Posted: Fri Dec 12, 25 1:55 pm Post subject: Rising Food Costs
No it's not Christmas season silly spending. For I haven't ordered differently or with extras for Christmas.
Prices have risen or quality dipped. Definitely a case of reduce where possible methinks. Not to starvation levels (you know - cuppa soup standards for one). Or cleaning stuff that doesn't work.
But it's a case of taking discounts, buying but not any fripperies. I think that the supermarkets will feel it come January. Likewise the pubs and cafes).
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9487 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 25 7:18 pm Post subject:
Definitely. Nothing extra here...well, a pack of chocolate mini rolls for the French conversation group today..masquerading as Bûche de Noël
Everything is still creeping up. Food prices especially. It may be a slightly slower rate than before...but inflation is still steadily rising
The prices rose a lot some time ago. My weekly shop used to be about £30-£40, but buying the same things it is rarely less than £50 now. Some tinned things have got a lot smaller too. At food bank we noticed that the tinned pies that would easily feed 3 or 4 at a pinch now only really give 2 good portions. I find that tins of tuna will only make 4 rounds of sandwiches without bulking out rather than 6.
Have a feeling this weeks shop is going to be rather expensive as I want to buy a few extras for Christmas. The following week I have to pick up and pay for the chicken and gammon, but they will last us into the New Year, so probably not too bad per meal.
I had an appointment with the library to change books today so walked through the Farmer's Market in Hexham. Well the outside food areas anyway. It's back in the town market square known as The Shambles which has been under renovation of sorts the last few months. The stalls have been selling from the town centre outskirts but all seem to be back. I'm a plant shopper there more than a food shopper. But there's a decent baker - his prices have always been on the upper side of budget but he's good. £4.35 for a largish loaf is expensive.
I did look at the veg but there was nothing that said "buy me". Otherwise the food was outside the vegan. There's a cake stall (less on than usual from the looks) and a cheese stall that's popular.
Not sure that it was the busiest ever. And it seemed possible to get seats in the cafes around the town centre which is a comment on the attendees. On a busy market in times gone by, queues at the doors.
We used to do Farmers Markets, but there are several things that put the prices up. The first is the cost of renting the stall, the second is that there is usually a restriction that most of the contents of things like cakes and bread have to be sourced within the county or within so many miles of the border, and then there is the insurance, travel etc. For bread and cakes, sourcing the flour in particular can be difficult and expensive.
If I am at a Farmers Market I will sometimes buy things. The veg are good and one stall near us sometimes has slightly unusual things like locally grown blueberries. We sometimes buy local cheese and things from one of the butchers as we can't get them at our one of choice. For a special treat I might buy a cake, but the ingredients and the fact they won't last more than one market makes them expensive. Fortunately for us, out stock doesn't go off.
All the cheaper delivery prices from the supermarket have gone up x 2 over the Christmas/New Year 2 weeks. Adds to the costs. Special offers are fewer. To be expected I suppose.
I thought the cost of our courier deliveries would be going up too, but they didn't. Have sent a couple of besoms off which should be collected today, and the price may have gone up slightly, but seems to vary by about 50p anyway, so not massive increase if there is one.
I did the big shop before Christmas yesterday which involved buying things like biscuits and sweets for presents, and so that was a rather high bill. Next week should be a lot less as just the top up things to last us over the Christmas period, some of which will go on for at least a fortnight, and some even longer.
I have to check the price of sending a small parcel to Devon; going to try Royal Mail and DPD as both are quite reliable. Have a feeling it might be going DPD as last year the cost of sending Royal Mail was higher than the contents.
Have just done the Christmas cards, so have to get stamps and send them tomorrow.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9487 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 25 4:36 pm Post subject:
At this rate it will be cheaper to drive to a shop than have a delivery
There is a 'retirement village' outside our village and don't think there is a bus goes there, so I suppose they have to rely on deliveries or car. It is within theoretical walking distance of the centre of the village which has a bus stop, but part of it doesn't have a footpath by the side of the road.
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