Have you stopped buying certain things because of price?

[clifffaith]

Fritos. Can’t justify +/- $4.79 for a bag of Fritos at Albertsons. Fritos “should” cost around $3. Used to occasionally be on sale 2/$5. Bought genetic tortilla chips again Friday, even though tortilla chips are a completely different animal than Fritos. But they work as salty crunchiness next to a sandwich. Won’t buy a $4 bag of Milano cookies either. Those used to be $1.99 on sale several times a year. I feel like my MIL who refused to let anyone buy her a cup of coffee at Starbucks, and would look at a restaurant menu and say “I’ll just have soup”. Did not make for a happy meal when Cliff would insist she choose an entree, and then she’d pick the cheapest thing on the menu whether she liked that item or not.

 

[Elan]

Interesting that you mention Fritos, as it's also one of the few things that I won't buy now because of price. Can buy a big bag of Santitas tortilla chips for $2.79, so why are Fritos over $5 per bag? The other item we've cut way back on due to price is soda. Not paying $9.99, $7.99 or even $5.99 for a 12 pack of 12oz cans. I'll buy it on sale now, and that's about it.

 

[wackymother]

Fritos. Can’t justify +/- $4.79 for a bag of Fritos at Albertsons. Fritos “should” cost around $3. Used to occasionally be on sale 2/$5. Bought genetic tortilla chips again Friday, even though tortilla chips are a completely different animal than Fritos. But they work as salty crunchiness next to a sandwich. Won’t buy a $4 bag of Milano cookies either. Those used to be $1.99 on sale several times a year. I feel like my MIL who refused to let anyone buy her a cup of coffee at Starbucks, and would look at a restaurant menu and say “I’ll just have soup”. Did not make for a happy meal when Cliff would insist she choose an entree, and then she’d pick the cheapest thing on the menu whether she liked that item or not.

You know what? I've come to the point of...whatever. If you love Fritos, buy Fritos. If you love Milanos, buy Milanos. Sometimes you just have to pay more for what you love. If you have the money and it's not a hardship, it's a lot more satisfying to get the thing you crave.

 

[dioxide45]

Salty snacks have really increased in price. A bag of Tostitos is $6 here. I can get them for about $2, but have to do a buy two get three free but they don't run that sale very often. I then also have to store them. I don't buy Lays potato chips because they suck and are too expensive. Frito-Lay (which owns Tostitos too) has a huge market share. I much prefer store brand potato chips but when it comes to corn chips or nacho chips, Lays brands are just better. Their potato chips are inferior.

I no longer buy steaks at Costco. We don't eat steak all that often now. I do most of my other shopping at Aldi to save on price of just about everything. Their prices haven't inflated nearly as much as mainline grocery stores.

 

[ScoopKona]

I'm more apt to not buy something because of the recent, awful actions of the company.

Even when inflation was low, it was still there -- chugging along. But for most of the consumables, I think it's more a case of "CEO needs a new nesting-doll yacht."

What are people going to do? Fry their own potatoes? Make their own tortillas? Bake? These companies know they have a captive market.

 

[Superchief]

Some corporations are greedier than others, so I find alternatives when I think a company has gone too far. Frito-Lay is one of those companies. They have been raising prices and downsizing packaging for years, so I seldom buy their products. Since I retired from Marzetti's, the new management has raised prices and downsized the bottle for the Marzetti refrigerated Ranch salad dressing, so I quit buying it. Even though it is much better than Hidden Valley, it isn't worth the price difference. The problem is that it only takes one major company to raise their prices and everyone else follows.

Wine margins at restaurants have gotten absurd. We enjoy eating out, but prefer to have wine with our meals. Many restaurants now charge over $50 for a $10 bottle of wine, and charge $15 for 4 oz. glass. A mediocre bottle of wine costs more than many entrees. We now either get carryout or I drink a beer with my meal. While the owners seek a higher margin per unit, they are losing sales due to lost business.

 

[slip]

There aren't too many items I have to have so I can wait for it to be on sale. But for the most part, I buy what I want.

 

[clifffaith]

Interesting that you mention Fritos, as it's also one of the few things that I won't buy now because of price. Can buy a big bag of Santitas tortilla chips for $2.79, so why are Fritos over $5 per bag? The other item we've cut way back on due to price is soda. Not paying $9.99, $7.99 or even $5.99 for a 12 pack of 12oz cans. I'll buy it on sale now, and that's about it.

I’ve gone cheap on beverages. Old folks home puts a big dispenser of iced tea in the club house each day, so I fill both of my smallish old insulated cups. I drink it hot in the morning and cold early afternoon. They know “that look” in my eye when I approach the Grab N Go counter downstairs to tell them no one replaced the tea before lunch. My cat lady cohort gave us an ice tea maker (sort of a silly appliance) for helping her carry packages and taking her to a doctors appt when she was laid up. I use that to make decaf iced tea. So with both tea options I simply stopped buying pop for the foreseeable future.

 

[Cornell]

I work in market research … specifically in consumer packaged goods. Inflation is real. The data bears it out with changing purchasing behaviors. Private label is absolutely growing in share .

https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/store-brands-are-filling-up-more-of-your-shopping-cart-e4c8065f?st=09himdkdufrsp5p&reflink=article_copyURL_share

 

[Cornell]

Some corporations are greedier than others, so I find alternatives when I think a company has gone too far. Frito-Lay is one of those companies. They have been raising prices and downsizing packaging for years, so I seldom buy their products. Since I retired from Marzetti's, the new management has raised prices and downsized the bottle for the Marzetti refrigerated Ranch salad dressing, so I quit buying it. Even though it is much better than Hidden Valley, it isn't worth the price difference. The problem is that it only takes one major company to raise their prices and everyone else follows.

Wine margins at restaurants have gotten absurd. We enjoy eating out, but prefer to have wine with our meals. Many restaurants now charge over $50 for a $10 bottle of wine, and charge $15 for 4 oz. glass. A mediocre bottle of wine costs more than many entrees. We now either get carryout or I drink a beer with my meal. While the owners seek a higher margin per unit, they are losing sales due to lost business.

For $10.99 you can get unlimited chips & salsa, cheeseburger, fries and a beverage at Chili’s.

Cheaper than fast food .

 

[DeniseM]

No, but since Rod's health issues, I am an avid label reader and I look for quality, rather than price. Unfortunately, one of the things we had to cut out is chips, because they are way too salty for a low salt diet.

 

[easyrider]

There aren't too many items I have to have so I can wait for it to be on sale. But for the most part, I buy what I want.

Same here.

Bill

 

[tombanjo]

Today I was shopping and the "Goldfish" crackers were $3.59/ They used to be like $2.19. That's a big jump.

 

[Superchief]

I work in market research … specifically in consumer packaged goods. Inflation is real. The data bears it out with changing purchasing behaviors. Private label is absolutely growing in share .

https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/store-brands-are-filling-up-more-of-your-shopping-cart-e4c8065f?st=09himdkdufrsp5p&reflink=article_copyURL_share

Another reason that Private Label sales are going up is that retailers like Kroger no longer carry the secondary brands and force you to buy their private label. The cereal aisle is a good example. Mergers and acquisitions of retailers and manufacturers have dramatically reduced competition. Government policies have been the primary drivers of inflation, but corporate greed continues to exacerbate it. Who would have expected 25% + inflation over the past four years? When I retired five years ago I thought I was in good financial shape, but that has changed due to the highest inflation rate of my lifetime combined with much higher interest rates.

 

[clifffaith]

We like Safeway Signature just as well as Nabisco shredded wheat. We by that semi- weekly. Once a year I get a taste for graham crackers. I forced myself to finish the generic grahams when I tried them about five years ago (lots of peanut butter helped). Now I cheerfully pay for Honey Maid because I know to my taste they are superior.

 

[dioxide45]

Another reason that Private Label sales are going up is that retailers like Kroger no longer carry the secondary brands and force you to buy their private label. The cereal aisle is a good example. Mergers and acquisitions of retailers and manufacturers have dramatically reduced competition. Government policies have been the primary drivers of inflation, but corporate greed continues to exacerbate it. Who would have expected 25% + inflation over the past four years? When I retired five years ago I thought I was in good financial shape, but that has changed due to the highest inflation rate of my lifetime combined with much higher interest rates.

Oh yeah, cereal. We don't really buy it but was shocked on vacation one time when we got it for quick and easy breakfast. At least they had a BOGO, but geez. I am a believer that government policies tend to lead to corporate greed. If the government weren't in the way, it would help create more competition in the marketplace.

 

[x3 skier]

If the government weren't in the way, it would help create more competition in the marketplace.

I’m interested in how government is in the way of more competition.

 

[jp10558]

There's not much that I'll not get because of price in general, but I'm happy I gave up my diet coke addiction in 2019. The seltzer prices are now more than Diet Coke was back then - glad I just went to ice water. Much cheaper, and better for me. The amount my BIL pays for seltzer because he can't plan and has to have a 12 pack to take on any driving trip is insane. My sister keeps thinking about using a soda stream like thing again to make seltzer, but it's not grab and go cans that you don't have to think about. It's a lot cheaper to get bulk CO2 and make your own seltzer, but it takes effort and planning.

It's the same for tea - he just won't get bulk tea and either fillable bags or reusable steepers - so he's constantly getting the cheapest pre bagged tea at the cost of primo bulk tea. Paying for convenience is real. It sucks paying 3x IMO, but hey - I pay for convenience too with Schwanns. Though I just got a portable freezer so probably will mix in some walmart frozen food again for more options and maybe lower prices.

 

[rickandcindy23]

For $10.99 you can get unlimited chips & salsa, cheeseburger, fries and a beverage at Chili’s.

Cheaper than fast food .

True. And if you ask for a bag to put your leftover chips, the server will bring you a bag with chips in it, along with a big container of salsa to take home.

We have a Longhorn Steakhouse near us at home (also one here at Myrtle Beach and in Orlando), gigantic burger and fries, $9.99 weekdays, and it's the best burger we have had in a while. I get it without a bun and side salad with blue cheese dressing for the same price.

 

[Tia]

Those Frito's or any chips are staying in the store with the current prices, unless there is a decent sale where you can get them for $2.50 if you buy 4. So is the soda 12 packs that they try to get $9 for, highway robbery. Just not going to pay the prices.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I stopped drinking diet sodas about 10 years ago for health reasons. Transitioned to sparking mineral water. Found that buying cases of large water bottles at Trader Joes was best. But now they have downsized from large bottles to quart sized bottles for about the same price. What a haircut!

Now drinking more filtered water out of the fridge in my insulated cup. Also started buying pre-cut *sweeter* celery sticks and substituting those for chips. Healthier anyway. Haven't stopped sparking min water completely but pulling back.

 

[dioxide45]

For $10.99 you can get unlimited chips & salsa, cheeseburger, fries and a beverage at Chili’s.

Cheaper than fast food .

Yeah, what they call the 3 for Me. It was previously 3 for $10. It used to be much better but over the last couple years the available options have decreased, portions are smaller and the prices of most items have increased.

 

[Cornell]

Yeah, what they call the 3 for Me. It was previously 3 for $10. It used to be much better but over the last couple years the available options have decreased, portions are smaller and the prices of most items have increased.

I hadn't been in a Chili's in probably 20 years. Someone told me about this special and I went in last week. It was a TON of food. And really pretty good.

My point is that some of these chain type restaurants have some deals which wind up being the same as fast food. The food quality is a bit better AND you get some service with real plates & silverware.

Once a week or so my jaw drops at the prices that I see on this or that.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Don't think I have cut stuff out yet, but I am definitely looking at the prices of items more often, checking the different sizes and options. There are some items where I am perfectly happy with the store brand, but other items the brand name tastes or works better for me.

 

[VacationForever]

We have not stopped buying everyday items yet because of price. We have delayed our buying a new car which we used to do every 3 years, mainly considering that it is a waste of money to change out cars every 3 years. When we were working, it was easy come easy go. We did the new car every 1 to 3 years, seriously (dumped our newly bought Lexus after a year because we hated it), even shortly after we retired. I am trying to stretch it out to 7 years before trading in our car, although my husband is trying to negotiate with me to 6 years.