How does this happen, do these people all own their own house? Like if I was struggling it’s the house that is going to be a problem, food is a rounding error compared to food costs. Especially if money is tight.
Mortgage £1100/month, enough food to survive for the week… £5? Not sure. Currently pay £10-15 each but eating pretty well. So £20-40 a month food most likely.
Something tells me people don’t stand in line like this unless they’re desperate for help. I don’t want to accuse, but your post is victim blaming level. Glad for you that you don’t understand what it’s like to be this close or past the point of being able to eat every day.
So NPR went to a heavy Trump voting area food bank while snap was not being paid out to see how hungry Trump supporters were feeling.
They got this one lady saying it was good, SNAP was bad because people should be able to feed themselves. Seemingly realizing that was a pretty weird thing to say while getting food from a food bank. She said “I can feed myself, but just here in case that have some food I would like for free”.
So at least she claims she wasn’t desperate for help, just taking some free food. Almost certainly BS, but we are dealing with a crowd that thinks taking food meant for the hungry when you didn’t need it is less shameful than actually needing food…
I’ve come to believe that an individual like that just isn’t really a person. They’re a human being, but not really a person. I still can’t put my finger on it but to me it’s like they’re incapable of understanding that everything exists independent of them or that they, deep down, can only view reality as though they are the only ones who are sentient, or something like that. It feels like it’s something a bit different than them just having narcissistic traits.
Nah, they have been taught their whole lives that if you are in need, you are just lazy, everyone is fundamentally capable of taking care of themselves and there’s zero excuse for not being able to just do it yourself. Based on her voice, I’d say at least in her late 60s, that’s a long time to hold a world view.
So in all circumstances, they must show their own strength by asserting/repeating that world view. Even as they themselves should have learned better, either they are in denial about their status and needs or they feel a deep shame and see such a ludicrous stance as somehow saving face.
It’s sadly quite consistent with being a human person.
Yeah I am sure they are, but financially how does it work? How can you be unable to afford food and yet able to afford somewhere to live? Are they all homeless, which if so USA wtf your homeless problem is WAY bigger than I could have ever imagined.
The homeless problem is way bigger than it’s talked about. The officials don’t want to acknowledge it, the people around them ignore it, the media I guess doesn’t get much from stories about it so they won’t cover it.
You still seem surprised that people can pay a big bill but not the little daily ones. The problem with that approach is you’re assuming they can pay the first bill. Some of these people may still have a place, but are far behind in their payment or rent, maybe on the edge of being kicked out. They still have some money, they just can’t pay everything they owe to get caught up. And once you get in that hole, it’s very hard to get out without a major change or luck.
Just be glad you never had to be in that situation, and hopefully it will always seem impossible to you. It doesn’t take much to find yourself there.
I’m sure there are people here in the US that have the same disbelief as you, even with things around them. So for someone from another country that has better systems in place to take care of the public, it must seem baffling. If you’re shocked about the economics, you’ll really love the healthcare situation (which certainly you’ve seen talked about). They go hand in hand, especially since the US pinned health insurance onto employment, so if a job is lost healthcare costs are going to jump, which leads right back to not affording the big bills and starting the fall.
First: They might have a mortgage. They might be struggling to pay the mortgage. Mortgage gets paid first. They might have made the calculation that they had to pay the mortgage and rely on charity to avoid starving.
Second: They might have a mortgage that is already in default. They could be approaching foreclosure. Struggling perhaps more than you imagine.
Third. They might rent. They might be facing eviction. They might be barely surviving.
Fourth: They might already be homeless. Lucky I guess. They don’t have to worry about a mortgage or rent anymore.
Those are just the thoughts I could come up with right now.
Also, this is America. A medical emergency can leave you with nothing.
I have a feeling you don’t track your food expenses well if you think that little can feed a person, let alone a household, without a lot of charitable support or food from friends and family.
Yeah, I obviously eat nicer stuff than that because I don’t need to cut down to the bare minimum and can have nice things but if I had to I know bare minimum survival food is going to have to cost less than I spend now.
Also rice and beans can be a pretty good meal. Of course seasoning does add a little to the cost but soy sauce isn’t expensive. Depends how absolute minimum you are looking for a bare minimum survival cost. But I think if I was at that point I would probably look at catching a few crabs from the harbour to add to the dish.
That is what food costs at Aldi? Also to clarify, that £20-40 was my approximate guess of what survival food shopping would likely cost based off my normal food shopping of £20-30 for 2 each week, or £10-15 each. But we also buy stuff that could be easily cut back if we had to.
So a cheap week for us is £10 each and that still includes stuff you could cut out. Clearly it could cost less than £40 a month then if we were cutting back. The main thing that varies our cost is we eat quite a bit of cheese, that usually contributes to the more expensive weeks.
How does this happen, do these people all own their own house? Like if I was struggling it’s the house that is going to be a problem, food is a rounding error compared to food costs. Especially if money is tight.
Mortgage £1100/month, enough food to survive for the week… £5? Not sure. Currently pay £10-15 each but eating pretty well. So £20-40 a month food most likely.
Something tells me people don’t stand in line like this unless they’re desperate for help. I don’t want to accuse, but your post is victim blaming level. Glad for you that you don’t understand what it’s like to be this close or past the point of being able to eat every day.
Hundred percent. I’ll take holes in my shoes and staying warm by layering clothes on top of my blankets again over going hungry again.
So NPR went to a heavy Trump voting area food bank while snap was not being paid out to see how hungry Trump supporters were feeling.
They got this one lady saying it was good, SNAP was bad because people should be able to feed themselves. Seemingly realizing that was a pretty weird thing to say while getting food from a food bank. She said “I can feed myself, but just here in case that have some food I would like for free”.
So at least she claims she wasn’t desperate for help, just taking some free food. Almost certainly BS, but we are dealing with a crowd that thinks taking food meant for the hungry when you didn’t need it is less shameful than actually needing food…
I’ve come to believe that an individual like that just isn’t really a person. They’re a human being, but not really a person. I still can’t put my finger on it but to me it’s like they’re incapable of understanding that everything exists independent of them or that they, deep down, can only view reality as though they are the only ones who are sentient, or something like that. It feels like it’s something a bit different than them just having narcissistic traits.
Nah, they have been taught their whole lives that if you are in need, you are just lazy, everyone is fundamentally capable of taking care of themselves and there’s zero excuse for not being able to just do it yourself. Based on her voice, I’d say at least in her late 60s, that’s a long time to hold a world view.
So in all circumstances, they must show their own strength by asserting/repeating that world view. Even as they themselves should have learned better, either they are in denial about their status and needs or they feel a deep shame and see such a ludicrous stance as somehow saving face.
It’s sadly quite consistent with being a human person.
I misplaced my shocked face, where is it?
Yeah I am sure they are, but financially how does it work? How can you be unable to afford food and yet able to afford somewhere to live? Are they all homeless, which if so USA wtf your homeless problem is WAY bigger than I could have ever imagined.
The homeless problem is way bigger than it’s talked about. The officials don’t want to acknowledge it, the people around them ignore it, the media I guess doesn’t get much from stories about it so they won’t cover it.
You still seem surprised that people can pay a big bill but not the little daily ones. The problem with that approach is you’re assuming they can pay the first bill. Some of these people may still have a place, but are far behind in their payment or rent, maybe on the edge of being kicked out. They still have some money, they just can’t pay everything they owe to get caught up. And once you get in that hole, it’s very hard to get out without a major change or luck.
Just be glad you never had to be in that situation, and hopefully it will always seem impossible to you. It doesn’t take much to find yourself there.
I’m sure there are people here in the US that have the same disbelief as you, even with things around them. So for someone from another country that has better systems in place to take care of the public, it must seem baffling. If you’re shocked about the economics, you’ll really love the healthcare situation (which certainly you’ve seen talked about). They go hand in hand, especially since the US pinned health insurance onto employment, so if a job is lost healthcare costs are going to jump, which leads right back to not affording the big bills and starting the fall.
deleted by creator
First: They might have a mortgage. They might be struggling to pay the mortgage. Mortgage gets paid first. They might have made the calculation that they had to pay the mortgage and rely on charity to avoid starving.
Second: They might have a mortgage that is already in default. They could be approaching foreclosure. Struggling perhaps more than you imagine.
Third. They might rent. They might be facing eviction. They might be barely surviving.
Fourth: They might already be homeless. Lucky I guess. They don’t have to worry about a mortgage or rent anymore.
Those are just the thoughts I could come up with right now.
Also, this is America. A medical emergency can leave you with nothing.
They may also be living with family, who in turn might be struggling.
What used to be a weekly £40 shop for the household is now £100.
I have a feeling you don’t track your food expenses well if you think that little can feed a person, let alone a household, without a lot of charitable support or food from friends and family.
The most literal definition of “survive”, bulk rice and dried beans.
Yeah, I obviously eat nicer stuff than that because I don’t need to cut down to the bare minimum and can have nice things but if I had to I know bare minimum survival food is going to have to cost less than I spend now.
Also rice and beans can be a pretty good meal. Of course seasoning does add a little to the cost but soy sauce isn’t expensive. Depends how absolute minimum you are looking for a bare minimum survival cost. But I think if I was at that point I would probably look at catching a few crabs from the harbour to add to the dish.
How on earth are you only paying £20-£40 a month for food?! My weekly shop costs more than £20, and I live alone…
That is what food costs at Aldi? Also to clarify, that £20-40 was my approximate guess of what survival food shopping would likely cost based off my normal food shopping of £20-30 for 2 each week, or £10-15 each. But we also buy stuff that could be easily cut back if we had to.
So a cheap week for us is £10 each and that still includes stuff you could cut out. Clearly it could cost less than £40 a month then if we were cutting back. The main thing that varies our cost is we eat quite a bit of cheese, that usually contributes to the more expensive weeks.
If it’s a family home, very likely.