Dad says he can’t do this anymore after buying cheap dinners and snacks at the grocery store
Food insecurity is a major problem in our country. Millions of people across America are struggling to provide for themselves and their families.
Recent studies show that more than 60% of the American population struggles to pay for basic groceries – a necessity that many middle-class families never think about. The financial stability of many people is threatened and families are forced to make sacrifices just to eat.
JB, a father known as @big_riig on TikTok, shared his despair over grocery prices, admitting he was essentially living “paycheck to paycheck” trying to pay for groceries for his young children. Although he makes a “good living,” he admitted to being concerned about their finances and long-term stability.
The father admitted to paying $123 for two “cheap dinners” and some snacks at the grocery store.
“Am I the only one who feels like they can’t do this anymore? “” he questioned. Pointing to a table with some groceries, the man detailed his latest grocery trip. “A few cheap dinners,” the father admitted – that’s what he bought.
One meal was frozen pizza, the other was some fresh vegetables and canned tomato sauce. Alongside these basic ingredients were a few bags of chips for her children, a treat they had requested at the store.
“That’s it… I didn’t even buy organic products, just the cheapest products,” he clarified. “One hundred and twenty-three dollars with all my discounts for just two nights of dinner.”
It is not sustainable for anyone to spend so much money on such a limited amount of food. “I remember when I could spend (the same) and shop all week. It was breakfast, lunch and dinner for all of us,” he recalls. “I can’t do this any longer. It’s killing me and I’m making good money.
The father’s confession is one that many families across the country identify with, with many people sharing similar recent struggles.
“I’m single so I only buy for myself,” one user wrote. “I now spend between $225 and $250 a week on groceries alone, and none of it is anything special. It’s getting bad.
“My family lives on chicken and rice,” another commenter explained. “No joke, that’s all. I buy rice in bulk to keep us full.”
A third commenter admitted to spending more than $1,800 on groceries each month for his family of four, far more than the USDA’s so-called “liberal” recommendation.
Living in California, he admitted the prices are a bit higher, but he shouldn’t live “paycheck to paycheck” just shopping.
“I live in California, so I have to pay (these extra fees),” JB admitted. “I try as much as possible to shop based on what’s on sale. I did in this case, but there wasn’t much I needed that was on sale. When he needs better ingredients or knows there are cheaper prices elsewhere, he goes to other outlets, sometimes more than 30 minutes away.
“I sometimes take trips to Costco, but it’s a 45-minute trip,” he added. “I have to take these into account and plan for them…I have to take some of my grocery budget out of the way for these trips (and the increased gas costs).
Although sky-high inflation rates due to the pandemic have stabilized, experts admit that U.S. grocery prices have only continued to rise – products like beef, eggs and vegetables. agricultural products being more expensive than ever. Even for people who were once frugal with groceries, spending less than $50 on a quick trip has become impossible.
Higher wages, supply chain aftershocks, overseas conflicts: There are a number of economic factors that have influenced grocery prices at our typical grocery stores. While many families are noticing this unsustainable price development, the truth is that many communities are being hit by its harshest consequences.
Photo: RossHelen / Shutterstock
Studies show that low-income families are spending more money on groceries than ever before, with many spending nearly a third of their income on food, compared to just 8 percent in wealthier families.
What does this mean for American families in the future? Well, for those in the middle class, that might mean adopting a new shopping location, growing their own food, or going to a more reasonable discount grocery store.
However, for low-income families, the situation is bleaker. Not only is it less possible (and more expensive) to travel to buy groceries or grow food, but discount stores will experience higher turnover and less stocked shelves over time.
Even though the reality is grim, it is reassuring to know that everyone is experiencing these exorbitant prices. While low-income issues tend to be largely neglected, middle-class issues are not, which should give everyone a false glimmer of hope for the future.
This food epidemic cannot simply be solved by “bargain hunting” or “cutting spending”: it is an institutional failure that, unfortunately, will only intensify until ‘a person with enough power to do something experiences the consequences directly.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a news and entertainment editor at YourTango who focuses on pop culture analysis and human interest stories.
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