because I tend to be an
> impulse shopper and will end up spending way more and defeating the
> purpose of bargain hunting.


At all the markets where I shop the register prints a detailed
receipt. When I get home I check the printed prices against the
advertised prices... I've rarely found an error where I've over paid
but when I do the next time I shop I bring the receipt to customer
service and they make the adjustment and apologize. Of course I don't
see anyone admitting to those times when the error was in the
customer's favor, I've found many more of those and especially when
they neglect to ring up items altogether, that happens often.

Dave Smith wrote:
>
> One of the stores where I regularly shop tends to have the best prices
> on chicken and frequently has exceptional sale prices, so when I want to
> stock up chicken I head there when it is on sale and then pick up the
> other things that they tend to have good prices on. However, they do not
> carry some of the things that I regularly get. I don't like to do my
> shopping in multiple stores the same week because I tend to be an
> impulse shopper and will end up spending way more and defeating the
> purpose of bargain hunting.

I shop with a list and I rarely impulse buy... it has to be something
I regularly use, at a good price, and I'm reminded that I'm running
low but neglected to put it on my list.

With the price of fuel these days shopping multiple stores defeats the
purpose of bargain hunting. Most sale items are things people don't
actually need anyway so it's best to not buy them at all, ever... and
it's just plain dumb to drive clear accross town just because they
have bacon for 50 cents less a pound than the usual price... no one
needs bacon to live and burning up even one extra gallon of gas more
than wipes out the 50 cents on many pounds of bacon... wait until next
week and your regular store will have bacon on sale, it's the same
with all items, stores take turns placing items on sale because they
know that many shoppers feel OMG, if I don't snap it up right now I
will never ever get such an opportunity again in my lifetime... these
are sick puppies... marketing people know all the shopoholic
psychologies, that's why they invented the debit card, legalized
pickpocketing. When I make up my shopping list I put an estimated
price next to each item rounded up to the full dime. That's how much
grocery shopping cash I bring with me and that is all I will spend...
grocery shopping with plastic is one of the best ways to guarantee
living in perpetual debt, owning nothing, not even the food you eat.

Sheldon wrote:
> I shop with a list and I rarely impulse buy... it has to be something
> I regularly use, at a good price, and I'm reminded that I'm running
> low but neglected to put it on my list.
>
> With the price of fuel these days shopping multiple stores defeats the
> purpose of bargain hunting. Most sale items are things people don't
> actually need anyway so it's best to not buy them at all, ever... and
> it's just plain dumb to drive clear accross town just because they
> have bacon for 50 cents less a pound than the usual price... no one
> needs bacon to live and burning up even one extra gallon of gas more
> than wipes out the 50 cents on many pounds of bacon... wait until next
> week and your regular store will have bacon on sale, it's the same
> with all items, stores take turns placing items on sale because they
> know that many shoppers feel OMG, if I don't snap it up right now I
> will never ever get such an opportunity again in my lifetime... these
> are sick puppies... marketing people know all the shopoholic
> psychologies, that's why they invented the debit card, legalized
> pickpocketing. When I make up my shopping list I put an estimated
> price next to each item rounded up to the full dime. That's how much
> grocery shopping cash I bring with me and that is all I will spend...
> grocery shopping with plastic is one of the best ways to guarantee
> living in perpetual debt, owning nothing, not even the food you eat.
>
I agree with much of that--and I thought I was the only one who
did that jotting down of estimated prices etc. I also have NEVER
paid with a credit or debit card--or a check for that matter.

--
Jean B.

Sheldon wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
>>
>> I don't like to do my shopping in multiple stores the same week
>> because I tend to be an impulse shopper and will end up spending way
>> more and defeating the purpose of bargain hunting.
>
> I shop with a list and I rarely impulse buy... it has to be something
> I regularly use, at a good price, and I'm reminded that I'm running
> low but neglected to put it on my list.
>
> With the price of fuel these days shopping multiple stores defeats the
> purpose of bargain hunting. Most sale items are things people don't
> actually need anyway
(snippage)
>

I agree. Even before the jacked up fuel prices it didn't make sense to me
to drive all over town to save a few pennies here and there. Gas still
costs more than that 25 or 50 cents a gallon. And yes, most (not all) sale
items are things I don't buy anyway. I don't need (for example) three boxes
of cake mix for a dollar. I'm not exactly in the market for a pumpkin pie,
either, but apparently I can save up to $3.30 if I buy one from the local
Publix bakery right now for only $4.29! LOL

Jill

On Aug 22, 12:21*pm, "jmcquown" > wrote:
> Sheldon wrote:
> > Dave Smith wrote:
>
> >> I don't like to do my shopping in multiple stores the same week
> >> because I tend to be an impulse shopper and will end up spending way
> >> more and defeating the purpose of bargain hunting.
>
> > I shop with a list and I rarely impulse buy... it has to be something
> > I regularly use, at a good price, and I'm reminded that I'm running
> > low but neglected to put it on my list.
>
> > With the price of fuel these days shopping multiple stores defeats the
> > purpose of bargain hunting. *Most sale items are things people don't
> > actually need anyway
> (snippage)
>
> I agree. *Even before the jacked up fuel prices it didn't make sense to me
> to drive all over town to save a few pennies here and there. *Gas still
> costs more than that 25 or 50 cents a gallon. *And yes, most (not all) sale
> items are things I don't buy anyway. *I don't need (for example) three boxes
> of cake mix for a dollar. *I'm not exactly in the market for a pumpkin pie,
> either, but apparently I can save up to $3.30 if I buy one from the local
> Publix bakery right now for only $4.29! *LOL
>
> Jill-

Have you considered a bicycle for shopping? No gas costs and you
could virtuously eat the pumpkin pie, knowing that you have already
worked off any extra calories.

John Kane Kingston ON Canada

John Kane wrote:
> On Aug 22, 12:21 pm, "jmcquown" > wrote:
>> most (not all) sale items are things I don't buy anyway. I don't
>> need (for example) three boxes of cake mix for a dollar. I'm not
>> exactly in the market for a pumpkin pie, either, but apparently I
>> can save up to $3.30 if I buy one from the local Publix bakery right
>> now for only $4.29! LOL
>>
>> Jill-
>
> Have you considered a bicycle for shopping? No gas costs and you
> could virtuously eat the pumpkin pie, knowing that you have already
> worked off any extra calories.
>
> John Kane Kingston ON Canada

WTF would I want a bicycle for? The grocery store is 10 miles away. And I
don't eat (or bake) cake or eat pumpkin pie. But even if I did I could
"virtuously" all I want. I don't have a weight problem.

Jill

On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:21:35 -0400, "jmcquown" >
wrote:


>I agree. Even before the jacked up fuel prices it didn't make sense to me
>to drive all over town to save a few pennies here and there. Gas still
>costs more than that 25 or 50 cents a gallon. And yes, most (not all) sale
>items are things I don't buy anyway. I don't need (for example) three boxes
>of cake mix for a dollar. I'm not exactly in the market for a pumpkin pie,
>either, but apparently I can save up to $3.30 if I buy one from the local
>Publix bakery right now for only $4.29! LOL
>
>Jill

I do buy sale items, especially when the prices are really great. Like
a week or two ago..when the new Mexican megamart here in town had
boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for like $1.59/pound.
I use enough of those to warrant buying in bulk...I got several
packages, and now if I want to fix something using those, I just go
shopping in my freezer, for a significant savings.
If it is just a few pennies, then I debate the value of driving to the
specific store to pick it up. But that sale was a significant price
drop from most places..so it made sense to me to buy a few packages.

Christine

"Sheldon" > wrote in message
...
> Dave Smith wrote:
>>
>> One of the stores where I regularly shop tends to have the best prices
>> on chicken and frequently has exceptional sale prices, so when I want to
>> stock up chicken I head there when it is on sale and then pick up the
>> other things that they tend to have good prices on. However, they do not
>> carry some of the things that I regularly get. I don't like to do my
>> shopping in multiple stores the same week because I tend to be an
>> impulse shopper and will end up spending way more and defeating the
>> purpose of bargain hunting.
>
> I shop with a list and I rarely impulse buy... it has to be something
> I regularly use, at a good price, and I'm reminded that I'm running
> low but neglected to put it on my list.
>
> With the price of fuel these days shopping multiple stores defeats the
> purpose of bargain hunting. Most sale items are things people don't
> actually need anyway so it's best to not buy them at all, ever... and
> it's just plain dumb to drive clear accross town just because they
> have bacon for 50 cents less a pound than the usual price... no one
> needs bacon to live and burning up even one extra gallon of gas more
> than wipes out the 50 cents on many pounds of bacon... wait until next
> week and your regular store will have bacon on sale, it's the same
> with all items, stores take turns placing items on sale because they
> know that many shoppers feel OMG, if I don't snap it up right now I
> will never ever get such an opportunity again in my lifetime... these
> are sick puppies... marketing people know all the shopoholic
> psychologies, that's why they invented the debit card, legalized
> pickpocketing. When I make up my shopping list I put an estimated
> price next to each item rounded up to the full dime. That's how much
> grocery shopping cash I bring with me and that is all I will spend...
> grocery shopping with plastic is one of the best ways to guarantee
> living in perpetual debt, owning nothing, not even the food you eat.
>

Unless you get 3 miles for every dollar you spend on groceries on the credit
card.

Kswck wrote:
> "Sheldon" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Dave Smith wrote:
>>>
>>> get. I don't like to do my shopping in multiple stores the same
>>> week because I tend to be an impulse shopper and will end up
>>> spending way more and defeating the purpose of bargain hunting.
>>
>> With the price of fuel these days shopping multiple stores defeats
>> the purpose of bargain hunting. Most sale items are things people
>> don't actually need anyway so it's best to not buy them at all,
>> ever... and it's just plain dumb to drive clear accross town just
>> because they have bacon for 50 cents less a pound than the usual
>> price...
>
> Unless you get 3 miles for every dollar you spend on groceries on the
> credit card.

Hopefully it's a card you're paying off each month rather than paying
interest on food.

Jill

"Dimitri" > wrote in
:

> I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?
>

Nearly everything I buy on a regular basis. Or rather, I know the lowest
price I am likely to find, and the price at which I am not willing to
buy an item. Some items cost twice as much at some stores than others; I
try and get the *best* value, so I really don't care about average
price.

> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
> buying?
>

I write a list before I go to the store based on what is on sale, and
what I need to buy to use up perishables I already have. There is such a
variance of prices between stores (especially for people like me, who
shop at Aldi and similar stores on a regular basis), that I can't help
but notice when particular items are twice the price at some stores.

> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need
> when you need it?
>

Both; I will stock up on meat when it is on sale, but I only cook for
two (and occasionally, three) so space is less of an issue than for
some. If there is something I want to cook, I'll buy the ingredients
whether they are on sale or not; I just try to get the best value for my
dollar (fresh herbs are a killer! I can't wait till I can start up a
garden.)

> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly
> why I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>
> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do
> laundry and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.

I used to do that at my ex-in-law's. My daughter knows where the granola
bars and fruit roll-ups are at my mom's, heh. I usually have a cabinet
full of canned goods and a freezer jam-packed with meat, but I'm trying
to use up all of that stuff to save some $$ in the next few weeks.
Latchkey at Ellie's new school is twice what it was at her old school!

Saerah

"Dimitri" > ha scritto nel messaggio
...
>I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?

Not very many!
>
> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like buying?

I definitely pay attention to prices. O did NOT buy monkfish this week
because it was there but costly: euto 24 kilo for a fish that has lots of
waste.

> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when
> you need it?

Well, both, and partly because when there are specials on certain pastas it
may be from an area or a company not usually sold at my store, but that I
find superior, so I buy a bunch. Or lamb, pork, veal are killed most at
certain seasons and are top quality and lowest price right then. I buy it
for the freezer because it is the best of the year.

> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why I
> just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.

I do, I think, but partly because I live in the country. Also because I
want to eat what I want, not what there is.

> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do laundry
> and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.

I would too, you pushover!

>
> Dimitri

Giusi said...

> "Dimitri" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> ...
>>I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>>
>> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> Not very many!
>>
>> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
>> buying?
>
> I definitely pay attention to prices. O did NOT buy monkfish this week
> because it was there but costly: euto 24 kilo for a fish that has lots
> of waste.
>
>> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when
>> you need it?
>
> Well, both, and partly because when there are specials on certain pastas
> it may be from an area or a company not usually sold at my store, but
> that I find superior, so I buy a bunch. Or lamb, pork, veal are killed
> most at certain seasons and are top quality and lowest price right then.
> I buy it for the freezer because it is the best of the year.
>
>> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why
>> I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>
> I do, I think, but partly because I live in the country. Also because I
> want to eat what I want, not what there is.
>
>> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do
>> laundry and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.
>
> I would too, you pushover!
>
>>
>> Dimitri


There should be an iPhone touch app that instantly rounds up same product
food prices and then proximity locate the cheapest price from the comfort
of your kitchen La-Z-Boy!?!

Andy
Without iPhone
With La-Z-Boy

Andy wrote:
>>
> There should be an iPhone touch app that instantly rounds up same product
> food prices and then proximity locate the cheapest price from the comfort
> of your kitchen La-Z-Boy!?!

That already exists, you can easily price shop the entire planet on
your PC... but that's kind of broad margined... if you live in Alabama
it's pretty useless to find milk a nickle cheaper in W. Virgina...
it's far simpler to browse the circulars at the local stores you
usually shop, and you can do that on line, that's what I do, that's
part of how I compile my grocery shopping list. I do all my comparison
shopping on line before heading out to the store and most times I just
order the item on line, from small items like OTC pharmaceuticles
(Amazon usually has the best prices on toiletries and OTC drugs) to a
new Kohler bathroom sink faucet (Amazon had the best price) to major
appliances like a TV (Walmart had the best price) or a stove (Lowes
had the best price). I hardly ever drive around to stores (I haven't
been to a Maul for probably 10 years), I love shopping on line, I let
UPS, etal. burn their gas and time... shipping charges are always less
than driving my own vehicle, and everything is delivered right to my
door.

Sheldon said...

> Andy wrote:
>>>
>> There should be an iPhone touch app that instantly rounds up same
product
>> food prices and then proximity locate the cheapest price from the
comfort
>> of your kitchen La-Z-Boy!?!
>
> That already exists, you can easily price shop the entire planet on
> your PC... but that's kind of broad margined... if you live in Alabama
> it's pretty useless to find milk a nickle cheaper in W. Virgina...
> it's far simpler to browse the circulars at the local stores you
> usually shop, and you can do that on line, that's what I do, that's
> part of how I compile my grocery shopping list. I do all my comparison
> shopping on line before heading out to the store and most times I just
> order the item on line, from small items like OTC pharmaceuticles
> (Amazon usually has the best prices on toiletries and OTC drugs) to a
> new Kohler bathroom sink faucet (Amazon had the best price) to major
> appliances like a TV (Walmart had the best price) or a stove (Lowes
> had the best price). I hardly ever drive around to stores (I haven't
> been to a Maul for probably 10 years), I love shopping on line, I let
> UPS, etal. burn their gas and time... shipping charges are always less
> than driving my own vehicle, and everything is delivered right to my
> door.


True to a point but if you're somewhere in town and need an item, being
able to use such an app on an iPhone to find the product cheaper OR on your
way home OR nothing cheaper within X miles intelligence would be handy as
heck!

Andy

"Giusi" wrote:
> "Dimitri" writes:
>
> > How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> Not very many!

You're probably confused by the word "average" (involves arithmatic
and guineas only have six fingers on each hand). How can one not know
the *approximate* price of foods they use all the time... imbecile!

In article >, Sheldon > wrote:
>"Giusi" wrote:
>> "Dimitri" writes:
>>
>> > How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>>
>> Not very many!
>
>You're probably confused by the word "average" (involves arithmatic
>and guineas only have six fingers on each hand). How can one not know
>the *approximate* price of foods they use all the time... imbecile!

Dunno what it's like over there, but here in the deep north of the
deep south there's no such thing as an approximate price of the foods
I use all the time (vegetables, fruit, and fresh meat). There is only
an *enormous* range. For example, broccoli was about $2.48/kg 10 days
ago; today it was $8.98. [I didn't buy any.]

Consequently, I buy on price limits. I would rarely buy fruit or
vegies at >$4.00/kg and for the "heavy vegetables" like onions, spuds
and pumpkins, it would have to be under $2.00/kg. One can always find
substitutes that are reasonably priced (unless one has an unfortunate
craving from time to time :-).

Where fresh meat is concerned I find I gaggle at >$3.00 or so per
meal. So that has become a bit of a problem with so many cuts now
around $20 or more/kg. But even then, with two reasonable
supermarkets in town, it's usually possible to find some cuts of beef
or pork or lamb or chook on special every week. (And you can always
"dilute" mince down to make enough spag sauce to last a fortnight.

When it comes to grocery items in tins, bottles, or boxes, I've no
idea what the "average" price would be. The stuff I buy like that
usually lasts for weeks, so it's hardly worth quibbling over 10c here
or there on individual items.

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID

(Phred) wrote:
> Sheldon wrote:
> >"Giusi" wrote:
> >> "Dimitri" writes:
>
> >> > How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> >> Not very many!
>
> >You're probably confused by the word "average" (involves arithmatic
> >and guineas only have six fingers on each hand). �How can one not know
> >the *approximate* price of foods they use all the time... imbecile!
>
> Dunno what it's like over there, but here in the deep north of the
> deep south there's no such thing as an approximate price of the foods
> I use all the time (vegetables, fruit, and fresh meat). �There is only
> an *enormous* range. �For example, broccoli was about $2.48/kg 10 days
> ago; today it was $8.98. �[I didn't buy any.]

Fresh produce amd fresh meats are obviously seasonal; average people
realize those prices vary by time of year. Even though fresh broccoli
is available here all year it's much less expensive and better quality
in season (late summer/fall) but frozen brocolli is essentially the
same price all year and often there are sales on frozen produce all
year. Frozen vegetables are always a better buy simply for the fact
that they are nutritionally superior to so-called fresh at the
market... I almost always buy frozen broccoli, the small (10 ounce)
boxes are convenient and the larger bags (2-4 lbs) are very good
quality because they contain large whole spears or large florets, and
with frozen there is no waste and frozen produce has a long shelf
life. I only buy fresh broccoli when it's on sale/in season and when
I want to use fresh; in a salad, for dips, or a fancy stir fry
(although frozen works well in stir frys too). But for caserols/soups
(I buy chopped), and side dishes frozen is actually better than
fresh. I rarely buy so-called fresh stupidmarket veggies (it was
fresh like three weeks ago when harvested), frozen is almosts always
superior, and prices are stable... and I grow many of my own so I know
those are truly fresh when eaten within an hour of harvest.

With fresh meats one needs to be menu flexible, it's not possible to
know what will be the best buy until you see with your own eyes...
just because something is on sale in the ads doesn't mean it will look
very appetizing when you see it. With meats I go to the store with
something in mind, I may think I'll have those on sale beef steaks for
dinner but when I see them I can easily switch to those better looking
pork chops. And again, with meats there is frozen too, I keep an
array of frozen meats in my freezer, but I never stock up on meats to
freeze, in the US of A food is very plentiful, there is always a wide
choice of fresh meats on sale every day... and naturally once again
many fresh meats are seasonal; lamb, veal, ham, seafood, turkey/duck/
goose. One of my favorite meats is fresh ham (I rarely buy cured) but
it's very seasonal, typically only available in limited supply at
Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas... fresh ham is inexpensive,
typically $1,20-$1.50/lb, but it's a rather large joint of meat and
many families can't eat it all nor will it easily fit into a freezer,
nor do many even know how to cook it (there are infinite methods),
otherwize it could easily be available all year (in the US 99 pct of
hams are cured)... and I don't really care much for fresh ham once
it's been frozen so I'll buy a butt half when available and roast it
rightaway. Fresh ham is an excellent buy because it's always within
the price range I indicated and there is very little waste compared
with other roasts... and as far as I'm concerned fresh ham is the king
of meats.

But shopping carts are mostly filled with packaged groceries and those
are available all year and for the most part are price stable with few
exceptions... how can someone who shops regularly not know the
approximate prices of milk, butter, cheese, canned goods, bottled
beverages, cleaning products, etc... Giusi has no concept of the price
of a bar of soap and a roll of TP... I'm possitive if you ever got a
whiff of her you'd know I tell the truth... actually she's mostly
rotten on the inside, there's no help for that bitter, low IQ, stinky
buffoon... that a good name for Giusi, "Stupid Stinky the Clown". <G>

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. . . .

Sheldon

"Sheldon" > ha scritto nel messaggio

But shopping carts are mostly filled with packaged groceries and those
are available all year and for the most part are price stable with few
exceptions... how can someone who shops regularly not know the
approximate prices of milk, butter, cheese, canned goods, bottled
beverages, cleaning products, etc... Giusi has no concept of the price
of a bar of soap and a roll of TP... I'm possitive if you ever got a
whiff of her you'd know I tell the truth... actually she's mostly
rotten on the inside, there's no help for that bitter, low IQ, stinky
buffoon... that a good name for Giusi, "Stupid Stinky the Clown". <G>

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. . . .

Sheldon

Ahhh, but differences are impenetrable to you because you do not understand
that there are peple who buy almost none of that list at a supermarket.

milk: latteria
butter: same
cheese: cheese shop-- there are 463 cheeses in Italy
canned goods: nope
bottled beverages: only buy water and that at an enoteca
cleaning products: almost none and those at a shop called casalinga
soap: pomegranate soap from a pharmacy in Prague
Toilet paper? Why would I care what it costs? It's not like you can not
buy it.

Not everybody in the world lives like you do. I think that is a very good
thing.

On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:34:21 -0700, "Dimitri" >
wrote:

>I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
>How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
>20, 50, 200?

At least 100.

>Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like buying?

If I have something planned I'll take a list and go to the store that
I know has the best prices on what I'm making. I always pay attention
to prices. I've been known to change my menu plans in the store if
whatever I need is too high or even if there's a great deal on
something else. Sometimes we'll go shopping without a list or a plan
and devise our menu in the store. Obviously that only works if you've
got a little extra time but we enjoy being together and it's always
fun. Just don't do it when you're starving.

>Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when you
>need it?

Stock up.

>I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why I
>just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.

We were trying to keep the stock lower when the kids left. Then one
came back so he could finish medic school and we kept more around but
he's a fast food freak and hasn't been eating much. He could probably
still afford rent if he'd stay out of taco bell. But we still have
lots of food reserves. I'm sure if we needed to we could eat for a
couple of months with what we've got in stock.

>When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do laundry and
>"go shopping" in dad's pantry.

You're lucky. Ours don't want anything that hasn't been cooked.
Oldest daughter's signature dish comes in a blue box. Son can make a
mean sandwich. Youngest daughter is actually trying to learn but
she's in Seattle so we can't help her learn much. She tries to eat
vegetarian so I gave her all my veg-head cook books. Poor thing just
can't stay away from bacon. <eg>

Lou

Michael "Dog3" said...

> Lou Decruss >
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>> She tries to eat
>> vegetarian so I gave her all my veg-head cook books. Poor thing just
>> can't stay away from bacon. <eg>
>
> I know of few people that can resist bacon.
>
> Michael <- eyeballing his expanding 53 year old, gradually expanding
> waistline.


I, for one, miss bacon!

I even miss the sizzling sound it makes!

Andy

Dimitri wrote:
> I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>
> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>
> 20, 50, 200?
>
> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like buying?
>
> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when
> you need it?
>
> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why
> I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>
> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do laundry
> and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.
>
> Dimitri
Hmm.... around 100 And yes I pay attention to prices and have watched
them go up and up over the last year.
I stock up when I can find good prices on items that I usually buy
on a regular basis. But, for the most part, I just buy what I need. I
have never really gotten into the "Hey it's on sale...BUT A LOT OF IT"
mentality and I am not a coupon person.

One question: Is it just me, or has anybody else noticed the price of
coffee go though the roof in the last 6-8 months? What I used to buy for
$7 a can now costs $9.37.... a 25% increase and there is supposed to
be a glut amoung coffee producers...

George - Who is sitting on about an 8 month supply of coffee that he got
a $6 a can....

George Cebulka said...

> Dimitri wrote:
>> I just finished a little post on TJ'S and got to thinking.
>>
>> How many food items do you think you know the average price of?
>>
>> 20, 50, 200?
>>
>> Do you pay attention to the prices or just buy what you feel like
buying?
>>
>> Do you stock up on food at a great price or just buy what you need when
>> you need it?
>>
>> I always keep a large supply of food on hand - I don't know exactly why
>> I just like be able to decide at the last minute what to have.
>>
>> When the girls were in School they would come to the house to do laundry
>> and "go shopping" in dad's pantry.
>>
>> Dimitri
> Hmm.... around 100 And yes I pay attention to prices and have watched
> them go up and up over the last year.
> I stock up when I can find good prices on items that I usually buy
> on a regular basis. But, for the most part, I just buy what I need. I
> have never really gotten into the "Hey it's on sale...BUT A LOT OF IT"
> mentality and I am not a coupon person.
>
> One question: Is it just me, or has anybody else noticed the price of
> coffee go though the roof in the last 6-8 months? What I used to buy for
> $7 a can now costs $9.37.... a 25% increase and there is supposed to
> be a glut amoung coffee producers...
>
> George - Who is sitting on about an 8 month supply of coffee that he got
> a $6 a can....


I don't go for cheapness as often as I go for minimally processed food at
whatever price.

I'll easily cash in on various sundries at the wholesale club.

Andy

George Cebulka > wrote:
>
> One question: Is it just me, or has anybody else noticed the price of
> coffee go though the roof in the last 6-8 months? What I used to buy for
> � $7 a can now costs $9.37.... a 25% increase and there is supposed to
> be a glut amoung coffee producers...
>
> George - Who is sitting on about an 8 month supply of coffee that he got
> a $6 a can.

I haven't seen coffee spike. I see you're in PA, what kind of coffee
are you buying, and what size can? I've been buying Eight O'Clock
whole bean for five years now, it's been pretty much the same price
all that time... I buy it at Walmart, they have the best price, a 36
ounce bag costs like $10. I've found coffee prices all over the place
depending on where you buy, the small local market in town charges
like $16, the large market, Price Chopper charges like $13, Amazon.com
charges $17.77... Walmart has the lowest price.

But coffee is one of those crops that can have a poor year, so there
can be true shortages, you're smart to stock up.

Sheldon wrote:
> George Cebulka > wrote:
>> One question: Is it just me, or has anybody else noticed the price of
>> coffee go though the roof in the last 6-8 months? What I used to buy for
>> � $7 a can now costs $9.37.... a 25% increase and there is supposed to
>> be a glut amoung coffee producers...
>>
>> George - Who is sitting on about an 8 month supply of coffee that he got
>> a $6 a can.
>
> I haven't seen coffee spike. I see you're in PA, what kind of coffee
> are you buying, and what size can? I've been buying Eight O'Clock
> whole bean for five years now, it's been pretty much the same price
> all that time... I buy it at Walmart, they have the best price, a 36
> ounce bag costs like $10. I've found coffee prices all over the place
> depending on where you buy, the small local market in town charges
> like $16, the large market, Price Chopper charges like $13, Amazon.com
> charges $17.77... Walmart has the lowest price.
>
> But coffee is one of those crops that can have a poor year, so there
> can be true shortages, you're smart to stock up.

I'm in Pittsburgh. The coffee that I buy is Maxwell House medium in the
48oz can. I get these at Costco. They were running a special back in
December or January at $6 a can and I bought 24 cans (I buy for our
office also.) I go about one a month for buy supplies for work and since
Febuary, I've seen the price go from ~7 to 7.80 to 8.29 to 8.89 to 9.19
as of last week.
From what I have noticed at Costco and the local grocery stores all
coffee has gone up by a couple of dollars per unit (can, bag, pound).
I heard something on the NPR in May about there being a bumper crop of
coffee in most of the countries that produce it... It sort of makes me
wonder what is going on here... Since an increase in amount of product
with demand being the same or decreasing should work out to a lower
cost, not a higher one...

George Cebulka wrote:

> Sheldon wrote:
> > George Cebulka > wrote:
> >> One question: Is it just me, or has anybody else noticed the price of
> >> coffee go though the roof in the last 6-8 months? What I used to buy
for
> >> ? $7 a can now costs $9.37.... a 25% increase and there is supposed to
> >> be a glut amoung coffee producers...
> >>
> >> George - Who is sitting on about an 8 month supply of coffee that he
got
> >> a $6 a can.
> >
> > I haven't seen coffee spike. I see you're in PA, what kind of coffee
> > are you buying, and what size can? I've been buying Eight O'Clock
> > whole bean for five years now, it's been pretty much the same price
> > all that time... I buy it at Walmart, they have the best price, a 36
> > ounce bag costs like $10. I've found coffee prices all over the place
> > depending on where you buy, the small local market in town charges
> > like $16, the large market, Price Chopper charges like $13, Amazon.com
> > charges $17.77... Walmart has the lowest price.
> >
> > But coffee is one of those crops that can have a poor year, so there
> > can be true shortages, you're smart to stock up.
>
> I'm in Pittsburgh. The coffee that I buy is Maxwell House medium in the
> 48oz can. I get these at Costco. They were running a special back in
> December or January at $6 a can and I bought 24 cans (I buy for our
> office also.) I go about one a month for buy supplies for work and since
> Febuary, I've seen the price go from ~7 to 7.80 to 8.29 to 8.89 to 9.19
> as of last week.
> From what I have noticed at Costco and the local grocery stores all
> coffee has gone up by a couple of dollars per unit (can, bag, pound).
> I heard something on the NPR in May about there being a bumper crop of
> coffee in most of the countries that produce it... It sort of makes me
> wonder what is going on here... Since an increase in amount of product
> with demand being the same or decreasing should work out to a lower
> cost, not a higher one...


Yup, coffee is the one thing that I've noticed that has shot up in price. I
get my coffee at a local place (Coffee & Tea Exchange, here in Chicago) and
they have the most reasonable prices around. A year ago their weekly sale
coffees would be maybe $4.99 per pound, now they are $6.49. C & T runs
about half the price of Starbux, I notice in the store that a pound of
Starbux or other "premium" coffee runs up towards twelve bux...

Another thing I've noticed is "The Great Shrinking Coffee Bag", the trend
started a coupla years ago with bags going from 16 oz. down to 12 oz., now
I'm seeing premium bags consisting of 10 oz. of product, the price being
more than a pound bag used to be, natch...


--
Best
Greg

George Cebulka > wrote:
> Sheldon wrote:
> > George Cebulka > wrote:
> >> One question: Is it just me, or has anybody else noticed the price of
> >> coffee go though the roof in the last 6-8 months? What I used to buy for
> >> $7 a can now costs $9.37.... a 25% increase and there is supposed to
> >> be a glut amoung coffee producers...
>
> >> George - Who is sitting on about an 8 month supply of coffee that he got
> >> a $6 a can.
>
> > I haven't seen coffee spike. �I see you're in PA, what kind of coffee
> > are you buying, and what size can? �I've been buying Eight O'Clock
> > whole bean for five years now, it's been pretty much the same price
> > all that time... I buy it at Walmart, they have the best price, a 36
> > ounce bag costs like $10. �I've found coffee prices all over the place
> > depending on where you buy, the small local market in town charges
> > like $16, the large market, Price Chopper charges like $13, Amazon.com
> > charges $17.77... Walmart has the lowest price.
>
> > But coffee is one of those crops that can have a poor year, so there
> > can be true shortages, you're smart to stock up.
>
> I'm in Pittsburgh. The coffee that I buy is Maxwell House medium in the
> 48oz can. I get these at Costco. They were running a special back in
> December or January at $6 a can and I bought 24 cans (I buy for our
> office also.) I go about one a month for buy supplies for work and since
> Febuary, I've seen the price go from ~7 to 7.80 to 8.29 to 8.89 to 9.19
> as of last week.

When you buy coffee in those large cans a good portion of the increase
is for that large steel can, a lot of energy is consumed to make
steel... you'd do much better pricewise buying coffee in bags. And
even with the bumper crop it still costs a great deel to ship coffee
from the tropics, and a lot of energy is consumed in roasting beans...
if you factor in the recent surge in energy costs I think you will
better understand why coffee prices have risen. When the price of oil
doubles everything goes up in price accordingly... my last electric
bill (June, July, ten days in August) is $800, up from $600 for the
same period last year and my useage is the same... due to the oil
crunch electric has risen some 30 pct. Fortunately the A/C season is
coming to an end. This afternoon I went for my yearly eye exam, I
needed a slight increase in Rx for distance and reading. My exam cost
$75 and the new lenses cost $200... last year the exam cost $55 and
the lenses cost $160. Fortunately I have high quality frames that are
still as good as brand new so I don't need to replace those.
Everything costs more... I would urge folks not to use their oven
until winter.

On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:32:48 -0700 (PDT), Sheldon >
wrote:

>George Cebulka > wrote:
>> Sheldon wrote:
>> > George Cebulka > wrote:
>> >> One question: Is it just me, or has anybody else noticed the price of
>> >> coffee go though the roof in the last 6-8 months? What I used to buy for
>> >> $7 a can now costs $9.37.... a 25% increase and there is supposed to
>> >> be a glut amoung coffee producers...
>>
>> >> George - Who is sitting on about an 8 month supply of coffee that he got
>> >> a $6 a can.
>>
>> > I haven't seen coffee spike. ?I see you're in PA, what kind of coffee

>When you buy coffee in those large cans a good portion of the increase
>is for that large steel can, a lot of energy is consumed to make
>steel... you'd do much better pricewise buying coffee in bags. And
>even with the bumper crop it still costs a great deel to ship coffee
>from the tropics, and a lot of energy is consumed in roasting beans...
>if you factor in the recent surge in energy costs I think you will
>better understand why coffee prices have risen. When the price of oil
>doubles everything goes up in price accordingly... my last electric
>bill (June, July, ten days in August) is $800, up from $600 for the
>same period last year and my useage is the same... due to the oil
>crunch electric has risen some 30 pct.

Coffee. On our coffee farm, the roasting cost has indeed
escalated with the cost of fuel, as well as the weed whacking of the
farm (fuel), as well as the processing of the coffee (fuel),
fertilizer jumped enormously this year too--- and lastly, the hired
pickers want more.

There are a lot of increased costs with specialty coffee - due to
fuel, and I am sure with not so special coffee, too.

aloha,
beans
roast beans to kona to email
farmers of Pure Kona