Balsa Prices and Others

[Mike Griffin]

My building and flying days are coming to an end as soon as my current supply of balsa is gone.  Just cannot afford the hobby anymore due to these insane prices, not just on balsa, but everything.  I went to Winn Dixie with Linda to do some grocery shopping, picked up a jar of Mayo and put it right back on the shelf...$9.00 for a jar of Mayo.  That will be eliminated from my diet. We, like millions of others, are on a fixed income and are having to readjust our discretionary spending.  I think the middle class is being destroyed.  Not trying to start a political debate, just stating facts.

I do have a few kits that I can build and that will have to do. 

Mike

[frank mccune]

     Hello Mike:

      I too am appalled at the high cost of groceries! I refuse to enter the grocery store with my wife when she does the shopping.  We also have stopped indulging in “Pleasure foods” and treats in our lives.  Will the prices recede in the future? I doubt it.  I have heard that some people have cut back to only two meals a day. 

       Good luck,

       Frank

[Shorts,David]

For what it's worth, I found a little discount grocery store near where I live. Sometimes things are past pole date, but many others are just the discontinued or nearer to pole date, or perhaps damaged box. If you shop all groceries there, it'll cost you more, but I'll hit it every two weeks or so to see what specials they have and stock up.
It's a little extra work, but leaves me smiling if I can keep grocery costs about the same.

[Steve Helmick]

Last Thursday, my truck wouldn't even estimate the projected range available, which translates to "get gas NOW". Regular Unleaded was $5.149/gallon, and it took $106.64 to fill it. Thanks to our dimwit governor and his band of ID 10 T's in Olympia. They think electric cars will save the world, but they won't. We really need a good plague.  Steve

[katana]

Last Thursday, my truck wouldn't even estimate the projected range available, which translates to "get gas NOW". Regular Unleaded was $5.149/gallon, and it took $106.64 to fill it. Thanks to our dimwit governor and his band of ID 10 T's in Olympia. They think electric cars will save the world, but they won't. We really need a good plague.  Steve

Think yourself lucky - here in the UK we are paying equivelent of $7.21 / US gallon . . . They stopped selling or showing the UK gallon cost years ago, now its only shown as Litres and £1.499 / litre doesn't look as scary as nearly £7 / gallon! 

[Perry Rose]

$2.85  for a gallon of regular East of Baton Rouge.

[Steve Dwyer]

After years of food shopping in a large retail chain in the north east we recently decided to investigate the cost benefits of going to Costco. We still buy from the chain store because some items would perish due the minimum quantities available at Costco but the bulk of our list works out fine. We have three months experience since the first of March and the numbers are in. We are saving almost 20% buying food at Costco which will amount to almost $2000 annually. Costco's fuel averages .30 per gallon lower than most fuel stations in the area but the lines are little to long and the inconvenience of driving to Costco weekly across town and with our limited driving we still buy nearby on a card plan at $3.55 today. Many like Costco because of the year end rebate credit they offer as well. We did compare ALDI which is close to Costco on prices. Now if I can get my wife to curb the Christmas gift spending for the grandkids the price of balsa will not be a problem.

Steve

[Mike Griffin]

     Hello Mike:

      I too am appalled at the high cost of groceries! I refuse to enter the grocery store with my wife when she does the shopping.  We also have stopped indulging in “Pleasure foods” and treats in our lives.  Will the prices recede in the future? I doubt it.  I have heard that some people have cut back to only two meals a day. 

       Good luck,

       Frank

Hi Frank,

Your reply really hits home with us as well.  Linda and I have cut back to two meals a day also.  We have cut out "nice to have but not necessary" food items as well.  As far as buying gasoline, I have to check the budget to see if we can afford to fill up the car and in the past, I never even gave that a second thought, I just went and filled up the car.  Not anymore.
We do not order in from Uber Eats or Door Dash or any service like that because we cannot afford a $50.00 charge for a Pizza.  Going out to eat at a restaurant is only a distant memory.

I have enough kits to probably last me until I die and putting balsa in the budget is a thing of the past.  When I was producing kits, I established and account with Bud Nosen and bought all my balsa from them.  The last time I ordered, which has been a while now, Sandy told me to add 130% to the price list I had.  That was my last order and there will be no more.

It has gotten to the point that I dont worry about buying hobby supplies, I worry about meeting the bare necessities.

Mike

[Rusty]

Mike; A few years ago I was able to buy groceries for my son and I for whole week at around $125.00.  It got to be over $200.00, so I now have to "shop around."  It is inconvenient and is work, but you CAN save money.  What I mean by this is that you get grocery store sale flyers, use their websites and compare prices.  I didn't used to buy food at Walmart, but in many areas they are substantially cheaper for the same items.   An example is frozen hash browns.  At Publix where I buy most of my groceries a 2 lb bag is 6 bucks and change.  At Walmart it is 3 bucks and change; 1/2 price!  I have a SAMS's club membership and that saves money on paper goods and some bulk groceries, like chicken broth, soup, condiments, etc.   At Publix they have BOGO and that is a great deal to stock up on when it is something you like. 

Mike, you're a smart guy, I thought some in your group was investigating building models out of foam board that you buy at Walmart.  The models may not be NATS material, but I bet you could design one that would fly good.   Look at what Lanier did in the 1960s and 70s with their foam wings covered with paper material and plastic fuselages.  I once built a Ugly Stik using a foam wing I cut myself and door skin wood for the fuselage with lightening holes cut in it.  I used very little balsa compared to the kit.  It did fly good too.   Why don't you design a model using this concept?

The bottom line is I think corporate America is going to destroy the country.  When people cannot afford food, medicine, insurance, doctor's / dentist's bills, what do you have? 

Rusty

[Mike Griffin]

Mike; A few years ago I was able to buy groceries for my son and I for whole week at around $125.00.  It got to be over $200.00, so I now have to "shop around."  It is inconvenient and is work, but you CAN save money.  What I mean by this is that you get grocery store sale flyers, use their websites and compare prices.  I didn't used to buy food at Walmart, but in many areas they are substantially cheaper for the same items.   An example is frozen hash browns.  At Publix where I buy most of my groceries a 2 lb bag is 6 bucks and change.  At Walmart it is 3 bucks and change; 1/2 price!  I have a SAMS's club membership and that saves money on paper goods and some bulk groceries, like chicken broth, soup, condiments, etc.   At Publix they have BOGO and that is a great deal to stock up on when it is something you like. 

Mike, you're a smart guy, I thought some in your group was investigating building models out of foam board that you buy at Walmart.  The models may not be NATS material, but I bet you could design one that would fly good.   Look at what Lanier did in the 1960s and 70s with their foam wings covered with paper material and plastic fuselages.  I once built a Ugly Stik using a foam wing I cut myself and door skin wood for the fuselage with lightening holes cut in it.  I used very little balsa compared to the kit.  It did fly good too.   Why don't you design a model using this concept?

The bottom line is I think corporate America is going to destroy the country.  When people cannot afford food, medicine, insurance, doctor's / dentist's bills, what do you have? 

Rusty

Alli can say Rusty is AMEN brother.  Eric Rule, who owned RSM Distribution, and I, talked a few years ago about building models out of alternate materials such as foam but as it will happen, life got in the way.  I have been meaning to call Eric and see if he has made any progress in that respect.  Linda, my wife, is one of the best budgeters I have ever known and even she is struggling with this.  I have not been in a WalMart in years but we may take another look at shopping there.  Thank you very much for your input Rusty.

Mike

[Dave Harmon]

I went to Winn Dixie with Linda to do some grocery shopping, picked up a jar of Mayo and put it right back on the shelf...$9.00 for a jar of Mayo. 
Mike

Hi Mike.....
Yesterday I got curious and looked at W-D prices on their online sale flyer.
You are correct about $9.00 for a 30oz bottle of Mayo......but...what you missed is....
Buy one....get one free.
So....that's two 30oz bottles for $8.99.
That's pretty good....Walmart is a little over $5 for one 30oz bottle.
The W-D sale ends tomorrow the 27th.

Regards...

[John Carrodus]

We need a recycling system for defunct Chinese Wind turbine blades. These are rumoured to be full of balsa, smashed up and burned. Hmmmmm- think I'll look into what happens to them here in NZ. Our balsa is made from depleted uranium at present!

[Ty Marcucci]

Hi Mike.  If you go shopping at Walmart, be sure to go on a week day and before 7 PM, other wise you will be over dressed.

[Mike Griffin]

Hi Mike.  If you go shopping at Walmart, be sure to go on a week day and before 7 PM, other wise you will be over dressed.

Good one TY.  I quit going to Walmart when they started that stupid self checkout crap. 

Mike

[Steve Dwyer]

Here's a food price comparison chart of our favorite store Wegmans to Costco. There's definitely a benefit buying in bulk, check the $/lb and unit cost comparisons.

Steve

[rich gorrill]

I don't kow how many stores they have and in which states but here in S.E. Pa. ALDI stores can be a big money saver. A lot of there own brands and some name brands but no OUT OF DATE products. Small stores, you have to bring your own bags, but worth the savings. Also plenty of fresh veggies. I also agree the big warehouse stores Sams, BJ's and Costco great savings on bulk paper products if you have the storage room.

Rich.

[Dennis Moritz]

National Balsa is selling some standard stock at a reasonable price. 1/16 x 3 x 36. Less than two dollars. Build a profile fuselage with 1/4x3x36, 4$ a sheet. Balsa has gone up and down in the past. Contest wood out of sight at the moment.

[Dennis Moritz]

At National Balsa seems you can buy balsa to build a Twister or Buster for about 25$ worth of wood

[Dennis Moritz]

Housewives scanning the supermarket add doing coupons. Thought it a joke. Well . It adds up. There was a spike in various food stuff for a while. I eat a lot of fish. Fresh Salmon went up 20%. With a coupon it’s nearly 40% bellow the spike. Jersey regular 3.30 a gallon without looking hard. If years back a Governor with the initials CC hadn’t upped the gas tax to cover his near elimination of the inheritance tax, there would be 3$ gas in Jersey.

[Steve Dwyer]

We are averaging $30.00 to $50.00 savings a week going to Costco.  It all adds up, using your military ID where ever you can, going to discount fuel locations and joining their credit card program, taking advantage of Senior Discounts etc. etc.. It's our way of life and why not we earned it.

Steve