Joel Kolstad wrote:
"Joerg" wrote in message
. net...
For example, the number of people around here who almost never cook and live
on take-out dinners or fast food is mind boggling. Very sad. Not only does
it lead to cholesterol and obesity issues but they often do not realize what
it costs them financially.
Ironically "healthy" food is often more expensive these days than "junk" food.
This has led to the poor having a higher incidence of obesity than those with
more money.
Not quite the same as eating out, but I think every college student realizes
pretty quickly that it's almost impossible to make for yourself the same food
that's provided in a $0.99-$1.99 frozen dinner from the grocery store... plus
of course you save the time of preparation.
(And of course there's ramen noodles for the ultimate in cheap college
foods... gotta save some money for beer, after all. :-) )
Actually, as a student I found out that fresh food cooked at home was
cheaper. Still is. You just have to be a smart shopper, always looking
for sales, know how to store stuff. I mean, fresh corn for 50c or fresh
meat for $2.49/lbs can never be achieved by some pre-pressed burger.
You can get 10 chicken pieces for $7.99 at a well known place, with some
of that paying their massives TV ad blitzes. Or you can go to the store,
buy a whole chicken for under $5, cook it over the barbie and end up
with more, tastier and better quality meat. Same with burgers. We always
cook our own. Less than $5 of top quality meat makes 12-15 large burgers
over a wood/charcoal fire, we'll eat 1-2 each and the rest goes into the
freezer. Cut some potatoes in half, oil and spice them, onto the barbie,
yummy. Sure beats the greasy fries from the fast food joint and costs a
lot less.
Many poor people just think it's cheaper while cheating themselves. And
then they easily shell out $20-30 for one measly take-out "dinner" for
the family. Do that 20 days out of a month, which some do, and here's
around $500. Gone. Suddenly the budget is off kilter and they have to go
to a payday loan place which augers them into the pile of debt some more.
Here I'd include those who over-stretch themselves regularly as
compulsive shoppers. Those folks seem to have a tendency for
"convenience foods".
It's the same with coffee. Our coffee in the morning is made right here
and costs less than $1. Enough for two coffee drinkers. Can be had here
in the office or poured into a thermos for the road. Others drive by a
coffee place every morning and then it's $3-$4 for a latte. Each. Do
that 20 times a month for two people and, voila, the next $140 out the
window. Poof. Gone.
A sad and unfortunately true story out here is a really old couple who
did exactly that for decades. The result are nearly non-existent savings
and the dire outlook of having no choice but a welfare type nursing
home. To me that's the most dismal last phase of life one can
experience. I have to brace myself everytime we visit someone there.
--
Regards, Joerg
http://www.analogconsultants.com