Have you stopped purchasing certain items due to the high prices?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (60853)
July 29, 2026 1:45pm CST
Pretty much everyone I know has tried to cut back on things they used to buy, but no longer do, because of higher prices. I am always up for ideas on how to manage on less, even though I often think I am a queen in the frugality department. I know I have gotten some good ideas from people in this group, just by reading posts.
Like many others, red meats of basically any cut are literally off the table. Ground beef is now a luxury item, not a staple. Produce is expensive and I am not sure I trust that other items haven't been sitting in storage next to contaminated lettuce. We substitute ground turkey or chicken, eat tuna, beans, eggs, rice, eggs, to get our protein in. Recipes that call for a pound of meat can easily be made with half of that amount.
I looked up what a lot of people are cutting back on--it seems that many have stopped buying name brand chips and sodas (no big loss in my household as I do not buy those items) but I know they are important to some people. Many have finally stopped purchasing so many frozen, ready to eat meals and they cook something from scratch. Others have cut down on buying items for convenience, and do things like cut up their own meats, or shred their own cheese. Pre-cut raw vegetables aren't something I ever purchased, but I looked at the prices of such packages and I was simply shocked. Not for me. But the high prices affect more than foods, as we all know.
A lot of people seem to be moaning that they cannot make impulse purchases anymore. That's not something I ever really did hardly ever. I have enough stuff to dust now...and I don't follow trends. I know people hit the dollar stores often and brag on their bargains--but it's not a bargain if you don't really need it, at least not in my book.
My oldest daughter recently said that she and my son in law have dusted off the old saying that my grandmother went by and passed on to us--''Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.'' Makes perfect sense, we should be doing that anyway.
My discussion was prompted by two neighbors, who are currently trying to out-do each other with Dollar Tree yard ornaments. One bought 10 little shiny whirly things for her yard. Then the other neighbor bought 20 of them. They have tons of yard ornaments, etc. that are bordering on ridiculousness--but both are screaming how broke they are right now. Somehow, I don't get this mindset.
12 people like this
12 responses
@MarieCoyle (60853)
•
23h
When you say you ''used to buy coffee'' are you saying you used to buy it already made, or you used to buy coffee to fix at home? I love coffee. I even asked for some for my birthday and got several packages of it. It's my favorite drink!
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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14h
@Wrexxo
All the coffee I drink, I fix at home. I don’t understand the logic of paying a crazy high price for a paper cup of coffee.
1 person likes this

@Juliaacv (56935)
• Canada
29 Jul
Maybe I have always been thrifty.
I have literally never ever bought shredded cheese, just do not trust that it is only cheese.
I actually make my own bread crumbs, from the bread crusts on the end.
I have stopped buying bacon as often because of the cost, pork has risen here 35% in the past month.
We buy our beef by the quarter, which is a savings to us.
We have put off trading in the car this year until possibly next year, although I really want a new one this year.
I do not buy anything that is not on my list when I shop, and I always make a list.
We buy apples in the 20 pound bag, as they are cheaper, and we have to buy less often.
3 people like this

@Juliaacv (56935)
• Canada
23h
@MarieCoyle We take it so far as to go to the reservation for gasoline so that we don't have to pay taxes on it and it means fill ups are cheaper.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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23h
Julia, I don't buy shredded cheese, either. It almost always has cellulose in it. It takes nearly no time for me to shred cheese, it's better quality and usually cheaper in a block, anyway.
I am a list person, too. I can't shop without a list! And I am a stickler about sticking to it.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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22h
@Juliaacv
I scan my gas receipts and get a kickback on my gas, for the last several months it's earned me some cash back as well as anywhere from 20-30 cents a gallon off the price of gas, which helps of course. I would probably do the same and get my gas there, too.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (88034)
• United States
20h
I haven’t gone out on any long trips this year because of what happened on the Derby getaway: gas prices were $4.19 when I left Louisville, and over $5.00 when I got 80 miles north in Bloomington, Indiana!
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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17h
I know the feeling. The only places I drive to are for son’s appointments and procedures, pharmacy and grocery. And I make every attempt to tie my trips together to save time,miles,and gas.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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17h
A person only needs so much stuff and that’s it. I hate dusting with a passion. I definitely don’t want anything else to dust!! We don’t buy things we don’t need, either.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (138189)
• Marion, Ohio
29 Jul
I am extremely glad we were able to get that half a beef early this year. And hopefully have one lined up already for next year.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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23h
That is wonderful, I hope you can get the one for next year, too.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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16h
@jstory07
I really like salmon, too. I have discovered that Aldi has great salmon and it's price has not gone up nearly as much as I expected it would. It comes in frozen filets, ready to bake, grill, etc. Very good.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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29 Jul
You do need to have meals sometimes...I know you enjoy the church potlucks, etc. and Diana's cooking. Hey, we eat beans here, too. Good thing we like them!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (211449)
• United States
9h
Not that I ever bought them much, but simply not going to buy Oreos at 5 something per pack. I will buy them if I can find them for less or not at all. The Sharp Shopper store I like to go to sometimes has surprising bargains.
1 person likes this

@MarieCoyle (60853)
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3h
I just can't with Oreos. I consider them an addictive product, palm oil, canola oil, and high fructose corn syrup. When we crave chocolate, I make brownies or cookies or chocolate muffins. At least I know what's in them. I know lots of people love Oreos, I just can't.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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3h
@snowy22315
No, I don't have to. Like I said, my taste buds seem to have changed a bit--this happened after I lost a lot of weight. I can't explain it, my doctor says that sometimes happens to people.
1 person likes this


@LadyDuck (505770)
• Italy
13h
@MarieCoyle - I noticed the same here, only a few cuts and almost only ground beef now. I think only restaurants buy expensive cuts.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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3h
@LadyDuck
Two of the stores local to me have pretty much narrowed their red meat down to ground beef. Very occasionally, they will have some so-called chuck roasts, that are honestly more fat than meat. I'm not even tempted to buy red meat now. There are other ways to eat protein.
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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14h
I don’t get what we don’t need, it’s foolish for me to waste money in today’s economy. I have noticed at several stores I frequent (depending on which direction I go due to son’s endless medical stuff) the stores are not stocking nearly as much red meat as they used to. People are just not buying it.
2 people like this

@RasmaSandra (99453)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Jul
I have been very happy with all the Great Value products at Walmart and have mostly frozen items and smoked sausages on my menu, But I do miss quite a few things like seafood, lobster, and even caviar, Even in Latvia they had great artificial type caviar that tasted great but I have gottne used to my menu now,
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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22h
Imitation crab is pretty good and it’s usually not expensive, you might try that. I’m glad you are happy with your food source. I am not a fan of smoked sausage but I don’t know why-I have never been overly fond of smoked meats. I do like brats.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (123758)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
Just now
I have to buy cheaper brands of batteries for my audio cassette players and remotes.
@MarieCoyle (60853)
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3h
I've never really been an impulse buyer, so I don't struggle with that too much. Once in a while of course I see something I would love to have, but not necessarily need, so I walk on by.














