You don't have to be curious. Just about everywhere there is civilization, you can eat at a restaurant for under THIRTY-FOUR FUCKING DOLLARS. The fact this needs to be spelled out to you should be a wake up call to anyone who isn't living in your privileged bubble.
A better question would be, where are you living where you can't find a meal for under that price? I'd love to know so we can do some internet searching and see if you're telling the truth.
Snacks are an incredible waste of money and they have some of the largest profit margins of all grocery items. $5 for a bag of chips that isn't even a pound is disgusting, but they charge it because people pay it. It only makes sense to buy snacks if you're wealthy from screwing other people over, or you're on welfare.
If you want to eat cheap, you need to swallow your pride. Probably one of the best meals that just about anyone can make is a microwave meatball sub with raw broccoli and carrots on the side. Extremely easy, very cheap, filling, and it's always going to be delicious if you're actually hungry.
Get used to eating the same things over and over again, and stop treating food like entertainment.
A lot of the younger generation has been convinced to live above their means, or at least in such a way that they are not preparing at all financially for their future.
Since most of them can't cook and are afraid to try new things, they just eat fast food for most of their meals because it's embarrassing for them to prepare their own meals.
Pride has much do with it, although it's undeserved.
You don't have to be curious. Just about everywhere there is civilization, you can eat at a restaurant for under THIRTY-FOUR FUCKING DOLLARS. The fact this needs to be spelled out to you should be a wake up call to anyone who isn't living in your privileged bubble.
A better question would be, where are you living where you can't find a meal for under that price? I'd love to know so we can do some internet searching and see if you're telling the truth.