Interesting Facts about US Consumption

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

I am all over the board on this topic.
Citizen - let me say that usually when someone presents these statistics, they are out to portray Americans as evil, greedy people.
I do not think that you meant that this way.
Now, let me say that I believe many American's are this way. Also, many Christian's are this way.
I know many Apostolics that are addicted to food and are addicted to shopping. They cannot be satisfied with what they have and think that something new will satisfy them.
I hesitate to call this a sin, but in my heart of hearts, I believe that it is. Maybe this is just my personal conviction.
Now back to the poor.
Someone wrote that we have people starving in America. This is utterly ridiculous. If anyone is starving in America, then it is their choice.
Also, it always strikes me as curious that the "poor" seem to be the ones with money for various junk foods. I have been very poor and we ate a lot of beans, rice and other things that some people turn up their nose at. It is amazing how good beef kidney's, hearts, livers can taste when you are hungry. I never could eat chitlin's, though!
We have a bookstore in our church that sell various things. The children that I see in there purchasing the candy/mints/gum after church are always the ones that come from the "poor" families.

My wife works at a CVS in a very low-income area of town. It is utterly amazing how much these "poor" spend on booze and cigs, and yes, junk food. I remember living in an apartment years ago that was far too expensive for what I was making and even with a roommate we had almost no money left over after rent. It is incredible how cheaply someone can eat when they have to. A jar of peanut butter for a couple of bucks and 5 loaves of bread from the grocery store bakery and I was set for a week. That doesn't mean I didn't get VERY sick of peanut butter, but I never went hungry. I was not entitled to eat a restaurant every day like those evil rich who can afford to.

It was subsequently the consumption/spending of those evil rich which now provide me with the job I have today, as the IT guy for a private school.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

My wife works at a CVS in a very low-income area of town. It is utterly amazing how much these "poor" spend on booze and cigs, and yes, junk food. I remember living in an apartment years ago that was far too expensive for what I was making and even with a roommate we had almost no money left over after rent. It is incredible how cheaply someone can eat when they have to. A jar of peanut butter for a couple of bucks and 5 loaves of bread from the grocery store bakery and I was set for a week. That doesn't mean I didn't get VERY sick of peanut butter, but I never went hungry. I was not entitled to eat a restaurant every day like those evil rich who can afford to.

It was subsequently the consumption/spending of those evil rich which now provide me with the job I have today, as the IT guy for a private school.

I don't think any of us want to see the "poor" living on peanut butter and bread. But when I see the interviews of welfare recipients complaining that they only get $800. a month for food stamps, it's apparent they are missing something more than money. Education might go a long way - if they were willing to learn...

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

I am not sure that I buy that rhetoric. I hear the stories on the news too. They can't afford to buy veggies, the only thing they can afford to eat is Mcdonalds... I disagree. They eat Mac and cheese because they want to. They eat Mcdonalds because they have money to blow and love big macs.

Growing up we never went to macdonalds - way to expensive. What is cheap to buy is veggies. Aldi's very often has canned green beans and peas 4 or 5 for a buck. It's all about choices - if some poor people make poor choices - that's cool it's a free country. The answer isn't limiting choice or blaming others for their stupidity.

Most fast food places including McDonald's have value meals now. And did always have the little burger for less than $1. Even if you grow your own food, it's still expensive to supplement. Animal feed is not inexpensive either. By the time you raise an animal to slaughter you are spending a lot of money.
You can buy mac n cheese for 4 or 5 for $1 sometimes, you stock up. Appalachia is a place to think of hungry people in America. How do they survive there?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Most fast food places including McDonald's have value meals now. And did always have the little burger for less than $1. Even if you grow your own food, it's still expensive to supplement. Animal feed is not inexpensive either. By the time you raise an animal to slaughter you are spending a lot of money.
You can buy mac n cheese for 4 or 5 for $1 sometimes, you stock up. Appalachia is a place to think of hungry people in America. How do they survive there?

The "value meals" are quite expensive - 4 or 5 $ per meal. When we go to MD we usually get a dollar sandwich and an ice water for 9 cents, yet it seems those who go there a lot often buy the "deals". This could easily cost a family $600 a month or more... bad choice if they are on a tight budget.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

I don't think any of us want to see the "poor" living on peanut butter and bread. But when I see the interviews of welfare recipients complaining that they only get $800. a month for food stamps, it's apparent they are missing something more than money. Education might go a long way - if they were willing to learn...

I was an extreme example, but one I actually experienced. It does prove that no one has to literally starve. It may not be prime rib, but there is always something to eat for very little money.

And when someone is complaining about $800 a month not being enough they are most assuredly talking about restaurant and alcohol (and cigs).

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

The value meals are quite expensive - 4 or 5 $ per meal. When we go to MD we usually get a dollar sandwich and an ice water for 9 cents, yet it seems those who go there a lot often buy the "deals". This could easily cost a family $600 a month or more... bad choice if they are on a tight budget.

I agree, but I am saying it is not always expensive. According to family size of course. It was always a treat for us, not a habit. Beans, cornbread, and potatoes went a long way.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Cindy

I agree, but I am saying it is not always expensive. According to family size of course. It was always a treat for us, not a habit. Beans, cornbread, and potatoes went a long way.

Potatoes are kind of like my example of bread and peanut butter. A 20 lb bag costs a few bucks and can provide food for days! Now the Irish proved that potatoes as an ONLY food source is not such a good thing but it is just another thing you can buy in bulk and not starve as a result.

[missourimary]

I used to live on $.29/lb chicken, boxes of spaghetti noodles, and tomato sauce, plus whatever happened to be on sale cheapest. I hated chicken after awhile, but I spent less than $.30 per meal. That was in the late 90s. I can't do that anymore. But a bag of chicken thighs and legs still costs around $.59/lb here. Canned and frozen veggies--some of which are actually more nutritious than fresh foods picked before they're ripe and shipped from thousands of miles away--are reasonably priced. Bags of dry beans and potatoes, pasta, rice, and fresh things bought in season lower the food budget, too. I spend way too much on food, but I can still eat for less than $1 per meal and leave the table full. I couldn't eat at McDonalds for that without being hungry again in a few hours.

[Hoovie]

Save-A-Lot still runs specials on chicken for .29 a lb in 10 lb boxes. they do it a few times a year. Several of my siblings take advantage of this and buy 20 or thirty lbs each time.

[Hoovie]

Also, speaking of a great deal... we have a local restraunt where a couple can enjoy full dinner with, fresh bread, salad, calamari steaks, lobster bisque, steak and lobster entrée, and crème brûlée with a vaculator coffe presentation all for about a hundred bucks (without wine).

Sorry folks, I am getting hungry!