Expensive Eating
Transportation, fuel hikes, production of ethanol linked to increase in food prices
Tara Cegla
Issue date: 9/15/08 Section: Money/Health
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Graduate student Krystle Naab sees the increase in the cost of food affecting a lot of students, including herself - especially since she is a vegetarian.
"Trying to eat healthy is more expensive," she said. "I've paid $80 for a bag of groceries. It's ridiculous."
Naab thinks students should be allotting some of their money to food and that planning their budget is a smart move.
Graduate student Tiffany Gerber agrees that students should budget their money and be more proactive if they're feeling the pressure in the check-out line.
"Students have to cut things out," Gerber said, "... like going out to a movie."
Assistant professor of economics Eric Jamelske said students should be concerned since they don't have much of an expendable income to begin with.
"They don't eat super well," he said. "We hear the cliché of macaroni or Ramen noodles. They're going to be more impacted by this than almost anybody else."
What is causing the rise in food prices? Jamelske offered several answers. He said the food market relies on transportation and that fuel costs have caused some problems. Also, ethanol production can be partly responsible for corn's price hike.
Mother Nature hasn't helped either.
"We had some issues with severe flooding that wiped out some crops," Jamelske said. He did offer some advice to students, saying they should try to break the habit of not planning.
"Best way to manage finances when it comes to anything is to plan and to budget," he said. "You need to allocate and make a list."
He said students won't make a list before going to the grocery store and are more likely to make an impulsive purchase. He said it's best to make a list before and avoid the temptation of buying things that aren't necessities.
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