cutting back spending is hard when it’s one of the main ways to feel joy; you already have to spend on groceries and bills anyway, and it feels that much more stark and grim denying yourself the fun foods and nice convenience items to save like $10, then your rent goes up $50 because they said so, and so what’s the point anyhow…
Comment on What is an average person living in the US supposed to do about corporations raising prices?
reddig33@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Cutting back on spending is the only thing I know that works. When consumers don’t buy things, the prices come down.
For groceries this means splurging less, avoiding things you don’t need (drink tea instead of soda, don’t buy snacks and chips). Fruits and vegetables are definitely still cheaper than prepared foods in many cases. Even when frozen. And they can be used to make a meal stretch, along with beans and rice.
Coupons aren’t really a thing anymore, but you can use the app for stores like the grocery, Target, Walmart, to “clip” deals and save.
Hope this helps.
_number8_@lemmy.world 5 months ago
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 months ago
This is why I pirate a lot of my media. Aaarrrr.
At the very least I can be entertained while I am cutting expenses.
v4ld1z@lemmy.zip 5 months ago
You wouldn’t download a can of Poopsi
scarabic@lemmy.world 5 months ago
I have also found that piracy can scratch my shopping itch without spending any money.
There are other things too. It’ll sound weird but I got into the composting hobby (see: /r/composting ) and for a while I was crazy about getting as much organic material as I could. I’d rake my neighbors leaves, get coffee grounds from cafes, and dumpster dive for cardboard. I’d come home with a good haul and feel that satisfaction of acquiring something. And I was getting exercise and helping the environment in the process. Like I said, weird, but if you get creative you can find ways to have fun without spending money.
scarabic@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Think of it as a protest then. When they’re charging stupid prices for beef, say “hell no” and eat lentils for a time. It’s all in the attitude. It’s honestly good for us to cut back a bit. If spending money is one’s main way to feel joy then something is wrong to begin with. Time to read a good library book or take more walks for joy. And most of us could stand to eat a little less beef anyway.
PersonalDevKit@aussie.zone 5 months ago
I would highly recommended finding other sources of joy. Buying things has been proven again and again to just give small bursts of happiness that quickly fade, this is the cycle these corporations often feed on.
Look into cheap hobbies you can do. Recovering from getting used to these small hits of joy isn’t always easy, but it will give you back more control of your life. I’m not perfect at this myself but I am much more aware of it and able to say no in the majority of my life.
You could also look into Minimalisim, there are some interesting ideas in there to be adopted, even if you don’t eat the whole pie.
SpaceBishop@lemmy.zip 5 months ago
While I personally do appreciate the level of detail and amount of options provided in this reply, the more straightforward and longer-term solution is to eat the rich.
reddig33@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Taxing the Rich might help as well.
maccentric@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Seems to be working in NYC—hopefully it spreads.
BaldProphet@kbin.social 5 months ago
Nothing more straightforward than hyperbole. /s
orrk@lemmy.world 5 months ago
eat in an economic context, and if shit gets bad enough, a literal one as well
qjkxbmwvz@lemmy.sdf.org 5 months ago
I’m fortunate enough to not be in a position where money is tight for food, but re: beans and rice, I absolutely love my instant pot!
Mexican-style beans are, IMHO, delicious, easy to make, and dirt cheap. I love them, our toddler loves them, and it’s easy on the wallet. Dry beans are really affordable, and a 25lb bag of rice is great to have in the pantry (note: careful with bulk brown rice as I think it can go rancid). A stove and a pot can do both, but an instant pot and a rice cooker makes it so easy.
I also drink a fair amount of coffee, but again, bulk or even just “make coffee at home” is very affordable. A few cups at Starbucks costs the same as a pound of beans (which yields many cups).
name_NULL111653@pawb.social 5 months ago
Exactly this. Also try Indian Madras Lentils packets (I get them at Costco), really cheap for a serving and microwavable. Also bulk Indian spice pastes if you can get them cheap enough. Makes the rice+beans gourmet for dirt cheap. And with coffee, I’ve gotten to the point where the biggest cost is actually filters. To help with this I got a reusable mesh filter from Amazon. Works well, easy to clean, and holds up (I’ve used it for over 100 cups now). Then you’re at like 10 - 15¢ / cup if you use bulk coffee mate and sugar.
Kase@lemmy.world 5 months ago
I started buying dry beans recently and it has been a complete game changer for me. Same goes for things like rice, potatoes, and oats. My grocery bill is way lower than it used to be, and I haven’t have to skip meals to get through the month in a while. I spend a bit more time cooking now, but I’m a college student with no kids or other major responsibilities, so it’s not a big deal in my case. I’ve honestly started to enjoy cooking, and my roommates are nice about helping me learn.
I dunno why I’m putting all this out there, I guess I’m just happy about it. I grew up hungry, not to the extent that some kids do, but enough that it took a toll. This is the best nourished I’ve been in my life, and the difference it’s made caught me by surprise. I feel better physically, obviously; but I also never realized how much the stress was weighing on me. It’s hard to explain, but I feel like a whole different person without it, y’know?
Sorry for getting off topic. I hope it’s okay if I leave this here for my own sake lol. But yeah! Rice and beans ftw! xD
BaldProphet@kbin.social 5 months ago
Beans, rice, and Instant Pot are the best. Instant Pots are also highly repairable in the unlikely even that they break.
orrk@lemmy.world 5 months ago
dude, there is no evidence for supply side economics to have ever worked, the price has nothing to do with supply and demand
nbafantest@lemmy.world 5 months ago
This is completely wrong lol
scarabic@lemmy.world 5 months ago
This is good advice. And I think it helps to think of it as a protest. None of us wants to deprive ourselves, but if they’re charging stupid prices for beef then give them the middle finger and eat lentils for a time. It can be an empowering experience instead of a shameful one if it’s intentional and you can get your whole family bought into the concept.
Serinus@lemmy.world 5 months ago
The biggest thing is to be aware of how much things should cost, and just refuse to buy them if they’re gouging.
Can I afford $13 for a case of Coca-Cola? Sure, I absolutely can. I can afford $24 a case. I’m just not willing to pay that. That same case was $7 in 2019. You can’t tell me their costs have doubled.
And even if I believed their costs doubled (and I don’t), that doesn’t mean their prices have to double. They’re not entitled to growing percentage profit on a larger number. Just because they made 20% on that $7 case doesn’t mean they deserve 20% on that $13 case. 20% of $7 is $1.40. They could absolutely take $2 profit on $10 and be happy with it. But they won’t. Because people don’t pay attention and they can get away with it.
There are enough barriers to entry and cooperation among would-be competitors that they can charge basically whatever the duck they choose.
RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
I too choose this man’s duck.