What Exactly Does COLA Mean
I know there is a struggle out there among everyone to have just the basic needs met when shopping for food and basic household items. I asked my daughter to get some groceries for our house. She went to a different store from what I was used to insisting she was getting a better price. I took my curious self and made a short comparison list just the basic stuff and checked out her theory. I wanted to know where I was getting the best value. Here’s my list: Toilet paper, meat, frozen vegetables, bag of gala apples, milk and coffee. I priced the store’s brand names to be close in comparison. I based the meat on the oer poumd of ground, The stores in my area may vary from yours but I probably got close to the apple-to-apple price. I priced all items like this and got totals for each list. My go to store Walmart, I got $43.03. The store I thought was more expensive Publix $39.65 and another national chain store Kroger $41.47. I find the differences come from some items that each one carries that probably make me shop at one specific store more regularly. What I do see is how the prices are affecting my own economics. If this is what the basic grocery cart looks like it’s no wonder people are paying more than they should. What I do find helpful is buying my groceries in bulk for meat, chicken, toilet paper, peanut butter and fish(like salmon). Ketchup and sugar is in larger quantities meaning less running to the store. I drink a lot of celery juice, that the big box stores offer a better value. I break up large packaging that lasts longer and I can freeze the meats. We don’t know how long this economic crisis might last. We can do some research on our own and find where we should shop. I know we are all checking gas prices, so we need to be as diligent in our grocery shopping as well. I currently shop Costco for my meats, some organic vegetables and paper goods. When I need quick fix foods, I use one of the stores I mentioned above. I like giving gift cards to random people and family, they may need groceries instead of kid’s toys. Whatever I give I want it to truly bless the recipient and hope it fills a need. I want them to have the best value when using a gift card I have given them.
One way or another we will get through this. My meaning of COLA is that the cost-of-living adjustment is more than just the money, we are in for adjustments in life as we know it. My best encouragement is shop wisely life changes often to the better.
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