Good morning. This is James from SurvivalPunk.com.

It’s 46 degrees. I’m cold. I don’t like being cold. But that’s not what we’re talking about today.

Today we’re talking about something that affects every single one of us every single week.

Shrinkflation.

And how companies are quietly screwing you over while pretending nothing changed.

Listen now.

Shrinkflation is simple.

The bag looks the same.
The box looks the same.
The price looks the same.

But you’re getting less.

Your “pound” bag of chips? Not a pound anymore.
16 ounces becomes 14.5 ounces.
Same packaging. Same shelf space. Same mental price anchor.

They don’t raise the price because people notice price increases.

They shrink the product because most people never check the weight.

That’s the game.

Everyone has internal price anchors.

You know what Coke “should” cost.
You know what ground beef “should” cost.
You know what eggs “should” cost.

When the price jumps too far past that mental number, you hesitate. You buy less. You switch brands.

So instead of raising prices aggressively, companies keep the sticker steady and shave ounces off the back end.

That’s less likely to trigger your brain.

And it works.

Chips.
Soda.
Single-serve snacks.

The further you get from bulk, the worse the value gets.

A 12-pack of Coke creeping toward $9.97? That’s insane. Run the unit math.

If it’s buy 2 get 3 free at Kroger, do the math.
Total cost divided by total units.

If it comes out to $4 a case? That’s closer to reality.

Unit price is king.

Always.

Same with meat. Ground beef has exploded. But sometimes a 50/50 beef-pork blend at Walmart hits that sweet spot.

Closer to ingredients = better value.
Closer to convenience = you’re getting wrecked.

Plain oats? Still solid.
Rice? Still dependable.
Flour? Still cheap.

Bulk ingredients have padding built in. They absorb inflation better.

Single-serve cookies? Astronomical.

Two cookies can cost almost as much as a full bag. And if you run the math on making them from scratch, the ROI is ridiculous.

The closer you move toward bulk, the better your survival position gets.

That’s not theory.

That’s math.

This might be its own episode.

But think about this.

Shipping kills value. Whether it’s supplements, bulk meat, or specialty items.

Split that shipping with friends?

Now the math changes.

Split a primal cut of beef.
Split bulk orders.
Split shipping costs.

Suddenly your unit price drops dramatically.

We talk prepping all the time. But cost discipline is prep too.

Shrinkflation is real.

They’re not just raising prices.

They’re reducing value.

Your defense is simple:

Check weight.
Check unit price.
Buy bulk.
Run the math.
Split costs when you can.

Stop shopping emotionally.
Start shopping strategically.

That’s survival in 2026.

This is James from SurvivalPunk.com.

DIY to survive.

Food Scale, 11lb Digital Kitchen Scale with 6 Units LCD Display and Tare Function,Compact Design for Baking,Healthy Cooking,Meal Prep, 304 Stainless Steel

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