Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
McCormick coarse ground black pepper 3.12 ounces:
Winco - $4.78
Save Mart - $5.29
Vons - $5.79
It's just a little shaker bottle. And then there's hamburger ... $6.99 a pound at Vons.
I remember when I was a little kid during the 70s you were really roughing it if you had to have hamburger instead of a steak; but these days, you're doing pretty good if you can feast on hamburger.
You guys ever get sticker shock at the grocery store ?
You're in California-everything is more expensive. I can still get ground beef at our local locker for around $2.50/pound, although I much prefer to grind my own mix. Things like pork are significantly less expensive here too-I can get some really nice pork steaks for $1.21/pound and Iowa chops for around $2/pound.
Your pepper example is probably the worst way to purchase pepper. If you want pepper, simply purchase a pound of peppercorns for around $12, and grind it as you need it. Better yet grow your own for about $2/pound-with your climate in California it should be easy to grown your own.
As far as your comparison to the 1970s-the median household income in 1975 was $10,579. The median household income in 2014 was $53,657 (the most current data available). When you adjust the 1975 median household income for inflation, it's $47,227. So the median household income is significantly higher in 2014 than it was in 1975 when adjusted for inflation.
Sticker shock at the grocery store? No. I know that prices sometimes go up, and when I meal plan I know how to take advantage of the lower prices that are available for locally sourced food. Of course, if prices are that much of an issue for you, there's always the option of trading the time you spend on discussion forums for earning income-surely there are part time jobs available in California that can help boost your bottom line.
