Summary

The author of the article expresses shock and dismay at the significant increase in food prices in Canada, particularly for staples like coffee, potatoes, bacon, hot dogs, and bones.

Abstract

The article titled "Obviously, The Universe Is Telling Me To Stop Eating So Much" discusses the author's recent experience with food price inflation in Canada. The author, a coffee lover, is taken aback by the steep rise in the cost of Tim Horton's coffee, which has increased by $5 in just four weeks. The price of potatoes, a major Canadian crop, has also skyrocketed, with a 10-pound bag now costing seven times more than it did before the holidays. Bacon and hot dogs, traditionally more affordable meat options, have seen price hikes that make them less accessible to the average consumer. Even soup bones, a thrifty choice, are now surprisingly expensive. The author reflects on the difficulty of managing these costs, especially for those on fixed incomes, and questions whether the cause is related to COVID-19, labor shortages, or transportation issues. The piece concludes with the author's intention to reduce food expenses in light of these price increases.

Opinions

The author is deeply concerned about the rapid inflation of food prices, particularly for everyday items.
They believe that the current prices for coffee, potatoes, bacon, hot dogs, and bones are exorbitant and indicative of "highway robbery."
The author is nostalgic for the times when these food items were more affordable and is considering changing their dietary habits to accommodate the increased costs.
There is a sense of frustration and helplessness regarding the inability of fixed incomes, such as disability pensions and social assistance rates, to keep pace with the rising cost of living.
The author implies that the price increases are disproportionate and unjustified, given that wages and social assistance have not increased correspondingly since 2018.

Obviously, The Universe Is Telling Me To Stop Eating So Much

Judging By The Price of Food

Holy inflation, Batman! The rising costs of goods has been all over the news in the US and around the world and The Great White North is no exception. And food prices have gone through the roof! And they’ve risen fast.

I had to run out for a few things today and was rendered speechless (well, this is me we’re talking about, so almost speechless). Here are a few items that gave me sticker shock:

Coffee:

I love my coffee! Need it. Want it. Gotta have it. Trust me, you do not want to be near me until I’ve had my obligatory 2 cups in the morning. And here in Canada, Tim Horton’s coffee is the holy grail of sweet brown elixirs.

Before the holidays, the price of an 875g (1.9 lb) can of Timmies was $14.97. Today, at one of my local grocery stores, it was on sale for $19.99. On sale? The price has gone up $5 in 4 weeks! That’s no sale, that what my father used to call highway robbery! At those prices, I think I’ll have to downgrade to 1 cup in the mornings. I’ll be cranky, but hey, I won’t be broke.

Potatoes:

Seven bucks for a 10-pound bag of potatoes? Do you have any idea how many potatoes we grow in Canada? Hell, we have an entire province (albeit a small one) almost completely devoted to them and a whole lot more on top of that. Thank goodness I bought 4 bags at $1.99 each right before Santa came because, at $7, I’ll skip the taters and have some rice.

Bacon:

I don’t even like bacon, but my husband likes an old-fashioned bacon and egg breakfast on the weekends. But at $8 a pack for bacon, he’ll get some good old-fashioned oatmeal instead! Oh, and that’s for a 375-gram pack, not even a pound. For that price, the pig better come over and fry himself up for me and serve me a cup of that overpriced coffee I like so much.

Hot Dogs:

Okay, not a healthy option, and not something I eat. The price just really stood out to me. Yeah, okay, they’re brand-name, but they’re hot dogs. $5.50 a pack if you buy 2, or $6.29 for 1. Didn’t these use to be cheap?

Bones:

It’s been a long time since my budget was so tight I had to buy soup bones. And I know some people get them for their dogs. However, this is today’s price for a small pack of 2 bones, count ’em, 2. Bones. Not meat. Bones!

These weren’t the healthiest options out there, I know. These are just what stood out to me. The prices on healthy stuff were insane too! I really don’t know how people manage on a fixed income. Disability pensions and social assistance rates haven’t gone up in my province since 2018, yet prices have increased at an alarming rate.

I’m not sure if it’s Covid, labour shortages, transportation issues, or a combination of all of the above, but it looks like I’m going to be cutting down on the old feed bag.