Community Chat

[Rockycoast]

Inflation has gone down. Food prices have gone down. Clothing I don’t need to purchase as much. Have enough as it is. We are following the trend and spending more on traveling as the economists say is happening now. Have already taken major trips. Can see that in my own area. (Beach community). Tourists have been arriving already even with schools still in session. Hotels are booking up fast for the summer season. Day trippers have been taking advantage of good weather days sooner than usual. Good to see things improving and they are.

[FiddleDeeDee]

We don't eat out, ever, due to the cost of food which rarely is great tasting and the tipping situation. Fast food is definitely a no due to cost. Costco we have always only purchased what we need and will use and they haven't had much of what we needed; the wants have all accelerated in price. 

I still do the bulk of food shopping at Aldi's. Spices come from Walmart. Eggs come from a local farmer. Vegis, when they go on sale. Our spending habits revolve around ONE thing now: necessity. 

[Trailrun23]

DH and I ate lunch at Red Lobster last week for the first time in proabably 15 years since those close to our area have closed. We happened to be in another part of town and stopped there and ate. Shocked at the prices...just lunch for us, without drinks or appetizers, was $60

[SurferWife]

I remember recently participating in a thread and said that I had cut back on shopping because of our nation's economic crisis.  I was QUICKLY corrected that the economy is just fine.  Okee dokee.

[Trailrun23]

I rarely go into Macys since they are so far away now. I have found so much of what they carry now is much lower quality than it used to be. When I look in my closet now, Insee so many things that look better than what I see in most stores now..so I am shopping my closet for summer. I need some beige sandals and that's about it.

[Trailrun23]

For those who think inflation is better and prices at the grocery store are down, most prices here, even if less than they were a few months ago, will never go back to their pre-pandemic price. We are supposed to be grateful prices go down...but if they aren't down to where many can't afford them, then things are still hard for many.

[Greeneyedlady21]

I was in a Marshalls Home Goods yesterday and the line went all the way through their usual line and doubled into the Home Goods part of the store. They had to open all 11 registers.

It's right by where I work, I have never seen a line like that there even at holiday time. It's always busy in that store, where I live people are spending on clothing and home items. Looking for bargains but they are spending.

[stevieb]

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@Trailrun23 wrote:

For those who think inflation is better and prices at the grocery store are down, most prices here, even if less than they were a few months ago, will never go back to their pre-pandemic price. We are supposed to be grateful prices go down...but if they aren't down to where many can't afford them, then things are still hard for many.

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Well said. 'Geting better' is relative. A small drop in price when that price had reached stratospheric levels is hardly a boon to the average consumer. Grocery prices, restaurant prices, even fast food prices are all still sky high, as are retail prices in general. I haven't given up eating... nor have I given up all shopping, but I surely think twice these days. As for travel, it's not a priority for me and is not on my horizon.

[Lakelife62]

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@Greeneyedlady21 wrote:
I was in a Marshalls Home Goods yesterday and the line went all the way through their usual line and doubled into the Home Goods part of the store. They had to open all 11 registers.

It's right by where I work, I have never seen a line like that there even at holiday time. It's always busy in that store, where I live people are spending on clothing and home items. Looking for bargains but they are spending.

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I started in March to find a 5 day rental for end of June when my grandkids get out of school. We take a trip every year.

Everything and I do mean everything within my criteria and price range is gone. I considered several different states and lengthening or shortening the stay. Somebody is booking these places.

[stevieb]

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@Lakelife62 wrote:

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@Greeneyedlady21 wrote:
I was in a Marshalls Home Goods yesterday and the line went all the way through their usual line and doubled into the Home Goods part of the store. They had to open all 11 registers.

It's right by where I work, I have never seen a line like that there even at holiday time. It's always busy in that store, where I live people are spending on clothing and home items. Looking for bargains but they are spending.

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I started in March to find a 5 day rental for end of June when my grandkids get out of school. We take a trip every year.

Everything and I do mean everything within my criteria and price range is gone. I considered several different states and lengthening or shortening the stay. Somebody is booking these places.

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Somehow, I'm not surprised. It seems like for the first time in about four years people are feeling more secure about leaving the safety of the nest. Many people are just more than ready for a change of venue. I also wonder, given the hospitality and travel industries have been hard hit in recent years, if their prices, maybe, haven't been jacked up at the same level as have others, or if they've retained more of a sense of proportion in trying to get their industries back on some kind of even keel. Hope something comes up for your family.