Sticker shock

Living in a country which uses a different currency from the currency in which one is actually paid, keeps your math skills sharp. Since we have been sent here by a U.S. organization, our salary is paid in U.S. dollars. Sweden, as you probably know, uses the Swedish kronor. As you likely also know, the American dollar has fallen and can't seem to get up! When we moved here in May of last year, the exchange rate for $1=7 kronor. Today, $1=5.95 kronor. What this means for us is that the cost of everything has gone up dramatically! Since we moved in last year, the cost of our rent has increased $375 per month and our monthly grocery budget has gone up nearly $150 per month. It's not because our rent has gone up, it's just because the dollar has fallen so much and that is our only purchasing tool!

Yesterday, we made our weekly trip to the grocery store. After doing all the math to calculate our actual cost in dollars, we began to feel a little light-headed. We shop in a large supermarket that could be called Sweden's answer to Wal-Mart. So, we feel like for Stockholm, we are getting as good of prices as we can possibly find. Here is a little sampling of what it costs us to buy the basics:

1 gallon of milk=$7.00
1 pound of butter=$4.20
1 pound of flour=$1.70
15 eggs=$5.50
1 loaf of bread=$3.50
1.5 pounds of hamburger=$7.21
2 pounds of chicken breasts=$9.22
1 pound of coffee=$4.00
1 box of cereal=$6.00

Meat is beginning to seem a bit indulgent! Perhaps we'll just stick with beans.--RM

Comments

[Mom/MeMe]

Wow! We have a 50 lb. bag of pinto beans that a guy gave us! Wish we could send it to you with a big ole ham! Dad and I were just talking about how much milk costs here but nothing like that! It's good you are so good, Renee, about stretching the dollar!

[Granny and Papa Cooper]

Wow... I was taken by the 15 eggs ???
is that how you purchase them in quanities of 15 instead of 12 or 18 ???
amazing ..
those prices are HIGH !!!!