"OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message >
> Has anyone else had to make any compromises due to rising prices?
> I've just had to cut back on other items but I'm reluctant to "cheapen"
> our diets. It's too important.
>
> I mostly just shop sales. ;-)

In the past year, increased property taxes, oil, electric have taken
over$200 a month extra, not to mention gas.

Less steak, more chicken. I'm not going to stop buying the better cuts for
steak, but I will eat it less often. Chicken thighs are a favorite here and
are incredibly cheap. I watch the sales and stock up on things that are on
sale. Ever look at the "use by" dates on some products? I've not had cream
cheese that was not on sale for over a year and in the factory package, it
is good for a couple of months minimum. Same with butter, ice cream and
other things that freeze well.

Get to know your store's sale cycles. Ice cream brands take turns, certain
dairy product rotate. We don't buy soda, but the Pepsi and Coke products
alternate.

I think the club stores are good also. If you know what you want, have a
feel for comparative prices, you can save a bundle. The whole pork loin
that I bought for $1.89 sells for $4.99 once cut up in the supermarket. We
can easily save $1 to $3 a pound on meats. The Foodsaver comes in handy
after our monthly trip to BJ's.