About a year ago I announced that I was giving up soda pop. I was used to buying a 12-pack of Coke or Pepsi for $2.50, sometimes cheaper. But then the sale price shot up to $3.33 (three 12-packs for $10) and the regular price was about $4.50. The days of the $3.99 24-pack on sale were gone. In fact, 24-packs were rarely on sale because it was too expensive.
I'm happy to admit that I really did give up pop. I replaced it with lemonade and chilled water, occasionally fruit juice from concentrate. All were cheaper than the new sale prices of pop.
Lately the price of pop is a "buy" again. This week Target has 12-packs of Pepsi for $1.99. Cub has a coupon for a similar amount (no coupon needed at Target.) That's as cheap as brand name soda gets. I'm stocking up.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I find myself crawling back to the soda fountain after giving it up. It must have a stronger hold on me than I thought. After I swore off pop a year ago several of you said the price increase wasn't that significant. I agree that it wasn't a huge increase in my overall budget, but I went from paying about 17 cents a can ($2 per 12-pack plus tax) to 30 cents a can ($3.33 per 12-pack plus tax). That's a 40 percent increase for an item that isn't even good for me.
But I'm telling you Pepsico and Coca Cola--I have a price ceiling--$2.50 for a 12-pack and $1.29 per 2-liter bottle. Anything above that and it's back to the cheaper, healthier stuff. How about you?
