@journeywithme2 I'm so glad you're feeling better!
@raincloud Same here. Appliances used to be made to last... like refrigerators and washers and dryers etc.
I had Maytag washers. First one lasted 22 years...second one 21. The latest washer/dryer set? Only warranted for a year! and not cheap either!!! I had an old microwave.. that just died last year... It lasted 19 years! New one? started having issues two months after got it.
Planned obsolescence hurts everyone but the big corporations raking in the dollars. Well no.. it hurts them too! Because the damage done to our environment? Earth? will take them out just like it does every other living sentient being.
We have bought several appliances from one local business who also will come out and repair them. They have told us it's better to repair the old stuff than buy new -- the downside being sometimes parts for older appliances are not available.
@ana I have ordered parts for mine and repaired or had my son repair of many different appliances. He's a veteran Air Force mechanic, now civilian mechanic and not bad electrician too! We "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" "Drive it til the wheels fall off " Kind of folks.
I just find when I do buy new? They disappoint for sure.
As most everyone is aware, not only are eggs expensive and getting more so each week, they are harder to find.
Last 2 trips to Costco and Trader Joes yielded no eggs. (Trader Joes has not really been raising prices and word has gotten around so they go quickly there and when I find them there I buy them for sure). My Sprouts usually has some (but still empty spots on many egg shelves) and at more affordable prices than the local grocery stores. Unfortunately, their cheapest eggs were out of stock last trip and so I got some more expensive eggs "cage free-heritage" at $6.49 which was .50c cheaper than the cheapest eggs at my local grocery store where they were running $7-$9. $7 for just generic eggs. My $6.50 eggs were pasture raised and had some light green eggs in the dozen as these hens lay colorful eggs, who knew?
My daughter is a barista at a small local coffee cafe . don't know how much longer the owner will be able to absorb the egg inflation on her homemade breakfast sandwiches. She hasn't raised prices in over 6 months and that has got to be eating away at her profit margin.
( I still can't believe 6.50 was the cheapest available anywhere around me for eggs).
Bird flu has hit almost every state now and nearly 60 million chickens have been culled because of the outbreak.
Oh, butter and margarine are also soaring but we can apparently blame Covid on heard culling and Russia for the margarine (oil) shortage.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/inflation-margarine-butter-egg-prices-reason-why/
Tomatoes are going to be in short supply this summer.
This is due to the huge rainfall this spring in California which still has soggy farm fields. ( @Westie had warned us)
If you use canned tomatoes, catsup, pasta sauce and the like, consider buying it now before prices rise or your favorite brand isn't available on store shelves. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/prices-canned-tomato-goods-rise-california-farms-stay-soggy-record-rai-rcna82509
Rice is expected to be priced much higher in price and more difficult to find during the remainder of this year. The global rice market is set to log its largest shortfall in two decades in 2023
From China to the U.S. to the European Union, rice production is falling and driving up prices for more than 3.5 billion people across the globe, particularly in Asia-Pacific which consumes 90% of global rice. Climate change is partially to blame.
The biggest issue in our house is medication shortages. Just read an article today (that I couldn't share, sorry, from San Diego Tribune) saying there are at least 237 common meds that are in short supply in the US. This is because of several factors, including that the FDA has no resources to do unannounced factory inspections anymore, and that small generics producers are getting squeezed out of business. Many drugs are being imported from China and India, where there is poor quality control.
Hubby has a hard time - he can't find Ozempic anywhere anymore and had to switch to Mounjaro, which is not on our insurance formulary. Even with doctors writing letters it's expensive. Also has a hard time refilling a couple of his blood pressure/cardio meds, sometimes having to wait weeks for new supply to get to any of our local pharmacies.
@laura-f Your spouse is not the only one enduring the impact of medicine shortages and lousy insurance coverage!! It's so stressful when we do not have the medications we need. I feel like we do not have the same access to health care and prevention that we had before the pandemic. I am hoping this will start to even out over time. I am on a life saving medication prescription that includes ingredients that were in shortages even before the pandemic and it is absolutely crazy making. Good luck to you both!! <3
I don't understand why they are continuing to advertise Ozempic when people can't get it. I don't think that is really ethical. I'm sorry to hear this is a concern for him, especially since I hear this medication works well for many who need it.
I am sorry it has been so long for you to be concerned about acquiring your important medications.
May all of you who are experiencing issues with medicine find what you need more easily and within a reasonable price point.
The issue with Ozempic is that asshats like Elon Musk + many Hollywood types started taking it for weight loss rather than for diabetes. For my husband, it works for both. Silver lining is that the Mounjaro works a little better, but even that is getting difficult to find.
Some of this also has to do with the broken system of medicine patents in this country. Many drugs end up as monopolistic, with only one manufacturer/distributor.
I feel ya.
Georgia is facing a peach shortage. There should be a lot of peaches harvested right now but 90% of crops failed due to a heat way in February. And Georgia IS the peach state, wow.
https://us.cnn.com/2023/07/15/business/georgia-peach-shortage/index.html
@lovendures We had that warm spell then the hard freeze that followed...so... many of us lost all of our peaches. Georgia ranks 3rd in peach production... right after California and South Carolina. I recently paid $15.00 for a bag full of late blooming peaches...the only crop of peaches that made it through the crazy weather. The only bag of peaches I've bought this year. They were delicious.. but .. mostly out of my budget this year.
Did you know that growing olives is a thriving crop for Georgia now? https://oliveoiltimes.com/production/georgias-largest-olive-oil-producer-gears-up-for-its-very-early-harvest/121215
We also produce a lot of pecans. https://site.extension.uga.edu/pecan/2023/06/pecan-crop-update/
Currently the heat is causing issues for our tomato crops too. The heat and excessive rain. Tomatoes don't set in hot temps. Most folks cherry tomatoes are doing ok.. they can handle it somewhat.. but the regular, larger tomatoes are struggling.
Pecans? I didn't know that!
Glad you were able to have some peaches, even if it was just a bag and expensive. I assume many states will be rethinking what they can and should grow in coming years.
Sriracha Hot Sauce - manufactured here in CA. Shortage of this product has caused skyrocketing prices. The manufacturer states it is because they are having trouble sourcing the red jalapenos they need, which is a result of climate change. Another factor is they had a major legal battle with a past supplier and had to pay out millions for some kind of settlement (so that's one less source of the peppers.
Oxycodone - was standing in line at my local pharmacy and overhead the tech tell another customer that they couldn't fill their Rx for Oxycodone (aka Norco). The customer thought it had to do with regs - needing i.d. or the actual patient to pick it up, etc. The tech said no, there's a nationwide shortage of all opiates right now and they never have them in stock anymore. The customer smartly asked about Ibuprofen, and they were able to charge that to her insurance instead of the Oxy because there's no Oxy to be had (TBH that's probably for the best anyway).
@laura-f It is very concerning to me that there is a shortage of Oxycodone. Those who are in the final stages of debiltating illness, such as cancer, can not make it through the day with out these pain blockers. I pray the shortage is short lived.