

This falls under “suffer on my own terms” for me. I won’t go to Walmart, so we’re going without extras. There’s no cheese in my house right now because none was on sale at my local grocery store. So instead of going to Walmart, or paying $4 for a block of Cabot cheddar at my grocer, the choice is go without cheese for the time being.
Used to shop minimally at Walmart anyway, now I refuse to go. I go to my local co-op 2ce a week now though.
Bulk spices are cheap y’all.
I’m sorry. Cabot is better than any store brand I’ve had, I only started buying it because it is regional to me years ago.
There may still be some local cheese brands available to you. Small farm cheese makers make some good stuff. At one point in my life, I didn’t eat much meat or dairy, but when I did, I bought what was local to me, even if it was expensive, and cherished it each time I indulged. I respected that locally made small farm cheese like it was the god of cheeses and gave it utmost culinary respect, while trying to make it last as long as possible.
Suffer on your own terms I say. If you want good cheese, have good cheese, the suffer would be you have less cheese overall, but at least when you do, you know it is quality and supports local makers.