Mortgage rates and the housing market

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TAMU, did you get that steak that serves as your avatar at Costco? They have great steaks, but they come in 3- or 4-packs so we won't buy them there unless we have someone over for a cookout.

When the family was young and growing, we used to buy a ton at Costco. Now that it's mostly just 2 of us, we still go, but the trips are quicker and less expensive. There's still always the risk of going in for some half-and-half and lettuce but leaving with a three-pack of kayaks and a couple dozen croissants the size of mailboxes. Oh, and also a two-pack of mailboxes.

No Costcos near us. We're a Kroger/Aldi family

[MU82]

No Costcos near us. We're a Kroger/Aldi family

Can't win 'em all!

[muwarrior69]

$680 every 6-8 weeks for a family of five? That doesn't seem outrageous to me.

That is on top of our usual grocery bill where we average about $350/week. We eat fish 2-3 times a week so the fish can cost $80-$100 per week. Don't get me started, living here on the east coast, on the cost of scallops at $25/pound. Not too long ago a can of Campbell soup was a 1.99 now its 2.29 and a gallon of 2% milk can cost from 3.60 to 4.29 depending on the store we shop at.

[The Sultan]

Complaining about the cost of condensed soup, while also lamenting the cost of scallops, is something.

[MU82]

That is on top of our usual grocery bill where we average about $350/week. We eat fish 2-3 times a week so the fish can cost $80-$100 per week. Don't get me started, living here on the east coast, on the cost of scallops at $25/pound. Not too long ago a can of Campbell soup was a 1.99 now its 2.29 and a gallon of 2% milk can cost from 3.60 to 4.29 depending on the store we shop at.

Sounds like you've made the choice to have a relatively expensive lifestyle in a relatively expensive part of the country. Please do not read this as a criticism at all - like the rest of us, you have the option to live where you want to live, eat what you want to eat, etc. There are undoubtedly all kinds of great reasons you've made this choice - family, friends, love of the area, etc. But those are all choices, ones we all have to make.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Just saw this on the news. Six figure special assessments and falling values hitting some Florida condo owners hard.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/economics/reckoning-coming-floridas-condo-owners-buildings-face-millions-repairs-rcna165764

[tower912]

I am inspired.   Summers in New Jersey and winters in an older Florida condo.

[The Sultan]

Reason number 3,846 not to live in Florida.

[dgies9156]

Just saw this on the news. Six figure special assessments and falling values hitting some Florida condo owners hard.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/economics/reckoning-coming-floridas-condo-owners-buildings-face-millions-repairs-rcna165764

We've talked abut this before. After Sunrise, our state government took a hard line on condominium deferred maintenance. The State had to or else we would have had more and more Sunrises.

The problem is condo owners often are retired people who live on an alleged "fixed income." HOAs set the annual assessment based on the will and desire off the community they serve. Some idiots would sacrifice maintenance at the altar of low assessments, as the folks at Sunrise did. Most condo boards are volunteers and unpaid, so you can't really sue them for malfeasance.

The state acted in the best interest of the People of Florida. Dare I say that if the "other" party had control of our government, they'd do exactly the same thing.

Brother Hippie: You don't know what your missing. Florida is a real cool place, except in July, August and September.

[muwarrior69]

Sounds like you've made the choice to have a relatively expensive lifestyle in a relatively expensive part of the country. Please do not read this as a criticism at all - like the rest of us, you have the option to live where you want to live, eat what you want to eat, etc. There are undoubtedly all kinds of great reasons you've made this choice - family, friends, love of the area, etc. But those are all choices, ones we all have to make.

Since when is buying paper towel, facial tissue, toilet paper, fresh fish, milk, etc. a relatively expensive lifestyle?

[rocky_warrior]

Since when is buying paper towel, facial tissue, toilet paper, fresh fish, milk, etc. a relatively expensive lifestyle?

Your monthly figures for 5 people are above average.  No harm in that, but you can't claim to be eating "thrifty".  That's all.

[muwarrior69]

Your monthly figures for 5 people are above average.  No harm in that, but you can't claim to be eating "thrifty".  That's all.

Never claimed to be "thrifty" however, according to Forbes and onefrugalgirl I am within the average. According to tag.vault.org using data from the bureau of Labor statistics, even TAMU at 800/month would be above average.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/grocery-costs-monthly-average/

https://www.onefrugalgirl.com/how-much-should-i-spend-on-groceries/

https://tagvault.org/blog/average-grocery-bill-for-family-of-4/#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways%3A%201%20The%20average%20cost%20of%20groceries,are%20key%20considerations%20when%20determining%20a%20grocery%20budget.

[Goose]

I have no idea on our monthly food bill and did not want to know. Only two of us and crazy high I am guessing.

[Herman Cain]

Our formula for many years has been:

Costco -to get items we use frequently . Their Kirkland Organic  selection is growing and still have the largest and best value for Avocados etc

Trader Joes -Certain speciality items like Organic Lettuces , Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate etc

Publix- is our convenience store of sorts

Local Health Food Store- has specials we take advantage of like fresh shrimp and hand made sushi the Missus likes

When the kids are in town we load triple the Costco

[MU82]

Since when is buying paper towel, facial tissue, toilet paper, fresh fish, milk, etc. a relatively expensive lifestyle?

I guess it was your scallop and seafood budget that made me think it. Again, I'm not criticizing.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Since when is buying paper towel, facial tissue, toilet paper, fresh fish, milk, etc. a relatively expensive lifestyle?

Fresh fish is something a lot of people can't afford regularly, especially when the fish is scallops. Same with K Cups. And like others have said, this isn't a criticism. You can choose to spend as much as you want on your grocery budget,  you've earned it! As you pointed out my daily is well above average too

[rocky_warrior]

I am within the average.

You detailed $2080/month with weekly trips at $350 + $680 Costco trip.  That's above average.

Like Goose, I don't really track my groceries that closely, and I'm probably above average too.  But there are several things I could / should cut out before I complain about my grocery budget as a percentage of spending.

[tower912]

3 of us, one a 17 year old.  $500 a month at Meijer.  $250 at Costco.   Supplemental trips for things like milk and bananas.  Weekly restaurant visit.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Our formula for many years has been:

Costco -to get items we use frequently . Their Kirkland Organic  selection is growing and still have the largest and best value for Avocados etc

Trader Joes -Certain speciality items like Organic Lettuces , Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate etc

Publix- is our convenience store of sorts

Local Health Food Store- has specials we take advantage of like fresh shrimp and hand made sushi the Missus likes

When the kids are in town we load triple the Costco

Our formula is Aldi first, get everything we can there. Kroger next to fill in what Aldi didn't have and a few select name brands (I may have a slight coke zero addiction). Trader Joes for a few specific items (most of their asian offerings are pretty good and way cheaper than takeout). Finally amazon for cleaning products

[jesmu84]

Since when is buying paper towel, facial tissue, toilet paper, fresh fish, milk, etc. a relatively expensive lifestyle?

Do you think food/groceries should be cheaper? Why?

[muwarrior69]

You detailed $2080/month with weekly trips at $350 + $680 Costco trip.  That's above average.

Like Goose, I don't really track my groceries that closely, and I'm probably above average too.  But there are several things I could / should cut out before I complain about my grocery budget as a percentage of spending.

When we go to Costco we don't do our regular grocery run.

[muwarrior69]

I have no idea on our monthly food bill and did not want to know. Only two of us and crazy high I am guessing.

Which is the point of this thread. It does not matter if you are the thrift shopper or not everything is up.

[MU82]

Which is the point of this thread. It does not matter if you are the thrift shopper or not everything is up.

Actually, the point of this thread is to discuss mortgage rates and the housing market.

[MU1in77]

My wife's car burns premium so we get to a Costco every week or two just to take advantage of the gas prices.

[muwarrior69]

Actually, the point of this thread is to discuss mortgage rates and the housing market.

...and like everything else are too high.