Have you heard? Gas prices have skyrocketed.

Here’s another news flash; Food prices are rising.

You have to be living under a rock not to know the average price for a gallon of gas or milk. And even still, I think somehow, under that rock, someone would glory in telling you that oil is at record highs and there is a shortage of rice somewhere in the world.

The continuing, incessant headlines of every newscast tell us how much we are paying and how outrageous it is. Okay. Enough, already. We get it! I don’t need beautiful women in low-cut blouses telling me that $20 worth of gas comes way short of filling my tank. Or, that the price of milk in the store is going up again.

What most people need is good advice and encouragement, not bad news. I heard a buzz phrase the other day, and I kind of like it: “It is what it is.”

It is what it is: Gas is high-priced. Your grocery bill is going up. The world continues to rotate on its axis. These are all true, so why do we have to continue to dwell on them? Let’s get over it and move on.

So, what are you going to do about the high cost of gas? Drive less? Trade in your SUV for a compact car? Ride your bike to town? Or, maybe you’ll start to get organized and run all your errands on one day.

What about that grocery bill? Just yesterday, I stopped at a no-frills grocery store because it was closer than where I normally go. I was reminded again of how much less I can spend on food when I am a bit more organized.

This store is nothing fancy. You know the place – you have to bag or box your own groceries, there are limited name brands and the selection is kept to a minimum.

But, a can of diced tomatoes is 40 cents, a pound of brown sugar is a buck and a box of graham crackers is $1.30. This place is cheap.
Cutting back on our expenses is really relative. When your back is against the wall, it’s amazing what you can do without. In this country we have so many luxuries – and I’m just talking about food. Do we really need pop? How about those wonderful, fat-filled donuts? And have you ever thought about how much you spend on the convenience of bottled water?

We are spoiled by convenience and we are paying through the nose for it. We can have dinner ready in a matter of minutes, thanks to instant everything, from a box of noodles to a beef roast that just needs to be warmed up. And, if you want real mashed potatoes, head to your freezer section – peeling, cutting, cooking and mashing are replaced by the ease of a couple of minutes in the microwave.

But, at what cost? A 10-pound bag of potatoes will cost about the same as a container of mashed potatoes. That bag of potatoes can partner with your meat for a week’s worth of meals.
Okay … so you don’t have time to cook that night and your best alternative is a drive-thru. Tell your kids to order off the dollar menu and ask for free water instead of pop. You’d be amazed at how far a 10-dollar bill can go.

What about that latte you’ve gotten used to drinking on your way to work? Skip it. Take the $4.50 you’ll spend on that trendy treat and buy four cups of regular coffee, just adding more free sugar and flavored cream. Or, better yet, buy a can of coffee at the store and make it at home.

Ah … there’s that convenience factor again.
If you want to save on your grocery bill and keep from going hungry, you’re going to have to make a plan and stick to it. If your kids don’t like the new no-frills menu, you can give them the line I always use – “It may not be your favorite, but it will keep your sides from caving in!”

Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.