Shopping costs as a single/elderly person

[Magpie]

I popped into our biggest nearest supermarket to purchase cat food yesterday and was astounded to find there were no single cans of cat food.
There were 6 and 12 packs of tins, 12 packs of those foil sachets in a box, and bags of cat biscuits. Pretty much the same in the dog section. There were 'pate' tinfoil thingys about the size of a can of sardines, but very expensive for the size. Now I had the car, and buy in bulk anyway, so it wasn't an issue.
But I know most elderly people only buy one tin at a time, partly because they share their own food, but because they can't carry large amounts of shopping. Only one of the more expensive shops offers delivery, and you have to spend over 50, and if you are outside the town they charge.

I then, out of interest, checked beans and other things around the shop that I know 'oldies' like to buy. Nothing came in small amounts - and I'm not exaggerating. All the small packets/tins that used to exist have gone off the shelves. I found the half tins of beans and peas - but they were in a three pack, and were an expensive label.

This to me is a blatant disregard of the single person, but more importantly of the elderly, who detest waste and are being forced to buy large packeted items.
Is this an issue elsewhere?

 

[Amish Heart]

Animal food has been an issue here for many years. The price has doubled. Our Aldi has not had the canned cat food for a month, have to get it at Walmart.
There have been times I've fed our cats discounted tuna because it was cheaper than cat food. The cheap brand of canned cat food at Walmart is only available in the super large cans, but I buy those, because we have a number of cats and we feed a big can at a time. But it is ridiculous to pay a buck a can for those tiny cans of Friskies. Who can afford that? Tuna at Aldi is 88 cents a can.
Animal food is horribly overpriced. Many people just make their own cat and dog food.

 

[SoulSeeker]

It's getting harder and harder for we retired folks trying to make ends meet. Because of my health I was forced to take early retirement. That put me in the bottom 30% of the poverty level. I have to use home delivery right now and that's a joke. Toss up as to what you'll get. I ordered 3 loaves of bread and the driver smashed them so bad couldn't use them. The store reimbursed me but still need bread. Missing a couple items (got reimbursed) so now need to do anther order. Some are just lazy and say "could not deliver". The one thing I wanted the most didn't make it because they wait until the last moment to pull your order and they don't have it in stock! So for now I eat what I can get. Hoping I get oxygen again soon. My provider has my account all screwed up and I switched.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Sorry to hear all that @SoulSeeker, it's just the wife and I. She can't drive so I do the grocery shopping, usually around 06:00 as the stores open. I am very picky when shopping, I'm a produce prude, will not except bruised or stuff about to turn. I try to stick to the wife's list, but sometimes I just can't find what she needs. I have considered the home delivery service, but I don't want things picked out and handled by younger people who don't give a S... I bag my own, because I don't like canned goods on top of my bread either.

Now days I have a list of 5 grocery stores in a 20 mile circle from the house, each store has something "special" that I am willing to make the trip for. But, I try to make a different list for each store. Two of the grocery stores are within 2 miles, and they are my first choice if quality is not a consideration.

I have a Super WM within a mile, but try to limit my purchases there to shelf stable foods like canned goods. But, their self-service is now limited to 15 items or less, which makes buying a flat of soup a PIA (they usually only have 1 manned checkout and it has a line).

 

[d_marsh]

He orders them online, but I pay for my pops groceries and have them delivered to him. He has settled in to doing exactly what you say is not available where you live. He buys one small can of this and one small can of that, or a single frozen entree, never multi-packs. I have tried to take him to Costco or other places and stock up but he prefers one small grocery order every week to replenish. Although he does go to the dining hall a few times a week to eat with other people who live in the retirement community.

 

[elkhound]

the seniors are buying the single serving for themselves to eat....thats why its all gone.

edit...awhile back i seen a news piece out of europe about this.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I would prefer larger packaging. It's usually cheaper that way. When we get home we repack larger cans in smaller containers. The largest bag that our dog food comes in is 28 pound bags, I wish I could get it in 50 pound bags. If someone is short on cash they shouldn't be buying canned cat food, buy the dry stuff it's a lot cheaper.

 

[elkhound]

often now larger packs,can,bags etc is more expensive....from things i see anyhow.

 

[Magpie]

I would prefer larger packaging. It's usually cheaper that way. When we get home we repack larger cans in smaller containers. The largest bag that our dog food comes in is 28 pound bags, I wish I could get it in 50 pound bags. If someone is short on cash they shouldn't be buying canned cat food, buy the dry stuff it's a lot cheaper.

I appreciate that- I suppose it differs on geography / weather etc, and someone in Alaska or remote would want to stock up. But for the elderly within a town radius, here, its an issue.
I agree about the wet/dry food being cheaper but there was no availability of small cat biscuits, just 5kg bags, which are heavy to carry. I've since checked with a supermarket worker I know, and that is all they plan on stocking now. If you want a single item of anything you may have to go to a corner ship and pay double.
Back in the day here cats got fed leftovers or hunted, there was no dry food, just tins, and thats what elderly people here would use, as they try to keep their cats in more as its the only company they have. I've also been in the social housing cottages for the elderly locally. They are nice properties, but no storage to speak of, and small, you couldn't swing the proverbial cat in them, pardon the pun. Keeping large quantities of animal feed isn't possible.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I appreciate that- I suppose it differs on geography / weather etc, and someone in Alaska or remote would want to stock up. But for the elderly within a town radius, here, its an issue.
I agree about the wet/dry food being cheaper but there was no availability of small cat biscuits, just 5kg bags, which are heavy to carry. I've since checked with a supermarket worker I know, and that is all they plan on stocking now. If you want a single item of anything you may have to go to a corner ship and pay double.
Back in the day here cats got fed leftovers or hunted, there was no dry food, just tins, and thats what elderly people here would use, as they try to keep their cats in more as its the only company they have. I've also been in the social housing cottages for the elderly locally. They are nice properties, but no storage to speak of, and small, you couldn't swing the proverbial cat in them, pardon the pun. Keeping large quantities of animal feed isn't possible.

You are right about that, many small homes/apartments don't have much in the way of storage space. But a person is paying a lot extra for the convenience of small packaging. Right or wrong, that's the way it is.
We have a small grocery store in town 20 miles away, it's also the only grocery store in our county. We normally do our large shopping at a store 75 miles south, so we stock up on a lot of stuff. It's hard to get out with less than 2 carts and $400. Many items that we buy are close to double what they were 4 years ago, prior to Biden. We've done very well in retirement, but I feel for those, that for whatever reason, don't have the retirement income that keeps up with inflation.

 

[UserNameTaken]

I'm lucky our sweet little runt cat, Thumper, will only eat dry food. Hooman salmon from Trader Joe's - sticks her nose in the air. As a kitten I had to guard my ice cream or she'd fight me for it. Now isn't interested. Milk, ignores it, except from mommy's glass or ceral. Also is a vegetarian, steals the avacado off my sandwich. The sacks of "9 Lives" are $18 now, and clumping kitty litter is $20. But wet food would be twice as much.

 

[Morgan101]

Is this an issue elsewhere?

I don't know if I would call it an issue. IMHO it is a strategy. I have found it to be a normal practice at Wal Mart. You find a product you like, and you buy one. Next time you go they no longer have it as a single item. It is a pack of two or four. If you buy it again they have just doubled their sales, and you will be hard pressed to find that item in the single offering. Personally, I question the strategy, but as often as I have seen it happen, it must work.

 

[Snowman]

He orders them online, but I pay for my pops groceries and have them delivered to him. He has settled in to doing exactly what you say is not available where you live. He buys one small can of this and one small can of that, or a single frozen entree, never multi-packs. I have tried to take him to Costco or other places and stock up but he prefers one small grocery order every week to replenish. Although he does go to the dining hall a few times a week to eat with other people who live in the retirement community.

Good to hear He is Active...!!!

 

[Snowman]

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[SoulSeeker]

I found a sausage in a 3 ring pack I really like so I get 2 of them, if they have that many, and break them down to single rings and freeze them. I buy 20lbs of rice at a time, that lasts a while. I'll get the Knorr side dishes and put chicken pork or sausage in it, some veggies, to make a main dish. I don't drink enough milk to get even a half gallon without it going bad, so I get the powdered. 2 1/2 gallons for $10 I think it was. I mainly use it for cooking anyway.

 

[Tommyice]

At the pharmacy I work at we sell single cans of cat and dog food and small 4 pound bags of dry. I would think most people with pets would buy the multi pack to ensure their companion has food. One of the grocery stores by me used to sell small single serve cans of veg and even corned beef hash or bush’s baked beans. I haven’t seen those since COVID.

 

[sonya123]

my dad eats out most the time, they have places in his town that cook mostly for seniors and he can just go pick up his food. He also eats bread, cooks packaged soup and fries eggs. He cooks potatoes and buys a small bag at a time. He eats those with ( cold) sausage.
Plus I noticed when we were over there he doesn't eat that much at all. I think older seniors don't need very much food.

I buy in the largest amount possible most of the time since it is cheaper. Many things store well. Even a can of something. You can eat some and freeze the rest, or put in the fridge for next day
You can buy meat from the butcher area of regular grocery stores, so you don't need to buy a large pack of something

 

[Tommyice]

my dad eats out most the time, they have places in his town that cook mostly for seniors and he can just go pick up his food. He also eats bread, cooks packaged soup and fries eggs. He cooks potatoes and buys a small bag at a time. He eats those with ( cold) sausage.
Plus I noticed when we were over there he doesn't eat that much at all. I think older seniors don't need very much food.

I buy in the largest amount possible most of the time since it is cheaper. Many things store well. Even a can of something. You can eat some and freeze the rest, or put in the fridge for next day
You can buy meat from the butcher area of regular grocery stores, so you don't need to buy a large pack of something

About a year ago I noticed my dad was leaving more food on his plate that would “share” with the dog. He told me he just feels full sooner.

 

[Morgan101]

He told me he just feels full sooner.

I wish I did. I still throw a lot more shade than I should.

 

[Magpie]

Where I used to work, we handled the Meals on Wheels program for the elderly, or those recuperating from hospital. Before Covid a full plate of homecooked dinner (2 or 3 scoops of mash, three other veg and meat like stew/casserole, roast chicken) cost 4, and a soup or dessert, 2 each. The dinner has gone up to 5 now. Many of our 'oldies' (term used affectionately) asked for three scoops of mash, and would split the dinner over two days. Some of the elderly couples would split it. We delivered twice a week. The state pension here is good, (about 250 a week) and it wasn't that they couldn't afford it, but they were afraid to spend the money in case they needed it for heating. It leads me to wonder what 'oldies' will be like in 40/50 years time, as that mentality of saving has gone.

 

[forcast]

I put larger canned goods in to 2 servings in freezer bags. Meats as well. Pet food i order from Walmart or Chewy. I buy for a month or more if pet food os on sale and its delivered. For myself i shop once a month.

 

[Patchouli]

It is probably too expensive for someone elderly to buy more than one can of a particular something at a time, they’re taking into consideration their other needs, carrying stuff to the house/apartment. I have arthritis in my hands now and pushing a heavy cart has become difficult.
Even though most stores now offer home delivery, most elderly don’t have the means to place the order (cell phone, computer, etc).
There is a community “caring center” here. I see the cars lined up some mornings, picking up groceries curbside for free.

 

[Sourdough]

I get a Senior Food Box every month. I rarely ever eat much of that food (some I do, some I use in cooking), but I mark all that food and store it. Some of the foods in the Food Box I will never eat in "current reality" but I save it for when I would be forced to eat tree bark, saw dust, dirt, grass, etc. The Senior Food Box always has dry cereal, and I like that. I get cases (24 packs in a case) of Ramen noodle soup delivered from Amazon, cost fluctuate between $3.99 to $6.99 a case. When it is at the lower end price I order (4) Four cases (96 hot meals of .20 cents each).