As we are all feeling the sky rocketing cost of our daily foods and groceries, many do not know why, or how long conditions will be like this, and what to expect in our future. Many will site economics. Many will site politics. Many will site farmers. Many more will site truckers, or shipping, and port processing. Most will site COVID, and definitely the shut down of various industries, and factories. And, many more, will site the cost of fuel.

Sure, all of these are true to some extent, or another. Some are more majorly impactful, currently, than others as well. Therefore, now, more than ever, we need to plan ahead.

When I speak of planning ahead in shopping, I am not just talking about cost of foods, groceries, and your budget. I am also speaking about AVAILABILITY. We are for the first time in a very long time, if at all in my generation, or younger, are experiencing active shortages, that are, may, and in some cases, will be active for an extended period of time in the future, possibly indefinitely. Thus, fueling the cost of simple regular living items to skyrocket, and so many more.

Many people fail to realize all of the pieces it takes to get an item from the source, finished, and to your kitchen for consumption and use. For example, I’ll use the example of eggs.

Eggs, are sourced from animals raised at either a facility, or farm. Let’s go with Organic Free Range Eggs, 1 dozen, Large. Let’s make them Farm Raised. Basically, the healthiest and natural egg packaged.

From the time the farmer collects the egg, the farmer has already acquired and utilized, chickens, roosters, land, feed, water, monitoring systems, lighting, electricity, medical, handling, buildings, and various machines to distribute the nutrients to feed the crops, that creates the feeds, for the Chicken and Roosters, and more.

The farmer will have hired staff, likely to collect the eggs in some cases, or machine automated the collection process from the Chickens. Then, there are endless different types of inspections, and permits. These inspections include, but are not limited to, weights, sizes, type, FDA approved qualities, and etc., are now up for action. Then staff utilize various sorting and packaging machines.

Next up, transporting the now crated cartons of palletized eggs, to either a shipper (truck and or boat), or direct to store. Many stores have central hubs to the various communities.

There are so many steps I did not include. However, you get the gist of what I am saying. What I do not mention is the fuel to run some of the machinery, the replacement parts, tools for repair, gear oil, gear materials, and etc. Over head costs, and the various insurances? Cost per employee, plus insurance? Taxes? Do they own the transportation trucks, or are they leasing? Do they need a refrigerated trucking system? Size of truck? Insurance? Etc, etc, etc.

Now, did you think about where some of the parts are manufactured that make the process run? Or, machine oil and packaging? Labeling? Stamping equipment? Inspections? Permits? Accounting? Legal? Maintenance and etc. Many of those physical things are manufactured some place else. Each is individualized. Many cogs in the wheel as they say.

This leads me to where things come from? We are a global society, and a global economy for a reason. Even all the way down to disposal. The machine made in Italy, the processor made in China, the ink for labeling India, the paper from Canada, the eggs from who knows where. You see where I am going with this? Sourcing. Even when all is sourced in one country, there is still endless sourcing. All the way to the paper you write your notes on, and that Bic Pen you use. Sourcing, processing, and shipping.

The simple Scrambled Eggs and Bacon, or Eggs Benedict, or even the Hard Boiled Egg, or Smoothie, this is the process to get that one dozen Large, Organic, Free Range Eggs.

With all this being said, this explains how we are where we are at now. Skyrocketing food and grocer prices. It also explains how we must plan, and prepare.

I have not even factored in, major outside political factors, affecting our daily living. From China, Russia, India, and abroad. Nor, have I factored in ‘exclusive’ or ‘specialty items’.

But, the ‘BEASTS OF ALL‘, ‘Amazon’, ‘Big Box Stores’, ‘Walmart’, ‘Target’, ‘Best Buy’, ‘Whole Foods’, typically ‘Anchor Stores’, all the way to 7- Elevens or Circle K Marts.

I also, most definitely have NOT INCLUDED ANY RESTAURANT, or ‘cooked food, i.e. fast food, or convenient food’, to before it hits your kitchen.

EVERYONE is experiencing these new processes. EVERYONE is experiencing these new expenses. But, hopefully this answers some questions. I hope in reading this it gives you guidance, foresight, and tips for preparing and saving for the months ahead.

So, today I came across a great article of insight and planning, that we all should brace for. It doesn’t matter your wealth, as much as your system of regularity, convenience, needs, and then money. Then factor, how you can, will, or won’t adjust.

Continue reading →