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How much have YOUR bills gone up?? (ARGH! Vent)
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<blockquote data-quote="hearts and roses" data-source="post: 381119" data-attributes="member: 2211"><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: darkslateblue">I wish we didn't have to eat every day. I mean really, if we could just have one meal a day that would be awesome. Our grocery bill isn't as bas as some of you - my God $2K a month!!!! We spend approximately $400-$600/month and that is for 3 of us. It fluctuates during certain times of the year based on schedule changes, etc. We go through periods where we get takeout or just don't eat dinners or just have salads. Coffee is a killer, but I can't give it up. I've never been a name brand only shopper and I started shopping at discount places a couple of years ago. I went food shopping with easy child yesterday - we shared a wagon. I couldn't believe the stuff she bought. She's using coupons, but the store brand is still less even when using the coupon for the name brand items! And meats. Everyone says that meats are so expensive and it's true, they are. But if you bulk up on your veggies, then you're paying a fortune. There is an Ocean State Job Lot nearby where you can buy fresh fairly inexpensive grains - all organic - and bulk up meals with grains, especially stews and soups. I am so happy soup and stew season is back. No one wants a hearty stew in summer, but lo, fall and winter? Yes, I make lots of hearty stews and soups and chilis and I bulk them up with inexpensive but filling grains and fall veggies like sweet potatoes, cabbage and brussels. And beans - beans are cheap and good for you and filling! </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: darkslateblue">I am in the process of checking out different electric companies. We have the major big one, CLP/NEU, but we have the option of two others. We still get a bill from CLP, but at the lower rates - not sure how that works, but I'm looking into it. We don't have a water bill because we're on well water, so that's tied in with the electric for the pump. We bought a new burner several years ago and it's helped save money on oil usage but of course, people rarely see the real savings in oil these days. Our budgeted payments for oil are $140/month and our budgeted payments for electric are $140/month. Our phone bill, despite the fact that I keep renegotiating for a better deal, runs about $65/month. H pays the cable/internet bill and screams about it every month - $100/month for 4 cable tvs and internet. If he agreed to cut out the cable channels, we could get that bill down to about $50/month. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: darkslateblue">The largest bill we have encompasses the insurance bills. Our auto is $250/month, life adds another $100/month and health is another $300/month = $650/month. H also as to pay for an additional WC and liability policy for his carpentry business. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: darkslateblue">What I've really noticed lately, and what really burns my biscuit, is that items are getting smaller as prices are increasing. I bought a case of toilet paper last week and when I had to pull a new roll out I noticed that it seemed smaller. Sure enought, I put it on the roller in the bathroom and there was nearly and inch on both ends of the TP roll that was empty! I wish I had a roll from the prior case I bought to compare it, but I could swear it's width has been reduced by at least an inch! Holy cow! I mentioned it to H and he just went off about everything from canned goods to jars of sauce and salsa - everything that used to be 16oz., is now 13 1/4oz or somthing like that. So, we are either paying more or the same as we were before but getting way less! Oh, I could just go on and on...</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="hearts and roses, post: 381119, member: 2211"] [SIZE=3][COLOR=darkslateblue]I wish we didn't have to eat every day. I mean really, if we could just have one meal a day that would be awesome. Our grocery bill isn't as bas as some of you - my God $2K a month!!!! We spend approximately $400-$600/month and that is for 3 of us. It fluctuates during certain times of the year based on schedule changes, etc. We go through periods where we get takeout or just don't eat dinners or just have salads. Coffee is a killer, but I can't give it up. I've never been a name brand only shopper and I started shopping at discount places a couple of years ago. I went food shopping with easy child yesterday - we shared a wagon. I couldn't believe the stuff she bought. She's using coupons, but the store brand is still less even when using the coupon for the name brand items! And meats. Everyone says that meats are so expensive and it's true, they are. But if you bulk up on your veggies, then you're paying a fortune. There is an Ocean State Job Lot nearby where you can buy fresh fairly inexpensive grains - all organic - and bulk up meals with grains, especially stews and soups. I am so happy soup and stew season is back. No one wants a hearty stew in summer, but lo, fall and winter? Yes, I make lots of hearty stews and soups and chilis and I bulk them up with inexpensive but filling grains and fall veggies like sweet potatoes, cabbage and brussels. And beans - beans are cheap and good for you and filling! [/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][COLOR=darkslateblue][/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][COLOR=darkslateblue]I am in the process of checking out different electric companies. We have the major big one, CLP/NEU, but we have the option of two others. We still get a bill from CLP, but at the lower rates - not sure how that works, but I'm looking into it. We don't have a water bill because we're on well water, so that's tied in with the electric for the pump. We bought a new burner several years ago and it's helped save money on oil usage but of course, people rarely see the real savings in oil these days. Our budgeted payments for oil are $140/month and our budgeted payments for electric are $140/month. Our phone bill, despite the fact that I keep renegotiating for a better deal, runs about $65/month. H pays the cable/internet bill and screams about it every month - $100/month for 4 cable tvs and internet. If he agreed to cut out the cable channels, we could get that bill down to about $50/month. [/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][COLOR=darkslateblue][/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][COLOR=darkslateblue]The largest bill we have encompasses the insurance bills. Our auto is $250/month, life adds another $100/month and health is another $300/month = $650/month. H also as to pay for an additional WC and liability policy for his carpentry business. [/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][COLOR=darkslateblue][/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][COLOR=darkslateblue]What I've really noticed lately, and what really burns my biscuit, is that items are getting smaller as prices are increasing. I bought a case of toilet paper last week and when I had to pull a new roll out I noticed that it seemed smaller. Sure enought, I put it on the roller in the bathroom and there was nearly and inch on both ends of the TP roll that was empty! I wish I had a roll from the prior case I bought to compare it, but I could swear it's width has been reduced by at least an inch! Holy cow! I mentioned it to H and he just went off about everything from canned goods to jars of sauce and salsa - everything that used to be 16oz., is now 13 1/4oz or somthing like that. So, we are either paying more or the same as we were before but getting way less! Oh, I could just go on and on...[/COLOR][/SIZE] [/QUOTE]
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How much have YOUR bills gone up?? (ARGH! Vent)
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