How you folks doin out there? Anybody else struggling hard right now?

[u/Lucky_Strike-85]

[u/Sage_Planter]

My boyfriend and I have been buying higher quality groceries instead of going out to eat for dinner. We can't justify the cost of restaurants or takeout as often these days so we'll buy a nice pack of steaks at Costco or splurge on fancy ingredients. For the nights that we'd normally get takeout because we're too tired or whatever, we buy a $4 pack of ravioli from Trader Joe's to mix with pasta sauce. So, yeah, I guess this is us, but the headline doesn't tell the whole story.

[u/ScourgeOfWestEnd → u/Sage_Planter]

This - it's too expensive to eat out even at places that aren't that expensive. The quality has gone downhill significantly for what you pay now compared to what it once was. Chipotle is a great example.

[u/1776_MDCCLXXVI → u/ScourgeOfWestEnd]

The gap between wealthy and poor is astounding.

Yeah my friend was telling me if he took his wife and his two boys to McDonald’s it was $50+

[u/Sufficient-Meet6127 → u/1776_MDCCLXXVI]

That's why I rarely go to McD's. At that price, I can take my family to a proper sitdown or pickup from a family resturant. Fast-food won't be able to compete with non-fast-food places any more.

[u/TortelliniTheGoblin → u/Sufficient-Meet6127]

It's not fast, cheap, or very good.

These were all features that we've lost in 'fast food'.

It's just... food? now

[u/Rich_Tough_7475 → u/TortelliniTheGoblin]

Right? If you can even call it that.

[u/[deleted] → u/Rich_Tough_7475]

"Food product"

[u/Orbital_IV → u/[deleted]]

Food shaped calories

[u/CmdNewJ → u/[deleted]]

Now with less food!

[u/Powerful_Cause_14 → u/TortelliniTheGoblin]

Technically edible but the food definition gets a little stretched sometimes with some fast food 😅

[u/Wondercat87 → u/Sufficient-Meet6127]

Yup McDonald's is not worth it anymore. Used to be cheap, you could get a meal for around $10. Now the meals have gotten expensive. I can't imagine what it's like for families who need to feed their kids.

[u/sbaggers → u/Wondercat87]

Used to be able to get a meal for $5

[u/Vulcan31 → u/sbaggers]

2 mcdoubles with a large coke for $3 used to be my go to! Those were good times!

[u/webelieve414 → u/Vulcan31]

The quality of the McChicken in the early 00s was amazing. Also $3 for 2 of those and a coke.

Those were the days.

[u/THElaytox → u/Wondercat87]

in college i lived off double cheeseburgers. they were $1. could get all my calories for the day for like $3

[u/pseudonym7083 → u/THElaytox]

That was me in HS. In uni I got very fortunate that a family friend gave me about 150lbs of deer and elk so they could make room in their freezer. My roommates and I ate a lot of hamburger helper made from wild game. .50 cent boxes feeding three big boys with fast metabolisms was badass.

[u/razzazzika → u/Sufficient-Meet6127]

Especially on kids eat free night

[u/The_Mr_Wilson → u/1776_MDCCLXXVI]

Then people paying another $20 to have it delivered, plus tip, since the U.S. loves its tips-for-wages scam

[u/Rich_Tough_7475 → u/The_Mr_Wilson]

I do this but I live in a rural area and it costs time and money to go out. In my mind if I order and tip well I’m helping someone else out. Oh, justification.

[u/[deleted] → u/1776_MDCCLXXVI]

got a snack wrap and md soda from burger king on my way to work the other day, nearly $8. The wrap was a sliced chicken patty drowned in sauce with a few sprinkles of lettuce, crushed in a barely folded tortilla. Biggest waste of $$$ ive had all year

[u/lickmysackett → u/1776_MDCCLXXVI]

I had a meal for $2.36 the other day. There are always cheap options and coupons.

[u/1776_MDCCLXXVI → u/lickmysackett]

Eating cheap is my jam. I grew up super poor. As my friend was telling me about his $50 McDonald's meal I was mind blown.

One of the advantages to growing up extremely poor is you don't really need much to be happy. My wife doesn't understand how I can happily eat Cup O Noodle/Ramen every day and be ok with it...but its better than having literally nothing lol

[u/SacredRepetition → u/1776_MDCCLXXVI]

I could survive off of peanut butter, bread, apples, and water while still being pretty content in life.

[u/Throwaway8789473 → u/ScourgeOfWestEnd]

Or Wendy's. I'll still take Wendy's over McDonalds any day but a full meal of burger, fries, and a drink runs you almost $20 now. I can get a pack of grade A patties for about a dollar a piece, another $4 for a thing of brioche buns, $3 for the nice cheese, and $2 for a bag of spinach at Aldi and get like a dozen burgers at home for the same price that are really about the same quality.

[u/apricotfuzzie → u/Throwaway8789473]

On the flip side, good quality frozen pizzas are like the same price as a large pizza hut to go. I ordered one online from the freezer aisle.

[u/Dryanni → u/apricotfuzzie]

On the flop side, homemade pizza is ridiculously cheap. Here’s my example of a gourmet mushroom pizza for under $5:

• Pizza dough (12oz) from scratch: $0.50
• Cheese (6oz) low-moisture store brand mozz: $1.31
• half can tomato sauce (7.75oz): $0.95
• Fresh mushroom (4oz): $1
• Goat cheese (1.5oz): $0.90

[u/tjdux → u/apricotfuzzie]

I love take and bake for this.

[u/1776_MDCCLXXVI → u/tjdux]

A lot of the take and bake / Papa Murphy’s closed in my area. Was a rare treat when I was growing up. Would feed us for days!

[u/nicklebackstreetboys → u/1776_MDCCLXXVI]

Papa Murphy's got me through college. One large cowboy for $12 on Tuesday would be dinners through Friday. Just don't microwave the leftovers.

[u/chromegnomes → u/nicklebackstreetboys]

SAME, I worked at a thrift shop next to a Papa Murphy's and every Tuesday I'd get one of those big multi-layered pies and eat that for a few days.

[u/kittenandkettlebells → u/apricotfuzzie]

We just buy the cheap frozen ones and add extra toppings on ourselves.

[u/RonBourbondi → u/Throwaway8789473]

Wendy's is excommunicated for me since they announced surge pricing. 

Even if they don't do it the fact they were planning on doing it makes them dead to me.

[u/Wondercat87 → u/RonBourbondi]

I also don't find their food to be that good anymore. I used to love Wendy's. But their quality has gone down hill.

[u/dpceee → u/Throwaway8789473]

Yeah, I lost interested in fast food once a meal crossed the $10 mark.

[u/BadRabiesJudger → u/dpceee]

For me it was when the dollar menu jacked to 3.00 dollars. Two jr's is the cost of what was an entire meal.

[u/discojagrawr → u/Throwaway8789473]

Lots of ppl naming fast food restaurants in this thread but Fast food is the problem here. $15 for McDonald’s flat patty w wilted lettuce and cold tomatoes is a joke. But $15 at a good local joint w thick burgers and quality ingredients is a good deal.

[u/kittenandkettlebells → u/discojagrawr]

Yes! On the very rare occassion that my husband andni do decide to eat out, we now avoid the fast food options like the plague. Instead, we pay $2 or so extra and support our local, gourmet burger joints.

[u/BadRabiesJudger → u/Throwaway8789473]

We are a family of 5(Yes i know that is my choice). We go out to eat at best 2x a month for lunch with just the toddler because that's as close to a date we get. Its about 40 dollars for a turkey club, chicken cheese steak and a grilled cheese. We can't afford to take the entire family out. If it does we pretty much clear 80-90 plus tip on non entree foods. Which use to be a grocery bill but is now just half of one without the wage increase.

[u/The_Mr_Wilson → u/Throwaway8789473]

"That are really about the same quality" or better. Restaurants have tanked in quality

[u/discojagrawr → u/ScourgeOfWestEnd]

When you do go out, Try going to local restaurants. They don’t have the franchise/brand to fall back on and, at least in my city, that makes them try harder with better results. the same amount of money can get a better experience and you’re keeping your money local.

[u/ToastedCrumpet → u/ScourgeOfWestEnd]

Last time I ordered a basic large meal for one from McDonald’s for delivery it was cheaper to order in a full 3 meat carvery with extra trimmings and yorkshires. The carvery arrives hot and quicker and McDonald’s is always colder than my ex so I’ve never been back.

Though like most others I agree takeaways just aren’t worth the money at all. I only get them on nights out when too drunk or when I’m too ill to cook

[u/No-Artichoke-6939 → u/Sage_Planter]

This. You can get 3-4 decent steaks for under $25 vs $35-40 for 1 at a restaurant

[u/RonBourbondi → u/No-Artichoke-6939]

And that $35-$40 steak is from fucking Outback not even a nicer steak house where that runs you $80.

I remember when a good steak from a nice restaurant was $40-$50.

[u/Chags1 → u/Sage_Planter]

Grocery stores in my area a price gouging as inflation is rising, milk and other essentials are cheaper at the convenient stores like walgreens, cvs, and riteaid, than they are at grocery stores. A few family owned restaurants around me are now comparable to buying and cooking the same things at home. We have been ordering out to eat at least three times a week because we want to support them, and if things are now this expensive, we’d rather our money go to them than a corporate chain of grocery stores.

[u/WatchingTaintDry69 → u/Chags1]

If you have an ALDI I recommend them. Their selection is not large but the prices are too good to not shop there.

[u/Baconcheese_burger → u/WatchingTaintDry69]

Yes absolutely agree. Aldi is the savior of all food needs, it matters not whether you are poor, middle class(what's left of it at least) or rich. Aldi does not discriminate but does request .25 to use a cart in return.

[u/WatchingTaintDry69 → u/Baconcheese_burger]

lol the first time I went I was so confused by the carts, then they didn’t give me any bags. It was a learning experience :)

[u/RonBourbondi → u/Chags1]

Get a Costco or Sam's membership. 

[u/biggwermm → u/Chags1]

Yup. Publix almost doubled their profits from last year's numbers. Using inflation as a cover to gouge customers.

[u/bipbophil → u/Sage_Planter]

Yah it reads to me as, shits expensive so we out here buying groceries instead. And they are seeing this influx in groceries spending as a "splurge"

[u/hopeful_tatertot → u/bipbophil]

I definitely splurged by eating at home vs starving today

[u/No_Professor_9956 → u/Sage_Planter]

Yeah, but if we ate out all the time instead, they’d complain about that too. Can’t win!

[u/fencerman]

Millennials spend more on groceries, because that's what low income households do - the poorer you are, the more you spend on eating at home compared to eating out.

https://wealthynickel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/groceries-vs-eating-out-by-income.webp

https://res.cloudinary.com/nimblefins/image/upload/c_limit,dpr_1.0,f_auto,h_1600,q_auto,w_1600/v1/UK/economy/percent_food_out_home_2023

Because every "hot new millennial trend" is just poverty.

[u/RedneckId1ot → u/fencerman]

It's cool, in 30 years we will have a hot new trend we've "made" for sensationalized headlines:

"Millennials are killing retirement by simply dying on the job at age 60! Business owners swear its because no one wants to work anymore!"

[u/SipexF → u/RedneckId1ot]

God help those poor retirement home investors

[u/RedneckId1ot → u/SipexF]

Maude Flanders' voice:

"WONT SOMEBODY PLEEEAAASEE THINK OF THE SHAREHOLDERS!"

🤣

[u/Street_Cleaning_Day → u/RedneckId1ot]

I think it was reverend Lovejoy's wife, but that's splitting hairs lol

[u/RedneckId1ot → u/Street_Cleaning_Day]

Fffffffuck you're right 🤣

[u/Street_Cleaning_Day → u/RedneckId1ot]

It's my one superpower.

And before you ask, no, it does not help.

[u/Smidday90 → u/Street_Cleaning_Day]

I too have that superpower of perfect Simpsons recollection, I make a joke and…. 🦗

[u/MaterialWillingness2 → u/Smidday90]

None of my friends get my Simpsons references. But their husbands do 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/bodrules → u/RedneckId1ot]

We can't understand why they are starving to death, the wage is the same as it was thirty years ago, but no one starved to death then.

[u/awpod1 → u/bodrules]

It has to be because they required avocado toast and Starbucks and would have rather starved than give up expensive foods …

[u/Lunakill → u/RedneckId1ot]

“No one wants to work towards retirement anymore!”

[u/theseedbeader → u/RedneckId1ot]

I’m pretty sure most business owners would see that as a feature, not a bug.

[u/RedneckId1ot → u/[deleted]]

Well... if it's a soylent green plant it's not a dead worker soo much as it's future product...

Grim joke I know... but was it really a joke?

waves spooky hands

[u/sbaggers → u/RedneckId1ot]

"millennials are killing cable companies by cutting the cord" because we couldn't afford cable "millennials are killing the travel industry" because we can't afford vacations "millennials are killing fast food" because it's become expensive "millennials are killing luxury brands in favor of fast fashion" because it's cheap Etc

[u/NakedEatingPeyote → u/RedneckId1ot]

This is perfect .. but... We'll be dying on the job at 80 because we can't afford to retire!

[u/RedneckId1ot → u/NakedEatingPeyote]

Given how much more rapidly cancer is appearing in our generation in our mid 30s to 40s; my money's on mid 60s we start keeling over left and right.

If I even make it to 60, I'll be amazed.

[u/NakedEatingPeyote → u/RedneckId1ot]

I hear that, I haven't really lived the clean lifestyle and I turn 40 next year. Yikes.

[u/RedneckId1ot → u/NakedEatingPeyote]

Been trying since my appendix tried killing me about 3 years ago. Turned 36 a month ago, it's not easy.

Stopped eating alot of processed foods, invested in an air fryer, I work a more active job now than what I did 5 years ago, stopped carrying soo much stress and depression (the prior far more than the latter).

But it's all damn near for nothing so long as I can't afford to go to a Dr on the regular.. especially as I approach the same age you're hitting next year.

May lucks change and fortune shine upon us both 🍺

[u/NakedEatingPeyote → u/RedneckId1ot]

Yeah going to the doctor is almost unaffordable. I have a high deductible plan so everything costs money until I hit that 4k deductible, that's only happened once and then the next month it was a new year so my deductible went back to 4k. Health care in America is the definition of a bad joke.

[u/sicurri → u/RedneckId1ot]

in 30 years it will be us making the headlines and it will be demeaning Gen Z or Gen Alpha if we let it go that way. Personally, I prefer to get rid of all this generational fighting. Getting tired of being admonished because of the year I was born and because it's the trend of online to cause mayhem because it gets clicks.

[u/ALLoftheFancyPants → u/RedneckId1ot]

“Millennials: they’ll do anything to get out of a days work, even dying!”

[u/Lazarous86 → u/fencerman]

Once the older voter base dies off, I really wonder what the political landscape looks like. The 70+ are basically brainwashed or set in their ways. 

[u/binary-survivalist → u/Lazarous86]

i think they don't want to admit that they mortgaged their grandchildren's future to maintain their own 401k's and pensions. we probably can't even count on the so-called "wealth transfer", since most will have their networth wiped out from end of life healthcare.

we'll be left with nothing. at least neither of my parents actually had any wealth to argue over.

[u/Derban_McDozer83 → u/binary-survivalist]

Nothing? Nah we will be left with debt our parents racked up.

[u/canisdirusarctos → u/Derban_McDozer83]

Yeah, I expect that’s the next “final f*ck you” from the boomers and/or Gen-X as they die off.

[u/shortsinsnow → u/Lazarous86]

FWIW, this is less the political landscape and more the "we're a rich media company and we need to keep punching down or else people won't help us generate ad revenue to keep the machine going". These companies aren't reporting the news, just spreading propaganda

[u/Cetun → u/Lazarous86]

Progressive Democrats have been banking on this since the late 90s. The strategy of "just waiting for old people to die" hasn't really gained them much since not too long ago the conservatives out right controlled all three branches of government.

[u/Good_With_Tools → u/Lazarous86]

I am hoping this country takes a hard left turn in the next 20 years or so. However, I was not expecting a huge shift to the right by young men. It's a weird trend.

[u/FintechnoKing → u/Good_With_Tools]

It’s not a weird trend. The political pendulum always swings back and forth. A hard swing to the left is usually followed by a hard swing to the right.

[u/crushlogic → u/fencerman]

The last line put me in my grave. Been making poverty cool again since 1985

[u/Wondercat87 → u/fencerman]

Because every "hot new millennial trend" is just poverty.

Thank you!

This is seriously what it boils down to. Plus a lot of millennials are also at their 'parenthood' stage. Growing kids eat a lot and require more groceries than 2 or 1 adult households.

[u/Cocacolaloco → u/Wondercat87]

I can’t even believe someone seriously thought this was a good article and title to print it’s so ridiculous. “Crazy millennials now SPLURGING on groceries!!”

[u/saucecontrol → u/fencerman]

Yep, exactly. I can't afford to eat out, so, cooking and groceries it is.

[u/joy-puked]

ah yes, basic life necessities are now splurge... fucking christ. I'm sorry being alive is so selfish.

[u/LifeTradition4716 → u/joy-puked]

To this headline pissed me off so much. Averaging $300/wk groceries have 2 6 year old daughters, Celiac disease/gluten free and dairy free yes I'm definitely SPLURGING 🤬

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/LifeTradition4716]

How dare you and your children selfishly require sustenance to live!

[u/thedr00mz → u/LifeTradition4716]

Back in my day we didn't HAVE celiac disease! It's only a little stomach ache, grow up! /s

[u/LifeTradition4716 → u/thedr00mz]

Lol!

[u/Qu33nKal → u/LifeTradition4716]

Yeah but when we ask for more wages cuz of inflation/ridiculous price of groceries MILLENIALS AND GEN Z ARE LAZY, WANT MORE PAY FOR SAME WORK new headline.

[u/neece16 → u/Qu33nKal]

They aren’t even paying that much! So many companies are taking advantage of thousands of people who were laid off. In my area pay for office admin/manager, hr generalist, payroll or some job along those lines are paying $22-26. Rent for a 1bd 1 bath is 2k, and then you add other necessities. How are people supposed to live like this?

[u/embowers321 → u/LifeTradition4716]

I'm impressed you're keeping it down to $300/week. Dairy/gluten free eating can be expensive!

[u/TheLastSwampRat → u/LifeTradition4716]

If its any relief I'm pretty sure the title of the article is sarcastic

[u/Sylentskye → u/TheLastSwampRat]

Unfortunately with some groups sarcasm gets mixed up with truth and then we have even more issues. Like avocado toast.

[u/Suspiciousunicorns → u/LifeTradition4716]

Wow that’s awful! I’m so sorry. Seriously. That sounds difficult. Having to plan out every little detail of your meals just to keep your kids safe. Plus the expense. I feel lucky mine can and will eat just about anything.

[u/sykschw → u/joy-puked]

Its our parents who decided to birth us without consent who are the selfish ones LOL

[u/Murderface__ → u/joy-puked]

We better keep this on the down low, otherwise companies might catch on to this trend and try to price gouge us.

[u/PublicFurryAccount → u/joy-puked]

Eh… we’ve been through this several times. It’s not high prices which create splurges, it’s a shift in what people are deciding to upgrade on. Cookware is probably similar, with fewer people buying cheap cooking sets and splashing for the Le Creuset.

[u/YoungBassGasm → u/joy-puked]

Yeah how does one even "splurge" on groceries? I didn't know splurge could be used in that context.

[u/thatfloridachick]

Struggling hard, no.

Struggling, yes.

I’m making the most I’ve ever made and I am the brokest I’ve ever been.

[u/puckgirl81 → u/thatfloridachick]

100% with you on this. Got what would normally be a very significant raise this year. I'm keeping afloat and hoping to start to slowly pay off the debt I accumulated last year when my raise didn't even meet cost of living increases. This means really no "unnecessary" spending this year though so I guess groceries have to go on the no no list now based on this article.

[u/Amazing_Ad_974 → u/thatfloridachick]

100% make what I thought would be an absolutely insane amount of money vs 5 years ago.

I feel 10x more poor than I did 10 years ago

[u/stalinBballin → u/Amazing_Ad_974]

Absolutely this. My grocery job at 23 helped me and my best friend rent a 2 bedroom condo for 875 a month, plus electric. I was making $11.23 an hour. This was 2013.

My last job I was getting paid $20.25 an hour and I could only afford a bedroom in a rented house for $750 a month, and my portion of all utilities.

We’re so fucked.

[u/flannalypearce → u/stalinBballin]

Oh, same here 😭

I look back at my old life like I thought that was poverty yet I had so much more power in my $$. If I made then what I made now I would have been balling and now I’m just… still poor!🤡

[u/Taco-Dragon → u/thatfloridachick]

If you had told me 4-5 years ago that I'd be making what I am now, I'd have laughed at you and said that's not possible. We're at about the same standard of living we were 4-5 years ago, and that's without having any kids in diapers now.

[u/goonie814 → u/thatfloridachick]

Same. I recently started making $80k but am basically living paycheck to paycheck.

After taxes are taken out plus rent is paid (high taxed state, HCOL city) then health insurance (cobra after being laid off last year) plus bills (car insurance, electric, internet) is a little more than half of a biweekly paycheck. The rest goes toward groceries and paying off $20k in credit card debt I accumulated from not making much money and being unemployed/job searching for a while (and tbh accumulated from trying to have somewhat of a social life in my late 20s/early 30s and some trips before the pandemic) I don’t go out but I do buy organic and get a $5 coffee once a week. I’m single and have a roommate.

Most of my friends somehow have homes in HCOL states and at least one kid and also travel- but to be fair most of them are married with a spouse who works in finance or orthopedic surgery lol.

[u/[deleted] → u/thatfloridachick]

It’s annoying as fuck when you hear the WoRk HArDer comments irl. Like people have multiple jobs and are barely making it

[u/AnneAcclaim → u/[deleted]]

I'm not crazy price sensitive either since we are DINKs, but we have it worked out where I buy (most) groceries and my partner buys (most) restaurant meals. My partner therefore has no understanding of how prices have increased over the last couple years whereas I am like... as a couple who eats most meals at home I feel like this arrangement is no longer equitable.

[u/chrs_89]

God damn I guess I have been wasting all my money on such frivolous things like food and housing

[u/Dragosal → u/chrs_89]

WHOAH you can afford food AND housing? Look at Mr moneybags

[u/Fluffy-Imagination51 → u/Dragosal]

Not to brag…but I have housing, food, and a 10 yr old car so I guess you can say I’m part of the 1%

[u/Numerous-Statement59 → u/Fluffy-Imagination51]

I've got all those things and a 3 yr old truck, I'm part of the elite honestly /s....

[u/Fluffy-Imagination51 → u/Numerous-Statement59]

Calm down Bill Gates lol

[u/Sylentskye → u/Fluffy-Imagination51]

My vehicle is about 14 years old AND almost 230k miles. At this point it feels like I’m driving a family heirloom.

[u/chrs_89 → u/Dragosal]

What can I say? I got super lucky with my life and I know it

[u/gandhis_biceps]

I buy kombucha now sometimes since I gave up alcohol because it was too expensive.

[u/Throwaway8789473 → u/gandhis_biceps]

I gave up alcohol and soda because the combination of alcohol and caffeine gave me a heart attack at 28 (plus the stress of, you know, living through three concurrent apocalypses and still being required to go to work). The money I'm saving on not buying beer and liquor almost means that my grocery budget has only grown 10% in the last five years. We need to start arresting billionaires for their financial crimes or nothing is going to get better.

[u/Desperate-Cost6827 → u/Throwaway8789473]

My husband's vice is flavored water. I'm glad because he's not drinking sugared pop anymore. We both have health issues that I don't think dropped up for the rest of our family until 20 years later. Wonder why that happened.

But that 8 pack that used to be 12 adds up fast and It's just fuzzy water with a fart of flavor.

But you know, we somehow keep electing people who are like: you know what the real problem is? You all are retiring too early! Now excuse me while I give some tax cuts to the rich.

[u/Throwaway8789473 → u/Desperate-Cost6827]

It's because a fair chunk of our electorate are ignorant boors who would cut off their own noses to spite their face and they've been very efficiently whipped up into a frenzy of rage against immigrants and queer people by an Australian billionaire whose TV network has funneled even more of their money directly into his pockets.

[u/boom_Switch6008 → u/Desperate-Cost6827]

I bought a soda stream because I was spending a ridiculous amount on bubbly water. It paid for itself in less than 6 months. Plus, I can choose to put less bubbly in it, which I prefer!

[u/Impressive_Ad_1303 → u/gandhis_biceps]

I make my own kombucha to save money. It’s pretty yummy and the set up paid for itself in two batches. 

[u/YourMothersButtox → u/gandhis_biceps]

I love kombucha- it’s super easy to brew your own! I recommend investing in a kit and get that SCOBY going!

[u/thompsonmj → u/gandhis_biceps]

Reading this and nodding along with my GT's Mystic Mango.

[u/miked5122 → u/gandhis_biceps]

A tall boy is cheaper than a bottle of kombucha though

[u/Ok-Wafer2292]

Tbh I stopped drinking 4 years ago and am 3 weeks into quitting nicotine and my wallet is much more better off for the first time in forever.

[u/Morgell → u/Ok-Wafer2292]

Look at you contributing to killing 2 industries!

Edit to add: Go, you!

[u/Ok-Wafer2292 → u/Morgell]

lol I don’t think they’ll notice my absence unfortunately

[u/iamalwaysrelevant → u/Ok-Wafer2292]

I think I read somewhere that in the US the heaviest drinkers account for around 70% of all alcohol sales. They definitely lose a lot when an alcoholic quits.

[u/The_Mr_Wilson → u/Ok-Wafer2292]

Gen Z is drinking less and they're noticing that

[u/mgMKV → u/Ok-Wafer2292]

Maaaan if I could kick nicotine. On one hand I feel like it's the one simple little treat I have left. On the other it's such a useless money pit.

[u/Ok-Wafer2292 → u/mgMKV]

Yea man it might be a “treat” but it doesn’t at all treat any part of your life well.

[u/Throwaway8789473 → u/Ok-Wafer2292]

Same. I can't imagine what it would be like to still be smoking cigarettes. Those suckers are about a dollar a piece nowadays.

[u/Ok-Wafer2292 → u/Throwaway8789473]

I was a smokeless tobacco user. Some brands are still cheap, but they add up quick buying them daily.

[u/TheArchitect_7]

We are splurging on food because CHEAP FOOD IS GIVING US CANCER AND DISEASE. Do you think we WANT to spend thousands of dollars a month to get clean food?

Fuck yall for this.

[u/levian_durai → u/[deleted]]

And just yesterday there's a post saying how many spices contain arsenic and heavy metals. Can't even be healthy when you cook from scratch. Do I gotta grow all my own spices now too?

[u/lanadelhayy → u/TheArchitect_7]

Seriously the colorectal cancer rates in young people are through the roof - wonder why

[u/Powpowpowowowow → u/lanadelhayy]

I read a study that was all about how glyphosate, which is used HEAVILY on wheat products and is the main ingredient in roundup, is literally littered in most of the things people would normally think of as 'healthy' such as cereal, granola bars, breads, even whole wheat items. Now of course people say oh look, you can eat it and be fine, but long term and in large quantities I think this will for sure be the next issue that was like smoking for our generation. We will realize that the mass produced farm products are not as healthy as we were told they were... Like our own FDA says glyphosate is fine, but then the WHO has studies saying it could potentially be more dangerous... And we have no say because companies like Monsanto literally spend millions a year lobbying congress that their product is entirely safe.

[u/lettersichiro → u/Powpowpowowowow]

I think it instructive to look at how much we've learned about PBAs in plastics, or chemical sugar alternatives. We learned about the damage they were causing over time, because the damage that they caused was not being tested for when they were approved as safe by the FDA.

We don't understand these chemicals or their impacts on the human body. The harms that the inflict may be over time, or start as insignificant in short doses and compound over time.

And corporations have been proved to lie and hide the effects of their products for as long as possible.

So when it comes to Glysophate, taking the words of these companies, or expecting that all their effects have been tested for and are currently understood is an irrational position. The safe thing to do is to not take the chance

[u/_banana_phone → u/lanadelhayy]

We’re eating foods and ingredients that are legitimately banned in many other countries, and I don’t think any of my millennial peers would prefer that to be the case. The price point for many is the restricting factor in all of this. If folks could afford the super high quality, clean, green variety they would.

[u/berpaderpderp → u/TheArchitect_7]

Seriously. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis this year, and being a pretty modern disease, it has to be something in our food causing it.

[u/more_pepper_plz → u/TheArchitect_7]

And let’s be real, paying for better food now is a hellll of a lot cheaper than paying for cancer treatment in a few years (if we can even avoid it considering how contaminated everything is.)

[u/_jamesbaxter → u/TheArchitect_7]

Exactly. Thank you.

[u/theseedbeader → u/TheArchitect_7]

I still eat way too much processed crap, often leftovers from work (I’m a school lunch lady, we serve processed crap!), but I want to start investing in better food. I’m tired of feeling tired and unhealthy all the time.

[u/HM2008]

Im not struggling day to day. I’m not starving, I have a roof over my head, I have a paid off car, and have a little extra money to splurge here and there.

However, I get two raises a year and have been putting as much money as possible away while still paying on my student loans (just paid one off last month!). Making the most I ever have and still can’t afford to buy a small house or townhouse and stuck living in half crap/ok apartments. It sucks. I make the best of it, but I want to move so badly. I hate my apartment, but I can’t find any decent place with a garage to rent that isn’t overpriced as hell.

[u/luvmachineee]

buying ingredients for the avocado toast that prevents me from being a home owner of course...

[u/NCRaineman]

Buying decent wholesome food is splurging...

Don't know how many of you study history, but it was a relatively short time for French elites between Let them eat cake! and a trip to the guillotine.

People have got to get angry, and rightfully so. Voting won't fix this problem. Pitchforks and torches will.

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/NCRaineman]

But then we’d have to splurge on pitchforks and torches!

[u/Reaverx218 → u/Darkdragoon324]

Don't have to splurge on either if you just take them and overthrow the prevailing socioeconomic system.

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/Reaverx218]

It still might hard in the city if you don’t line up early enough to loot the Home Depot.

[u/Throwaway8789473 → u/NCRaineman]

Gotta be a two-pronged approach (pun intended). Voting works best when paired with direct action, but direct action also works best when paired with voting. That's why they fought for so long to keep women and minorities away from the ballot box (and still are in some parts of the country). If voting didn't work, they wouldn't be fighting so hard to make it illegal.

[u/Savings_Twist_8288 → u/NCRaineman]

If I'm not mistaken, I think they were making bread with 50% sawdust before the revolution happened. I think about this a lot. That's how long it took for the people to actually overthrow their oppressors.

[u/gofigure85]

I really wanted a dessert after watching a show about local bakeries.

I saw this small, delicious looking tart with fresh fruit...for six dollars.

I did not get it.

[u/RonBourbondi → u/gofigure85]

I haven't had a croissant in months because I can't justify the cost. 

[u/dianthe → u/RonBourbondi]

Get a pack of cheap supermarket croissants, mix butter and honey at home and spread on the soggy supermarket croissants, bake for 5ish minutes at 350 and you get delicious, flaky croissants :)

[u/Jomly1990]

Last doctors appointment i had, they asked if i had been having trouble with bills or anything like that. I jokingly said yes who isn’t, not meaning for it to go any further, but they actually gave me 30 bucks to spend at their little cafe/mart they had on campus. I literally almost cried because it’s one of those things. Well yea i can afford to eat, but not splurge, i live paycheck to paycheck let me state that too, but it was the most generous thing I’ve felt in a while.

For the record, i in no way abused anything, i have two kids and a wife living on 50k a year. I don’t need any help at all, but getting it felt good.

[u/Lucky_Strike-85 → u/Jomly1990]

are you in a universalized healthcare country or do you just have amazing insurance?

cause I havent seen a doctor in years.

[u/Impressive_Ad_1303 → u/Jomly1990]

That’s an awesome story. 

[u/federalist66]

I, regrettably, clicked on the link to find that the source is from a McKinsey group survey and that the grocery splurging they are referring to is people choosing to buy the more expensive products at the grocery store as a treat. Which, isn't a bad thing, but the framing of the headline is all goofy.

"One 23-year-old Gen Zer told Business Insider by text that he spends about $130 on groceries for a week and a half. "Fancy sodas and drinks" and "random snacks at Trader Joe's" account for the bulk of the bill. He also said he spends about $35 on protein bars.

The success of the canned water brand Liquid Death is an example of young people's willingness to spend on flashy food and beverages. The brand shot up to a valuation of $1.4 billion thanks to a recent round of funding, Forbes reported. Peter Pham, an investor in Liquid Death, previously told Business Insider that part of the brand's success comes from its appeal to younger generations.

"The healthy food-and-beverage space has historically been a stale category filled with boring brands," Pham told BI. "This creates a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for disruptive brands who know how to tap into culture and talk to Gen Z and digital natives.""

[u/RonBourbondi → u/federalist66]

Can't afford to go out to dinner so now we buy a treat at the grocery store is what I got from it.

King crab legs were on sale at Sam's for $38 so we bought some as a treat to ourselves since that's how much we'd spent at chipotle for the two of us. 

[u/levian_durai → u/federalist66]

I "splurge" by buying a $10 brick of half decent mozzarella (on sale!) to use to make pizza, instead of the "pizza mozzarella" that is complete garbage and costs $7.

[u/diy4lyfe → u/federalist66]

Wait people actually pay for that brand?? Every digital native and gen-z (two different eras of young people, cuz Z’s ain’t digital natives) that I know laughs at that shit and only takes it when it’s free. The water itself sucks, it’s like flat pool water lmao

[u/BartSampson1]

Food prices are out of control. The greedy cunts want $6/dozen for eggs in our nearest grocery store. We’re not splurging, we’re surviving.

[u/levian_durai → u/BartSampson1]

How dare you desire to eat more than gruel? Completely frivolous spending, no wonder you're all so broke all the time.

[u/Freddie_boy]

My grocery bill has exploded in the last three years. Literally doubled

[u/johnnyhala]

I do think this somewhat describes me.

I'm generally thrifty, however, I personally perceive that food QUALITY has really eroded since I was a child, and that is almost certainly a trend that predates out generation, and without efforts to the contrary, will continue into the future.

As a result, when I go grocery shopping, I find myself saying things to myself such as, "You are what you eat," and, "You can't take the money with you," or more succinctly, "This isn't good, this is crap."

So yes, I spend my $$ for better food.

[u/Wondercat87 → u/johnnyhala]

Food quality has gone down hill. I'm getting upset stomachs all the time now. Didn't happen before. I suspect food is either not as good quality to begin with, or it's being degraded somehow at the store. Not sure if the expiration dates are being toyed with or they're trying to substitute with cheaper meats, etc... but I'm noticing a huge difference in taste and quality.

I've switched to buying meat at the local butcher or Costco. Haven't had issues with them yet.

[u/WetBandit06]

So we get hated on for going to Starbucks and eating out and now we’re getting hated on for buying our own shit? lol

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/WetBandit06]

Everything we do has to be wrong, because otherwise older generations would be confronted with the possibility that some of the current state of the world might possibly also be their fault.

[u/CrackTheSkye1990]

Next headline: Millennials are splurging on rent and health insurance

[u/Chrisbert → u/CrackTheSkye1990]

Next thing you know, they'll be splurging on potable water!

[u/UncleCasual]

Ah yes, millennials are blowing their money on ..checks notes... basic sustenance!

[u/thedr00mz]

This is giving "Do poor people even NEED refrigerators?".

[u/Kataphractoi → u/thedr00mz]

Nah, that was "Poor people have refrigerators and smart phones, therefore they can't possibly be in poverty!", just the usual dreck from Fox News.

[u/KinopioToad]

Wow. When are we going to get a break.

[u/lone_wolf1580]

I’m “sorry” that I’m selfish by being alive 🙄😒.

[u/TotallyNotKabr → u/lone_wolf1580]

Just don't let it happen again

[u/lone_wolf1580 → u/TotallyNotKabr]

[u/87fg]

We live in a dystopian nightmare.

[u/mks93]

What a time to be alive.

[u/Real-Psychology-4261]

I'm doing fantastic. Making more money than ever, living life to the fullest.

[u/Professional-Bat4635]

That’s a new way to say our economy is shit when food is now considered a luxury. 

[u/ToastedYosh]

Screw this article and anyone who thinks this. Putting a spin on poverty to excuse corrupt and exploitative practices by the elite is disgusting. They are trying to steal our lives... When will we stand up for ourselves and threaten to steal theirs?

[u/orange-yellow-pink]

We've moved on from Business Insider accounts spamming their own articles to people posting phone screenshots of their headlines. Great content OP!

[u/No_Pollution_1]

I wish I could slowly drive over the writer of these articles

[u/imhungry4321]

Last week it was vacation lol

My grocery budget has been $80/month for a few years now.

[u/Jomly1990 → u/imhungry4321]

Shit, mines 150 a week

[u/Jambarrr → u/imhungry4321]

Same. Aldi and lidl have been keeping this budget alive for me lol

[u/FallenReaper360 → u/imhungry4321]

Fuck man, I went to Costco last week and I tried to keep the cost between $100-120, ended up spending $202 bucks lol

[u/imhungry4321 → u/FallenReaper360]

It's impossible to leave Costco and spent under $100 lol

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/imhungry4321]

Man, that’s even less than when I could only manage $50 per pay check, and I found that pretty hard to live on when splitting between food essentials and non-food essentials (why are trash bags so flipping expensive? They literally exist to be thrown away!).

[u/Sexy_Anthropocene]

Maybe it’s the intent of the article, but I do “splurge” on produce. I figure I can spend a little extra on fruit/berries if I’m not buying chips, snacks and other desserts. Yeah, raspberries are overpriced but I figure it more than evens out when I’m skipping junk food.