4 ms·

Even though supermarket prices have gone up, what's really gone up is prepared food, even at cheap places. You can almost feed yourself for a week for the cost

Even though supermarket prices have gone up, what's really gone up is prepared food, even at cheap places. You can almost feed yourself for a week for the cost of one visit to McDonald's.

dw_arthur 4y ago
I stopped eating out when the pandemic started and I can't remember the last time I had a meal out where I was satisfied with the price and quality.
- sokoloff 4y ago
  In 2019, large cheese pizzas used to be $5 at our favorite pizza place. They’re $16 now. That caused us to find a new second-favorite pizza place, where a large cheese is also $16, but is at least better tasting. We can make an acceptable pizza at home for around $5, making that our new first-favorite pizza place.
Espressosaurus 4y ago
I buy mostly unprepared foods (raw meats, raw vegetables, coffee, milk, tofu, eggs, ...) and I've seen my grocery bill double in the last 5 years. Looking at random fast food places I go to, I've seen those prices nearly double as well. Pizza prices have nearly doubled to where a $20 pie is now close to $40.
jimmygrapes 4y ago
10 piece boneless wings at my nearest chain sports bar type restaurant now costs $16.99. They have specials on Wednesdays where you can buy 10 get 10 free (with beverage purchase). In 2022 it was $12.99 for the same. In 2021 and 2020 it was $8.99. In 2019 it was $6.99. All pre-tax and pre-tip, of course. Only four years difference, and I don't think chicken shortages were the cause.
bob1029 4y ago
> what's really gone up is prepared food, even at cheap places. My observation is that it has increased by the same rate on both sides, so DIY cooking has the same relative advantage. The absolute impact is simply larger now. My monthly grocery bill is right under $500 today - just for myself. But, this is very nearly 100% of my meals. I will eat out about 10-20 times a year. I think meal prep is pretty much mandatory if you want to enjoy quality food without spending 4 figures/m. I find time in the kitchen is fantastic for unwinding from work or filling dead time between tasks. I run 3 batches throughout the week, each usually good for 7 days. The system is sophisticated at this point with a "queue" in my freezer and color-coded containers. Right now, if I did absolutely no more cooking, I could enjoy high-quality meals for another week. Living with a reasonable buffer of food in your freezer will change how you do things. For me, the temptation to order a pizza is almost always negated when very tasty chicken-fried rice is only 3-5 minutes away and already paid for.

Even though supermarket prices have gone up, what's really gone up is prepared food, even at cheap places. You can almost feed yourself for a week for the cost of one visit to McDonald's.

dw_arthur 4y ago

I stopped eating out when the pandemic started and I can't remember the last time I had a meal out where I was satisfied with the price and quality.

sokoloff 4y ago
In 2019, large cheese pizzas used to be $5 at our favorite pizza place. They’re $16 now. That caused us to find a new second-favorite pizza place, where a large cheese is also $16, but is at least better tasting. We can make an acceptable pizza at home for around $5, making that our new first-favorite pizza place.

Espressosaurus 4y ago

I buy mostly unprepared foods (raw meats, raw vegetables, coffee, milk, tofu, eggs, ...) and I've seen my grocery bill double in the last 5 years. Looking at random fast food places I go to, I've seen those prices nearly double as well. Pizza prices have nearly doubled to where a $20 pie is now close to $40.

jimmygrapes 4y ago

10 piece boneless wings at my nearest chain sports bar type restaurant now costs $16.99. They have specials on Wednesdays where you can buy 10 get 10 free (with beverage purchase). In 2022 it was $12.99 for the same. In 2021 and 2020 it was $8.99. In 2019 it was $6.99. All pre-tax and pre-tip, of course. Only four years difference, and I don't think chicken shortages were the cause.

bob1029 4y ago

> what's really gone up is prepared food, even at cheap places. My observation is that it has increased by the same rate on both sides, so DIY cooking has the same relative advantage. The absolute impact is simply larger now. My monthly grocery bill is right under $500 today - just for myself. But, this is very nearly 100% of my meals. I will eat out about 10-20 times a year. I think meal prep is pretty much mandatory if you want to enjoy quality food without spending 4 figures/m. I find time in the kitchen is fantastic for unwinding from work or filling dead time between tasks. I run 3 batches throughout the week, each usually good for 7 days. The system is sophisticated at this point with a "queue" in my freezer and color-coded containers. Right now, if I did absolutely no more cooking, I could enjoy high-quality meals for another week. Living with a reasonable buffer of food in your freezer will change how you do things. For me, the temptation to order a pizza is almost always negated when very tasty chicken-fried rice is only 3-5 minutes away and already paid for.