Hamburger Helper Sales Rise as Americans Try to Stretch Their Food Dollars

[Wingnut]

I can buy a little jar of dried beef for 4$. But I get 2 meals off of it. Stouffers used to sell SOS but I haven't seen it in a long time.

Couldn't find the jar but at Publix today, in the refrigerated lunch meat case, I found a 6 oz bag of dried beef!  Same store did have the Stouffers version next to the Lean Cuisine!

[jafo2010]

I believe Republicans will lose the majorities in both houses of Congress come November, 2026.

The reasons are simple.  And the Dems can remain in total disarray, and win.  They need just a few seats in each house to gain majorities.

Why do I say this?

1.  The debacle of DOGE by Musk.  12 million federal employees and contractors being told they are worthless and should be terminated every day by Musk did not win friends and influence enemies.  My wife, a Republican, and fed employee, has told me repeatedly that the folks in her branch, who are mostly conservative, are already saying they will not vote Republican in Nov, 2026.  In some districts, it takes only a couple/few hundred vote flip to reverse who wins the district.  Those with high fed employees in residence, watch them go blue.

2.  Trump's implementation of $100,000 fee on H1-b Visas will EXPORT 90% of all tech jobs overseas, unemploying another 1 million US citizens in the white collar tech industry.  More lost votes for Republicans.

3.  Did Trump end the Ukraine/Russian war in 24 hours as promised?  24 days?  24 weeks?   24 months?  Might happen.  Dems will use this empty rhetoric by Trump to cause further vote loss for Republicans.  No one cares he ended wars in six other places.  No one!!!

4.  Dems completely control 90% of all news sources and almost all major media companies.  They will continue to hammer Republicans and represent the interests of the derelict Democommies.  Look what happen to Jimmy Kimmel?  That maggot got away with a terrible blatant lie in regard to the Kirk assassination, and was brought back by ABC/Disney/Warren Buffett.  People forget, he is the puppetmaster of these horrendous organizations, these bulwarks of the Dem propaganda machine, promoters of transgenderism on children.   Uggggh!

5.  Last, but not least, the economy.  Prices continue to climb.  Gasoline prices are higher right now than on election day last year where I live.  Food prices continue to climb.  Ground beef is $10 a pound.  Eggs remain the same where I am.  I used to buy a dozen 1 pound beef fillets (frequently) when I made $26,000 a year.  Now, we make considerably more than that, and have not bought a dozen 1 pound fillets in decades.   

If this inflation continues, Republicans are going to get their teeth bashed in on election day, and the Dems don't need to do a damn thing.   They can remain completely disorganized and yet win.  The old expression, IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID IS ALL THEY NEED SAY.  Or even not say it and still win.

The UGLY TRUTH is that gasoline/diesel prices are NOT down across the nation.  And they need to fall 30%+ to help lower food prices.  The cost of distribution is the prime reason prices are not going down.  Got to get the gas/diesel prices down, way down from where they are.

Trump gets before the media and lies, exactly like Biden did.  This did not serve Biden, it will not serve Trump any better.  Gas prices need to come way down.  On election day, November, 2020, gas prices in my local area were $1.70 per gallon.  I paid $2.94 per gallon on my last fill up.  Totally unacceptable.  On election day  November, 2024, I paid $2.69 per gallon.  Paying more this many months after the election is just unacceptable.  Come Nov 2026, people will not be understanding or generous to Republicans, you can count on it, unless things change dramatically.

[Cyber Liberty]

Well, I'm not giving up!  I will continue to contribute my small part....

[Smokin Joe]

I'm not giving up, either.

Eight months in and people are ready to throw in the towel and surrender to their Democrat overlords because years of wanton and largely unopposed destruction wreaked on America has not been fixed with a wave of some magic wand.

Consider what those who went through the Great Depression and WWII endured, and today's 'tough guys' would be speaking Japanese or German if they'd been the norm.

If this is what is left of America (and I don't think it is), then it deserves the fate it asks for.

Maybe I can learn to speak Albertan (no, not "Canadian", but Albertan).

[libertybele]

We cannot give up as in never surrender.

[berdie]

Couldn't find the jar but at Publix today, in the refrigerated lunch meat case, I found a 6 oz bag of dried beef!  Same store did have the Stouffers version next to the Lean Cuisine!

Generally I'm not an envious person....but causes envy.

[Wingnut]

Generally I'm not an envious person....but causes envy.

 

[catfish1957]

Give up?  I believe the uproar, anger, and resolve around Kirk's death will be significantly sustainable, even a year from now (Nov. '26).

You'll be surprised how much a 3-5% uptick in GOP GOTV will do in close races.  That's a couple of million votes.

[roamer_1]

Steers, old cows and the occasional bull. Heifers are doomed to become unwed mothers. 

 

[roamer_1]

That's us rednecks. Not most folks. Jus' sayin'.

(And I don't want a TV in my dashboard!)

One of my projects is to get a head unit for my pickup - I want a retro am/fm that will fit the dash, and let me hook my tablet in for the 'tv'/Android Auto _ so all I need is a way to float the tablet - Which I think I can do from the ash tray, which I seldom use anymore... So when I leave, I take the tablet with me, and the whole works just folds away.

I would love to have it for nav purposes and to get at the music in my phone.

[roamer_1]

Maybe it is just me, but the prices of things I buy (beef, up, but the herds are down in numbers and being rebuilt (the gestation period for a cow is 283 days, longer than that of a human, and it's two years to market), eggs (back down, last dozen cost $2.79) fuel, back down (last gallon the same as a dozen eggs, if you don't count the 9/10 cents on the end). With the exception of a few grocery items which have gone up (and which come from outside the US-canned mushrooms come to mind) most items have either come down in price or stabilized over the past few months, at least what I use.

Yeah - Prices are down here too, on the whole.

Chicken and chicken products (including eggs) are pretty much recovered from the massive chicken murders of the Biden era. Beef is some lower - Like I said, Kroger brand 70/30 burger is south of six bucks, probably just north of four. Eggs are around 4 a dozen, maybe a little less.

Produce never did go up much, and neither did dry goods or most canned goods. All the rest is still high. Any of the boxed stuff is still super high. Milk is down but still high. cheese is still high. Bread is still high, though it is way down from where it was.

[Polly Ticks]

(And I don't want a TV in my dashboard!)

The backup camera is pretty nice, I'm not going to lie.

[mountaineer]

Kroger offers a 1# roll of ground beef - I think 80/20 - for $4.99 this week.

[corbe]

South Dakota · James McMurtry


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUmUeoADR_c

[Smokin Joe]

The backup camera is pretty nice, I'm not going to lie.

I can see where it could be, but I was backing the boat down the ramp in a friend's pickup and I just had to ignore it. I was just fine with the side mirrors, but the camera and screen got me all kitywampus. I usually park so I can pull my vehicles out going forward (oilfield habit, we have to on the rigs), so it's generally moot for me.
Yes, I will walk a little farther for a 'pull through' at the store, too. It makes getting out a lot easier.

[roamer_1]

I can see where it could be, but I was backing the boat down the ramp in a friend's pickup and I just had to ignore it. I was just fine with the side mirrors, but the camera and screen got me all kitywampus. I usually park so I can pull my vehicles out going forward (oilfield habit, we have to on the rigs), so it's generally moot for me.
Yes, I will walk a little farther for a 'pull through' at the store, too. It makes getting out a lot easier.

I don't use it either, even if it is there. I been backing trailers up all my life, And I could easy back one up 5 miles down a mountain trail, one eyed, in a full fledged whiteout blizzard.

And as far as hitching one up, I laugh at the kids who HAVE to have a cam, and are lost without it.

All that said, it is what it is... And it must be handy, for all the folks who use it. 

[Smokin Joe]

Hey! Not one mention of Tuna Helper....

(Maybe because since the can shrank to 5 oz., the price has been pretty steady).

[Polly Ticks]

I can see where it could be, but I was backing the boat down the ramp in a friend's pickup and I just had to ignore it. I was just fine with the side mirrors, but the camera and screen got me all kitywampus. I usually park so I can pull my vehicles out going forward (oilfield habit, we have to on the rigs), so it's generally moot for me.
Yes, I will walk a little farther for a 'pull through' at the store, too. It makes getting out a lot easier.

I still use my side mirrors to get into my spot (I always back in, too), but I do like the backup camera to tell me how far back to go there at the end.

Also, I have a duct tape mark on my garage floor so I know exactly how far to pull in to have enough room to get around the car when the garage door is down.

[Wingnut]

Hey! Not one mention of Tuna Helper....

(Maybe because since the can shrank to 5 oz., the price has been pretty steady).

Should have named that one Tuna Ruiner. 

I like my tuna to not taste like sawdust and hard noodles.

[roamer_1]

Should have named that one Tuna Ruiner. 

I like my tuna to not taste like sawdust and hard noodles.

I eat tuna exactly two ways:

Fine chop a quarter yellow onion
1 can tuna (drained)
big dollop mayo
Big skwoze of Rooster Sauce

Worry that together and spread open face on toast.
*add relish if you have it
*add a slice of tomato if you have it.

Makes 3-4 open face sandwiches.

That or tuna casserole...  Which btw, is about the only way I eat  peas.
And it has to have the potato chips on the top.

[Wingnut]

That or tuna casserole...  Which btw, is about the only way I eat  peas.
And it has to have the potato chips on the top.

I hear you on the peas.  But there is one other dish Mom use to make that had peas that I would eat.  a 7 layer salad. 

[Sighlass]

Should have named that one Tuna Ruiner. 

I like my tuna to not taste like sawdust and hard noodles.

"Shut up and eat it" is the rule here.... just ask the wife after raising 4 boys. I go along because I like to eat and don't like cooking (though I can when needed). I am fairly easy to cook for, not too picky. I look at a lot of your posts and go "so that is how the other half regularly eats".

Breakfast this morning was generic Fruit Loops... but with milk this time. Yum !

[Cyber Liberty]

I eat tuna exactly two ways:

Fine chop a quarter yellow onion
1 can tuna (drained)
big dollop mayo
Big skwoze of Rooster Sauce

Worry that together and spread open face on toast.
*add relish if you have it
*add a slice of tomato if you have it.

Makes 3-4 open face sandwiches.

That or tuna casserole...  Which btw, is about the only way I eat  peas.
And it has to have the potato chips on the top.

Try Panko instead of potato chips!  Less salt.

[roamer_1]

Try Panko instead of potato chips!  Less salt.

Believe it or not, I have that laying around already 

[roamer_1]

And btw... Tuna Casserole... I know, it's weird... But it better damnwell have peas. It's about the only way I eat peas,  but they have to be there or it will be considered inedible. Go figger. 

[Smokin Joe]

I eat tuna exactly two ways:

Fine chop a quarter yellow onion
1 can tuna (drained)
big dollop mayo
Big skwoze of Rooster Sauce

Worry that together and spread open face on toast.
*add relish if you have it
*add a slice of tomato if you have it.

Makes 3-4 open face sandwiches.

That or tuna casserole...  Which btw, is about the only way I eat  peas.
And it has to have the potato chips on the top.

Instead of rooster sauce, I chop up pickled Jalapenos or those yellow hot peppers Mezzetta sells. A little crunch with the peppers and a touch of heat.

[roamer_1]

Instead of rooster sauce, I chop up pickled Jalapenos or those yellow hot peppers Mezzetta sells. A little crunch with the peppers and a touch of heat.

I can live with that... If it was canned chicken salad I would agree - Along with Rooster sauce.

Tuna is just weird. I much prefer canned salmon of the two,  because I guess salmon is just a more natural taste to me. With tuna it's a fine line between jackin it up and covering it up. 

[Smokin Joe]

I can live with that... If it was canned chicken salad I would agree - Along with Rooster sauce.

Tuna is just weird. I much prefer canned salmon of the two,  because I guess salmon is just a more natural taste to me. With tuna it's a fine line between jackin it up and covering it up. 

Back when 6 oz. cans were 50 cents, we'd buy the stuff by the case (48 cans).  Now that the kids are grown, and the price doubled (and the cans lost weight), after 25 years, there's just me and my daughter living here full time, so we just don't go through as much.

[roamer_1]

Back when 6 oz. cans were 50 cents, we'd buy the stuff by the case (48 cans).  Now that the kids are grown, and the price doubled (and the cans lost weight), after 25 years, there's just me and my daughter living here full time, so we just don't go through as much.

Now see, there's a somethin there...

I been buying Starkist from over to the Costco - I dunno, it's maybe a half-rack all shrink-wrapped together... But like everything Costco, the cans are bigger than normal - Maybe a can and a half or so compared to a normal can...

What winds up happening is all that extra gets dumped into what you are doing - Who can use a half a can of tuna?

Like Mac and Cheese with tuna - That was a staple growing up. But it occurred to me that the reason I don't like that anymore is because the ratio of tuna to Mac and Cheese is off because of the larger can from Costco.

That transmits into other things too - I use kroger canned chicken now, because the Kroger portion is better for a single meal. The quality is better from Costco, and you get more of it, But like I said, all that extra gets thrown into the same meal anyway - So you get more in that meal, I guess, but otherwise all that extra don't get you much.

Same with their peaches. They come in something like a pint and a half glass jug, and I was buying em as much for the jars as for the peaches. Good for rendered tallow and lard, and for canning up butter...But it was more than a helping of peaches, and I could buy three or four cans, maybe five, of regular Kroger cans for what one of them glass jugs was costing me, not to mention eight of em in a package.

So a feller might do best to check back on them big warehouse deals. That ain't all that. I am almost out of Costco now.

[jafo2010]

No one I know is giving up.  I happen to believe it will take 2 years +/- for the changes Trump made, and continues to make, to reflect fully in the economy.  Unfortunately, the Dems will attempt to clip Trump every step of the way. 

I texted today with a friend that lives in Sweden.  She came to the USA with her parents after WWII from Austria at age two.  She grew up here, and returned to Austria when she was 19 or20 years of age.  Got married a few years later to a man from Sweden, has been there since.

Anyway, she asked me, "Do you think Trump and Putin are working together to take over the world?"  I was a bit shocked by the question, and said What?  She goes on, 'the whole of Europe is terrified Putin will attack Europe and seize it all, with Trump's help.' 

Now, this is the idiocy of the left liberal media.  I can only imagine how bad it is in Sweden, our liberal media on lunacy steroids!

I told her, Trump is not aligning the USA with Russia, the FACT is that Trump told NATO leaders yesterday if Russians fly into your airspace, shoot them down.  He said it, I heard the clip.  She behaved like I was making it up.  I will tell you now and go to my grave believing liberalism is a mental illness.   Reminds me of the scene when asked how he writes women so well, Jack Nicholson responds with the line in the movie As Good as It Gets, defining women, he said "I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability".  That is how I define liberals.  Zero reason.

When I told her this was liberal nonsense, do not believe a word.  She shut down and said, I do not want to discuss it further.  Typical liberal response.  And frankly, I have gotten to a point in my life where I cannot stand stupid people.  Charlie Kirk was extremely tolerant of stupid people.  I have watched videos of him every day since his aassassination, and the stupid people on our university campuses is a huge concern for me.  These people are genuinely stupid.  And one is worse than another.  After listening to one idiot, the next fool comes to the mike and asks even a dumber question.

I have said it repeatedly, we lost our republic with the fixed election of 2020.   And addressing that abuse has not happened, and I doubt at this point it ever will be.  But turning this nation over to these dummies on university campuses, ugggh, not only is our republic gone, but so is this nation in one more generation.  China will be able to take this nation over with the blink of an eye.  Literally.  I have no respect for these young people today.  Stupid people are very easy to manipulate and control.

[Bigun]

Unfortunately, the Dems will attempt to clip Trump every step of the way.

I wish it was only the Dems! @jafo2010

[BobfromWB]

Now see, there's a somethin there...

I been buying Starkist from over to the Costco - I dunno, it's maybe a half-rack all shrink-wrapped together... But like everything Costco, the cans are bigger than normal - Maybe a can and a half or so compared to a normal can...

What winds up happening is all that extra gets dumped into what you are doing - Who can use a half a can of tuna?

Like Mac and Cheese with tuna - That was a staple growing up. But it occurred to me that the reason I don't like that anymore is because the ratio of tuna to Mac and Cheese is off because of the larger can from Costco.

That transmits into other things too - I use kroger canned chicken now, because the Kroger portion is better for a single meal. The quality is better from Costco, and you get more of it, But like I said, all that extra gets thrown into the same meal anyway - So you get more in that meal, I guess, but otherwise all that extra don't get you much.

Same with their peaches. They come in something like a pint and a half glass jug, and I was buying em as much for the jars as for the peaches. Good for rendered tallow and lard, and for canning up butter...But it was more than a helping of peaches, and I could buy three or four cans, maybe five, of regular Kroger cans for what one of them glass jugs was costing me, not to mention eight of em in a package.

So a feller might do best to check back on them big warehouse deals. That ain't all that. I am almost out of Costco now.

Which is Cheaper?
Costco Kirkland canned Albacore tuna is $18 for Six 7oz cans [ 42 oz/$0.43oz]. Pick N Save is $4.29 for One Kroger 12oz Albacore tuna can [ { 4 cans } 48oz $17.16/$0.36oz ]

[Wingnut]

This has turned out to be one of the most unusual threads I have ever seen on TBR.  Half quick and easy Cheap meal recipes and half about Trump's economy.   

Somehow it works!

[DefiantMassRINO]

Noodle-nomics.

This has turned out to be one of the most unusual threads I have ever seen on TBR.  Half quick and easy Cheap meal recipes and half about Trump's economy.   

Somehow it works!

[mountaineer]

This has turned out to be one of the most unusual threads I have ever seen on TBR.  Half quick and easy Cheap meal recipes and half about Trump's economy.   

Somehow it works!

It's not a thread hijack until Cyber or Myst say it is.

[Cyber Liberty]

It's not a thread hijack until Cyber or Myst say it is.

It was a Thread Hijack, and I'm not happy it's still going on.  But, sometimes it's beyond mentions of Pie or Cheese.   

[Polly Ticks]

It was a Thread Hijack, and I'm not happy it's still going on.  But, sometimes it's beyond mentions of Pie or Cheese.   

Cheese pie.  Quiche.  Yummy.
Breakfast for dinner is one of my favorite things.

[Free Vulcan]

We cannot give up as in never surrender.

There are entire websites and Utubes channels that teach you how to shop and cook frugally.

It's not really that hard. In some ways it's easier.

I just wish people would anchor down and make the effort.

[LMAO]

Try Panko instead of potato chips!  Less salt.

Panko on fish fillets gives it that nice crunch

I started using Panko more as I got tired of beer batter

[Cyber Liberty]

Panko on fish fillets gives it that nice crunch

I started using Panko more as I got tired of beer batter

Same here!  A year ago I'd never heard of Panko, now it's our go-to for breading.

[roamer_1]

Which is Cheaper?
Costco Kirkland canned Albacore tuna is $18 for Six 7oz cans [ 42 oz/$0.43oz]. Pick N Save is $4.29 for One Kroger 12oz Albacore tuna can [ { 4 cans } 48oz $17.16/$0.36oz ]

My point is that cheaper may not be cheaper, regardless of the price. More in the package does not necessarily translate to 'more'.

If I am making food for one, the amount of food in the pan remains the same, whether you dump in 7 oz or 10 oz of chicken. There isn't enough 'extra' to hold it back for another meal, so you wind up burning up the extra - which means it isn't extra at all.

If I am content with a can of peaches as an helping,  I wind up eating the whole jar of peaches (which is half again as much) in the same way. a half a pint extra in peaches is not really enough to hold back for anything... So the extra does not actually provide any stretch.

It's actually pretty sneaky.

[Smokin Joe]

My point is that cheaper may not be cheaper, regardless of the price. More in the package does not necessarily translate to 'more'.

If I am making food for one, the amount of food in the pan remains the same, whether you dump in 7 oz or 10 oz of chicken. There isn't enough 'extra' to hold it back for another meal, so you wind up burning up the extra - which means it isn't extra at all.

If I am content with a can of peaches as an helping,  I wind up eating the whole jar of peaches (which is half again as much) in the same way. a half a pint extra in peaches is not really enough to hold back for anything... So the extra does not actually provide any stretch.

It's actually pretty sneaky.

So make a double batch and split the extra and freeze it (or save it for tomorrow).

But I say that, and I'm one who can eat off a pot of soup or chilli for a week...

[roamer_1]

So make a double batch and split the extra and freeze it (or save it for tomorrow).

But I say that, and I'm one who can eat off a pot of soup or chilli for a week...

Sure. And I get that... But that ain't how it works out. All I can tell you is what I have demonstrated to myself. I am almost out of Costco altogether - I still buy my coffee there, and my butter But just about out of there.

And my grocery totals are substantially less, month to month.
Now, some of that is subjective - Differences in menu to some degree - But not really. I eat the same dang things most of the time. And you could argue that it demonstrates prices going down over all - And some of that is true. But it cannot account for all of the savings. That big box store was costing me plenty.

[BobfromWB]

I used to shop at their Silverdale, WA store shortly after the company began - its tumbled way down since those heady days. I haven't shopped there in at least 15 years.