11–20 of 164 posts
For something like toilet paper people who aren't poor probably don't even check the price. In that regard they would be paying more than someone who did comparisons to find the most economical option.
Some destitute-college-student friends were telling me that they lived on a $20/week of rice + beans + canned tomatoes; I suggested that I take them out to Costco and for $100 stuff their pantries with ~3 months of supplies. They patiently explained to idiot me that the reason they ate so poorly was because finding $100 was effectively impossible.
Some destitute-college-student friends were telling me that they lived on a $20/week of rice + beans + canned tomatoes; I suggested that I take them out to Costco and for $100 stuff their pantries with ~3 months of supplies. They patiently explained to idiot me that the reason they ate so poorly was because finding $100 was effectively impossible.
How about real killers, like payday loans, bank fees, and paying more for milk, eggs, and everything else at the corner store because you don't have transportation to get to Costco?
And if you want next level hosedom, how about the opportunity cost of having limited or no transportation?
Many of the poor have felony criminal records, as I do, so how about the political cost of being denied the right to vote?
The list goes on and on. [edit] The title does say "..and almost everything else" so I guess I missed that.
This reminds me of getting ahead of a leveling curve in a game. If you can do that, you can level in better areas (relative to your present level), giving you better rewards (relative to your present level) which then helps you get to even better areas. The only way to get ahead of the leveling curve is to work really hard at first, and it's painful (or boring), and then reap the rewards after. Or in the context of t…
My god, you've solved poverty!
"One possible solution is that retailers could consider pushing their deals to the beginning of the month." I wonder is she realized what she was saying/implying by writing that. She's basically saying "the poor can't be trusted to save their money, so help them spend it well, before they waste it [later in the month]".
The poor get financially hosed in so many different ways in the US that singling out toilet paper , of all things, seems almost laughable. How about real killers, like payday loans, bank fees, and paying more for milk, eggs, and everything else at the corner store because you don't have transportation to get to Costco? And if you want next level hosedom, how about the opportunity cost of having limited or no transpor…
Some destitute-college-student friends were telling me that they lived on a $20/week of rice + beans + canned tomatoes; I suggested that I take them out to Costco and for $100 stuff their pantries with ~3 months of supplies. They patiently explained to idiot me that the reason they ate so poorly was because finding $100 was effectively impossible.
With community support you can pool your money, then split the goods and the savings.
But you have to be able to implicitly trust your community.
Do your friends have other friends in similar situations? Do they trust them enough to make pooled purchases?
(Also, you start with pooled purchases simply to help your community. Eventually that transitions into making a bit extra, and before you know it you opened a store. If you are a good person, then you continue to quietly help people in your community with discounts or credit.)
"One possible solution is that retailers could consider pushing their deals to the beginning of the month." I wonder is she realized what she was saying/implying by writing that. She's basically saying "the poor can't be trusted to save their money, so help them spend it well, before they waste it [later in the month]".
No. She's saying that the poor can't save their money, because they don't have the luxury of not having to spend it to stay fed, clothed, and housed.