54% of young Americans say food costs are the biggest strain on their finances
54% of young Americans say food costs are the biggest strain on their finances
According to these comments there exists some fairy lands untouched by inflation and food deserts don't exist, it's just those damn millennials and their avocados again... 🙄🤦♀️
The kind of privilege that enables for that level of detachment (within the working class) is already obscene, but then using it to literally claim other peoples' reality simply doesn't exist is just so fucking gross..
Maybe people should just be thankful they've magically managed to escape the global inflation and all the rest of the bullshit companies are pulling to charge more for less, instead of calling people less fortunate than them, liars.
My monthly grocery bill doubled between 2020 and 2024. As you're all aware, wages haven't changed much at all for most of the country, so the massive increases in rent and grocery bills are going to be a huge problem for the incumbents this election season.
My food is only about $150-200 a month, and thats when i'm eating 3600 calories a day, instead of my current 2400. I live in chicago land, so it's not like my cost of living is cheap, and i buy good ingredients (ie San Marzano tomatoes and De Cecco pasta). Is there something i'm missing?
This article's source material was focused on where inflation has been the worst, but outside of bread and tortillas, i don't think any of my staple foods have gone up in price in years? I guess tofu has gone up $1 a pound, actually.
But broccoli is still $1 a pound here, beans are still $1 a pound dry, which is 50¢ a pound cooked. Rice is $1.50 dry, which is 33¢ a pound cooked. I guess fresh fruit prices have gone up a bit? But the sale prices are just as cheap as ever, and frozen fruit has only gone up $1 for 4lb since 2020, from $8.99 for strawberries to $9.99.
All of this is to say inflation has barely affected my grocery shopping at all in the last 4-5 years, and that is with me specifically looking for it since my dad promised me it would
You didn't mention meat. In Australia good beef has gone from about $30/kg up to anywhere from $45 to $60 and higher.
Chicken used to be cheap. Not anymore.
Lamb is now basically a rich person's food. Good luck buying quality lamb.
Our supermarkets now have rfid chips on expensive cuts of meat, as they're so expensive. $18 a steak. RFID that thing.
they're talking about broccoli and tofu. I doubt they care much about meat.
I don't eat meat as a part of my diet, so I don't bother keeping track of those prices, nor is it relevant to my food budget per month. My comment was just to detail my experience.
I live in the chicago area and prices have doubled at least. Even on the cheapest stuff. Many things are 3-5 times higher. I don't know where you are shopping?
The things you listed are not only staples, but also pretty basic and essentially the foods when trying to eat on a budget. What about beef, chicken, eggs, etc?
Those aren't included because they're not part of my diet. Therefore not part of my food budget or anything i pay attention to the price of.
If food is inalienable right, it would have been included in the Constitution. /s
This article is lacking a statistic and that's how much a young individual is spending on themselves for food. I've heard though of some people spending upwards of like $150. For food? That's absurd and it can't make me think nothing else that maybe it is just a them issue.
I certainly have never spent more than $35 $50 and it's just me. I'm able to fill my fridge or something else with food. I don't know why these other people just struggle. I think still that it comes down to bad budgeting and maybe some poor lifestyle choices.
Of course they're going to spend more on brand items, of course they're going to spend more when buying bulk, of course you're spending more for buying foods that cater to some dieting trend .etc It's no big surprise. And yes, some stores unreasonably upcharge prices for no reason and call it 'competing'.
I've heard though of some people spending upwards of like $150. For food?
I certainly have never spent more than $35 $50
Are you talking about one meal, one grocery store trip, or one month of food expenses, or what?
and it's just me.
OK, so you're not trying to provide food for a family, so your perspective and experience is limited.
I don't know why these other people just struggle.
Perhaps their situation is different from your own? Perhaps they have other concerns in their life that are different from your own? Perhaps the cost of living where they are is different from where you are?
I think still that it comes down to bad budgeting and maybe some poor lifestyle choices.
So you're ignorant of what problems other people might be facing, and to fill in that gap in your understanding you've decided to blame the people who are having problems. Great.
No where did I say anything about 'family', you're just responding just to argue. Get a life, dude.
From the times people bother to break down their budget and spending. It's always this:
Entertainment (This could mean spending premium on streaming services, game subscriptions, whatever) - Roughly $100+
They're on a bundled plan where they only use the internet (they have cable and phone that they never touch because again, they watch streaming and they have their smartphones) - $150+ or more.
Their rent is $950 $1,200
They regularly go to McDonalds, Starbucks or if they're not going to them, they're heading out to their local joints that upsell. Each visit we'll say is $50+
They spend $100 $200 on weed and alcohol combined.
Their phone plan is $100+
Their grocery spending is $100 $150
Like, nearly everything they spend on, is going to be triple digits or higher double digits. They shout down and argue with others when they're defensive going on about "DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY MONEY!!!1"
Bruh, you're the one coming online and bitching about why you're always broke, whining about your wage, crying about your rent, complaining about why things are so costly.
Bottom line is - it's YOU. You're trying to chase a lifestyle that you can't sustain because you make so many bone-headed decisions thinking these are the keys to a comfortable lifestyle. Shut the fuck up and realize where in parts that some of your budgeting is wrong.
I wouldn't say it's the biggest strain for me, that's rent. But it might be the biggest increase in price lately.