patrick.net

HeadSet says

zzyzzx says

https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2024/10/mega-millions-tickets-will-climb-to-5-but-officials-promise-bigger-prizes-and-better-odds/

Mega Millions tickets will climb to $5

“Spending 5 bucks to become a millionaire or billionaire, that’s pretty good,” said Joshua Johnston, director of the Washington Lottery and lead director of the group that oversees Mega Millions.

You would be spending $5 on nothing. The chance of winning even if you bought 1,000 tickets is virtually zero.

It's a tax on people who flunked probability in school. The tax just went up.

HeadSet says

You would be spending $5 on nothing. The chance of winning even if you bought 1,000 tickets is virtually zero.

The thing about the lottery is that you have pretty much the same chance of winning even if you don't buy a lottery ticket.

Old spinach package vs new spinach package:

Cookies now have less M&M's:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/16/business/tostitos-chips-shrinkflation-pepsi/index.html

America revolted against Tostitos and Ruffles. Now they’re making big changes

https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2024/10/15/nearly-1-in-3-supermarket-products-have-been-shrinkflated-over-last-four-years

Nearly 1 in 3 supermarket products have been shrinkflated over last four years

Nooooooo:

PepsiCo (PEP) is unshrinking shrinkflation.

The owner of Lay’s, Doritos, Tostitos and Ruffles chips will put more chips in some bags to claw back customers tired of higher prices with skimpier bags. Shoppers have balked at downsized chips, cookies, paper towels and other products, widely known as shrinkflation, and turned to cheaper options or stopped buying altogether.

A PepsiCo spokesperson told CNN that Tostitos and Ruffles “bonus” bags will contain 20% more chips for the same price as standard bags in select locations. PepsiCo is also adding two additional small chip bags to its variety-pack option with 18 bags, the spokesperson said.

“It’s the football season. There’s a lot of gatherings,” PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said on an earnings call last week.

It’s a reversal of years of shrinking bags of Tostitos, Ruffles and other chip brands.

In 2021, Edgar Dworsky, a consumer protection lawyer and founder of the website Consumer World, who meticulously tracks shrinkflation, found that Tostitos’ “Hint of Guacamole” version shrank by one ounce from 12 to 11 ounces, while its “Hint of Lime” version dropped from 13 ounces to 11. Dworsky also found that Ruffles shaved off a half-ounce to a “Sour Cream & Onion” bag in 2013.

“It’s about time,” Dworsky said of PepsiCo’s move. “Chip lovers have suffered through years of downsizings.”

The_Deplorable says

Not sure that "$15,000" house is 1980. More like 1950-1960.

HeadSet says

The_Deplorable says

Not sure that "$15,000" house is 1980. More like 1950-1960.

I agree, more like $45,000 for a median house in 1980, and minimum wage was $3.10 in 1980.

6.5 hours of minimum wage of $3.10 could buy the weekly groceries of $20 in 1980. Today assuming minimum or lowest hourly wage is $14 (not the government mandated level), it would take 9 hours to buy weekly groceries.

To stretch dollar I would try to buy as much generic brands like Great Value at Walmart and also shop at Aldi or Sams Club.

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https://thefederalist.com/2024/10/16/trump-says-he-will-cut-energy-bills-in-half-during-fox-news-town-hall/

Former President Donald Trump pledged to cut energy bills in half during a Fox News town hall with women voters aired Wednesday.

“Everything starts with interest rates,” Trump said, adding that a solution to the inflation crisis also “starts with energy.”

“I’m making this pledge here,” Trump said. “But I have made it a couple of days before,” Trump teased. “Your energy bill, which is a very big bill, will be down 50 percent starting one year from Jan. 20.” ...

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris promptly forfeited Trump’s strategy of American energy dominance upon inauguration in 2021 with regulations designed to curb U.S. fuel production. Americans suffered months of record gas prices and the most expensive outbreak of inflation in 40 years just one year into the Democrats’ administration.

“If your energy bills come down to half, which they will,” Trump said, “It’s going to bring everything down with it.”

I do think Trump would lower energy prices via more American production, but I don't see how he can promise a 50% reduction in energy bills.

And I'm pretty sure that the Fed will try to undermine his presidency by jacking up rates as much as they can.

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1) egg prices going up again : https://www.agriculturedive.com/news/why-egg-prices-are-becoming-expensive-again-bird-flu-demand/725880/

check out Cal Maine Foods (a major egg producer) stock price (ticker : CALM) , its at an all time high and is up 134% over last 5 years

2) McDonalds is fighting to maintain growth such as attract budget-conscious patrons with the $5 meal (McDouble burger, 4 chicken McNuggets, small fries, and small fountain drink)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/10/16/mcdonalds-fry-supplier-lamb-weston-closure/75690786007/

regardless of this, McDonalds stock price is now at its all time high

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AD says

buy as much generic brands like Great Value

Unlike the 80s, it's all Soymeal Soyflour and Soyoil, however. I was shocked to see that even frozen vegetables are often loaded with soy. Frozen meatballs are Soyflour or other additives in the top 3, also the 'cheap' hot dogs. Which is ridiculous because the odd leavings of pork, chicken, etc. in a packing plant is already cheap. There isn't a dressing or "Soynaise" made with non-seed oil or egg whites, which is a radical transformation.

Anything where Soy oil is the first three ingredients, must be preferenced by "Soy". So "Soy Salad Dressing" and "Soy Dogs" and "Soyballs"

Soyslop is the best fit for feminized boys and obesity busting off the charts. Much of the pre 2000s weight gain is directly related to the largest demographic entering their 30s and 40s. Post 2000s, it's gotta be something else. As a kid in the 80s, it was the fast food eaters who were skinny, even underweight; almost all the heavy kids had homecooked meals in too large portions. Today it's the reverse: the fast food eaters are the heaviest. McD's replaced beef tallow with seed oil in the late 90s to make Indians (dot, not feather) happy and standardize worldwide. India has the highest rate of heart disease in the world, though most are vegetarian.

Buying from a butcher is best, and butchers DO have cheap cuts of meat. A slowcooker and a cheap cut of meat on the bone works wonders.

We also need a 33% export tariff on used vehicles with less than 100k miles as determined by Fair Value (KBB) not by seller claim. I saw a 2015 small SUV with 80k miles going for $16k, outrageous.The export tariff would kill shipping out decent used cars to South America.

Make America Affordable Again!

I usually just post pictures of stuff I find elsewhere, but this is based on a personal experience. Opened a new jar of applesauce, and it's clearly watered down (which is another form of shrinkflation). It was so watered down that I could easily drink it (so I did). Applesauce isn't supposed to be a beverage.

I didn't want to drop only NEGATIVE WAVES, so here's a way to save money.

Winn Dixie has 5lb of Russet Potatoes for $5.99, BOGO. That's 10lb of potatoes. Potatoes have Vit C and some other micronutrients.

A bag of freakin' Lays or Ruffles or Store-brought Frozen Fries easily goes for $5 and UP.

Home lightly fried fries
Cut potatoes in quarters, then crossways into about 1-2 inch pieces. Throw in a bowl and rinse in 2-3 waters until clear. Then fill with water and let potatoes sit for an hour, or overnight. Dump the water, add 1-2 tablespoons of Grease/Fat (Burger Grease, bacon grease, butter) per 1-2 potatoes (size dependent) and salt to taste, mix well with your hands, distributing the salt and grease as evenly as possible.

Throw in airfryer for 15 minutes on roast; flipping them with a spatula about halfway through , 7 or 8 minutes in.

to get a crispy exterior, then broil/crisp for 5 minutes at 450F or max temp. Depending on your airfryer, you can easily make 2 batches that will last all week, or for 3-4 people a couple of meals each.

If you want to take more prep time you can cut them in half and then make thinner slices less than a quarter inch thick. I never take off the skin, best part and where the fiber and much of the micronutrients reside. This reduces cooking time.

I shake some oregano or basil.

Popcorn
Another cheap, not too high calorie filler for young guys getting started is POPCORN. Buy whole kernals, not the bagged/microwave shit, spend $10-20 for a silicon bowl that you can toss into the microwave. Add OLIVE oil, or REAL BUTTER, or Burger Grease and some salt. Experiment with oregano, pepper, even some horseradish I've used. Much cheaper and far, far healthier than the store-brought bags.

Soft Tortillas
Finally, high-fiber Soft Tortillas. Easily warmed in an air fryer or lightly sauted with a minimum amount of fat. Head up and Throw leftovers, veggies, the tiny burger that's really too small, pinch of cheese, etc. and you've got a few hundred calorie meal

Eggs and 75% Beef
Both cheap. Use 1-2 eggs and then 3-4 tablespoons of Egg Whites, three tablespoons of water to fluff it up, and whatever veggies or cheese you have lying around. With your home fries or a soft torilla, you have a fast, easy meal.

Vermacelli/Rice Sticks
Soak in water for about an hour - I don't like them al-dente. A teaspoon of Sesame Oil, some soy sauce (Fermenting process kills the phytoestrogens), and whatever small bits of meat or veg you have. Toss in wok or skillet.

Prep
Cut all veggies when you get them back from the store and keep in clear glass. You can reuse glass pickle or sauerkraut jars. Cheap and good: Green Onions, Bok Choi.

Often the place for Rice Sticks and Cheap Veggies and Asian stuff like Sesame Oil and Chili Garlic Oil is better at the Asian Market, often much cheaper than the supermarket "International" section. Rice Sticks last forever, they're dry as a bone and don't attract insects for that reason.

AmericanKulak says

Another cheap, not too high calorie filler for young guys getting started is POPCORN. Buy whole kernals, not the bagged/microwave shit, spend $10-20 for a silicon bowl that you can toss into the microwave. Add OLIVE oil

This is what I do. Use the extra light taste olive oil and it only takes about 1 1/2 minutes to pop. Jolly Time is best.