With gas prices over $4.00 a gallon here in Michigan, a lot of us have to take a step back and seriously reassess where each and every cent in our budget goes. When paychecks were handed out at work today, one of my co-workers bemoaned, "Oh God; do I make my car payment or do I put gas in the car and buy some groceries?"
In times like these, it's difficult to rationalize spending several dollars more for organic, local, sustainable or otherwise healthier products. It literally comes down to keeping the electricity turned on and the car on the road versus putting less unhealthy foods and products into our bodies. Buying the cheap, more toxic, laundry detergent; eating Ramen noodles laden with Sodium and MSG; purchasing regular, bleached (cheaper) paper towels rather than recycled, unbleached ones.
These are agonizing choices! Do I help save the planet, do I help myself be healthier in the long run, or do I get through the week without bill collectors hounding me?
I should be out shooting pool and having a couple of beers with friends tonight, but I simply cannot afford it.
What are some of the choices you're having to make due to the cost of living going up so critically?
It's Pricey To Be Healthy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I hear ya. Today at work one of my clients asked me "Why does WIC only offer juices with high sugar content?"
I was pretty blunt. It is a non-profit organization, a federally funded program. The fact of the matter is, to her, it's "free!" So what if the sugar is high? It's food, and it's being provided to her for no cost! It's still 100% juice and she can still give it to her grandchild, so I suggested she diluted it with water, or just to avoid offering it all together!
Clearly it bothers me sometimes when people take things for granted. Especially with how things are now. Sigh. I'm done. Had to let that out =P.
In this tight economy we really have to watch how we spend every dime; this is especially true if one is unemployed. The unemployment money we get are minimal and it can only take us so far. In any case if you want a few ways to cut back on the consumption of gas and save yourself a little bit of money go to the following site for some tips:
http://www.mooneytalk.com/2009/10/24-tips-for-you-to-save-money-at-pump.html
Post a Comment