"Bruce" <Br...@Bruce.invalid> wrote in message
news:r3tabbp1fdp9o2qf2...@4ax.com...
It might not help them but they can't afford more. For instance, this very
situation came up with a friend of a friend awhile back. She is elderly and
in senior living. She gets food stamps and is on disability. This wasn't
always the case. She did work for most of her life but she never had any
high paying jobs so never accrued much savings. She has to watch every
penny. But she is also in chronic pain. She was telling us how she buys
certain things at Dollar Tree because they are so much cheaper there. Such
things as pain patches and various pain relievers.
My friend tried to point out to her that it was probably best not to buy
those items there. They frequently have segments on the news about what not
to buy at dollar stores. Now I will say that I think that Dollar Tree is
different than the types of dollar stores that we used to have here. Those
types of stores would frequently sell things like maxi pads from China or
India and you'd see a lot of things with not much English and a lot of
foreign words.
One suspect thing that comes to mind was Colgate toothpaste. I know that
was discussed her. People felt it was safe because it was a known brand.
But what was really being sold was a bogus product. In some cases, these
products were harmless but they would likely not provide the vitamins or
pain relief or whatever that they promised. In other cases, such as the
toothpaste, they were downright dangerous because they were toxic.
So what did the friend of the friend say? That she just had no choice and
sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do. For one thing, she has no
vehicle and there aren't really any decent stores around that she could walk
to. There is a bus but it costs money. So she relies on others to take her
places. My friend takes her to Drs. appointments. Once a week to Dollar
Tree, once a week to Grocery Outlet, once a week to a store that sells used
things, and occasionally to other places.
I took them both to the Super Walmart which is pretty far from where they
live but I had hoped it would help them both to save money. As it turned
out, neither bought very much because they said they could do better at
Grocery Outlet in terms of prices on what they needed. Well, I tried.
Thankfully the new Winco is closer to where they both live and it is on a
bus route.
One common problem in some of the big cities in this country that I have
read about is availability of products. Often times people who live there
have no vehicle and no money for bus fare. And they likely don't have a
friend or relative with a car. So they can only buy that which they can get
within walking distance. Fresh fruits and vegetables are one thing that was
a problem for many. They were just not available. Many cities are working
to change this. Seattle is planting edible gardens that are free to all.
We'll see how that goes. Also tiny houses complete with heat and
electricity to be rented by the homeless for $90 a month. I am envisioning
that not not go well but we'll see on that too.
Another problem that I read about in a book is our innate desire for new
things. For many people, getting something new makes them feel good. They
cited an example of working women in England in a prior century. They said
that these women didn't make much money at all and would often spend all of
the money on a new hat or scarf or some such thing and then have no money to
buy food. Sure they might be starving but for that one moment, they were
happy.
And yet another problem for some poor people is that they just plain do not
know how to save money. They were likely raised in a house where nobody
saved. And trying to explain the concept to them is futile. Even when I
made very little money, I still saved. Even if I was only able to put aside
a dime per week, I would have a whole dollar in 10 weeks. Now things were
never *that* grim for me but I'm sure it could be for some. Try to explain
this to them and they will chuckle because it is only a dollar. Well, to
me, a dollar is better than no dollar. They just see it as not amounting to
much of anything.
And still another problem in this country is that the truly poor who might
qualify for assistance are not allowed to save. I suppose they might be
able to tuck a few dollars away somewhere but from what I have heard, when
you apply for assistance, they check everything and you can't have much at
all in the way of money or in some cases, possessions. I myself have never
applied for it or needed it. I have just been told this by others.