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BY DR. GLENN MOLLETTE

Does the grocery store scare you? What about buying eggs? Do you dread driving to Walmart? Do you remember a day when it was fun?

I remember the old days of going to my grandfather Hinkle’s grocery store in old Stidham, Kentucky. Today that would be South Milo Road in Tomahawk, Kentucky. I could buy a Pepsi-Cola or Dr Pepper for 8 cents. A candy bar was a nickel. An ice cream Drumstick was a dime. A bag of chips or a pastry cake was a nickel or a dime. You could buy a lot for a quarter.

When I was in elementary school, if I had a quarter, I could buy quite a bit at Fred Mills’ grocery store, which was located next door to the Tomahawk school. I could buy a Coke, a bag of chips and a French pastry cake. I sold Grit newspapers when I was a kid, and I could make $1 a week. That gave me four quarters. My dad also worked really hard in an underground coal mine.

Those were the days, my friend. We thought they would never end, but they did a long time ago. Today it would take about $5 to buy what I bought back then with a quarter. I guess I must be old now, but I don’t have to guess about the high cost of groceries.

Groceries are expensive, and people are sick and tired of worrying if they will be able to buy enough food to get through the month. There is too much food shortage in America. This means that people have trouble buying enough food to get through the month. This is why there are nonprofit food pantries all over America. Many of these pantries are delivering truckloads of food to communities, and hundreds of people line up for a sack of groceries. Ten years ago, it cost $1,000 to sponsor such a project, but today it’s closer to $3,500 and growing.

In 2024, the average American spends around $418.44 per month on groceries, but the cost varies depending on location, household size and personal habits.

Factors that affect grocery costs, according to USA Today

• Location: Groceries cost more in some states and cities than others. For example, Honolulu, Hawaii, has the highest cost of groceries in the United States.
• Household size: The number of people in a household affects how much they spend on groceries.
• Income: Households with higher incomes spend more on food, but it represents a smaller percentage of their income.
• Eating habits: Personal preferences impact how much is spent on food.
• Shopping habits: Buying in bulk or choosing generic brands can help save money.

How to save on groceries

• Create a budget.
• Stick to a shopping list.
• Buy in bulk and choose generic brands.

While Americans do all we can to stretch our dollars and shop wisely, we ask our state and federal elected leaders to help us all they can. But do they have the ability to understand? Many of our congressional leaders are multimillionaires. They probably haven’t noticed much when going to the store.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s net worth was reported at $34 million in 2024, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s net worth was $120 million in 2024. Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s net worth was over $100 million in 2024. The late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, from California, had a reported net worth of over $110 million. Sen. Marco Rubio’s net worth was $85 million in 2024. The list goes on. As reported often, our president is a billionaire.

Unfortunately, many Americans’ grocery lists are getting shorter because there is only so much a family can afford.

Does anybody in Washington have the ability to care?

(Dr. Glenn Mollette is the author of “Grandpa’s Store: A Reflection of My Childhood.” His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.)