Economy

I am probably experiencing inflation more than I realize. It's just that my current level of spending, based on my weekly cash, which has not increased for at least five years, is still more than enough for me.

Oh, and my instant coffee (Maxwell House at my local Walgreens) is usually no more than $6.00. Heck, a week or two ago I paid less than that amount, and since it was on sale bought two of them.

I don't happen to buy brocolli crowns, so I can't make a comparison.

I tend to make soups and stews that make several meals. I also typically plan a week or so ahead of time. Tomorrow I will be having dinner with friends. On Monday, I'll go to the grocery store and get what I need for the next week or so. A boneless pork chop, which will be marinated in Teriyaki sauce. A catfish fillet which will be blackened, and will be two meals. They will be accompanied by Rice-A-Roni rice pilaf and veggies for stir fry -- onions, carrots, zucchini, red bell peppers, and snow peas, if available. I happen to have Grecian chicken already frozen. Those, with the addition of what I've already said, will give me at least six days of meals. I will probably also buy a can of biscuits, which goes well with this meal. I'll estimate each meal is well under $3.00.

Cooking almost all of my meals for myself, coupled with being willing to eat a somewhat limited repetition of food, has helped. It also helps that I have an extra refrigerator in the garage, already there when I bought this place in 2009. that I mainly use for the freezer. The two refrigerators are very close in size, and I am very grateful I can freeze what I can. Otherwise, at some point, possibly even before the Pandemic, I'd have purchased a stand alone freezer.