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
Over half of young Americans say that rising food prices are the most noticeable effect of inflation.
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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.
Must be those soy vanilla frappes and the new iphone.
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.
Idk where your numbers are coming from. I know my rent is higher than average, but I'd like to know where you think you can find an apartment/house where rent is under $1k. My wife and I (DINK because everything's expensive) have a 2 bed, 1 + 3/4 bath apartment for $3k. Utilities (no cable) add up to about $200. We pay for HBO and Paramount but are cancelling Paramount because it fucking sucks. Groceries are ballpark $50/week because we go to Aldi and don't buy much processed crap. Giant would be easily over $100 for the same shit. We're on Google Fi for about $60/month but we're looking to switch to Mint because it's about the same cost but for unlimited data.
Starbucks and McDonald's are overpriced, but idk why you think it's impossible to step into either without spending $50+. Maybe that was a voice to text mistake and you meant $15+. My wife and I literally the other day went to a pretty nice sit down restaurant right by the mall and had a delicious lunch plus an alcoholic drink apiece and the bill was about $32, $40 after tip. If somebody finds a way to spend $50 for just themselves at Starbucks or McDonald's, then that's obviously an outlier.
We can only really swing this exorbitant rent because our cars are already paid off and I make us over $100k. Rent is only gonna go up, so we're actively looking to move, hopefully to own, but everything in our area under like $400k needs serious renovations. The housing market is fucked because of landlording. We will likely be buying a townhouse in a worse location and still pay like $2500/month.
Wow, you're certainly on the offensive over something that is otherwise just examples and going on such a tirade over it. If you don't fit the example I've just described, why would you have to go out of your way to defend yourself over it?
Get off the internet for a while if you think you have it better than others.
Idk where you get off being so insulting and accusatory and then when I validate others' concerns you think it's fine to be rude and dismissive to me. Take your own advice and chill out. You engaged in a discussion. You don't get to tell others to not participate when you've invited discussion through your own participation.
Generally speaking, people are being objectively correct when we say that costs are high and wages have stagnated. You're right that budgets can be tightened for most people, but I have no reason to believe that people's irresponsible spending habits are anywhere near as extreme as you are claiming, at least not outside of some rare outliers. And if I'm wrong about that, how does that change anything about how you are choosing to live your life? It really doesn't. It kinda just sounds like you're whining about welfare queens or whatever Tucker Carlson's replacement on Fox is disingenuously getting people riled up about this week. If your finances are fine and others' aren't, then good for you. It's possible that you're luckier or better at planning or older than the people complaining. Your status doesn't invalidate the experience of other people.
Yikes lmao
it's peak 'argument i had with myself in the shower' for sure