Young Albertans feeling the pinch as grocery prices continue to rise

Food prices are still climbing across the country, and it's making life difficult for Young Albertans who are just entering the workforce. 

According to numbers released this week from Statistics Canada, the average grocery bill has risen 10.8 per cent since last year.

It's the fastest increase since 1981, and some young people are struggling to stay in the black.

"[I] eat less," admits 20-year-old Steven Seitz, a hotel worker in Banff. Despite liking to cook, he said it's sometimes more expensive to eat at home.

"A meal at McDonald's is $12, and if you want to cook a full meal at home, I find I can never spend under $20 worth of groceries," he said.

Some experts suggest tracking grocery spending and making adjustments like not buying certain things, or shopping at different stores.

But that only goes so far, according to Toronto-based finance expert Barry Choi. 

"Try telling someone who's on disability or single mother, yeah, you should cut your expenses, that's going to fix your problems," he said. 

Many young adults CBC spoke with said they're worried about whether prices will cool.

They're doing what they can to make things work for now.

"I've tried really hard this summer to grow a lot of my own stuff, sort of like vegetables and stuff like that," said 29-year-old Calla Wright, who's now looking into ways to grow plants in her apartment this winter.

Contessa McDonald, 18, said she tries not to stray from the deals she sees. 

"I basically go straight off of the flyer and make a meal based off that," she said.

There are options like food banks, but not everyone feels like they should take from them.