Passing It On - To Us

Today I was going to write a blog about buying, rather than cheaper appearing meats, whole portions at bigger costs but having better flavour and actually getting more for your money. Instead, after reading the daily "national", actually east Canada, news, I find that grocers are going to pass on their increased costs to us, the consumers. Yet again. Pass It On used to be a great game when we were kids. The funny part was that what someone whispered in your ear turned out to be, at the end of the line of little ears being whispered into, something completely different. This matter of the grocery businesses simply passing on their increases, whatever they are, to the consumer without taking part of the hit themselves, isn't funny at all. Increases to business should be part of their operations and they should be prepared not to hand it on, outright, to their customers, but absorb some of it themselves. It's the cost of business because business takes all of the profit from consumers therefore, it seems only right they ought to take on some of the down side, such as added costs. It's their business choice while we, the consumers, have no choice. The only way it can be avoided by the consumer, is to cut back on purchases or look for the business that operates in a more balanced way. And that, these days, is exactly what we have to do. Recently, I became so frustrated with my present online grocery delivery store that is a major Canadian corporation, over their online access being impossible to carry out, due to their problem of putting in such dire security, that even we, honest, long term customers can't get online to purchase our groceries. I gave up, and changed to a different store known for its low prices. Wow! I got a huge surprise at the lower prices, similar,  if not better access with photos and info on the product I was buying. And the plus is, not only the convenience of to-my-door-delivery, but also, the wonderful addition of being able to add to my grocery list right up until the day of delivery. Now that's service! Also, I can order from them, groceries that will be delivered the next day. The only set back, is that my order must be forty dollars worth. No problem these days! Back again to costs. I also learned lately about actual shopping itself. A favorite cooking show was very helpful with this advice. He advised fervently, that it's wiser to, for example, buy a whole chicken and cut it up  yourself. He's right. Go figure. It is a money saver. I tried buying a whole pot roast the other day. I am single, therefore, it seemed expensive but I cut it carefully into four parts and put them in the freezer. Now, I can enjoy my little roasts surrounded by roasted veggies with gravy. Yum. There are ways to save. It just takes imagination and careful budgeting. We consumers have a  choice.