@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/
Just adding to the thread that there will be some agricultural shortages due to the flooded parts of California. The rains hit hard and ruined some agricultural areas in Monterey County, to say the least. I dont know about the whole state.
Good point. I had not thought at all about rain flooded crops from CA since we often are dealing with drought stricken crops there. Thanks.
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.