How your eating is being affected by the recession?

[Swifty1014]

Originally Posted by sprinklesmom

I've always found my grocery bill much lower when I eat on plan. However, the grocery bill has gone up. What used to cost me around $40 a week now costs me around $60 a week. And I shop at the least expensive market in the area. And that's just the basics - no luxuries.

An extra $20 does make a difference when you are the only breadwinner at home.

Same here. Have seen a little of an increase, but it is cheaper for me than eating out all the time. I am single with no kids- Im sure its harder for families.

[pocahontas]

We gave up going out, we rarely go out at all anymore. We used to go out every Friday for dinner and drinks but now we stay home and hang with the neighbors, make dinner and have a glass of wine. It is pretty fun! I have found that planning a weekly menu and shopping accordingly not only helps me save $ but it also helps me be less wasteful. Just putting it all on paper I am able to plan and use leftovers accordingly and I have to say I am getting pretty good at recreating leftovers! For example last week I roasted a chicken and served with a salad then took the leftover chicken and shredded it for one of Linda Sue’s casseroles the next day and used the carcass to make a soup for the 3rd day. We got 3 meals out of that one roasted chicken. Meat also seems to be the most $ so I shop the sales, buy in bulk and scour the internet for recipes. This has been fun and it has brought some good variety and tasty meals to our table.

[LCShadows]

Originally Posted by Danceruk

Shocking really as life in the UK goes down the pan fast.. sure everyone worldwide is feeling the strain!

Whats had to change/go since the recession hit(is hitting hard)?

For me, luxury items: vegetables, variety of foods, having PLJ/Other sugar free drinks..OUT

I heard that one in five Brits work in the financial sector, while only one in 18 Americans do -- and that sector has plummeted. That may be why we're getting a delayed reaction here. Unemployment is rising, though, and the real rate of inflation (based on food prices) is about 4 times what the government is quoting as the rate. I expect it will catch up with us next year the way it has with the UK.

I never eat out anymore. I eat a lot more kippers and tuna and eggs and cheap cuts of beef (like chuck) and "family packs" of chicken. I do still eat vegies but am more selective about which ones (collards, mustard greens, kale, squash, onions, celery, all that kind of stuff is very cheap). I had a much simpler Thanksgiving this year -- and will have a much simpler Christmas as well. Some of the more expensive stuff (like protein powder, supplements, rare mushrooms, expensive cuts of meat) aren't everyday fare anymore. I buy tea and coffee (look for sales) but never soda or other beverages. I pay attention to and shop the sales and specials much more.

Most of my budget cuts are in the non-food category, though. I put everything that uses passive electricity (computer, TV, VCR, microwave, stereo, fax) on a surge breaker and turn it off at night/when not in use. That has reduced my electric bill about 1/3. I've cut back to basic cable (we get no broadcast reception here, so you need the cheapest package in order to have TV), saving about 2/3. I got rid of my personal landline and got a disposable cellphone ($15/month) for personal use, saving about 2/3. I reduced my thermostat by two degrees.

[didi]

[QUOTE=jill72;11212665]Nothing has changed for us, but we live in an area (Texas) that is economically sound (TX is a right-to-work state). [QUOTE]

What does right-to-work mean?

[dbunny]

Originally Posted by iakaren

Has made it very easy to quit buying pop and bottled water. Only changes here.

But we raise our own meat, so I have 500# in the freezer......and chicken breasts are 99 cents a lb, so that adds variety to beef.

That's it! When I come home to Iowa for Christmas, I am raiding your freezer and stuffing my suitcase full of your grass fed beef. I will leave all my crappy presents for you in return!

Haven't felt this pinch yet from the economy, but not getting my house rented in St Louis yet is killing me! It needs an 'inspection' before I can rent it again- the city cashed my $70 check I had to send in, but haven't called me for an inspection appointment. So i am leaving the pricey chicken breast behind and eating eggs, eggs and more eggs, ground turkey and soup are turning up on the menu these days...but I will not give up wild salmon!

[Kensbev]

My shopping habits have changed, but not the foods I eat. My husband and I belong to a food club, where you can buy things in bulk. I've been shopping there for meat and splitting packs of 15 into smaller packs of 5 each and freezing. So, at the beginning of the month, I spend about $160 on meat, freeze it, and buy smaller quantities of fresh veggies, eggs, etc., throughout the month with the remaining $140 from our grocery budget.

We hardly eat out at all anymore. We used to do it all the time. And we were so happy to find a mom-and-pop type family restaurant where we could easily eat low carb a couple of months ago. That's just not happening right now.

Y'all might get a kick out of this, though. When I was a kid, my parents raised chickens for meat and eggs. I hated those chickens, hated feeding them, gathering the eggs. They are nasty creatures. But, we have a doghouse in the back yard surrounded by a pen that would be perfect for keeping them, and as much as I hate them, I'm considering my options...

[jem51]

last year (fall 2007) i bought a side of beef. that is not so unusual but my nephew and family were here. they moved which left me w a lot of meat in my freezer. i never realized what a blessing that was til the economy went belly up. i have a good 9 mos worth still in there. i buy whole chicks when they are .79/# and pork at the big meat sales. i re package into 'me size' packs. i have learned to not buy more than i can eat when it comes to produce. and i am not upset if there is none. i can eat meat. i've given up fruit except the berries i picked during the summer. last spring i bought a 12 pack of tuna at costco and discovered that i still had 6 cans from a previous trip. i don't eat it that often but may have to start. all in all, i'm in good shape. oh, and usually i send my daughter a check and let her do the x mas shopping for the family....it is cheaper if i do it myself.

[wifezilla]

I am more adventurous when it comes to meat. I shop at the Mexican market and basically try anything less than $2/lb. So far I have tried beef heart (good), beef kidney (yeck), and beef shank (excellent braised in white wine).

[chantyl03]

LOL...if my bf wasn't so incredible i'm be forced into an egg fast right now.

[jill72]

Originally Posted by jill72

Nothing has changed for us, but we live in an area (Texas) that is economically sound (TX is a right-to-work state).

What does right-to-work mean?

Basically, a right-to-work state (Texas is among 22 such states) gives employees the legal right to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union. Companies cannot make union membership a condition of employment, nor can they require employees to financially support unions. No employee in a right-to-work state can be terminated for declining to join a union or for declining to pay union dues. No employee in a right-to-work state can be charged a fee as a requirement for employment, and all contracts that support this activity are void.

Studies show that right-to-work states have shown more economic growth and job creation (consistently for more than a quarter of a century) than states without the statute.

Forbes listed Texas as No.1 for having the strongest economy and creating the most jobs. (Texas also has no State income tax ... Yay!)

[SlimMoeDee]

I'm doubley blessed. I run a non-profit that is not impacted by any bad economic times. Second blessing: I live in Texas!

[skeeweeaka]

I pay attention to flyers now and clip coupons and shop the sales...especially buy one get one free items when I can find them! I also have lowered my utility bills by putting everything on those surge protectors and unplugging everything else when not in use... I buy supplements online which are cheaper than the Health Food Stores...

TJ

[Danceruk]

Wowsers.. all I can say is you lot are blessed. I know not all americans are still managing okay.

For me(and millions of other brits), keeping a roof over my head/HEAT on in 1 room... has to come over eating. PERIOD. The cost of living here is insane! Lets hope 2009 gets better.. its hit rock bottom..so the only way is up!

[chantyl03]

Originally Posted by SlimMoeDee

I'm doubley blessed. I run a non-profit that is not impacted by any bad economic times. Second blessing: I live in Texas!

LOL this is my story as well, although i dunno why living in Texas is a good thing.

[dawnyama]

I am so sorry to hear of your situation Dancer. It makes me feel a bit better about our situation. I am doing some things to cut back but not as many here are doing. I am a SAHM (stay at home mom) to 4 kids. My DH is dying to get out of his current job (it's his supervisor, not the company) and I keep encouraging him to stay. But he will be looking seriously after bonus time in Jan. Ironically he works for a credit union! When gas here hit an all-time high of $4 per gallon, I stayed put. I didn't make any unnecessary trips. Now that it is back down under $2 I am able to go out when I want, but I still try to limit my trips. We do keep the heat down and use extra blankets at night--I almost roasted (and I literally sweated!) at my neighbors yesterday because their heat was set so high!! i have bought some long john type underwear to keep me warm too. We, OTOH, put logs in the fireplace to keep warm. I have just run out of my supplements and don't have the funds to replace them. When my DH gets that bonus in Jan, he promises we can get a few things like that. So extra stuff like that will have to wait. However when I found vitamin C for half price at Publix I bought it for us. I have been looking at ads every day they come in for food stores here to see where I can go and get the best deal. Tomorrow I am going to Kroger's 8 hour sale and get my limit of 4 dozen eggs for $0.99 each. I will pass by it on the way to my son's preschool, so it will not be a special trip. They also have a few buy one get one free deals on meat. I always buy my meat when it is discounted--that is why I got a freezer. I rarely get it while it is full price. I have too been cutting down on my veggie consumption and have used salad in a bag that is way past it's expiration date. When the butter and cream cheese was on sale just before Thanksgiving I bought a bunch because I know that it will get used up. Those expiration dates are so far away. But I must tell you that having only one income and a family of 6 this has been my habit for a long time. The grocery bill has gone up significantly while buying the same items--we used to get away with spending just under 200 to about $240 every single week. So we have had to do without a few weeks, but I think we are OK because I do like to stock up. Yes, I do feel blessed. We have been out Christmas shopping this weekend and of course stocked up on those Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. I sure do hope things get better by next year......

[anniemo]

i have definitely been affected. my meals are a lot more boring and i tend to eat the same meat throughout the week (sale). i still only eat organic meat/poultry/dairy because my health requires it. i'm lucky that once i cut out all artificial sweeteners my sweet toothed went away and i only use a couple drops of stevia in coffee and tea. this would be the only product i use that i consider expendable. because i am no nonsense about my food and my supplements (my life is way more expensive from medical bills if i relax on this) other areas of my life have definitely suffered.

i'm originally from texas and my family is still in austin. i spoke to them over thanksgiving and they said the recession is starting to creep in. places like new york, detroit, and chicago started getting hit last december. the hardest thing monetarily for me is not being able to visit my family. i have a cousin getting married next april in kansas city so i couldn't afford to go to texas for thanksgiving or christmas this year. i saw my family more when i was living in england!

[Linny]

This WOE is more expensive to me than when I was eating carbs and other "not so good things". I find I have to zip off to the grocery store almost daily for fresh ingredients and meats now than I did before. I have to actually PLAN my meals now vs just grabbing anything for dinner (which could have been some leftovers from the freezer).

Pasta, potatoes, rice......etc can go a long way but we all know that those foods are not LC friendly

[wifezilla]

It's good to live in Texas because they actually ENCOURAGE businesses!!!

(Seriously thinking about moving there)

[dae_tona]

The DH & I haven't been affected. However, we do keep a spending budget and were shocked-that in October-our food bill hit $500-especially for 2 people that really don't eat like they used to. So we made it a goal in November to cut that bill in half. Well, in November, our food bill came out to $215. We surpassed our goal. How did we do this?

We eat the same foods. We buy in bulk. We clip coupons. And there are always-always-always-eggs around the house. Plus eating low carb reduces your appetite which means you'll eat less overall anyway. What better way to cut down on a food budget than to do that?

We are also very fortunate that the DH is going to retire in the next few months & we are making a big move and neither one of us will have to work if we don't want. So no-it hasn't affected us at all. We are very blessed.

Dyan

[6-R-bust-2009]

Dh got laid off in Oct. He is the full time earner. We have had to tighten up the budget a lot until he goes back in March. I'm using lots more frozen and canned veggies instead of fresh. Lots more chicken (bleech!) instead of beef. I shop the sales.

[Ace-of-Steak]

I find it rather cheap to eat this LC lifestyle.

$10 per day feeds me and includes my gym membership.

$1 p/day - gym
$9 p/day - food

I eat 4 meals per day and my meals always consist of any of the following: steak, ground beef, pork chops, chicken, bacon, sausage, eggs, various cheeses, heavy cream, butter, olive oil, peanut oil, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, olives etc...

The most expensive things I buy are the oils, butter and cream. I stock up when they're on sale.

$10 a day to me is heaven sent considering I would chow down nearly that at a fast food joint, in one sitting, in my past life!

[iakaren]

Originally Posted by dbunny

That's it! When I come home to Iowa for Christmas, I am raiding your freezer and stuffing my suitcase full of your grass fed beef. I will leave all my crappy presents for you in return!

Haven't felt this pinch yet from the economy, but not getting my house rented in St Louis yet is killing me! It needs an 'inspection' before I can rent it again- the city cashed my $70 check I had to send in, but haven't called me for an inspection appointment. So i am leaving the pricey chicken breast behind and eating eggs, eggs and more eggs, ground turkey and soup are turning up on the menu these days...but I will not give up wild salmon!

We could always fix you up with good beef while in Iowa!!!!! But I probably don't need any crappy presents!!!

What part of Iowa? I am between Des Moines and Omaha.

[Danceruk]

Originally Posted by Ace-of-Steak

I find it rather cheap to eat this LC lifestyle.

$10 per day feeds me and includes my gym membership.

$1 p/day - gym
$9 p/day - food

I eat 4 meals per day and my meals always consist of any of the following: steak, ground beef, pork chops, chicken, bacon, sausage, eggs, various cheeses, heavy cream, butter, olive oil, peanut oil, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, olives etc...

The most expensive things I buy are the oils, butter and cream. I stock up when they're on sale.

$10 a day to me is heaven sent considering I would chow down nearly that at a fast food joint, in one sitting, in my past life!

$10 a WEEK is what I have to hit.. lol.. it dosent get much, but yoghurt & cottage cheese are cheap. After a month egg fasting I need a change!

[Danceruk]

oops! double post

[slimforever06]

Not affected. Groceries are definitely higher - but I cut our budget in other areas - and I support a college student as well (my son).

[jill72]

Originally Posted by chantyl03

LOL this is my story as well, although i dunno why living in Texas is a good thing.

I'm a Cali transplant and could definitely do without the humidity and traffic!!

[ladyathome]

Well, we have always been financially tight, so it's not new to us. LC is not any more expensive to me than the way I shopped before. However, I cannot afford all the things others do.

I don't buy any organic foods. I don't buy expensive supplements. I did recently purchase some coconut oil and a bottle of biotin. However, I got them from Wal Mart so they were less expensive. The biotin should last me a few months. I may not buy cocomut oil again.

I buy limited fresh produce. I usually just buy iceberg lettuce and tomatoes and onions. I buy some less expensive frozen veggies and also canned veggies.

Right now I don't take a multivitamin although I would like to. I just don't have it in the budget to add anything in.

My dh's hours have been cut at work, and we are starting to feel the pinch more. Fresh produce may be the next to go from our food budget.

I am sorry you are having it so hard. Hopefully things will start to look up soon for all of us.

[dbunny]

Originally Posted by iakaren

We could always fix you up with good beef while in Iowa!!!!! But I probably don't need any crappy presents!!!

What part of Iowa? I am between Des Moines and Omaha.

Rural Fort Dodge... Oooooh I would love some grass fed beef!

[Lickrish]

lol seems some Texans aren't struggling while others (like myself) are. Its getting really hard to balance bills,groceries endless holidays (kids and hubbys birthdays at the end of the year along with Christmas). Trying to feed a family of 4 as good as possible. I'm with the few that have mentioned they've added in carbs unfortunately I have as well and its not helping me at all in this WOE I'm just hoping we can make it through the end of the year $$$ wise and I'll get back on track 100%. It is a rough time.

[Kensbev]

Just out of curiosity for those in TX and CA. How many months out of the year is fresh produce available? I can get fresh stuff on the roadside stands here in GA until the middle of September. Since we're cutting out the middle man, the farmer is making more profit and it's cheaper for me. Unfortunately, this time of year, I'm stuck with the stuff from supermarkets.