When at supermarket

[Schmeck]

By the way, almost everyone who receives food stamps works full time. There goes another one of your mean misconceptions.

Proof, please? Just post a link, state the study, etc.

One time when I was shopping a couple was wandering around the store, pushing an empty cart, I kept coming across them as we made our way through the store. I noticed that they were a bit scruffy, grubby, had a look about them that made me sad. Finally, they found the aisle of junk food, and loaded their cart up with chips, doritos, all kinds of post-drug induced stupor munchie food. That made me even sadder.

I also feel sad when I see the morbidly obese skip the fresh produce section and head straight for the frozen processed food aisle. Their kids are waddling over to the twinkies and devil dogs, and pitching fits when they can't have both. Well, at least they are getting exercise when they walk through the store.

People must think I'm boring when they look in my cart - very little meat, lots of fresh produce, organic pasta, whole grain snacks. Of course, if it's around that time of the month (sorry if TMI) then there's ice cream and cookies and chocolate in there too. That's my vice, and I'm keeping it!

 

[fall08CP]

So lets say a single mother who is a social worker (who on average makes about $40,000 here the last time I heard) does not deserve fancier food? I can guarantee they probably "deserve" fancier food more than a CEO does. And they are still working and paying their taxes so why do they NOT deserve public assistance they have paid into?

Just because they are on food stamps or government assistance means absolutely NOTHING about their skills. It's people like you who disgust me. I have skills that could get me a job making a nice living but I am planning on going into public service because helping others who can't help themselves is more important than a 6 figure salary. But apparently that is the thought amongst many people....if you aren't rich, you have no meaningful skills or talents. But I guess I just don't have enough talent to make enough money and I don't deserve "fancier" food...Maybe I should choose either the MD or PhD routes that are constantly being shoved in my face instead and make more money

Just becaue you seem them buy it ONCE does NOT mean you know their situation. They might have something to celebrate and they decide to buy it. Maybe someone in the family got a new job. Or maybe they got a job after being unemployed for over a year. You have no idea what is going on with them so I would think before I speak if I were you....

THANK YOU!!

I am about to go on public aid. I have nice clothes (thank you goodwill!) and eat good food (vegan, so I only eat plant based foods). However, I live at the poverty line because I am committing myself to a year of service to America. I will be working 50 hour weeks below minimum wage to help the less fortunate. Though I may not "look like" I need assistance, I do. I am paying student loans and housing costs just like anyone else, so any little bit helps. I didn't choose this, I was called to it. I'm fulfilling my life purpose.

 

[Schmeck]

THANK YOU!!

I am about to go on public aid. I have nice clothes (thank you goodwill!) and eat good food (vegan, so I only eat plant based foods). However, I live at the poverty line because I am committing myself to a year of service to America. I will be working 50 hour weeks below minimum wage to help the less fortunate. Though I may not "look like" I need assistance, I do. I am paying student loans and housing costs just like anyone else, so any little bit helps. I didn't choose this, I was called to it. I'm fulfilling my life purpose.

Well, if you are doing it at my expense, from the money I pay into taxes, thanks but no thanks. Feel free to do it when you can afford to do it. You can accept that call later on.

 

[Miz Diz]

i def. judge the people that pick up a bunch of bananas and then let their kids eat them while walking around the store. you pay by the lb, how are you going to pay for the eaten banana? (i KNOW they had no intentions of paying for it... and that really irritates me)

Hey - don't judge. When my kids were little and begged for a banana, I would take one up to the register, pay for it, then let them start eating and I would shop. How do you know others you've seen aren't doing that?

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Well, if you are doing it at my expense, from the money I pay into taxes, thanks but no thanks. Feel free to do it when you can afford to do it. You can accept that call later on.

So, children, who did not ask to come into this world, do not deserve to have anything but cheapo food? You are aware that food cards are given out to FOSTER parents right?

Why not let's just institute the poor farm; make those kids work to support themselves, otherwise, let's just send them out into the streets to beg for loose change. Obviously, they brought being born into families with troubles onto themselves somehow.

If you really, really, feel that way, why don't you go live in a country that has no social welfare, no safety nets, no help and assistance for those with less. There are plenty of them. Personally, I am GLAD we are a people who are humane enough to take care of our weakest citizens, to provide for the helpless and that we have the generosity of spirit to take care others, for whatever reason, and that we do not begrudge anyone putting a smile on their chidlren's faces every once in a while with a birthday cake.

 

[DaisyLynn]

From now on, set the bananas next to the no-stick spray, and the cucumbers next to the mayonnaise, and zucchini next to the extra-large condoms.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I lived in the "deep south" (US) for five years, and I never got used to the people looking through my cart, and commenting on its contents.

Now I live in a small town, and the same thing happens. Yesterday the butcher stopped me to let me know that the meat in my cart was on sale. Weird.

On the other hand, after the woman in front of me had checked out with a giant pile of baking goods, the cashier told me that when she wants to impress, she makes Black Forest Cheesecake with a pre-made Oreo crust, pre-made cream cheese filling, and a can of cherry pie filling. It was delicious!

I do check out people's carts at Sam's Club. I love to see what bargains I should check out next time!

Thank you for sharing that! I am going to try it.

 

[LisaNJ25]

nope.. Im to busy getting what I need and getting out. I usually stop in 4-5 times a week since I coupon. One main trip involves fresh produce and meat and they other trips are usually just items I have more coupons for (my store limits 4 of the same per transaction).

Last night was 4 jars of pickles, 7 bottles of shampoo, 2 boxes of snackwell granola bars and pull ups

 

[Piecey]

I do look, but not to judge. If I'm standing next to someone in an aisle and see them reach in a cooler, I'll look at what they bought and offer a coupon if I have it. I gave someone a .40/2 frozen vegetable Kroger Coupon today when she picked up 2 bags of broccoli. She was thankful. I put coupons on some salsa and a lady saw me in the store later and thanked me. Said she saw me do it and she used one of them

I coupon so the contents of my cart are strange. Our farmers market is open Tuesday and Friday. DH can walk there from work in about 2 minutes so I send him for our fresh stuff. I bought a 1/4 cow recently so don't need meat. We buy milk, chicken, apples, bananas, etc from SAMs.

I'm not sure what people would have thought of me today. I had jugs of water, green tea, crystal light, grape juice, formula, orange juice and balsamic vinegar All liquid diet?










I used to work in banking & we had the nicest older man who owned a strip club as a customer. He'd come get his ones 2x a week, in line with our cash shipments, and went straight home and washed them.

We had no idea until we only had brand new bills once.. We felt bad (paper cuts?!) and kept apologizing and he said it wasn't a big deal, he'd just run them an extra fluff cycle.

Well. . .there was this one time at Sam's Club I got behind an older, rotund fellow with a load of peanuts and pretzels, olives, cherries, mixed nuts etc.. waiting to check out.

When he came up to pay, he whipped out a wad of $1 bills about as big as my two feet together and started to pay. The poor little cashier obviously had never been trained to count money. It was taking forever when I asked her if she could get some paper clips. She did, and her manager came over. I asked the man if I could count it for him and get it into order for them. (I was a cage cashier in a casino in grad school.) I ran through the bills, and he had given the girl 2 dollars extra. I paper clipped the bills by 10's, then clipped 3 straps, left the extra clips loosed tossed them down and told her to count that way. She was finally able to make sense of it.

That's when I found out the gentleman owned a strip club.

I'm still a bit about the fact that I handled all those bills and lord only knows where they'd been.

Still. I don't get behind rotund gentleman buying bar food anymore. EVER.

 

[LaraK]

I buy my groceries on-line because people irritate me in general.

Now, back to your fight....I'm gonna be in the butterflies and rainbows isle.

 

[worm761]

We always have good giggle at the checkout as we put our stuff on the belt. We always seem to have the weirdest combinations of things. With me not working and an extra mouth to feed, we go to multiple stores to get the best deals. We buy some stuff at the butcher, farmer's market, Sam's, Walmart, Publix, Pic n Save, and occasionally Winn Dixie or Food World. Grocery shopping in my house is an event. We purchase where it is cheapest for the most part but are kind of picky about some things so end up where that stuff is.

 

[miralys]

Nope. In the drug store and grocery store I am too busy pulling coupons, making sure the total rings up properly and considering where I need to be next. At the farmer's market or Aldi's I am busy either considering where I have to be next or helping bag my items. I hate shopping, so when I go, I am on a mission. Deviation or distraction are not allowed. Get in and get out is my motto

 

[OceanAnnie]

Ah, yes, listening to a Fox News pundit ranting and raving about those poor people and those firefighters and teachers who are D'STROYIN' 'MERKHA!, is an excellent example of seeing abuse in the system

(Of course, those of us who have actually worked in the system know that the instances of abuse are far, far, far outweighed by the number of people who desperately need assistance and can't get it due to budget cuts, or because they're ashamed and afraid of harassment and bullying from people like you, so they eat once a day to make sure their kids eat, and go without new shoes for 10 years to make sure their kids have shoes. But let's not let pesky facts get in the way of a good hate-on for people who have fallen on hard times, because we all know the best way to protect ourselves from a similar situation is to loathe the people it has all ready happened to. That way, it can never happen to us! )

Where did that come from?

 

[shortbun]

I never look at the stuff other people are buying. When I'm at the checkout, I'm either unloading or reading the magazines there. Moving through the store, I am in a hurry and trying to move around all the stupid displays the marketers have placed in my way to irritate me.

 

[babyrich]

I always look at people's selections while waiting in line to check out. I like to try and figure out what they are having for dinner that night or what combinations they will put together. I guess I have way too much time on my hands.

When at the "club" stores I try to figure out what type of businesses are owned by the shoppers. Now I know round men with singles own strip clubs!!!!

 

[21hearts]

No. I'm usually so wrapped up in getting my own stuff that I don't look to see what others are buying.

 

[Schmeck]

So, children, who did not ask to come into this world, do not deserve to have anything but cheapo food? You are aware that food cards are given out to FOSTER parents right?

Why not let's just institute the poor farm; make those kids work to support themselves, otherwise, let's just send them out into the streets to beg for loose change. Obviously, they brought being born into families with troubles onto themselves somehow.

If you really, really, feel that way, why don't you go live in a country that has no social welfare, no safety nets, no help and assistance for those with less. There are plenty of them. Personally, I am GLAD we are a people who are humane enough to take care of our weakest citizens, to provide for the helpless and that we have the generosity of spirit to take care others, for whatever reason, and that we do not begrudge anyone putting a smile on their chidlren's faces every once in a while with a birthday cake.

That wasn't what I was commenting on at all - it was about the poster that chose to go on public assistance, even with college debt, so that he/she could 'help the less fortunate' - by becoming one also? I stated that he/she should wait until he/she could afford to accept the low paying job and not have to go on food assistance, like perhaps after the college loan is paid off? What's wrong with being responsible for oneself first?

 

[OceanAnnie]

that wasn't what i was commenting on at all - it was about the poster that chose to go on public assistance, even with college debt, so that he/she could 'help the less fortunate' - by becoming one also? I stated that he/she should wait until he/she could afford to accept the low paying job and not have to go on food assistance, like perhaps after the college loan is paid off? What's wrong with being responsible for oneself first?

ita.

 

[brunette8706]

Agreed.

 

[YodaGirl]

DH was a cashier at a big box store in high school. One Valentine's Day, an older gentleman (around 60 or so) came through his line with a container of ky jelly and a box of chocolates. Out of habit, DH told him to have a good evening. The guy looked at him, smiled really big, and said, "Trust me, I will."