I am just plain amazed at the prices of things!

@free_man (7330)
United States
March 25, 2011 6:50pm CST
Heck we all have to watch every penny we spend on things as it was before they raised the price of everything! Have you seen the packaging what used to be a quart of ice cream for a couple of bucks is now less then a quart for almost 3 bucks? We always get a small loaf of cheap wheat bread it was 89 cents now they made the loaf smaller and it is 99 cents! The packaging of laundry soap has been made smaller saying you get just as much in this smaller botter! Now tell me how you can get as much in a smaller bottle? What do they think we are all idiots ? Or do they think we all fell off a truck last night? I might have fallen off a truck but it wasn't last night! In other words who do they think they are fooling? What do you think of the packaging ? Do you wonder if they just plain think the poorer we are the less brain power we have? Do they think we are plain stupid and will fall for anything they pass off to us? The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer! I wish I knew how to make my own stuff and didn't have to buy anything that these compaines are passing off to us!
3 people like this
12 responses
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
26 Mar 11
It is amazing isn't it. I have noticed it, our meals are planned by sales and coupons for what I can. It would be nice to know how to make alot of it. I have been using vinegar and baking soda a lot more than I used to.
2 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
26 Mar 11
I use it to scour pan, clean sinks, clean top of stove, and as a carpet deodorizer.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Thoroughrob. I have tried to cut down on everything to make ends meet don't know how these comapnies intend to make money when the people that buy their products can't afford to buy them anymore.....LOL I will be using a lot more vinegar (store brand vinegar) for a buck fifty. Don't think I am nuts but what do you use the baking soda for?..LOL Thankds!
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Thoroughrob. Thanks never thought of it but it makes sense now! Thanks!
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi, check out this site: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/ I have been making my own detergent for about six months or more. I will say that I have used the felsnaptha soap and liked it okay. Wal Mart did not have it, so I got Ivory soap this last time and I do not like it as well as it does not stay so well mixed. I bought pitchers to keep it in and it did not shake up. I liked it better in a big bucket and I used a soup ladle to stir it and dip it into the wash. I do not use fabric softener, I use white vinegar in one of those Downy balls. I read that you can take the static out of the wash by putting a crumpled ball of foil in the dryer with your wash. I have not tried it yet. On the laundry soap, the box of Borax and of washing soda last for three or four batches of soap. It cost less than six dollars when I bought the soap and those two items. I started doing this because the cheap laundry soap made me itch. Vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, peroxide and ammonia all clean your house cheaper and safer than what they want you to get in the store. I always by short dated meats and then package them to freeze, saving about forty percent on that. I cook lots of different bean dishes. I make most things from scratch without mixes, and that is cheaper as well.
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
27 Mar 11
Most all of these things you can research onlineRemember never mix ammonia with bleach, the fumes will scar your lungs and can kill you. Keep it mixed up. I works better than. The main thing I have used ammonia for in the past is to make a laundry pre treater. For liquid dishwashing soap, nothing compares to original blue Dawn. For a spot treater for clothes you use one part ammonia, one part Dawn and one part water. It is a better product than Shout. Another good, cheap product is Murphy's Oil soap, or a generic. It is good for washing wood with and cheap. Oh,never ever mix ammonia and bleach the fumes can make your seriously ill or kill you.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
28 Mar 11
Hi GG. I did that when I was really young and it taught me not to mix anything with bleach. I use that blue dawn dish soap to get stains out. It really works on oil. Thanks for tthe advice my friend.
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi GG. Wow your a genius making your own soap. I don't like the smell of ammonia but will try all these things you suggested want to stop paying these prices that are way out of range any way. Live on a fixed income and can't afford to pay higher prices. What little we have we have to spend very wisely . Thanks!
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Mar 11
No kidding it is almost as if if they think we are too dumb to realize the truth. The products are getting a bit more colorful and decorative but way smaller in size. I look at labels and the is the first thing I notice is the shrinking content. I especially hate that they raise the price and then put it on sale for what use to be the price, almost like we should feel like wow it is on sale, not necessarily.
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Hardworkinggurl. It makes me so mad I want to scream what do you think we are stupid! I would scream that at the people that own these companies. That is why I started buying store brand things. I don't care what the package looks like I want the product to be what I paid for and want a good amount for that hard earned penny.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
26 Mar 11
yes, they think we are stupid. I especially love the claims that "less packaging is better for the environment", when what they are really doing is exactly what you have described above. Unfortunately, most of us are forced to buy the stuff at the higher prices, because by the time we drive from store to store to get the "bargains" (actually just reasonable prices) we have spent the money we would have saved on gas!
2 people like this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Suzieqmom. I hate that one too. I think these companies thinks that they are pulling the wool over someones eyes. But little do they know that the consumer of these products are not really as stupid as they think. I just plain refuse to buy those things they show on commercials I will buy a cheaper store brand then to spend my hard earned money on a name brand item. That is what I like about wal mart they have the great value (store brand) that is just as good as this name brand stuff. And at a good price. Your right the looking around for a certain product on sale isn't a good ideal especially with the price of gas these days.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
27 Mar 11
If enough consumers buy generic brands, maybe the prices will come down again. . .but I doubt it.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
28 Mar 11
Hi Suzieqmom. I don't know what it will take but I won't buy name brand stuff if I can get generic good brands at a lower price.
• United States
26 Mar 11
I am sorry to say that these price increases are just the beginning, unless the crisis in the middle east and Japan gets resolved, we will have to brace ourselves more prices increases.
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Veproye and welcome to my lot. They started doing this a couple of years way before all this BS started in the news. The rich are trying to get richer and keep the poorer under their control. They just don't know that we poorer people know how to survive no matter what.
@dlpierce (495)
• United States
26 Mar 11
I'm afraid we haven't seen the last of the prices going up. With the price of gasoline on the rise and harsh winter which froze a lot of produce in the south we are sure to see an increase. As for the package sizes this has been in the chain stores for years. Twelve ounces replace the one pound packages we get else wheres. There are however many ways to save on our food bills. I live in Northern Pennsylvania near the New York state line. Here there are many Amish families that operate discount food stores. It is well worth checking out their stores. Some stuff is dented cans or slightly out dated dry stuff but so far I have not found much wrong with any of it. Also recycling cans and redeeming them for groceries in New York state or other states that offer deposit can lower the bill at the check out. If you have cash off coupons to contribute along with the deposit refunds you can save plenty. My husband and I try to keep plenty stocked up. Buying extras at a discount will save us a lot when the prices start to soar. We usually have extras before winter sets in anyways, but now it's more of beating the price hike thing.
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Dlpierce and welcome to my lot. It is always wise to keep a good stocked pantry. We have those Amish stores too but have found they are even raising their prices. We used to shop at their stores but since they went bigger they have been just about the same prices that are in regular stores. We buy in bulk and keep the stuff stored. We buy our meats in family size and split it up and make several meals out of one package. We save all our cans we take them and turn them in for a little extra money to help make it to the end of the month. It pays to pinch pennies!
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
26 Mar 11
I find this frustrating too. Everything is getting more and more expensive and I have no idea how I'm going to afford things a few years from now. We have learned to make our own bread, so it's cheaper for us now, and I bake a lot of other things. But I can't make things like laundry soap, etc, and you're right - the packages are shrinking and the prices are increasing.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Cutepenguin. I know what you mean. We live on our disability and can barley make it from the beginning of the month to the end of the month. If we didn't have a garden we wouldn't be able to afford fresh vegetables. I am learning from a few responders to this discussion how to make cleaning products. I used to make my own bread years ago but have lost the recipe to make yeast bread. If you have a recipe for yeast bread I would love to have a copy if you don't mind. Thanks!
@mayenskie (1307)
• Philippines
26 Mar 11
Yes, everything has gotten more and more expensive yet our income is still the same. Since February 2011, the price of gasoline here increases every week. Maybe this is also due to the conflict now in Middle East which is the global source of fuel. I also observed other commodities increasing in prices like bread but the size are getting smaller. I think i need to start making my own farmville in my backyard.
1 person likes this
@djmarion (4898)
• Philippines
26 Mar 11
What you've said is true, here in my place the price of almost everything gets higher and higher. I just came from the market early this morning and i can't help but complain how the prices dramatically increase in just a week. I even compute everything i bought upon returning home just to make sure that my eye is not deceiving me. How sad that at the same amount of money I a lot every week for food I get to bring home less and less.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Djmarion. I know what you mean. Last month we spent over 200.00 bucks on groceries and brought home a lot more. This month we spent about the same and it seemed like we got a lot less this month. What does the government think we can do give what we don't have? I just don't see how they can do this without raising the cost of living at the same time. Pay rates should be going up too!
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
26 Mar 11
We sure do have to watch every penny! Since the recent floods here in Australia, we have noticed that all our fruit and vegetables have increased in price by about a third! People are not buying like they used to - I'm certainly not! Even general food prices have increased and I guess will continue to do so - there have been so many natural disasters lately all over the world, which always seems to affect food prices for the worse. To counter-act it, I am growing more vegetables than I ever have before, I bake my own bread and pizza bases (much tastier anyway), and I make everything from scratch - I never buy packet mixes. When I buy meat I try to buy in bulk as it works out cheaper, then separate it when I get home and freeze the portions. I never buy cleaning products - you can clean the house with Borax, vinegar or baking soda which are cheap to buy and last a long time.
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
28 Mar 11
Baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda), can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. It's great on grease! Sprinkle some on a damp cloth, wipe then rinse with cold water (use it on stainless steel, the bath tub, sink, etc.) For stubborn stains from most surfaces, use a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda, one part water). Apply, let stand, then scrub or wipe clean. It's also great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. I'd be happy to send you a recipe for bread. Do you have a bread making machine or do you make your bread the old fashioned way, in the oven? Let me know which and I will pm you a recipe!
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Abbey. We have already started some plants in the house so we can put in our garden. I used to make my own bread but lost the recipe and can't remember how to make it. I couldn't talk you out of a recipe for homemade bread could I? What does baking soda clean? Don't think I am nuts but I never heard of using baking soda for cleaning! We too buy meat in bulk and split it up in several meals. Stay safe my friend!
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
19 May 11
Hey Abbey. Thanks never thought about using baking soda. I will give that a try though. I would love to have a bread recipe if you don't mind. Send me a pm and I will give you my email so you can email me the recipe if you don't mind. Thanks my friend. Hey how is the flooding there these days? Has it gone down or is it still rising ? Haven't been on here in a few days.
1 person likes this
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
28 Mar 11
It happens in Indonesia, too. The food prices increase by 200 - 300% while our salary stays the same. How can we afford them now, unless we cut all budgets for electricity, gas and fuels. Many of us live frugally, already.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
28 Mar 11
Hi Jennyze. I don't see how the officials think we are going to be able to afford to live without raising the cost of living.
@free_man (7330)
• United States
20 May 11
Hi Jennyze. I heard on the news the other day that they was going to stop giving tax breaks to those people that give to the food banks and the homeless shelters soon. That means that people are not going to be able to claim what they give anymore. I don't have much to give and don't take it out on our taxes anyway, but I bet there is a lot of people that do. This makes me mad because it might stop a lot of help for a lot of people. Me included thank God for our local food bank it helps us to make it through the month.
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
28 Mar 11
Yes, the don't think, or if ever they think it is about themselves and how can they grow richer.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
26 Mar 11
In my opinion, maybe they do that, so everybody could still afford them. Not all persons could afford buying those in big quantities so i guess it's their one way of being affordable to all people. Yes, prices are increasing. Sad to note that my company wouldn't even budge to give us even a small pay hike.
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Hi Simplyd. They raise the price of things and don't raise the pay rate. What do they think that they can't get money out of people that don't make enough to even live much less buy anything they need?