I knew things were grim when I looked at my grocery bill and realized that a few handfuls of fruit, some veggies one package of skinless chicken breats and a bottle of eight dollar wine cost $90.00 at Pavilions in Los Angeles….we are in serious trouble folks.

Everything has gone up, however, it seems to go up alot faster up here in No. California. I traded in my small SUV for a Honda since I have to commute long distance to work and back. It now costs a small fortune to fill up a 17.9 gallon tank. I even considered taking the train to work, but still needed a car to get from the station to the office. Please don’t get me started on the price of goods vs what I make. I make a very good living (as does my husband), but we have seriously cut back on quite a few things that we never, ever considered “luxuries” before. It’s ridiculous trying to save money when there isn’t much to save after paying bills, buying groceries and gas. I’m disgusted frankly.

The question should read what ISN’T going up. I don’t know how you are suppose to survive on a fixed income with the prices constantly changing. I have no medical insurance. We had hoped to get some by now for me but who can afford the extra outlay of money when the bare mininum of things is costing more and more.

Gas of course…and just in the last three weeks have I started to feel the pinch at my grocery store…doing more coupon clipping and much less driving. Try to do “it all” in one trip. We’ve cut out things like movies out…in our area going to a movie with our two boys can easily cost over 100.00 once you hit the snack bar. We don’t go out to eat, we don’t order in unless the local pizza place has some super deal going on. My husband is a Realtor. Need I say more???

The only things that have really hit us in the pocketbook was propane and gas/fuel. Hopefully this last tank of propane will last until next fall. Everything else I have managed to keep low. I have been turning everything off at night that has instant on power. It really adds up.

Before Accident: A flower-filled chic Nob Hill pied-d-terre, dressing like a fashion model, MBZ, the life-is-a-gala high maintenance thing. After Accident: Yoga togs, higher social conscious, quitting banks for a credit union, buying locally not from corporations, eating heathy, walking and thinking, instead of buying and spending. Becoming much happier, fitter, slimmer, more organized, saner, and living my ‘right life.’ With a fraction of the moola had before, haven’t given up the quality…just the ridiculous attachment to things like a remote-controller corporate robot. When prices go through the sun-roof it’s resourcefulness not resources. Turn off the TV, and keep the focus on lots of fresh, juicy, delectable new ideas about everything at http://www.ted.com/

I guess Jane Richards and I speak the same language. I am a professional woman, and own my own small company serving children, but I would never think of extravagant spending as people seem to think nothing of in other parts of the country. I simply will not buy shoes for over seventy dollars—they don’t last long enough to pay more. I hate spending the money we do for food these days. That is the one area I feel the pinch the most. Clothes don’t define me so I don’t have to spend ridiculous amounts of money on names and labels. Why is it that women in New York do? Maybe we women can together put an end to the unreasonable and unwise spending we see about us. Let’s encourage our children to practice edferred gratification and rethink “need” for so many THINGS. Emphasize value and long lasting quality of purchases. Truly we do not need a new wardrobe every year. Shop wisely and think. Do you really NEED a new belt, a new blouse (which costs over sixty dollars??), or can’t you wear what you already have in your closet? Who cares if people have seen it before? Your personal pleasure in what you have should predominate over image and what others think.

Only thing going down are…. elevators. It’s ridiculus how expensive everything is. Food? Who needs it? It’s as if every store has an entrance fee of at least $16. Try getting a loaf of bread some milk and some cheese and you end up paying more. Clothes? Hum… I’m somewhat “thankful” I have a job that requires uniforms (hate my job by the way). Although - it’s nice getting somwthing new for those, as it seems, rare occasions you’re off duty and going somewhere. It doesn’t happen very often, I can tell you that. Shoes?? Hmm, one pair of Reeboks every second or third year… (Those are the most comfortable things I can find - absolutely hate heels, can’t wear them either.) It’s with sadness I “retire” to old pair and get me a new one. Gas? Don’t get me started! One liter (not even a gallon) now costs around $2. That’s the only time I’m “glad” I don’t own a car - when I come past a gas station. As for rent, well, rent swallos half the salary for many people. I’ve not come to that YET, but I guess it’s only a matter of time. Gee, why won’t “they” pull my lottery-numbers…? ;-)

Every thing is out of control on prices. The thing that kills me is the manufactures are putting supplemental products in there products which is costing more. To cut the cost of these and if people would just purchase the supplemental product and stop these manufactures of adding it in there product would cut cost on several food items. Like Minute Maid. For Wal-Mart they kill, me I don’t see any savings there none what so ever. I have shopped at Hy Vee, and Wal-Mart the price on some varies. I can by 10 Yoplait Yogurt for 5 dollars at Hy-Vee, and Wal-Mart sells theirs for 54 cents, so I save 80 cents at Hy-Vee. I can take in my receipt from either store and purchase the same thing with coupons, and 9 times out of ten I spend more at Wal-Mart. So really were are the savings at Wal-Mart.

Diesel prices are killing me. What used to cost me 50 bucks to fill up my tank is now costing me over a hundred at each visit. Heck, even the cost of diet coke has gone up from $2.99 for a 12 pack to 5 dollars a 12 pack. I don’t spend extravagantly, I don’t buy designer anything, and I try to be as frugal as I can in all aspects of my life (except living off a diet of ramen noodles a la college days). I’m just floored on a daily basis at how expensive some things are becoming these days.

LIVE IN A SMALL PLACE.AT OUR AGE, CUT BACK ON THE FOOD.HAVE 2 RATHER THAN 3 MEALS A DAY.RETIRED? STAY HOME MORE AND DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN READING.CLOTHING: GAIN A FEW POUNDS,YOU WON’T WANT TO BUY ANYTHING IN THAT SIZE.

The products we buy are smaller and cost more or just the same. You get less for the same amount of money. Not fair for the small people, keeps the CEO’s pocket full. The employee’s of these companies aren’t getting richer either. How many of you know the cost of gas in Israel is 97 cents per gallon, compared to the 3 plus dollars we pay in the United States and other countries cost up to 6 dollars a gallon. The last time I filled my car up was two months ago, I only leave if I have errands or grocery shopping to do. I don’t own a new car and won’t. I don’t put money out on something that is going to depreciate thousands the minute I drive it off the lot. We need food and toiletries to survive and these manufactures know it. We as Americans need to figure away to say enough is enough. Why do we need all these extra products put in our foods. If we need supplemental needs then by vitamins. We’re allowing the manufactures to manipulate us and take advantage by saying this is better for you. If you need your teeth whitened go to the dentist, what happened to just plain tooth paste to keep our teeth clean, I could go on and on. I would like to hope that most of you see my point. Just stop purchasing the stuff that you can buy regular and forget all the special additives to a product. May be eventually the manufactures will stop…..

I’m starting to bake and cook from “scratch” again; no more high cost, low food value boxed or frozen goods for us. Does it take more time: yes! Do I mind spending that time: no, not at all because I can use great ingredients like “white” whole wheat flour (new product and it’s wonderful). I’d love to be able to cut down on driving, however I do have a business to run, so drive I must! But when I can save $$$, I sure feel great about the effort. We’re all going to get through this tough time, but let’s remember this experience so we can continue to be “dollar smart.”

Everything is going up. The rise in the price of gas and milk hurts the most.