Recently I've noticed a new habit when I go to the grocery store. I lift something off the shelf, look at it for a second, consider the price, and then put it back. These days I simply don't want to pay $8 for a small jar of pickles, or $3.99 a pound for apples. And i have a steady income. I shudder to think how people on a real tight budget do it. Most folks know that with few exceptions, prices rarely go lower once they hit new highs. With the exception of gas, or eggs, every rise in price remains true.
There is no percentage in reminiscing about the good old days when a quart of milk was a quarter and a loaf of bread was anywhere 50 cents and a dollar. Gasoline used to be 25 cents a gallon and when we were fortunate enough to spot a "gas war" it could fall to 15 cents.
I know I'm only fooling myself when I return an item to the shelf. Still, it feels empowering sometimes and I soon realize I can get along just fine without some things being affordable.
There was a time when people could estimate the cost of their groceries by counting the number of bags they brought home. That will never happen again. It's now possible to fit over $100 worth of items in just one bag.
I'm reminded of a story Woody Guthrie used to tell. You can find it in his little book called Woody Sez. Here's another version:
"High Prices! You talk about high prices,
I went into my store to buy some eggs and the man charged me 59 cents for a dozen,
I went in a week later and the prices 68 cents.
A week after that the price was 72 cents.
So I went in there this morning, and he was there...
But this time he had his money up on the shelf and his eggs was in the cash register!
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