Grocery Bills, Other Bills Add Up, Leading Some to Consider Chicago Bankruptcy

You may recall the "good 'ole days" when you could buy fruits and vegetables from a local farmer for pennies on the dollar, or getting a good deal from your local grocer during your weekly shopping excursion. Unfortunately, those days are over as food prices overall continue to soar.
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Nowadays, consider yourself lucky if you're paying less than $100 a week for food, and if you have a large family, it's probably closer to $200. These bills, along with medical bills, credit card bills, increasing bank fees and other payments have caused many people to consider bankruptcy in Chicago.

Add in high unemployment, a stumbling economy and the high cost of fuel, and it may be time to talk with an experienced Chicago bankruptcy lawyer. While bankruptcy isn't for everyone, it may be right for you.

Bankrate.com offers these tips on how to cut back on your food shopping bill.

Look at the packaging: Companies have been trying to fool consumers for a long time by selling the same product but in smaller boxes. Take a look at cereal boxes, for instance. They used to be huge. Now, they're a lot smaller, some down to eight ounces, which isn't much when you're trying to feed a family. And of course prices haven't shrunk as the size of the boxes have. One thing you can do is check the "price per unit" label. That's the true value of the product so you can determine whether you're getting a good deal or you're getting scammed. You can also save considerable dollars in some cases by buying a different brand.

Where's the beef?: The price of beef and pork has increased dramatically in the last year -- 11.5 and 7.3 percent, respectively. The cost of fish -- largely based on natural disasters in Japan, a fishing-heavy country -- has also spiked. Consider spending less on these items and more on chicken or turkey, both of which have remained less expensive over the past year. Wait until beef and pork prices dip.

Stay in for dinner: Restaurants typically charge a lot while not providing a whole lot of bang for the buck. While eliminating eating out may not work for your family, consider how much you're spending. Look for coupon apps if you have a smartphone, and research websites that offer half-off or more on dining certificates. Also consider drinking glasses of water or sharing meals with your family or guests.

Only eat in-season fruits and veggies: Grocery stores pay high dollar for out-of-season fruits and vegetables, and guess what -- they pass the cost on to you. If you're jonesing for strawberries in December, try to hold off until summer when the cost drops.

Be frugal: Be a coupon clipper and don't be embarrassed. Also, look for weekly deals, shop around when practical, and buy generic instead of name-brand products. Smart shoppers are finding savings every day.

If you need to speak to a Chicago bankruptcy attorney call the DebtStoppers Bankruptcy Law Firm at 800-440-7235 today for a free debt analysis. Call 800-440-7235.

More Blog Entries:

1 in 4 Chicago Consumers Have No Emergency Savings Plan: August 30, 2011

Additional Resources:

Price War: 5 Ways to Fight Food Inflation, by Kim Fulscher, bankrate.com

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