We’re all feeling the strain of rising prices. It seems there are plenty of entities and individuals to point fingers at.
May 12, 2026 •
Linda De Jonghe File
We’re all feeling the strain of rising prices.
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There seem to be many entities and people we can blame. Prices surged after the Ukraine war a few years back, and now they’ve shot up even more due to the conflict in Iran. Is some of this just an unplanned, but convenient chance to raise costs?
A lot of folks have wondered how the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz affects prices on items that were available before the war started, like gas stored underground at service stations or products already on store shelves. I’m not sure how it all works, but it’s definitely a fair question.
Like with many things, we have limited control over prices. However, we do have complete control over how we spend our money. We can change our eating, leisure activities, travel plans, and gift-giving habits by distinguishing between our needs and wants. We don’t need to cancel everything entirely; instead, we can cut back a bit to make things more affordable. Do we really need a two-week trip to an island this year or would a week at Lake Erie suffice? Family gatherings shouldn’t hinge on whether you serve brisket or lobster.
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Cutting out waste is an effective way to save money and I’m determined to make it a big part of my daily routine. I take seriously ideas like turning off lights when I leave a room, lowering the thermostat slightly, and not letting water run while brushing my teeth-these habits can lead to significant savings on monthly bills.
I also drive less by planning multiple activities in one trip when I’m in town. It saves gas if you only have to go out once.
I approach grocery shopping very differently now than before. I’m much pickier about what I buy and tend to purchase smaller amounts. Most of my shopping happens at my local grocery store in Norwich since they carry what larger stores offer and it saves me gas too. Plus, I often check out fruit and vegetable stands around Otterville.
I’ve learned through research how best to store different items so they last longer while keeping their fresh taste and texture-I end up wasting much less food this way. You can find various recipes that help you use up perishables before they spoil as well. I save usually discarded parts of vegetables by washing them thoroughly and freezing them for soups later on; those onion skins, limp celery stalks, asparagus ends, and broccoli stems add great flavor!
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I keep flour in the freezer now too. Instead of buying several green bananas that ripen too fast in my house all at once-I only get two or three at a time-but if they start ripening too quickly then into the freezer they go for baking later!
Evidently it’s best never to refrigerate bell peppers, ground coffee beans, cucumbers, garlic cloves, berries-all these will alter flavor-and even whole melons should stay out because chilling them promotes mold growth! This helps free up space in my fridge as well-double win! Leeks and celery stay fresh much longer if wrapped tightly in foil before going into crisper drawers.
A number of people complain about tap water having chemical tastes or smells; leaving an uncovered pitcher in the fridge lets those chemicals evaporate away so you get nice cold water that actually tastes good enough for drinking straight from your bottle!
You’d be surprised by how many ways exist for saving money without drastically changing our lifestyles too much!
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