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Price shock!!!! at the food store!!

J

JD Seller

Well-known Member
MY wife is visiting relatives for a few weeks. So I am baching it. She does just about 100% of the shopping for food/household "stuff" . I just keep the checkbook stocked. LOL

Last Wed. a few childhood friends called saying they would be in the area and they wanted to come an visit. So I invited them to come for supper. I did not have much of anything thawed out so I just went to town to buy some things for a nice meal. The local store has very good quality meat. So they had these real nice inch thick rib eye steaks. I got four, one for each of us. Then some nice large baking potatoes. Some milk and cheese, bread, just normal basic food stuffs other than the steaks. When I check out the total was $82!!!! Just two little bags too. WOW I know the wife just spends maybe twice that for a weeks worth of food for the both of us. Now she would rarely be buying any meat as we have it in the freezer. Still the total kind of shocked me.

When I got home I looked over the bill some more to see what everything cost. It was the meat, potato salad and mac/pea salad that cost $55 of the total. The meat was the biggest cost of this group as well, $42. So it was over $10 each for the steaks. WOW

I can afford this on a limited basis, like this time being a special occasion. We could not afford to buy beef regularly at the prices it is selling for right now. So are we beef producers cutting our own throats for long term consumption??? There is no way a normal household could afford much beef in their diet at these prices. I looked in the store yesterday as I was doing this weeks shopping, you can buy pork and chicken for half what beef is costing. So will the current prices switch the average consumer's buying habits for the future??? I know it did in the late 1970s when higher food prices and inflation strapped the average consumer. It took years for the beef consumption to come back up.

I know that the beef producers need to recover from some blood letting years of high feed prices, coupled with drought and other economic hardships. We still need to worry about the long term effects of high price swings on both sides of the equation. $11 dollar a pound steaks are not good for the consumer. $500 week old dairy bottle calves is not good for producers either. This is kind of like the $15K per acre/$500 dollar rents and $7 dollar corn throwing a monkey wrench into grain production.So will the high prices of today make for longer lows during the next cycle???

PS: I should call and see what the coverage my insurance has on the contents of the freezers. Maybe they have refrigerated safety deposit boxes at the bank???? LOL
 
JD Seller.
I shop at wally world once a week. It close, I like the prices and I know where everything is in the store. That said, we don't buy expensive meats. Don't buy booze. Just buy what we need.

Last trip was $275. It was for our family's Father's day cookout.

Most of the time it closer to $175 for just 2 people.

Everytime I check out, I think of working for a $1/hr at a gas station, thinking I would have to work for more than 175 hrs to pay for Wally's groceries.

Some people who think they can retire on less money than they are currently making need to find an inflation calculator, do some math. Inflation will soon put them in the poor house. My older brother found that out the hard way.
 
Yep, that is the trend JD. Our local Farm & Dairy reported beef consumption down last year and pork and chicken up.
Don't remember numbers but I'll check them out and repost.
 
I have truly been blessed. In my younger days I worked really hard, skimped and saved and did without a lot of things that my friends were buying. I made some really good financial decisions that have paid off well. As a result I can afford to eat most anything I want now. But that being said, I am aware of the cost to the young families struggling to buy basic food and family needs and frankly I don't see how they do it. I don't think raising the min. wage is the answer but I don't have a better plan. Enjoy the little things.
 
I feel pretty lucky. The neighbor that has the McCormick also owns part of a hog operation, gave me a hog and processing for my work.
 
I wish that were true. I put more miles on my car and truck now that I'm retired, than I did when I was working. I have more time to go places.

My idea or retirement isn't staying at home. I'm a retired action figure.

As Mr. Wilson will tell you, I'm cheap, but what he doesn't know is I spend more money now than when I was working. Inflation and just having fun, vacations and my old working girls, antique tractors. I probably spend more on tractor gas than I did on gas going to work.
 
George I really do not see myself ever fully retiring unless my heath forces me to. I pretty well do what I want to when I want to now. That is good enough. I like being busy most of the time. It hurts when the heat/humidity comes around in the summer. I just can't take that anymore.

As for retirement income. I do not think there is a reasonable amount you can safely retire on with out additional continuing income. Inflation will slowly drive your cost of living right through your "budgeted" living cost.
 
JD, it's not really anything new. Its' just us farmers are just finally getting you back for all that over priced machinery you done sold us years ago...........
 
Cut to the chase. I read someplace recently that the average American will have approximately 75,000 dollars saved by the time they reach retirement. I know the "average" or mean does not mean much as it includes people well above 75,000 dollars as well as those that have none. I am afraid that the chit is going to hit the fan in the future as more people will being facing economic chaos and are not going to do the "polite" thing and go off into a corner and die without making a sound. This is not our father's or grandfather's economy we live in now. This country could well explode before many of us pass on. I remember the talk when I was a kid that "I won't be around" when things get to be a problem. A lot of will be wishing for that to be true before it gets said and done. Not trying to be a gloom and doom guy but just realizing how much has change and changed in a bad way.
 
One of the reasons I enjoy filling my deer tags. Certainly enjoy a good steak, or filet mignon with a couple of nice sides to go with it, but too much of a good thing can work against you too. Its a real treat to go to the butcher shop and select something from their wide variety of beef for an occasion, and in moderation the rest of the time so as to not over do it for health reasons. Venison being leaner, allows one to enjoy red meat a little more often or mix it up a bit, but you sure do not have to pay a lot for it. I suppose that is a reason I don't buy a lot of beef, but sure as heck enjoy that butcher shop with everything they offer in their store. We have 2 butcher shops in this area that if you shop there once, you'll never go back to a large grocery chain type store for beef or other meats.

I hear what you are saying, but don't know all that much about that end of it. It sure seems desirable to raise your own on small scale if possible with all that's involved or deal with a local small farm that raises beef for the local market, they are out there. One of the main guys at this large 2000+ head dairy just 15 miles north of here, had a hundred of his own being raised for beef at his own farm, but he sure must be busy with the day job and afterwards! I would haul sweepings left over or from clean up at this large dairy and deliver it to his place. He'd hire the truck out for a few loads when I delivered to this large dairy where he worked. Not sure how the results were with his sales and meat quality, but it sure helps on the feed bill I suppose.
 
I'm fortunate in the fact that my lovely wife is both thrifty and crazy about the coupons. She watches knows the price of just about everything at the 5 closest super markets, watches the weekly sales, clips the manufacturer coupons, etc.

When things goes on sale, she buys it all. As a result we've got chicken, steak, pork, ground beef, shrimp, etc in the freezer, enough to last more than a month. I take her out every sunday when the new coupons come into effect, and she knows exactly where to go and what she's buying. If it's not on the list, it's not in the cart.

Just from noticing casually as I push the cart following her, I see steak at $5/lb, boneless chicken at $.98/lb, shrimp at $7-8/lb. It is the buy one get one deals, and "buy any 5 for $20" deals that keep the prices reasonable.

Today's markets definitely aren't for the casual shopper if you want to save money. you have to know what you're doing and where you're going and what's on sale and when. More than I have patience for, thankfully my wife is really the "better half".
 
donjr I know I really had to twist you fellows arms to sign them purchase orders. LOL

Seriously, the prices are causing stupid stuff to happen. I had four steers that just would not fit on the last load we direct shipped to the packer. I took them to the local sale barn. They averaged 1450 Lbs. they grossed $1.63 per Lbs. for a total of around $2375 each or just under $9500. It was not many years ago that $800-900 per head gross was flying high. These higher prices are causing the cost of replacements to go sky high. I do not think the herd will be expanding like it usually does when we have higher prices. The cost of replacements is just too high verse what you can get six months to a year sooner by selling the same heifer for slaughter.
 
Ok, lets look at the cost another way. How much would you spend for a dinner like that if you took your friends to a nice restaurant???
 
Fatjay ; I will 100% agree with you on the value of our wives. I absolutely HATE shopping for cloths or food stuff. So when I find what I need/want it is bought and home I go.
 
Jim I thought about that. The basic food cost for the meal was right around $15 for each person. I am not sure if you could buy that same meal for anywhere less than $30-40 per person. The cost compared to what it would be eating out is still cheaper but can people afford to really eat out that much anymore? I due mean families.
 
(quoted from post at 13:31:51 06/21/15) Fatjay ; I will 100% agree with you on the value of our wives. I absolutely HATE shopping for cloths or food stuff. So when I find what I need/want it is bought and home I go.
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When we got married she told me I wasn't allowed to buy anything anymore without talking to her, except at the hardware store. I said no problem, I don't want to buy that other stuff anyway. She takes care of everything inside the house, and I take care of everything outside the house, and we're both happy with it. I'd rather spend an hour under the tractor than 5 minutes with a vacuum cleaner, and she'd rather spend an hour with a vacuum cleaner than 5 minutes under the tractor(trust me, I've tried).
 
Local meat market just opened another store this week.They've been in business 50 years.The special for the grand opening this week is rib-eyes. The sale price is $12.00 a pound.The norm in the area is $14.00-$16.00.Don't complain

On the other hand,last year just before Christmas I helped haul cows and calf's to Callaway sale barn in Missouri. Had 10 cows and 11 calves. The bottle raised orphan weighted a little over 300#.He came across the scales by his self . Check cut for him was $937.00.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY !!!!!!!

http://www.hansenpackingmeats.com/department/usda-choice-steaks-10000.cfm?killnav=1
 
According to Beef Today,consumption was up 15.5% in the first quarter. It's not going to last,so don't kick a working mule.
 
Well sir if you got a nice trimmed, boneless, 1" Rib Steak (which includes the EYE....the round part in the middle, that meat handlers love to misname) from a 1000# steer ( size the local Safeway liked to use in their market where you could get special cuts of you asked) you are looking at a pound of the best tasting, most marbled, tenderest part of the critter and yes it's $11/lb around here unless it's Black Angus and then they up the price $2.

If you watch the sales, periodically you can catch Rib Steaks or Loins (referred to as NY Strips around here), you can get them for $6-7.

Been that way for couple of years now at least and although figured price would drop with corn dropping, which is said to be the driver due to feed lots using a lot of corn (around here), but it hasn't happened.
 
If some people didn't live in houses they can't afford, drive vehicles they can't afford, take vacations they can't afford, and have credit cards they can't afford, food prices would be more affordable....
 
OK you just bought one of the most expensive cuts, next being tenderloin. You purchase represents 3% of the entire carcass. That why it is expensive. Did you price a 7 bone roast? or a boneless chuck roast. Most people do not eat ribeye as an everyday entrée. Beef is still a good buy when purchased at the right time. I had the privilege of buying ribeyes in Germany about 15 years ago paid much more than that. I thought the meat manager was going to faint when I said I will take 10.
 
You could see this coming in years past.

All you had to do was sit and watch the interstate by my house as load after load of hay passed by going west to Texas.
Ranchers were selling cows as fast as they could haul them off and giving dairy bottle bulls away if they could find someone to take them.

Fast forward to today.
It has started raining in Texas so ranchers are keeping calves for replacements.

So while the demand for beef is still there the supply is not.
In all other major crops (corn beans pigs chickens) the supply could rebound in a year but not with cows.
 
As a beef producer I don't have any control over how much my cattle sell for,certainly not
going into the auction and yell "Whoa that's enough don't want no more $$$" are you?
Capitalism is buyers set the price at the their limit.Don't worry beef will be cheap soon enough and then everyone can cry they ain't making enough money to cover the payments on their new hay equipment.
 
There used to be ups and downs in most all markets but it seems like things have been going to extremes like cattle, fuel, grain, iron market. Extreme highs and then lows. Makes a person wonder just how much is manipulation or actual fluctuation anymore. If you can find a way to make a dollar on someone else's dollar, that is where the money is.
 
75 million food stamp recipients do not care how high beef is, it's not like their paying for it.
 
(quoted from post at 10:14:18 06/21/15) Cut to the chase. I read someplace recently that the average American will have approximately 75,000 dollars saved by the time they reach retirement. I know the "average" or mean does not mean much as it includes people well above 75,000 dollars as well as those that have none. I am afraid that the chit is going to hit the fan in the future as more people will being facing economic chaos and are not going to do the "polite" thing and go off into a corner and die without making a sound. This is not our father's or grandfather's economy we live in now. This country could well explode before many of us pass on. I remember the talk when I was a kid that "I won't be around" when things get to be a problem. A lot of will be wishing for that to be true before it gets said and done. Not trying to be a gloom and doom guy but just realizing how much has change and changed in a bad way.
Click to expand...

Thing that a lot of people miss is that not to long ago the kids would step in and help mom and dad out if the later years as needed. That included having mom and dad move in if needed. Now families are spread out more and it's harder for those who can afford to, to help out. Many can't because they are enjoying the finer things in life, on credit. That means they can't help out or they just flat out don't make enough. Then you got hard headed old folks who say "I've live here for X long and I'm not moving" expecting their kids to move to them when the old ones live in a repressed area with no jobs.

Rick
 
We pay attention to sales and coupons too it all helps but everything is high. As far as retirement, for the last 16 years I drove nice company pickups and for personal use too. Had nice iPhones paid for by the company and decent salary. Retired 2 months ago at 62 and dont miss a damn bit of it. Discovered the bs running a business wasn't worth the perks. Now I can't decided what I want to tackle next. Right now looking forward to the summer tractor shows and time with grand kids.
 
I understand what you are saying. My main issue was that 75,000 dollars with no SS or other supplement is not going to keep people afloat for 20 or 30 years after retirement assuming they live that long after they hang it up. I see an increasing number of people that will not be able to afford anything more than bread and cheese or bologna. I used to be more critical of people who were struggling in that they were not trying hard enough but anymore I see a better cut of person struggling.
 
Yah, but, which bureaucrat/gov't agency do we thank ? ALL of those worthless bags of...insert best expletive of choice. All this @#^%$&* and no kissing. My $.02
 
P.S. In Canada the penny has been taken out of play. In the US the penny has been converted to a copper coated zinc coin. How is that a saving, other than too lazy to realize that it ain't worth squat. ;^(
 
JD,
I retired 11 years ago and started my SS this year. The check I get deposited is very close what I would have drawn at age 62, because the additional income will be taxed at the Fed rate, 28%. I got 32% more by waiting 4 years to full age 66. I have 4 sources of income. I never relied on SS, so it's traveling money for me. No way I would even think of living on my SS.
 
You should have thrown in a few dozen eggs to hit the $100 mark. Actually chicken meat is fairly cheap right now. Only because some foreign countries are now allowing the import of poultry meat and we now have a surplus.
 
My friend that has a dairy herd has been breeding his heifers with Black Angus. He has been taking the calves to the auction. Ninety six pound calf brought a little over $700. Most calves are bringing $6.00 to $6.50 a pound. I don't know how a person could pay that much for a calf, raise it, sell it and still make a profit.
 
I can sympathize with you. I've found out that, as I get older, I'm getting stronger. In years past, I couldn't carry $100 worth of groceries - now I can carry that much in two plastic bags.
 
Tell me about it! I usually sell a lot of calves around 500#. Took ten to the auction a few weeks ago and got $297 for three of them. Even heifers were over $250. Sure beats the $75 from a few short years ago. Almost makes me want to stay in business for a few more years.....
 

Beef is still a good buy when purchased at the right time..

I buy the WHOLE loin when on sale and have them cut it up.. Brought one yesterday $7.98 lb. the loin weighed 13.88 lbs =14, 1" rib eyes :)... The steak I got looks nothing like the ones on display in a single are two pack are four pack far as that goes...

Same with hamburger I like ground chuck 80/20 I get 20 lbs at a time when its on sale and have them grind it while I Waite...

When its a good sale and I don't need any I go late at night when the meat cutter has gone for the day they give me a rain check for the sale price its good anytime later down the road... They know I buy in bulk no questions asked... I get a rain check...

I buy all are nuttin and have always got good meat I can not say that when I get parts and pieces...
 
Read last fall that burger prices are even pretty high, there's not a lot of lean cattle going to the processors, it's all being raised for the better cuts and higher grades.
I'm glad I get a 1/4 a year as part of my pay.
 
(quoted from post at 17:51:21 06/21/15) My friend that has a dairy herd has been breeding his heifers with Black Angus. He has been taking the calves to the auction. Ninety six pound [b:7f80cbe63b]calf brought a little over $700[/b:7f80cbe63b]. Most calves are bringing $6.00 to $6.50 a pound. I don't know how a person could pay that much for a calf, raise it, sell it and still make a profit.
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was getting that kind of money already 35 years ago back in Holland for my week old dairy calves FOB farm.
Week old double muscle calves would bring upwards of 2 grand
 
other day I was in the grocery store & wife of a friend was picking up some beef ( roasts, steaks etc that were on sale )
I asked her why, since her & her hubby have a fair sized Hereford beef operation, would they not just butcher one of their own ?
she replied that hubby said his cattle were worth way too much to sell at market , and they would buy cheaper cuts at the store when on sale ? true story
 
When hay prices shot up around here with our several years of drought, amazing how many new p/u trucks you saw at the coffee shop.
 
I think hoarding has become the mechanism to produce an immediate shortage of a widely used staple causing the general public to go into a panic mode and pay rediculous prices for something. Seems to be happening more and more. Ammunition, Fuel, antifreeze, and freon to name a few that readily come to mind.
 
That's what I can't understand....why we still use the thing. Only thing I can think of is that it's a government run entity and they never die, regardless of how useless they are.........because a voter block might loose their jobs and for some reason can't cross train themselves to do something else, or retire.
 
I learned that too when I started raising beef. Also there were a lot of cuts I didn't use. Then there is the "you see what you like and buy it".......don't have to worry about whether or not you got (all of and) what you brought in for slaughter and processing......have had problems there.
 
(quoted from post at 12:18:54 06/22/15) When hay prices shot up around here with our several years of drought, amazing how many new p/u trucks you saw at the coffee shop.
Click to expand...

In our area the price went up and never came down when the weather returned to normal.
 
At my house, we buy beef--like hamburger--when it's under $3 a pound. So we eat a lot of pork, especially when we can often catch pork loin for around $1.99 a pound. I like beef...in fact, steak is one of my favorite meals...but these days, it's a lot like it was when I was a kid: we eat steak a couple of times a year, on special occasions only.

We use a lot of ground turkey in our chili...and usually buy that when it's on sale, and stock up. We bought a deep fryer, and when the neighborhood store sells a 5-pound bag of breaded "popcorn chicken" for $5 or less, we usually stick one in the freezer. The 3-year-old grandson loves that, and my wife likes me to slice up some potatoes and make "home fries" to go with that.
 
That's not necessarily true. They get X dollars a month, and no more. If they spend it all the first week of the month, they can't go back and get any more until next month.

In fact, I've been in line behind some folks on food stamps, and the ones that I always seem to be behind in line use a lot of coupons, so they can stretch those "freebie" dollars even more. Of course, these are the ones in line in front of me when I'm in a hurry, too...
 
Still is up here too and will probably be higher this year due to the fact that the rain kept the producers that plant every year from
getting in the field till that dry spell 1st of June. Usually hay (Sorghum-Sudan cross is the most popular) is in the ground in late March
or first part of April on cold springs....need 65F soil to germinate it.
 
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